Zhang Guifang walked away cursing.
Su Xiaoxiao frowned, wondering if their second aunt had a ntal problem. Wasn’t she a woman herself? Why did she treat Su Pan so poorly?
"Alright, stop looking. It’s their family business, and it’s not good for us outsiders to get involved too much."
Although Liu Cuilan felt very sorry for Su Pan, she was still an outsider. Considering how Zhang Guifang behaved, getting involved too much would probably just bring trouble.
As dusk fell, Liu Cuilan hurried the two younger brothers off to bed, cutting their TV ti short.
"What ti is it? Why are you still watching? If only you two were this focused on your studies. Go to bed, quickly."
Scolding them back to their room, she called Su Xiaoxiao and Su Wenbing over.
"First and third child, wait a minute. I have sothing to say to you."
They both responded and ca over.
The three of them sat around the table.
Liu Cuilan cleared her throat, "Let’s keep it short. This conversation is wasting electricity."
The electric light wasn’t like an oil lamp; it was too bright to dim down.
First, Liu Cuilan looked at Su Wenbing: "Wenbing, when you go back to work tomorrow, make sure to maintain good relations with your leaders and colleagues. I think you’ve mostly been tripped up at work. Be aware and don’t be so straightforward."
This eldest son was good in all ways, except he was too honest and straightforward, which was worriso.
Su Wenbing nodded, "Mom, don’t worry, I understand."
Only then did Liu Cuilan turn to Su Xiaoxiao, "Third child, I’ve discussed with your elder brother. You’re not getting any younger; it’s ti to talk about marriage. What kind of partner are you looking for? Mom will set it up for you."
Su Xiaoxiao had just taken a sip from her enal mug and almost spit it on Su Wenbing’s face.
"Cough, cough, cough... Mom, I’m still young, no rush."
There were still two unmarried grown-ups at ho, yet Mom seed to be fixated only on her.
"I think that Captain Zhou from last ti was pretty good. He’s handso, an officer, and generous..."
Before she could finish, Su Xiaoxiao stretched and yawned, "Mom, I have work tomorrow, and Zhaodi and I also have to go to the canteen. We can talk about this later, okay?"
With that, she slipped away quickly.
"That girl! She always dodges whenever this topic cos up. It’s bound to happen sooner or later."
Once again, Liu Cuilan turned to Su Wenbing, "First child, you’re also not getting younger. Your marriage..."
Su Wenbing abruptly stood up, "Mom, I have a stomachache, need to use the bathroom. Sleep early, this light’s too bright, wastes electricity."
And with that, he was gone.
Liu Cuilan: "..."
It’s like the emperor isn’t in a hurry, but the eunuch is. They’re all turning into old spinsters and bachelors, so why aren’t any of them in a hurry to get married?
Su Xiaoxiao returned to her room, lying on the kang, thinking about going to the Red Star Clothing Factory the next day.
In the past few days, she had finished drawing up the designs and been waiting for production.
She had a good foundation in art, and with so many ready-made fashion styles in modern tis, designing a set was no big deal.
She designed a n’s suit and a won’s suit.
Both were blue-thed suits.
The n’s was similar to the current style of suit and trousers, while the won’s was a suit top with a pleated skirt—stylish and elegant.
She placed the finished sketches in her satchel, planning to take them to the clothing factory the next day.
After a night of good dreams, she surprisingly woke up early the next day. After breakfast, she went to work.
Just as she was pushing her bicycle out the door, she was startled by the small shadow squatting at the door.
Looking up, she realized there was a person curled on the ground, face buried in their arms, with visible nail marks on their exposed slim arms.
Upon hearing movent, the person lifted their head, "Cousin."
It turned out to be Su Pan.
Su Xiaoxiao quickly parked her bike and rushed over to support her, "Why are you sleeping here?"
Su Pan shook her head with a pale face, "Yesterday I couldn’t retrieve the items, and didn’t finish the fieldwork, so my mom kicked out."
Seeing her like a pitiful stray cat, Su Xiaoxiao’s heart stirred, and she quickly brought her inside.
Liu Cuilan and Xu Zhaodi were busy playing with little Shitou while discussing today’s nu for the canteen. They were slightly surprised to see Su Pan.
After Su Xiaoxiao explained the situation, Su Pan stood nervously nearby.
Liu Cuilan said, "Alright, this isn’t your concern. Hurry to work, don’t be late."
Su Xiaoxiao suddenly rembered that the ti was indeed getting late.
She hurriedly walked out, shouting back to Liu Cuilan, "Mom, we’re not missing that extra mouth to feed. Let Pan live with us for now? If we send her back to that heartless family, who knows how they’ll abuse her."
With anticipation, Su Pan looked at Liu Cuilan—the thought of returning to that ho, where she slept in the pigsty and lived worse than the livestock, made her desperate.
Liu Cuilan looked at her hesitantly, "But...your parents are still around. It wouldn’t be right for us to keep you without their consent."
Tears welled up in Su Pan’s eyes as she knelt before Liu Cuilan again, "Auntie, I eat very little and can do chores. Can you please let stay?"
Xu Zhaodi chid in, "Auntie, let’s keep her. She can help us with little Shitou when we’re busy at the canteen. I can even pay her a salary."
The two of them running the canteen was a cooperative effort, but Xu Zhaodi insisted on a 70-30 split with Liu Cuilan getting the 70.
Except for buying things for little Shitou, Xu Zhaodi hardly spent any money, so she had saved a bit recently.
Faced with a girl whose experience mirrored hers, Xu Zhaodi genuinely wanted to help.
Liu Cuilan sighed, "Pan, you can work with us at the canteen, help out when it’s busy, and take care of little Shitou. I’ll give you fifteen kuai a month as a salary. How about that?"
Fifteen kuai was quite a sum.
Su Pan imdiately nodded without hesitation, "Auntie, I don’t need money; just a al would suffice. I’m willing to go."
anwhile, when Su Xiaoxiao arrived at the departnt store, she was thrilled to hear about a fresh seafood delivery.
Since coming here, she hadn’t had fresh seafood in ages.
Luckily, she had quite a few cash coupons, enough to buy eight or ten pounds of seafood.
Just then, Zhang Dongi walked by, raised her chin, and snorted coldly, "Don’t think you can borrow my coupons again this ti."
Before her words faded, Su Xiaoxiao swiftly blocked her path, giving Zhang Dongi a fright.
"You...what are you doing? I’m warning you, don’t ss around. We’re at work, everyone’s watching."
Su Xiaoxiao, speechless, counted out a few cash coupons and handed them to Zhang Dongi, "Here’s your money back from last ti."
After thrusting the coupons into her arms, Su Xiaoxiao turned and left.
Zhang Dongi was surprised at how much money she had and grew even angrier.
She angrily returned to her counter, just as soone called out, "Comrade Su, the general manager needs to see you."
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