Chapter 12

Wang Chunfang finally came to her senses, hurriedly covered Jiang Xiaobao’s mouth, glanced nervously at Jiang Chengmin, and coaxed in a low voice:

“Don’t talk nonsense—she’s your older sister!”

“What’s going on here? I could hear shouting from way down the road.”

The half-shut wooden gate creaked open. Jiang Jirong returned from work, carrying his two-year-old son Jiang Fuquan on his back, with his wife Lu Fengzhi and younger sister Jiang Yanqiu following behind.

The three of them had been hauling corn that afternoon and had come home a bit late.

Jiang Jirong glanced at his stepfather’s expression, then quickly shut the courtyard gate behind him.

“Mom, what happened? Xiaobao’s crying like crazy.”

Having never been defied by her stepdaughter like this before, Wang Chunfang’s face turned red with rage. Holding Jiang Xiaobao, who had finally managed to squeeze out a few tears, she accused angrily:

“Third girl stole money from the family! Xiaobao told me, and she beat him up! Look at his face—it’s swollen!”

“Say that again. I didn’t steal anything.”

Jiang Henián stepped forward, eyes coldly fixed on the boy in her stepmother’s arms.
“If you’ve got the guts, say it to my face again. If you’re lying, don’t blame me for hitting you again.”

Jiang Xiaobao clutched his cheek tightly. He was used to being the little tyrant at home, but this was the first time someone had actually disciplined him. Now he was scared.

Third Sis had changed—she’d become a fierce woman who bites!

The others looked at each other uncertainly when they saw Jiang Xiaobao crying but refusing to speak.

Wang Chunfang also sensed something was off and quickly tried to salvage the situation.
“This is clearly a forced confession! You’ve scared your little brother speechless!”

“Alright, Mom, it’s all just a misunderstanding. Xiaobao’s too young to understand—he must’ve gotten it wrong. Third Sis would never do something like that.”

Jiang Jirong, the eldest brother, quickly stepped in to separate them, and looked concerned.
“Third Sis, what’s with all the blood on your clothes? Are you hurt?”

He was honest and kind—never treated the original Jiang Henián badly—and was the only one to notice the blood on her clothes.

Jiang Henián, knowing he meant well, didn’t give him attitude. She just shook her head and said she must’ve brushed up against something accidentally.

“As long as you’re okay.” Jiang Jirong sighed in relief. Then he tried to calm everyone down.
“It’s getting dark. Let’s not disturb the neighbors. Fengzhi, start cooking—everyone’s hungry.”

Lu Fengzhi, still carrying her sleeping son on her back, glanced at Jiang Henián, who hadn’t moved, feeling a little unhappy.

Cooking had always been the little sister-in-law’s job.
Now she had to work in the fields and carry the baby—was she expected to do the cooking too from now on?

She jiggled the child on her back and said,
“Fuquan’s about to wake up—I need to feed him some rice porridge first or he’ll be fussy all night. How about… Yanqiu, can you light the stove fire? I’ll cook once he’s fed.”

“Uh… in a bit,” Jiang Yanqiu replied lazily, twirling her braid as she leaned against the doorframe, acting like she hadn’t heard.

An awkward silence settled over the entire courtyard.

Jiang Henián glanced at the crowd of people all looking pointedly at her and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

So they’d all been dumping everything on the original host all along, huh?

Jiang Chengmin finally finished his cigarette and ground the butt into the ground. Standing up with his hands behind his back, he said calmly:

“Xiaobao, stop crying. What kind of behavior is this?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the quiet authority of the head of the household.
Jiang Xiaobao quickly quieted down, sobbing softly, catching on to the mood.

Wang Chunfang was a bit nervous. She had always disciplined her stepdaughter in secret, never openly—she knew better than to push her husband too far.

Calling her a “burden” or “freeloader” couldn’t be said too loudly around him.

She patted Jiang Xiaobao on the rear and scolded him:
“Exactly! You’ve been playing wild all day and didn’t even come home for lunch. Now you’re spouting nonsense—go wash your hands!”

Jiang Xiaobao gave Jiang Henián a sideways glare as he shuffled over to the water jar, face full of fear and resentment.

“Third girl, go feed the pig.”

Jiang Henián snapped her eyes back from glaring at the brat and turned to face her so-called father.

No wonder the original host had been so sullen and withdrawn.
A cruel stepmother and an indifferent father who didn’t even ask questions before accusing her of theft.

If it had been the original Jiang Henián, she probably would’ve just taken the blame and gone to do the chores, swallowing her anger silently.

And died depressed.

“That’s it? You’re not even going to ask? Just assume I stole from the family?”

Jiang Chengmin frowned, clearly uncomfortable with his daughter’s newfound assertiveness.
“If you didn’t steal, then forget it. Why are you arguing with your little brother?”

Jiang Henián replied flatly,
“I’m not arguing. But if I stay quiet, people think I’m an easy target.”

Jiang Jirong and Lu Fengzhi were stunned. Not only had their quiet third sister suddenly started talking so much—she was even talking back?!

The last time Jiang Jirong heard her speak was earlier that month, and she had only said two words:
“Excuse me.”

“What exactly do you want then?” Jiang Chengmin’s face darkened.
“You trying to embarrass your own father now?”

“She probably hit her head last night and isn’t thinking straight,” Jiang Yanqiu cut in, stepping forward and handing him a cup of water.
“Don’t be mad, Dad. She’ll calm down after a rest and some food.”

Her words seemed to have a calming effect. Jiang Chengmin’s face softened a bit, and the tense atmosphere in the courtyard finally eased.

Jiang Yanqiu picked up the bamboo basket and pigweed, and pulled Jiang Henián toward the pigsty.

“Third Sis, your bump seems to have gone down—it’s healing fast.”

“Dad hates noise the most, so just don’t take it personally. As long as we’re still living here, we have to go along with him, right? Once you’re married, you can make your own decisions.”

“This pigweed’s so fresh and tender. Third Sis, you’re really capable! Auntie He even praised you in the fields today. I really like Auntie He—she’s so kind—”

“You passed it.”

“Huh?” Jiang Yanqiu’s chatter came to a halt.

Jiang Henián pointed behind her, where the fat pig was snorting and pawing frantically at the gate.
“You walked past the pen. The pig’s about to break out.”

“…”

For some reason, Jiang Yanqiu had the feeling that all her flattery just now had been a complete waste.

Jiang Henián added,
“Auntie He is your future mother-in-law. It’s great that you like her.”

Jiang Yanqiu’s face stiffened.
“That’s not settled yet…”

She sighed.
“Actually, I came to talk to you about something… sister to sister…”

Jiang Henián ignored her, tossing handfuls of pigweed into the pen.

“…That’s the thing, Third Sis. We may call each other sisters, but we’re the same age—only a few months apart. I may be engaged already, but my heart belongs to someone else. And you, you never talk to anyone or have a close friend. We’re both eighteen already, and I worry about you.”

“The He family used to be carpenters—they have savings. Auntie He is gentle and kind to both her daughters-in-law. All the girls in the village envy her.”

“He Jingshan is a soldier, strong and capable. Once he recovers, he’ll definitely be able to support a good life. Anyone who marries him won’t suffer. I just think… with such a good match, it’s better to keep it in the family. Don’t you agree?”

Here it comes.

Jiang Henián nearly laughed. If that incident this afternoon hadn’t happened, she might have gone along with it.

But now?

Absolutely not.

Just the thought of that familiar face lying in the He family’s straw hut made her panic.

She’d have to be insane to walk into that again.

“I think,” Jiang Henián said calmly,
“Since the water’s so sweet, you should drink it.”

She tossed in the last handful of pigweed, dusted off her hands, and turned to walk away—leaving Jiang Yanqiu standing there with a darkened expression.

That afternoon, while working, Jiang Yanqiu had run into He Jingshan’s mother. The woman had begged her to go check on him—just try, even if it was hopeless.

Then the He family’s old matriarch came too, saying,
“You’re his future wife—how can you ignore your man in his time of need? We already gave your family the bride price.”

They were cornering her—soft words and hard pressure both. Trying to force her to marry quickly for the sake of “blessing” him.

Jiang Yanqiu had barely managed to stall them. She thought she could get Jiang Henián to agree tonight with a few sweet words.

But this stubborn girl didn’t appreciate it at all!

Jiang Yanqiu clenched her fists and glared at Jiang Henián’s retreating figure.

Just wait. Once Father gives his approval—you’ll have no choice but to say yes!