Chapter 6: Okay, let's go to the City Part 2
Mrs. Sun felt her face flush with anger. "Qiu Fang isn't a stranger. Why are you speaking like this?"
"Forget it, Mom, I'll take care of Minzi. We won't trouble Sister-in-law," Su Changrong finally spoke after remaining silent for a while.
"Changrong," Sun Qiufang frowned as she looked at her husband.
"It's fine, Min is old enough to stay with us. We won't trouble Sister-in-law," Su Changrong reiterated.
"But where will Min stay?" Sun Qiufang asked.
"Mom and Dad, I also want to live with you," Su Min quickly added. She had never intended to stay here. As long as this last option was cut off, her parents would have no other choices.
Seeing her daughter and son-in-law's determination, Mrs. Sun felt conflicted. "Why are you being stubborn now? Min is still young, how can she endure the hardships of living with you? She still has her studies to think about; what if she gets delayed?"
Zhang Guihua chimed in, "Mom, you haven't shown the same concern for Qianqian and Yanzhi. Besides, Min has grandparents on her side, so there's no need for you to worry so much."
"But I'm her grandmother, and I care about her," Mrs. Sun insisted.
"You need to have the capability for that as well." Zhang Guihua retorted. "When it comes to welcoming your son-in-law and daughter as guests, I don't mind at all. But when it comes to helping raise a child, it's a different story. Our family is struggling to make ends meet, and we can't afford to support three children. Qianqian and Yanzhi are already sharing a room; if we add Minzi, they will be more crowded."
Sun Qiufang understood that the situation had reached a point where it couldn't work out. Even if her mother persuaded her sister-in-law to allow Minzi to stay, Minzi's life here wouldn't be easy, and it might even burden her own mother.
"Forget it, Changrong is right, we can take care of Minzi ourselves."
Grandma Sun was anxious and asked, "What about Minzi? Where will she sleep with you?"
Su Min smiled and replied, "Grandma, my parents, and I are going to the city. We'll live there from now on."
Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang were both surprised to hear this.
Zhang Guihua, with skepticism, said, "But you don't even have a house in the city. How can you live there?"
Su Min explained, "It's precisely because we don't have a house in the countryside that we're moving to the city. Life in the city is better, and my parents are hardworking. We're not afraid of not making it."
She looked at her parents and said, "Mom and Dad, you agree, right? We're going to the city, and we'll definitely be fine."
Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang didn't know what to say. Sun Qiufang then said, "Yes, we have hands and feet; we can make a living anywhere."
Zhang Guihua smirked and said, "Well then, you go and live your life in the city. But I must make it clear, we're tight on funds right now. If you don't have living expenses, we can't provide you with money."
Sun Qiufang's expression changed, and she said, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I wouldn't even ask you for it."
Grandma Sun said, "Well, we're all family; don't say such things. You can go to the city first and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out, you can always come back."
Zhang Guihua, hearing Grandma Sun's apparent favoritism, became visibly displeased and pursed her lips.
Seeing Zhang Guihua's expression, Sun Qiufang felt uncomfortable and had no intention of enduring such treatment. She stood up and said, "We still need to go home and pack our things, so we'll head back for now. We'll come visit Mom when we have some free time."
"Don't leave without having dinner. Your older brother and Haizi will be back soon." Grandma Sun said with reluctance, looking at them.
Sun Qiufang shook her head and replied, "It's okay. Changrong and I need to take care of things while it's still early."
Hearing her words, Grandma Sun, considering that they had just separated households and had many things to attend to, decided not to insist on them staying. She could also sense the tension, especially from her daughter-in-law, and couldn't do much about it. She said, "Then go back and handle your affairs. If you encounter any difficulties, come over here. No matter what, your brothers will take care of you."
"Mom, I understand," Sun Qiufang said, feeling uneasy herself. As a married woman, she not only failed to support her family but also caused them trouble. It made her mother worry even though she was this old already.
Grandma Sun escorted the family to the village exit, standing under the large locust tree at the village entrance, watching them walk away.
Su Min glanced back at Grandma Sun and then turned to Sun Qiufang, saying, "Mom, Grandma is still watching us."
"I know. Let's walk faster, and she'll go back," Sun Qiufang replied without looking back. At this moment, turning back would only make the old lady worry even more.
Su Min said, "Mom and Dad, do we have to go back to Su Family Village? We don't have a house, are we really going to live in a makeshift shelter? If my grandma finds out, she'll worry so much. Besides, I just told them we were going to the city. If we don't go, won't they think we lied?"
Su Changrong sighed, "Why did you say that to your aunt just now? We said we were going to the city, and now we can't back out of it without losing face."
Su Min, sensing some flexibility in her father's tone, hurriedly said, "Dad, I was just upset about the way Aunt treated us. Anyway, let's go and take a look at the city. If it doesn't work out, we can always come back, and that way, we won't lose face."
"But how will we make a living in the city?" Su Changrong looked worried.
"Don't worry, Dad. I've thought it through. We can collect scraps in the city. Those broken metals, and paper scraps, they can all be sold for money. If our family works together, we'll earn more than in the countryside."
"Collecting scrap can make money?" Sun Qiufang looked surprised.
"Yes," Su Min nodded seriously, "I heard it from our teacher. She's been to the city before and said there are recycling stations where they pay for scrap metals and paper, pretty much anything."
Hearing that it came from their daughter's high school teacher, they began to believe it to some extent. With no house to live in at Su Family Village and their crops not ready for harvest until next year, staying cramped in a thatched hut wasn't a viable option. Plus, they had boasted about it to Su Min's family, so there was no turning back now. If what the daughter's teacher said was true, collecting scrap could be a decent source of income. They didn't mind getting dirty and working hard, so it seemed like a suitable opportunity.
Su Min looked at her parents' silence and knew they were hesitating. She urged them, "Mom, Dad, don't hesitate anymore. The early bird catches the worm. If we delay, we might miss out on everything."
"Changrong, let's give it a try," Sun Qiufang turned to Su Changrong.
Su Changrong looked at the vast fields and the distant, faint mountain range. He had lived in these mountains for many years, but now, there was no place for him here. He turned to his wife and daughter, who were eagerly awaiting his response, and finally nodded, "Alright, let's go to the city."
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