Chapter 31

Chapter 31

This time, Jiang Mingchuan had deliberately obtained an introduction letter from his superiors. He planned to bring Jin Xiuzhu and their two children to live elsewhere if things didn't go well at home. On the way, he explained to Jin Xiuzhu, "The small western-style house hasn't been lived in for many years; there should be a lot of dust inside."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. "With a house, we'll have more confidence. When we're older, the two of us can live here."

When Jiang Mingchuan heard Jin Xiuzhu say this, a picture formed in his mind, warming his heart. "I'll take you to see it tomorrow. I lived there for a while when I was young. There's even a secret base in my room with a lot of toys."

Those were all made by his grandfather, who always said that his mother looked most like him when she was young.

Jin Xiuzhu said expectantly, "Great."

He Yan joined in the fun. "I want to come too."

Jiang Mingchuan laughed. "Everyone can come."

Then they went to a nearby guesthouse. When the staff asked, they said they were visiting relatives and that their home was too small to accommodate them.

Such situations were not uncommon. In the capital, only a few could afford large houses. Most families squeezed ten or more people into tiny spaces of twenty to thirty square meters. Some even lived in dormitory buildings of just a dozen square meters, without separate rooms, using curtains to divide the space.

The guesthouse staff registered them, Jiang Mingchuan paid, and then took the room number.

The family of four went up to the third floor and found Room 309. Jiang Mingchuan spent a bit more money to book a four-person room, unlike the large communal dorms on the second floor.

Turning on the lights, the room was much larger than the Pan family's, with two beds on each side.

After laying out the bedding, Jiang Mingchuan felt it and said, "It's alright, not damp. Tonight, Xiaoyan and I will sleep here, and you and our daughter can sleep over there."

The main issue was that the beds and bedding were a bit small, unable to fit four people.

Jin Xiuzhu took out the items they would need from her bag and placed them on the table.

After arranging the bedding, Jiang Mingchuan said, "I'll go downstairs to get some hot water. You guys rest for a bit."

Saying this, he picked up the kettle and went out. About ten minutes later, he returned with the kettle and told Jin Xiuzhu, "There's a kitchen here. We can buy ingredients and cook tomorrow, but we have to pay three cents for seasoning. There's also a bathhouse behind the building; we can go take a bath."

Jin Xiuzhu looked at the dark sky outside. "Let's buy ingredients and cook tomorrow."

Jiang Mingchuan nodded. "We'll eat something first, then go to the bathhouse."

They hadn't taken a proper bath in several days. They only used hot water to wet towels and wipe themselves during the train ride, and they didn't bathe last night at his adoptive parents' home either.

Hearing this, He Yan happily fetched the food given by the Zhang family elders before they left. He chose the most attractive box of pastries and eagerly said, "I want to eat these."

Jin Xiuzhu generously replied, "Go ahead and open it."

"Great!"

He Yan excitedly opened the box, revealing over a dozen exquisitely crafted pastries, each separated by small compartments. He first ran to Jin Xiuzhu with one, saying, "Mom, have this."

Then he gave one to his sister, followed by his father and himself, clearly ranking the family members in his mind.

The pastries were somewhat like mooncakes, with a soft and glutinous filling. They were delicious, but He Yan said, "These are good, but Mom's are better."

His sweet words delighted Jin Xiuzhu. "I'll make some for you when we get back."

"Great!"

Beside them, Fu Yanyan glanced at him, wondering if they were actually mother and son.

After filling their bellies, the family of four went downstairs to the bathhouse behind the guesthouse. It was Jin Xiuzhu and the children's first time at a bathhouse, so they didn't know what to do. The men's and women's bathhouses were separate. Jiang Mingchuan carefully explained the process twice to his wife and daughter, ensuring they understood before watching them enter the door on the left.

After Jin Xiuzhu and her daughter entered, they turned a couple of corners and saw a sea of white amidst billowing steam, startling Jin Xiuzhu into quickly closing her eyes.

Fu Yanyan was also a bit frightened. Although she had attended a boarding school in her previous life, where there was a bathhouse, it was divided by boards, and everyone wore clothes going in and coming out. Unlike here, where everyone bathed and scrubbed each other, completely exposed.

Mother and daughter stood awkwardly for a while before finding a corner to wash. However, when the hot water hit their bodies, both sighed in relief.

Jin Xiuzhu quietly said to her daughter, "This is really convenient. It would be great if we had one at home."

Fu Yanyan nodded, thinking about how soon hospitals would have such facilities, as well as televisions, mobile phones, and streets filled with cars...

That was a world unimaginable to people now, but it was only a few decades away.

---

Pan Jun was rushed to the hospital by Pan Shenglin and his wife that night. With multiple fractures, the doctors treated him and advised him to stay in bed and rest for a while.

Tao Qianyun was worried and wanted Pan Jun to stay in the hospital for a couple more days, but Pan Shenglin considered more factors, worrying about losing face if acquaintances saw him. So, he arranged for someone to drive over and carry Pan Jun back home.

Back home, Pan Jun lay in bed groaning in pain.

Zhong Xue's heart was unmoved. She sat numbly on a stool nearby, expressionless as she stared at the ground.

Pan Jun called out for water a couple more times.

Zhong Xue didn't hear.

Pan Jun glared at her fiercely. "What, still obsessed with that man? Do you think he can support you and you can boss me around again? How long can he stay here? You're my woman, and I can treat you however I want. Your parents can't do anything about it. Who does Jiang Mingchuan think he is?!"

Without two teeth and a painful tongue, his words came out muffled and unclear.

Zhong Xue's body suddenly stiffened, thinking about her missing parents and Jiang Mingchuan exposing her in-laws' hypocrisy. Before this, she had held onto a sliver of hope that her father-in-law might help her parents someday, considering all the hard work she did for the family. But now, she wasn't sure. If they could treat their adopted son like this after raising him for twenty years, what more could they do to her?

In fact, even without the events involving Brother Mingchuan these past two days, Zhong Xue knew that the three of them in the Pan family weren't good people.

Before her parents' incident, she always thought her in-laws cared more about her than her own parents. She truly believed they liked having a daughter and trusted Pan Jun's words that they favored Brother Mingchuan more, sometimes treating him poorly because they had higher expectations. Back then, she foolishly sympathized with Pan Jun.

Everything changed after her parents' incident. To outsiders, it was already generous that the Pan family hadn't abandoned her. But only she knew what kind of life she was leading.

She truly regretted it. Every time she recalled the past over these two years, she cursed herself for her naivety and foolishness back then.

Pan Jun spat venomously, "Looking at your ugly face, I can't even muster any interest. Other women are a hundred times more beautiful than you. Who do you think you are to have designs on me?"

Zhong Xue's eyes reddened as she clenched her fists tightly.

He clearly knew how devoted she had been to him, yet he still said such words to humiliate her.

The next morning, Jiang Mingchuan took Jin Xiuzhu and their two children to visit the small Western-style house.

With the property deed and identification, entering and exiting became much easier. This area had been home to wealthy merchants and celebrities before the founding of the People's Republic. Jiang Mingchuan's maternal grandmother's family had also been quite illustrious, but they fell into decline during the Republican era. Still, even a dead camel is bigger than a horse, and she married the richest man in Province X at the time.

Upon entering, they found that many people were living there. Jiang Mingchuan explained that half of the homeowners had emigrated abroad, leaving their houses vacant. The government then allocated them to those in need, with several families often sharing one building. Some houses were still occupied by their original owners.

Jin Xiuzhu noticed that the surrounding Western-style houses had been haphazardly renovated and worried that Tao Qianyun might have lent out her place. However, she overthought it. Tao Qianyun always cherished her belongings and had already considered this place her own.

Even the flowers and plants in the small courtyard had been tended to. When they pushed open the door, the house wasn't very dirty, indicating that someone regularly cleaned it.

The white marble floors were adorned with patterns, and a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Although the paint on the stair railings had peeled off, giving it an aged appearance, the intricate patterns could still be seen. There were four rooms on the second floor; the two facing south were the master bedroom and a secondary bedroom, both spacious. Across from them were a study and a guest room. The third floor used to be for servants and storage.

Jiang Mingchuan had stayed in the secondary bedroom for some time. He led Jin Xiuzhu and the children inside. Jin Xiuzhu opened the glass-paneled window and gazed at the northern scenery outside, sighing, "It's essential to have a house. These restless days, just thinking that this house belongs to us makes my heart feel settled."

Then she turned to Jiang Mingchuan and said, "Let's save up money and buy a house in the city when the time comes."

Jiang Mingchuan didn't react much to this suggestion. "I won't be staying here long. In a few years, I might be transferred away."

Unfamiliar with the military system in this place, Jin Xiuzhu simply nodded. "I hope we can go to a big city. Then we can buy a house there."

Jiang Mingchuan chuckled. "Why buy so many houses? We can't live in all of them."

Jin Xiuzhu looked at him as if he didn't understand. "Can you ever have too many houses? Look at our current place—it's small and noisy. We can hear our upstairs neighbors arguing. How can that compare to living here? Besides, where's the excess? One for you, one for me, and one each for the kids. That's not much at all."

Jiang Mingchuan thought she was oversimplifying things. Buying houses required significant funds, and it wasn't just about having the money.

On the side, Fu Yanyan listened with excitement, knowing full well that houses would become astronomically expensive in the future.

After touring the house, the family of four took a bus to Tiananmen Square. Jiang Mingchuan saw people taking photos nearby and went to inquire. After paying, he arranged for a family photo session, agreeing to pick up the four pictures the next day.

On their way back, they bought roast duck and sugar-coated haws. Jin Xiuzhu and the children held the sugar-coated haws while eating. Jin Xiuzhu fed Jiang Mingchuan, who initially refused but later gave in and bit into one, finding it delightfully sweet.

They arrived back at the guesthouse around eleven o'clock. Jiang Mingchuan bought some vegetables from a nearby stall and cooked a warm meal in the guesthouse kitchen.

During the meal, Jiang Mingchuan told Jin Xiuzhu, "This afternoon, I'll go see Zhong Xue. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to meet some elders. We'll leave in the afternoon."

He wasn't particularly concerned about Pan Jun—the punches wouldn't kill him, and Jiang Mingchuan knew his limits. What he worried about was Zhong Xue being bullied again after he left, which is why he wanted to have a word with Pan Shenglin.

Jin Xiuzhu said, "I'll go with you."

She also had something to say to Zhong Xue.

Jiang Mingchuan nodded.

After lunch, without taking a nap, the family headed straight to the Pan residence.

This time, there was no need to announce their arrival. The guards already recognized Jiang Mingchuan as the son of the logistics director.

When they knocked on the door of the Pan residence, they expected to be turned away. However, when Tao Qianyun opened the door and saw them, her expression changed. She asked stiffly, with a hint of fear, "What brings you here?"

Standing at the front, Jiang Mingchuan spoke firmly. "I'm here for Zhong Xue."

Tao Qianyun seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. She pursed her lips, glanced deeply at him, and stepped aside to let them in.

In the living room, Pan Shenglin sat on the sofa with a stern look on his face.

Tao Qianyun had intended to call Zhong Xue from the kitchen but reconsidered and walked toward the kitchen instead.

Seeing her head toward the kitchen, Jin Xiuzhu stepped forward and stopped her. "No need. Jiang Mingchuan has something to say to you. I'll talk to her."

Jiang Mingchuan glanced at Jin Xiuzhu, recalling how she had stuffed a red envelope into her pocket before they left. He guessed she intended to give it secretly and went along with her words. "I have something to say to both of you."

Tao Qianyun felt intimidated whenever she saw Jiang Mingchuan's cold demeanor. She hesitated before sitting down on the other side of the sofa, keeping a distance from Pan Shenglin.

Last night, Pan Shenglin had berated her for being stupid, asking why she didn't tear up the property deed. Bringing it out was akin to admitting she had taken it. He also scolded her for not treating Jiang Mingchuan better, which led to their current predicament.

Tao Qianyun felt wronged. He never communicated his thoughts—how was she supposed to know what he wanted?

It was all her fault, but where did he stand? If he had truly protected Jiang Mingchuan, she wouldn't have dared to mistreat the child. Moreover, the harshest treatment came from his mother.

Jiang Mingchuan began, "I meant what I said yesterday. If Zhong Xue is bullied again..."

As their conversation continued in the living room, in the kitchen, Jin Xiuzhu quickly pulled out a thick stack of red envelopes from her pocket and stuffed them into Zhong Xue's pocket.

After a moment's delay, Zhong Xue hurriedly tried to return the envelopes. She hadn't been close to Brother Mingchuan when she was young, and she had never spoken a word to this new sister-in-law. How could she accept such a large sum? She was already grateful for Brother Mingchuan standing up for her last night, let alone coming here specially today.

Jin Xiuzhu grabbed her hand to stop her. "This is your brother's intention and mine. Don't refuse it."

Zhong Xue hesitated, looking at Jin Xiuzhu. It was a lot of money. How could they bear to part with it?

Jin Xiuzhu sighed, looking at her with sympathy. "Your brother told me last night that you used to be beautiful, smart, and innocent—a very lovable younger sister. But now, you've been worn down to the point of losing your spirit. It breaks his heart, and it breaks mine too, because I see a reflection of my past self in you."

"Don't laugh at me, but my past was even worse. My birth parents favored boys over girls, and I had endless chores from a young age. After marriage, my first husband was stationed elsewhere, and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law bullied me. They made me do all the household work and didn't even allow me to eat at the table. They beat and scolded me at will. My husband died unexpectedly, and your brother visited my in-laws last New Year's Eve. Seeing the miserable state my son and I were in, he took us away. You probably couldn't tell, but at this time last year, my son and I were skin and bones. Your brother is a good person. If he can treat me like this, imagine how much more he cares for you. Please accept this."

Zhong Xue listened in a daze. Looking at Jin Xiuzhu's fair and delicate face, she couldn't imagine her being skin and bones.

Jin Xiuzhu looked at her with deep concern. "We're leaving tomorrow, but before we go, I want to share something with you. Sometimes, many disasters in a woman's life are brought upon by men. Marrying well is a blessing, but a bad marriage can be a lifelong curse."

"My past was like that, and so is your present. But don't give up on yourself. When I first joined the army, I faced ridicule. I didn't give up and managed to find a job in the canteen. Later, when I lost that job due to someone reporting me, I attended literacy classes, learned to read and write, and started writing books. Now, I've even found a job at a newspaper. Don't think it was easy—I've endured hardships that only I know about."

"I say these things not to boast, but to tell you not to give up on yourself. Your life is still long, and you have more advantages than I do. You've read many books, met many outstanding people, and your horizons are broader than mine. You can rely more on yourself. We women, we're better off relying on ourselves than anyone else. Be tough on yourself, be tough on others, only then can you forge your own path."

Zhong Xue listened in rapt attention. If she had heard these words before, she might not have understood them, but now, after experiencing so much, especially the shock of yesterday, these words were like a wake-up call, bringing her out of her confusion.

At the Pan household, there was no one she could rely on. Perhaps she knew this all along, but she didn't know who else she could depend on besides the Pan family. Now, her new sister-in-law told her that she could actually rely on herself.

Her new sister-in-law had done it.

A fire began to burn within Zhong Xue's heart.

Jin Xiuzhu suddenly lowered her voice. "Lastly, there are a few words I may be overstepping with."

Zhong Xue looked at Jin Xiuzhu and said earnestly, "Sister, please speak."

From the moment her new sister-in-law gave her a thick red envelope upon entering, she knew she was a good person. Especially those words that followed—since her parents' misfortune, no one had spoken such heartfelt words to her.

Jin Xiuzhu sighed. "I don't dare to say these words to your brother. He has a pure nature and doesn't like to think ill of others, but I've suffered much and seen many wicked people, so I may think a little more deeply about these things. Your brother went to Old Master Zhang's house yesterday to ask about your situation, and I overheard. Your parents are particularly good people; they would never be involved in corruption or bribery. Think about it: they have only one daughter. Why would they embezzle money? Your family lacks nothing, so those pieces of evidence... could they possibly be..."

With the last few words, Jin Xiuzhu whispered them into her ear.

Zhong Xue heard them and stared wide-eyed at Jin Xiuzhu, murmuring, "Why...?"

Jin Xiuzhu frowned at her and quickly added, "These are just my speculations, meant to give you a heads up."

"We're leaving soon, and being far away, your brother might be able to protect you for a while, but he won't always be able to shield you from harm. I say these things to make you more cautious. Like a man back in my old Production Team, he got involved with the daughter of an official. To avoid gossip, he pushed his wife into a pond. But fate had other plans, as his wife survived and was rescued. She turned around and reported this pair of shameless lovers."

"It's never wrong to be cautious. Keep this money secretly. Even if not for yourself, do it for your two children."

Zhong Xue's heart pounded, and Jin Xiuzhu's words sent shivers down her spine. The reasons she couldn't understand before seemed to clear up in this moment.

Yes, her parents were upright individuals. How could they do such things?

They must have been framed by someone.

Who was it? She couldn't figure it out, thinking it might be a colleague of her parents or someone they had offended.

Now that the true colors of the Pan family had shown, she believed Jin Xiuzhu's guess was correct.

Her lips trembled involuntarily, whether from fear or excitement. She breathed rapidly, her eyes welling with tears. "Sister, why? Just because my parents wouldn't use their connections for him? But my parents were kind to him..."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't answer, only stroked her head. "Stay alive. One day, you'll see your parents again."

Zhong Xue bit her lip hard, suppressing her voice as she said, "I know, I know. I need to stay alive..."

She repeated this to herself every day.

Jin Xiuzhu sighed. Hearing the living room quiet down, she said, "We're leaving. Take care of yourself."

Suddenly, Zhong Xue reached out and tightly grabbed Jin Xiuzhu's hand, as if drawing strength from her. After a moment, she managed to whisper, "Thank you."

Jin Xiuzhu replied, "I hope you can escape the cage like I did."

After they left, Zhong Xue quietly said, "I will, I will."

In the living room, Jiang Mingchuan had said something that left Pan Shenglin and Tao Qianyun looking displeased. When Jin Xiuzhu emerged, Jiang Mingchuan stood up.

Tao Qianyun immediately rose to see them off, almost as if she couldn't wait for them to leave.

The moment the family of four stepped out, Tao Qianyun swiftly closed the door. Earlier, Old Master Zhang had brought a group of people to support Jiang Mingchuan, berating her husband and her mercilessly. Now, Jiang Mingchuan warned them that if they treated Zhong Xue poorly in any way, he would reveal everything they had done to him years ago.

Whether people believed it or not, if the story spread enough, some would believe it. Then, neither of them would have a good outcome.

Fortunately, Jiang Mingchuan was somewhat merciful and didn't push things too far.

Tao Qianyun glanced toward the kitchen, wondering what the woman had said there. She wanted to ask, but remembering Jiang Mingchuan, she felt a twinge of unease and decided to let it go for now.

In the kitchen, her son said, "Their dad is really nice, taking them out to play."

Zhong Xue's heart ached.

Seeing her mother's distress, her daughter quickly said, "Let's not talk about Dad."

The younger son pouted, unable to hold back. "Mom, can you get me a different dad? I don't like this one."

He was always scolding them, so harsh.

Zhong Xue bowed her head, her eyes welling up once more.