Chapter 8: That Scummy Man!

Faced with so many things, Li Yiyi couldn’t help but be stunned. She couldn’t figure out how that man had managed to gather so much stuff.

Once she had taken everything out, she did a quick count—eighteen packages in total, each one weighing several jin. No wonder the parcel had felt so heavy.

Li Yiyi had thought the man would include a letter inside, but after taking out the last item, she didn’t see even a shadow of one.

Seeing that, the good impression she’d just started to form because he’d sent so much stuff instantly dropped by half.

Sure, their relationship hadn’t begun on the most honorable terms, but they had two kids now, and he hadn’t returned for years. He finally managed to send something back, and yet didn’t even bother to write a short letter to ask how they were doing? Hmph, he was a scummy man after all!

And right at that moment, the man she had just cursed—Jiang Hong—was sitting on a train heading home.

Tall and imposing, dressed in military uniform, he sat there like a towering pine, exuding an aura that made others too intimidated to approach.

That evening, after the folks in the fields had finished work, Li Yiyi carried the things she had already sorted and walked toward the Jiang family home.

Coincidentally, the members of the Jiang family who had gone out to work had just returned as well. They were all sitting in the courtyard, chatting about how they had recently seen the third daughter-in-law riding a bicycle back home.

“Mom, I heard people saying in the fields that they saw Third Sister-in-law ride a bicycle home. Is that true?” Second Sister-in-law Jiang asked quietly while observing the elders’ expressions.

Father Jiang didn’t say a word, simply sitting in the courtyard puffing on his pipe.

Mother Jiang glanced at Father Jiang. Seeing that he remained silent, she spoke up. “It’s true. I used to think that girl had changed for the better, but it looks like she’s still the same as before. Sigh, why is our third son’s life so hard?”

Just then, the voices of two children calling “Grandpa, Grandma” came from outside.

Everyone in the courtyard immediately stopped talking and turned to look toward the entrance.

Soon, they saw Jiang Yueyue and Jiang Xiaobao skipping and bouncing as they ran in. Following behind them, carrying a bunch of large and small bags, was Li Yiyi.

As soon as Li Yiyi stepped through the gate and saw the Jiang family members sitting in the courtyard, she smiled and said, “Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother, Sisters-in-law—perfect timing, everyone’s home. I brought some things to share with you.”

The moment she said that, everyone in the courtyard began to wonder if their ears were playing tricks on them. Did she just say she came here to give them something?

The eldest and second sons of the Jiang family even looked up at the sun in the sky. Nope, the sun hadn’t risen in the west today.

Li Yiyi, while not a mind-reader, could easily guess how shocked they must be by her unexpected visit.

After all, even though the original owner had married into the Jiang family five years ago, she had never once brought anything over—only ever taken things from them.

Seeing their expressions like they had just seen a ghost, she kindly explained, “I went into town today to pick up the wages the kids’ father sent. He also sent a package back. These are all from him, and I thought I’d bring some over so everyone can have a taste.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Jiang was the first to recover from the surprise. Smiling, she took the items from Li Yiyi. “So it was Third Brother who sent these? Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

“We’re all family, no need to be so polite,” Li Yiyi said with a smile.

Hearing her speak so considerately shocked the Jiang family once again—had their third daughter-in-law really changed?

Just then, five or six children ran out from the main hall, the oldest around twelve, the youngest being Jiang Xiaobao.

Li Yiyi already knew that the eldest Jiang couple had two sons, while the second son’s family had a boy and a girl.

Looking at their faces, she could already guess which two belonged to which family.

Thinking of the bag of candy she had brought, she smiled and waved them over. “Jianshe, Jianjun, Jianguo, Tiantian, Yueyue, Xiaobao—come here, Third Aunt has some candy for you.”

Jiang Jianshe, already twelve years old, was quite familiar with this Third Aunt’s usual stingy ways. Seeing her suddenly offer candy, he suspiciously held back his younger siblings from rushing forward.

Li Yiyi didn’t notice the gesture. She reached into the bag and pulled out a big handful of brightly colored, shiny-wrapped candies and walked over.

Upon receiving the candy, Jiang Tiantian exclaimed with excitement to her tight-faced older brother, “Brother, look how pretty the wrappers are! They’re so shiny! They look even better than the ones Aunt Jiang Xiaohua brought her from the city! Last time Jiang Xiaohua showed off her candy wrapper to me—now I have one that’s even prettier. She’s definitely going to be so jealous!”

Second Sister-in-law couldn’t help but laugh and lightly tapped her daughter on the head. “What do you say to your Third Aunt?”

Just from the packaging, she could tell the candy wasn’t cheap.

She used to think her third sister-in-law was pretty annoying, but now… maybe not so much.

Li Yiyi had no idea that a few pieces of candy had slightly improved her image in Second Sister-in-law’s eyes.

“No need to thank me—it’s just a few pieces of candy,” Li Yiyi said casually.

Jiang Jianshe looked down at the candy in his hand, finally convinced that this Third Aunt of his wasn’t being stingy this time. She really had given them candy.

Eldest Sister-in-law patted her son on the shoulder and gave him a look. “You little rascal, aren’t you going to thank your Third Aunt?”

“Thank you, Third Aunt,” he said in a small voice, blushing.

The other three kids followed suit, chorusing their thanks to Li Yiyi.

“No need to be so formal. If you want more, just come ask Third Aunt,” she said with a smile, looking at their bashful faces.

“Big Brother,” Jiang Yueyue suddenly said seriously to Jiang Jianshe, “my mom has changed for the better. She’s not stingy anymore.”

Jiang Jianshe’s ears turned red, and he stammered, “Yeah, I know.”

Hearing the innocent words from the two children, everyone laughed heartily.

After her laughter faded, Li Yiyi’s eyes drifted toward the Jiang elders, and she suddenly remembered the other things she had brought. She pulled out two more items from the bag.

“Dad, Mom, thank you for tolerating me when I was immature over the years. While I was in town, I picked out a couple small gifts for you. I hope you won’t mind.”

The Jiang elders were both surprised to hear they had gifts.

Before they could even politely decline, their third daughter-in-law had already pressed the presents into their hands.

Staring at the gifts, they both felt a little dazed. Was this woman—this person who gave them gifts—really their third daughter-in-law?