Chapter 21 Her Fourth Aunt Really Respects Her

“Beast, beast, no matter what, you’re still part of the Ming family—how can you be so cruel?”
“Heh, Uncle, what don’t they dare to do? Remember when Ming Hongdou beat me up just to scheme against me and ruin my reputation? Doesn’t that say enough?”

Pang Jianyuan fell silent. Beyond feeling sorry for Ming Leyao, he was filled with anger toward the old Ming family estate.
“I have to go to the commune and find the director, ask him when Ming Shi’s matter will have a definite answer.”

“Xiao Pang, for this matter, instead of looking for the director, you should come to me.”
“Huh?”

Pang Jianyuan had suspected that Old Man Cui wasn’t ordinary yesterday, but since Cui hadn’t said anything, and he hadn’t asked, he had forgotten about it. Now he hurried over, his dark face smiling obsequiously.
“Uncle, do you have some way? That old Ming family is just too wicked. If such a person becomes the team leader, I’m afraid no one in Shangjia Bridge team will have peace.”

“Isn’t it simple? I’ll write you a letter, you let my youngest son deliver it to the county chief. I guarantee this will be settled properly.”
“Really? That powerful?”

Old Man Cui looked proudly at Pang Jianyuan, his eyes seeming to say, “Do you doubt my ability?”
Heh heh heh… Pang Jianyuan naturally understood the meaning behind Cui’s look and laughed like a fool.

“Alright, alright, hurry up and handle it. Also take care of your eldest son’s matter while you’re at it.”
“Got it, Uncle.”

Old Man Cui handed the letter to Pang Jianyuan, who wasted no time and rushed home to bring his eldest son straight to the county public security bureau.

At home… Old Man Cui looked at Ming Leyao, who was looking even more radiant, and sighed.
“Girl, in life and work, keeping your principles is good, but being too soft-hearted will end up harming both yourself and others. Those who accomplish great things must be tough. Now that it’s come to this point, what matters is having that ruthless spirit.”

“I understand, Grandpa Cui,” Ming Leyao agreed readily, though inside the little devil in her was jumping for joy. The reason she hadn’t told Pang Jianyuan how to handle the matter was to test Old Man Cui’s attitude. If she was too ruthless, it might leave a bad impression and lose this backing. As the inheritor of a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, she had countless secret methods to get rid of Ming Yuehe without anyone noticing. Keeping up appearances was just to maintain her persona, since the original personality was timid and weak.

Meanwhile, at the old estate…
“Dad, do you really want to marry off that dead girl Ming Leyao to the official’s son?” Ming Shi looked up, his waxy face full of cruelty.
“What? If she’s so unwilling to marry, that’s her problem. Now I’ve thought of a way, and you’re reluctant?”

After all, it was his own child. He knew about Ming Yuehe’s little ambitions. She was unwilling to marry an idiot, but didn’t want Ming Leyao to just marry into the city. Hah, the mind of a woman—never straightforward.

“Dad, I just think, after spending so much on connections, why should that little bitch Ming Leyao get the benefits?” Thinking about Ming Leyao’s increasingly fair and bright smile, Ming Yuehe’s jealousy distorted her face.
“Well, why don’t you go then?”
“Dad, how about we send Ming Xiaojiang, the oldest at Fourth Uncle’s house?”
“You mean Ming Xiaojiang? She’s only sixteen this year. Would she agree?”
“Dad, Ming Xiaojiang’s long wanted to leave this family. If I tell her tomorrow it’s the official’s son and she’ll have a good life, she’d definitely agree. Then she’ll feel grateful and care for us more.”

Ming Shi thought about it and figured this wasn’t impossible. He didn’t want to give benefits to that little bastard, a thankless wolf. He recalled how he once confidently said that girl would have a hard life and come back begging for shelter, yet now she was thriving and even found him a job. This was his first personal defeat, and he hated it deeply.

Early morning, before dawn, Ming Leyao got up and started kneading dough for steamed buns. Li Fang had brought some homegrown chives last night. She cracked a few eggs and prepared buns and porridge. Today she was going to teach at school, not sure if she’d run into Fu Wencheng… huh? Why was she thinking of him??

A strange ripple stirred in Ming Leyao’s heart—an unfamiliar feeling she couldn’t quite explain but quickly suppressed.

Ming Leyao was quite skilled. That morning, Old Man Cui ate three buns in a row, shocking Ming Leyao and Old Lady Cui. After eating, they hurriedly had the dog follow the old man to stroll around the yard.

With her book in hand, Ming Leyao waved goodbye to Old Lady Cui and headed toward the grass shed. On the way, she was stopped by Fourth Uncle’s daughter, Ming Xiaojiang.

Thinking of how Fourth Uncle treated her well, Ming Leyao pulled Ming Xiaojiang aside and took a warm bun from her basket, stuffing it into her hand.
“Eat it quickly. Don’t let anyone see.”

The bun was originally for her own lunch, but Old Lady Cui had forced several into her basket, and she had been worried about how to eat them all…
“Sis… I…” Ming Xiaojiang looked at the plump, white bun and swallowed hard.
“Eat it. It’s from me. No need to be shy.”
“Ah.”

She gobbled it down, afraid someone would snatch it if she hesitated. This was a survival rule Ming Xiaojiang had developed after years living in the Ming family.

Seeing that she was a bit choking, Ming Leyao took out a water bottle and handed it to her.
“Here’s some warm water.”
“Thanks, sis.”

After drinking and swallowing the water, Ming Xiaojiang returned the bottle and then spoke her purpose for coming this time.
“Sis, do you really think Eldest Cousin is that kind-hearted? Introducing me to the official’s son?”
“What??” Ming Leyao was stunned.
“This morning she suddenly came to me like it was some huge favor. I have a feeling something’s wrong. My mom told me to come ask you.”

Her Fourth Aunt really did think highly of her…
“Xiaojiang, that official’s son is an idiot. I heard he got brain damaged from a fever when he was little. His mind isn’t quite right.”
“Is… is that so? Besides… besides that, is there anything else?”
“Xiaojiang?” Ming Leyao hadn’t expected that Ming Xiaojiang wasn’t bothered by this.

“Sis, Eldest Cousin said something right: I can marry into the city, still get to eat commercial grain, and most importantly… I can get out of this family…”

Ming Leyao understood then. She knew Ming Xiaojiang’s desire to escape the Ming family was engraved in her bones. If there was a chance, she would definitely seize it.

“Sis doesn’t know how to persuade you, but you’re only sixteen. Are you sure you’ve thought it through?”
“Sis… I don’t know either…”

Ming Xiaojiang was too young. This was obviously a trap, and she didn’t know if she should jump in just to get out of the family.
“What about Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt?”
“They… don’t agree.”

“Xiaojiang, I can’t give you a clear answer on this. You have to weigh the pros and cons yourself. This is definitely a good chance to get out of the family, but have you thought that you’re still young and haven’t seen much of the outside world? Do you really want to spend your life with someone whose mind isn’t fully sound?”
“I… I understand, sis.”

“No matter what you decide, sis will always be your strong backing.”

At worst, if Ming Xiaojiang really decides to marry him, Ming Leyao will see if there’s any way to cure the official’s son. It’s a bit difficult for her now, but she still had the Golden Lotus Pond water as a trump card, which she hoped would help.

“Oh, by the way, sis, tomorrow is Grandpa’s birthday, and the family wants you to come home for dinner.”

Oh? So they’re planning to push her to Ming Qing’s younger uncle’s foolish son, and now they’re pushing Ming Xiaojiang to the official’s son? Ming Shi and his daughter’s schemes were obvious from far away.

“Alright, got it.”

After saying goodbye to Ming Xiaojiang, Ming Leyao arrived at the grass hut. It was already full of kids, all looking at her with curious eyes, sitting upright. Only their sunken cheeks and waxy faces made Ming Leyao feel a bit sad inside.

“For the first class, shall we get to know each other?”
“Teacher, we’re all from the same team, we already know each other.”
“Teacher knows, but teacher doesn’t know you well. You should give teacher a chance to get to know you, right?”
“Yeah, teacher doesn’t really know us.”
“Exactly, exactly.”
“Teacher, my name is Wang Ye…”