CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER 245: COMMENDATION CEREMONY

Zhang Guifang looked up and was met with Liu Cuilan’s angry face.

"How can you say such a beastly thing? She’s your own daughter!"

"I gave birth to her. Whether she lives or dies, it’s all up to me. I could make her marry a fool or a lunatic, and she’d have to listen to me."

Zhang Guifang had taken a hit, but her demeanor didn’t falter at all. "This is our family matter, it has nothing to do with you. Get out of my way. You’re my sister-in-law; I let that slap slide because of that, but don’t push it!"

As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Su Pan: "Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and get over here."

Su Pan’s eyes reddened as she stood motionless, fixing her gaze on Zhang Guifang, she spoke word by word: "Mom, you’re trying to drive me to death."

Zhang Guifang snorted: "Fine, if you have the guts, go ahead and die."

Unexpectedly, as soon as these words were out, Su Pan turned and ran out of the courtyard. Soon, a shout came from outside: "Oh no, someone jumped into the river!"

Su Xiaoxiao remembered Su Pan’s expression when she ran out just now, her heart jolting with worry, she hurriedly chased after her.

Liu Cuilan’s complexion changed slightly, and she followed immediately. This girl better not do anything foolish.

Su Xiaoxiao’s house was located on the western edge of the village, not far from their home there was a river.

In the summer, many children played by the river, but now the weather was cold, there weren’t many people around, only an aunt from the village was anxiously staring at the water in panic.

"Oh dear, someone jumped into the river! Come quickly and save them!"

She was sweating profusely from anxiety, but frustratingly couldn’t swim.

Compared to her urgency, the person in the river showed no will to survive, not even a struggle.

Calmly letting her body sink into the water, allowing the current to engulf her.

Su Xiaoxiao’s eyelid twitched, quickly kicked off her shoes, shrugged off her coat, and plunged into the river water.

The winter’s river water was icy and piercing, making her shiver all over.

She struggled to move her limbs, using a clumsy dog-paddle style to reach the place where Su Pan had fallen, and wrapped her arms around the other’s waist to drag her to shore.

Su Pan had grown a little taller recently, but her body was still so thin that holding her felt uncomfortable.

Su Xiaoxiao had initially worried that she’d be unable to pull her, but unexpectedly, the girl was so light that she was easily brought to the shore.

Liu Cuilan, panting heavily, had just reached the riverbank, and seeing the situation made her blood rush in urgency, she hurriedly joined the aunt who had called for help to fish the two out of the water.

Once on shore, Su Xiaoxiao wasted no time and said to Liu Cuilan: "Mom, help me out, press down on Pan’s chest like this."

Liu Cuilan had already become flustered, hearing her daughter’s words she quickly followed the instructions and began pressing on Su Pan’s chest.

Su Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, recalling the first aid she had learned before, and started to breathe air into Su Pan’s mouth.

Beside them, Zhang Guifang stood pale, she hadn’t expected Su Pandi to actually attempt to drown herself.

Normally, she was no stranger to yelling at her to go die, but this timid and submissive daughter had never done more than whimper. This was the first time she’d dared to use such drastic measures to resist her.

Not knowing how long they worked, suddenly Su Pan coughed violently, spitting out water, her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes.

Seeing her finally awake, Zhang Guifang subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, her worried heart finally settling.

She opened her mouth wanting to explain, but the words that came out were still sarcastic.

"Been a few days, and you’ve become capable enough to threaten me with suicide?"

Hearing this, Su Pan, whose face was already pale, became even paler.

"Raised you for so many years, you’d rather die over a little salary? Fine, from now on, give me ten bucks a month until the five hundred is paid off."

Zhang Guifang snorted coldly, turned, and walked away.

Su Pan struggled to blink her eyes, seemingly in disbelief: "Did my mom agree?"

Liu Cuilan snorted coldly: "Even a tiger doesn’t eat its own cubs; she’s not a fool, getting rid of you wouldn’t earn her anything."

Su Pan opened her mouth, wanting to say that someone who has never treated her kindly like her birth mother couldn’t possibly compromise so easily.

In her mind, this was the first time.

Just as Zhang Guifang returned home, Su Zhiqiang came up to her: "Mom, what about the money? Did you get it?"

"Money, money, money, that’s all you care about. She’s your sister! Are you going to leave her with no room to breathe?"

After saying this, she turned her head and went into the room, slamming the door shut.

Su Zhiqiang was a bit bewildered. Wasn’t it Mom who said that sooner or later his sister was going to get married, and eventually become someone else’s problem, not needing to fuss over.

After the incident tonight, the Su family’s mood was not very good, they each quietly returned to their rooms to sleep after dinner. Even the two normally rowdy younger brothers quietly bathed and went to bed.

Lying in bed, Su Xiaoxiao remembered the mini sewing machine she promised Manager Wang today, quickly opened the game interface, found the shop she bought the sewing machines from last time, and boldly placed an order for a hundred units.

Seeing her order so many, the owner graciously gave her a five percent discount.

After finishing her tasks, Su Xiaoxiao joyfully drifted off into a sweet slumber.

Her instinct told her, this kind of sewing machine is likely to become a bestseller in the future.

Early the next morning, as soon as Su Xiaoxiao arrived at the department store, she realized something was different today.

Every salesperson there had eyes gleaming with excitement.

Su Xiaoxiao grabbed Zhang Yulan out of curiosity: "What’s up today? Is there good news or something? Why does everyone look so happy?"

Zhang Yulan looked at her in astonishment: "The store opening is delayed by half a day this morning to hold a being a model employee awards ceremony, don’t tell me you forgot?"

Su Xiaoxiao: "..."

She had indeed completely forgotten about it.

She looked down at her clothes, washed to the point of fading, then at her colleagues dressed in bright, beautiful clothes, and fell into an awkward silence.

At that moment, Zhang Yulan also noticed what she was wearing and frowned: "You’re the first place winner, don’t tell me you’re planning to wear this to accept your award?"

Just as Su Xiaoxiao was about to speak, someone called her from behind: "Comrade Su, Director Chen wants you to come over."

"Okay, I’ll be right there."

She quickly responded and followed the person to find Chen Meilan.

Arriving there, she found that there were two other salespersons present as well.

Once everyone was gathered, Chen Meilan was about to speak, but noticed the clothes Su Xiaoxiao was wearing, her expression instantly becoming complicated.

She knew that Comrade Su’s family was rural, with many children and poor conditions, but she didn’t realize the situation was this dire.