Chapter 597
“I’ll go and cut ties with him today,” Qian Siyu gritted her teeth, her tone resolute.
Su Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, not expecting the usually cautious Qian Siyu to make such a decision.
“You’re just going to say it like that? Aren’t you afraid of the Kong family seeking revenge?” Su Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled.
“Yes, I’m afraid! But it was all my fault being so foolish back then, not sticking to my idea of never marrying anyone in the village. Whatever trouble comes from this, I deserve it,” Qian Siyu said with a self-deprecating smile.
Su Xiaoxiao had never expected Qian Siyu to think so clearly. She then smiled, her eyes narrowing in amusement, “Actually, Yexun and I already discussed this over lunch. There are two relatively simple options. One is to help you find a job somewhere else, so you can leave the village directly after breaking up. Or, the other option is to find a reliable man within the village who can keep things stable. It’s up to you which one you choose.”
“I’ll definitely choose to find a job, but I have no money and no connections,” Qian Siyu said, gripping the edge of her clothes tightly, her face downcast.
Just then, Su Xiaoxiao chuckled brightly and said, “You don’t need to worry about that. We’re friends, right? I can help you this time.”
Upon hearing this, Qian Siyu’s eyes lit up immediately. She exchanged a look with Tao Junlan, both of them understanding the unspoken message. However, they both looked hesitant and somewhat embarrassed.
Although they hadn’t said anything out loud, Su Xiaoxiao had already understood from their expressions.
“You can say whatever you’re thinking. If I find it too much or too difficult, I’ll refuse. There’s no need to hold back. Friends are supposed to help each other, right?” Su Xiaoxiao smiled softly, reassuring them.
Tao Junlan bit her lip and, after a moment’s hesitation, said, “Xiaoxiao, we know our request might sound unreasonable, but we really can’t stand living in the village anymore, working on the farm every day. If possible, could you lend us some money so we can go elsewhere and find a job? Siyu and I aren’t planning to go back home. We’re planning to go together. We’ll share one salary, and the other will be used to pay you back. We’re not going back because even though every family is required to send a child to the countryside, we just can’t accept how our parents kept our brothers and forced us to take their place.”
She and Qian Siyu had never intended to take advantage of Xiaoxiao. They had simply talked about their dreams of a better life, sitting together and imagining what their future could be like. Good friends could always support each other. When they had no money, they could rent a place together and share the living expenses. Once they saved up, they could buy a house. If they met a good man, they could marry, and if not, they wouldn’t need to rush just because they were getting older. As long as they had jobs and a house, they wouldn’t have to rely on men.
“Your plan sounds really good. Have you decided which city you’d like to work in?” Su Xiaoxiao asked curiously.
“If possible, we’d like to go to Beijing or Shanghai. That way, once we make enough money to buy a house and can resume our education, we could also attend a local university,” Tao Junlan said, not hiding her thoughts anymore. She was very clear that their idea might seem extreme, but it was likely their only way to change their lives.
Especially after what had happened with Kong Liye, they couldn’t afford to wait for the opportunity to return to the city anymore. This was their best option, even if it felt audacious. However, they would forever remember Xiaoxiao’s kindness and would definitely help her whenever she needed it in the future.
“Alright, you can decide where you want to settle in the end. Shanghai is in the south, Beijing is in the north. I remember both of you are from the south, so how about Shanghai? That might be easier for you to adjust to,” Su Xiaoxiao suggested.
She genuinely liked these two friends, so she was happy to help them. She also looked forward to staying in touch with them after she left Hong Feng Production Team.
“Great, and Shanghai is your hometown too! Maybe we can meet up every year,” Tao Junlan said with a bright smile, nodding eagerly.
Not just once a year; maybe they could meet once a week, she thought to herself.
Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased but didn’t directly share her thoughts. As for her mother-in-law’s impending divorce, she knew the fewer people who knew, the better. It would be disastrous if it spread and caused everything to fall apart at the last moment.