The laughter cut off abruptly.
Jiang Rou faced them, lips curving lightly. “Dad, Mom—we’re back.”
Chen Aihe rose with a cheerful smile and hurried forward. “And Chengdong? Why are you the only one here?”
“He’s helping an old man carry something. He’ll be along in a moment.”
Looping her arm through her mother’s, Jiang Rou walked inside. Just then, a gentle female voice drifted from nearby: “Xiao Rou, you’re back? I’ve missed you so much!”
At the sound, a figure approached. Jiang Rou lifted her gaze to see Jiang Qiuyu in a pale wool coat, stopping before her with a refined smile. Her features were rather plain, but she dressed well, and her bearing was elegant.
“Mm, I’ve missed you too.” Compared to Jiang Qiuyu’s voice, Jiang Rou’s carried a soft, sweet lilt—like cotton candy, pleasing to the ear. Especially the words “missed you,” which seemed to hook the listener and stir instant fondness.
It had been a long time since Jiang Qiuyu heard her sister’s voice face to face. She froze for a moment, instinctively glancing back. Her fiancé was sipping tea, not paying attention, and she felt an odd wave of relief. Then she teased, “You heartless girl—you haven’t written me in ages. I’ve been waiting every day for a letter.”
In the past, Jiang Rou would only smile sheepishly and never argue. But this time, she didn’t.
“I’ve been too busy lately; I really have no time to write. I thought you’d send me a letter instead. Seems you’ve been just as busy.”
Jiang Qiuyu was stunned once again, unaccustomed to being talked back to.
Chen Aihe glanced between the two sisters, then tugged Jiang Rou toward where everyone was seated.
Quickly regaining her composure, Jiang Qiuyu introduced her fiancé: “Xiao Rou, this is Zhong Fang. From now on, you can call him brother-in-law.”
Zhong Fang was the male lead in the book—born into the compound, with a reckless streak. As the story described, in his youth he was forever causing trouble, leaving a trail of flirtations behind. In the end, his family had no choice but to send him down to the countryside. There, he met the heroine, fell in love, endured countless trials, and eventually reformed, becoming a model husband and father.
Facing him now, Jiang Rou offered a polite greeting and said no more. Jiang Qiuyu positioned herself between them, secretly watching Zhong Fang’s expression. He merely nodded faintly, showing no unusual reaction. Only then did she relax, turning back to Jiang Rou with a pointed question: “Why isn’t your husband back yet? Shouldn’t you go look for him?” A flicker of excitement lit her eyes.
Jiang Rou frowned slightly, unable to understand why her sister looked so eager.
At that moment, the door opened again—Shen Chengdong had returned.
Before Jiang Rou could introduce him, Jiang Qiuyu blurted out, “Who is he?!” Her voice trembled with shock.
Startled by her sister’s pale face, Jiang Rou asked, “What’s wrong with you? Do you know him?”
But Jiang Qiuyu didn’t answer. She pressed on, “You still haven’t told me—who is he?”
For the first time in her life, Jiang Rou saw her sister looking as if she’d seen a ghost. The usual elegance and composure were gone.
Everyone else noticed her strange behavior too, bewildered.
Chen Aihe, puzzled, spoke up: “He’s Shen Chengdong, Xiao Rou’s husband. Did you two know each other before?”
Shen Chengdong frowned, clearly with no memory of the woman before him.
Jiang Qiuyu, recovering from her initial shock, felt utterly drained. She couldn’t believe it—after all her careful scheming, Jiang Rou had still married Ye Cheng in the end.
Ye Cheng? No—this man was called Shen Chengdong. Perhaps he only resembled Ye Cheng. After all, someone like Ye Cheng, a favored son of heaven, would never stoop to being another family’s live-in son-in-law.
With that thought, Jiang Qiuyu gradually calmed down, finding an excuse for her earlier lapse. “Sorry, he looks so much like my middle school classmate. But that classmate passed away years ago, so I was startled.”
“Oh, I see…” Chen Aihe accepted the explanation without suspicion. She fetched two stools, nudged Jiang Deshan’s arm, and whispered, “Come on, let’s cook. Leave this space for the young ones.”
Jiang Rou led Shen Chengdong to sit, unsure what to say.
Jiang Qiuyu, on the other hand, was all enthusiasm—though her questions cut straight into his private life. “So… brother-in-law, where’s your family from? Are your parents in good health? Do you have siblings?”
She stopped just short of asking whether his parents were his biological ones.
The barrage left everyone stunned, especially Zhong Fang, whose face darkened instantly. “Did you and that middle school classmate used to date? He’s dead and you’re still hung up on him—really impressive.”
Being rebuked in front of everyone, Jiang Qiuyu felt humiliated. But she knew Zhong Fang’s temper—if she clashed head-on, he might storm off regardless of anyone’s feelings, leaving her even more embarrassed. So she quickly softened her tone and offered a gentle smile. “Are you jealous? He was only a classmate. Don’t misunderstand me like that.”
Clearly, Zhong Fang was susceptible to this approach; his anger eased considerably.
“As long as that’s true. I believe in pure love. If it isn’t pure, then it desecrates my feelings.” He spoke with arrogant pride, as though he were a saint of love.
Jiang Rou nearly burst out laughing. After all, in the novel, the male lead had dated six or seven girlfriends before meeting the heroine. The whole story was about a prodigal son’s redemption. Hearing such a man preach about purity was almost comical.
Jiang Qiuyu curled her lip inwardly, though her expression remained tender. “We’ve been in the countryside together for so long—don’t you know my character by now? If you keep doubting me, I’ll tell your sister to set you straight.”
Zhong Fang was most afraid of his sister, so at her words he finally quieted down.
During dinner, Jiang Qiuyu told everyone that she and Zhong Fang would be going to study at the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University. She had been known as a “child prodigy” since she was young, and now that she could return to school, Jiang Deshan and Chen Aihe were both delighted for her.
After finishing her own news, Jiang Qiuyu shifted the topic and asked Jiang Rou: “And you? What plans do you have for the future? You can’t just keep pasting paper boxes forever, can you?” No sooner had she spoken than she felt a cold glare shoot from Jiang Rou’s side, so sharp it nearly made her drop her chopsticks. Sitting there was Shen Chengdong. In that instant, she was certain—this man was Ye Cheng.
Jiang Rou only gave a faint smile, unbothered by the mention of paper boxes. She replied, “I’m doing fine now. As for the future, I’ll think about it when the time comes.”
Women are said to be keenly observant; Chen Aihe’s brow furrowed ever so slightly. She suddenly felt that her elder daughter seemed different from before. “You know, your sister has always been pretty and obedient. Your father and I never felt at ease letting her work outside. But now that she’s married, after a while I’ll ask around to find her some temporary work. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Hearing her mother’s words leaning toward Jiang Rou, Jiang Qiuyu felt sour inside, though she didn’t show it. “I’m just worried for her. Once they have children, the little money they earn won’t be nearly enough.”
“There are ways to spend more when you have more, and ways to spend less when you have less. Instead of worrying about me, you’d better read a few more books. After all these years since graduation, you must have forgotten most of what you learned at school.” Jiang Rou’s voice was soft, sounding less like a rebuke than a gentle reminder. Others didn’t notice anything unusual, but Jiang Qiuyu felt extremely displeased. She realized her younger sister had indeed changed—each word was like a soft blade, just as in her previous life.
That sense of losing control surged back. Jiang Qiuyu forced down her irritation, planning to ask Chen Aihe later what exactly had happened over the past year.
After dinner, Jiang Rou didn’t linger. She left with Shen Chengdong.
Just as they stepped out of the compound, Meng Wen hurried after them. “Xiao Rou, wait a moment! I need to talk to you.”
Jiang Rou turned, surprised. “Sister Wen, what is it?”
“This isn’t a good place to talk. Come with me.”
Meng Wen led them out of the alley. When no one else was around, she stopped beneath a utility pole. Glancing around, she lowered her voice: “Didn’t I tell you before? I’m going back to school. I don’t plan to keep working at the machine factory. Are you interested in that job?”
The machine factory was a state-owned enterprise—many people wanted to get in but couldn’t, and since Meng Wen was a permanent worker, her position was even more coveted.
Jiang Rou stared at her in disbelief, suddenly feeling as though fortune had fallen straight from the sky.
“Sister Wen, how much do you plan to sell this job for?” If it was five or six hundred, she simply didn’t have that kind of money—she couldn’t even borrow it.
Seeing her worry, Meng Wen held up one finger and smiled. “Given our relationship, just give me one hundred.”
“One hundred?!” Jiang Rou’s heart trembled, afraid she was dreaming.
Thinking she might not even be able to scrape together that much, Meng Wen added, “If you really don’t have it, just write me an IOU. You can pay it back slowly.”
“No, no, I have it. I just never imagined it would be so cheap.”
“You know as well as I do—since Zhao Qi is there, I can’t possibly keep working. Rather than letting outsiders covet the position, I’d rather pass it on to family. And honestly, I don’t need the money badly enough to jack up the price.”
Still, Jiang Rou felt embarrassed, as though she were taking advantage. “Why don’t you charge me a little more? Does Uncle know about this? You’d better talk it over with him; don’t act on impulse.”
Her earnestness made Meng Wen laugh. “My dad knows—it was his idea. He said if I sold the job to you, it should only be one hundred. If you feel awkward, just bring us a few jars of pickles now and then.”
Grateful for such generosity, Jiang Rou promised boldly, “No problem. With Chengdong around, I’ll take care of all your pickles from now on!”
Shen Chengdong, listening nearby, gave a helpless chuckle.
After more discussion, they agreed to go to the factory on Monday to complete the handover.
The dim streetlights stretched their shadows long. After seeing Meng Wen off, Jiang Rou linked arms with Shen Chengdong as they walked home, feeling the whole thing was almost unreal. She tilted her head up at him and said sincerely, “Thanks to you and Mom’s skill, I was able to get this job so easily.”
Shen Chengdong denied it outright. “This has nothing to do with us. They simply think you’re a good person, so they’re willing to let you benefit.”
Knowing it was a well-paid permanent position, Jiang Rou resolved to buy Meng Wen a gift later to show her gratitude.
Meanwhile, Jiang Qiuyu was chatting with Chen Aihe on the edge of the kang. They talked about many countryside anecdotes, and once the mood was set, Jiang Qiuyu finally asked, “By the way, I’ve always wondered—why did Xiao Rou choose to marry this man? What’s his family situation? Is the burden heavy?”
Mentioning Jiang Rou’s marriage brought a smile to Chen Aihe’s face. “They met thanks to Aunt Zhang in the front yard—her sister is a matchmaker in Chengdong’s village, and after a few introductions, it was settled. Mostly, your sister insisted—she wouldn’t have anyone else. As for his family… just an ordinary household, with four brothers.”
The more she spoke, the more her smile faded. She suddenly realized: Xiao Rou had been married for over a month, yet her eldest daughter had never asked about it. That could mean she simply wasn’t nosy—or that she didn’t care.
Chen Aihe refused to believe the latter. “Why are you suddenly so curious about Xiao Rou today? You never asked before.”
Jiang Qiuyu gave an awkward smile and quickly tried to make up for it. “There are so many things that can’t be explained clearly in letters—it’s better to ask you once I’m back.”
Not wanting her mother to worry, Jiang Qiuyu slipped her arm through hers and acted playfully. “Mom, you don’t know—I was counting the days over there, just longing to return to the city. Luckily I had Zhong Fang with me, otherwise I couldn’t have endured it.”
Remembering how her eldest daughter had secretly signed up to go to the countryside years ago so Jiang Rou could stay in the city, Chen Aihe’s eyes filled with tenderness. She realized she had been overthinking. “Now it’s all good—you’re finally back with us. Once you and Zhong Fang marry, I’ll make sure you have a grand wedding.”
“Thank you, Mom.” Jiang Qiuyu leaned against her, smiling, though her eyes did not.
That night, Jiang Rou was so excited she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Finally, she sat up with a jolt and shook the man beside her.
“Tell me—what if I don’t know anything, and the factory refuses to take me?”
Shen Chengdong opened his drowsy eyes, glanced at the clock—it was half past five in the morning—and sat up to keep her company.
“You didn’t sleep at all last night?” It was a statement, not a question.
Afraid he might scold her, Jiang Rou stammered, “I did sleep, but then I suddenly woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep.”
Seeing through her little excuse, Shen Chengdong sighed helplessly. “Why don’t you sleep for another two hours? I’ll hold you.”
But Jiang Rou wasn’t the least bit sleepy. Her bright, watery eyes fixed on him, a gaze no one could resist.
Shen Chengdong wanted to exercise, but worried she wouldn’t be able to handle it after a sleepless night. So he tried to distract her. “How about this—once it’s light out, we’ll go to Auntie’s place. Second Brother works in the machine factory cafeteria; he should know a lot of inside details.”
Jiang Rou thought this was a good idea, and only then lay back down—finally feeling sleepy.
When morning came, Shen Chengdong took her over to Chen Ailan’s place before heading off to work himself.
Seeing Jiang Rou arrive so early, Chen Ailan asked curiously, “What’s going on? Did you two quarrel again?”
“No, we’re doing fine.” Jiang Rou sat down on a chair and went straight to the point. “Auntie, my second brother has worked at the machine factory for so many years—doesn’t he know everything there?”
Chen Ailan poured her a cup of warm water and smiled. “Not just him; I know everything too. Don’t you remember? Your late uncle was a worker at that factory.” Her second son had only been able to work there because he inherited her husband’s position.
That made Jiang Rou beam. “That’s wonderful—I just have something I need to ask.” She then explained the whole matter of Meng Wen selling her job, ending with her worry.
“You know I don’t understand anything; I don’t have any skills. I’m afraid the factory won’t want me.”
“That’s easy,” Chen Ailan said breezily. “I’ll have your second brother transfer you to the cafeteria. It’s easier work, the food is good, and it’s far more comfortable than being a workshop laborer.”
To her, this was no big deal. “You haven’t told your mother this good news yet, have you? Otherwise she could reassure you too.”
“I haven’t said anything. I plan to wait until I officially start, then surprise her.”
“This is a happy thing—tell her, and it’ll take your sister down a notch. You don’t know; she came back yesterday acting like she was returning in glory. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she’d done something great for the country, strutting around so smug!”
Chen Ailan curled her lip. She had never thought much of Jiang Qiuyu, always feeling that child’s mind was full of holes, never a good sort.
Jiang Rou just smiled. She had no intention of competing with the heroine of the book. As a mere foil, she could never outshine the protagonists blessed with their halo. All she wanted was to live her own quiet life, far away from the male and female leads, safe and at peace.
Two days later, Meng Wen accompanied Jiang Rou to complete the entry procedures at the factory. The workshop leader whom Jiang Rou had once offended was already rubbing his hands, eager to make things difficult for her once she started in his section. But he waited and waited—only to hear that Jiang Rou had been transferred to the cafeteria instead.
After all the paperwork was done, Jiang Rou treated Meng Wen to a meal at a state-run restaurant.
“I had planned to use my connections to move you to another workshop,” Meng Wen said, “but it turns out you’ve already arranged to go to the cafeteria. That’s good too—it’s the most envied place in the whole factory.”
Jiang Rou picked up food for her with a smile. “That’s thanks to my second brother. Without him, I couldn’t have gotten in.”
Her second brother, Han Yuanzhi, was the head chef there. Knowing she’d be working in the cafeteria gave her peace of mind.
At the mention of the Han family, Meng Wen fell silent for a moment before asking, “How’s your eldest brother? Still in the hospital?”
“Almost out—probably another week.”
The two chatted a while longer before parting. Afterward, Jiang Rou returned to the three-courtyard compound, ready to share the good news with her parents. The April sunshine was warm, wrapping her in a gentle glow. She walked into the house with a smile, but didn’t see Chen Aihe. Instead, she found Jiang Qiuyu sitting in the main room, holding a book with a vexed expression.
At the sound of footsteps, Jiang Qiuyu looked up, her irritation vanishing instantly. “Xiao Rou, you’re back? No paper-box work today?”
“No, not today. Where’s my Mom?”
In the past, when they were together, Jiang Rou had always said “our mom.” Now she said “my mom,” but Jiang Qiuyu didn’t notice the difference.
“She went to the market for groceries. She should be back by noon.” As she spoke, Jiang Qiuyu’s gaze drifted back to her book, though her mind was elsewhere. Last night, she had thought long and hard. She still didn’t understand why Ye Cheng had become Shen Chengdong, but the situation was still within her grasp. As long as Jiang Rou remained obedient as before, she would never escape Jiang Qiuyu’s control.
Thinking this, Jiang Qiuyu lifted her head again. “Xiao Rou, I talked with Mom for a long time last night and learned that your husband has four brothers. That’s a heavy burden for the future—why would you choose someone like that?”
“What do you mean ‘like that’? I think he’s fine. He earns his own living and doesn’t rely on his family.” Jiang Rou met her gaze calmly.
Jiang Qiuyu felt uneasy under that look, fiddling with the corner of her book. “I just think—you’re so pretty, and with his family background, he doesn’t deserve you.”
It sounded like concern, but in truth it was sowing discord. Jiang Rou felt a wave of disappointment and finally gave up any illusions about her sister. “You can’t put it that way. Take you and your fiancé as an example—his family background is far better than yours, and his looks surpass yours too. Do you think that means you don’t deserve him?”
“…” Jiang Qiuyu froze, almost believing this was the Jiang Rou from her past life—the bright, spirited girl who spoke her mind and could cut with words without effort.
“How can you say that? I was only being kind.”
“And I’m being kind too—reminding you to recognize your own shortcomings. That way, life will be happier.”
Smack! Jiang Qiuyu slammed the book down on the table and stormed off in anger.
Watching her leave, Jiang Rou felt utterly relieved.
When Chen Aihe returned from the market, Jiang Rou confessed about the job. Chen Aihe was stunned, unable to believe such good fortune.
“You mean you’re now a permanent worker at the machine factory, and Chengdong is a driver with the transport team?”
“Yes. Becoming a permanent worker is all thanks to Sister Meng Wen.”
“When did this happen? You two really kept it quiet!” Chen Aihe laughed so hard she couldn’t stop, already planning to send dumplings to the Meng family—meat-filled ones, of course!
Within half a day, the whole family knew. Jiang Deshan and Shi Lan were delighted. Only Jiang Qiuyu forced a smile, unable to feel happy. She couldn’t shake the sense that things were slowly veering off track.
In the days that followed, the sky stayed gloomy, with drizzle falling for several days until the Grain Rain festival brought clear weather.
Today was Shen Chengdong’s first long-haul trip. He had to gather with the transport team at six in the morning, setting out before dawn. This journey would likely keep him away for more than a month. Jiang Rou couldn’t bear to part with him, and the night before she had been unusually affectionate, clinging to him for a long time. Worried he might go hungry on the road, she rose early to cook noodles for him. The noodles turned out a bit mushy, but Shen Chengdong ate them with pickles, savoring every bite.
Jiang Rou watched from the side, unable to bear the sight.
“Maybe you shouldn’t eat that—there are buns for sale outside. Buy a few for the road.”
“No need, this is delicious.” He ate quickly, finishing the bowl in just two minutes.
Before parting, Shen Chengdong gave her Liu Er’s home address and urged softly: “If you run into trouble, go to him for help. He knows many people—it’ll be useful.”
Jiang Rou accepted the slip of paper and tucked it into her coat pocket. Then, from another pocket, she pulled out a pair of white cotton gloves and pressed them into his hand. “I bought these for you earlier. I embroidered them a couple of days ago. Remember to wear them when you drive. And if danger comes, don’t try to be brave, promise me?”
The unexpected gift brought a smile to Shen Chengdong’s face. He unfolded the gloves and saw four red characters stitched neatly across them: Safe Travels.
The delicate script was no less fine than anything sold outside. Warmth surged in his chest as he gazed at her and vowed earnestly: “I’ll wear them every single day.”
The time for assembly was drawing near. Jiang Rou, swallowing her reluctance, walked him to the gate. Shen Chengdong turned back again and again, but at last they parted.
Back home, staring at the empty room, Jiang Rou felt hollow inside. She ladled out the leftover noodles from the pot, intending to eat them, but after one bite, the burnt taste made her grimace. She thought: How did that man manage to swallow this? Won’t he end up with stomach trouble halfway down the road?
It was also Jiang Rou’s first day at work. After tidying the dishes, she swept her hair up into a bun—something like the “top knot” style of later generations. Her slender, fair swan neck was fully revealed. If Shen Chengdong had seen her like this, he would surely have been stirred.
The machine factory was three bus stops away. Worried she might be nervous on her first day, Chen Aihe insisted on accompanying her part of the way.
At the bus stop, Jiang Rou smiled helplessly: “Mom, I’m not a child anymore. You’re treating me like a kid being dropped off at kindergarten.”
“You’ve never heard the saying? ‘A loving mother’s thread becomes the clothes upon her wandering child.’ In my heart, you’ll always be my child.”
Soon the bus arrived. Chen Aihe shielded her from the rushing crowd and boarded with her. Once they were steady, she spoke again: “Chengdong will be away for a long time. If it gets too lonely, move back home.”
Thinking of Jiang Qiuyu still at the house, Jiang Rou shook her head. “Auntie said she’ll come stay with me. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
Ever since Jiang Qiuyu’s return, Chen Aihe had watched closely how her two daughters interacted. After a pause, she asked quietly: “Xiao Rou, tell me honestly—are you and Qiuyu at odds? Sisters shouldn’t hold grudges. Look at your aunt and me—we quarrel often, but afterward our bond is stronger. What could be so impossible to talk through?”
At that moment, someone got off at the stop. Jiang Rou pressed her mother down into a seat and half-joked: “You can’t compare it like that. You and Auntie are true sisters, born of the same parents. Qiuyu and I aren’t even half-sisters. All those grievances from childhood, only after growing up did I realize. In the end, she and I were never truly sisters.”
Chen Aihe pursed her lips, finally certain: there was indeed a rift between her two daughters. The cause? She suspected it might be the old man’s house that had been left behind. If the two girls could reconcile as before, all would be well. But if their relationship grew more strained… On one side was her own daughter, on the other an adopted one. As a mother, Chen Aihe’s inner scales began to tilt.
After parting from her mother, Jiang Rou walked lightly to the machine factory’s canteen. She had imagined the kitchen would be bustling, but to her surprise, only two people were at work—one of them her second cousin, who had risen early just to welcome her.
Seeing her bewildered expression, Han Yuanzhi couldn’t help but laugh. “Our canteen only serves lunch. No one comes in too early. Tomorrow you can come later too. But if you don’t want to slack off, coming at this hour is fine.”
Jiang Rou was a little speechless. She had wanted to show diligence, but now it seemed that hope was slim. Still, on her first day she was full of enthusiasm. “Tell me whatever needs doing—I’ll handle it.”
The other worker was an apprentice. Knowing she was Chef Han’s younger sister, he didn’t dare order her around. After hesitating, he finally handed her a rag and asked her to wipe the tables outside. She accepted it and cleaned with care. An hour later, the rest of the staff began arriving. As they passed by, each one stole a glance at her.
Jiang Rou pretended not to notice and kept working.
The Han brothers had only one sister, and they were protective. Seeing everyone idle yet staring at his sister, Han Yuanzhi raised his voice: “What are you all gawking at? Get to work! It’s nearly noon and the vegetables aren’t even picked!”
Jiang Rou, not understanding, hurried to pick vegetables, thinking her cousin’s temper was truly fiery.
As the bustle grew, the canteen filled with the fragrance of food. Jiang Rou sniffed happily, feeling that working here was a blessing. She secretly vowed to do her best.
By noon, factory workers streamed in for lunch. She and two other women served the meals. A few single young men, noticing the newcomer—a pretty girl—couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Who’s that? She’s really good-looking!”
One of the staff shot him a glare and warned sternly: “That’s our chef’s sister. And she’s already married. Don’t go asking around.”
Hearing that she was married, the young man’s face fell. Even the food in his hands lost its flavor.
On her very first day, Jiang Rou unknowingly broke the hearts of countless single men. After a few days of adjustment, she grew more confident in her work. Only then did she realize—Shen Chengdong had already been gone for many days. By now, he was probably still on the road heading south.
In the evening, as Jiang Rou returned home, Granny Zhou blocked her path. “I’ve got a telegram for you—must be from your Dongzi.”
Jiang Rou’s eyes lit up at once, and she hurried to take it.
Handing over the slip of paper, Granny Zhou teased with a smile, “That Dongzi’s been gone several days now. You must be missing him, eh? Go on, see what he wrote.”
Jiang Rou answered with a shy smile, then unfolded the paper. On it were the words: Arrived safely in Lu Province. You must rest more, eat well, avoid cold drinks—they’ll hurt your stomach.
“…”
In these times, even punctuation cost money in a telegram. He had sent twenty-five characters, yet only seven were about himself. Warmth filled her heart, but she nearly laughed in exasperation. She longed most to know how he was doing, and instead received a string of nagging reminders? Infuriating!
Folding the telegram neatly down the middle, she tucked it into her satchel. Just then, Granny Zhou leaned closer, whispering gossip: “You haven’t heard yet, have you? Your sister and her fiancé quarreled today. Oh, the way she cried—pitiful to see.”
“How do you know they quarreled?” Jiang Rou doubted it. With Jiang Qiuyu’s prideful nature, she couldn’t imagine her arguing with the male lead in front of outsiders.
“They call me Zhou Know-it-all—what don’t I know? I even know why they fought.”
“And why was that?” Jiang Rou’s curiosity was piqued.
“Word is, your sister had a boyfriend back in middle school. When your brother-in-law found out, he threatened to break things off.”
“…” Jiang Rou hadn’t expected the male lead to actually dig into Jiang Qiuyu’s past.
But in truth, when they were young, Jiang Qiuyu had been obsessed with being a “child prodigy.” She looked down on every boy in school—romance was out of the question. How could such a rumor have spread?
Meanwhile, Jiang Qiuyu lay on the kang, weeping bitterly. Beside her, Chen Aihe sat helplessly, patting her back in comfort.
“Mom, what should I do? Zhong Fang insists on breaking up, but I don’t want to.” Her voice was thick with tears, pitifully fragile.
Chen Aihe, unable to fathom the ways of the young, spoke her mind plainly: “The most important thing between husband and wife is trust. If he’s this suspicious now, how will you live together later? Even if his family is well-off, he can’t treat you like this. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll find you another husband to marry into the family. Look at Xiao Rou—she’s doing just fine, isn’t she?”
At the words “a live-in son-in-law,” Jiang Qiuyu instantly stopped crying, her emotions flaring. “I will never break up with Zhong Fang! He’s only been misled by bad people. We’ll make up sooner or later!”
She would never accept a live-in husband. In her past life, she had endured enough of that dreary existence—days spent worrying only about rice, oil, and salt, with nothing to look forward to. She refused to repeat it.
Seeing her agitation, Chen Aihe held back from further persuasion. People often said children and grandchildren must find their own fortune; it seemed this was something she could not interfere in.
Meanwhile, Jiang Qiuyu was racking her brain, trying to guess who could be so malicious as to spread such rumors. The more she thought, the more suspicious Ye Cheng seemed. In her previous life, his nature had been ruthless. Anyone who crossed Jiang Rou always ended up paying dearly. But given his current penniless state, could he really have the means to deceive Zhong Fang? It didn’t quite add up. Confused and restless, she decided to go out for a walk to clear her head. After washing her face, she wrapped a red silk scarf around her neck and stepped outside. Afraid others might notice she had been crying, she kept her head lowered and walked quickly. The cool evening breeze brushed past, calming her spirit. She forced herself to recall fragments of her past life, hoping to find some way to reconcile with Zhong Fang.
Suddenly, a long-buried memory flashed across her mind. At last, she knew what she had to do. Quickening her pace, she headed straight for the nearby scrap recycling station. Seeing her arrive empty-handed, the staff asked curiously, “Miss, do you need something?”
Jiang Qiuyu glanced around before replying with a question of her own: “Master, is this the only recycling station in this area?”
“Yes, that’s right. Why?”
Hearing the confirmation, Jiang Qiuyu’s heart leaped with joy. “It’s like this—I’d like to buy a jewelry box. Do you happen to have one here? Could you sell me one?”
The staff member was taken aback, thinking to himself: So many people have been buying jewelry boxes lately!
Pointing casually toward a corner, he said, “Go have a look over there. I’m not sure if there are any.”
“Thank you!” Jiang Qiuyu, brimming with excitement, walked inside, already imagining the warm reception she would receive once she presented the jewelry box to Zhong Fang’s grandmother.
In her previous life, it had been Jiang Rou who stumbled upon such luck—buying a jewelry box at the recycling station and gifting it to Zhong Fang’s grandmother. By sheer coincidence, the box turned out to be the dowry the old woman had been searching for all her life.
Because of that, Jiang Rou’s standing in the Zhong family soared. Zhong Fang even partnered with her in business, rising from a household with ten thousand yuan to a family worth millions. He was willing to suffer losses for her sake and never complained.
Back then, Jiang Qiuyu had thought: If only I could have such fortune. Now, reborn, she finally had the chance to change everything!
The more she thought about it, the happier she became. Faced with piles of junk, she felt no disgust at all. Rolling up her sleeves, she began to rummage. Bottles, cans, filthy spittoons, broken stools—she searched for a long while. At last, Heaven rewarded her persistence: she found three jewelry boxes!
She remembered clearly that the box had a floral pattern. Of the three, only one bore flowers. Without hesitation, she tossed the other two back onto the trash heap. Examining it again, she was certain—this was the one. Clutching her chosen jewelry box, she returned to the staff to pay.
Soon it would be Zhong Fang’s grandmother’s birthday—the perfect moment to present her treasure!
Meanwhile, Jiang Rou returned home. She first took Dongzi’s telegram from her satchel and tucked it into the book she often read.
Chen Ailan, seeing how carefully she hid it, smiled and asked, “What are you keeping there? Looks like a telegram—did Dongzi send it?”
“Yes. He said he’s arrived safely in Lu Province.” Jiang Rou closed the book, her face glowing with joy.
“That’s good. Tonight you’ll finally be able to sleep soundly.”
Ever since Shen Chengdong left, Jiang Rou had often been jolted awake by nightmares—visions of him breaking a leg after being caught in speculative trading. Each time, she was too shaken to fall back asleep.
“Oh, by the way,” Chen Ailan added, “to celebrate your eldest brother’s discharge from the hospital, I’m inviting everyone to the state-run restaurant this Sunday. I’d like you to help me with something—I’ve taken a liking to one of the waiters there, and I want to introduce her to your brother.”
Jiang Rou raised her brows in surprise, certain this plan would never work.
First, Han Yuanshang had only just recovered from a serious illness and likely wasn’t in the mood. Second, he’d been divorced less than half a year—it was far too soon to step into another marriage. Not wanting to dampen her spirits, Jiang Rou kept her true thoughts to herself.
Day by day, time passed, and soon Sunday arrived.
For today’s meal, the Chen, Han, and Jiang families would all be present. But as it happened to coincide with Zhong Fang’s grandmother’s birthday, only Jiang Qiuyu would be absent. Chen Ailan, who usually looked down on her, offered no polite greetings.
Thinking of Jiang Rou as the rare beauty of the Chen family, Chen Ailan rose early that morning to style her hair into an elegant, intricate coiffure. Unlike her usual look, she now resembled a noble lady stepping out of an ancient painting—graceful and refined.
Admiring herself in the mirror, Jiang Rou shook her head slightly, finding the hairstyle exquisite, no less beautiful than the updo she had worn on her wedding day.
Chen Ailan then picked out a sweater dress for her, scolding with frustration: “Put this on. Learn from your sister—she dares to spend money on clothes. Just look at that wool coat she wears, how stylish it is.”
This sweater dress had been bought for Jiang Rou after Chen Ailan saw Jiang Qiuyu’s coat.
Jiang Rou smiled softly, her brows curving. She truly didn’t feel she lacked clothing. “All right, hurry and change. I’ll wait outside.”
Soon, the bedroom was quiet, with only Jiang Rou remaining. She slipped into the dress carefully, afraid of disturbing her hairstyle. Once dressed, she turned to the mirror to adjust her hair—only to realize the black hairpin that had been securing it was gone. Without the pin, her hair would easily come loose. She bent down to search, but after a long while, found nothing. At last, helpless, she opened her jewelry box to look for another black hairpin. Of the two boxes she had picked up at the recycling station, one held hair accessories, the other miscellaneous trinkets.
Between *Flowers in Bloom and Wealth* and *Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix*, she preferred the latter. So she stored all her hairpins in the *Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix* box.
One hand pressed against her loosening hair, the other reached into the box. But the pins were too fine and small; she fumbled for a long time without success. Her accessories were too many, and she hadn’t sorted them—searching was a mess. Just as she was about to dump everything out, her finger brushed against something. With a sharp click, her finger sank downward, touching something cold beneath.