Chapter 590: Extra—Su Lei

Chapter 590 Extra — Su Lei

"The water bill last month was higher than usual. At his age, he still has no common sense. He’s already 14, not even in school anymore, refuses to work, and just lies around at home mooching off us. I must’ve committed some grave sin in my past life to marry into your family!"

Liu Huilan snapped beans while complaining to Su Jianguo.

Su Jianguo was equally annoyed. "Enough already! You nag about this day in and day out. What’s the point? What did he even do to you? It’s just one more set of chopsticks. Why all the complaints?"

Liu Huilan slammed the colander of beans onto the table. "Of course you’re fine with it—you just sit there stuffing your face. People outside even praise you for being kind. Naturally, you’re happy. He’s your Su family’s burden, so of course you don’t mind. Try running a household yourself and see how hard it is!"

"Su An and Su Ping were much younger, yet they knew how to earn their keep by assembling matchboxes. But him? Fourteen years old, and he leaves his dirty bowl for me to clean after meals. He won’t even wash his own clothes. Does he think I’m his mother? I sure didn’t push out a son this grown!"

Su Jianguo waved her off impatiently. "Just drop it. He’s old enough to know better. If you treat him well, he’ll know. When he grows up—"

Liu Huilan cut him off. "When he grows up? How much longer do we have to wait? With parents like Su Jianjun and Ji Qingqing, do you really expect them to raise some precious jewel? Let me tell you, Su Jianjun was never destined for anything good!"

"You think he’ll ever repay us? I wouldn’t dare hope for it!"

"Hmph! Back then, they said they couldn’t reach his sister, so he’d stay with us for a while. I shouldn’t have been so soft-hearted. Now he’s settled in permanently, and we have to wait on him hand and foot like royalty. And you tell me to ‘drop it’? In all these years, has he ever given me a smile or a kind word?"

"Keep your voice down!"

"Why should I? This is my own home!"

"I married you, gave you children, and even took care of your mother. Now I have to serve your nephew too? Did I owe you in my past life?"

Their voices were loud enough for Su Lei, who lived in the storage room, to hear every word. Since moving in, scenes like this had become a regular occurrence.

He kept a stony face as he pretended not to care, but Liu Huilan’s relentless scolding suffocated him.

Everyone looked down on him. Everyone bullied him.

When he heard her approach the door with more sarcastic remarks, Su Lei, already seething, yanked it open and shot her a murderous glare. "I eat my uncle’s food and live in my uncle’s house. What’s it to you? My last name is Su!!!"

Liu Huilan planted her hands on her hips and fired back. A big hulking man like him, lazing around all day, only showing up for meals, otherwise holed up in his room sleeping.

At first, she pitied him for losing his parents so young. But after all these years, he’s eaten plenty yet still has no common sense. He won’t even pick up a fallen broom. Last time, when her grandson stood in his way, he knocked the kid flat. Who owes him anything?

"I don’t care what your last name is. Frankly, whether you’re really a Su is anybody’s guess. Even if you are, what’s that to me? We’ve raised you for years—that’s more than enough. If you don’t like my tone, why don’t you go find your sister?"

"Oh, right. She vanished after leaving. No one knows if she’s alive or dead. You do have an older brother and sister, but your mother ruined that. Even if you came begging at their doorstep, they wouldn’t spare you a glance. You’re just a leech, clinging to us like some goddamn jinx!"

Su Lei, already in his rebellious phase, couldn’t take Liu Huilan’s insults. His face twisted with fury as he shoved her hard.

Liu Huilan staggered, her back hitting the wall. Then, with an exaggerated wail, she collapsed to the floor. "Aiyo! This is an outrage! He hit me! Su Jianguo, you good-for-nothing old coot!"

Su Lei was kicked out.

Years ago, when the authorities had intervened, Su Lei was still young. With Su Jianjun and Ji Qingqing gone, he had no one to turn to except his uncle, Su Jianguo.

Since both Su Jianguo and his son worked at the factory—outstanding workers, no less—they had to set an example. Grudgingly, they took him in, thinking it’d just mean an extra mouth to feed.

Did Su Jianguo have any affection for Su Lei? Hardly. He hadn’t even been close to his own older brother, Su Jianjun, let alone Su Lei.

With three children of his own and now grandchildren to dote on, why would he waste affection on some outsider?

But the neighbors were watching. As his uncle, he couldn’t be too harsh. Now, after years of raising him, Liu Huilan’s tantrum gave him the perfect out to drive Su Lei out.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t tolerate his nephew—if that were true, he wouldn’t have taken him in all those years ago.

The truth is, this nephew is rebellious—the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Being lazy and always eating is one thing, but being unruly with all sorts of bad habits, and now even hitting his elders—it’s just too much. And with Su Lei having parents with such a bad reputation, no matter how you look at it, Su Jianguo has already done more than enough.

Having gone this far, Su Jianguo couldn't care less about the money now. He rented a small, dark storage room for Su Lei outside and bought him a bag of rice, telling him to move out.

Su Lei stared at the hypocritical Su Jianguo, his eyes burned with hatred.

Did they think he was too young to understand their intentions?

These adults were the most hypocritical—using him for their own good reputation and now throwing him away like trash.

“I’ve said so much to you. Did you hear me or not?” Su Jianguo’s tone was already impatient. What a worthless little punk.

Su Lei replied coldly, “Whatever.”

“Good. I’ve already paid the deposit and first month’s rent for the place. You can get the keys tomorrow. You’re a big boy now—you’ll have to rely on yourself from now on. As long as you work hard, you won’t starve.”

With that, Su Jianguo left. Su Lei felt trapped. He didn’t want to stay in this wretched place anymore. He started missing Ji Qingqing and Su Jiao.

But Ji Qingqing was already dead, and who knew where Su Jiao had gone? All these years, not a single trace of her—what a heartless bitch.

Back at home, she’d always promised to take care of him when she grew up, feeding him empty promises. But now? Vanished without a trace, like she never existed.

Su An and Su Ping were just as useless, a pair of good-for-nothings.

Even as he cursed Su Jiao in his heart, she seemed to be the only one he could turn to. When his mother was alive, she’d always told him that he and Su Jiao were real siblings—she was supposed to look after him.

He wanted to find Su Jiao. He’d heard she’d taken a train south.

Remembering Su Jiao’s past actions, Su Lei opened the door, checked that no one was home, and without hesitation broke into Liu Huilan’s room. The world was vast—he refused to believe there was no place for him.

By the time Liu Huilan returned with groceries, Su Lei was gone, and her room had been ransacked. Seeing her scattered documents and receipts strewn across the floor, she saw red and nearly passed out.

Three days later, Su Lei was pushed off the train, looking around dazed at the unfamiliar surroundings. The money he’d brought had been stolen by pickpockets, leaving only five yuan hidden in his shoe.

He had no idea where to find Su Jiao. He walked all day, sleeping at night on park benches or under shop awnings.

Days passed—he couldn’t tell how many—as he trudged along, dragging a bundle of junk tied with rope: bottles and cardboard boxes he’d collected. The cardboard could be used as bedding or sold for scraps.

Despite being frugal, the five yuan ran out. He began skipping meals, wandering like a lost puppy in search of Su Jiao.

At first, he was starving. Later, he grew accustomed to hunger, even feeling nauseous instead. Maybe from living outside too long—his feet started swelling. He was exhausted, drained. He began missing Ji Qingqing, even Su Jianjun.

If Su Jianjun were still alive, even if he scolded or hit him, at least he’d have a place to go.

The outside world was terrible. He felt like he’d starved past the point of feeling hungry—his stomach bloated, his body weary, yet he couldn’t sleep. He considered going back to the place his uncle had rented for him, but after stealing all the money from their house, he didn’t dare.

Life outside was hard, and it only got worse. Lying down made it hard to breathe. He’d long given up on finding Su Jiao. After so long on the streets, he’d seen and suffered plenty. He also slowly began to understand some things.

So many years had passed without a word from Su Jiao. Now, he even doubted if she was still alive. But he had no way out. Biting back the pain, he forced himself to keep moving forward…