Traveling through the Great Northern Wilderness and marrying the most beautiful educated youth.

Hard.

Ma Jinfeng's hand froze, and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Third brother, what's in here?"

Su Qingyun patted the sack and laughed, "Sister-in-law, why don't you open it and see?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Jinfeng acted faster than anyone else.

She quickly untied the hemp rope and pulled the bag opening down.

next second.

"Oh my god!"

That shout almost blew the kitchen roof off.

Liu Guifen was so frightened that she dropped the spatula.

"Jin Feng, what are you yelling about!"

Ma Jinfeng pointed at the sack, her tongue practically tied in knots.

"Mom, Mom, potatoes! And pumpkin!"

Liu Guifen quickly came over to take a look.

Inside the burlap sack, large, golden-yellow pumpkins were crammed together.

The potatoes were even more frightening; each one was round and plump, as big as a fist.

She had never seen such vibrant potatoes in her life.

Ma Jinfeng picked one up, her eyes shining.

"Why is it so big? It looks just like a sweet potato!"

She kept shouting, but her hands clung tightly to the object, refusing to let go.

Su Qingyun casually remarked, "It's a high-yield new variety introduced by the forest farm's agricultural science station. It's large and filling."

"The forest farm's agricultural research station?"

Upon hearing this title, Ma Jinfeng straightened her back.

In her eyes, any place with the word "field" in its name is extraordinary.

Liu Guifen, however, was not happy.

Looking at the sacks full of grain, her face paled even more.

These days, families drink thin porridge all day long.

Who wouldn't be shocked if someone suddenly brought back over 100 pounds of food?

"San'er".

Liu Guifen grabbed Su Qingyun's arm, her voice trembling.

"Third son, tell me honestly, you didn't steal it, did you?"

Ma Jinfeng was also dumbfounded.

She was all smiles just now, but now the potato in her hand is burning hot.

Stealing public grain will land you in jail.

If things go wrong, we might get criticized in a big meeting.

Su Qingyun was delighted.

"Mom, what are you thinking about?"

As he spoke, he reached out and pulled the fishing net off the sack.

The newly bought fishing net still smelled of hemp rope.

There were three animal traps nearby, their iron teeth gleaming coldly.

"See that? I went to the deep pool in the reeds today and caught a big fish."

Liu Guifen was skeptical.

"How big of a fish is it to be traded for all this stuff?"

Su Qingyun hung the fishing net next to the stove.

"She weighs at least twenty pounds, and her belly is so wide."

He gestured with his hand.

"We happened to run into the purchasing team from the forest farm's canteen. They have a lot of cadres there, and they really appreciate this fresh food."

"I didn't ask for money; I traded some extra coarse grains from the cafeteria with them."

He spoke of it casually.

But these words contain fishing nets, animal traps, and forest farms.

It sounds pretty real.

Liu Guifen looked at the fishing net again, and only then did she feel relieved.

"You little rascal, you scared your mother to death!"

"We can't take risks anymore; deep water is too dangerous."

Su Qingyun nodded: "I know, I understand."

Ma Jinfeng has now fully come back to life.

She poured the potatoes into the basin, rolled up her sleeves, and started washing them.

In the past, even lighting a fire would make him complain of backaches and pains.

I feel full of energy right now.

"Mom, let's steam potatoes today! And we'll stew a piece of pumpkin too!"

"Wow, these potatoes are so big! They'll smell amazing when they're steamed!"

She kept glancing at Su Qingyun while washing.

His eyes were so warm.

"Third brother, you're really strong."

"If you ask me, a man should be like you: capable, able to earn money, and able to bring things home."

Su Qingyun sneered inwardly upon hearing her words.

coming.

As expected, I can't get past her sister.

Ma Jinfeng put the washed potatoes into the pot, her voice softening even more.

"Don't you think our family would be even more prosperous if we had another capable daughter-in-law?"

Liu Guifen was busy adding firewood and didn't catch the meaning.

Su Qingyun, however, was too lazy to respond to her.

"Sister-in-law, you cook."

"I'm going to talk to Dad about something."

Ma Jinfeng opened her mouth, wanting to mention Ma Yinfeng again.

Su Qingyun had already lifted the curtain and gone out.

In the courtyard, the sun was setting.

Su Guishan was watering the vegetable garden with manure.

A spoonful of fecal water was poured on, and the pungent smell hit the nose directly.

Su Qingyun walked over and took the manure scoop from her hand.

"Father, let me do it."

Su Guishan glanced at him.

"You're back quite early today."

"The work is done."

Su Qingyun put the manure scoop into the bucket without any hesitation.

"Dad, I won't repeat what you said behind my back this morning. I'll be frank today—I will never marry Ma Yinfeng. The person I want to marry is Lin Wanqiu, a former educated youth."

Su Guishan paused in his action of tapping his pipe.

He didn't even bother to brush off the cigarette ash that fell on his shoes.

really.

This kid hasn't given up since this morning.

Now they're pushing their luck even further.

Not only would he not marry Ma Yinfeng, but he would also marry a city educated youth.

Su Guishan's face darkened immediately.

"Lin Wanqiu?"

He slammed his pipe against the edge of the vegetable patch, sending sparks flying everywhere.

"That sickly, unable-to-carry female educated youth? All the educated youth are desperate to return to the city, do you think you can keep her if you marry her!"

As soon as the voice was raised, the noise from the kitchen decreased.

Ma Jinfeng immediately leaned half her body out.

Liu Guifen was also standing at the door, holding a fire poker in her hand.

Su Qingyun glanced at the courtyard gate.

There's no one outside.

He walked over and closed the courtyard gate behind him.

"Don't let outsiders overhear what's going on at home."

Su Guishan became even angrier upon hearing this.

"You still know what shame is?"

"If you marry a female educated youth, she'll come back to the city every two years, and you won't even be able to catch a glimpse of her!"

"Then the whole village will laugh at the Su family!"

Ma Jinfeng quietly stuck a knife into the doorway.

"Father is right. City girls are too proud to live with us peasants."

Su Qingyun turned and glanced at her.

"Sister-in-law, go cook."

Ma Jinfeng felt uneasy under that gaze, her mouth moved but she didn't dare to utter another sound.

Su Qingyun put down the manure scoop.

He stood in front of Su Guishan, his back straight, without a trace of fear on his face.

"Lin Wanqiu, a female educated youth from the educated youth settlement. I want to marry her."

The courtyard suddenly became quiet.

Liu Guifen held the fire poker in her hand, her lips moving slightly.

Su Guishan was so angry that his beard trembled.

"You think you can just marry her whenever you want? You think you're the one who calls the shots in this family?"

Su Qingyun didn't argue back.

He knew that resisting was useless.

The old man doesn't want reason.

It's acceptable in both appearance and substance.

Su Qingyun's voice softened.

"Dad, let me ask you something."

What do you think of my sister-in-law's personality?

Ma Jinfeng's expression changed as she stood at the kitchen doorway.

"Third brother, what do you mean?"

Su Qingyun didn't look at her, but only at Su Guishan.

Su Guishan's face froze.

That's a difficult question to answer.

He knew better than anyone whether Ma Jinfeng could make a living.

A few years after we moved in, our home was in complete chaos.

The eldest brother, Su Qingshan, was so controlled that he didn't dare to utter a sound.

But this cannot be said outright.

Su Qingyun continued, "I heard that Ma Yinfeng is ten times more formidable than my sister-in-law. If she marries into the family, will there ever be any peace and quiet?"

This sentence is harsher than a stern rebuke this morning.

What we talked about this morning was how outsiders see it.

Now we're talking about how our own family is doing.

Su Guishan's lips twitched, but he remained silent.

Ma Jinfeng got angry.

"Third brother, stop talking nonsense!"

"My sister is straightforward; that's called being good at managing money!"

Su Qingyun said calmly, "Sister-in-law, don't be in a hurry."

"I didn't say you don't know how to manage a household."

"I asked Dad, if another person like you, capable of running the household, who would be in charge of the stove? Who would have the key to the grain bin? Would Mom still need to eat?"

Ma Jinfeng's face flushed red and then turned pale.

Liu Guifen stood at the door, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears.

She hadn't expected the third brother to include her in the calculations.

Su Guishan gripped his pipe, his knuckles turning white.

Those words really hit a nerve with him.

He was aware that Liu Guifen had been wronged.

He just turned a blind eye because his family was poor and his eldest daughter-in-law was shrewish.

But what if another Ma Yinfeng were to appear?

The Su family must be constantly fighting each other.

Su Guishan gritted his teeth and said, "The Ma family said they don't want a bride price, and they'll even provide a dowry."

"These days, if you get a wife for free, why are you being picky?"

This is exactly what Su Qingyun was waiting for.

He took a step forward, his voice not loud, but each word growing harsher than the last.

"Dad, I know you're only interested in her family's large dowry, but look at my sister-in-law. Her dowry has been locked up tightly since she married into the family, and she hasn't used a single penny to help the household. Is Ma Yinfeng any different?"

Ma Jinfeng's expression changed instantly.

"Su Qingyun, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Su Qingyun turned her head.

"Then, sister-in-law, open the dowry chest now and take out two pieces of cloth to make a dress for Mother?"

Ma Jinfeng suddenly fell silent.

Her lips trembled for a long time, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Liu Guifen lowered her head.

The whole family knows about this.

The small dowry that Ma Jinfeng brought was locked up by her family more tightly than a granary.

Having been in the Su family for so many years, he has never even taken out a needle to patch things up.

Su Guishan originally wanted to bring up the issue of the bride price.

I can't bring myself to say it now.

Su Qingyun struck while the iron was hot.

"The Ma family said they didn't want a bride price because Ma Yinfeng was hard to marry off."

"Whether the things she brings will even be allowed into the Su family's grain storehouse is another matter entirely."

"By then, you'll lose face and gain nothing in return."

"Dad, what are you after?"

Su Guishan paced back and forth along the edge of the vegetable garden.

The tobacco pouch creaked as he squeezed it.

Ma Jinfeng was so anxious that she kept stamping her feet.

"Dad, don't listen to your third brother's nonsense! My sister is definitely not that kind of person!"

Su Qingyun immediately asked, "Then why did her ex-husband's family prefer to pay a dowry rather than cancel the engagement?"

In one sentence, Ma Jinfeng was completely rooted to the spot.

Her face turned a deep purplish-red.

"That's her ex-husband's family, they're scum!"

Su Qingyun nodded.

"OK."

"Then go and call your sister's ex-husband's family here now, and explain things clearly in front of the brigade cadres."

"As long as they admit that they mistreated Ma Yinfeng, I will go to meet them tomorrow."

Ma Jinfeng suddenly shut her mouth.

How could she dare to call out?

The news spread far and wide.

If they really come, it will only be the Ma family who will lose face.

Su Guishan stopped in his tracks.

He looked at Ma Jinfeng, then at Su Qingyun.

The anger on his face gradually dissipated, leaving behind an awkward silence.

Su Qingyun knew that the time was right.

He didn't press him any further.

If pushed too far, the old man will lose face.

He picked up the manure scoop again and poured the last bit of manure water around the edge of the vegetable patch.

"Dad, my decision to marry Lin Wanqiu isn't just a rash one."

"She is literate, knows how to do accounting, and has a righteous heart."

"The future won't be decided by just arguing."

"Our family is poor, but we can't afford to fall into another pit."

The aroma of potatoes slowly wafted out of the kitchen.

That genuine aroma of grain filled everyone's noses.

Su Guishan remained silent for a long time, his face grim.

Liu Guifen whispered, "Father, what Qingyun said isn't entirely unreasonable."

Ma Jinfeng became anxious.

"Mom, why are you taking his side too!"

This time, Liu Guifen didn't dodge.

She gripped the fire poker tightly, her voice low, yet unusually firm.

"I didn't favor anyone."

"I just want to have a few days of peace and quiet."

Ma Jinfeng was completely stunned.

Su Guishan took a deep drag on his cigarette.

The smoke entered his lungs, causing him to cough twice.

He looked at the third son in the yard.

I feel like this child has really changed.

He used to be quiet and only knew how to bury himself in his work.

Now, every word you say is like a trap.

The person who smashed it couldn't pretend to be confused.

Su Guishan finally sighed.

"We really can't just listen to your sister-in-law's side of the Ma family's side."

Ma Jinfeng's face turned pale instantly.

"father!"

Su Guishan glared at her.

"Shut up!"

Ma Jinfeng shrank back after being yelled at, feeling resentful but not daring to cause any more trouble.

Su Guishan tapped his pipe on the sole of his shoe, making a dull sound.

"Regarding the dowry... it really can't be touched at all."

"That makes sense." Su Guishan nodded subconsciously.

Then he realized something was wrong: "You brat, do you think I'm after someone's dowry? We have three sons and only one house. We're lucky if anyone marries into our family."