Qin i took it. The last ti the second aunt’s daughter-in-law offered her so sponge cake, her mind was set on eating a proper al, and she couldn’t even rember what excuse she’d used to turn it down.
To be honest, she didn’t dare eat anything Aunt Zhang cooked.
Under Jie Jingshan’s expectant gaze, Qin i took a bite. The sponge cake from this era was genuinely delicious. "This is good."
"Fourth Sister-in-law, if you like it, have so more." Jie Jingshan pushed all the sponge cake toward Qin i. Worried she might choke, she used her own enal mug to mix half a cup of milk powder for her. "Fourth Sister-in-law, drink up so you don’t choke."
Qin i paused, her expression complex as she chewed the cake and looked at Jie Jingshan. There was also a hint of relief.
Seeing Qin i hesitate, Jie Jingshan misinterpreted her expression. She looked awkward, her hands stiff as she held out the enal mug. "Fourth Sister-in-law, I forgot... this is my mug."
Qin i knew Jingshan had misunderstood her. She took the enal mug from her. "What are you thinking? I’m not that picky. You don’t mind sharing with , so why would I mind?"
To prove her point, Qin i lifted the mug and took a sip. The milk powder from this era was rich and aromatic. "It’s delicious."
A brilliant smile spread across Jie Jingshan’s face. Watching Qin i eat with such enjoynt made her own mouth water, and she licked her lips.
"Here." Qin i handed Jie Jingshan a piece of the sponge cake.
Jie Jingshan took it and bit off a large chunk.
Chewing on the cake, Qin i asked with her mouth full, "Where did you buy this sponge cake and milk powder? They’re really good."
"I don’t know. Third Sister-in-law bought them," Jie Jingshan replied, her words also muffled by food.
Qin i was taken aback for a mont. ’Shen Qing really does take good care of Jie Jingshan.’ Mrs. Xie was too busy and often neglected Jingshan. If it hadn’t been for Shen Qing all these years, Jie Jingshan’s situation would have been even worse.
Racked with guilt, Jie Jingjue would protect Jie Jingshan with his life. Unfortunately, he was still her brother, and as Jing Qi got older, there were so things he couldn’t conveniently help her with. Shen Qing, as her sister-in-law, didn’t look down on this little sister-in-law of hers and patiently cared for her, which was truly rare.
"When Third Sister-in-law gets ho from work, I’ll ask her to take us out to buy so. I’ll pay," Jie Jingshan said generously. She had money.
In truth, Jie Jingshan could also be stingy. She wouldn’t spare a di for people she disliked, but for those she liked, she spent money like water.
Qin i chuckled, and Jie Jingshan chuckled along with her. Their clear, sweet laughter carried all the way to the kitchen. Hearing it, Jie Jingchen, who was brewing the dicine, felt its influence, and his thin lips curved into a handso arc.
Aunt Zhang was in the kitchen boiling water. When she heard Jie Jingshan’s laughter, she was so shocked she thought she’d misheard. She pricked up her ears to listen carefully, and only after hearing it clearly did she confirm that it was indeed Jie Jingshan laughing.
’When Jing Qi was little, she had been so full of love and so likable. She wanted to share everything with . If there was good food, she would offer it to first; if there were nice things, she would think of . Jing Qi would even secretly give the New Year’s money the elders gave her. I would pretend to refuse, and Jing Qi would feign anger. To make her happy, I would put on an act of reluctantly accepting it, but inwardly, I was bursting with joy.’
There were too many benefits to pleasing Jing Qi, so she treated her even better—right up until Jing Qi’s accident.
At first, she had been patient in caring for Jing Qi. But over ti, with only giving and no getting, she grew weary and lost her patience. Jing Qi’s temper beca explosive, and she couldn’t take care of herself, always causing trouble. When others were around, she would tolerate it. When no one was watching, she would "deal with" Jing Qi and even threaten her. Gradually, their relationship soured.
Since her return this ti, Jing Qi had beco more and more distant, even hostile.
"Mom." Hu Wan’er ca into the kitchen and called out several tis to her mother, who was tending the fire. Lost in her mories, Aunt Zhang was too engrossed to hear or notice her. Hu Wan’er walked up and pushed Aunt Zhang’s shoulder. "Mom."
"Ah!" Aunt Zhang jumped. Seeing it was her own daughter, she patted her chest. "Wan’er, you scared to death."
"Mom, what were you thinking about? I called you several tis, and you didn’t hear ," Hu Wan’er complained.
Aunt Zhang glanced at Jie Jingchen brewing the dicine out of the corner of her eye, her voice thick with lancholy. "I was thinking about when Jing Qi was little."
"Oh." Hu Wan’er grunted, showing little interest in Jie Jingshan’s childhood. Aunt Zhang shot her a look. Hu Wan’er instantly understood, darted a glance at Jie Jingchen, and deliberately raised her voice. "Really? Mom, why don’t you tell about what little sister Jing Qi was like as a child?"
"Sigh!" Aunt Zhang sighed, her voice tinged with sadness, regret, and a choked sob. "Jing Qi used to love to laugh when she was little. Ever since her legs were crippled, she hasn’t laughed once. Her temper has only grown more explosive and strange."
"Mom, don’t be too sad. It was an accident, and it was fate," Hu Wan’er consoled her.
Aunt Zhang raised a hand and wiped away a tear with the back of it. "When she was little, Jing Qi adored . She was closer to than to her own mother, Doctor Qiao. Every ti I took Jing Qi out, so of the neighbors would joke that I seed more like her real mom."
Hu Wan’er glanced at Jie Jingchen from the corner of her eye, her mind racing. ’How am I supposed to follow up on what Mom said?’
"My poor Jing Qi, why is her fate so bitter? Such a perfectly fine young girl, how could an accident like this happen to her? She’s still so young, how will she ever get married when she grows up? SOB... My poor Jing Qi... If I could, I would trade places with her. I’d give her my healthy body, beco crippled myself, and spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair." Aunt Zhang grew more and more emotional as she spoke.
Just as Jie Jingchen looked over at her, she broke into sobs and tragically wiped her tears.
Aunt Zhang’s emotional performance was brewed to perfection; Jie Jingchen almost believed her.
Hu Wan’er was genuinely terrible at this kind of lodrama. With Jie Jingchen watching them, she grew anxious, turned her back to him, and shot her mother a pleading look for help.
Aunt Zhang was annoyed. ’I work for the Jie family, I should have brought Wan’er here to raise myself long ago. Leaving her in the countryside with my in-laws to be raised... my daughter and I have no rapport.’
"Look at , what am I saying all this for?" Aunt Zhang sniffled, wiped her tears, and looked over Hu Wan’er’s shoulder at Jie Jingchen. She spoke with an air of relief. "Jing Si, this wife of yours is wonderful. Your father told everything—that your wife knows Chinese dicine and is treating Jing Qi’s legs. Yesterday, your wife and I had an unpleasant encounter, and it was my fault. Jing Qi’s legs are a great sorrow to as well. As long as your wife can heal Jing Qi’s legs, she will be my benefactor..."
"Aunt Zhang," Jie Jingchen cut her off, his voice cold.
Aunt Zhang froze in astonishnt. She stared at Jie Jingchen, holding her breath and waiting for his next words so she could counter whatever he threw at her.
However, Jie Jingchen only said her na and nothing more. This left Aunt Zhang feeling completely uneasy. She had helped raise Jie Jingchen, but he wasn’t close to her. The boy was too reserved; it was impossible to guess what he was thinking.
A aningful glint surfaced in the depths of Jie Jingchen’s dark eyes, and the expression on his face was equally intriguing.
He lowered his gaze and went back to staring at the dicine boiling in the pot.
"Mom, what did he an by that just now?" Hu Wan’er’s voice was nearly inaudible.
Aunt Zhang tugged on Hu Wan’er, shot a wary glance at Jie Jingchen, and made a hushing gesture at her daughter.
The water boiled. Aunt Zhang stood up, picked up a ladle, and poured the boiling water into a bucket that held a rooster.
"Mom, you killed the rooster?" Hu Wan’er finally noticed the bird in the bucket and tugged on Aunt Zhang’s sleeve. "Mom, didn’t you say you were going to raise it in the yard for a few days?"
The ntion of the rooster made Aunt Zhang’s blood boil. She had wanted to raise it for a few days to tornt them, but then Jing Wu had gone and slaughtered it. Knowing Jing Wu, he wouldn’t have killed her chicken after she’d said she wanted to keep it for a few days—not unless soone put him up to it. And besides Qin i, it couldn’t have been anyone else.
As Aunt Zhang ladled the water, she said, "Jing Si’s wife wanted to eat chicken, so she had Jing Wu kill it."
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