Jiang Aiguo was already preparing to request leave and return home.
He hadn’t been back in years. He had deliberately saved up his leave so that when he finally returned, he could stay for several more days.
The last time he had gone home, his little sister had only been eleven or twelve years old. She had been an adorable little girl, pretty as a doll, who loved acting spoiled with him and occasionally throwing little tantrums.
After he returned to the army, his sister often wrote him letters. Sometimes, she would even send him homemade meat jerky and meat sauce.
How had just a few years passed, only for his little sister to suddenly become someone else’s?
Jiang Aiguo simply couldn’t accept it.
When he received Jiang Rui’s phone call, he initially thought the man was acting strangely. But the moment he heard what Jiang Rui had to say, he immediately regretted answering the call.
That brat was practically asking for a beating!
“Hello, Comrade Jiang Aiguo. I have something important to inform you of, so listen carefully. Jiang Wanxi is my little sister now. My biological little sister.”
Before Jiang Aiguo could explode in anger, Jiang Rui immediately handed the phone to Jiang Wanxi.
As soon as Jiang Wanxi took the receiver, she heard her third brother furiously cursing on the other end, rambling about how he and Jiang Rui were now sworn enemies and would never see eye to eye again.
She quickly interrupted him.
“Third Brother? It’s me, Baoya.”
“Baoya? Is it really you? Are you doing okay? Are they treating you well?”
“Third Brother, I’m doing very well. Don’t worry about me. Everyone treats me wonderfully. After all, I’m your adorable little sister whom everyone loves wherever she goes!”
Jiang Wanxi’s voice became slightly choked with emotion.
“Baoya, you have to take good care of yourself. No matter where you are, you must always remember that you will forever be a member of our Jiang family. You’ll always be my little sister. And… you mustn’t resent Mom. She… she only did it because she wanted what was best for you.”
Tears were already streaming down Jiang Wanxi’s face.
How could she possibly not know that Yao Xiulan had done everything for her sake?
“Third Brother, I know. I understand everything.”
Jiang Aiguo could never bear to hear his little sister cry.
Although he hadn’t spent much time with her over the years, he loved her no less than any of their other brothers did.
“Baoya, don’t cry. It hurts your brother’s heart to hear you cry. All right, that’s enough. Give the phone to Jiang Rui.”
Jiang Wanxi knew her brother was trying to stop her from crying, but she simply couldn’t control her tears.
She couldn’t bear to let go of those family members who shared no blood with her but had loved her all the same.
Jiang Rui took the receiver.
By then, Jiang Aiguo had already regained control of his emotions.
“Jiang Rui, even though she’s your biological sister, that doesn’t change the fact that she’s my sister too. If your family treats her badly, I’ll personally bring her back home.”
He paused before continuing.
“Also, my mother wants to visit both of her daughters after the autumn harvest. I don’t know whether Jiang Yu would be willing to see her.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Jiang Aiguo asked quietly, “Jiang Yu… Is she doing all right?”
“Jiang Aiguo, you just said it yourself—Wanwan is my biological sister. Do you really think I’d treat her badly?” Jiang Rui replied. “Besides, Wanwan is doing very well. Your family raised her wonderfully.”
“As for Ayu, just as you said about Wanwan, she’ll always be my sister too. Don’t worry. She’s living well here. If your family wants to come and visit them, our doors are always open.”
Jiang Rui paused before adding, “I’m returning to the army tomorrow. I’ll have Wanwan write you a letter. I’m hanging up now.”
After the call ended, Jiang Jin began pestering Jiang Wanxi to make meat sauce and jerky for him, hoping to distract her from her sadness.
Jiang Wanxi stared at him speechlessly.
In this scorching weather?
“Second Brother, it’s too hot right now. Meat sauce won’t keep in this weather. I’ll make some for you after the beginning of autumn.”
Nearby, Jiang Yu watched as both brothers surrounded Jiang Wanxi, chatting warmly with her.
Her expression darkened.
Over the past few years, she had clearly noticed that her brothers’ attitudes toward her had changed.
She had always assumed it was because they had all grown older and her brothers were deliberately keeping an appropriate distance from her.
But now, watching them laugh and talk so affectionately with Jiang Wanxi, she realized she had been wrong.
But where had things gone wrong?
She couldn’t understand it.
She had a persistent feeling that things weren’t supposed to be this way.
*She* was supposed to be the one showered with everyone’s love and affection.
Everything had gone smoothly for Jiang Yu for so many years that, at this moment, she suddenly felt completely out of place among the family.
It was as though the entire world had abandoned her.
And then there was that family.
They actually wanted to come to the capital to see her.
Were they planning to take her away?
Were they worried she would steal what rightfully belonged to Jiang Wanxi?
She would never leave with them.
There was no way she would go to the countryside and become some village girl.
She was the young lady of the Jiang family.
She was supposed to be the one everyone cherished and revolved around.