The siblings had never seen a scene like this before, and they were both a little frightened.
The little girl grabbed Grandma Qian’s hand with a face full of concern, puffed up her fair cheeks, and blew on it a few times with effort. “It doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t hurt.”
Yunkai pressed his lips together and stood helplessly to the side. “That’s right. Don’t think about unhappy things.”
Grandma Qian rarely spared Yunkai a glance.
“Actually, Grandma was too weak. I didn’t dare to face this matter,” Grandma Qian said as she took one child by each hand and led them into the living room.
The two children followed her obediently, their little expressions serious.
Grandma Qian seemed to be immersed in her memories. After entering the living room, she let go of their hands and slowly lay down on the rocking chair. Seeing this, Yunkai brought over two small stools and sat down with Yunshu at her side.
Neither child spoke. Yunshu leaned against Grandma Qian’s leg dependently, her innocent, clear eyes brimming with distress.
Grandma Qian raised her hand and stroked her soft hair. The heavy pain and regret surged up again. “Grandma once had a child about your age too, but Grandma lost her.”
The two children were stunned when they heard this.
After a long while, Yunkai finally asked, “Was it because of the uncle at the door?”
Grandma Qian glanced at him, then closed her eyes again without answering.
Yunshu pressed her lips together, hugged Grandma Qian with distress, and remained silent.
Qian Fenjin naturally did not manage to enter the Qian household.
People in the compound saw a Santana drive in. A man wearing a dress shirt got out of the car and spoke to him with great respect. In the end, the two of them got into the car together and left.
Returning to the matter of the two children going to the Qian household.
Jiang Hua was not idle either. She went back to her room, changed into a slightly worn set of clothes, took her shoulder bag, and hurried out.
She was going to Dajiang Village.
Going to Dajiang Village was quite troublesome. She first had to take a bus from Qinhai City to Pingcheng County, then take another bus from Pingcheng County to Dajiang Village.
By the time she arrived in Dajiang Village, it was already two o’clock in the afternoon. The sun was at its fiercest, heat shimmered off the ground, and before long, fine beads of sweat seeped out on Jiang Hua’s forehead.
“Eldest Girl, you’re back?”
As soon as Jiang Hua entered the village, someone greeted her. She had lived in the village for nearly twenty years, and people all recognized her. “Auntie, it’s so hot, and you’re still going out to the fields?”
“Yes, I’m going to check the water in the fields.”
Jiang Hua smiled and said, “Then go on and get busy first.”
“Alright. When you have time later, come sit at my place too. I’ll be back soon. It’s been so long since we last saw each other.”
“Okay. If I have time, I’ll definitely go.”
Jiang Hua’s polite replies flowed without any hesitation, her voice warm and bright. When others in the village saw this, they could not help but feel puzzled. After watching her walk away, they could not resist discussing it among themselves.
“Why does Eldest Girl seem different after getting married?”
“You noticed too? I almost didn’t recognize her just now. That little face of hers is fair with a healthy glow, her eyes are so lively. I was thinking how pretty she looked, and only then realized she’s the Jiang family’s Eldest Girl.”
“It’s not just her looks. She’s completely changed as a person. She used to keep her head down all the time, didn’t even dare look people in the eye, and spoke so softly it was like a mosquito buzzing. How is that anything like now? Now she’s absolutely radiant.”
However, there were also people who were unwilling to accept that Jiang Hua was doing well, and what they said was sharp and cutting.
“I don’t see how she’s doing all that well. Look at the clothes she’s wearing. They’re all washed until they’ve turned pale. And it’s not the New Year or a festival. What good thing could it be for her to come back to her natal home at this time?”
“That’s right. I heard that the clothing shop she opened in Qinhai City isn’t doing well. Maybe she’s already lost most of her money and has come back to her natal family for support.”
“Exactly. She’s got a lot of nerve, even selling her job at the machinery factory. That was such a good job, something so many people wanted but couldn’t get.”
…
That was how village life was. Since it was rare to have something interesting to watch, people naturally wanted to analyze and discuss it thoroughly.
Jiang Hua did not know she had become the subject of others’ discussion. Even if she did know, she would not have cared. From the moment she decided to return to Dajiang Village, she had already prepared herself mentally.
Besides, she had not even revealed her trump card yet.
The Jiang family lived at the very back of the village. When the family was divided back then, Father Jiang had built a separate house with Mother Jiang, while Uncle Jiang and Grandma Jiang lived in the ancestral house.
“Oh my, Eldest Girl, you’re back?”
The one who spoke was Aunt Jiang. She had heard from people in the village that Jiang Hua had returned and deliberately came to intercept her on the road.
Jiang Hua smiled at her. “Aunt Jiang.” Her attitude was not especially warm, but she was fully polite.
Aunt Jiang’s gaze kept sizing Jiang Hua up. When she saw the old clothes Jiang Hua was wearing, the resentment in her heart finally eased a little.
Jiang Hua also knew clearly where the other party’s hostility came from. Back then, when the marriage arrangement between the Jiang family and the Xu family had not yet been finalized, by the time the girls reached marriageable age, the Jiang family had three daughters. One was Jiang Hua’s cousin Jiang Mei, one was Jiang Hua’s biological younger sister Jiang Lan, and one was Jiang Hua herself.
At that time, Xu Chenghuai was already a researcher at the Qinhai City Research Institute. Jiang Mei and Jiang Lan were both unwilling to give way. Only Jiang Hua did not care. What she cared about was her college entrance examination results. However, what she did not expect was that she failed to get into university, while Jiang Lan did. As a result, Jiang Lan gave up Xu Chenghuai and went off to attend university.
As for Jiang Mei, even now, when Jiang Hua thought about it, she found it hard to put into words. She did not know what went wrong in Jiang Mei’s head. Right in front of Xu Chenghuai, she jumped into a pond, thinking that Xu Chenghuai would not just watch her die. As long as Xu Chenghuai jumped in to save her, the two of them would have had physical contact.
That way, Xu Chenghuai would have had no choice but to marry her.
But who could have imagined that Xu Chenghuai really did stand on the bank, coldly watching her struggle in the water? In the end, it was an old widower from the village who happened to pass by and jumped in to save her, and only then did she avoid drowning.
However, that side of Xu Chenghuai had also frightened Jiang Hua. In her previous life, the reason she had been so afraid of him was, in some way, also because of the fixed impression left by that incident.
And after Jiang Mei was rescued, just as she had anticipated, rumors began circulating in the village about her and the old widower. Moreover, Xu Chenghuai had already seen through her methods, so naturally, he would not choose her.
Thus, the only remaining marriage candidate was Jiang Hua.
Jiang Mei’s pent-up resentment did not dare to be vented toward Xu Chenghuai, so Jiang Hua became the target of her hatred, and Aunt Jiang was the same.
Aunt Jiang wore a smile full of ill intent. “You came back on your own by bus? Why didn’t I see Xiao Xu?”
Jiang Hua replied, “He’s busy with work. I heard he’s researching a very important project. It’s an assignment from the province, and the timeline is very tight.”
“From the province?” Aunt Jiang could not help but suck in a sharp breath. The sourness in her heart instantly intensified. After all, someone so capable had almost become her son-in-law.
Jiang Hua smiled and nodded, then said, “I won’t chat with you for now. I’ll go see Grandma later.”
Since she had put it that way, Aunt Jiang could not stop her any longer.
She had originally heard that Jiang Hua had returned alone and came over hoping to watch a good show. Unexpectedly, not only did she fail to see any drama, but she ended up with a belly full of bitterness instead.
The Jiang family house was one of the few red-brick houses in Dajiang Village. It had been built after Jiang Hua got married, using the two hundred yuan betrothal gift Xu Chenghuai had given, with additional money Jiang Hua had gradually subsidized.
However, Jiang Hua preferred the earthen brick house from her memories. It was warm in winter and cool in summer, and it carried nearly twenty years of her memories.
Unlike this red-brick house, which felt so unfamiliar that it hardly seemed like her home.
“Dad, Mom, I’m back.” The door was not shut tight. Jiang Hua gently pushed it open and stepped inside.
Father Jiang and Mother Jiang had likely already heard that Jiang Hua was coming back. Mother Jiang was boiling water in the kitchen, while Father Jiang was holding a chicken in one hand and a cleaver in the other, preparing to bleed the chicken.
“Why are you drenched in sweat?” Mother Jiang came out of the kitchen as soon as she heard the voice. When she saw Jiang Hua, she immediately frowned and began issuing instructions. “Hurry and wipe off with a cloth. There’s a cup of tea cooling in the main room. It should be drinkable by now. Go drink a few sips quickly. Don’t get heatstroke.”
A cloth was immediately stuffed into Jiang Hua’s hand, and she was pushed toward the room to drink water. She said helplessly, “I know. I’ll do it myself.”
“Aren’t there candied dates in that cupboard? Get her a few.”
Outside, Father Jiang shouted to Mother Jiang. The chicken in his hand had already been bled. He was now scooping hot water into a wooden tub, preparing to scald and pluck the feathers.
Mother Jiang responded and directly placed the entire jar of candied dates on the table before hurrying out to help with the work.
Jiang Hua’s gaze fell on the jar on the table. If she guessed correctly, this was what she had brought over during the New Year. It had been preserved very well, clearly something they were usually reluctant to eat.
Yet now it was placed generously in front of her, as if she mattered more than anything else.
They had argued fiercely not long ago and parted on bad terms. This time, however, it was as if nothing had happened. They had even killed a chicken that they would normally be unwilling to eat except during festivals, just because she had come back.
Jiang Hua put a candied date into her mouth. The cloying sweetness spread across her palate, and she could not help narrowing her eyes. She carried a chair out to the eaves and sat down to watch the elderly couple process the chicken.
Mother Jiang glanced up at her. “Why didn’t you bring Yunkai and Yunshu back with you?”
“Don’t mention it. Those two little brats look at us like we’re their enemies. I don’t want to anger myself to death,” Father Jiang said bluntly. It was obvious he was still angry with Yunkai.
Mother Jiang immediately shot him an annoyed look. “You’ve really got something going for you, getting mad at two three-year-old grandchildren.”
Jiang Hua did not speak, nor did she explain anything for Yunkai.
Father Jiang and Mother Jiang did not bring it up again and instead talked about other things. For a time, the atmosphere among the three of them became warm and harmonious.
However, this warmth did not last long. It was shattered as soon as the meal ended.
“What did you say?” Mother Jiang’s voice tightened, filled with disbelief. “You want to borrow money from us to run some kind of clothing shop?”
Father Jiang rejected it outright. “Impossible. I absolutely won’t agree. Back then, we already told you we didn’t support you opening any clothing shop. And what did you do? Not only did you refuse to listen, you even sold your job at the machinery factory!”
Mother Jiang had already adjusted her emotions and tried to persuade her earnestly. “That’s right, Eldest Girl. Listen to your father and live a steady life. It’s not like Xiao Xu’s salary isn’t enough to live on. Why are you tossing yourself into all this useless trouble?”
The expression on Jiang Hua’s face did not change. “I’ve already made up my mind. You don’t need to persuade me anymore. I came today to borrow money, not to listen to you talk me out of it.”
As soon as Father Jiang heard this, his anger instantly flared. “Then I’ll tell you this too. I’ve also made up my mind. I won’t lend you any money.”
Mother Jiang did not speak quite so decisively. She said instead, “Where would your father and I get the money? Your younger brother and sister need money for school. Everywhere you turn, money is needed.”
Jiang Hua fell silent for a moment, then pointed it out bluntly. “How much money have you actually paid for Jiang Lan and Jiang He’s schooling? If I remember correctly, all the money was paid by me.”
As soon as these words came out, Father Jiang and Mother Jiang’s faces immediately turned alternately green and white.
Father Jiang was so angry that his chest heaved violently. He glared at Jiang Hua. In the past, Jiang Hua might have backed down, but now she was not afraid. She would not yield, and she stared back at him with the same look.
Mother Jiang’s eyes instantly reddened. She slapped her chest and cried out, “What sin have I committed to raise such a heartless ingrate?”
It was their usual emotional blackmail.
Jiang Hua lowered her gaze. Imitating them, her almond-shaped eyes also filled with tears. “I’ve given so much, and in your eyes, I’m actually a heartless ingrate. I’m really ridiculous. I thought family meant helping each other when there are difficulties. I didn’t expect it to mean that when there are difficulties, you come to me for help.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Father Jiang barked angrily, embarrassed and furious.
Jiang Hua looked at him. “Isn’t it true? If you think I’m wrong, then let’s go outside and ask the villagers to judge.”
Father Jiang and Mother Jiang did not expect her to say something like that. For a moment, neither of them could react.
Jiang Hua continued, “Don’t worry. I’m borrowing the money, not taking it for free.”
Perhaps the words “for free” struck a nerve. Father Jiang and Mother Jiang’s expressions darkened to an unprecedented degree.
When anger reached its extreme, Father Jiang could not even shout anymore. He clutched his violently heaving chest and said with a cold laugh, “Fine. Since you’ve put it like this, how could we not give it to you?”
Mother Jiang was unwilling, but under the pressure of Father Jiang’s gaze, she went back into the room, took out a roll of money, and handed it to Jiang Hua.
Father Jiang said, “You don’t need to pay this money back. Just treat it as us having never asked you for anything all these years. From now on, we’re even.”
Jiang Hua roughly counted it. At most, it was about a thousand yuan, not even half of what she had given over the years. And they wanted to be even with her just like that?
What a clever calculation.
“Back then, when you asked me to pay Jiang Lan and Jiang He’s tuition, you said they would repay me in the future,” Jiang Hua said. “They’ve needed a lot of money for school over the years. As parents, you should treat your children equally. Whatever they have, I should have too. So this money counts as compensation you’re giving me. I’ll take it.”
Father Jiang and Mother Jiang: ???
“Are you crazy?” Mother Jiang could not help screaming, her eyes wide as she stared at Jiang Hua as if she no longer recognized her. “How can you say something like that?”
Father Jiang was shaking all over with rage.
No matter what, once the money was in Jiang Hua’s hands, no amount of regret from Father Jiang and Mother Jiang could get it back. They could only watch helplessly as she left with the money.
Her figure disappeared through the doorway.
Father Jiang finally reacted. He suddenly kicked Mother Jiang. “Look at this. This is the child you raised!”
Mother Jiang was caught off guard and let out a pained cry, crashing heavily into the table beside her. Her face drained of color from the pain.
At this moment, Father Jiang seemed to think of something. He strode over to Mother Jiang, grabbed her arm, forced her to look at him, and narrowed his eyes.
“Did you say something to her?”
When Mother Jiang heard this, her already pale face turned even whiter. She was in too much pain to speak properly. Tears kept spilling from her eyes as she shook her head with great difficulty. “No… no. I didn’t say anything.”
Father Jiang did not believe her. A trace of viciousness flashed in his eyes as he slapped her across the face again. “You damn woman, you think you can fool me? If you didn’t say anything, how did she suddenly turn into a different person?”