Chapter 509: Chapter 509: The Perfect Solution
The couple strolled hand-in-hand through the courtyard. Gu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but ask, "Su Shuochi, is something going on with your family?"
"Well... it’s a long story. Can I tell you when I get back?" Su Shuochi really didn’t want her to worry.
Their family was doing better than most these days. His leg had recovered, and it was even stronger than before.
He could finally, truly relax. Although their business as a couple wasn’t booming just yet, it was on the right track.
If they managed it well, they’d be sitting at home counting their money in another two years.
His parents leisurely ran their street stall. The income was more than enough to support the two of them, but more importantly, it gave them a sense of purpose.
His youngest sister could also go out with Dong Qiming on weekends, running a stall together to earn enough to support herself.
’If his parents were just occasionally helping out Su Ermei with some money, his youngest sister wouldn’t have called to complain, and he wouldn’t be dealing with all this trouble.’
’In the end, it all came down to Su Ermei being too insatiable. She’d thrown their family into chaos and was even forcing him to be apart from his wife.’
’If he had to leave his wife for a while for some matter of national importance, he would have accepted it without complaint.’
’But having to leave her and go home to deal with some trivial mess stirred up by Su Ermei really pissed him off.’
That was why no matter how well Su Shuochi tried to hide it, Gu Jiaojiao could still tell that something was on his mind.
"We don’t have anything to do right now anyway, so just tell me. I love listening to you talk," Gu Jiaojiao said coquettishly, her eyes sparkling.
How could Su Shuochi possibly resist his wife when she acted so cute? He obediently told her everything Su Ermei had done.
"Su Shuochi, if our parents were just helping Su Ermei out occasionally, we could turn a blind eye. But what she’s doing is going too far. What are you planning to do about it?"
Gu Jiaojiao said, a little peeved. She wasn’t a petty person, but anyone would get angry when faced with such relentless demands.
"Jiaojiao, don’t be angry. Ever since we came into money, I haven’t mentioned Su Ermei at all. It’s not that I’m heartless.
It’s just that while I was injured and bedridden, Su Ermei didn’t even bring me a single egg.
So why would I even think of helping her?
I live by the principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a gushing spring, and I never like to owe anyone any favors.
As for Houzi, who helped me, I’ve already helped his entire family, thanks to you."
"Mhm, I know you’re not a heartless and disloyal person. The last time I heard how Su Ermei spoke on the phone, I knew she was someone who’s never satisfied. That’s why I never planned on getting close to her.
I’d rather hire strangers than her family, precisely because I’m afraid of her insatiable demands.
Even though we have money now, we can’t be expected to support a family of ingrates who can never be satisfied, can we!"
"You’re right, darling. That’s why I want to go back to Qing City to see my parents, and then make a trip to our hometown to warn Su Ermei. If she dares demand money from them again, I’ll... I’ll break her legs."
"Using brute force to stop her won’t work. You have to solve the problem at its root."
"Are you saying we should get my parents to willingly stop helping her? That’s probably impossible. They’ve always been too soft-hearted."
"You said it yourself, they’re soft-hearted. If you break her legs, won’t our parents just work day and night at their stall to earn even more money to support her?"
"This! Darling, what do you think we should do then?" Su Shuochi admitted he had only thought as far as going back to his hometown to warn Su Ermei.
Gu Jiaojiao sighed. "If this were a terminally ill patient, I might be able to think of a solution. But this... it’s the first time I’ve encountered a problem like this.
Especially since Su Ermei is their flesh and blood. They’d rather work a little harder to satisfy her than have us worry about it."
Su Shuochi squeezed his wife’s hand and said affectionately, "Jiaojiao, this business with my sister has troubled you. Don’t worry. I’ll handle it."
"It’d be a miracle if you could handle it with that explosive temper of yours. Actually, fixing the relationship between your parents and Su Ermei is quite simple, as long as they’re willing to cooperate."
"Darling, just tell me. I’ll make sure my parents cooperate."
"Think about it. Your parents were originally just ordinary farmers. They were forced to move to Qing City to take care of you after your injury.
They ended up settling down in Qingcheng Mansion, and you know they didn’t fit in with their colleagues at work.
The fact that they’d rather run a street stall than keep those jobs shows how much they value their freedom.
The reason they’re working so desperately to earn money for Su Ermei is probably because they want to go back to their hometown."
’Gu Jiaojiao’s analysis was perfectly logical, but she couldn’t be entirely sure what Mr. Su and Su’s mother were actually thinking.’
’But she was certain of one thing: if Mr. Su and Su’s mother went back to their hometown to live with Su Ermei, conflict between them would be inevitable.’
’They might even end up cutting off all contact for the rest of their lives. In that case, would Mr. Su and Su’s mother still help Su Ermei?!’
’She and Su Shuochi were bound to become even more successful in the future. For now, Mr. Su and Su’s mother hadn’t thought about taking their money to help Su Ermei.’
’That was because she was still in school, and it hadn’t been long since Su Shuochi had gotten back on his feet.’
’When the two of them left, Mr. Su and Su’s mother didn’t even know that their son could already stand and walk again.’
’So naturally, Mr. Su and Su’s mother couldn’t bring themselves to ask them for money to help their second daughter.’
’But what about in the future?’
’There was no guarantee!’
’Thinking about the distant future, it was no wonder Gu Jiaojiao was being so calculating. She had to nip any potential problems in the bud.’
’Take her own brother, for example. She knew Eldest Brother Gu couldn’t stop worrying about Sheng Yueyue, so when he proposed returning to Qing City to work, she was overjoyed.’
’If her brother wanted to care for Sheng Yueyue, he could go do it by her side. Out of sight, out of mind. What a wonderful arrangement!’
Su Shuochi was silent for a moment before nodding. "Jiaojiao, you’re absolutely right. When it comes down to it, I’m the one who has been a burden on my parents.
When I go back to Qing City, I’ll tell my parents to stop running the stall. I’ll send them back to our hometown to live for a while."
"That’s the most direct solution, but what about a place to live? Your parents don’t have a house in their hometown anymore."
Su Shuochi looked at his gentle, kind wife, his heart filling with guilt.
’He hadn’t taken proper care of her, and now he was making her worry about his family’s messy affairs.’
"Don’t worry, darling. I’ll just have my parents stay in our old house. Su Ermei had the nerve to give our family home to her husband’s younger brother to live in after his wedding, and now she’s still demanding money from our parents. Hmph. She can keep dreaming."
Su Shuochi sneered, his face filled with rage. ’They had plenty of properties now; why on earth should he give one to Su Ermei?’
’If Su Ermei had so much as brought him a few eggs when he was injured, he wouldn’t mind his parents helping her. He might have even proactively helped her family himself.’
"Shuo Ci, whatever you do, don’t be impulsive when you go home," Gu Jiaojiao quickly cautioned, seeing his expression.
"Don’t worry, darling. I know what to do now. My wife is always the one with the best ideas."
Su Shuochi couldn’t resist kissing his beautiful wife, his eyes filled with love.
Gu Jiaojiao actively returned his affection, and the two proceeded to enact a scene not suitable for young eyes...
