The group recounted what had happened—mostly Liu Fūlang and Cai Zhi doing the talking. Su Chi sat with his head down, unwilling to speak, and Xie Yushu had no interest in engaging with the Su family members across from her.
After hearing both sides, Su Quan had already made up her mind. Ignoring Cai Zhi’s howling protests, she ordered the Su Ping family to stop coming to Su Chi’s house to sponge off him.
Su Quan had always known about the Su Ping family’s visits to Su Chi’s house. She’d spoken to them privately about it before, but it had never done any good—they always brushed her off with excuses.
She’d held back because she didn’t want to stir up trouble and risk damaging Su Chi’s reputation. But now their behavior was getting more brazen.
An aunt and uncle begging from their nephew—what kind of nonsense was that? Weren’t they ashamed?
They all shared the surname Su, and Su Quan was related to both families, but her sympathies lay with Su Chi. The sight of Su Ping and Cai Zhi’s shamelessness made her blood boil.
Su Ping protested: “Village Chief, what do you mean by ‘sponge’? That’s such an ugly word! My sister Su Hui and I were born from the same father—there’s no one closer than us. Now that she’s gone, of course it’s our responsibility to look after Chi-ge’er.”
“It’s perfectly normal for family to share things—giving and taking among relatives is the most natural thing. Don’t all village families do the same? Why are we being singled out?”
“My husband didn’t do anything wrong—he just went to ask Chi-ge’er for a few buns. Where’s the great offense in that?”
Su Ping shot Su Chi a reproachful look. “Chi-ge’er, really—do you think your aunt’s family would try to cheat you out of a few buns?”
Wouldn’t they though? Xie Yushu thought with disgust.
Everyone at the table was stunned by Su Ping’s twisted logic—even Su Sheng was so embarrassed by his mother’s words that he turned his head away, unable to look at her.
He could usually put in a good word for his parents in front of the villagers when the situation called for it. But this kind of shameless twisting of the truth was beyond him—he couldn’t bring himself to back them up, for fear of damaging his own reputation. So he stayed silent.
They all thought the same: What incredible nerve.
Liu Fūlang laughed in disbelief. “And you call that not sponging? ‘Relatives visiting’? Funny how your family only ever ‘visits’ Chi-ge’er’s house—and when has he ever come to yours?”
“Every time you come, you take this and grab that. Anyone who didn’t know would think our village was in famine! And you call yourselves elders—shameless, the lot of you.”
“Don’t let outsiders hear about this—some of us in this village still have our dignity.”
Every time Liu Fūlang saw Su Ping’s family leaving Su Chi’s house with their arms full, he’d go check on Su Chi. And every time, Su Chi would just smile politely and say it was nothing, telling him not to worry.
He felt sorry for the boy—such a good child, being taken advantage of by those leeches of relatives.
“Our family business is none of your concern!” Cai Zhi shouted back.
He tried to turn and glare at Liu Fūlang, but Xie Yushu’s figure blocked his view of Su Chi—he couldn’t even aim his glare properly.
Su Quan interjected: “I’m not an outsider—I can speak on this.”
“From now on, no more visits. The Su Ping family isn’t starving—you just love taking advantage of Chi-ge’er. Do you know what the villagers are saying about your family?”
“Let them say whatever they want! I’m Chi-ge’er’s real aunt—why would I mistreat him? Even if my brother-in-law were standing here, I’d say the same!”
Neither Su Ping nor Cai Zhi was willing to back down.
At the mention of his father, Su Chi felt a chill run through him. He said flatly, “Aunt, please don’t come anymore. My household is barely scraping by—Father is still ill, and all our good food has to go to him. There’s simply nothing left for your family.”
“Fine, Chi-ge’er—how heartless you’ve become!” Su Ping’s eyes widened in feigned disbelief.
Her usually compliant nephew had actually said something like that! How could he!
Su Quan tapped the table, settling the matter: “You heard him—Chi-ge’er doesn’t welcome you. Don’t go anymore.”
Cai Zhi curled his lip in displeasure, then came up with another angle. “Village Chief, what about that Zhai woman? She came out of nowhere and cursed me—said some terrible things. If you’re going to be fair, you need to deal with her too.”
“Besides, what’s an unmarried woman doing at an unmarried young man’s house?”
Seeing that nothing was going his way today—they’d been humiliated, lost their case with the village chief, and would be gossiped about—Cai Zhi decided to drag Xie Yushu down with him. Who told her to stick her nose in?
Su Ping perked up at this new angle, quickly putting on a concerned look: “Is that so? This woman has been coming to Chi-ge’er’s house?”
Her intent was clear—she wanted to shift the focus onto the impropriety of an unmarried man and woman spending time together.
Cai Zhi spread his hands: “Exactly! And she cursed me out of nowhere. Tell me—how can a woman be so petty? Not to mention disrespectful—we’re still her elders, but she had no manners at all. She even said I should go ask Su Hui myself! What kind of talk is that—isn’t she cursing me to death?”
With his wife by his side, Cai Zhi felt emboldened. He finished his complaint with a pitiful expression.
Hearing his uncle bring up Xie Yushu, Su Chi stirred and was about to speak up for her, but Xie Yushu stopped him immediately.
She didn’t want Su Chi dragged back into this ugly quarrel. She knew exactly what Cai Zhi was up to. With a faint smile, she said, “Yes, I did say some harsh things.”
Cai Zhi pointed at her triumphantly: “See? See? Even she admits it!”
Then Xie Yushu added coolly, “But you’re not the kind of person who deserves to hear nice things either.”
Liu Fūlang couldn’t help chiming in with glee: “And it wasn’t for no reason—you had it coming. Serves you right.”
Su Ping, seeing her husband being ganged up on, grew flustered: “You two—!”
“That’s enough!” Su Quan slammed the table, startling everyone.
“If you hadn’t been loitering at Chi-ge’er’s house refusing to leave, would Miss Xie have come? She was being a good neighbor, helping Chi-ge’er out of kindness—and you twist it around to blame her! Clearly, neither of you sees anything wrong with your own behavior!”
Su Ping and her husband, seeing the village chief was firmly on the other side, swallowed their resentment. With a few mumbled, half-hearted responses, they grabbed Su Sheng and left.
The room fell quiet. The village chief comforted Su Chi, saying she also bore responsibility—she hadn’t done her duty as village chief and had let him be bullied for so long.
Su Chi shook his head, saying it wasn’t her fault.
Su Quan also praised Xie Yushu warmly, patting her shoulder. She hadn’t expected Xie Yushu to have such a kind heart—it genuinely moved her.
Everyone went home. Su Chi thanked Liu Fūlang for standing up for him. Liu Fūlang waved it off, saying it was nothing, and told him to come find him if that family ever showed up again.
He was sick of those shameless people too.
Xie Yushu walked Su Chi home.
She lingered, reluctant to leave. She could tell he was upset—she’d been sneaking glances at him at the village chief’s house, and he’d looked so troubled. His uncle’s cruel words had clearly hurt him. She didn’t know how to comfort him.
They sat in the main hall of Su Chi’s house. Finally, Xie Yushu spoke: “Are you feeling better? You don’t look okay.”
“None of this is your fault. Don’t take their harsh words to heart. They’re shameless and greedy.”
Her own aunt’s family was bad, but Su Chi’s aunt’s family was somehow even worse.
The two of them really were in the same boat—cursed with such terrible relatives.
Su Chi looked at her sincere face and nodded. “I know. I’m fine.”
“Then why do you look so sad?” Xie Yushu didn’t believe him.
“It’s nothing. I just… miss my mother.” Su Chi shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper, as if not meant for her ears.
When his mother was still alive, his father had also been healthy. The three of them had lived a simple, peaceful life—and their hearts had been full.
His mother had been tall and strong, with a rough exterior, but soft and gentle with him and his father. She spoke softly, and her features were beautiful—his own resembled hers.
She used to lift him high so he could see beyond the courtyard wall. She’d hold his small hands and teach him how to knead dough and pleat buns, saying it was a skill that would put food on the table.
She’d tell him that once little Chi learned, he’d always have a full belly.
His father would be busy in the kitchen, smiling at them, and then make a table full of delicious food. The three of them never ran out of things to talk about.
In his memory, his mother smelled of wheat flour. Her large hands were warm, her embrace comforting. As long as she was there, the family never lacked its pillar of strength.
Thinking of her, his eyes reddened instantly, glistening with tears. A wave of sorrow rose in his nose, and before he could stop it, his lashes trembled and two teardrops fell.
Before he could recover, a soft cloth covered his eyes.
“Hm?” Su Chi turned, confused, tear-streaked face toward Xie Yushu.
“You’re crying. Let me wipe them.” She gently dabbed at one eye, then the other. The handkerchief soon bore two damp circles.
The sight of Su Chi’s silent tears burned in her chest.
In her eyes, Su Chi was always serious, skilled, diligent, and so strong—always so polite with her. Only today did she realize how soft and vulnerable he really was.
Men in this world really were made of water—tears came so easily.
Without thinking, she pulled out the handkerchief embroidered with bamboo and wiped his tears.
As she did, her fingers brushed against his tears.
So hot, she thought. Such big teardrops.
Su Chi only then realized what he was doing—he’d cried in front of her.
He thanked her softly, took the handkerchief still warm from her touch, and turned away to wipe his face dry.
He probably needed some time alone. Xie Yushu wisely took her leave.
After drying his tears, Su Chi turned to return the handkerchief—but Xie Yushu had already slipped away. He was left holding the cloth in his hand.
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