Hearing the villagers’ discussion, Ding Shijun was actually a bit curious as well.
“Sister-in-law, you seem very familiar with Professor Jiang and his wife. They also like you a lot. Can you tell me how you met and how you get along with them?”
“That’s a long story,” Jiang Li said, recalling the scene when she first met them.
At that time, she was only twelve years old, and Professor Jiang and Doctor Liu had just been sent down.
She was taking her seven-year-old third brother from the Jiang family to the fields to deliver food to the family. On the way back, Jiang Laosan suddenly felt unwell and almost had an accident—it was Doctor Liu who saved her.
From that day on, she knew Liu Xu could practice medicine. Later, whenever Jiang Laosan had any health issues, she would secretly go to them.
The couple were kind-hearted. Seeing that she was just a child, they took good care of her—teaching her to read and to recognize medicinal herbs.
She also helped the couple adapt to rural life as quickly as possible, even teaching them how to do farm work. Later on, she often went to see them and helped with whatever housework she could manage.
Because she learned to recognize many herbs, she also helped Liu Xu sort medicinal materials.
It was just that there were too many things going on in the Jiang family, and her free time was pitifully little. The only time she could stay longer at the Jiang household was when Jiang Laosan fell ill again.
Over the years, feelings naturally developed between them.
“Professor Jiang is a gentle person, always carrying the refinement of a scholar. I’ve basically never seen him lose his temper. He’s meticulous and patient, and he taught me to read many books.”
“Doctor Liu may look hot-tempered, but inside she’s extremely soft-hearted. She treated me like both a teacher and a mother. All my medical knowledge was learned from her.”
“In short, they’re very knowledgeable, capable, and very good people. If you have questions, Shijun, you can ask them anytime.”
“You’re a good kid—they’ll definitely be willing to teach you.”
Back then, Jiang Laosan had never been favored by Jiang Ting, and he hadn’t taught him anything.
Ding Shijun nodded. “I think they’re good people too. I want to learn some medicine from Doctor Liu, so I can take care of Mom and Big Brother in the future.”
“Then study hard and get into a medical university,” Jiang Li said with a sense of relief. By accident, she hadn’t expected Ding Shijun to be willing to study medicine.
In her previous life, the Ding family’s second son had gone down the path of medicine, largely guided by Jiang Li, because she herself had learned quite a bit of medical knowledge and had Liu Xu as a ready-made teacher.
Originally, after being reborn, she had planned to apply to a medical university herself.
But Ding Shijun going to medical school wouldn’t affect that. If she had the chance, she would still go to college.
Jiang Li’s thoughts were interrupted by a sharp scream. She instinctively shuddered and looked toward the source of the sound, only to realize they had already reached the Jiang family’s doorstep.
“That doesn’t sound like someone injured by wild beasts,” Ding Shijun said darkly, guessing something.
Jiang Li’s face turned pale. Her fingers twisted tightly at the hem of her clothes. She took two deep breaths.
“It’s Jiang Tiezhu!”
“He has a long thin whip made from iron chains. Whoever in the Jiang family doesn’t listen gets whipped by him.”
In the past, the one who was beaten was always her.
Even though she wasn’t the one being beaten now, recalling those scenes still made her afraid.
Ding Shijun was stunned.
“Didn’t people say Master Jiang is the most honest and upright, never hits his children, and that only Li Qiujv scolds and beats the kids at every turn?”
So all of it had been fake.
“He never hits the face or hands, and he forbids us from telling outsiders. If it really couldn’t be hidden, he’d push the blame onto Li Qiujv.”
Over time, everyone thought Li Qiujv was the vicious one, never knowing that the truly evil person was actually Jiang Tiezhu!
Jiang Li quickened her pace.
“Actually, the most terrifying person in the Jiang family is him. He beats Li Qiujv, beats me, and beats my younger brothers. Whoever doesn’t listen gets beaten—but the sons always get hit less.”
“That damned Jiang Tiezhu—he’s really not human. Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you from now on. He won’t dare do anything to you again,” Ding Shijun said, patting his chest.
Only when the screams could no longer be heard and they were far from the Jiang house did Jiang Li’s expression finally ease. She forced a smile.
“Alright. I’ll wait for you to protect me, little Shijun.”
“…”
At the same time, at the Jiang household.
Li Qiujv had already been beaten half to death. She knelt on the ground, begging nonstop.
“Stop hitting me, stop hitting me. I know I was wrong. I’ll definitely persuade Jiang Li to come back. It’s all my fault—I shouldn’t have married her off.”
Jiang Jianguo cowered in the corner, trembling. “Dad, I know I was wrong too. I shouldn’t have let Wu Huani curse Professor Jiang. I should’ve stopped her.”
“I’ll go beg Professor Jiang right now. I’ll kneel to him, like my sister did, and beg him. I’ll definitely make him accept me as a disciple.”
Jiang Tiezhu threw aside the whip and sat down on a chair nearby.
After tossing and turning all night, he was tired too.
“I don’t care what methods you use—you must bring Jiang Li back to me, and this apprenticeship with Jiang Ting must happen.”
Otherwise, he couldn’t afford to lose face, nor could he swallow this anger.
The Jiang mother and son exchanged a glance, supporting each other as they stood up, hatred burning Jiang Li through and through in their hearts.
That useless girl—how dare she cause them to be beaten. Just wait and see how they would deal with her in the future.
After this incident, the Jiang family finally quieted down for a few days.
Mainly because Li Qiujv and Jiang Jianguo were both injured and couldn’t keep stirring up trouble.
Wu Huani went to the Jiang household several times, only to be turned away each time.
She couldn’t find Jiang Jianguo, and the other Jiang family members refused to tell her where he was. Jiang Tiezhu didn’t allow her into the house at all.
All of this made her feel uneasy.
She had been reborn—there was no reason that, knowing the future in advance, she should be living worse than in her previous life.
No, she had to see Jiang Jianguo. She didn’t believe he would never leave the house.
Wu Huani waited outside the Jiang family gate for three days before finally seeing Jiang Jianguo come out.
“Jianguo.” Wu Huani grabbed the hurried Jiang Jianguo. “Where are you going?”
“Why are you here?” Jiang Jianguo liked Wu Huani, but he feared Jiang Tiezhu even more.
“Hurry up and leave. Don’t let my dad see you. He doesn’t agree to our marriage now. I can’t go against him.”
Why was Jiang Jianguo so spineless?
But that was how it was. In her previous life, the Jiang family had always been ruled by Jiang Tiezhu.
It was precisely because he was too overbearing that, when he got old, his sons grew to resent him.
Later, if it hadn’t been for that idiot Jiang Li, he would have long been sent back to the countryside by the Jiang sons to fend for himself.
“What are you afraid of him for?” Wu Huani refused to let go of Jiang Jianguo.
“Listen to me. Go home and pack your things. We’ll go to the city where you attend university right now. Before we leave, let my dad issue a certificate so we can register our marriage.”
“Once we get to the city, we’ll rent a place. When you don’t have classes, you can come back. I’ll cook for you and wash your clothes.”
“When you earn the professors’ approval at school, you’ll follow them on projects. I heard that completing one project can bring in over a hundred thousand.”
“When we have money, would your dad still dare say anything about you? Don’t you think so?”
The idea of being married to Wu Huani and living alone together made Jiang Jianguo somewhat tempted.
But…
“Can I really earn the professors’ approval and be taken along to work on projects?” Jiang Jianguo asked, doubtful.
Wu Huani said with full confidence, “Of course. You’re destined to become a top scientific researcher. Those professors aren’t blind—how could they not see your talent?”
“Believe me. As soon as you enter university, professors will definitely come looking for you. All you need to do then is study seriously and follow them in research. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”