Chapter 29: The Whole Family Must Face the Firing Squad

She voiced her concerns: “Father, Mother, Second Brother, today we discovered that much grain. I suspect that First Uncle’s family might be moving their grain overnight.”

“I think what we need to do now is to keep watch on their every move. Also, today I spoke in front of Grandfather, saying Father isn’t our biological dad. If that’s true, they will surely talk about it when they get home tonight.”

Su Heng nodded repeatedly, affirming, “Sister, you’re right.”

Su Jianjun frowned. Could it really be that his good father wasn’t truly his biological dad?

If he wasn’t their real son, everything would make sense.

Since childhood, Father and Mother always nagged in his ear, “You were just mischievous as a kid. Big Brother hurt himself saving you. Whatever good things you get, you must always prioritize Big Brother.”

Coupled with what his son said, their whole family didn’t resemble Father and Mother in the slightest.

He began to suspect that he was likely not their biological child. Big Brother always had enough to eat, but he didn’t.

Big Brother could attend school, but for him, there was no money. He could only secretly learn to read from Old Master Liu in the village. He’d never worn new clothes; all he had were hand-me-downs from Big Brother.

There were countless such instances, and he wanted to know the truth.

He stored the grain in the utility room and placed the other items in the newly dug cellar.

After finishing all this, he took his son and headed to the Su family’s old residence.

Under the cover of darkness, the two climbed over the back wall and hid outside by the house.

They could clearly hear any conversations from inside.

Xiao Hei had eaten white rice and eggs at the young intellectual point, his belly round and full. He carried the basket leisurely on his way home.

Su Wanwan saw Xiao Hei return and checked the vegetables in the basket, still worried that the man might reject them. But when she opened it, she found the malted milk and milk candies she had refused at noon.

There was also a note tucked inside.

She opened it and read two words: “Return gift.”

Instantly, she smiled. Was this a sign he wanted her to chase him? Though just two words, it made her heart glad.

At least, he hadn’t rejected her.

She stared at the note, lost in her joy, forgetting that Xiao Hei was circling around her, whining softly.

“Master, did you forget something? Where’s my water?”

Su Wanwan quickly returned to the room, picked up a pen from the table, biting its tip as she pondered what else to write to Xie Beishen.

After a moment of thought, her eyes suddenly brightened, and she wrote swiftly, the paper rustling under her pen.

When finished, she looked over the note, dimples appearing on her cheeks. She truly wished to see Xie Beishen’s reaction upon reading it.

Would he be startled?

After sealing the note inside a small plastic bag, she glanced down at Xiao Hei lying by her feet, his ears drooping, moist black eyes stealing glances upward, his mouth slightly downturned as he emitted soft whimpers.

Seeing his pitiful expression melted her heart. This fellow was definitely craving her spring water.

“I promised to let you drink the spring water. Aren’t you going to drink it now?”

At once, Xiao Hei leapt up, wagging his tail vigorously, barking.

Su Wanwan went to Xiao Hei’s food bowl and summoned some spring water with her mind.

Xiao Hei drank eagerly.

When he finished, Su Wanwan said, “Go deliver this letter to Xie Beishen. Don’t let anyone else see it. Once Xie Beishen and I become a couple, I’ll find you a female dog to be your wife, and you’ll get spring water every day.”

It was alright to make such promises now.

“You’re still young. When you grow bigger, I’ll find you the most beautiful wife. Now go.” She put the plastic bag in front of Xiao Hei.

Xiao Hei took the letter and went to the young intellectual point.

Lin Yu didn’t accompany Xie Beishen to the mountain bath today. Working during the day and then trekking so far at night was too much. Just after finishing his bath, he saw Xiao Hei approaching, something in his mouth.

Xiao Hei entered Xie Beishen’s room, then came out carrying something, looking at Lin Yu.

Lin Yu thought the dog was truly clever.

He reached out his hand. “Give it to me. Xie Beishen went to bathe and hasn’t returned yet.”

Xiao Hei glanced at Lin Yu, then lay down at Xie Beishen’s door, placed the item on the ground, covered it with his paws, and rested his head on his feet, falling asleep.

Lin Yu knew the dog was fierce. It wasn’t worth getting bitten. Since Xie Beishen would see it anyway, Lin Yu went inside to sleep.

Su Jianjun knew the old residence was only half a village away from Big Brother’s mother-in-law’s house, a round trip of no more than half an hour. Soon, they heard the sound of the front gate opening.

Yang Guixiang grumbled as she entered, “You’re saying those two little bastards took our grain? How much?”

Su Jianwei grabbed his mother’s arm. “Let’s talk in the room. Don’t let others overhear.”

They all went into Yang Guixiang’s room.

Yang Guixiang’s room, like Su Mao’s, was at the very back of the house, so their conversation was naturally more private.

In the main hall, Su Jianjun and Su Heng exchanged looks and quietly crouched by the window behind Yang Guixiang’s room.

Yang Guixiang anxiously demanded, “Old man, hurry up and tell me what happened. Exactly how much grain did those two little bastards take?”

Su Mao then recounted everything that had happened when the two came to their house that night.

Yang Guixiang sat on the bed, slapping her thigh. “I never expected those two little bastards could do such a thing and even threaten us.” She glanced at her son. “Son, what do you think we should do?”

Su Jianwei glared angrily. “It’s all your fault. You should have let him drown when he was little.”

“It’s your idea to pretend to save him. You pushed him in but then saved him. We shouldn’t have saved him, and none of this would be happening now.”

Su Jianjun crouched in the corner, listening intently, his fists clenched tightly.

Yang Guixiang frowned. “We wanted him to grow up and be our laborer. Otherwise, when he was an infant, we would have buried him and his mother together. Now the two little brats he’s raising are threatening us too.”

Su Mao anxiously said, “Tonight we must move the grain. If those two spread the word, the consequences would be unimaginable. The whole family could be shot.”

Cold sweat poured down Su Jianwei’s face. His crimes were serious enough for prison, but they would surely execute him. Gritting his teeth, he snarled:

“If it weren’t for the strict black market inspections these days, we would have sold it days ago. I told the people on the other end to close the deal this Friday.”

Why hadn’t they discovered it sooner? Had they waited a few more days, they could have sold the grain and oil stored on the mountain all at once on the black market.

Fortune favors the bold—they could have made a big sum.

Su Jianwei said, “Father, Jin Hua, the three of us will move the grain from the house to the mountain tonight. Mother will watch the house. If the village finds out, I’ll be shot.”

The three were terrified at the mention of execution and nodded in agreement.

An evil gleam flashed in Su Jianwei’s eyes. “Tomorrow, we’ll test their intentions. If those two little bastards threaten us again, or if Second Brother betrays me, we’ll kill them first. Otherwise, our whole family will die.”