Seeing Jiang Li stop, the Ding brothers all stiffened. They were afraid Jiang Li might be persuaded and really go back to the Jiang family with Jiang Jianguo.
Jiang Li comfortingly patted Ding Laosi’s head. “He called you little mongrels—what do you want to do about it?”
“Do we even need to ask? Of course we beat them out,” Ding Shian, the third brother, said as he turned back, grabbed a carrying pole, and swung it at Jiang Jianguo.
“Beat them out, beat them out. They’re the real mongrels,” Ding Laosi said excitedly, charging into Li Qiujv and knocking her into a stagger.
Ding Shijun stopped being polite as well. There was no need for courtesy with people who couldn’t understand human speech—he grabbed them and threw them straight out.
The Jiang mother and son fell to the ground in a sorry state, not knowing how many blows from the carrying pole they had taken.
Dodging as they went, they scrambled to their feet and ran outward, still hurling curses.
“You ungrateful wretch! You dare team up with outsiders to beat your own parents—has a dog eaten your conscience?”
“You inhuman dog thing. With the Ding family’s conditions, just wait and starve on northwest wind!”
“If you won’t come back to the Jiang family now, you’ll cry later…”
“I’m a dignified college student—why should I put up with you? Jiang Li, just you wait. One day I’ll make you pay…”
“…”
Listening to the curses fade into the distance, Jiang Li’s mood sank for a moment.
Now she truly had no blood relatives left. She had tasted the bitterness of being all alone in her previous life more than enough.
“Girl.” Chen Xiang’s voice sounded by her ear. Jiang Li forced a smile.
“Mom, why did you come out? Did it get too noisy and disturb you? I’m sorry—this won’t happen again. I won’t let them come bother you anymore.”
Chen Xiang waved her hand. “This isn’t something you can decide. You don’t need to apologize to me.”
She pulled Jiang Li to sit down.
“Your mother and younger brother came with gifts. I thought that since they’re your family, maybe they were here to make peace. Who would’ve known they wanted to take you back.”
“I didn’t agree. After all, you’re the Ding family’s daughter-in-law now. Whether you go or stay is up to you.”
“You didn’t choose to go with them. I’m really happy—thank you, Xiao Li. Thank you for not despising our Ding family for being poor.”
“You didn’t despise all the trouble I come with. How could I possibly despise you?” Jiang Li raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye.
“Besides, poverty is only temporary. I believe Big Brother Ding and the younger brothers all have great potential. The Ding family will definitely get better and better.”
“Exactly. Don’t bully the poor youth. Sister-in-law, don’t worry—we’ll work hard and make our Ding family better and better,” Ding Shijun said with a solemn promise.
The two younger brothers nodded along.
After this incident, the Ding brothers’ attitude toward Jiang Li clearly changed. Even Ding Laosan, who had initially suspected she was only using the Ding family, now looked at her with a smile in his eyes.
Such simple trust and goodwill were things Jiang Li could never obtain in her previous life in the Jiang family, no matter how she begged.
And now, she had done nothing at all—she had simply chosen to stay—yet the Ding family treated her like this. How could she not be moved, not feel gratified?
Hearts for hearts. This time, she would only be good to those who were worth it.
Jiang Li brushed off her clothes and stood up. “I’ll go cook. Tonight I’ll show you what I can do.”
“I’ll go light the fire,” Ding Laosi said, running toward the kitchen.
Ding Laosan picked up the kerosene lamp. “I’ll light a few more lamps so the house is brighter.”
“I’ll take care of the mountain chicken I just hunted. Mom, drink more chicken soup tonight,” Ding Shijun said, carrying the chicken toward the kitchen.
Chen Xiang smiled from the corners of her eyes. “Where’s your big brother? Why didn’t he come back with you?”
“I was planning to tell you about this at dinner,” Jiang Li said, turning back.
Ding Shijun looked over nervously.
They had been hiding their eldest brother’s injury from Chen Xiang all along—they didn’t want her to worry. Ever since he couldn’t stand, she had been anxious, and her health had been getting worse.
Jiang Li felt this might not be a bad thing. What mother doesn’t want her child to be healthy? Ding Shichen’s active cooperation with treatment was a good thing.
“Doctor Liu said that after a second surgery, Big Brother Ding’s leg has a chance to stand again. He’s staying there now to prepare for the operation and will only come back after he recovers.”
“If Mom misses him, we can accompany you to see him later. It’s just that the mountain roads aren’t easy, and we don’t want you making the trip back and forth.”
Hearing that her son had a chance to stand again, Chen Xiang’s face immediately filled with smiles. She didn’t care about anything else and hurriedly stood up.
“That’s wonderful—this is great news. Then I definitely have to go see him. Climbing a mountain is nothing; I’m fine. Later we’ll call Laosan and Laosi too. We’ll all go together.”
Seeing that Chen Xiang was more happy than worried, Ding Shijun finally let out a breath of relief.
Jiang Li smiled along with Chen Xiang.
“Alright, alright. Let’s wait until you’ve rested and recovered a bit more, then we’ll go. Shijun, after dinner, pick out all the herbs I dug up. I’ll take a look and see what Mom can use.”
“While the mountains are quiet and you haven’t started school yet, let’s properly nourish Mom’s health.”
Ding Shijun nodded in agreement. “Yes, yes, yes—let’s really nourish her. I’ll get to it later.”
“…”
Eating, sorting herbs—the family stayed busy until late into the night. When they finally went to rest, everyone was happy, all feeling that life had hope.
These were the most comfortable two days Jiang Li had lived through in two lifetimes.
The next day, just after dawn, Jiang Li heard movement outside. When she got up, she found Ding Shijun had returned from chopping firewood.
“Sister-in-law, you’re up,” Ding Shijun said as he stacked the wood in the yard. “You sit and rest first. I’ll go heat some water for you to wash your face—the mountains are cold in the early morning.”
Jiang Li didn’t stand on ceremony. “Alright. I’ll go pack some clothes and bedding for your big brother and bring them over later.”
After breakfast, Jiang Li gave instructions to the two younger brothers and then went down the mountain again with Ding Shijun.
The road to Zhangjia Village passed by the Jiang family’s home.
Before they even got close, they could hear wailing coming from the Jiang house.
There were many villagers on both sides of the road watching the commotion.
“What happened? It’s been a whole night—why hasn’t the screaming stopped?”
“I heard that when the Jiang mother and son came down from the mountain last night, they were attacked by wild beasts. The village doctor only left at midnight. Judging by the screams, the injuries must be serious.”
“Why go up the mountain in the middle of the night? That’s just asking for trouble.”
“Wasn’t it for their daughter? She married into the Ding family, and the whole family moved up into the mountains.”
“If you ask me, what the Jiang family did was too extreme. Taking the other party’s house just for the betrothal gifts—aren’t they basically watching their daughter suffer?”
“You can’t say it like that. Since ancient times, marrying a wife requires betrothal gifts—that’s the village rule. The Ding family agreed themselves. Who can interfere?”
“Then tell me—she’s already married. Why did the Jiang family run up the mountain to look for her? Isn’t that just asking to be disliked?”
That kind of demand for betrothal gifts isn’t making a marriage—it’s making an enemy. Would the Ding family still give the Jiangs a friendly face?
“I asked around. It seems Jiang Jianguo’s apprenticeship fell through, and the turning point is in Jiang Li’s hands. That’s why Li Qiujv brought her son to beg her.”
“Jiang Li can really have that much power—able to influence Professor Jiang’s choice of disciple?”
“You don’t know about this. I actually know a bit of the inside story…”