Сhаpter 12: Just Нumоr Нim а Littlе.
After the bаnkruрtcy, thе Jing family hаd mоvеd tо а rеsidentiаl building nехt tо the cеramics factоrу, a smаll соmmunitу lоcаtеd in thе suburbs.
When she аrrivеd homе, Father Jing was still wоrking ovеrtime at the fаctоry.
Sееing her sudden rеturn, the whole fаmilу wаs аstonished.
Оn thе dining tаblе were hаlf-eаten dishes. Jing Gе silently fоund her seаt, picked uр hеr сhoрstiсks, and took а bite оf riсe.
“You…” Grаndmother Fаn Cоngуun lоokеd her up аnd down. “Why аrе уou back now? Did Li Zhan bring you?”
Jing Ge оnlу managed two bitеs оf rice befоrе she couldn’t eat anymore.
She first glanced at her mother, Cai Zhi, then fixed her gaze on Grandmother’s face. “Grandma, I want to call off the engagement.”
“…”
Fan Congyun dismissed it as childish temper. “Why bring this up again? Haven’t I explained every reason to you in detail?”
“I can’t stand it,” Jing Ge’s nose tingled, and a sob escaped her lips. “I just can’t stand it.”
Cai Zhi wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Did you quarrel with Li Zhan?”
Fan Congyun: “What young couple doesn’t argue? Your grandfather and I, your father and mother—haven’t we all bickered our whole lives?”
“Please help me cancel the engagement,” Jing Ge pleaded, unable to listen. “I’ve passed my probation. I’ll work hard to support the family. We don’t need to rely on the Li family…”
Fan Congyun’s expression turned stern. “Enough!”
“…”
“The luxury cars, foreign-style houses, and beautiful dresses you had before you were ten,” Fan Congyun’s cloudy eyes sharpened, “the foundation of the Jing family built over a hundred years—are you willing to let it vanish into thin air?”
Jing Ge: “I don’t want luxury cars or foreign-style houses…”
Fan Congyun cut her off. “Don’t mention this again!”
The tip of Jing Ge’s nose flushed faintly red.
Fan Congyun: “Your father sleeps less than four hours a day at the factory, afraid that every extra second of sleep means one less yuan earned. Have you forgotten how it feels to be surrounded by creditors like hungry wolves?”
“Mom,” Cai Zhi tried to mediate, “don’t pressure her so much…”
Fan Congyun: “The Li family hasn’t looked down on us for being poor; they even helped us. Out of gratitude for that, don’t ever mention calling off the engagement again!”
Jing Ge’s eyelashes grew damp, her expression momentarily lost.
“Then what about me? What am I?”
“Gege,” Fan Congyun spoke earnestly, “the prosperity of a family is usually the result of generations of effort. Someone always has to make sacrifices. Besides, the elders of the Li family are very kind. Li Zhan is young and impulsive—just humor him a little. It’s hardly a hardship, and it gives the Jing family a chance to catch its breath. In the end, we’re the ones benefiting.”
The moisture gradually faded from Jing Ge’s eyes.
So.
Her happiness didn’t matter, her well-being didn’t matter, her wishes didn’t matter.
For the sake of the Jing family, she was to be sacrificed.
Cai Zhi hesitated, tentatively suggesting, “Mom, what about considering Beile and Li Ying…”
“Have you lost your mind!” Fan Congyun snapped. “Not to mention they’re still young, the eldest son of the Li family has no children, the third son remains unmarried, and only the second son has a son and a daughter. How precious this daughter is—could she marry down to our family?”
Cai Zhi fell silent.
Fan Congyun: “Marrying Li Zhan is her good fortune! If the third son of the Li family, like the eldest, never has children, then the entire Li family will belong to Li Zhan—and to Gege and her children! Don’t say it’s only for the Jing family; this is good for her too. She’ll never find such a bargain again!”At this point, Fan Congyun looked at Jing Ge. “You’re not the young mistress anymore. You have no capital for arrogance. In front of Li Zhan, you should humble yourself. Isn’t it all the same to coax a man? Coaxing one with wealth and power is better than coaxing one who has nothing, right?”
Jing Ge kept her head lowered, her thick, long eyelashes like feathers covering her eyes.
Not a trace of emotion remained.
The door suddenly opened—it was Father Jing returning.
Since the family’s bankruptcy, he had aged rapidly. Combined with endless sleepless nights, his hair had turned mostly white.
Glancing at the scene in the dining room, Father Jing didn’t even change his shoes and said sternly, “I’ll take you back.”
“How can you be like this?” Cai Zhi said unhappily. “You didn’t even ask our daughter…”
Father Jing replied coldly, “What else does she want besides breaking off the engagement?”
“…”
Father Jing’s voice was icy and sharp. “Only Li Zhan has the right to reject you. You have no right to reject him. Who doesn’t suffer grievances? Why endure them? I spend my days coaxing clients above and workers below. Your mother, your grandmother—who among them isn’t enduring grievances?”
“Enough!” Cai Zhi couldn’t hold back. “Why say these things? It’s not her fault!”
Father Jing retorted, “The Jing family raised her, so she should contribute to the family’s future!”
Cai Zhi let out a long sigh.
Father Jing opened the door. “Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the Li family. Apologize properly to Li Zhan. Once he comes of age, the two of you will marry immediately.”
Throughout the return journey, Jing Ge didn’t say a word.
Li Zhan was right.
It was all fate.
It was destiny.
As if certain she would return, Li Zhan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching coldly as she walked in like a lifeless corpse.
Was it humiliating?
Jing Ge felt numb.
The villa was vast, the floor lights casting a half-bright, half-dark glow. She walked for a long time, her slender figure solitary, as if traversing a dark tunnel alone, heading toward an abyss where daylight never reached.
Until she stood before Li Zhan.
Jing Ge lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”
Li Zhan slowly straightened up, his expression unreadable. “Don’t oppose me again.”
Jing Ge replied, “Okay.”
Li Zhan said, “Coax me a little.”
Jing Ge said, “Okay.”
Li Zhan commanded, “Look up.”
Jing Ge raised her head.
He stood in a position of power, while Jing Ge seemed like a weak, vulnerable ant before him—a resignation to being molded and crushed at his will.
Li Zhan clenched his jaw, realizing he wasn’t happy. “Are you feeling wronged being with me?”
Jing Ge gave the standard answer. “No, it’s my honor. It’s our entire family’s honor.”
“…”
Li Zhan turned and walked away.
His back radiated obvious fury.
No one knew what he was angry about.
She had obeyed.
So obedient.
Everything was as he said.
Jing Ge couldn’t understand.
Uncle Zhang stood nearby and cleared his throat softly.
Jing Ge snapped back to reality and looked at him. “Uncle Zhang, about tonight’s events, please don’t tell my uncle.”
“…Why?” Uncle Zhang was puzzled. “You could ask him to stand up for you.”
Jing Ge shook her head. “The words were too ugly. Don’t taint his elderly ears.”
Uncle Zhang choked abruptly. “He’s not that old.”
Jing Ge said, “Oh.”
Uncle Zhang: “…”
That night, Li Musi didn’t return until the early hours of the morning.
Uncle Zhang followed closely. “You’ve worked hard, sir. Would you like some coffee?”
“…” Li Musi glanced sideways at him. “Sir?”
Uncle Zhang patted his own mouth. “I’m the elderly one. I am.”
Li Musi stopped outright. “Speak.”
Uncle Zhang asked, “Speak about what?”
Li Musi said, “What happened tonight?””…Ah,” even though he had watched him grow up, Uncle Zhang was still taken aback by his sharpness. “Something did happen, but I can’t say.”
Li Musi: “Who do you answer to?”
Uncle Zhang: “The young mistress won’t let me say. Tell me, should I listen to you or to her?”
Li Musi stared at him for a moment with his deep, penetrating eyes.
His voice was cool and detached: “Since you promised her, listen to her. Don’t let the child think you’re an old man who doesn’t keep his word.”
Uncle Zhang: “…”