Su shi originally wanted to accept, but after hearing what Jiang Wan and Er Lang said, she politely declined Manager Song.
Manager Song smiled and said, "Miss Jiang, you are truly blessed. Not only is your husband considerate, but even your sister-in-law cares for you so much."
Su shi smiled and stroked Jiang Wan's chubby little face, her heart filled with sweetness.
Marrying into the Jiang family was truly a blessing she had cultivated over lifetimes.
The three of them bid farewell to Manager Song and exited the embroidery shop. Suddenly, a person rushed out from the side, heading straight for Su shi. Jiang Wan, worried that Su shi might be hit, reacted instinctively and quickly stepped forward, pushing the charging person away.
The person felt a powerful force on their waist and was sent flying.
Su shi was also startled, her hand clutching her rapidly beating chest as she took a step back. Da Lang quickly moved to shield her.
Jiang Wan, furious, yelled, "Can't you watch where you're going?"
The person didn't fall too hard. After rolling a couple of times on the ground, they got up and, with a look of surprise, shouted towards Su shi, "Su Luo, it's me! I'm your elder brother!"
Both Su shi and Da Lang were shocked. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was indeed Su Qing, the eldest son of the Su family!
However, the Su Qing before them looked vastly different from her memory. His skin was sallow and dark, and he was so thin that his eyes bulged. He looked rather frightening.
After recognizing him, Su shi excitedly asked, "Brother, why are you here? Where are the others from home?"
Su Qing was also very emotional. "We only arrived here two days ago. Father, Mother, your sister-in-law, your nephews and nieces, and my second and third brothers are all outside the city. I came into the city to find work, and I never expected to run into you. I almost didn't recognize you just now. Oh, right, did you also escape?"
Su shi's eyes immediately welled up with tears. "How are Father and Mother? Did you encounter any difficulties on your journey?"
Su Qing's expression turned bitter. "Your little niece… she's gone…"
Su shi's tears began to fall. "How could this happen…"
"She was too ill. We lacked doctors and medicine on the road. Alas… Father and Mother are alright, but they have no food or water and are suffering greatly."
Upon hearing this, Su shi quickly handed over the more than three taels of silver she had just received and hadn't even had time to warm. "Brother, take this silver and buy some grain for Father and Mother."
Su Qing didn't even bother to be polite and immediately reached out to take the silver. "You're the good one, knowing to think of home."
Jiang Wan couldn't stand it any longer. She stepped forward, snatched the silver back, and let out a sarcastic哼.
"Indeed, in your Su family, only my sister-in-law has a conscience. Unlike you, who left with the entire family fleeing famine without a word, abandoning her alone at her in-laws'. Are you afraid our Jiang family can't afford to support a daughter-in-law, or are you afraid we'll cling to you?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Su shi again. "Sister-in-law, you are truly too soft-hearted. They left without a word back then, and now you're still willing to give them your hard-earned silver. Aren't you afraid they'll just leave again without a word?"
Prompted by Jiang Wan, Su shi suddenly remembered the incident, and her face turned pale.
She had barely suffered any hardship on her journey, so she had forgotten about it.
Remembering it again, Su shi felt a sharp pain in her heart, and the suffocating feeling of being abandoned by her own family surged back.
Er Lang quickly supported her and questioned Su Qing, "Big Brother, why did you leave without a word when your family departed? Did you not spare a single thought for A'luo?"
Su Qing's expression stiffened, and he stammered, "That… that… we were… we were scared…"
Jiang Wan scoffed, "Were you scared, or did you simply not consider this泼出去的水 (spilled water)? You know best."
After saying that, she returned the silver to Su shi. "Sister-in-law, since you are already泼出去的水 (spilled water), you should understand who you truly need to care about. This silver, earned by your sleepless nights embroidering, is it for the child in your belly, or for those who don't value you? You decide."
She had no right to make decisions for Su shi, so she had to return the silver. Moreover, she wanted to see how Su shi would act, so she could prepare herself in advance.
Su shi held the silver, her heart torn.
She felt conflicted. She resented her family for abandoning her without a word, yet she worried that her family was truly at their wits' end.
Su Qing understood her best. He wiped away tears that weren't there. "Little sister, don't blame the family. If it weren't for fear of burdening you and the Jiang family, we wouldn't have done that. Father and Mother have been thinking of you these days. If you have time, go and see them. Their situation is not good right now."
Hearing this, Su shi couldn't harden her heart any longer, and her eyes immediately reddened. "Brother, what happened to Father and Mother?"
Su Qing sighed heavily. "They are ill."
Su shi became anxious. "Brother, where are Father and Mother? Hurry and take me there."
Da Lang was also a little worried.
Su Qing quickly said, "They are outside the city. Come, I'll take you."
Jiang Wan shrugged helplessly and followed along.
Su Qing climbed onto the carriage, looked around, and then asked, "A'luo, whose carriage is this?"
Su shi smiled. "Brother, this is our own carriage."
Su Qing's eyes widened instantly. "The Jiang family's? Are you joking? Although this horse looks ordinary, it must be worth thirty to forty taels of silver. Where did the Jiang family get so much money?"
Just as Su shi was about to explain, Jiang Wan coughed twice, interrupting her. Her sister-in-law was truly guileless and poured her heart out for her family.
This wasn't necessarily wrong, but the Su family didn't deserve such treatment from Su shi.
Hearing her cough, Su shi quickly asked, "Wan Wan, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Jiang Wan smiled faintly. "Sister-in-law, I'm fine."
Su Qing looked down at her. "Isn't this your foolish little sister-in-law? Why is she talking now?"
A hint of disgust flashed in Jiang Wan's eyes. This Su Qing was over thirty years old, yet he couldn't speak a decent word!
Su shi quickly said, "Brother, Wan Wan is not foolish!"
Da Lang also put on a stern face. "My little sister was just quiet before."
Seeing their displeasure, Su Qing quickly changed his tune. "Yes, yes, this little girl is very clever."
Jiang Wan lowered her eyes, concealing her displeasure.
The Su family's lodging was in the completely opposite direction from the new site of the small mountain village. The small mountain village was to the east, while the Su family's lodging was outside the west city wall.
As soon as they arrived, Su Qing jumped off the carriage and excitedly shouted towards the Su family's thatched hut, "Father, Mother, come out quickly and see who I've brought."
A crowd of people rushed out of the Su family's hut, leaving Jiang Wan stunned.