Chapter 30: Being Caught Off Guard by the Jia Family

Sixteen-year-old Ming Xiaojiang was completely unaware of the dog’s silent complaints and happily played with it. Although life at home was a bit hard now, no matter how tough it was, it was still much better than the nerve-wracking days at the old residence. At noon, Ming Leyao cooked some porridge and made a few coarse flour flatbreads, placing a small dish of the pickled vegetables Aunt Si had brought. She called Ming Xiaojiang over to eat breakfast.

“Sis, what’s this… rice porridge?” Ming Xiaojiang instinctively swallowed at the aroma of the fragrant white rice porridge. It had been a long time since she had eaten anything like this. Over the years, the only fine grains she had eaten were the white steamed buns Ming Leyao once gave her.

“There’s only me at home, so I switched to some fine grains. I also added some sweet potatoes in it. Try it.”

“Okay.” Ming Xiaojiang didn’t hesitate and sat down, holding the bowl seriously as she ate. However, in her heart, she was already thinking about how to repay Ming Leyao’s kindness.

“Sis, is there anything to do at home? I’m pretty good at work. I can help you.”

“What work is there? I’ve finished everything. You just help Aunt Si with some chores at home.”

“Then… if you have any work, be sure to tell me. Don’t be polite.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

In the afternoon, Ming Leyao went to school to teach the children literacy as planned. After class ended at three, she found the team leader and got a letter of introduction. Now it was much easier for her to go to the county town; she hardly needed to come up with any excuses, and Pang Jianyuan never asked questions.

Early the next morning, with the letter in hand, Ming Leyao headed to the county town to inquire about firewood and coal. According to her memory, winters in Shangjia Bridge were quite cold, and the stove needed to be kept burning all day for cooking and warmth, so they needed a good supply.

After asking many people, she finally found someone with connections in this area, but he immediately asked for a fifty-yuan introduction fee. Ming Leyao wasn’t short on money, but she wasn’t a fool either. Without hesitation, she turned and walked away, then headed to the black market.

The prices at the black market weren’t cheap either but were at least market rates, though quantities were limited.

“Can you still get some?” she asked.

“Well… it’s a bit difficult.”

“Alright, I can supply you with 500 jin of rice, 500 jin of white flour, and 100 jin of apples. I only accept coal in exchange.”

“You really have that much?” The black market boss was shocked, eyes wide. He had been in the black market business for years and had never seen such a large order.

“If I say it, I can deliver. Now, do you have the corresponding goods?”

“Yes…” The boss answered readily, not afraid of being proven wrong.

After confirming the transaction time and place, Ming Leyao went straight to the older gentleman’s house from before.

“Comrade, you finally came. Come in.” The old man warmly welcomed her, his eyes never leaving the backpack on Ming Leyao’s back.

“I have some grains and medicine for trade, want to exchange?”

“Trade, trade. I’m almost out of food. I’ve been wandering outside these past few days but haven’t seen you. I thought I was going to starve.”

Ming Leyao smiled but said nothing. She quickly set the backpack down for the old man to inspect.

“Oh? You even have fine grains?”

“Yes, more will arrive in a few days. Grandpa, please help me find some old items.”

“More big shipments? Great, great! Don’t worry, I’ll definitely not delay your business.”

Having arranged a time slightly earlier than the black market deal, Ming Leyao took a gold necklace, bracelet, and a few jade bangles and left the old man’s house. She then went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy two bags of salt, some kerosene, and a few pastries before returning home.

For lunch, she made something quick for herself and the dog, then locked the door and entered her space. The dog hadn’t been in for days and ran around excitedly. Ming Leyao gave herself a high-intensity training session, drank a bowl of Golden Lotus Pond water which cleansed and energized her body, and continued training.

She had never received formal martial arts training, only knowing a few basic moves from her past life. She could only improve her physical abilities and agility through such intense training to compensate for her shortcomings.

Her hard work paid off; her flexibility improved, her figure changed—curvy and toned with no extra fat, and her complexion returned to its usual fairness, making her irresistible. Looking at herself in the mirror, Ming Leyao was very pleased.

The only dissatisfaction was her clothes… they probably needed to be remade.

At the old residence, after Ming Shi’s arrest, everyone was scrambling to use connections, but his charges were too serious. Even the section chief couldn’t help him. The exhausted family was suddenly caught off guard by the Jia family.

One day, Jia Wei came with his wife and “foolish son” and, without much small talk, got straight to the point.

“Ming Shi’s incident has spread around the nearby teams. If Ming Yuehe doesn’t marry my son, I doubt anyone else dares to marry her. If you agree today, we’ll follow the normal marriage procedures. I’ll give 100 yuan as bride price, plus 100 jin of coarse grain and several yards of red cloth. If you disagree, next time when I come, the price won’t be this low.”

Rarely did the old lady speak so quietly. Even Qian Lai Di silently sat there.

Ming Yuehe saw this scene and felt colder than ever.

“I… I won’t marry that fool. I want to marry the section chief’s son. Grandma, please help me.”

The old lady knew well how good it was to marry into the section chief’s family, but since Ming Shi’s incident, the section chief had appeared once to warn the Ming family not to get too close, and then no more.

“Yuehe, things have come to this point, you should marry him. With this hundred yuan, maybe grandma can save your father. Then… then your father will make decisions for you.”

Jia Wei sneered at the old lady’s words. Did she really think he was stupid? Jia Wei didn’t say what he truly planned.

“No, no… grandma… grandma don’t…” Ming Yuehe was no longer the innocent little flower she used to be. Now she screamed like a madwoman in the hall. Yet, her thin arms couldn’t twist her grandmother’s thick thigh.

Finally, the two families set a date.

“When will you give the money?”

“When Ming Yuehe and my son get their marriage certificate, I’ll give the money.”

“Can’t you give the money first?”

“Give first? Letting you save Ming Shi first? In the end, my son gets nothing? Aunt, that’s a great idea, but it depends on whether we cooperate.”

The last shred of dignity was stripped away from the old lady, and she gave in, letting Jia Wei take Ming Yuehe away today.