Jiang Li didn’t argue any further. The college entrance exam was still a year away, and she believed that this year would be enough for Ding Shijun to see the sincerity of her decision to stay.
By then, without any worries at home, he would naturally be willing to take the exam.
After night fell, the two of them stopped wandering in the mountains. Carrying the game and harvest they had collected along the way, they quickly returned to the Jiang family home.
As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, they heard someone yelling again:
“Ugh! Who do you think you are, some highborn family? Dirt poor, and still trying to snatch my daughter! Who gave you the face for that? Chen Xiang, you shameless wretch, get out here!”
The familiar voice made Jiang Li’s face change immediately. She didn’t care about anything else, tossed the things in her hands into Ding Shijun’s arms, and ran toward the gate.
“What are you doing here? Go away immediately! You’re not welcome!”
Jiang Li pulled Li Qiujun aside and, seeing that she was just standing at the gate yelling and not bothering Chen Xiang, felt a small measure of relief.
Chen Xiang wasn’t well—if Li Qiujun did anything to her, the blame would fall on Jiang Li.
It was too dark for Li Qiujun to see Jiang Li clearly, but it didn’t prevent her from hearing Jiang Li’s voice.
She rushed toward the sound:
“Oh, my dear daughter! You’re finally back! Let mommy see you—how have you been these past couple of days? Has the Ding family treated you badly?”
“Silly child, how can you be so foolish? Your parents said things out of anger, and you’ve still stubbornly thrown yourself into the Ding family.”
“I thought that taking the Ding family’s house would teach you a lesson, make you return home willingly. But you’re so stubborn—you really plan to live a life of hardship with them?”
Li Qiujun held onto Jiang Li and wouldn’t let go. Jiang Li pushed several times but couldn’t get free.
If she remembered correctly, this was the first time in two lifetimes that Li Qiujun had actively hugged her.
Ironically, the embrace she had once longed for now only made her heart feel cold.
How much had she wished her mother would hug her, care for her, speak kindly, praise her?
Yet until her previous life ended, that day never came.
Now, living a second life, she had given up on familial love and no longer wished for her mother’s affection. And yet here Li Qiujun came forward willingly?
Jiang Li felt the coldness deepen, finding it bitterly ironic.
She pushed her mother away with some force: “Speak properly—don’t grope me!”
After pushing her back, she took a step back, full of disdain: “So, tell me—what exactly are you here for?”
“Don’t say it’s because you’re worried about me, afraid the Ding family might bully me. Don’t try to sweet-talk me with words about the betrothal gift—I don’t believe a single word of it.”
“We both know what kind of life I lived in the Jiang family over the past twenty years, so don’t try to soothe me with pretty words.”
“I was young before, with few choices, thinking that if I devoted myself wholeheartedly to the Jiang family, they would treat me better, see me as a person.”
“But now I know I was wrong. You have hearts of stone. My devotion doesn’t soften you, so I’ve had enough.”
Li Qiujun’s heart burned with anger. This ungrateful child, how could she be so sharp-tongued, completely blocking what she wanted to say?
But thinking of Jiang Tiezhu’s orders, she had to suppress her anger. Smiling sweetly, she stepped forward to reach for Jiang Li’s hand.
“You can’t say that. In this whole region, which household doesn’t raise their daughters this way?”
Jiang Li avoided her mother’s hand and stepped back.
“But you’re still your father and mother’s own flesh and blood,” Li Qiujun’s voice softened, tinged with a cry:
“As parents, how could we not care for our own child? We’ve always been strict, making you care for your younger brothers, do more housework, and be diligent.”
“That’s so that after you marry, you won’t be looked down on by your in-laws and can live well. Our good intentions—how do they become cruelty in your mouth?”
“Little Li, you’re wronging your parents. Go ask around—whose daughter isn’t raised this way? Who doesn’t do housework and contribute to her family?”
Jiang Li laughed: “So what? I’ve already devoted twenty years to the Jiang family. Now you’ve gotten the high betrothal price, married me off, what more do you want?”
“Sis, dad and mom were worried about you, that’s why they came to find you. Stop making a fuss, pack your things, and come home with us. We’ll cancel this Ding family engagement.” Jiang Jianguo stepped forward.
Before he could reach Jiang Li, Ding Shijun pushed him aside: “She’s my sister-in-law. Why should she go back with you? Don’t even think about it.”
The other two brothers of the Ding family ran out from the house as well, shielding Jiang Li behind them.
“Yes, if you want to take sister-in-law, you have to ask us first.” The third Ding brother glared angrily at Jiang Jianguo.
Jiang Jianguo, furious, rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight: “You little brat, daring to ruin my plans—let me see if I don’t beat you to death!”
“Try it.” Jiang Li yanked the third Ding brother behind her and glared at Jiang Jianguo.
“Don’t even think about it. I’m not going back with you. It’s getting late—my advice is to leave the mountain now.”
She turned to lead the Ding brothers back inside, a little worried about Chen Xiang.
“Jiang Li, stop right there!” Li Qiujun didn’t expect Jiang Li to be so ungrateful. As her mother, she had come to reconcile, but Jiang Li wouldn’t accept it.
This ungrateful child deserved to be beaten.
But she couldn’t say that now.
Suppressing her anger, Li Qiujun forced a smile:
“Go home with me obediently. I promise I won’t force you to marry. If you want to marry, you can. If you don’t, the Jiang family will take care of you for life, okay?”
“Mom knows she was wrong. Mom was blinded by greed when forcing you to marry that old man. Mom apologizes—don’t be angry with me. Come home, alright?”
“Shijun, see them out.” Jiang Li remained unmoved, not believing her empty words: “Shi’an, Shijie, what do you want to eat tonight? Sister-in-law will cook for you.”
Seeing her so stubborn, Jiang Jianguo lost his temper:
“Jiang Li, don’t go too far! Mom already apologized—what else do you want? Do you want her to kneel too?”
“Shijun, didn’t you say to see them out? Why haven’t you sent them away?” Jiang Li looked at Ding Shijun with a frown.
Ding Shian snorted: “Exactly. Does second brother not understand what ‘seeing out’ means? Or should I do it?”
“Our Ding household’s temple is small—it can’t hold these two big ‘Buddhas.’ Better get them out before they ruin my big brother’s marriage and anger the gods.”
This guy, small in size, yet sharp-tongued!
She liked that.
Jiang Li chuckled: “Alright, alright, let’s go cook. After a whole afternoon in the mountains, I’m starving.”
Seeing her go inside, Jiang Jianguo panicked:
“Jiang Li, the Ding family is so poor. If you really plan to stay, I’m telling you, after today we won’t come back to get you. If you want to return to the Jiang family, you’ll have to beg Dad yourself.”
“You know Dad’s temper. Do you really think you can go back then?”
“Even if the Jiang family isn’t perfect, at least you won’t starve. But the Ding family—you see their conditions, their living environment—aren’t you afraid of going hungry every day, without proper clothes?”
“Jiang Li, don’t be ungrateful. I’m your brother—if you won’t consider me, why are you caring about these Ding brats? Aren’t you being foolish?”
Hearing this, Jiang Li paused in her steps.