Chapter 17

Liu Jinyun knew the real reason deep down. In the beginning, she didn’t like Jiang Ruan simply because she was dim-witted and ate too much.

Back when people were sent to the countryside, both of her sons were sent off first. When it was Jiang Jianchun’s turn, Liu Jinyun finally revealed the truth about the hospital incident from years ago and suggested falsifying Jiang Ruan’s age to send her to the countryside as well.

After that, they didn’t see her for almost a decade. Since she wasn’t their biological daughter, and Jiang Ruan wasn’t particularly filial—being foolish and clumsy—it was hard to feel any affection for her.

Especially when things took a turn. Jiang Ruan was supposed to marry into Director Liao’s family, the best match anyone could think of, but she refused. Fine, she didn’t want to be a stepmother, so Liu Jinyun found another good match for her. But Jiang Ruan, being a fool herself, didn’t want to marry someone equally foolish.

Jiang Ruan even hit Jianchun, causing her to experience complications with her pregnancy. She was still resting at home to recover from it.

Liu Jinyun had sprained her back while caring for Jianchun, and she believed that all the misfortune stemmed from Jiang Ruan, the bringer of bad luck.

And now Jiang Ruan was even stealing eggs from her employer, as well as from home. Liu Jinyun thought, Even if we returned her to her biological parents, no one could possibly like her.

No matter what, Liu Jinyun would never reveal Jiang Ruan’s true origins, especially if it would affect Qingqing’s future college entrance exams.

To her, all of Jiang Ruan’s problems stemmed from her poor character. What kind of child would dare talk about hitting their own mother? It was unthinkable, deserving divine punishment.

Liu Jinyun only thought about this in her heart and didn’t want to explain anything. “First, prove that she’s not a thief.”

“That’s easy to prove. May I ask, who bought the eggs, and where did they come from?”

The man who spoke was Jiang Ruan’s employer, Qin Zhengqing. He had a dignified presence and spoke with calm authority. Even the police thought he looked familiar, as though they had seen him on television before. His commanding aura silenced any objections.

The second daughter-in-law stepped forward with the last egg in her basket and said, “I bought the eggs from the supply and marketing cooperative. Free-range eggs cost seven cents each, and they’re small. This one is a farm-raised egg, larger and only six cents each. I bought the farm-raised ones.”

Qin Zhengqing cracked open one of the eggs Jiang Ruan had used. It was small with a reddish yolk. Then he cracked open the last farm-raised egg from the basket, which was larger with a paler yellow yolk. They were clearly not from the same batch.

Pointing to the two bowls of eggs, Qin Zhengqing said, “The result is obvious. The eggs she used didn’t come from your house. You didn’t listen to Jiang Ruan’s explanation and instead believed outside rumors, accusing her of stealing eggs from home without even seeking the truth. It’s heartbreaking. You have four children, yet you treat only one so unfairly. No matter what she does, it’s wrong. Is it really just because she eats too much or is too simple-minded? If this happened to you, wouldn’t you start to wonder if you were really your parents’ child?”

His reasoning was spot-on. Jiang Wanshan, the eldest brother, found the scholar’s analysis convincing. In disbelief, he asked, “Mom, could Ruanruan really not be your biological daughter? If she isn’t, then who is she, and where is my real sister?”

Liu Jinyun, both frightened and guilty, realized that her treatment of Jiang Ruan had led to suspicion.

Unwillingly, she lowered her head and admitted her mistake. “This child has always had a bad temper and never admits her faults. I’m just worried about Ruanruan, afraid that when her father and I pass away, no one will take care of her. Fine, if you say she didn’t steal the eggs, then she didn’t.”

During this verification process, Jiang Ruan had already finished preparing the handmade noodles, pouring rich bone broth over them. The aroma filled the room.

Having cleared her name, Jiang Ruan turned to Qin Zhengqing and asked, “Uncle, where did you leave Brother Qin Yan? Hurry up and bring him home.”

Qin Zhengqing was stunned. She had figured out that he had come with Qin Yan and knew Qin Yan was nearby. She was even urging him to leave.

Amused, he replied, “Your mother didn’t answer my question. How about you answer two of mine? First, how did you know Qin Yan was here? Second, after I helped you with such a big problem, are you not even going to invite me to stay for dinner?”

Jiang Ruan: “…You only just got home, so there’s no way you knew my address beforehand. And you’re wondering why it wasn’t Aunt Miao? If it were her, she would’ve come into the house with you. So it had to be Brother Qin Yan. Also, I just taught you how to cook dinner, so you must have eaten already. Why would I invite you for dinner when you wouldn’t even eat it?”

Qin Zhengqing: “…” She wasn’t stupid at all, but she didn’t understand social customs. She spoke with no pleasantries, yet her actions—like bathing Old Lady Huang and cooking noodles—were full of warmth.

She was truly like an angel who had fallen to earth.

After leaving, Qin Zhengqing picked up his son, and they caught a bus home. He needed help carrying the wheelchair on and off, and while his son still resisted strangers touching him or the wheelchair, he didn’t say anything. Qin Zhengqing realized how lucky they were to have found that strong, capable nanny.

As they rode home, he told his son about the chaos at the Jiang family courtyard and asked, “How did you guess there would be a fight at their house?”

Qin Yan replied, “Grandma’s been telling everyone that the nanny was stealing eggs. She even went to Jiang Ruan’s mom to try and get her fired. I knew there’d be arguments these past few days. We just happened to walk in on it.”

“Seeing the situation today, it really does look like Jiang Ruan isn’t their biological daughter. But if she isn’t, then why are her father and brothers still treating her so well? They don’t seem to know.”

“Dad, you’re overthinking it. Whoever treats her poorly is the one who probably knows she isn’t their biological child. For now, it looks like her sister and her mother know.”

Back at the Jiang house, after eating her bone broth noodles with Old Lady Huang, Jiang Ruan locked the door and went to bed early. Jiang Baomin came home from a wedding banquet, carrying leftover food, and saw the makeshift dinner on the table.

“Why are you eating so late?”

Liu Jinyun, still upset from earlier, snapped, “I was going to make egg noodles, but Jiang Ruan stole the eggs, so we had to make do.”

“Mom, they’ve already proven that the eggs Jiang Ruan ate weren’t from home. Why are you still accusing her?”

“Then where did the twenty eggs go?”

Jiang Wanshan began to feel sorry for his little sister. His mother’s attitude was so deeply ingrained that it made him wonder, Could she really not be our biological sister?

That couldn’t be. If she wasn’t their biological child, how could the family have gone so many years without knowing?

“What’s this about eggs?” Jiang Baomin asked in confusion.

His elder brother explained the egg fiasco from earlier in the evening, and Jiang Baomin stomped his foot in anger. “Those twenty eggs—I took them this morning as a gift for the wedding! Liu Jinyun, you better explain yourself today. Is Ruanruan really our biological daughter?”

“How could she not be?”

Liu Jinyun broke down, crying hysterically. “I gave birth to her in the hospital. You were the one who picked me up when I was discharged. If she weren’t our biological daughter, would I have stolen someone else’s? Think about it. There’s no way the hospital could have made a mistake. Why would I abandon my own child and take someone else’s?”

Jiang Ruan didn’t care whether she was biologically related or not. Hearing the arguments between the Jiang family, she sighed to Old Lady Huang, “If I’m not their biological child, then that’s great! I wouldn’t have to hand over 25 yuan every month. I could buy so many delicious things with that money.”

Old Lady Huang felt both heartache and amusement. “You really have a carefree heart, don’t you?”

…

Old Lady Huang had no children and lived on government welfare. She struggled to get by, and after an illness, her savings were depleted to the point where she couldn’t even afford groceries.

Thanks to Jiang Ruan’s care, within ten days, Old Lady Huang was back on her feet, able to cook and do laundry. People marveled at her good fortune, but in reality, Jiang Ruan had used her powers to heal her. Otherwise, it would have taken at least a month for Old Lady Huang to recover, but instead, she was back on her feet in just ten days.

Grandma Huang had just started walking again when Jiang Ruan’s aunt arrived, accompanied by a well-dressed couple. They explained that their grandfather had worked as a servant in this very courtyard before the revolution. It had been his lifelong wish to buy the courtyard and become its owner. Now that the family had made some money, they wanted to fulfill his dream by purchasing the courtyard.

This courtyard had originally belonged to Liu Jinyun’s parents and was inherited by both her and her brother. Her brother had married her husband’s sister, a sort of marriage exchange between the two families. Later, her brother and his wife moved into a house provided by his workplace, leaving the old, run-down courtyard behind.

Liu Jinyun never expected that the people interested in buying the courtyard were none other than Qingqing’s parents.

This complicated things. If they kept meeting like this, could the secret stay hidden?

Panicking, she hurried to discuss the situation with her eldest daughter. “Ruan Ruan’s biological parents have come to buy the courtyard. Ruan Ruan was at work today, but she still saw them. I’m really scared—should we come clean?”

“No way,” Jiang Jianchun replied, equally anxious but clear-headed. “If we reveal the truth now, it will only hurt my sister.”

“Mom, Qingqing has been pampered her whole life. Do you think she could adapt to our home? Besides, her college entrance exams are right around the corner. We can’t tell her now. Let her finish university and marry into a good family. Then we’ll find a way to reveal everything and minimize the damage.”

“And what about selling the courtyard? Your dad and two brothers want to sell it. With the money, they could buy a small house far from here. Your uncle and aunt have been wanting to sell for a while. If I refuse, they’ll think I have some hidden agenda.”

Jiang Jianchun thought for a moment. Selling the courtyard could actually work in their favor—if Jiang Ruan had no place to live, it would be easier to handle things. One thing was clear: Jiang Ruan needed to leave Beijing.

Now that the rest of the Jiang family was ready to sell, only Grandma Huang stood firm, refusing to sell her portion.

That morning, Jiang Ruan told Qin Yan about Qingqing’s parents wanting to buy the courtyard.

“Grandma Huang doesn’t want to sell, but Qingqing’s father said that if she agreed, she could live in her two rooms for the rest of her life, and they would even give her some money for her old age. It’s such a good offer, and I know she’s refusing because she wants me to have a place to stay. Brother, Grandma Huang has been so kind to me. I want to take care of her in her old age.”

“Don’t be so quick to get emotional,” Qin Yan replied.

In their previous life, Qingqing’s parents hadn’t bought any courtyard. This sudden change made him suspect that Mu Xuehui might be influencing them. Mu Xuehui manipulated Qingqing, and Qingqing, in turn, influenced her parents and brother. This chain of influence had led to this new attempt to buy the courtyard.

Even after being reborn, Mu Xuehui was still scheming, despite her previous plans failing. She wanted to make sure the young nanny had nowhere to live.

Disgusted, Qin Yan’s anger flared. He had someone investigate and confirmed his suspicions.

The only decent member of Qingqing’s family was her older brother, Han Changfeng. Qin Yan called the local office and asked for him.

When the call connected, Qin Yan’s tone was cold. “It seems you haven’t kept your sister in check. She’s the one urging your parents to buy the courtyard where my nanny lives, isn’t she? Is this really about fulfilling your grandfather’s wish, or is it her petty desire to make sure my nanny has no place to stay? Tell her this: if your family does buy the place, I’ll simply have my nanny move into my house as a live-in helper. No matter how much money your family spends, it won’t satisfy her dirty little motives.”

Han Changfeng: “…”