Chapter 63: The Black-Hearted Bun

The original body was only three years old.

Jiang Fubao knew she couldn’t really help her cousin.

All she could do was take out a piece of candy from her space and place it in Jiang Siniu’s palm.

It was a cylindrical milk candy, wrapped in a thin layer of rice paper.

The sobbing Jiang Siniu froze for a moment.

“Fubao-meimei, what’s milk candy?” she asked, hiccupping from having cried too long.

“It’s candy made from milk. Super tasty—try it.”

Seeing she couldn’t bring herself to eat it, Jiang Fubao popped the sweet straight into her cousin’s mouth.

The sweetness spread instantly.

“Mmm—it’s so sweet. This is the first time I’ve ever had candy. Every time Father comes back from town, he brings barley sugar for my little brother. I wanted some too, but Mother says worthless girls don’t deserve candy. This time, Third Sister sneaked some of my brother’s candy and made him cry. When Mother found out, Third Sister accused me of stealing it, so Mother beat me.”

Thinking about it, Jiang Siniu’s mood sank again.

“Siniu-jiejie, since your Third Sister always bullies you, you should do what she does—go tattle to your mother. Anyway, your mother doesn’t believe you, and she won’t believe her either. If you just sweeten your words a bit, your mother won’t hit you.”

After saying it, Jiang Fubao felt like an evil witch teaching a child bad tricks.

But she really had no other way.

Zhou Gai’er was a lunatic. Though she was also a woman, she doted on sons as if they were her very life.

Her own daughters—she beat and cursed at them constantly.

It was detestable.

Jiang Siniu was only five. Just a little girl. Too young to protect herself. Running away was out of the question.

To travel outside, you needed a road pass—something like an ID and travel permit.

At city gates, guards would check them. If the pass didn’t match the holder, or if there was no pass, the person would be arrested and thrown into jail.

Besides, the ancient world was dangerous. A girl traveling alone would nine times out of ten be abducted or worse.

So Fubao didn’t dare suggest that.

If she couldn’t run, she had to learn to be clever.

Speak sweetly, maybe get beaten less.

Jiang Siniu was simply too honest—completely opposite of Jiang Sanniu’s sly personality.

“Go tattle? But… if I do, then Third Sister will get beaten too.”

It was the first time Jiang Siniu had even considered this. She blinked her tearful eyes, the droplets trembling on her lashes but not falling.

“She doesn’t even like you—she already harmed you—why should you care? If you don’t want to be beaten, just say nice things about your mother, flatter her, keep your words sweet…”

Jiang Fubao sat her cousin down and coaxed her for a long while.

She even forgot her own body was still just that of a three-year-old.

Luckily Jiang Siniu was only five.

If any adult had overheard Fubao’s words, they’d surely have been scared half to death, thinking she was possessed.

“You’re right, Fubao-meimei. Thank you—I know what to do now. Oh, and… Third Sister always talks badly about you at home. You’d better be careful. If she tries to lure you out again, don’t go. What if she pushes you into the river again? Fubao-meimei, you should hurry home too. I need to go back, or Mother will notice I’m gone.”

Looking at the sky, Jiang Siniu pulled Fubao away from the riverside.

Each went home separately.

Even Fubao didn’t realize—

After this night, the innocent, kind Jiang Siniu would slowly turn into a black-hearted bun.

---

“You damned girl, where did you run off to? If I’m not furious at you for one day, you’re not happy, are you?”

As soon as Jiang Siniu stepped inside, Zhou Gai’er scolded her harshly.

“Mother, I was wrong. I didn’t want you unhappy, so I thought if I walked farther away, where you couldn’t see me, you’d feel better. Don’t be angry—it’s all my fault. Hit me instead, just don’t harm your health.”

In that instant, Jiang Siniu remembered Fubao’s words.

For the first time, she flattered her mother.

Zhou Gai’er had been ready to raise her hand—but froze.

“Why would I hit you? Beat you too much, even my hand hurts. Get back inside—you’re an eyesore.”

Escaping unscathed, Jiang Siniu now believed Fubao’s words completely.

---

The night passed.

The Jiang family began digging the house foundation.

The men worked hard, while women and children went up the mountain.

Fubao, who woke late, sat alone with a small bowl, watching the laborers.

Though the morning was cool, the men stripped to the waist.

Before long, they were dripping with sweat.

They looked skinny, but years of farm work had left them wiry and muscled.

Strong and lean.

Though only three on the outside, Fubao’s soul was twenty-two. She couldn’t take her eyes off them.

“This kid—what’s so interesting about digging a foundation? You’re not even eating, just staring. The mud’s flying everywhere. Don’t let it splatter on you. Go sit at the door to eat.”

Jiang Dahe lifted his little niece—bench and all—and set her down by the doorway.

Fubao pouted, lips sticking out high.

---

“Excuse me, is this Aunt Zhang’s house?”

A man around thirty arrived at the gate, asking.

“Yes. Who are you? What business do you have with my mother? She’s gone up the mountain.” Jiang Dahe, setting Fubao down, looked at him curiously.

“I’m Qian Meipo’s son, Qian Wanjiang. Mother sent me to tell Aunt Zhang—the bride-viewing meeting will be tomorrow, just before mid-morning, at our house. Don’t be late.”

“Oh, it’s you. Come in, sit, I’ll get you some water.”

Jiang Dahe tried to invite him in.

But Qian Wanjiang waved it off, said he had things to do, and turned to leave.

---

Another day later.

As promised, Zhang Jinlan brought her eldest son’s family of three, along with Jiang Fubao, to Qian Meipo’s home.

They’d been told not to be late.

So when they arrived, it was just past the start of the appointed hour.

“Granny, did we come too early?”

Fubao sat on a chair, holding her cup.

“You have to come early—that way you leave a good impression on the girl’s family.” Zhang Jinlan smiled and explained patiently.

After a little chat with Qian Meipo, the girl’s family arrived.

Clearly they, too, knew proper manners.

Fubao put down her cup and looked up.

The girl this time wasn’t quite as pretty—but her skin was pale, and as they say, “fairness covers all flaws.” She looked fresh and decent.

Her clothes were homespun—not as rough as hemp cloth—and without a single patch.

Clearly, her family cherished her.

After a short while of polite small talk, they began the real discussion.

“My daughter Yuanlan is the youngest of three siblings, spoiled since birth. Honestly, when we first heard you were from Jiangjia Village, we hesitated. Everyone knows it’s poor there. Who’d willingly marry a daughter off to suffer? You can’t blame me for saying so—I just speak bluntly. But since we came today, it means I’m sincere.

It was Qian Meipo who said you treat your little granddaughter very well. Clearly you’re not the type to value sons over daughters. That’s why we agreed to meet. And now that I’ve seen you—yes, truly not bad. Look at this little granddaughter of yours, raised so plump and fair, like a little lucky doll.”