Seeing Jiang Li actively taking care of Mrs. Ding, the Ding brothers exchanged glances. They silently took note of it, but no one stopped her.
Mrs. Ding was still living in the best room, but there was no bed—just a few tree stumps with simple wooden planks laid across them, covered with a worn-out quilt.
“Auntie, Ding Da-ge gave up the house to the Jiang family just to marry me. You don’t blame me for this, do you?”
Chen Xiang sighed and shook her head, placing her hand on Jiang Li’s head:
“We women are born unlucky, considered burdens from the start. We have no right to study, must take care of our brothers, and when we marry, we’re sold by our families for a good price.”
“When I was first married into the Ding family, I was bought in the same way. Luckily, I was fortunate—the men in the Ding family didn’t have too many flaws, and their ancestors had some education.”
“If the times hadn’t changed, they wouldn’t have been sent down to this village, and they wouldn’t have met me passing through during the famine.”
“Over the years in the Ding family, I realized that women also have value and deserve to be cherished and treated well. Xiaoli, don’t underestimate yourself.”
“I believe Shichen had his reasons for doing what he did. So Auntie doesn’t blame you. If you’re willing, I’d even like you to call me ‘Mom.’”
The word “Mom” felt intensely complicated to Jiang Li.
In her previous life, when her younger brothers called her mom, Li Qiujun would beam with affection, doting on them as if they were treasures.
When it came to her, however, saying “Mom” only brought Li Qiujun’s scolding and disgust:
“What are you calling for? Can’t even handle such a small matter? Why did I give birth to you?”
“Figure things out yourself! Mom? You’re calling me?”
“Don’t call me Mom! I wish I’d never given birth to such a burden!”
…
Over time, Jiang Li stopped calling her altogether. By the time she grew up, she no longer depended on Li Qiujun. The word “Mom” had become almost taboo.
But now, hearing Chen Xiang speak, Jiang Li felt a warm glow in her chest. Those painful memories were soothed, little by little, by Chen Xiang’s hand resting on her head.
Sometimes, she realized, you didn’t have to do anything to receive someone’s kindness.
Why hadn’t she paused in her previous life to notice the people around her?
Why had she run endlessly like a stubborn mule for the Jiang family, until she was exhausted and got nothing in return?
Was approval from the Jiang family really that important?
Was she unwilling, or just foolish?
Jiang Li wanted to slap herself.
“Child, child, what’s wrong? If it’s too difficult, forget it. Shichen’s leg isn’t good. If you don’t want to…”
“No.” Jiang Li grabbed Chen Xiang’s hand and shook her head excitedly. “Mom, I don’t mind. I… I’m just so happy.”
Hearing her call her Mom, Chen Xiang’s face lit up: “Ah, good child! As long as you’re happy, that’s enough, that’s enough.”
…
After leaving Chen Xiang’s room, Jiang Li’s eyes were still a little red.
“What’s wrong with her?” Thirteen-year-old Ding Shijie, the youngest, secretly tugged on his third brother’s sleeve.
Ding Shian glanced at Jiang Li. “Maybe Mom scolded her? She caused our house to be lost, Mom must be angry.”
The Ding family was already poor, and now they didn’t even have a proper place to live. Who would be happy?
“Shijun, take the two younger brothers outside. I want to talk to Xiaoli,” Ding Shichen said, frowning slightly as he studied Jiang Li.
Chen Xiang wasn’t unreasonable, but giving up the house as a bride price had been a bit impulsive. Ding Shichen wasn’t sure if his mother would blame Jiang Li.
Yet Jiang Li didn’t look particularly upset.
“Sit, let’s talk,” Ding Shichen gestured to a stool across from him.
Jiang Li wiped the corner of her eyes—she had something to say to Ding Shichen too.
Having lived two lives, her mind was far beyond twenty. Now, in her eyes, the Ding family were just children.
Since these children had helped her, she naturally felt obliged to take care of them.
Jiang Li sat down opposite Ding Shichen:
“Mom didn’t blame me. She said you must have had your reasons, and she trusts you. She even hopes I can call her Mom.”
“Ding Da-ge, if you don’t mind, we can register the marriage certificate later. I promise to be a good wife, take care of the younger brothers, and also take care of Mom.”
Ding Shichen’s eyes showed a flicker of confusion and surprise. For a moment, he even felt the urge to agree. But…
His gaze fell on his legs, and that impulse was harshly suppressed.
Although Jiang Li’s proposal would solve his current dilemma—ensuring the younger brothers and his mother were taken care of, making life easier for him—he couldn’t be so selfish.
He was disabled, and Jiang Li was still young. He couldn’t let her spend her entire life in the Ding family. That was the true meaning of repaying kindness, and he simply couldn’t do it.
“I do mind,” Ding Shichen said coldly. “You’re just a little girl. How could you possibly be a proper wife?”
“But taking care of my younger brothers, cooking for them, and making sure they don’t run wild—that’s fine. So I plan to have you take them to town.”
“Jiang Li, I did you a huge favor, even giving up my house for it. It’s not too much to have you take care of my younger brothers for a few years, right?”
Of course, it wasn’t too much, but…
Jiang Li gritted her teeth, refusing to agree.
Ding Shichen didn’t rush. He continued: “The money you and my second brother brought back last night, along with the Ding family’s savings, totals 10,500 yuan.”
“I’ll give all this money to you. Take Shijun and the other two to town, rent a place, and make their schooling easier, so they don’t have to commute.”
“Once the house is rented, you don’t have to do anything else—just cook for them and tidy up. After they go to school, you can do whatever you like.”
“When Shijie comes of age, you’ll be free. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. If you want to stay in the Ding family, I’ll make sure the younger ones support you with money.”
In Ding Shichen’s eyes, this arrangement was good for everyone. Especially going to town, Jiang Li could finally completely escape the Jiang family.
With her skills, she could live well no matter what she did in the future—no need to be burdened by the Ding family.
Jiang Li furrowed her brows: “What about you and Mom? Aren’t you coming with us to town?”
“We’re fine staying here,” Ding Shichen looked away. His leg injury hadn’t healed, and if it continued like this, he might not have much time left.
Plus, Chen Xiang’s illness had reached its limit—probably just a few more years.
His time to care for his brothers was limited. Once he was gone, no one would watch over them; their lives would be over.
He saw that Jiang Li was capable, and since the Ding family owed her a favor, letting her care for his brothers would free him from worry.
His expression made Jiang Li’s heart skip a beat—was Ding Shichen arranging things for the future?
Could it be his leg…?
Jiang Li recalled that in her previous life, Ding Shichen didn’t pass away until three years later. His leg shouldn’t have deteriorated so quickly. Could it be…
“Ding Da-ge, has your leg not been properly medicated or cared for since your surgery?”
Ding Shichen’s worsening leg injury—was it caused by neglecting it himself?