Chapter 17: Meeting the Parents

Jiang Liyun indeed didn’t show much concern for Jiang Lihai, considering that Jiang Lihai didn’t show much care for her either. In her previous life, when she had a dispute with Xie Zugen and stayed at her parents’ home for a few days, her sister-in-law expressed displeasure and indirectly suggested she leave. Jiang Lihai didn’t speak up for her either.

Unable to tolerate the mistreatment, she moved out.

However, her younger sister, Jiang Liru, continued to endure the mistreatment at home. If not for this, Jiang Liru wouldn’t have left home to work.

After graduating from junior high school, Jiang Liru didn’t find a job immediately due to poor health and the declining condition of Wu Xiaochun. Her family needed someone to take care of things, so she helped with household chores, took care of Wu Xiaochun, and assisted Jiang Lihai’s family in looking after the children.

Initially, her sister-in-law needed Jiang Liru to help with childcare, but once the children started attending kindergarten and didn’t require Jiang Liru’s assistance, the mistreatment began. Her sister-in-law started making offensive remarks.

Jiang Liyun didn’t believe that Jiang Lihai was unaware of this.

At that time, Jiang Lihai probably thought that his sister and mother were burdens to the family.

Of course, Jiang Lihai wasn’t completely heartless and later regretted his actions.

After the shock wore off, Jiang Lihai immediately spoke up: “Jiang Liyun, what nonsense are you talking about? If Feng Yi doesn’t work at the brick and tile factory, what will he eat, and where will he stay?”

“He’ll find a place to stay,” Jiang Liyun replied.

Jiang Liyun had initially wanted Feng Yi to continue working at the brick and tile factory, fearing that he would have nowhere to stay and also concerned about her own ability to earn money initially.

However, judging from Feng Yi’s performance, even if she couldn’t earn money right away, he would still be willing to follow her.

In that case, there was no need for Feng Yi to stay at the brick-and-tile factory.

As for where Feng Yi would stay…

Jiang Lamei might not have a significant presence in Miaotou Village, but the Jiang family had lived there for generations, and they were considered a prominent family in the village.

Although Feng Yi couldn’t stay with their family, arranging a place for him in the village wouldn’t be an issue.

Not every household in the village faced a housing shortage, and in recent years, some families had built new houses.

Upon hearing Jiang Liyun’s words, Jiang Lihai knew she had a plan.

Previously, he doubted whether Jiang Liyun could make money by selling food, but after tasting the dumplings she made today, he realized that Jiang Liyun might indeed be able to earn money.

His sister had always been capable.

Jiang Lihai couldn’t help but ask, “If Feng Yi doesn’t work here, what about me? Xie Zugen might trouble me!”

Jiang Liyun replied, “Brother, at most, he’ll cause you a little trouble. Don’t take it too seriously. Otherwise, why not join me in selling food at the stall?”

Without hesitation, Jiang Lihai said, “I won’t go!”

Working at the brick-and-tile factory was already embarrassing for him. Going to sell food would be even more humiliating. He refused.

“Well, I can’t force you,” Jiang Liyun responded.

She knew Jiang Lihai might face some difficulties at the factory, but it wouldn’t escalate into a serious problem. Many people in the factory shared the surname Jiang, and there were Jiangs in the leadership positions. If Jiang Lihai wasn’t as stubborn and went to the factory leaders with some money, he could potentially get a transfer to the transportation team.

Xie Zugen would likely cause minor troubles at most.

As they spoke, Feng Yi returned after taking a break.

He seemed to have not only taken a break but also washed up. His hair was wet, and he had changed his clothes, probably taking a quick bath.

“Let’s go back.” Jiang Liyun smiled at Feng Yi.

“Okay,” Feng Yi nodded.

On the way back, Jiang Liyun wanted to help carry one of the small iron pots, but Feng Yi refused. She didn’t insist, letting Feng Yi hold both pots as they walked home together.

“Feng Yi, I’m thinking of setting up a stall in town the day after tomorrow. I’ll be busy, so why don’t you resign from the brick and tile factory and come help me?” Jiang Liyun suggested.

Feng Yi didn’t hesitate and replied, “Sure!”

Jiang Liyun chuckled. “Aren’t you afraid of working for me for free?”

Feng Yi said, “I’ve said it before; even working for free is fine.”

Today, Jiang Liyun informed people that they were in a relationship. To Feng Yi, doing some unpaid work was nothing compared to that. A few days ago, when he was saved by Jiang Liyun from the trouble with Feng Laoda and Feng Lao’er, he hadn’t eaten for a long time, and he didn’t really want to live. Even later…

Feng Yi recalled a time when he had a severe fever. His mother thought it was normal for children to have a fever for a few days and didn’t take it seriously. It was Jiang Liyun who found him, carried him to see a barefoot doctor, and begged for help. The barefoot doctor gave him a shot and provided medicine to Jiang Liyun, who then carried him back home and let him sleep on a haystack.

In the middle of the night, he woke up to find Jiang Liyun sleeping on the straw besides him. At that moment, he wished Jiang Liyun was his mother, even though he understood it wasn’t possible for her to bear a child as old as him.

As these memories crossed his mind, Feng Yi couldn’t help but smile.

Observing Feng Yi’s occasional silly smiles, Jiang Liyun thought she could probably deceive him into working for her without pay, just to ensure he had a place to stay.

Deciding their plan, she suggested, “Alright, then you’ll work for me for free.”

Their plan was to save money to buy a house. This way, Feng Yi wouldn’t be left homeless.

When they reached home, Jiang Liyun planned to boil the pots and then go to town with Feng Yi to buy some flour and arrange for pork from the butcher. Tomorrow morning, they will start making pan-fried dumplings.

She wouldn’t set up a stall the next day, choosing to practice and make pan-fried dumplings for Feng Yi’s coworkers in the cement factory.

Thinking about Jiang Lihai, she felt a responsibility to ask for a favor from his coworkers to look after him.

Upon arriving home, she found her father, Wu Xiaochun, peeling soybeans at the entrance, and her brother, Jiang Qiezi, watering the vegetables in their family garden.

Due to the lack of rain in the past few days, the vegetables in their home garden didn’t look too healthy.

Reflecting on the weather, Jiang Liyun had prepared some rain protection equipment for herself. She spent a small amount of money to buy four paint buckets, inserted a bamboo stick in the middle, filled the sides with sand and cement, and, when the cement was partially dry, pulled out the bamboo stick.

This way, when the cement fully dried, it formed four bases where bamboo sticks could be inserted.

During the stall setup, she would insert the bamboo sticks into the bases, create a simple frame, and cover it with a large piece of plastic sheeting. By adding bricks around the edges, even during heavy rain, people inside would remain dry.

Of course, it could also serve as shade. Jiang Liyun was experienced in these matters from her previous life, where she faced the challenges of setting up a stall alone after her divorce while taking care of her child.

“Mom, Dad, I’m back,” Jiang Liyun greeted them with a smile.
Jiang Qiangzi smiled and remained silent, while Wu Xiaochun greeted Feng Yi: “Xiao Yi is here too; I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

She stood up to get a chair and pour a glass of water.

“Mom, you sit; no need to bother Feng Yi,” Jiang Liyun said, holding her back.

“Liyun, get a chair for Feng Yi,” Wu Xiaochun said.

Feng Yi, having set down the iron pot, quickly brought a chair for Jiang Liyun, saying, “I’ll do it myself.”

Though he said so, Feng Yi didn’t actually sit down.

He felt a bit uneasy now.

Regardless of why Jiang Liyun wanted to be in a relationship with him, she had said it!

Would Jiang Liyun’s parents be angry?

Feng Yi didn’t dare to sit.

Jiang Liyun had already taken a seat; she had been busy since early morning and felt tired.

“Liyun, why did you sit down?” Wu Xiaochun, feeling helpless, questioned. Guests don’t usually fetch chairs for their hosts.

Anticipating her mother’s thoughts, Jiang Liyun explained, “Mom, Feng Yi and I are dating.”

Wu Xiaochun was stunned.

Feng Yi, on the other hand, was thrilled.

On his way here, he couldn’t help but speculate if Jiang Liyun mentioned their relationship just because of some nonsense from Xie Zugen.

But now, Jiang Liyun has informed her parents!

Jiang Liyun looked at Feng Yi again and said, “Feng Yi, go help my dad water the plants.”

“Sure, sure.” Feng Yi happily left, his steps almost as if he could fly.

Seeing him go, Jiang Liyun said, “Mom, I really like Feng Yi and want to marry him.”

Wu Xiaochun became conflicted. “But, but… he doesn’t even have a house.”

“How is he any worse than the fool my sister married?” Jiang Liyun retorted.

“Don’t speak ill of your brother-in-law,” Wu Xiaochun sighed.

“Mom, I like someone like Feng Yi. Today at the cement factory, I told others we are dating,” Jiang Liyun asserted.

“But… but…” Wu Xiaochun struggled.

“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll live well,” Jiang Liyun reassured.

Young Wu Xiaochun was decisive; marrying Jiang Qiangzi was her own decision. However, with her health deteriorating, she felt guilty towards her children and gradually lost authority in their eyes.

“Where will you live in the future?” Wu Xiaochun asked.

“Mom, when I earn money, I’ll build a villa and live with you,” Jiang Liyun replied.

Building a house in the countryside wasn’t expensive, especially with low labour costs. Nowadays, villagers could construct a simple house for around 5,000 yuan. However, a high-quality house would be more costly.

Wu Xiaochun remained worried.

Jiang Liyun knew that no matter how much she said, it ultimately depended on how well she and Feng Yi would live together. After comforting Wu Xiaochun, she busied herself, gesturing at the two pots on the coal stove.

As she gestured, Jiang Liyun realised that the small single-eyed coal stove she had bought earlier was inadequate for the large pots.

They needed a larger, three-eyed coal stove. Ideally, a gas stove with adjustable heat would be best, but at this time, gas stoves were expensive, and so was liquefied gas.

Seeing that Feng Yi had already helped her father water the field, Jiang Liyun said, “Feng Yi, come with me to the town. I need to buy a larger coal stove.”

Feng Yi immediately joined Jiang Liyun.

She smiled, took out a bamboo pole from home, let him carry it, and then led him to the town.

They bought a coal stove, and Jiang Liyun also purchased fifty pounds of flour and some condiments.

As for pork… With the weather getting cooler, people usually slaughter pigs in the evening, wrapping the whole pig in a wet cloth to sell it at the market the next morning.

Jiang Liyun was aware of this and had arranged to pick up pork from a seller at seven or eight in the evening.

By the time they returned to the village, it was almost dark.

Jiang Liyun said, “Let’s go home first and have dinner. After that, I’ll take you to find a family to stay with.”

Their home only had two rooms for sleeping, but they could spread some straw in the dining room to manage sleeping arrangements.

If Feng Yi stayed with someone else, the accommodation conditions would probably be similar.

Although Jiang Liyun was not concerned about what people would say, Wu Xiaochun and others would care.

“Okay!” Feng Yi nodded.

He had been excited all day, willing to agree to anything Jiang Liyun said.

Jiang Liyun chuckled, reached out, and pinched Feng Yi’s earlobe, saying, “So obedient!”

Feng Yi froze again.

But Jiang Liyun felt a sense of enjoyment in teasing him; it was quite fun.