“Oh my, I never noticed before, but looking now, the Jiang girl is really pitifully thin.”
“Could it be that the Jiang family really didn’t feed her? Sure, she’s a daughter, but it’s not like it’s a famine—there’s no excuse to starve a child.”
“If that’s the case, what the Jiang girl did wasn’t really over the line, right?”
“How could it not be?!” Jiang Tiezhu was about to explode in anger at Jiang Li. How could he not know that his daughter, who used to be so timid she couldn’t even defend herself, had suddenly become so sharp-mouthed?
“If she really suffered any grievance in the Jiang family, she could’ve told me. Everyone knows what kind of person I am. Do you think I would have treated her harshly?”
“She didn’t say anything, quietly found someone to marry, and now clearly regrets it, so she’s using her brother’s future as leverage. If that isn’t over the line, then it’s downright malicious.”
“Jiang Li, right now we’re talking about your brother’s apprenticeship. Don’t drag this so far off topic. I’ll ask you straight: today, will you let it happen or not?”
“Do you really have to ruin your brother’s chance to apprentice just to feel satisfied?”
Jiang Li’s expression shifted slightly. Jiang Tiezhu really wasn’t easy to fool. She had deliberately tried to change the subject to gain sympathy—hoping everyone would see the Jiang family’s true face, attack them, ruin their reputation, and prevent Jiang Jianguo from apprenticing.
But she hadn’t expected Jiang Tiezhu to reverse public opinion in just a few words.
Instead, everyone turned to advise her.
“Yes, yes, today is your brother’s big day to apprentice. This affects his future—you can’t make a scene like this.”
“If you really have grievances, speak to your father in private. Your mother is a bit fiery. It’s not impossible that she favors her sons and treats you less well.”
“But you have to trust your father. Master Jiang is not the type to mistreat his children. Even though you’re a girl, he didn’t send you away. He’s willing to raise you, and he wouldn’t let you go hungry.”
“Exactly, I also think Master Jiang isn’t that kind of person.”
“Maybe there’s a misunderstanding here?”
“If you didn’t intentionally try to harm your brother, you’d better step aside, so your father doesn’t get angry.”
“…”
Everyone was talking over each other. If Jiang Li blocked Jiang Tiezhu from seeing Jiang Ting today, she would be considered utterly in the wrong.
Just as Jiang Li prepared to stand her ground, determined not to let Jiang Tiezhu confront the Jiang couple, the courtyard door opened from the inside.
Jiang Ting came to the doorway: “Xiaoli, go help Aunt Liu. Leave this to me.”
Hearing “Aunt Liu” made Jiang Tiezhu’s eyes widen. When did this reckless girl become so familiar with these two troublemakers?
But he didn’t have time to ponder—he already saw Jiang Ting walking toward him.
Jiang Ting was a highly educated scholar, a respectable academic. Jiang Li knew she couldn’t oppose him, so she didn’t move.
“Professor Jiang, look at all this trouble. The kids don’t understand. Don’t take it to heart. These are just chickens and wine from our home—if you don’t mind, please take them,” Jiang Tiezhu said, offering the items in his hands, forcing a smile as he continued:
“We’re mountain folk. We don’t know the rules, and we’re not as meticulous as educated people like you. My son just got into university, and I’m worried he won’t keep up in the city.”
“I know you’re a professor with great skill. In the past, people like us would never have had a chance to meet you.”
“Now, Professor Jiang, if you could show some kindness and teach my son, it would be rare for our village to produce a university student. I don’t want him to bring shame to the village.”
As he spoke, he wiped his eyes and even went to kneel before Jiang Ting.
The performance was flawless—Jiang Li couldn’t believe her shameless father was putting on this “saint act.”
“Yes, Professor Jiang,” Wu Changgeng quickly chimed in, “it’s rare for our village to have a university student. Please, do us this kindness and teach him.”
“Professor Jiang?” Zhang Xiangui also came over:
“Jianguo’s grades are indeed excellent. Why not teach him? He’ll study hard and won’t disgrace you.”
Jiang Ting waved his hand: “You’ve all spoken enough. Now let me say something.”
The villagers’ voices gradually fell silent.
Jiang Ting glanced at Jiang Tiezhu and his son, his expression becoming a little more serious:
“Just a few days ago, that girl Jiang Li knelt at my door, begging me to take her brother as an apprentice. She even promised to serve my wife for free, doing menial chores.”
“She knelt for seven days. Tiny and thin, but her sincerity was undeniable. Even a heart of stone would soften, so I agreed and promised to properly teach her brother.”
“But this morning, these two”—Jiang Ting raised his hand toward Jiang Jianguo and Wu Huani—
“They barged into my courtyard, arrogantly ordering me to take him as a student.”
Jiang Ting pointed again at Jiang Jianguo:
“Scholars have a certain pride. That girl begged for seven days before I agreed. Why should he expect me to become his teacher with just a few words?”
“So I refused him.”
“But guess what?” Jiang Ting smiled lightly:
“When Wu heard my refusal, she started scolding me without hesitation, claiming that refusing Jiang Jianguo would be my loss.”
“My wife couldn’t stand it and chased them out immediately. But they didn’t see their fault. That university student even escalated, cursing us, saying we old folks were worthless, undeserving of care in our old age, and deserved to be sent down, never to return to the city.”
“Can you believe such words?”
“My wife nearly fainted from anger. If not for Jiang Li arriving just in time to steady her and calm the situation, the outcome could have been disastrous.”
“Master Jiang, I’ve heard much about you. Villagers say you are honest and upright, a rare good person. But from my perspective, maybe not.”
“At the very least, in my eyes, you can’t even tell right from wrong. You didn’t check the facts and immediately scolded Xiaoli when you met her. You trust your son so blindly?”
“Do you think that just because he got into university, he can’t make mistakes, that he’s a good kid?”
“To me, no matter how good at studying he is, if his character isn’t right, I won’t teach him. So you’d better go back. I’m not taking this student.”
After saying this, Jiang Ting turned and, taking Jiang Li with him, returned to the courtyard.
Before the villagers could react, the courtyard door was closed again.
Zhang Xiangui sighed, glancing meaningfully at Jiang Jianguo:
“You don’t really think Professor Jiang is a bad person who can’t return to the city, do you?”
Isn’t that obvious? Jiang Jianguo didn’t feel he had done anything wrong. It was the Jiang couple who were ungrateful, still holding their scholarly airs while being brought down, as if anyone would care to apprentice under them.
Meeting Jiang Jianguo’s eyes, Zhang Xiangui understood his thoughts and felt disappointed.
A university student with that character—nothing special.
“Heh… let me tell you, Professor Jiang and his wife have long been allowed to return to the city. They just chose to stay in our village.”
“Dr. Liu’s medical skills are excellent. Over the past few years, they’ve helped countless villagers. Our village would be glad to support them for life. And yet, you—?”
Zhang Xiangui tapped Jiang Jianguo and Wu Huani on the face with his finger, sighed in disappointment, and turned to leave.
Once he left, the villagers who had come to watch the drama also dispersed.
“I thought Jiang Li was causing trouble, but in fact, it had nothing to do with the girl.”
“Exactly. She didn’t act badly herself. The Jiang couple were offended, yet she was blamed. Truly impressive.”
“Don’t you remember what Professor Jiang just said? Before all this, the Jiang girl had already knelt, begging for her brother’s teacher. And now—well.”
“No wonder she cut ties with the Jiang family. With such an ungrateful brother, who wouldn’t feel disappointed?”
“…”