Chapter 5: “Son, go find your dad and take me with you.”

Lingling was a “fairy” who could be satisfied with just the dew, but Jiang Ningning was an ordinary person. It was already more than halfway through the month, and the allowance from her in-laws had already been squeezed dry.

Today, her mother-in-law endured an insult. As someone who had always been strong and domineering, how could she swallow this humiliation? She would surely want to get revenge.

In the future, she would probably use the guise of filial piety to force the three of them back into hard labor.

Jiang Ningning, with her bad temper and unwillingness to be wronged, had already clashed with the old lady. If things escalated, the other side would definitely cause trouble with the neighborhood committee.

Moving to another province wasn’t realistic. The end of the month was near, and the path forward still seemed unclear. Traveling, renting a place—all of it required letters of introduction.

If they moved, her husband’s military allowance would go straight into the pockets of her in-laws, and she and the children would be left to face starvation.

Jiang Ningning lay lazily on the recliner, rhythmically tapping her fingers on the table, her mind racing.

Then, her gaze suddenly turned to the twins.

Manman instinctively raised his hand to shield his sister, though nervous, he forced himself to remain calm and locked eyes with her.

What did this woman want?

Uncle Liu from the neighborhood committee had warned them that recently there had been many human traffickers on the streets, telling the siblings not to go out alone and scavenge for scraps.

Was she planning to give them some food, then sell them to human traffickers?

So she really had no good intentions.

A lump of fire gathered in her chest, a mix of grievances, anger, and fear for the future. Manman felt the tension in his body, as if every fiber was tightly wound.

It was time to ask their dad in the military for help…

“Son, can you go find your dad and take me with you?” Jiang Ningning asked.

Manman immediately became defensive, jumping off the chair. “How… how did you know we were going to the military base?”

He looked at his sister.

Xiaxia shook her head, covering her mouth. It wasn’t her who told.

The last possible way out had been discovered by Jiang Ningning. Manman fell into complete despair, drenched in sweat, as if he had been pulled from water. He shouted angrily, “Even if you sell us, one day, we’ll find you and have the police arrest you, and you’ll end up in prison!”

Jiang Ningning:?

Then, the corners of her mouth curved up, revealing a faint dimple just like Xiaxia’s, and she said, “Mom’s not that stupid. I still need Manman to support our family in the future. Our Manman is smart and capable. At such a young age, he already knows that picking up trash can be sold. He’s the most capable little adult in this family.”

Manman: ??

What was going on with this woman today? Not only was she not disgusted by him picking up trash, but she was actually praising him for being capable.

He raised his chin, trying to act indifferent, and said, “Xiaxia helps me a lot too.”

So Jiang Ningning, with a beaming smile, praised Xiaxia. “While other kids are still playing in the mud, Xiaxia already knows how to be self-reliant with her brother. Xiaxia is truly the cutest little girl in the world.”

Xiaxia’s cheeks immediately turned bright red.

“Unlike mommy, mommy doesn’t know how to do anything,” Jiang Ningning lowered her eyelids, showing a sad expression. “You don’t even want to take me with you when you go find your dad.”

The two little ones immediately panicked.

Xiaxia jumped off her chair first and grabbed Jiang Ningning’s arm. “Mom, me and brother didn’t abandon you. We’re going to find dad and bring him back so we can fill our stomachs.”

Her grip was exactly where Tian Cuifen had slapped Jiang Ningning earlier, and this time, it really hurt. Tears immediately filled Jiang Ningning’s eyes.

It seemed like she was deeply upset. Her crimson lips were slightly bitten, turning pale.

“Mom, don’t cry. Me and brother will take you with us,” Xiaxia frantically tugged at her brother’s sulking face.

Manman, feeling distressed, couldn’t bear to see Jiang Ningning crying like that, and he backed off. “But Comrade Jiang, you have to promise not to tell grandma. If she finds out, there’s no way we can take you.”

Jiang Ningning nodded firmly. “Alright, I promise you, I won’t tell.”

Once the decision was made, it was time to act decisively. No need to let the old lady figure it out and bring her son and husband to cause trouble.

“You all pack up. I’ll go out and find a way to raise the travel expenses.”

Jiang Ningning stood up and headed out. Just a moment ago, she had come up with a quick way to get money.

As her hand touched the door handle, her collar was grabbed by a small hand.

“I’ve secretly saved quite a bit of money. The travel expenses should be enough.” Manman’s eyes were lowered, as if she had made a decision.

She turned around and ran to her room, pulling out an oiled paper package from under the bed. She opened it and handed it to Jiang Ningning.

This was the last time she trusted her mother.

“There’s a fifty-cent coin inside, along with three food coupons. Last time, my sister and I found a large iron pipe by the river, and we sold it for quite a bit of money. There’s also the allowance dad sent. I saved up a little bit.”

Manman raised her head, her clear phoenix eyes staring at Jiang Ningning, with a hint of fear hidden deep within that she didn’t even realize.

…Fear of being betrayed by her mother again.

…Fear that the courage she had gathered with difficulty would be shattered once more by her own hands.

So mom, please don’t disappoint little sister.

If you must hurt someone, let it be just me.

After all, I’m used to it…

Manman held her breath, her fingers tightly clenched.

This child, so mature and sensible, tugged at one’s heartstrings.

In fact, Jiang Ningning didn’t like children. In her previous life, her high school deskmate invited her to apply for an early childhood education program, which she immediately refused.

At that moment, Jiang Ningning realized that it wasn’t children she disliked, but rather troublesome ones. Some precious children, with their natural charm, were just lovable.

She squatted down, folded the oiled paper back up, and stuffed it into the little one’s pocket.

With a look of confusion on his face, Manman watched as Jiang Ningning twisted the doorknob and stepped out of the house.

For the first time, he felt that his mother’s figure… seemed quite tall.

---

Zhu Family.

Aunt Zhu looked surprised when she saw Jiang Ningning knocking on the door. “Ningning, you don’t need to come over to thank me. It was just my way of showing affection to the children as their grandmother.”

These words only made it more obvious that Grandma Tian Cuifen was not a person of great character.

Jiang Ningning’s gaze was sincere. “Aunt Zhu, I need to talk to you about something. Is it convenient to come inside and speak?”

The apartment building had thin walls, and any noise could attract the attention of the neighbors. Many had already poked their heads out to take a look.

Zhu’s two daughters-in-law looked wary. Everyone knew the situation with the Jiang family. Just recently, their mother-in-law had tricked them out of their allowance, and the pot was now completely empty. Now Jiang Ningning was coming to visit? They must think their mother-in-law is kindhearted and come to borrow food.

“If you want to borrow food, there’s none. My husband’s internship position was just replaced, and things are tough at home right now,” the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhu family said without politeness, showing Jiang Ningning the door.

Aunt Zhu’s face flushed slightly. Facing Jiang Ningning’s tear-filled eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to turn her away and pulled her into the house. “If you’re in any trouble, come in and talk about it.”

The eldest daughter-in-law stamped her foot angrily. “Mom, why are you letting Jiang Ningning in? Don’t let her ruin our family and cause us to go hungry. There are so many pitiful people in the world. She has a husband who’s a soldier. Why are you trying to make things harder for yourself?”

Even the youngest daughter-in-law joined in, disagreeing: “Exactly, if she eats a portion, then the little ones get less food. You feel sorry for Jiang Ningning, but can you bear to see our children go hungry?”

The two daughters-in-law kept criticizing, and Aunt Zhu found herself unable to speak, awkwardly glancing back at Jiang Ningning.