Chapter 528: Shan Shan, How About Li Hongjuan Being Our Sister-in-Law?

Chapter 528: Shan Shan, What Do You Think of Li Hongjuan as Our Sister-in-Law?

Wang Xiaocui knew Su An was coming home today, so she didn’t go to the shop. Instead, she bought groceries early and boiled water and waited at home.

Li Yulan and Zhang Shuangshuang were also at Wang Xiaocui’s place. The children were already on vacation, running wild with Wang Kang and Houzi, and were nowhere to be found except at mealtimes.

Su An was still on the street outside when she spotted Wang Xiaocui sticking her head out the door, looking toward the intersection.

"Mom~"

Su Ping, pedaling the tricycle, had sharp eyes and called out to Wang Xiaocui.

That "Mom" was like a rallying cry, making Wang Xiaocui’s eyes light up instantly, full of energy. Her neck, scrunched up from the cold, straightened right away.

"Oh, you’re here, you’re here! Get inside quick. Shan Shan, aren’t you freezing in just that? Tired? Hungry?"

Wang Xiaocui barraged her with questions without waiting for Ren Shan to answer, then immediately pulled Su An over to inspect her. "Oh, you’ve lost weight! I heard the food down there is different from ours—couldn’t stomach it, huh?"

The 1.6-meter-tall Su An was spun around by the 1.78-meter Wang Xiaocui gripping her arm, almost face-planting.

"Mom, why do you say I’ve lost weight every time you see me? I’m wearing such a thick coat—can you even tell?"

Wang Xiaocui exclaimed, "Of course I can! Your chin’s sharp now."

Ren Shan loved this kind of atmosphere. "Auntie, An’an-jie’s always had a chin. If she didn’t, that’d be scary, hahaha!"

Wang Xiaocui shot Ren Shan a glare. "You’re still laughing? I haven’t even scolded you yet. I told you not to go so far alone—if anything happened, you should’ve taken your brother with you. If you got snatched, where would I even go to cry? Ping Ping kept asking me what we’d do if you got lost after what Sixth Aunt said—he was driving me up the wall!"

Ren Shan and Su An each hooked an arm around Wang Xiaocui’s and pulled her toward the house. "It’s not my first time traveling far—why worry? Besides, I’ve got street smarts. Ordinary people can’t trick me—if anything, I’d be the one scamming them. Even if I did get lost, I’d run back to find you all."

"What if you ran into bad people who locked you up?"

"Then I’d waste those creeps, torch their place, and bolt back!"

Wang Xiaocui burst out laughing at Ren Shan’s exaggerated tone. "Hahaha—always full of it!"

Inside, Li Yulan tottered over on her bound feet, lifting the thick door curtain. "Oh, you’re finally back! Ping Ping, you must be chilled to the bone! Come, Grandma will pour you hot water to warm your hands and ears. Are your shoes wet?"

Su An rolled her eyes at the shameless favoritism. "Grandma, who just came back from the south—me and Shan Shan or my brother?"

"Now you’re not even trying to hide your bias. I’ve been gone for half a year—didn’t you miss me even a little?"

Granny scoffed, pretending to be cross. "Nonsense! Of course I missed you. I sat outside your room all day when I knew you’d call, just to talk to you for a bit."

"Come in now—are your shoes wet? Tired from the trip? Go cozy up by the stove. Grandma will get hot water for you. Wash your hands and wipe your faces. Your aunt made her winter bamboo shoot and duck stew."

After eating, Su An and Ren Shan took their clothes and headed to the bathhouse for a proper soak and scrub.

In warmer weather, they could bathe at home, but in the dead of winter, most people went to the bathhouse. At home, you had to wash quickly—otherwise, the water would go stone-cold mid-bath, and you might catch a cold before finishing.

After three days and two nights on the train—where they’d boarded in the warm south, sweating from the crowd—they stank from being crammed in like sardines. A deep scrub-down was the only fix.

While bathing, Su An subtly brought up her brother’s marriage prospects.

"Shan Shan, do you remember Comrade Li Hongjuan, the one you and my brother met on the train when you took me south last time?"

Ren Shan thought back—a slightly plump girl who loved snacks, with clear eyes and a shy demeanor, the kind of well-protected good girl raised by doting parents.

"Yes, I remember her. She's a kind and uncomplicated comrade."

"What do you mean by that?"

Ren Shan was taken aback. "What do you mean? I barely know her. How would I know what she's like? But judging by her gentle way of speaking, she seems like a straightforward girl."

Su An smiled. "Eldest Master Cai wants to set them up, her and my brother. What do you think about her becoming our sister-in-law?"

Ren Shan went completely still for a long moment before turning to look at Su An. "Sister-in-law?"

Su An nodded. "Yes. Brother is 23 this year. Su Jianguo’s son, Su Wan, is a year younger than him, yet his child is already over two years old."

"Everything at home is looking up now. It’s time for Brother to consider his future. Eldest Master Cai has good intentions, and I think Comrade Li Hongjuan and Brother would get along. She loves to eat, and he loves to cook. Both have simple, easygoing personalities."

"Eldest Master Cai asked me about it before, but I never gave him an answer. Now that we’re back, I was thinking of arranging for Brother and Li Hongjuan to meet. If she’s willing and they click..."

"Sis An!"

Ren Shan cut her off. "Brother is only 23. There’s no need to rush, right?"

Su An kept her tone even. "At 23, there’s no hurry, but Brother isn’t like others, is he? The older he gets, the harder it’ll be to find a match. If he marries early, Grandma and Mom can rest easy. And if they have a child later, we can help raise them. Once the child grows up, they can continue the family line. That way, Brother would have a fulfilled life."

"Though we’re siblings, we can’t stay by his side forever. Mom and Grandma aren’t getting any younger either. Brother should have his own family and children so he won’t be lonely when we’re not there."

Ren Shan wasn’t foolish. She immediately understood what Su An was implying.

Sis An was sharp—denying it now would be pointless.

She turned to meet Su An’s gaze. "Sis An, Brother won’t be lonely. I’ll always stay with him!"

Su An paused, the towel in her hand stopping mid-motion. She hadn’t expected Ren Shan to lay it out so plainly.

"Shan Shan, do you realize what you’re saying?"

Ren Shan’s eyes were burning bright. "I do. If any stranger off the street can be with him, then why not me? You know I have no family left in this world. I’d never let anyone hurt him, and I’d never harm him myself."

Su An looked at her sternly. "Do you truly understand what you’re saying? Putting everything else aside, you and Brother exist in completely different worlds."

"Shan Shan, though we live in the same world, we must admit that everyone stands at different heights. If you and Brother were really together, your worlds wouldn’t be equal. You’d be settling for him, and he’d be overreaching. Both of you would suffer!"

"I know you’ve had a hard life. Like you said, you’ve known so little warmth or kindness in this world, so you’ve mistaken your gratitude and dependence on Brother for love."

"But Shan Shan, you’re still young. When you grow up, you’ll realize that real love means meeting your match. The world you see will broaden, and the people you meet will be more accomplished. Brother doesn’t have the ability to match you. You’ll move forward quickly, and no matter how hard he tries, he’ll never catch up."