She took the money from his hand, glanced at it, and put it away, saying:
“Alright then, I’ll keep this money. Since we have so much, I’ll go find someone to properly rebuild the house later?”
“Now that the money is yours, you can use it however you want. If we’re going to rebuild the house, why don’t we wait until Tang Yumin’s house is finished? That way, we can move in there for a few days.”
Jiang Manman thought it made sense. If their house was being renovated, where would they live temporarily?
“Even though I’m not going to work today, I still need to inform the team leader. You stay home and watch the kids first.”
Before she could step out, someone arrived outside their fenced yard.
“Brother-in-law, you’re back! Returning in a wheelchair—what are your plans for the future?”
Tang Changsheng looked at the newcomers. It was Jiang Weiguo and his wife.
The scene of the Jiang family’s eldest sister-in-law making a fuss yesterday was still fresh in his mind.
Seeing them now, Tang Changsheng glanced at Jiang Manman beside him. Noticing her unpleasant expression, his own face darkened.
“We have our own plans and don’t need your concern, brother-in-law.”
Jiang Weiguo frowned deeply, looking at Tang Changsheng with disapproval.
“This won’t do. Are you going to let my sister support you from now on?”
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’re such a caring brother. I believe I’ve made it clear—my affairs are none of your business. After all, we’re not blood-related, and I’m already married. If you keep interfering, I won’t be polite.”
Jiang Weiguo flushed red, at a loss for words. He’d come impulsively after his wife told him yesterday that Tang Changsheng had returned with a broken leg.
His sister was already struggling to raise two children alone—now she’d have to support a cripple too. But his sister’s words felt like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head.
His wife, Wang Guihua, stepped forward, straightening her back defiantly:
“Why can’t you recognize goodwill? We came to help you! A woman living alone with children is hard enough. Now you have to support another person—and care for a disabled one at that. How will you manage?”
“How I manage my life is my business. None of your concern. Go back!”
“Younger sister-in-law, it’s not that I’m criticizing—”
Wang Guihua’s words were cut off by Jiang Manman.
“Then don’t say it. I don’t want to hear anything from you. He may be disabled, but he brought money back. We’re not lacking food or clothing. You came here to snoop around, didn’t you? Well, I’ll tell you—he returned with money, but it has nothing to do with you. If you don’t leave now, I’ll go have a word with the Village Chief.”
When Wang Guihua heard that Tang Changsheng had brought money back, her eyes lit up.
“Younger sister-in-law, we’re all family here. There’s no need to be so distant!”
Jiang Manman gave her a cold laugh. She’d never encountered such shameless relatives before.
Neither in her previous life nor in the World of Cultivation had she met relatives this thick-skinned.
In her past life, she was an orphan—relatives simply didn’t exist for her.
In the World of Cultivation, the cultivation family she was born into respected strength above all.
Though occasionally someone might try to take advantage, her cold demeanor and absolute power kept them at bay.
No wonder Hu Hu said she was here to endure tribulations. These people were truly testing her patience and nerves.
“Fellow villagers, tomorrow we will go up the mountain to gather oak leaves. Each household should prepare hemp sacks. Work points will be calculated based on how much you gather. This is an opportunity the team specially secured for us to earn work points. Everyone should actively participate.”
The Village Chief announced through the village’s only loudspeaker, his voice reaching every corner of the village.
“If we’re going up the mountain to gather oak leaves, we better go home and prepare more hemp sacks.”
Sister-in-law Wang Guihua said, glancing at Jiang Manman.
“I don’t understand why you’re keeping such a useless person who can’t do anything and needs you to wait on them hand and foot.”
“Third Uncle, I remember my father telling me that when you came to the countryside, you brought over a hundred large unity notes. Why does this aunt make it sound like you’re living in poverty?”
“Gasp! Over a hundred? Heh.”
This number not only left Jiang Weiguo stunned, but even Wang Guihua’s jaw dropped in surprise.
“Heavens, you actually brought so much money with you.”
“Now you don’t have to worry about her not working and us having nothing to eat if she doesn’t earn work points, right?”
After Tang Changsheng said this, Wang Guihua looked embarrassed.
She had nothing more to say. If their family could save two or three large unity notes in a whole year, that would already be considered a lot.
A hundred notes? Good heavens, that would take them decades to save.
Jiang Manman realized her ability to deal with these people was quite lacking.
Until she reached the third level of Qi Refining, she couldn’t use Magical Arts. But did that mean she had no way to handle these people without using Magical Arts?
Pinching the bridge of her nose, she secretly decided that if this couple came again – especially that Wang Guihua – she would definitely find a way to teach them a lesson.
Seeing the couple leave, Hu Hu spoke in her Sea of Consciousness:
“Master, during those eight hundred years in the World of Cultivation, you were either in closed-door cultivation or on your way to kill Demon Cultivators and evil cultivators. Isn’t this place perfect for making up for your weakness? Interpersonal relationships.”
Jiang Manman asked expressionlessly, her voice flat: “Is there any meaning to it?”
Though Hu Hu was just an Artifact Spirit, it was the Artifact Spirit of the Refreshing Heart Glass Tower, different from ordinary artifact spirits. It could identify its master’s weaknesses.
For example, its master had always preferred using force over words when it came to interpersonal relationships and communication.
It could clearly sense its master’s disgust toward the Jiang family’s main branch.
Yet she was still trying to restrain herself. Indeed, only in this realm could its master resist the impulse to immediately take action.
Seeing the couple leave, Tang Yumin raised an eyebrow and said to Tang Changsheng:
“Third Uncle, why are you indulging people like that? Even before you came, they were plotting against Third Aunt. Now that you’re back, they still haven’t given up!”
Tang Changsheng responded with a faint “hmm,” his expression calm.
“Aren’t you afraid they’ll spread what you just said throughout the village? If people know I brought back so much money, won’t it make others jealous?”
As Tang Changsheng said this, he remembered that the person now living with him was actually a powerful immortal’s reincarnation. Reincarnation?
Tang Yumin waved his hand dismissively.
“What’s there to fear? Even if they’re jealous, the money still isn’t theirs. I brought two jin of pork today – can I stay for dinner? The food that female Educated Youth makes at the educated youth point is simply terrible. After a few days, I couldn’t stand it anymore.”
“Oh, and Third Uncle, let me tell you – our work point recorder said that the son they found after he’d been missing for a day isn’t actually their son, but a monster in disguise. Do you think this has anything to do with those people from over there?”
Tang Changsheng frowned and turned to look at Jiang Manman.
Jiang Manman: “…?”
Dare you speak more clearly?