The sky darkened as mist rose, and the usually dry northwest region finally welcomed spring rain.
The reddish-brown horse, its mane slightly damp, stopped in front of the Jiang family's gate.
Before the driver could remind him, Jiang Chengyuan jumped off the carriage shaft and rushed into the increasingly dense rain.
Jiang Chengfeng held up his oil-paper umbrella and called out several times but couldn't stop him, so he could only hurry after him.
Passing through the Jiang family's gate, walking along the main bluestone road, stepping on the cobblestone path, and finally stopping in front of the half-closed Yunxi Pavilion.
The calligraphy written by my grandfather back then is still carefully hung on the door plaque, but the familiar, burly figure can no longer be found.
It is said that one feels timid when near home and cowardly when near people.
Jiang Chengyuan didn't want to admit it, but his hesitant steps betrayed his true feelings.
He ran his long, slender fingers over the door, and finally gritted his teeth and pushed it open.
The sound of raindrops falling on the windowsill masked the sound of the door being pushed open. Inside, the candlelight flickered, and it seemed as if someone was moving around.
Jiang Chengyuan pictured his younger sister's mischievous and adorable appearance. Unlike the proper daughters of noble families, she was not well-behaved, but she was free-spirited and lively, with an unrestrained and agile nature.
He closed his eyes and spoke solemnly, “Little Ginger, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have stopped looking for you because I was angry with my grandmother. I shouldn’t have tried to make things worse. I shouldn’t have tried to be fair to everyone. I shouldn’t have forgotten that I have a younger sister suffering outside.”
“I always felt that everything was an accident, and I always thought that Cheng Huan had it tough too. I saw how she lived a life of fear and trembling, so I felt sorry for her and always wanted to take her side. I always thought she was innocent. I never thought that she had replaced everything you had. I always thought that the Jiang family could raise two girls, and I could have two younger sisters.”
"I didn't know... that everything you had was meticulously planned by someone else, that everything you had was stolen from you. What bullshit about fairness? Who is fair to my sister? Who can be fair?"
The torrential rain poured down, soaking Jiang Chengyuan's clothes and washing over his face, carrying with it hot tears that blended into the earth.
It is said that men do not easily shed tears, but it turns out that they have not yet reached the point of heartbreak.
The most poignant tears in this world can never escape the word "repentance".
But who can stand still and wait day after day?
"Jiang Sheng, I really know I was wrong. Can you forgive my brother? Can you... please don't ignore me?" Jiang Chengyuan choked up several times.
Jiang Chengfeng, standing behind him, was dumbfounded, not even noticing when the oil-paper umbrella had been blown away.
Two spirited scions of prominent families were reduced to drenched chickens in that instant.
Someone inside sighed deeply, and then the door opened, revealing Tan Yue's slender figure.
“Young Master, the young lady has already left.” She sighed softly. “You are a member of the Jiang family, and it is good that you are kind-hearted, but a man should be decisive and have a long-term vision.”
Some things cannot be forgiven simply by admitting mistakes, and some futures cannot be made perfect simply by calling someone "brother" or "sister."
Jiang Chengyuan seemed to understand but not quite, "Sister Tanyue, where did my sister go?"
"Go where she feels comfortable, go to the sky where she can roam freely," Tan Yue said softly, then closed the doors and windows.
The world fell silent again, with only the sound of rain pattering down, stinging a little on the skin, yet inexplicably comforting and pleasant.
Jiang Chengyuan finally understood that this half hour was worth seventeen years of his life.
Growth is always fast and silent, painful and hidden.
He staggered and turned around, stepping out of Yunqi Pavilion together with Jiang Chengfeng, who was still in shock.
Hurried footsteps came from afar, and someone appeared carrying an oil-paper umbrella, followed by a concerned maid, "Miss, slow down, slow down."
But the slender figure seemed not to hear, and despite her skirt being soaked, she shielded Jiang Chengyuan from the torrential rain, calling out again with concern, "Brother."
It was none other than Jiang Chenghuan, who had been bedridden for months.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Chengyuan took two steps back. "Use your own shelter from the rain."
"Where has my brother been these past three days? Has he been eating and drinking well?" Jiang Chenghuan asked with some worry and guilt. "I took the land deeds and gold that Mother had secretly kept, and I also gave her the most expensive jewelry as compensation, but Jiang Sheng didn't want it."
Jiang Chengyuan remained silent.
When the babies were switched, Jiang Chenghuan was just an infant and had no ability to take control, but there is no doubt that he took over Jiang Sheng's life.
The sibling bond they had shared for over a decade was real; he couldn't bring himself to hate his sister, but he also couldn't bring himself to be close to her anymore.
In fact, given that things have come to this point, Jiang Chengyuan could have been more astute and continued to play along, pretending to be deaf and blind, and burying his head in the sand.
Anyway, Jiang Sheng isn't close to him, which is better than losing everything.
But he is a member of the Jiang family.
Our ancestors not only taught us kindness, but also responsibility and accountability; that we should admit our mistakes and make amends for the harm we have caused.
Yu Jiangsheng, he is not a good older brother.
Yu Jiangchenghuan, he will no longer be a good older brother.
"Keep the jewelry; I'll make it up to her myself," Jiang Chengyuan said calmly. Before turning away, he didn't forget to take his own land deed and gold.
Jiang Chengfeng followed closely behind, sighing repeatedly.
They left without looking back, their demeanor cold and indifferent.
Jiang Chenghuan's eyes reddened again, and his heart ached as if something had been pulled out of his body. Those things he had once tried to hold onto tightly had ultimately slipped away in various ways.
The position of the legitimate daughter, the affection between siblings, the love between mother and daughter, honor and dignity, the future and life.
"Why?" she stammered. "What did I do wrong? I shouldn't have been here, right? I should have died, right?"
Xiaoqiao wiped away her tears, "Miss, don't talk nonsense. You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't bully Miss Jiang Sheng, you even had a big fight with Madam, and you delivered the land deed to the young master in the pouring rain. You really didn't do anything wrong."
No, that's wrong.
Perhaps her very existence is a mistake.
When her grandmother was indifferent, her brother avoided her, and outsiders mocked her, in the end, she only had her mother left.
All she had left was that motherly love.
Jiang Chenghuan turned around in a daze, his steps faltering and unsteady, resembling that of an old woman in her eighties.
On this rainy night, some are sad, some are sorrowful, some are nostalgic, and some are wistful.
Some people even sleep with their butts sticking out until dawn.
To be honest, Jiang Sheng wasn't picky about beds. In the past, she had slept in all sorts of places. Even having straw was considered good. The most comfortable places were the nooks and crannies. Occasionally, she could find a tattered piece of clothing to use as a mat. Most of the time, she could only curl up on the ground and had to be constantly vigilant, afraid that someone would come and kick her.
Over the years, she has traveled with her brothers throughout the Northeast and the West, from dormitory-style beds to bunk beds, but it hasn't affected her at all.
But when I actually lay back in my own little room, nestled in Aunt Zhang's arms, that feeling of peace was something no one else could give me.
Outside the window, the raindrops pattered rhythmically. Jiang Sheng was traveling in her dream, soaring through the sky and diving into the earth, capable of anything. She even rode in a strange iron box and rushed into the grassland in the blink of an eye to find her third brother feeding the sheep.
Huh, why is Third Brother feeding sheep?
Isn't he at war?
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