Chapter 39: Severing Mother-Son Relationship

This question was deafening, leaving Old Lady Jiang stunned in place: “Second Son, what did you just say? You want to return your life to me? Son, what kind of potion have those two little whores fed you to make you abandon your mother?”

As she spoke from her heartbreak, the old lady’s wrinkled face was streaked with tears: “Who do you think I’ve done all this for? If you want to blame someone, blame Lin Meiru for not being able to bear a son. You’re counting on your nephews to support you in the future, but poor mother has put in so much effort.”

The villagers around them sighed deeply.

Although there was much talk about women being able to hold up half the sky, in the minds of the older generation in the countryside, not having a son meant losing face.

It was precisely because they seized on the fact that the second branch had no sons that the first branch plotted against Jiang An’an’s marriage and shamelessly oppressed the second branch.

But both the first branch and the old lady were wrong, because Jiang Degui simply didn’t care. Once a person dies, it doesn’t matter whether someone breaks a bowl or not.

Thud!

He knelt on the ground, knocking his head three times: “Mother, this is the last time I’ll call you that; from now on, take good care of yourself.”

The sound of his kneeling echoed loudly in everyone’s hearts, like a slap on the old lady’s face, stinging painfully.

“You don’t recognize me as your mother anymore?” the old lady said, her face pale. “How, how could this happen?”

She had stormed in to make her second son divorce Lin Meiru and drive Jiang An’an out of the house, but it had turned into her son wanting to sever ties with her.

The old lady felt a dull pain in her heart, and her tears streamed even more: “Second Son, do you really not want your mother anymore?”

The onlooking villagers felt a mix of emotions.

The old lady had favored one son and lost the other!

But looking at the old lady’s gray hair, her hunched figure, and her expression of hurt and sorrow, they felt both that she deserved it and couldn’t help but sympathize with her. After all, how could a son born after ten months of pregnancy be so easily let go?

“Wang Hehua, aren’t you going to hurry and help your mother-in-law back home? It’s cold; the old woman can’t withstand it,” Luo Jiawang stepped out of the crowd, stopping this farce.

“Everyone else go home; otherwise, don’t expect to get any pork at the end of the year.”

Dividing the pork was a major headache at the end of the year, something everyone looked forward to all year long.

What could be more enticing than watching a show? The villagers didn’t dare delay and hurriedly left, as if there were ghosts chasing them from behind.

The aunt secretly resented the village head for meddling and hated the old lady for being useless, pinching her nose as she took her mother-in-law away.

Although she brought her mother-in-law home, she didn’t care for her at all and didn’t even change her clothes. She would be happy if the old lady caught a fever and died; that way, Lin Meiru would be the murderer.

The other sons were even more wooden and wouldn’t care about the old lady either.

So the old lady sat alone in the main room, dazed and wiping her tears, feeling cold in her body and even colder in her heart.

“Cousin.”

Jiang An’an quickly stepped forward and called out to Jiang Zhizhi, who was about to leave.

Jiang Zhizhi looked at her with a complicated expression, her attitude distant: “Is there something else you want?”

The atmosphere at home had been chaotic lately, all thanks to Jiang An’an. That said, it was also because her grandmother and parents had provoked her first, leading to their own downfall.

Facing her cousin, she felt extremely conflicted and couldn’t help but tighten her grip on her sleeves: “If you’re here to mock my family, there’s no need to; they’ve already been punished.”

“Cousin, you misunderstand,” Jiang An’an said as she handed over a jar, explaining, “Grandma is still wet; you should comfort her and help her change into dry clothes so she doesn’t catch a cold. This is brown sugar, and I need you to boil some ginger water with it.”

Jiang An’an wasn’t a good person; she was just aware that the old lady was getting on in years, and if something happened to her, even if her family was in the right, they would carry a lifetime of bad reputation.

“If Grandma accidentally catches a cold, just take her to the clinic and come to me for the money.”

Jiang Zhizhi pressed her lips together, feeling a wave of frustration in her chest: “Why are you pretending to be a good person now? When your mother impulsively threw a basin of water on Grandma just now, didn’t she remember how old she is?”

Jiang An’an: “…”

She didn’t know her own mother would be so fierce, suddenly coming out with a basin of water.

“Sorry.”

The deed was done, and now she could only try to remedy the situation.

Jiang Zhizhi scoffed: “To maintain a good reputation, Jiang An’an, your pretentiousness is really hypocritical.”

With that, she turned to leave, not even glancing at the jar of brown sugar.

“Ha.”

Jiang An’an lowered her eyes, feeling a bit of self-loathing as she thought: she was indeed hypocritical, deliberately saying this to Jiang Zhizhi, giving her brown sugar and offering to pay. If something really happened to the old lady, it would give her a chance to clear her name.

After all, what she learned most in her past life was how to scheme and manipulate.

–

The old lady was in good health this time and didn’t fall ill like the aunt had wished, but there was something that made her happy.

Rumors were flying around the village, and somehow it spread that Jiang An’an had been touched by delinquents. The purity of a young girl was ruined; how would she find a marriage partner in the future?

Jiang An’an had no idea what was happening in the village, and even if she did, she wouldn’t care; after all, the captain would definitely be more anxious than she was and would find a way to help clarify the rumors.

It was not yet eight o’clock when she arrived at the commune.

Unexpectedly, she encountered her first difficulty since her time travel.

The commune director, Chen Xingtong, scrutinized her several times and smiled, “Little Jiang, the commune hasn’t received any documents from above, and we didn’t have time to prepare a desk. I’m really sorry.”

Jiang An’an maintained her usual expression: “It’s okay; I’m only at the commune four days a week. I have to go to the county for a meeting on the other day, so just find any desk to put in the corner.”

Hmph! This little girl is deliberately provoking him.

Chen Xingtong smiled without sincerity: “Our commune secretary is also appointed by the county. Since you are all county officials, you must have many common topics to discuss. How about this: when he returns, I’ll arrange a workstation for you.”

With that, he lowered his gaze and picked up his teacup, clearly signaling her to leave.

Jiang An’an took the hint and closed the door as she left. She asked other staff members when the secretary would return from the county meeting and then requested a few commune documents before finding an office to wait.

She ended up staying there the entire morning.

When the loudspeaker at the nearby steel factory announced the end of work, Jiang An’an put down the documents and followed everyone to the cafeteria.

The commune had a dedicated small cafeteria where meals were served using grain and meat tickets, while the soup was free. Overall, the prices were much cheaper than those at outside restaurants.

Jiang An’an approached the window with a cheerful smile and pitifully asked, “Sister, I’m a staff member temporarily assigned from the county. It’s my first day at work, and I forgot to bring my lunch box. Could I borrow a large bowl?”

The cafeteria lady, in her fifties with a round face and yellowish-red skin, couldn’t help but feel delighted upon hearing the term “sister.” She looked up and felt a sudden brightness in front of her.

There was no denying that a pretty young girl stood out in a world of dull gray and black.

Moreover, she had the insight to call her “sister,” and given their age difference, she could probably have called her “aunt” instead.

“I’m not that young; just call me Aunt Hua. By the way, what’s your name? Which department do you work in? It’s impressive that you got a position in the county at such a young age.”

Jiang An’an readily changed her wording: “Aunt Hua, I’m from the Women’s Federation. From now on, I’ll be in charge of all matters related to women and children in Hongqi Commune.”