Volume 1, Chapter 19: Eat Dirt! I’d Have Been Better Off Giving Birth to a Piece of Barbecued Pork
Su Nuan looked up at Gu Hanxiao’s cold and icy face. She guessed that no kind words would come from this icy figure; perhaps he would even blame her for being naive.
“There’s no need to wrong yourself.”
“...?”
Hearing Gu Hanxiao’s words, not only Su Nuan but everyone else widened their eyes in disbelief. Especially Grandma Gu, who was stunned, her mouth agape. She knew her grandson well and understood that Gu Hanxiao’s nature was never to meddle in trivial family matters. Yet now, he had spoken up to defend Su Nuan’s justice.
Grandma Gu’s sharp eyes flicked between Gu Hanxiao and Su Nuan, as if contemplating something. Perhaps her probing gaze was too obvious, causing Gu Hanxiao to realize his momentary impulse. But faced with the young girl’s face, bravely holding back her grievances, he admitted he truly could not remain indifferent.
He had to explain his unusual behavior: “It’s natural to accept punishment when one errs. If one always harbors a wishful thinking to escape consequences, great disasters will come unbidden and no one will be able to save them. Especially children at their age should understand the saying, ‘Do not commit evil, however small.’”
Gu Hanxiao’s words instantly reminded Grandma Gu and Zhang Ping of the troublemaker Gu Jinghuai, who had nearly landed them in the police station before. For a moment, no one dared to speak up in defense of Song Niannian.
Grandma Gu even took the initiative to say, “Your elder brother is right. Niannian, when you make a mistake, you must admit it.”
“Yes, it’s better to resolve enmity than to let it fester,” Zhang Ping said, not wanting to take sides. “Little Nuan was wronged in this matter, but Auntie knows Niannian’s nature isn’t bad; she just acted impulsively.”
Although Song Niannian was displeased by their neutral stance, she wasn’t foolish. She knew that if she wanted to restore her image in the Gu family’s eyes, she had to go along with the stage Zhang Ping offered. So she quickly feigned remorse, saying, “I’m sorry, little sister Su Nuan. I sincerely apologize again... As long as you forgive me, I’ll do anything you ask.”
Su Nuan raised the corner of her brow and, with a playful sparkle in her eyes, graciously replied, “I have no other requests, only that Sister Niannian write me an apology letter.”
Song Niannian, having mingled in society, knew that an apology letter was a light punishment but enough to prove to everyone that Su Nuan was a magnanimous and generous girl, easily elevating her status in the Gu family.
Su Nuan’s clever tactic was a harsh blow to Song Niannian, fueling her jealousy and hatred even more.
“You wretched bitch, don’t get cocky. There’s still a long way to go; we’ll see who laughs last!”
Song Niannian stayed up late biting her tongue to write the apology letter for Su Nuan. She thought that was the end of it, but to her surprise, the next day Su Nuan posted the letter on the community bulletin board for all to see.
“Out of longing for my mother, I used a key to open my sister’s bedside cabinet... Ha! Saying a theft so elegantly is just ridiculous!”
“Shameless! Stealing from her own family—better off not born than to be like her.”
“Look! That hunchbacked woman is Song Niannian!”
On her way out to run errands for Grandma Gu, Song Niannian was constantly poked and ridiculed, her face burning red with shame. She finally understood why Su Nuan hadn’t competed to curry favor with Grandma Gu earlier.
---
“Damn bitch, so you had this all planned to make me lose face!”
Running too fast, Song Niannian accidentally collided head-on with a man carrying a bucket of manure, soaking her like a drowned rat, provoking uproarious laughter.
“—Ahhhh, damn you, Su Nuan!!!”
Song Niannian scrubbed herself in the public bathhouse for six straight hours, but the foul stench clung stubbornly, making her gag even at the dining table.
Pinching her nose, Su Nuan asked with concern, “Sister Niannian, why do you keep gagging like that?”
Su Nuan’s disdain ignited Song Niannian’s fury. When she turned, she found the Gu family all turning their backs on her, unwilling to face her. Even Gu Hanxiao, normally impassive, leaned his chair back slightly.
“...”
No one expressed their disgust aloud, but all were clearly repulsed.
Feeling both angry and humiliated, Song Niannian looked beseechingly at Grandma Gu, hoping she would intervene. Instead, Grandma Gu chuckled lightly and changed the subject:
“Oh dear, Niannian, are you feeling unwell? Why don’t you go lie down first? Grandma will make you some soup later.”
Zhang Ping and Gu Jinghuai nodded in agreement.
Gu Jinghuai took the opportunity to comfort her, “Little Song, if you’re not feeling well, don’t push yourself. Go inside and rest.”
Song Niannian felt utterly wronged. “I’m not sick...”
“Yes, Niannian’s been eating surprisingly well lately, finishing two bowls at a meal. But after eating, she says she’s sleepy and naps longer than before. So I think her health is good; the vomiting probably isn’t due to illness...” Su Nuan pondered aloud.
This made Grandma Gu and Zhang Ping exchange a glance, and Zhang Ping knowingly said, “Niannian, come to Auntie’s room after eating. Auntie and Grandma want to talk to you.”
Unaware of their intentions, Song Niannian thought Zhang Ping was scheming to give her some favor behind Su Nuan’s back. Before leaving, she deliberately showed off in front of Su Nuan.
“Oh, I wonder what Grandma and the others want to discuss. Maybe it’s about arranging for me to go to school... I heard graduates from Pengcheng’s top high schools get assigned good jobs. Hmm... It should pay more than being a temporary library worker, don’t you think, little sister Su Nuan~”
Su Nuan didn’t reply, only pinching her nose and saying, “But Sister Niannian, you still smell awful. Grandma’s old; she can’t stand the stench. I suggest you spray some floral water before you go.”
Mentioning this infuriated Song Niannian, who glared at the culprit before her and sneered, “Thanks for the tip, little sister Su Nuan! I won’t forget your kindness. Rest assured, I’ll repay you well in the future.”
After saying this, she stormed off, while Su Nuan watched her retreating figure with a raised brow.
A young girl with a suddenly increased appetite, sleepiness, and vomiting... No matter how one combined these signs, Grandma Gu and Zhang Ping, with their experience, could only reach one conclusion—Song Niannian might be pregnant.
Su Nuan was sure Grandma Gu understood the implications even more clearly.
---
And as Su Nuan suspected, the truth unfolded.
In a room, Grandma Gu spoke directly, “Niannian, have you been seeing anyone lately?”
She hadn’t got a boyfriend, but she did have someone in her heart...
Thinking of Gu Hanxiao’s deep and handsome face, Song Niannian blushed.
Seeing this, Grandma Gu frowned, “Although the Gu family is liberal, we do not accept premarital pregnancy among our children.”
“Ah?” Song Niannian suddenly realized the misunderstanding and hurriedly explained, “Grandma, you’re mistaken. I’m not pregnant. The vomiting is from the stench of the manure.”
“...”
Grandma Gu didn’t know if Song Niannian was lying. Even if she were truly pregnant, Grandma Gu wasn’t afraid of Su Xunan or Feng Lan blaming the Su family’s lack of supervision. But she feared the two boys in the family would be implicated by scandal and gossip. So she needed an answer quickly.
To get that answer, Song Niannian was forced to go to the city hospital’s obstetrics department for an examination, enduring agonizing pain that left her howling like a banshee and bedridden for several days, her face pale as death.
Was she pitiful?
Su Nuan didn’t feel the least sorry, because compared to what she and Feng Lan had suffered in their previous lives, this was nothing. Especially recalling those unbearable humiliations, Su Nuan wished she could have slaughtered Song Niannian on the spot!
Yet these thoughts would not lead her to action. Song Niannian was not worthy of sullying her hands. Su Nuan had grand plans to achieve and wanted to bring her mother to prosperity with her.
Thinking of her mother’s gentle and serene face in the flood, Su Nuan shed tears.
“Mom, are you alright in Pengcheng? I miss you so much...”
“...”
Far away in a hospital in Pengcheng City, Li Man seemed to feel the longing carried by the summer breeze and spoke with moist, reddened eyes:
“My dear Nuan Nuan, don’t worry. Mom is fine. I have already received the divorce papers. Once Su Xunan signs, I can come to Pengcheng to see you.”
Before Li Man’s words could fall, a sharp and bitter crying echoed down the corridor.
“Damn it! Xunan, can you believe it? That little wife won’t give me a single bite of food. She just wants to watch me die!”