Chapter 74: The Triple Interrogation

Chapter 74: The Triple Interrogation

Li Hongmei reluctantly glanced at the yard where she had lived for most of her life, picked up a bucket, gathered the last few small items, and handed the keys to Su An.

"There are only three keys in total, all here. If you need to, you can buy a new lock later."

Su An took the keys handed to her and thanked Li Hongmei and Uncle Zhang.

After seeing the couple off, Su An couldn't contain her joy and wandered around the house, looking here and there.

She finally had a home of her own.

A home where she didn't have to worry about anyone's opinions, a home for her and her brother.

In this home, she could be herself, without having to consider anyone else's feelings or curry favor with anyone.

As she looked around, tears inexplicably welled up in Su An's eyes. No one could understand the deep sense of security she felt at that moment.

She happily picked up a broken broom from the yard and swept the entire house inside and out. Then, she fetched a worn-out bucket and a scrubber from the kitchen, scrubbing every conceivable spot, even the cement floor.

She was drenched in sweat, but she didn't feel tired at all. The more she worked, the more energy she had.

This must be what it feels like to achieve something truly fulfilling!

Every drop of sweat was filled with happiness and joy.

Looking at the house she had cleaned spotless, Su An felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

Next, she needed to fill it up!

With little money, renovations weren't necessary. The house was well-maintained, and she could move in as it was. Spending a fortune on furniture was out of the question.

Maybe she could try her luck at the thrift store and see if she could find some used furniture to use for now?

Then it occurred to her—the Zhao family was just nearby.

She should go back to the Zhao family first and see if there was anything she could use. No need to waste money...

Without delay, Su An locked the door and headed back with great enthusiasm.

What she didn't expect was that a triple interrogation was waiting for her at home.

At the Zhao family home.

Chen Shiyu, the Director of the Steel Factory's Residents' Committee, Wang Yanping, the Women's Committee Director from the neighborhood office, and a few other officials Su An didn't recognize were all sitting at home, drinking tea.

Xiao Jiliang was busy hosting.

Zhao Daxing, leaning on a crutch, sat on a tall bamboo chair in the corner.

The house was bustling with activity, but as soon as Su An walked in, the atmosphere froze.

Su An's heart raced. This... was about her!

After a while, Wang Yanping laughed heartily, "Xiao Su is back? We were just talking about you. Come, sit down, sit down~"

Wang Yanping took the initiative, warmly pulling Su An towards the table.

She had Su An sit next to her.

Chen Shiyu looked Su An up and down, "Oh, so this is the new bride of the Zhao family, Xiao Su?"

Wang Yanping quickly introduced Su An, "Xiao Su, you probably don't know yet, this is Director Chen, the director of the residents' committee of the third residential area of your steel factory. She's very warm-hearted."

Su An twitched her lips, thinking how there are so many directors in this world, and everything seems to have a director. Zhao Daxing is a deputy director, Wang Yanping is the Women's Committee Director, and now there's Director Chen from the residents' committee...

While internally complaining, Su An politely forced a smile on her face, "Hello, Director Chen, hello, Director Chen."

Chen Shiyu, being from the residents' committee, immediately started spouting a series of grand principles.

"Xiao Su, I heard you've been leaving early and coming back late recently. What have you been busy with? Your mother-in-law is so stressed her lips are chapped. When there's trouble, no matter what conflicts there are in the family, we should lend a hand. Quarrels are quarrels, but we should face difficulties together... Becoming a family is a destined fate..."

Wang Yanping, while observing Su An's expression, explained, "Yes, yes, what Sister Chen said is right. Xiao Su, let me be frank with you. We came to your house together this time to resolve the conflicts between you. It's not good to keep quarreling like this every day. Even if you don't care, you have to consider the influence on the neighbors, right?"

Su An glanced around, seeing experts at guilt-tripping. With six or seven mouths against her, even if she were a master debater, she couldn't win the argument.

Endure!

Su An's eyes welled up, and she started sobbing, pouring out her grievances as though she were the victim. No matter what she had done, there had to be a cause and effect, otherwise, it would seem like she was just making trouble.

Sure enough, after Su An's tearful complaint, everyone at the table unanimously condemned Xiao Jiliang and her son.

After some lukewarm comments, they quickly shifted their focus back to Su An.

"It's such a small matter... we're all family... when you marry someone, you accept their ways... they will change... don't be too serious..."

"Yes, yes, you're young, don't argue with the elderly. Be generous, if you can't convince her, just ignore her. She's old, we should be considerate... it's all like that..."

"...it's all in the past... what can you do... listen to my advice, I'm not an outsider, I'm doing this for your own good. Family should understand each other, some conflicts, just talk it out..."

"Do me a favor, we've come all this way, just endure it. It's not easy for men to earn money and support the family outside... just make do, it's all like this, we're doing this for your own good, we've been around longer than you have..."

"Xiao Su, look on the bright side, it's midday..."

Facing their various grand principles, Su An listened quietly with a smile, acting like the perfect little wife.

Su An understood what Chen Shiyu and the others were saying. Basically, it's your fault for being young, your fault for being the junior, your fault for being too calculative, your fault for not yielding... even if you're not wrong, they'll find fault with you.

In her previous life, when she was beaten, Wang Yanping and Chen Shiyu said the same things to her. How come in this life, when she's the one hitting others, they're still saying the same things? And still to her?

Why don't they say these things to Xiao Jiliang and Zhao Daxing? It's really strange, does she look easy to bully?

Su An's blank expression made Chen Shiyu and the others glance suspiciously at Xiao Jiliang and Zhao Daxing. Could this meek little rabbit really be the troublemaker?

Seeing that someone was backing her up, Xiao Jiliang cried and scolded, and Su An endured it all.

Seeing that Su An wasn't responding, Xiao Jiliang wasn't willing to let her off so easily. She demanded that Su An write a pledge in front of everyone, promising not to lay hands on family members in the future.

Su An agreed, took out Zhao Long's homework book from his textbook, and with a flourish of her pen.

She wrote, "I promise not to hit any of you today."

Wang Yanping, Chen Shiyu, and the others, seeing Su An obediently writing the pledge, made Xiao Jiliang even more emboldened, and they all felt uneasy.

They came to mediate, not to take sides and bully the other.

Without bothering to see what Su An had written, they grabbed the pen and paper from her and shoved them into Zhao Long's backpack.

"Okay, okay, no need for any written promises. Let's all just get along. A family’s gotta stick together and show some love, you know?"

Because Su An was surprisingly cooperative, Wang Yanping and her crew barely got to use their prepared plans. They had planned to lecture all evening, have dinner at the Zhao family's, and then leave, but they ended up leaving after just over an hour.

Su An watched the group walk away, a shadow of something dark flickering in her eyes.

Oh, a perfect wife and mom, all lovey-dovey, huh? Yeah, right!