Chapter Sixty-Six: Resistance Suddenly Comes into Contact with the Younger Sister

Jiang's mother handed the bundle behind her to Jiang Zhi, and then took out a silver note from her bosom: "When you're out and about, don't neglect yourself; you must have all the necessary writing materials."

Although Jiang's mother was quite frugal, she never skimped on Jiang Zhi and Jiang Xuan's food, clothing, or daily necessities.

Nowadays, not just anyone can study. One must pass through layers of examinations to be eligible to enter the Wutong Academy. After being recommended by the Wutong Academy, one can go to the capital to take the imperial examination and perhaps even enter the palace to become an official.

If a family produces an official, it's considered a sign of great fortune from their ancestors, ensuring that future generations will also achieve success.

Only a dozen or so people from the surrounding villages could get into Wutong Academy; but the Jiang family had two who got in, increasing their chances of becoming officials in the capital.

When Jiang Zhi saw the number on the banknote, he was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

Jiang Xuan also noticed Jiang Zhi's unusual behavior and looked over to see a fifty-tael silver note. In this era of locust plagues and food shortages, fifty taels was a huge sum of money.

Looking at the large sum of money, Jiang Zhi's eyes turned bloodshot. He figured that everyone must have tightened their belts and saved every penny to save this money for him and his second brother. He also noticed how much weight his little sister had lost.

Jiang Zhi, who always doted on his younger sister, was deeply moved and choked up as he said, "Mother, my second brother and I will write books whenever we have time. Once we have accumulated a certain number, we will sell them to Wupinzhai. Don't worry about what my second brother and I have to eat or wear."

He took out a tael of silver from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Mi: "This is what I earned from writing this book over the past half month. I'm going to buy some new clothes for my little sister."

"Just take it, don't waste your breath; you won't starve without this little bit of silver." Mother Jiang said impatiently, insisting on stuffing the silver note into Jiang Zhi's arms.

I've recently had some extra money, and although I can't boast about it, that doesn't stop a mother from loving her child.

Jiang Xuan stared at the silver note with a gloomy look in her eyes, and didn't say anything from beginning to end.

Even if the Jiang family saved every penny and lived frugally, they might not be able to raise the huge sum of fifty taels of silver even after several months.

Their gazes fell on Jiang Mi, whose face was rosy. Although she had lost a lot of weight, her face was still rosy, her skin was healthy and fair, and her natural charm was something that even the young ladies of the town might not be able to match.

Thinking this way, Jiang Xuan became more and more certain that something big had happened in the Jiang family in the past few days.

Jiang Mi felt her second brother's intense gaze and found it quite unsettling. She gave an awkward laugh, her expression unnatural: "Second brother, why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

For some reason, she felt that her second brother's gaze had a kind of penetrating, soul-searching quality.

Caught red-handed, Jiang Xuan looked away and affectionately ruffled Jiang Mi's fluffy hair: "No, little sister is very pretty, I just wanted to take a few more glances."

Hearing her second brother say that, Jiang Mi still couldn't relax her tense emotions.

The second brother is meticulous and the most unassuming of the three brothers. He always appears gentle, but he has a lot of cunning.

Remembering how she was bullied by the children in the village, En Ge silently wiped her wounds and stopped his third brother from standing up for him; he had previously harbored some resentment towards his second brother, but now he was a coward when his sister was bullied.

To her surprise, the next day, the child who had bullied her had large patches of skin scraped off his forehead, wrists, and knees, looking particularly gruesome. If she hadn't gone with him that day out of concern, she probably would never have known that her usually gentle second brother was actually a two-faced person.

Even so, Jiang Mi did not harbor any resentment towards him; on the contrary, she became even closer to her brothers at home.

Seemingly noticing her younger sister's unusual behavior, Jiang Xuan smiled indulgently and said, "Don't be afraid."

Turning to look at his mother, who was chatting with Jiang Zhi, he asked, "Mother, has something happened at home recently?"

Jiang's mother didn't intend to hide anything and briefly described the ins and outs of what had happened during this period.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi was instantly enraged, his veins bulging, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "That old bastard, Village Chief Yang, is simply going too far!"

They actually dared to bully my little sister and drive away my parents while he was away.

Jiang Xuan's eyes were dark, and her thin lips were slightly pursed. It seemed that this Village Chief Yang could not be allowed to live.

And that woman who doesn't know what's good for her, since she won't listen to advice, she'll suffer the consequences.

Jiang Mi waved her hand dismissively: "My parents and I are living a very comfortable life in Hongyang Village. The villagers treat us very kindly. I think it's much better than Qingyun Village. Don't be angry, brothers."

She actually felt that she would be better off leaving Qingyun Village.

"Alright! Don't make a fuss. Your sister and I are going to buy some chickens and ducks later. If you have something to say, say it quickly." Mother Jiang said, sitting in the pavilion drinking sweet soup.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he cursed inwardly, "This damn weather, is it even meant to be lived in?"

Jiang Zhi glanced at his mother, then, like a thief, pulled Jiang Mi to a shady corner and began to mutter incessantly, as if he had just opened a floodgate.

Jiang Mi listened patiently to her third brother's story, a soft smile occasionally appearing on her face.

Seeing the harmonious scene, Jiang Xuan's lips curled slightly. She took a long stride and sat opposite her mother, her tone gentle: "Don't we have a few old hens at home? Why do you suddenly want to buy more?"

"Sigh." Mother Jiang sighed. She got angry when she talked about this. She gritted her teeth and said, "Chickens can suppress locust larvae and eggs. Some time ago, Honey found a lot of locust eggs and larvae in the fields. If this continues, the rice will be eaten up by those wretched things sooner or later."

If it weren't for Honey, she wouldn't have discovered this problem.

Thinking of her younger sister's bright eyes, Jiang Xuan smiled and said gently, "Since it's what my younger sister said, and it's good for the rice, then let's buy a few more chickens."

The two chatted about the interesting things that had happened at home recently, and Jiang Xuan got a clear understanding of the general course of events, including Huo Ran's matter.

"Has that man's mother investigated his background?" Jiang Xuan frowned slightly. He had approached his younger sister several times, so he probably had designs on her.

“That young master Huo is no ordinary person. We are just ordinary farmers and can’t find anything out. He’s a decent person.” Jiang’s mother had a fairly good impression of Huo Ran.

Of course, if Young Master Huo didn't flirt with her daughter so much, his impression of her might be better.

"No matter what that man's identity is, it's best to keep my little sister away from him; Mother wouldn't want her to get involved in the affairs of the inner palace, would she?" He and his third brother were studying away from home and had heard a little about the affairs of the inner palace; Huo Ran's origins were unknown, so it was best to keep him away from him.

Compared to marrying into the inner quarters and enjoying great wealth and status, he hoped his younger sister could live a peaceful and healthy life, free from illness and disaster.

Mother Jiang nodded thoughtfully: "That's natural."