Chapter 15

But Cheng Xiaocao ignored her as well and instead went over to comfort Jiang Cheng.

•  

Meanwhile, the new male educated youth, Lu Shili, had also arrived at the village chief’s house.

“Village chief, I came to ask you about someone.”

Seeing that Lu Shili didn’t look like a troublemaker, Lin Jingguo asked him in a mild tone, “Who are you looking for?”

“Lu Zilan.”

The moment the name was spoken, Lin Jingguo fell into thought. It did sound familiar. Just then, Lin’s wife, Chen Guiying, who had come out from the kitchen after finishing her chores, let out an “Ah!”

“Isn’t that Jiang Tian’s mother?”

Suddenly, Lin Jingguo also realized, “That’s right, that’s Jiang Tian’s mother.”

Lu Shili hadn’t expected that his aunt was already married. Hearing the name “Jiang Tian,” he guessed it must be a girl—so that meant she was his cousin.

“Then, could you take me to see her?”

Looking at the excited educated youth, Lin Jingguo couldn’t help but ask with suspicion, “What’s your relation to them?”

Lu Shili had anticipated this question long ago. He pulled out an old black-and-white photo from his pocket. “Lu Zilan is my aunt. Look, isn’t this my aunt?”

Both Lin Jingguo and Chen Guiying leaned closer to look at the woman in the photo. “Yes, that’s her. That’s Lu Zilan.”

Chen Guiying sighed. “To be honest, if it weren’t for Jiang Tian looking so much like your aunt, I would have almost forgotten.”

Lu Shili, quick-witted, caught on immediately. “Auntie, does that mean my aunt…?”

Chen Guiying slowly explained, “Your aunt married the carpenter Jiang here in our village. Their marriage was good, but… but when Lan girl gave birth, she suffered massive bleeding and passed away. Fortunately, the daughter survived. But somehow, Jiang Tian was born simple-minded.

The carpenter tried every doctor he could find, but nothing worked. When Jiang Tian was about six or seven, her father went into the mountains and never came back, leaving her all alone.”

Lu Shili’s eyes turned red as he listened. Chen Guiying poured him a cup of water. “Don’t get too upset, I’m not done yet. When your cousin was around ten, she picked up a little boy somewhere and raised him as her younger brother.

The siblings managed fairly well. But since many in the village knew she was simple, they’d sometimes trick her out of food. Luckily, that boy was clever and very protective of your cousin.

Just a few days ago, your cousin got married. And no one expected it, but on the very first day of her marriage, she suddenly recovered.”

Lu Shili was shocked. “My cousin isn’t simple anymore?”

Lin Jingguo nodded. “That’s right. Though it’s not something we talk about openly, your cousin said she got better after eating ginseng from her family home.”

Lu Shili let out a breath of relief. If she had ginseng to eat, then life at home must not be too bad.

“Village chief, could you take me to see them? I just want to see how they’re doing.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

As they walked, Lin Jingguo gave him a simple rundown of the Jiang family’s situation. Carpenter Jiang had superb skills, so their life had been comfortable. They were the first in the village to build a brick house, and even had a tall courtyard wall. Over the years, the siblings never ran into major trouble.

And since Jiang Tian’s father had been kind to the villagers, everyone still remembered his kindness and treated the siblings with care.

When Lu Shili saw smoke rising from a chimney in the distance, his heart leapt. It seemed his cousin was doing quite well.

•  

At Jiang Tian’s house.

Jiang Tian was sewing clothes when she heard the door. She told Xiao Erduo to answer it.

“Village chief grandpa.”

“Mm, where’s your sister?”

“I’ll go get her.”

When Jiang Tian heard the village chief had come, she came out—only to find a male educated youth standing beside him. She assumed he was looking to rent a room from them.

“We don’t rent out.”

The moment Lu Shili saw Jiang Tian, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Not because of anything else, but because she looked so much like his aunt.

Lin Jingguo chuckled, “Jiang family girl, this educated youth isn’t here to rent a room.”

Jiang Tian studied him carefully. He looked every bit the type from a wealthy or well-off family.

“Then what are you here for?”

Lu Shili worried that being too forward might scare her, so he explained slowly, “Back then, our family was targeted, so your mother was forced to leave. Only recently has the family stabilized enough to go searching for her, but we couldn’t find her at the place she was sent.

Later, our family started asking around everywhere. In Heilongjiang province, we learned news of your mother, so my brothers and I split up to search. I happened to be assigned to this village as an educated youth, and only after asking the village chief did I realize I had stumbled right into the very place—and found you, the cousin we’ve been separated from for so long.”

Jiang Tian understood. She also remembered that in the original book, there was no such storyline about the cannon fodder’s family searching for relatives. Could it be that her transmigration had triggered new developments?

While she didn’t know exactly what had happened back then, it was clear that the cannon fodder’s mother wasn’t abandoned, but forced away by circumstance.

There was no reason to refuse this recognition. “Why don’t you come inside and sit?”

“Alright.”

Lin Jingguo gave his farewells and left, while Lu Shili followed Jiang Tian into the house.

Xie Chen, who was tending the fire, looked up and immediately noticed the man following behind. His eyes showed a trace of wariness.

He stood up and moved closer to Jiang Tian. “Tian Tian, who is this?”

Lu Shili also fixed his gaze on Xie Chen. This must be his cousin’s new husband. The man’s height was acceptable, but why was he so skinny—like a weakling?

Jiang Tian led him inside and also called in Xiao Erduo from the west room.

“This is Lu Shili, a relative from our mother’s side.”

Unfazed by their scrutiny, Lu Shili introduced himself in detail. “Your grandfather, Lu Zhenglin, was a general at the time of the founding of the nation, though he has since retired. Your grandmother is Cheng Yueqing. They had two sons and a daughter. Your eldest uncle, Lu Zicheng, is currently a deputy commander, and your aunt-in-law, Lin Ke, is the head of the military hospital. Your older cousin, Lu Shiyue, is a regimental commander.

Your second uncle—my father—Lu Zixin, was a professor at Peking University, but was sent down to the south. My mother, An Yue, went with him. I personally volunteered to be sent down and ended up here.”

Jiang Tian understood the Lu family’s situation well enough. Though not at the peak of glory, it was still a solid background.

At least her eldest uncle’s family was still doing well, and in another couple of years, her second uncle’s family would likely be able to return to the city.

After finishing his introduction, Lu Shili even cast a provocative glance at Xie Chen. How could his cousin, with such a good family background, be married to someone so frail?

Jiang Tian also gave her own introduction.

“This is my younger brother, Jiang Er, and this is my husband, Xie Chen.”