Pei Jiran had returned.
When Jiang Ci arrived home, Father Jiang told her: “I’m taking leave this Friday and inviting him over so you can meet. We’ll find a date and settle your marriage as soon as possible.”
Pei Jiran had returned from Jingdu so quickly?
It seemed his leg hadn’t been cured in Jingdu either, otherwise he wouldn’t have come back so soon.
“Alright, Dad, you can arrange it. But Commander Pei’s leg isn’t convenient, so maybe Dad and I should go to him instead?”
“That’s fine too. Jiang Ci is considerate, hahaha.”
Mother Jiang followed Jiang Ci inside and overheard their conversation. She pursed her lips and said, “You haven’t even settled the engagement yet, and you’re rushing to his house to recognize the door. Jiang Ci, are you so eager to snatch your sister’s marriage?”
“Shut up.” Father Jiang glared at Mother Jiang. “I’ve said it countless times: Wanwan lacks self-respect and isn’t worthy of Jiran. Jiang Ci is marrying him to salvage our family’s reputation.”
Mother Jiang grew frantic, pointing at Father Jiang and questioning him: “Who lacks self-respect? Old Jiang, Wanwan is your own daughter. How can you say such hurtful words?”
Father Jiang didn’t want to argue with her and turned away. “Unreasonable.”
Seeing Mother Jiang about to erupt again, Jiang Ci calmly spoke up, “Mother, why not let Wanwan marry Commander Pei? I don’t necessarily have to marry him.
I have a job and am excellent myself. I can find any ambitious young man.”
Hehe!
“Bah! You little ungrateful wolf, wanting our Wanwan to marry a cripple. How malicious you are.”
Mother Jiang switched from pointing at Father Jiang to pointing at Jiang Ci, cursing loudly.
Father Jiang: …
“Enough! What do you want? You disdain Jiran as a cripple and don’t want Wanwan to marry him. When Jiang Ci marries him, you say she’s stealing Wanwan’s marriage.
Mo Jinhua, if you keep stirring up trouble, you can go back to your parents’ home!”
Hmph!
After saying this, Father Jiang turned and left, not even eating dinner.
Mother Jiang was both angry and anxious, wailing loudly, “Why is my fate so bitter…”
Jiang Ci: headache.
She couldn’t stay in this house for even a minute.
Tomorrow she must find a suitable house and move out quickly.
“Mom, what happened?”
Jiang Wanwan returned from work.
Today she had gone to work without telling Mother Jiang, taking over Mother Jiang’s logistics job at the textile factory.
The work was easy, and the salary was high.
It was precisely because she replaced Mother Jiang’s job that she met the male protagonist Zhao Jianguo at the textile factory.
And shortly after Zhao Jianguo got together with Jiang Wanwan, for his family’s sake, he willingly gave up his job and went to the countryside to replace his sister.
This led to Jiang Wanwan later resenting him for not considering her and seeking Jiang Ci to perform an abortion.
“Sister, did you make Mom angry again?”
“What does it have to do with me?”
Jiang Ci stood up and returned to her room.
Mother Jiang didn’t bother with Jiang Ci and pulled Jiang Wanwan close, frowning, “Wanwan, why did you go to work again? Mom arranged a long leave for you. Your body can’t handle fatigue now.”
“Mom, I…” Jiang Wanwan’s eyes dodged. Could she say she went to work to inquire about Zhao Jianguo?
A week ago, he left abruptly to replace his sister in the countryside, without considering her at all.
But she still couldn’t let go of him. If possible, she didn’t want to abort their child.
But she dared not tell her mother these words.
Mother wouldn’t support her continuing with Zhao Jianguo; she despised him for being poor and incapable.
“Did you go to inquire about Zhao Jianguo? You—you want to anger Mom to death!”
Mother Jiang angrily hit Jiang Wanwan twice, then hugged her, her heart aching.
“Why is our fate so bitter, just the two of us! Your father, that old fool, only cares about that ungrateful Jiang Ci. And look at you, you’ve run into that swindler Zhao Jianguo, who deceived your feelings and took advantage of you.
Wuwuwu…”
“Mom… Jianguo isn’t a swindler. He didn’t know I was pregnant when he left. If he had known, he definitely wouldn’t have gone to the countryside in his sister’s place.
Besides, what we had was true love…”
“Shut up.” Mother Jiang growled through tears and sniffles. “What kind of decent man would sleep with you before marriage?
Wanwan, Mom would never harm you. Forget that Zhao Jianguo. Mom will find you someone better, okay?”
“Wuwu, Mom, I…”
Mother Jiang’s heart ached for her daughter’s tears, and even more for the fact that she had been wronged by a man yet still pined for that scoundrel.
She held her daughter tightly and wept. “My poor, dear daughter! Why couldn’t it have been that little ingrate Jiang Ci who got ruined and pregnant? Heaven has no eyes! It only picks on honest people…”
Jiang Ci inside the room: …
Early the next morning.
As soon as Jiang Ci opened her door, Mother Jiang eagerly brought over a bowl of rice porridge. “Xiao Ci, come eat. I haven’t seen you have a meal at home these past two days. Today, I specially bought your favorite meat buns and cooked this porridge.”
“No need, Mother. I’ll just eat at the hospital.”
“You silly child, are you still holding a grudge over yesterday? Listen, what kind of grudge can last overnight between mother and daughter? Come eat quickly.”
Mother Jiang acted as if nothing had happened and continued urging Jiang Ci.
Jiang Wanwan also chimed in while nibbling on a meat bun. “Yes, Sister, Mom may have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. You mustn’t let her kindness go to waste.”
What were these two up to?
“Alright then! Thank you, Mother.”
Jiang Ci agreed readily, sat down at the table, and picked up a meat bun to eat.
The meat buns from this era were truly delicious, especially fragrant.
“Xiao Ci, have some porridge.”
Mother Jiang pushed the bowl of porridge toward Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci only needed to sniff lightly to detect something unusual in the porridge.
But she drank it anyway.
The next second, she slumped over the table.
“Pah! You little ingrate, you’ve finally met your match. How dare you think you’re worthy of marrying that cripple? Even something our Wanwan doesn’t want isn’t for you.”
Mother Jiang spat viciously at Jiang Ci.
Turning to Jiang Wanwan, she said, “Wanwan, put on her clothes now and go to the hospital. Leave the rest to me. Once I’ve dealt with this little ingrate, I’ll come to the hospital to pick you up.”
“Mom…” Jiang Wanwan worriedly said, “W-won’t I be recognized? After all, Sister and I look…”
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. Cover your face with a scarf and don’t speak. When you see the doctor, use the little ingrate’s name. Remember, you must use Jiang Ci’s name, understand?
Since she refused to help, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Her daughter ending up like this was all because of that little ingrate’s curse. Why should she live a good life while her own daughter had to live in fear?
It wasn’t fair.
“Mom…” Jiang Wanwan touched her belly, bit her lower lip, and hesitated. “Can I…”
“No.” Noticing Jiang Wanwan’s gesture, Mother Jiang spoke earnestly. “Wanwan, it’s not that Mom is heartless, but how can you find a good family while pregnant?
Remember that Chief Jin your sister mentioned the other day? He adopted a godson, a fine young man. I made a point to inquire about him. The young man isn’t seeing anyone, and Chief Jin has no children of his own, so he places great importance on this godson who saved his life.”
The future is bright indeed, Wanwan, you must not be foolish and ruin the rest of your life for that poor boy from the textile mill. If he truly cared for you, would he have gone to the countryside for his sister without considering your well-being?”
Yes! Mother is right.
If Zhao Jianguo cared about her, why would he go to the countryside for his sister without thinking of her?
“Alright, I’ll go.” Jiang Wanwan made up her mind, stood up, and walked toward Jiang Ci’s room.
Ten minutes later, Mother Jiang saw Jiang Wanwan off.
When she returned, she brought a man with her.