Jiang Zao’s words, “I was born by you,” struck straight into Liu Chunhua’s heart.
Jiang Zao was her daughter, while Jiang Shan was an outsider. Liu Chunhua knew clearly who was closer and who was not. “Xiao Shan, our family will handle your second sister’s matters ourselves. No need for you to worry.”
“If you’re not feeling well mentally, stay at home more. Your eldest and second sisters both have partners—don’t end up having another episode and doing something like drugging your brother-in-law again.”
Jiang Shan’s eyes widened. “Auntie! How can you say that about me?!”
Liu Chunhua’s tone was indifferent, not taking her seriously at all. “What? Did I wrong you?”
Jiang Zao remembered that in her previous life, her mother had tried hard to curry favor with her second uncle’s family for the sake of her younger brother. Whenever she and Jiang Shan argued, no matter who was right or wrong, her mother would always side with Jiang Shan.
It wasn’t that Liu Chunhua favored Jiang Shan—she was simply planning for her own son.
But… watching them argue now felt quite satisfying.
Jiang Shan, a tender sprout, stood no chance against the seasoned Liu Chunhua. She pressed a hand to her chest to calm herself. “Jiang Zao, I have something to ask you. Come with me.”
Jiang Shan went outside to wait under the apricot tree.
Jiang Zao followed shortly after.
“Go ahead.”
Jiang Shan frowned tightly, anger flashing in her eyes. “While I was locked up, you stole my jade pendant. Jiang Zao, you’re shameless!”
She held out her hand. “Give it back!”
After returning from detention, she discovered that the jade pendant she had kept in a biscuit tin was gone. Her mother said Jiang Zao had come to take some books. There was no need to think—it had to be her.
Jiang Zao laughed in anger. “Who exactly is shameless? That was left to me by my grandmother. Since when did it become yours?”
Jiang Shan snapped, “It was in my box, so it’s mine. You went to my house and took things—Jiang Zao, you’re shameless…”
Jiang Zao’s eyes turned sharp as knives. She raised her hand and slapped Jiang Shan across the face.
Caught off guard, Jiang Shan screamed, “Ah!!!”
Jiang Zao said coldly, “Let me tell you—what’s mine is mine. If you dare covet it again, whether it’s my grandmother’s keepsake or even just a stone I like, if you touch it, I’ll beat you.”
Her left cheek burned and quickly swelled. Jiang Shan had never suffered such humiliation in her life.
“Jiang Zao, you dare hit me! I’ll tell my mother—she won’t let you off!”
Jiang Zao replied, “Even if you go to the neighborhood committee and find people with red armbands, no one will help you—because right now, you’re ‘mentally ill.’”
One who brings trouble upon herself cannot escape it.
If she hadn’t harbored crooked thoughts, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Thinking of the blood and pain from her previous life, Jiang Zao resolved that those who owed her and those who had failed her would repay her, one by one.
This was only the beginning.
Tears filled Jiang Shan’s eyes as she stared at Jiang Zao in shock, realizing she had truly changed. She glanced toward the house.
Liu Chunhua was inside, swatting flies with a plastic fly swatter. Seeing Jiang Shan being slapped to tears, she acted as if she hadn’t noticed.
Jiang Shan pouted in grievance. “Fine! You’re all bullying me. Jiang Zao, don’t get too smug. If someone like you can get into the food factory, then I can too!”
“I won’t let you have it easy.”
After throwing out her threat, Jiang Shan covered her face and ran off.
Jiang Zao—just you wait!
Once Jiang Shan left, Liu Chunhua lifted the curtain and came out. “Now that we’ve completely fallen out with your second uncle’s family, your younger brother’s job will depend on you.”
Jiang Zao replied, “Got it, Mom.”
She was just putting pressure on her.
In the past, she would have been anxious to death. After everything she had experienced—disappointment and heartbreak—Jiang Zao now responded with nothing but perfunctory words.
What did Jiang Jun’s future have to do with her?
Jiang Dashan and Jiang Dahe were brothers born of the same mother, and their houses were not far apart—just a few alleys away.
Jiang Shan ran home crying. “Mom, Jiang Zao hit me!”
Feng Miao had been sewing inside. Hearing the crying, she rushed out. Seeing Jiang Shan’s swollen face, she pulled her into an embrace, heart aching. “That damned girl! She actually dared to hit you. Come, I’ll go with you to find her.”
Jiang Shan shook her head. “Don’t go. She said I’m mentally ill—no one will help me. They might even arrest me again.”
Feng Miao’s heart ached terribly.
“Go inside. I’ll get you some cold water to reduce the swelling.”
Jiang Shan grabbed Feng Miao’s hand, her tone domineering. “Xiao Shuisheng got Jiang Zao a job at the food factory. Mom, I want to work there too. I can’t be inferior to her.”
For some reason, ever since the jade pendant was taken by Jiang Zao, she felt an overwhelming sense of loss, as if something very important had slipped away.
And the job at the food factory—it felt like it should have been hers too. There was something there waiting for her.
Feng Miao led Jiang Shan inside and pressed a towel cooled with well water against her face.
Jiang Shan fumed, staring ahead, tears clinging to her lashes.
“…Xiao Shan, don’t rush. Now isn’t the time for you to go out to work. After some time passes and people forget about your detention, I’ll ask your uncle to arrange a job for you at the food factory, alright?”
Feng Miao spoke carefully, trying to persuade her.
Jiang Shan yanked the towel off her face and threw it on the ground. “I don’t want that!”
“Since childhood, Jiang Zao has always been the prettiest. Everyone praises her whenever they see her. Standing next to her, I look like an ugly goose. It’s all your fault and Dad’s—why didn’t you give birth to me looking like her?”
“I went to detention and had to pretend to be mentally ill—wasn’t it because you’re both useless? If you were capable, would I have suffered like this?”
“I want to work at the food factory. I’m no less capable than Jiang Zao. I’m sweet-tongued and perceptive. Go find my uncle—buy the job, trade for it, whatever it takes. I want to get into that factory, crush Jiang Zao under my feet, and make her kneel and look up at me!”
Jiang Shan cried as she threatened, “I’ve been detained and labeled mentally ill. If I can’t get into the food factory, I might as well die!”
As she spoke, she ran toward the wall as if to smash her head against it.
Feng Miao knew she was just throwing a tantrum, but seeing her daughter act like she wanted to die—even knowing it was fake—she couldn’t bear it.
“Alright, alright, I’ll go find your uncle right now. Even if I have to sell everything, I’ll get you into the food factory.”