Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The family of four arrived in S Province on the fifth day of the New Year, reaching their destination at four in the afternoon and settling into a guesthouse near his sister's home.

Upon arrival, Jiang Mingchuan specifically called his adoptive sister's parents ahead of time, directly dialing her adoptive father's workplace. He had memorized that phone number long ago, not needing to think about it at all.

The call was quickly answered. When the operator heard that they were looking for Liu Qin, they asked Jiang Mingchuan to hold on for a moment. After a while, a middle-aged man's voice came through the line, slightly out of breath: "Hello comrade, may I ask why you're calling?"

"Hello Uncle Liu, this is Jiang Mingchuan. I'm currently in S Province and would like to visit with my wife and children tomorrow. Are you available?"

There was a brief silence before an awkward response came: "Oh, it's you. I should be free."

Jiang Mingchuan pursed his lips, then asked somewhat nervously, "Is Jingzhi at home?"

"Yes, she's been at home these past few days."

"Good. We'll come over at nine in the morning. It's a bother."

"No bother, no bother."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Mingchuan let out a sigh of relief. Jin Xiuzhu, who had been listening nearby, couldn't help but ask, "What kind of people are your sister's adoptive parents?"

Jiang Mingchuan thought for a moment before responding, "They can be considered honest folk. Her adoptive father is named Liu Qin. His father used to be a long-term worker for my mother's family. When he was young, he nearly starved to death. My grandfather happened upon him during a business trip and kindly brought him back to our home. He was a good man."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. If he wasn't a good person, her late mother-in-law wouldn't have entrusted her biological daughter to them.

"Liu Qin and his wife are both honest and hardworking. However, their younger biological daughter is somewhat..."

Jiang Mingchuan didn't finish his sentence. He wouldn't speak ill of others, especially a little girl. As Liu Jingzhi's older brother, his heart naturally leaned towards his own sister.

Meeting Jin Xiuzhu's questioning gaze, Jiang Mingchuan explained, "Once when we visited, I bought scarves and coats of different colors for her and my sister. The following year, the items I bought for my sister were being worn by the younger one, while my sister was wearing old clothes that didn't fit quite right."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't know what to say. No matter how good people were, they would always favor their biological children more.

In her previous life, even though she was doted upon, she was unwilling to raise the children of concubines because she knew that no matter how well she treated them, it could never compare to the bond of blood.

After leaving their belongings at the guesthouse, the family of four went out for dinner. Perhaps it was just Jin Xiuzhu's imagination, but she felt that this place was even more prosperous than the capital. After finishing their meal, they stepped outside to find a department store across the street, its lights shining brightly, making it seem as bright as day. They could hear the bustling sounds from afar.

Curious, the family walked over. Inside, everything was sold. On the first floor, bicycles, televisions, and radios were sold, along with cars. A crowd gathered around the latter. Televisions seemed to be the most popular item, with two long lines of people holding tickets in hand.

Jin Xiuzhu knew that televisions were expensive. Previously, there weren't any sold in the county; she only saw them in the city, but there were only two displayed on the counter, hardly anyone buying them. Here, however, there was a queue.

Jin Xiuzhu felt the difference between a big city and the countryside.

The second floor was even more bustling, selling candies and pastries. The third floor sold clothing and daily necessities. There was even a fourth floor, selling delicate items like watches and glasses.

Jin Xiuzhu browsed the clothing section. The prices here were exorbitant. Clothes that cost thirty to forty yuan in the city were priced at seventy to over a hundred yuan here. Jin Xiuzhu even saw a coat priced at over three hundred yuan, the salesperson explaining that it was made of northern mink fur.

Jin Xiuzhu curiously took a closer look, finding that it was indeed of high quality, with a fine luster. It was a good piece of fur. She once had a white fox cloak made from the fur under the armpits of white foxes, worth a fortune. Compared to that, this one was no less impressive.

Reluctantly tearing her eyes away, Jin Xiuzhu picked out two hats according to her preferences. Following Jiang Mingchuan's description, Liu Jingzhi had fair skin and a tall, slender figure, inheriting traits from her mother. Her adoptive sister, on the other hand, was rather ordinary, resembling her father with dark skin and average height.

Thus, she chose two identical red hats. Perhaps due to the New Year, the mall had many more clothes and hats in various colors. She also selected several identical hair ties and hair clips, not spending much money in total. After purchasing them, Jin Xiuzhu told Jiang Mingchuan, "Let's give the rest as red envelopes. Give a bit more to your sister since she's now in college and doesn't live at home, so her expenses must be higher."

Jiang Mingchuan understood that she was doing this for his sister's benefit and agreed, "I'll leave it all to you."

On their way back, Jiang Mingchuan bought two bags of fruit.

Back at the guesthouse, Jin Xiuzhu divided the red envelopes. She placed one hundred yuan in Jiang Mingchuan's sister's envelope and only two yuan in the envelope for her adoptive sister. The one hundred yuan note was large, making the envelope appear thin, while the two yuan consisted of many small bills, making it feel thicker.

Jiang Mingchuan hadn't expected this approach. In the past, he feared that his sister's adoptive parents might harbor resentment, so he always gave them the same amount.

Jin Xiuzhu glanced at him. "Don't worry. Besides your sister, no one will notice."

It was Jiang Mingchuan who was naive. Knowing that his sister had suffered some injustices, he still tried to treat her adoptive parents better, inadvertently increasing their expectations. Now that the children were grown and successful, it was the adoptive parents who should be worried that the children would distance themselves if they learned the truth about their origins.

Jiang Mingchuan nodded. On the way here, he had been thinking that if his sister suffered any more injustices, he would stand up for her. In the past, he believed that since his sister already had a complete family, it was best not to interfere, even agreeing to visit her as a relative. However, his recent experience returning to the capital made him realize that things were different.

Therefore, during the phone call, he adopted a firmer stance, not asking if they could visit but simply stating that they would.

The next day after breakfast, Jiang Mingchuan took Jin Xiuzhu and their two children to his sister's adoptive parents' home. Along the way, he introduced them to Jin Xiuzhu: "Liu Qin works as a temporary employee at the Machinery Plant. His wife is named Song Xiaoru and works as a temporary employee at the beer factory. Our sister is named Liu Jingzhi. 'Jing' means beautiful scenery, and 'Zhi' refers to orchids and jade trees. Her adoptive sister is named Liu Aihua."

Just hearing the names, Jin Xiuzhu knew that her sister's name must have been chosen by Jiang Mingchuan's mother. She couldn't help but praise it, "It's a good name."

A smile appeared on Jiang Mingchuan's face. "My sister has a good personality too. Every time I visit their home, she would take the initiative to clean my shoes or warm up my gloves."

These were very subtle details. If his attention hadn't been focused on his sister, he might not have noticed them at all.

Jin Xiuzhu could guess that not only did her sister have a good personality, but she likely endured some injustices in her adoptive parents' home. So she asked, "When you visited their home, who served you tea?"

If it was done by his sister's adoptive mother, she wouldn't say anything. But if it was done by the adoptive mother's child, it was something worth paying attention to.

If the adoptive mother did it, then her sister's actions were considerate and thoughtful. But if not, it suggested that the adoptive parents' child might suppress her sister and take the limelight.

Jiang Mingchuan thought for a moment. "I don't really remember."

Indeed, he didn't remember clearly. Whenever he visited his sister's home, he wanted to sneak a few more glances at her. Blood ties were truly strange. Even though they didn't grow up together, knowing that she was his biological sister made him feel close to her from the bottom of his heart, wanting to treat her well.

Jin Xiuzhu didn't say anything further.

Liu Jingzhi's home was located in a barrack-style building behind the Machinery Plant. Originally, it was the dormitory for the factory's formal employees, but later, a larger dormitory building was built, and the formal employees moved there. This area was then allocated to the temporary workers. Liu Qin had worked in the factory for many years, so he was fortunate enough to receive a room, although he had to pay five yuan per month.

Temporary workers didn't earn much, but fortunately, both husband and wife had jobs, earning a combined thirty yuan. Adding Jiang Mingchuan's monthly allowance of ten to twenty yuan, the family of four lived comfortably, even considered well-off.

Jiang Mingchuan's sister's home was on the fifth floor. The walls of the barrack-style building were exposed red bricks, unlike their home where the walls were covered with cement. There didn't seem to be a kitchen here either, with each household placing their stoves in the corridor and small tables beside them, making the corridor barely passable.

Jin Xiuzhu curiously looked around. Suddenly, Jiang Mingchuan, who was walking ahead, stopped and knocked on a door. The door opened to reveal a middle-aged man. Seeing Jiang Mingchuan, the man smiled in a somewhat awkward manner and said uneasily, "Cousin, you've come? Please come in and sit down."

The man was short, with dark skin and a square face. When he smiled, wrinkles appeared on his face. Upon seeing Jin Xiuzhu and the two children behind Jiang Mingchuan, he tried even harder to force a smile.

Jin Xiuzhu followed Jiang Mingchuan into the door. In the small living room stood a woman in an apron and two girls. The three of them were rather reserved, but upon closer inspection, one would notice that the woman and the fair-skinned girl beside her had honest expressions on their faces, wearing somewhat unnatural smiles. The shorter girl in the middle had eyes that darted around, frequently glancing at the bag she was holding.

Jin Xiuzhu made a mental assessment and turned her gaze to the tall girl beside her. Jiang Mingchuan hadn't lied; his sister was indeed beautiful, with fair skin. It was unclear whether it was due to the cold, but her cheeks and hands placed in front of her were slightly red. However, her features were delicate, especially her eyes, which were marvelously formed. Her slightly rounded almond-shaped eyes had just the right amount of crease, and her dark pupils resembled a tranquil lake, exuding a serene and peaceful aura.

She was tall and slender, and even though she wore clothes that didn't quite fit well, she still looked beautiful.

The only difference was that she had cut her hair short.

Jin Xiuzhu subconsciously looked at the girl in the middle, whose clothes fit perfectly, with neither the sleeves nor the cuffs being too short.

The woman introduced Jin Xiuzhu, "This is my eldest daughter, Liu Jingzhi, and this is my youngest daughter, Liu Aihua."

Then, she hurriedly asked the two children to greet their guests.

When Liu Aihua heard her name, she pouted as if somewhat unhappy.

Liu Jingzhi greeted them, "Uncle, Aunt—"

Upon hearing her sister greet them, Liu Aihua turned to look at her, then forced a smile at Jin Xiuzhu and said louder, "Uncle, Aunt."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't say anything, but the woman beside her seemed somewhat embarrassed.

Jin Xiuzhu also asked the two girls to greet her, "Sister, hello—"

Liu Jingzhi smiled gently at the sight of the two children's fair faces.

The woman invited them to sit down, saying, "I'll go make you some tea."

Jiang Mingchuan put down the fruits and pastries he was carrying, while Jin Xiuzhu took out the gifts she bought last night: hats and hair ties, along with two red envelopes, which she gave to the two girls.

When Liu Aihua saw that the bag contained hats, her smile faded a bit. She didn't lack hats, but when she felt the thickness of the red envelope, she felt a little better, especially when she noticed that her sister's envelope wasn't as thick as hers. This made her quite satisfied.

Then, she directly took several hair ties from Jin Xiuzhu's hand and said happily, "I don't tie my hair, thank you, Aunt."

After finishing, she turned and went outside to find her mother.

Liu Jingzhi touched the hat with some delight, but when she heard her sister's words, a hint of disappointment flashed across her face. However, she still looked up at Jin Xiuzhu and said, "Thank you, Aunt. I really like it."

Jin Xiuzhu tried to give her the red envelope, but Liu Jingzhi subconsciously shook her head. "No need, no need. I'm already in college."

Jin Xiuzhu gently held her wrist, preventing her from struggling, and directly stuffed the red envelope into her pocket. Liu Jingzhi looked towards her father at the door, and Jin Xiuzhu followed her gaze, meeting the face of the middle-aged man. Smiling, she said, "Cousin, Jingzhi is in college now, so her expenses have increased significantly. Giving her a red envelope is just our way of showing our goodwill. What do you think?"

Liu Qin smiled awkwardly, feeling even more uncomfortable upon hearing this "cousin-in-law" address him. She was beautiful and dressed well, clearly coming from a wealthy family. He suspected she had already learned about his eldest daughter's background by now.

He quickly told his eldest daughter, "Just accept it."

Hearing her father's words, Liu Jingzhi blushed and accepted it.

However, Jin Xiuzhu continued to speak to Liu Qin, "My niece has such good looks. On the way here, Mingchuan mentioned that Cousin has a younger sister who is both beautiful and smart. I wondered how beautiful she could be. Well, it seems I've been living in a bubble. The moment I saw her, I was dazzled."

"A child as beautiful and well-behaved as this, I adore the most. Alas, our relationship isn't close enough, otherwise, I'd definitely treat her like my own sister."

Liu Jingzhi felt a bit embarrassed by Jin Xiuzhu's praise but also sensed her genuine affection, making her very happy.

Last night, when she learned that her uncle would visit today, she was very happy. Growing up, she always looked forward to the New Year because every year, her uncle would come to their home and bring them many gifts. Although her sister often took them away, she was still delighted.

Because she had a feeling that compared to her sister, her uncle seemed to favor her, which was the only preferential treatment she ever received from someone else.

Liu Qin was smiling, but upon hearing these words, he felt something was amiss. Looking at Jin Xiuzhu again, he found her already turning away, warmly chatting with his eldest daughter as if they were family.

Before he could decipher the meaning behind Jin Xiuzhu's words, he heard Jiang Mingchuan whisper, audible only to him, "It seems my sister hasn't been doing well at your house."

Liu Qin was startled and wanted to explain, but he met Jiang Mingchuan's somewhat cold expression.

For some reason, he felt uneasy. Indeed, sometimes, he and his wife favored their younger daughter over their two daughters.

Jiang Mingchuan pursed his lips, glanced at his wife and sister nearby, and suddenly said, "Let's talk outside."

He led the way out.

After some thought, Liu Qin followed him out.

In the corridor outside, after counting the money in the red envelope twice and finding only two yuan, Liu Aihua couldn't help but complain, "How stingy, just two yuan. Didn't they used to give ten yuan?"

Song Xiaoru couldn't help but advise, "Lower your voice. Two yuan isn't a small amount."

Who gave red envelopes worth two yuan nowadays? At most, it would be fifty cents.

Liu Aihua angrily flicked her braid. "They're just stingy. This year, there are only hats and hair ties, not even clothes."

Song Xiaoru sighed helplessly. What "uncle" and "aunt"? They were all pretenses. How could this silly child take them for relatives? They came to see the eldest daughter; they were the real family.

"They're married now, didn't you see they have two children? Your uncle also needs to live."

Liu Aihua didn't care and remained angry, especially since the walls of the dormitory building weren't soundproof. She could hear what was being said inside, including Jin Xiuzhu's praise and affection for her sister. She felt both angry and envious. Even though she had made her sister cut her hair short, why did people still compliment her sister's beauty?

"Why did they get married? I don't like this aunt at all. She's disgusting."

Upon hearing this, Song Xiaoru slapped her younger daughter's arm irritably. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Liu Aihua wanted to say more, but the door suddenly opened, and Jiang Mingchuan came out, his face somewhat cold, followed by Liu Qin.

Liu Aihua was frightened into silence, unsure if her uncle had heard what she said.

Song Xiaoru was also startled and forced an awkward smile. "Why did you come out?"

Jiang Mingchuan glanced at her and then at Liu Aihua before walking to the other side of the corridor and stopping.

Liu Qin glared at his younger daughter before standing opposite Jiang Mingchuan.

Song Xiaoru lifted the boiled kettle and sighed at her youngest daughter. "Go in first."

In the past, Liu Aihua would have eagerly taken the kettle into the living room, but this time she refused, flicked her braid, and walked away.

Song Xiaoru had no choice but to follow behind.

She entered the house and poured Jin Xiuzhu a cup of hot water. Jin Xiuzhu was chatting with Liu Jingzhi about university life, books they'd read, and her own work. The two found themselves increasingly in agreement and even exchanged addresses, promising to write regularly.

Seeing Song Xiaoru approach, Jin Xiuzhu deliberately said, "Your niece is very talented; I like her a lot. I work at the newspaper now, and if there's an opportunity, I hope we can interact more often. What do you think, Sister-in-Law?"

Song Xiaoru forced a smile upon hearing this. "Of course, that would be great."

Liu Jingzhi was delighted; she also liked this cousin-aunt of hers.

Song Xiaoru wanted to say something else when she heard her youngest daughter ask, "How much does the newspaper job pay?"

Embarrassed, Song Xiaoro quickly pulled her youngest daughter away.

Even from a distance, they could hear her dissatisfaction, as if she were saying something about only giving two yuan.

Jin Xiuzhu picked up the cup beside her and took a sip of water. Liu Jingzhi, however, seemed at a loss and explained on behalf of her sister, "She's just being childish."

Jin Xiuzhu looked at her gently. "But you're only three years older than her."

Liu Jingzhi opened her mouth but suddenly couldn't speak.

This was the first time someone had said such things to her. Usually, her parents told her to give in to her sister simply because she was the elder sister.

Jin Xiuzhu took her hand, felt the rough lines on her palm, and showed a look of concern. Ambiguously, she said, "Before, he didn't know how to treat you well. From now on, we'll take good care of you."

Liu Jingzhi heard this and was taken aback, not immediately understanding its meaning.

Playing with He Yan nearby, Fu Yanyan also overheard and glanced at Jin Xiuzhu, suspecting she had said it deliberately.

After finishing lunch at the Liu family's home, Jin Xiuzhu and the others left. As they departed, Jin Xiuzhu warmly held Song Xiaoru's hand and said, "Sister-in-Law, we'll be in S City for a few days and might come by several more times."

Song Xiaoru politely smiled. "Not at all, not at all."

Jin Xiuzhu was satisfied. "Good."

When they reached downstairs, Jiang Mingchuan suddenly said to Jin Xiuzhu, "I told Liu Qin that if he can't treat both daughters fairly, he should tell his younger daughter about her background."

Jin Xiuzhu and her daughter looked up at him simultaneously.

Only He Yan happily exclaimed, "Great! I like Auntie."

Jiang Mingchuan recounted what he had heard Liu Aihua, his foster sister, say to her parents. Then he added, "I want to acknowledge my sister."

In the past, he had seen Liu Qin and his wife as honest and hardworking. He had also inquired about his sister's situation and learned that, aside from the younger daughter's occasional mischief, the couple treated his sister reasonably well.

He thought it best for his sister not to know about him to avoid creating a rift between her and her adoptive parents.

Jin Xiuzhu couldn't help asking, "What did Liu Qin say?"

"Liu Qin didn't say anything."

Jin Xiuzhu sneered. "He must be afraid."

Jiang Mingchuan looked at Jin Xiuzhu.

Jin Xiuzhu continued, "He's probably thinking that he raised his daughter with great effort. Even though he received your mother's kindness, after raising her for so many years, he must have developed feelings for her. Now that she's about to graduate and start earning money, he's suspicious that you might want to take her away."

"I'm not taking her away. I just want her to know she has a brother and someone to rely on."

Jin Xiuzhu sighed. "I understand that, but your sister, after learning you're her real brother, will still have deep feelings for her family. However, her adoptive parents will gradually withdraw their affection for her. Even if she remains as filial as before, they'll feel like they've raised her for nothing and favor their own child more. That's why they called you 'cousin' right away, reminding you of your position."

Human hearts are complicated, always wanting to be the only one in someone else's heart.

Jiang Mingchuan pursed his lips tightly. He had considered these points, which is why he had held back until now.

In the past, Liu Aihua always appeared enthusiastic and proactive whenever he visited. He had heard from neighbors that she could be mischievous and domineering, but as long as Liu Qin and his wife treated his sister well, he believed she wouldn't suffer too much. It was better for her to stay with them than to be with him, as he had been homeless and penniless during those years, unable to provide for his sister.

Jin Xiuzhu, protective of her own, saw Jiang Mingchuan as her husband, making Liu Jingzhi her sister-in-law. She planned to let Liu Jingzhi discover her identity herself and then gradually create a rift due to differential treatment by her parents. At that point, they could step in and point out the unfairness of Liu Qin and his wife, making it easier to bring her sister back.

This method was somewhat harsh, and they would need to make amends later.

However, she couldn't share this plan with Jiang Mingchuan; he wouldn't agree. He was too upright.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Mingchuan said, "I'll think about it."