Chapter 42.1

Mu Xuehui was taken aback by Xun Li’s remark. She had been reborn and knew what had happened in her previous life, but the changes she made now could hardly be seen as some kind of foresight.

So, Xun Li had never truly believed her. Tears began to well up in Mu Xuehui’s eyes, she had been too naive, while Xun Li was ungrateful.

Even more troubling was that Xun Li had no prior connection with the chicken farm owner, Old Yang. His involvement was clearly aimed at her—what had she done to offend him?

Could it be that Xun Li still had feelings for his ex and suspected that she was the one who wrote the anonymous letter?

Cold sweat began to form on Mu Xuehui’s back, she absolutely could not bring up the letter.

Suppressing her grievances, she said, “It really was just a dream, If you don’t believe me, fine. Even if I dream of it again in the future, I won’t meddle anymore!”

…

Qin Yan had just finished military training, and Jiang Ruan went to pick him up, suggesting they go to Liang Yong’s barbecue stall. Since tomorrow was the weekend, Qin Yan could go home, meaning he didn’t have to return to the dormitory tonight.

Over the past month of training, Jiang Ruan and Liang Yong had told Qin Yan over the phone about what had happened.

Mu Xuehui’s braised chicken shop had been shut down. Rumor had it that she was planning to reopen as a pickled fish restaurant. Running a business could indeed make money, provided one had the capital and time to invest.

Mu Xuehui had received her first round of startup funds from her family, and now she was seeking a second. Her stepmother might not be willing to give it to her.

She was trying to get Xun Li to partner with her, but she had made a mistake from the start. The anonymous letter was a ticking time bomb, and if Xun Li ever found out it was from her, things would not end well for Mu Xuehui.

When they arrived at Liang Yong’s barbecue stall, Cheng Chunying was working her last shift. Tomorrow, her in-laws’ barbecue place was opening, and everyone knew about it. Qin Yan and Liang Yong didn’t comment, as they had expected this when they first decided to hire her.

Jiang Ruan had become familiar with Cheng Chunying from frequent visits to the stall and said, “Sister Ying, since it’s your last day, why don’t you join us for dinner tonight?”

Cheng Chunying smiled and replied, “No, I’ll finish my last shift properly. You all go ahead and eat.”

Jiang Ruan whispered to Qin Yan, “I heard some gossip saying that Chunying’s husband forbids her from taking medicine and forces her to sleep with him every night to have a child. Can sleeping together really make you have a baby? I’ve slept next to you, and did we have a baby?”

Qin Yan: … “Ignore such gossip from now on.”

Lu Zaiqiang had a strong possessive streak and was not the kind of man who could handle losing. He would never divorce Cheng Chunying unless she escaped. But even then, she was afraid he would retaliate against her family, so where could she go?

Qin Yan said, “There’s something you might not know—Xun Li has been arrested.”

He didn’t say it quietly, and Cheng Chunying, who was tidying up nearby, visibly flinched at the news.

Jiang Ruan actually had a good impression of Xun Li and asked hurriedly, “Why?”

Qin Yan picked out the bones from a grilled fish for Jiang Ruan, giving her the meat before explaining, “Someone reported that Xun Li was involved in criminal activities, including forcing down the price of aquatic products in Dawang Village. He’s been taken to the police station, and who knows how many years he’ll serve this time.”

There was a loud crash as Cheng Chunying accidentally broke a beer bottle while cleaning up, and Liang Yong went over to help as she repeatedly apologized.

Watching this, Jiang Ruan sighed, “Now Chunying will have to suffer for several more years.”

Qin Yan said, “What I’m worried about is your eel business. With Xun Li out of the picture, the Cheng family won’t have anything to fear, and they probably won’t let outsiders buy eels from the village.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll find a way,” Jiang Ruan said, but she couldn’t figure out who would have reported Xun Li.

In his previous life, there hadn’t been any reports against him. Although things were different in this life, the biggest change concerning Xun Li was Mu Xuehui’s involvement with him. After all, it was Mu Xuehui who had fallen from grace, so perhaps she was the one who reported him.

Qin Yan was also merely speculating and didn’t dare to jump to conclusions. He said, “Let’s wait and see. Xun Li can investigate it himself once he’s out.”

…

Qin Yan took Jiang Ruan home, bringing two pounds of raw lamb meat for Grandma Huang to make a delicious soup. While they chatted about amusing incidents during his military training, the warm and cheerful atmosphere of the spacious house made the Jiang family’s cold, dark home across the street seem even more dismal.

Liu Jinyun’s house used to be lively with her two sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren around. Her eldest daughter would visit every few days. Now that Han Qingqing had come back, Jiang Ruan had left, but it didn’t make Liu Jinyun any happier.

Her eldest son and daughter-in-law had moved out, her second son was practically living at his father-in-law’s, and her eldest daughter rarely visited because of her overbearing mother-in-law. The house was quiet now, with only her and Han Qingqing around.

Liu Jinyun envied others who had good sons-in-law and asked Han Qingqing, “Isn’t Shen Tianming done with military training? Why hasn’t he come to see you?”

Han Qingqing felt bitter but argued, “Training just ended today, he probably wants to visit his mother first.”

Liu Jinyun was dissatisfied with Shen Tianming. “He still doesn’t seem to put you first. If you hadn’t been switched at birth, Jiang Ruan would be engaged to Shen Tianming, and it would have been you sent to the countryside. When you returned to the city, you’d have ended up working as the Qin family’s little nanny, and now you’d be the one engaged to Qin Yan. I find Qin Yan annoying, but he certainly takes better care of his fiancée than Shen Tianming does of you.”

Han Qingqing felt shaken and couldn’t help glancing across the street, where she saw Jiang Ruan playfully asking Qin Yan to stay over.

Qin Yan came up with a plan, suggesting that Grandma Huang also stay over so that he could sleep on the floor, avoiding any gossip about them living together before marriage.

Jiang Ruan was so headstrong, and Qin Yan spoiled her so much. If it were her in Jiang Ruan’s place, she would definitely do a better job.

Forcing herself to stay focused, Han Qingqing said, “It was my eldest sister’s decision to switch us back then. I’ll accept whatever outcome there is now.”

Just then, Jiang Jianchun returned home with a slap mark on her face. She had been beaten again at her in-laws’ house.

Liu Jinyun was furious and prepared to confront her in-laws. “Did Grandma Dabao hit you again?”

Jiang Jianchun said in a hurt voice, “No, it was my ex-mother-in-law.”

“That old hag won’t let you see your child?”

“No.”

After her divorce from Kong Nianqing, their son stayed with his father. Jiang Jianchun sobbed, “Kong Nianqing is planning to remarry, and his new wife has never been married before. If they have another child, my son Chengcheng will be neglected, won’t he?”

When they divorced, Jiang Jianchun wanted to take their son, but the Kong family wouldn’t allow it, as she was at fault, and the child she was carrying wasn’t even Kong’s. So, custody was awarded to the Kong family.

Jiang Jianchun had demanded that Kong Nianqing not remarry until their son came of age.

That was her condition, but the Kong family never agreed. After all, she had quickly remarried into a family with two children of her own. Why shouldn’t Kong Nianqing be able to remarry?

But Liu Jinyun was utterly unreasonable in her favoritism. “Aren’t you afraid? I’ll have your brothers intervene. That wedding isn’t going to happen.”

Jiang Jianchun said, “Mom, tell my brothers that I only have one request: if Kong Nianqing is going to remarry, then give Chengcheng to me.”

Han Qingqing hesitated, “Eldest sister, I think Chengcheng would be better off with the Kong family. At the Liao household, there’s Dabao, Xiaobao, and their grandmother. I’m afraid Chengcheng would be mistreated. And you’re expecting another child soon, which would be a heavy burden.”

Liu Jinyun said, “A child is always better off with their mother. The more, the merrier. I raised four children, and your sister can manage just fine.”

…

Grandma Huang got up before dawn to prepare lamb stew. Qin Yan was awake, and a few minutes later, someone fell off the bed—Jiang Ruan rolled onto his sleeping mat, landing on top of him, then adjusted herself to a comfortable position.

Qin Yan’s pulse quickened, and he called out softly, “Jiang Ruan, wake up. Stop pretending to sleep.”

Jiang Ruan chuckled quietly. “I just wanted to hug you. I used to bathe you before, remember?”

Qin Yan’s voice was hoarse. “That’s different. Back then, you were just my nanny. Now you’re my girlfriend. Didn’t we agree that you can hug me as much as you want after we get married?”

“Alright then.”

Jiang Ruan got up and went out to help Grandma Huang prepare breakfast. They were having mutton soup with flatbread. Qin Yan went out to buy some flatbread and returned just in time to see Liu Jinyun storming back, furious.

Han Qingqing was in the courtyard, cooking breakfast in the makeshift kitchen, and asked, “What happened?”

Liu Jinyun cursed at her two sons, “Those two said they’re too ashamed to go to the Kong family and told me not to make a fuss. Married their wives and forgot their mother and sister. I should have just strangled them at birth!”

Han Qingqing also felt that preventing the Kong family wedding was unreasonable. “If they won’t go, then just forget it.”

“Forget it? Today is the Kong family’s engagement ceremony. Did you see the preparation? It’s even grander than when they married your sister. How dare they for a second marriage? Let’s go, you and me. We won’t let them enjoy this engagement in peace.”

Without even having breakfast, Han Qingqing was dragged along.

Grandma Huang seemed used to it and told Jiang Ruan, “Han Qingqing might turn out better if she were away from her mother.”

Qin Yan wasn’t certain what Liu Jinyun’s fate was in the previous life, but based on what he saw now, it probably wasn’t much better.

After breakfast, Qin Yan and Jiang Ruan went to the police station where Xun Li was being held. Jiang Ruan met with Xun Li and promised to arrange treatment for his mother until she recovered. Xun Li expressed his gratitude.

Qin Yan took the opportunity to see Xun Li’s anonymous report. The letter was written with a left hand, and he immediately recognized the handwriting as Mu Xuehui’s. It was indeed her who reported Xun Li, she wasn’t falsely accused.