"Alright, remember to bring another ten thousand bottles tomorrow," Li Shu said, turning eagerly to sell pickles.
This was all money, money galore. To miss out would be a true waste of heavenly gifts.
Jiang Qingqing watched Li Shu and the others bustling about, sighing with some emotion, "I never imagined our pickles would sell so well in Jiangcheng."
Selling by the truckload, it really wasn't any less than in Nancheng.
"That's because our taste is good. Come, I'll take you around, and we can do some sightseeing," Zhang Liunian thought that he would be leaving soon, so he decided to take his wife for a walk to revisit her hometown.
As he turned slightly, he saw Jiang Qingtian openly watching them from not too far away.
This person was probably his brother-in-law.
"Okay!" Jiang Qingqing would naturally not refuse, because this was her first time returning to the city since becoming a sent-down youth, and her first time back to her hometown. She couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.
"This new street was built after I went down to the countryside. There weren't many people then. But after a few years, its prosperity is no less than the old street. Truly, people and things change." Walking on the new street, Jiang Qingqing felt as if she had crossed into another lifetime.
Recalling the time she walked on this new street, it seemed to be when her parents forced her to go down to the countryside in place of her elder brother. Back then, walking along the street, she always felt alone and unsettled. Now, she no longer felt lonely, because at this moment, Zhang Liunian was by her side, she had a harbor, and she would never be alone again.
"How about we go see the old street? There must be many memories for you there," Zhang Liunian suggested proactively when he saw her mention the old street, thinking she might miss it.
However, the old street was very close to the Jiang family's home. If the Jiang family came out, they might encounter them.
Zhang Liunian didn't care and didn't pay much attention to the Jiang family.
But Jiang Qingqing didn't want any more contact with the Jiang family, nor did she want to meet them again. "Forget it, it doesn't matter if we see it or not. Everything in the past is past. Let's go back early. Shaohua is waiting to be fed."
Jiang Qingqing had been in Jiangcheng for a day and a night. She was very worried if her son would go hungry.
"Don't worry, I've already prepared milk powder at home. Auntie will make him milk powder when you're not here. We have time," Zhang Liunian said, his eyes sweeping over Jiang Qingtian.
"But..."
"Qingqing, is that your brother or your younger brother? He seems to have been following us all the way?" Zhang Liunian suddenly interrupted.
Jiang Qingqing paused and followed his gaze, indeed seeing her second brother, Jiang Qingtian.
"He's my second brother, Jiang Qingtian. Why is he here?" After her confusion, Jiang Qingqing thought of something. Her husband, today, because of her, didn't even figure out how many people were in her family...
"He looks much more pleasant than your eldest brother," Zhang Liunian glanced at Jiang Qingtian behind them and found him looking hesitant, wanting to come forward but afraid, which he found somewhat amusing.
"..." Jiang Qingqing remained silent. Regarding her second brother, she was actually unclear herself. When they were young, he was a quiet person, and she didn't interact with him much. However, if she thought about it, he was indeed one of the people in the family who didn't intentionally bully her.
Just as Jiang Qingqing was silent, Jiang Qingtian finally mustered the courage to walk over and speak, "Third sister, can you two come home with me? Dad asked me to call you. If you don't go, I can't go back either."
Jiang Qingqing looked steadily at her second brother and unconsciously leaned closer to Zhang Liunian. "I won't go back. You know my situation at home very well, brother. No one protects me, no one helps me. That home scares me."
Jiang Qingtian had already guessed that this might be the outcome. He opened his mouth to say something, but eventually, it turned into a sigh.
"You can go. Live well from now on." After saying this, Jiang Qingtian turned and left.
Jiang Qingqing watched his retreating figure, bit her lip, and suddenly called out, "Second brother, are you going home?"
Jiang Qingtian stopped, but did not look back. "I'll stay at the factory for half a month. When Dad forgets about this, I'll go back."
"..." Jiang Qingqing fell silent, then watched Jiang Qingtian disappear from her sight.
"If you're worried about him, we can help him." Whether it's financially or with effort, he could help this younger brother-in-law.
"No need." Jiang Qingqing shook her head and refused.
Zhang Liunian didn't know how complex Jiang Qingqing's feelings were at the moment. Only his broad chest could embrace her. "If something is bothering you, just say it. Don't worry, I'm here for everything."
Jiang Qingqing leaned into Zhang Liunian's embrace, giving a soft hum.
Just then, a man and a woman walked out of a jewelry store ahead. The woman's voice startled Zhang Liunian and the other two.
"The three golds are essential. This is respect for me," the speaker was none other than Su Jie, who was about to get married.
Just moments ago, she and the bald man were at the jewelry store picking out rings, necklaces, and earrings. As it turned out, the bald man found her choices too expensive and had a change of heart, reluctant to pay.
Su Jie felt embarrassed and said something to him. The bald man, angered, walked away directly, leading to the scene unfolding now.
"The ring must be 38 grams, the necklace 88 grams, and the earrings 68 grams. Are you picking such heavy items for pigs to wear?" The bald man wasn't marrying for the first time; this was his second marriage, so naturally, he was reluctant to spend too much money to marry.
Su Jie's face turned red upon hearing this, and she argued, "Can't I just like heavy things? If you're not satisfied with me, just say so. I, Su Jie, am not desperate for you." You are the pig, and your whole family are pigs! Saying she was picking for pigs to wear, it made her furious.
The bald man choked. He was actually quite satisfied with Su Jie because she was a high school graduate, an educated person, while he was illiterate. Therefore, he wanted to marry an educated new wife to have a cultured son.
"Then you don't need to pick those ugly things. The few I picked for you at first were very good, both beautiful and suitable for you."
Su Jie pouted. Those few items were as light as paper, not worth any money at all.
"When we were introduced, the matchmaker said you were easy to get along with and could manage a household. I believed him. I never expected you to be so stingy just looking at the three golds. If that's the case, I think we should just forget it. Let's not hold each other back." With that, she feigned indifference and turned to leave.
"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. Buy, buy, buy." Seeing Su Jie about to leave, the bald man panicked. He reached out and pulled her, agreeing.
Su Jie curled her lips upon hearing this, but just as she was feeling pleased, she met the sarcastic expressions of Zhang Liunian and Jiang Qingqing.
"Your performance was excellent, Su Jie. It's a waste of your talent not to have you acting." Jiang Qingqing looked at her former friend, now enemy, playing tricks on the bald man with her schemes, pushing Zhang Liunian away and laughing.
"Qingqing, you're back? Last time was a misunderstanding. I was only doing it for your own good." How could they meet at this time? What bad luck. Su Jie secretly cursed her poor luck and was already thinking about how to extricate herself.
"Misunderstanding? Don't be ridiculous. You were the one who said you wanted to be the woman for Liunian instead of me, and you said you'd help me take care of my son. I remember all those words clearly. What misunderstanding is there?" Jiang Qingqing walked towards Su Jie step by step. Although her body was frail, her aura was not weak.
Su Jie looked at the greatly changed Jiang Qingqing and felt incredibly panicked. Her body instinctively retreated two steps. When she realized her legs were moving back, she immediately stopped herself.
"I really didn't think that way. You must have misheard me. How could I possibly say such things? You've truly misunderstood me, Qingqing, sob sob..." Su Jie had no way to explain, so she covered her face with her hands and wept as she left.
But Zhang Liunian would not let her leave so easily. This woman had almost caused his wife's death. He wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully without sending her to prison.
"Where are you going? Prison is your rightful destination."