[131: Secretly Slipping Money]

Lu Feifan had already figured it out—it was probably Su Hanyan who gave away the tickets.

He smiled and shook his head, then got up and left before the movie started, leaving Zhou Ningkai alone in his dismay.

Su Hanyan packed her clothes that needed to be packed, tidied up the bedding, and also gathered some high school books left by the previous tenant. If she was going to take exams soon, she needed to look through these books.

"Little Auntie... Little Auntie..." Su Tong's voice came from under the door.

Su Hanyan opened the door and saw Su Tong standing there, her face red from the cold, holding two bright red candied haws in her hands.

"This one is for Tong Tong, and this one is for Auntie."

"Thank you, Tong Tong." Su Hanyan happily took the candied haw, took a bite, feeling the crisp sweetness with a hint of sourness—it was delicious.

"Grandpa bought them."

Just as Su Tong finished speaking, Su Dajiang came in through the courtyard gate carrying a piece of meat. Seeing his youngest daughter, he smiled and said, "Dad will make braised pork for you tonight!"

"Thanks, Dad." Su Hanyan smiled faintly.

"Why be so polite with your own family?" Su Dajiang stopped at the doorway, seeing that his daughter had packed everything at the door, he knew her house had already been rented out.

It seemed she really couldn't stay.

"Where did you rent the house? Is the price reasonable?" he asked.

"I rented a small courtyard near the Medical University. The rent is fifteen yuan a month, which is quite reasonable!" Su Hanyan replied.

"Good. Your dad and your two brothers will help you move tomorrow!"

"No, it's not necessary!" Su Hanyan said, "The kids will help me with that! Besides, I don't want them to know my address..."

Su Dajiang hesitated for a moment, understanding her reasons.

Su Hanyan smiled, turned around, quickly wrote an address on a piece of paper, and handed it to Su Dajiang. "Dad, this is my address!"

Su Dajiang took it, didn't say anything more, and went to the kitchen with the meat.

Su Hanyan watched him leave, then turned back into the room and handed the snacks she bought to Su Tong. "These are for Tong Tong from Auntie. Try them!"

"Awesome!" Su Tong took the snacks, reluctant to open them. "I've been wanting to eat these. Mom said they're too expensive to buy!"

"How expensive can a box of snacks be?"

"She said she's saving money for when she has a little brother!" Su Tong said.

Su Hanyan felt sorry for little Tong Tong. Her sister-in-law was obsessed with having a son, saving all the money for the future son, and was very strict with her daughter.

She was practically another Wei Guiqin.

"Tong Tong, in the future, if you want to eat something, tell Auntie, Auntie will buy it for you!" She squatted down and lovingly touched Tong Tong's face.

Suddenly, Su Tong rushed forward and kissed Su Hanyan on the cheek. "Auntie is the best auntie in the world."

After dinner, Su Hanyan enjoyed a meal of braised pork, returned to her room, and started translating Lu Feifan's medical materials. She hadn't translated a few sentences when she heard a knock on the door.

Opening it, she saw her father Su Dajiang standing at the door.

"Dad?"

"Come in."

Inside, Su Dajiang took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Su Hanyan. "Take this two hundred yuan! You'll need it to live on your own from now on. You can't live without money!"

Su Hanyan tried to refuse. "Dad, I have my salary, and once the study group starts, the income will be considerable. You should keep this money and buy yourself something nice!"

[132: Instigation]

"Yours is yours, this is from Dad! Take it, be obedient!" Su Dajiang felt guilty towards his daughter, and now he could only make amends with money.

"Okay." Since it's like this, she won't be polite.

Wu Jiaojiao finished washing the dishes in the kitchen, came out, and overheard Su Dajiang secretly giving money to Su Hanyan. She immediately ran back to the room and said to Su Jingheng, "Your dad secretly gave your sister two hundred yuan! Yesterday I asked you to borrow money from your dad. Your dad said there wasn't any. Turn around and secretly give your sister two hundred!"

Su Jingheng was stunned, then said, "Don't compare this. Yan Yan is living on her own now. It won't work without money. Dad giving her some is normal!"

"Who asked her to move out? She wanted to move out herself, okay?"

"That's also because of Mom and Third Brother's pressure." Su Jingheng sighed, "Of course, as her big brother, I haven't looked after her either..."

"Enough!" Wu Jiaojiao didn't want to hear this, "Your dad just said two words to you, and you took it seriously! Although you haven't looked after her, you haven't bullied her either. What are you feeling guilty about!"

Su Jingheng didn't say anything.

"Hey, go ask your dad for money!" Wu Jiaojiao urged him.

"At this time?"

"Yes!" Wu Jiaojiao urged him, "I've found someone! They said as long as we have eight hundred yuan, they can arrange for the second child's birth certificate!"

"Really?" Su Jingheng asked, "Is that person reliable?"

"My brother found this person. Do you think it's reliable? We've saved five hundred yuan now! You go ask your dad for two hundred, and I'll ask my mom for the rest!"

"Is this okay?"

"Why wouldn't it be okay? Do you still want it? If you don't go, don't touch me tonight! I'm telling you, tonight is a good time to get pregnant!" Wu Jiaojiao tempted him, "My mom bought a prescription from someone. After getting pregnant and taking this prescription, it's certain to have a son!"

"Really?"

"Can I lie to you? Someone has already had a son. My mom put in a lot of effort to get this back for me!"

Su Jingheng hesitated, and Wu Jiaojiao kicked him in the butt: "Hurry up!"

Su Jingheng came to Su Hanyan's room, hesitated for a long time, and once again asked his father, "Dad, I need two hundred yuan. Could you..."

Su Dajiang frowned, "Don't you have savings?"

"Dad, you also know I want a second child. Jiaojiao found someone and needs some money!" he said.

"That's not reliable! How can you easily take advantage of the country's policy like this?" Su Dajiang advised, "Don't take that risk. Sons and daughters are the same. Take care of Tongtong well, provide her with a good education, and make her a knowledgeable person!"

"Dad..."

"Stop talking. This matter of borrowing money is out of the question." Su Dajiang raised his hand to stop him.

Wu Jiaojiao was outside, holding her breath. She pushed open the door with a bang, "Dad, to put it bluntly, you are biased! They are all your children. When we ask for money, you don't give it. If Yan Yan doesn't want it, you still force it! I think you don't have your eldest son in your heart at all!"

"Wu Jiaojiao, what nonsense are you talking about?" Su Jingheng immediately stopped his wife. They had just quarreled yesterday. His father's mood had not been good, and he didn't want to cause trouble.

"What nonsense am I talking about? Your mom secretly gave money to the third, the second went out of the family and came back from time to time, and now your dad secretly gave money to the youngest! You are so foolish that you have nothing! You say you are heartless!"

After Wu Jiaojiao finished speaking, she said to her father-in-law again, "If you don't see it, forget it. Now I see you deliberately target us if you don't give us money! I can't live this day, if you don't give us money, I will divorce Su Jingheng!"

[i thought we were alr going on a better path for WJJ...]

[133: One Bowl of Water Levels All]

Su Dajiang was infuriated by Wu Jiaojiao's irrational words, his temples throbbing visibly. "What nonsense are you talking! Is marriage something to be casually ended?"

"Yes, our divorce would be forced by you!" Wu Jiaojiao argued firmly.

Su Dajiang was deeply hurt by her words, his chest tight with pain, instinctively clutching at it.

Seeing Wu Jiaojiao's unreasonable behavior, Su Hanyan frowned and said coldly, "I've seen people who are unreasonable, but I've never seen a sister-in-law as unreasonable as you. Borrowing money and forcing people to borrow!"

"It's because Dad is too biased!" Wu Jiaojiao persisted unreasonably, "If money is to be given, it should be given to everyone. Two hundred for one child! If not, no one gets any! One bowl of water levels all!"

"One bowl of water levels all?" Su Dajiang pointed at Su Jingheng's nose and scolded, "Have you both lost your conscience? Who has spent the most money over these years?"

"I didn't know before, but now I do! You've given nearly half a year's income to Su Hanyan!" Wu Jiaojiao compared bitterly, "If she gets, we should get too!"

Su Dajiang was about to explode with anger. Su Hanyan stepped forward to stop him from getting upset.

Turning to Wu Jiaojiao, she said, "Sister-in-law, you really have no conscience! When you married my brother, you took a lot for the bride price. After marriage, money was spent helping you find a job, which you later lost. The expenses for childbirth and hospitalization were also paid by Dad. Over these years, you've been eating at home without contributing any money! I've always been the one supporting the family. Now that I'm leaving, you still come to hassle me! If Dad didn't see I had no money, he wouldn't have given me any! You want money, right? Fine, I'll give it to you now! I'll give it all to you!"

"Yan Yan, don't be foolish!" Su Dajiang hurriedly called out to her.

Wu Jiaojiao thought Su Hanyan had finished scolding her and was really going to give her money. Her eyes lit up.

Su Hanyan took out a thick bundle of cash from the envelope labeled "Great Unity" and, right in front of everyone, tore it to shreds. She then fiercely threw the money at Wu Jiaojiao's face.

Wu Jiaojiao was dumbfounded, staring at the shattered money on the ground, unable to believe it. "You... you..."

"I've given it all to you, satisfied now?" Su Hanyan sneered coldly.

Su Dajiang's emotions surged. In that moment, he realized something. Turning back into the room, he opened the cupboard and took out all the savings.

Facing Su Jingheng and his wife, he said, "I've figured it out. It's all because of these things! This money is all the savings we have!"

With that, he also tore the money in his hand to pieces, all of it falling down on his eldest son and daughter-in-law.

"That's enough. Without this cursed stuff, it's finally quiet!" Su Dajiang looked at the hard-earned savings scattered around, feeling a bit heartbroken. "If using this money can teach you two to be sensible, it's worth it!"

Seeing this, Su Hanyan smiled, "Brother, is sister-in-law satisfied now? Dad has no money left. There's not a penny left in the house! From today on, this family will depend on you to support it!"

Su Jingheng's face turned pale.

Wu Jiaojiao also stood there dumbfounded, "Let us support... how can we afford to support it?"

Su Hanyan paid no attention, opened the door curtain, and shouted into the courtyard, "Brother, sister-in-law, are you satisfied now? You've emptied Dad's savings. From now on, you have to support the family! If you don't support the family, it's not filial, and you'll invite divine retribution!"

[all those money though... torn to shreds... what a waste. don't ever do that, chat.]

[134: Useless Man]

As soon as she shouted, the people in the other yards also heard it.

When the time comes, if Su Jingheng and Wu Jiaojiao don't support the family, the neighbors in the yard will mock them to death, leaving them no face to show!

Let them each pay for their own actions!

Wu Jiaojiao finally realized that this was indeed the case. With every penny gone from the house, Chinese New Year was approaching. They needed money for New Year's goods, to entertain relatives, and to prepare New Year gifts.

If her mother-in-law were home, she would have torn her to pieces after witnessing this scene.

Most importantly, she hadn't gotten the money she wanted and had tricked herself!

After saving up a few hundred yuan with great difficulty, she had planned to arrange for the birth of a second child through someone else! But now... not only couldn't she arrange it, but she also had to spend money on the family!

Everyone in the yard was watching. If she didn't take the money... the neighbors' spit could drown her!

This father-daughter pair had really managed to pit her!

She felt like crying but had no tears left.

Su Hanyan looked coldly at her, then turned to Su Jingheng and said, "Brother, after all, you're a man! You have no backbone, letting a woman boss you around all the time! If your wife were smart and sensible, it might be fine, but she's just foolish and stupid! You should reflect on yourself!"

Su Jingheng felt insulted being called useless for the first time. His face turned pale, and he turned to leave.

Wu Jiaojiao followed him out.

Su Hanyan comforted her father gently, asking him not to be too sad. Money was just an external thing; they could earn it again.

After everyone had left, Su Hanyan picked up all the pieces of money from the ground, holding them in her hands. She looked at the familiar red glow and began to piece the fragments back together.

[thank god.]

Soon, all the money was intact in her hands again. She thought about finding a suitable opportunity to slowly return the money to her father, just to him alone!

In the next room, Su Jingheng and Wu Jiaojiao quarreled, each ignoring the other. Su Tong was so scared that she cried. It took a long time for them to calm down.

That night, Su Tong didn't dare to sleep with her parents. Instead, she found her aunt to sleep with.

In the middle of the night, Su Hanyan was awakened by the noise from the next room.

She turned over, covering her ears, but the noise was impossible to ignore.

So, feeling irritated, she knocked on the wall in protest.

Next door.

Because he had been scolded by his younger sister for being useless and by his wife for not being a man, Su Jingheng's self-esteem was severely wounded. Seeking balance, he heard the banging on the wall from next door.

[oh. HAHAHAHAHAHA. eldest brother is working hard~]

"Ignore her!"

Su Hanyan continued to remind him several times. Seeing that the noise from the next room didn't stop, she made up her mind. She threw on some clothes, got out of bed, and walked into the courtyard. Something had to be done!

[135: Moving Out]

Pushing open the door, the cold wind blew on her face like a painful cut. In the bitter cold of midwinter, the chill was bone-piercing, freezing every drop of water into ice.

If it weren't for being forced into such a situation by those shameless people, she wouldn't have crawled out of her warm bed in the middle of the night! Well, since she couldn't sleep, they shouldn't sleep either!

Su Hanyan found a few half-bricks in the corner of the yard, then went straight under Su Jingheng and Wu Jiaojiao's window and threw all the bricks at the glass window with a bang.

With the accompanying sound of shattering glass, the bricks landed loudly inside the house.

The cold wind instantly filled the entire room. Su Jingheng was startled and his legs went weak. Wu Jiaojiao, drenched in sweat, shivered as the cold wind hit her.

"Wu Jiaojiao, you little brat, have you gone crazy?" Wu Jiaojiao shouted angrily.

Su Hanyan clapped the dirt off her hands and smiled, "Enjoy this charming night!"

With no glass left, Su Jingheng managed to patch up with two newspapers. The quilt couldn't stop the invasion of the cold wind, so the couple spent the night holding each other without getting warm.

The cold wind blowing on their faces made both of them sniffle, and the next morning they both sneezed and caught colds.

The other two families in the yard also had some words. Early in the morning, they gathered together to discuss the events of the previous night. It was such a small courtyard, and the night was so quiet that any commotion in one house would be heard by everyone.

Everyone commented: The smashing of the glass last night was well done!

While everyone was busy preparing breakfast, Su Hanyan packed her bags, said goodbye to her father, and left.

She didn't have much stuff—just one suitcase and one bag filled to the brim. She also carried a large bundle on her shoulders containing blankets and pillows, all taken away in one go.

She really didn't want to stay here anymore.

When she arrived a little after eight o'clock, Zhang Tiancai was already there, braving the biting cold like knives. He huddled by the door, his military-green backpack slung diagonally across his chest, squinting as he waited for her.

"Are you freezing? Come inside quickly!" Su Hanyan opened the door and invited Zhang Tiancai in. "You should have stayed home and studied. Why did you come over?"

"I collected the money for you!" Zhang Tiancai took off his slung bag and threw it to Su Hanyan. "Thirty-five people, fifteen yuan each! A total of five hundred and twenty-five!"

Su Hanyan counted the money and found it was all there. She took out five yuan and handed it to Zhang Tiancai. "Have you eaten? Go buy breakfast! Warm yourself up!"

"Thanks!" Zhang Tiancai took the money, went out for a stroll, and came back with a tray of small steamed buns. "Have some. I'll help you pack!"

"Thank you so much!"

"Don't mention it!"

"I'll work hard to help you improve your English scores so you won't lose points in English!" Su Hanyan said earnestly.

Zhang Tiancai grinned at her brightly. "My dad will be ecstatic!"

In no time, Chen Miaomiao, Zhang Ning, and Liu Lu all came to help. Together, they cleaned the house for Su Hanyan and set up a heater.

The landlord brought over some coal and even gave them a few tables and chairs to use.

After Su Hanyan set up her bedroom and arranged everything in the classroom, it was already evening. She was exhausted but filled with happiness.