Liu Chunhua was no longer young. The noise made her ears buzz and her head ache.
She didn’t dare take risks. If the eldest daughter’s marriage fell through, then the second son could forget about getting married as well.
The sewing machine the Li family added was a big-ticket item—at least two to three months’ salary—and you still needed a purchase coupon to get one. Without it, the new bride wouldn’t even enter the household. Were they supposed to just watch her son’s marriage collapse?
Liu Chunhua realized that her eldest daughter already knew her plan. She had no choice but to compromise, agreeing to let her take twenty yuan. Besides the thermos and blankets they had originally planned, she would also buy two enamel basins—one for washing her face and one for laundry—and make her a new set of autumn clothes to take along. Only then was the matter settled.
That night, Jiang Xing claimed she had cried too much and had no strength to cook, so she didn’t make dinner at all.
She had managed to get quite a bit more money and goods than originally planned. With that, she felt much more confident going to her in-laws’ house and wasn’t afraid of her mother talking about her outside.
Besides, what was there to fear? Unless her mother had gone mad, she wouldn’t go around talking. It was her own fault for being foolish yesterday, actually believing those ridiculous threats.
Dinner was made by Liu Chunhua.
After a whole day of battling each other, mother and daughter were both exhausted, dizzy, and without appetite. They barely ate that night.
The three men in the house finished all the food. By the time Liu Chunhua regained a bit of strength to eat, only a pot of dirty dishes remained. She felt quite annoyed.
Just as she was stewing in anger, the third daughter came back.
Jiang Zao hadn’t eaten dinner, yet she cared about her mother. She couldn’t bear to eat the bread distributed by the factory herself and brought it back for her.
Without much effort, Jiang Zao became Liu Chunhua’s favorite.
Even between one’s own children, there was always an order of preference. Though Liu Chunhua favored sons over daughters, she was still human. When wronged, she felt pain; when cared for, her nose turned sour with emotion.
“The third one thinks of her mother—this comforts me.”
Liu Chunhua took out a piece of bread from the oil-paper bag and handed it to Jiang Zao. “Dinner’s already finished. Take this back and eat it—don’t go hungry.”
In the past, even if Jiang Zao had gone hungry for three meals, the bread would never have gone to her.
Jiang Zao accepted it with “pleasant surprise.”
It was almost the fifteenth day of the lunar month. The moon was bright, illuminating the courtyard.
Liu Chunhua noticed the watch on Jiang Zao’s wrist. “Where did you get that watch? It’s Longines, right? That’s over a hundred yuan!”
A Longines watch was far more expensive than a sewing machine.
Jiang Zao showed a shy expression. “Xiao Shuisheng was afraid I’d be late for work, so he specially bought it for me.”
Liu Chunhua withdrew her gaze and smiled faintly, already calculating in her heart.
Let the third daughter wear it for a while. Once the youngest son got a job at the food factory, she would have Jiang Zao give the watch to him. With a watch on him, finding a good match would be easy.
The gloom in her heart suddenly vanished. She spoke to Jiang Zao with unusual warmth, “After you eat, wash up and go to bed early. You still have work tomorrow. What do you want to eat for lunch? I’ll get up early and make something good for you to bring.”
Jiang Zao replied, “Anything is fine. I like whatever you make.”
The weather was hot, and Jiang Zao felt sticky all over. After eating the bread, she boiled a pot of hot water, bathed in a large wooden basin, changed into clean short sleeves, and returned to her room. She didn’t lie down immediately, instead sitting against the wall to dry her hair.
Her hair was dark and thick, like satin.
Jiang Xing hadn’t slept yet. “Xiao Shuisheng gave you a watch?”
Their voices earlier had been low, but she had caught bits of it from her spot by the window.
Jiang Zao replied, “Mm.”
Jiang Xing felt a mix of emotions. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t envious.
They were sisters from the same mother.
Yet Jiang Zao’s partner was a senior researcher, from a distinguished family.
She had secretly asked around—Xiao Shuisheng’s grandfather had extensive connections, someone everyone gave face to. His father held a solid position in academia, and his mother was a renowned first-class dancer. After giving birth, her health declined, and she retired to become a dance teacher in a military arts troupe.
His older brother had a good job, and his sister-in-law was an editor at a newspaper, fluent in foreign languages, often translating progressive foreign ideas into Chinese and publishing them, holding a high position.
His younger sister was still in high school, though spoiled—unable to cook or do laundry, spending twenty cents daily on snacks, every bit a pampered young lady.
Jiang Xing had also heard that among several grandsons, Old Master Xiao valued Xiao Shuisheng the most.
Jiang Zao had seemed a bit dull growing up, yet somehow caught Xiao Shuisheng’s eye.
There were many outstanding women around him, yet he had never been close to any of them. With his wealth and status, he remained devoted to Jiang Zao.
What status did Xiao Shuisheng have… and what status did Jiang Zao have…
Even in her own home, Jiang Zao wasn’t favored, yet Xiao Shuisheng treated her like the apple of his eye.
Jiang Xing could understand why Jiang Shan would risk her reputation to drug him. It wasn’t just poor girls—even women with wealth and status would envy Jiang Zao.
Jiang Xing said bitterly, “Be careful. Mom won’t let you off.”
Jiang Zao closed her eyes.
Who wouldn’t let whom off—that remained to be seen.
The watch was on her wrist. Anyone who dared to touch it was asking for trouble.
After her hair dried, Jiang Zao slipped under the covers and went to sleep.
At the same time, in the research institute dormitory, Xiao Shuisheng went to the communal bathhouse for a second cold shower.
His roommate was awakened and asked the man across from him, “Is Shuisheng usually that afraid of the heat?”
The other man chuckled slyly. “You don’t get it—he’s burning with desire, haha!”
Summer weather was unpredictable. It had been unbearably hot the day before, but after midnight, rain began to fall.
Large raindrops pattered against the windows, disturbing Jiang Xing’s sleep. She got up to close the window and drifted back to sleep.
Jiang Zao stuffed paper in her ears and slept well, waking at 6:50 the next morning.
The Jiang household had only one wall clock, kept in Jiang Dashan and Liu Chunhua’s room.
To check the time, one had to go into their room—fine during the day, inconvenient at night.
Now that Jiang Zao had her own watch, she no longer needed to check the time there.
At breakfast, Jiang Jun’s eyes never left the watch on Jiang Zao’s wrist.
Too bad—it was a ladies’ watch. It wouldn’t look manly on him. But that was fine—he could give it to his future wife.
…It seemed Li Mei wasn’t good enough for him after all. He could slowly distance himself and end that relationship.
After finishing breakfast, Liu Chunhua handed Jiang Zao her lunchbox, carefully reminding her, “I made egg fried rice for you—used a whole egg. Eat it all, don’t leave a single grain!”
“Got it, Mom.”
Jiang Zao carried the lunchbox to the factory. While changing clothes, she noticed that half the lockers now had locks.
Who they were guarding against was obvious.
Jiang Shan arrived after her. Seeing the locked lockers, anger surged within her. She kicked a locker door hard. “Everyone locked their lockers to guard against me. Jiang Zao, are you satisfied now?!”
Jiang Zao changed into her white summer work uniform. With her slender waist and long legs, her thick hair neatly coiled at the back of her head, revealing a smooth forehead and a small, delicate face like porcelain.
After fixing her hair, Jiang Zao adjusted her hem. “Cousin, what are you talking about? What does everyone guarding against you have to do with me?”
Jiang Shan sneered. “Aren’t you happy seeing me like this?”
Jiang Zao thought for a moment. “Then yes—I am quite satisfied.”
Jiang Shan snapped, “You!”
Suddenly, she noticed the watch on Jiang Zao’s wrist.
Jiang Zao, a poor girl, couldn’t possibly afford a Longines watch. She rushed forward, grabbed Jiang Zao’s wrist, and demanded loudly, “Where did this watch come from?!”