6 006

◎The Sixth Day of the King of Scrolls◎

Jiang Wanzhou carefully maintained a distance, her eyes fixed on Lin Yu's back.

Lin Yu didn't walk fast, and he would stop from time to time to look around.

She followed Lin Yu through a series of narrow alleys, filled with the damp smell of earth and the faint scent of firewood smoke.

Finally, Lin Yu stopped in front of a dilapidated courtyard.

He reached out and pushed open the rickety wooden door, then went inside.

Jiang Wanzhou quickly hid in a corner and peeked out to observe.

The yard was piled with miscellaneous items.

However, despite the mess, the entire yard was cleaned up very well.

Jiang Wanzhou was engrossed in watching when she suddenly heard a fierce argument coming from the courtyard.

"I've told you so many times, the black market is a mixed bag of people, you're not allowed to go there again!"

This is the voice of an older woman, carrying an undeniable sternness.

Lin Yu hurriedly explained, "Grandma, I just went to help out. That lady is really nice, and her steamed buns are especially delicious. I'm sure a lot of people will buy them..."

"I don't care if she's safe or not. What if something happens to you? You almost got scammed last time, have you forgotten?" Grandma Lin Yu became more and more agitated as she spoke, and her voice rose a few decibels.

Lin Yu wanted to argue further: "Mom, this time it's really different. I was the one who gave her the idea to sell the steamed buns to the workers in the nearby factory, instead of doing anything else."

"You're still being stubborn! I think you've been bewitched by that woman. Maybe she's just deliberately getting close to you to take advantage of you!" Grandma Lin Yu clearly didn't believe Lin Yu's words, her tone filled with suspicion and anger.

Lin Yu stamped his feet anxiously: "Grandma, how could you say that about Sister Jiang? She's not that kind of person!"

"Fine, you dare to talk back! I'm going to teach you a lesson today and make you remember it!" With that, Grandma Lin Yu looked around for a tool to hit him and picked up a clothesline pole.

Jiang Wanzhou was extremely anxious as she listened from the corner. She never expected that she would cause Lin Yu so much trouble.

My initial doubts have faded.

She couldn't care less about anything else and quickly ran out from the corner, shouting as she ran, "Grandma, don't hit Lin Yu!"

Jiang Wanzhou rushed into the yard, stood in front of Lin Yu, and looked anxiously at Lin Yu's grandmother: "Grandma, please calm down and let me explain."

Grandma Lin was startled by Jiang Wanzhou's sudden appearance, and the clothesline in her hand stopped in mid-air.

She paused for a moment, noticing that Jiang Wanzhou's clothes were neat and made her look more like a city dweller than they did. She then frowned and said, "Girl, it's not that I'm targeting you on purpose, it's just that this black market is too dangerous, and Xiaoyu is too naive. I'm afraid he'll be taken advantage of and suffer losses."

Jiang Wanzhou nodded quickly: "Grandma, I understand your concerns. Don't worry, Lin Yu and I are really just helping each other out. We sell the steamed buns to workers in nearby factories, which is both safe and profitable. We won't go there. Lin Yu is a good kid. He just wants to supplement his family's income. He's been observing for a long time and only approached me to cooperate when he saw that I was a good fit."

Lin Yu chimed in, "Grandma, please believe me. Sister Jiang is really not a bad person. I just want to do some small business together to earn some money to supplement our family income."

Grandma Lin Yu looked at the two sincere children in front of her, and the expression on her face gradually softened.

She sighed and put down the clothesline pole: "Sigh, I was worried about Xiaoyu getting into trouble. Since you're all doing this to make money and have a safe way to do it, I won't stop you."

Jiang Wanzhou quickly said, "Xiaoyu, you must tell your grandma before doing anything in the future, so that she won't worry anymore."

Seeing that his grandmother had relented, Lin Yu immediately smiled and said, "Sister, I understand. I will definitely tell Grandma everything from now on."

Jiang Wanzhou also breathed a sigh of relief and said to Grandma Lin Yu with a smile, "Don't worry, I won't let him do it if there's any danger."

Grandma Lin Yu was amused by Jiang Wanzhou's words: "You girl, you're quite the talker. What isn't dangerous? But if you don't do it, you can't survive."

Jiang Wanzhou glanced at the sky and saw that it was getting late, so she got up to say goodbye: "Grandma, Lin Yu, I should go back now, otherwise my family will worry."

Grandma Lin Yu quickly got up to see him off, saying, "Be careful on the road."

Lin Yu also said, "Sister Jiang, I'll let you know as soon as I find out the specific details about the factory."

"Okay, my family lives in the Hongxing Brigade, the one near the end of the village."

Jiang Wanzhou nodded and walked home with the basket in her hand.

She was in a particularly good mood throughout the journey.

Jiang Wanzhou walked briskly home, humming a little tune. She found the oxcart at the edge of town and paid one cent.

The sunlight felt warm on my skin, and it was as if the air itself was filled with the scent of hope.

However, when she turned the last corner and saw a crowd gathered in front of her house, her heart skipped a beat.

She quickened her pace and squeezed into the crowd.

Jiang's mother was holding her second aunt's hand, smiling obsequiously as she spoke, her fawning manner utterly repulsive.

The second aunt looked smug, her eyes glancing at Shen Xinglian's arms every now and then.

Shen Xinglian held her infant son tightly, her eyes filled with vigilance and anger, and she was even holding a kitchen knife in her hand.

Hearing the people around me talking one after another, I knew what was going on.

Jiang's mother wanted to give Shen Xinglian's child to her second aunt's daughter, who had been married for four years but had no children.

Jiang Wanzhou felt a surge of heat rush to her head. She rushed to Shen Xinglian's side, exchanged a glance with her, and a resolute look flashed in both of their eyes.

She took a deep breath and said loudly, "Mom, Second Aunt, what are you doing? Why are you giving my eldest brother's child up for adoption?"

When Jiang's mother saw Jiang Wanzhou return, her expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her harsh look: "Wanzhou, what do you know? This child is just a burden to our family. Your second aunt's family is well-off, and the child will definitely enjoy a better life there. I'm doing this for his own good."

The second aunt chimed in sarcastically, "That's right, Wanzhou. Your cousin-in-law really loves children. If you leave him with me, I guarantee he'll live a life of luxury, much better than you poor folks."

Jiang Wanzhou sneered, staring intently at her second aunt: "Really like it? Last time you came to our house, you saw some nice things and your eyes lit up. You wanted to take them all. Now you say you like children? Who believes that? You just want to steal the children away."

Auntie's face turned red with embarrassment at Jiang Wanzhou's words. She pointed at Jiang Wanzhou angrily and said, "You brat, how can you talk like that? I'm your elder, is this how you talk to your elder? You have no manners at all."

Jiang Wanzhou glared at her second aunt without fear: "Elder? Do you deserve to be called an elder? You've used any means necessary for your own benefit, and you even tried to steal my brother's child. You're not worthy of being called an elder at all. If you dare to cause any more trouble, don't blame me for being impolite."

Seeing Jiang Wanzhou's stubbornness, Jiang's mother flew into a rage: "Wanzhou, don't be so unreasonable. I'm doing this for the good of the family, and your second aunt is also doing it out of kindness. Your brother has also agreed, but you insist on protecting this child. You'll regret it later."

Jiang Wanzhou looked at her mother, her eyes filled with disappointment and anger: "Mom, how could you be so confused and heartless? The child is part of our family, how could my brother agree to this?"

Shen Xinglian couldn't help but speak up at this moment, her voice trembling with tears: "Mom, Wanzhou is right. I would rather starve to death than give the child away to someone else. If you keep pressuring me, I will take the child and leave this family, and never come back."

Seeing that Shen Xinglian was equally resolute, Jiang's mother not only failed to reflect on her own behavior but became even more unreasonable: "Leave? My son has no chance of advancement if he marries a jinx like you! If you leave, my son can marry someone better!"

"Whether you want to stay or not, I'm still in charge of this family. This child must be sent away today."

As she spoke, she rushed forward and tried to snatch the child.

Shen Xinglian held the child tightly, dodged to the side, brandished the kitchen knife in her hand, and shouted loudly, "Anyone who dares to take my child, I'll fight them to the death."

Seeing this, Jiang Wanzhou quickly stepped in front of Shen Xinglian and glared angrily at her mother: "Mom, please stop being so stubborn. If you continue like this, I'll leave too. From now on, we'll live our own lives and not interfere with each other."

Jiang's mother paused for a moment: "You're leaving too? What do you mean?"

"We're splitting up the family property. My older brother and I are both going our separate ways. My sister-in-law is still in her postpartum period, and my older brother isn't home. Who will take care of them?"

Upon hearing the words "separate the family," Jiang's mother's eyes widened instantly, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world: "Separate the family? What nonsense are you talking about? How can this family be divided? You brat, you think you're all grown up now, daring to mention separating the family to me. Let me tell you, no way."

Looking at her mother's unreasonable expression, Jiang Wanzhou was filled with determination: "Mom, I'm not talking nonsense. I'm all grown up now, I can tell right from wrong. You only like my second brother, and you can't stand to see my eldest brother and I living a good life, right? After we separate the family, we can take responsibility for ourselves and take care of ourselves, which will save you some trouble. If you don't agree, we'll go to the brigade and ask the cadres to mediate."

Shen Xinglian nodded in agreement: "Mom, Wanzhou is right. Separating the family is better for all of us. I will do my best to raise the child and won't cause you any trouble."

Jiang's mother was both angry and annoyed, but she also knew that she was in the wrong.

She was silent for a moment, then said fiercely, "Fine, you're splitting up, huh? Then you can forget about getting a single penny from me, and don't even think about stepping into this house again."

Jiang Wanzhou looked coldly at her mother: "Mom, the division of the family property needs to be notarized, and we can't lose a single one of those who are owed to us."

"Sister-in-law Hu, please ask the brigade leader and Uncle Jiang to come."

Sister-in-law Hu nodded quickly.

When the second aunt saw that things weren't going as she had expected, she flew into a rage: "You...you're all crazy! You're such ungrateful wretches, and this child isn't any better. I don't want him anymore. Sister-in-law, you've raised this child for nothing; he's completely siding with outsiders."

[Author's Note]

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