“I understand,” Jin said gratefully to Jiang Nuan. “Uncle Qiushan and the others have a good relationship with Father, but they are not related to our family, so they can’t help us too much.”
“That’s right,” Xie agreed. “A little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment. If they all settle in the village, we’ll have a long time to get along. It’s better for both sides to draw a line from the beginning.”
“I understand,” Jin nodded seriously. “I suppose Uncle Qiushan and the others think the same way.”
Jiang Nuan originally planned to give each household two mu of land, but then she thought about it and decided against it.
Putting aside the fact that Manager Jin and his team are not short of money, even if they were, it wouldn't work.
Suddenly receiving such favors makes one feel inferior.
Jiang Nuan didn't think she was being too sensitive. On the contrary, she felt that Manager Jin and the others must be thinking the same way. Otherwise, they wouldn't be thinking about starting a business together to make money before they had even recovered.
"By the way, how's the Jin family doing lately?" After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Nuan still asked, "Have you heard anything about your mother?"
Upon hearing this, Jin paused, then awkwardly replied, "I haven't inquired, but I hope she's alright."
In fact, she knew she was just fooling herself.
Although the Jin family managed to save their home, it was completely ruined and left as an empty shell.
With Master Jin away from home, his half-brothers were unwilling to let their good days be ruined, and the whole family was in an uproar.
I heard that only the shop that Madam Jin brought with her dowry remains in the Jin family shop.
I heard that Zhuangzi sold all of his possessions.
I heard that all the houses have been sold, except for the ancestral home.
I heard that of the more than one hundred servants, only a dozen or so have been reduced to a single servant…
Having grown up in the Jin family, Jin was very knowledgeable about the affairs of the inner quarters. Even without inquiring, she could roughly guess that her mother had been sold.
Even though my father and older brother never admitted it.
"That's good."
Jiang Nuan could tell that Jin Shi didn't want to say more, so she didn't continue.
In a desolate place, Manager Jin looked at the new grave in front of him with a complicated expression.
"I never expected her to actually have the heart to commit suicide!"
Jin Yong was burning paper money when he heard this. His eyes reddened as he spoke, "It's normal for Mother to be unable to think straight after she severed ties with us and was rejected by the family."
Do you resent me?
Immediately, Jin Yong's face darkened, and after a long silence, he shook his head, "I don't resent it."
Mother abandoned us first; since she made that choice, we must accept it...
…even if the consequences are so severe that one has to pay with their life.
"That's good!"
After finishing his sentence, Manager Jin left with his hands behind his back, his departing figure exuding a sense of loneliness and desolation.
From what I imagined to how things turned out, one can only sigh at the unpredictability of life.
The next day, news of what happened in Xiaoxiezhuang arrived, causing Xie Shi, who was packing her things, to freeze in her tracks.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he ran to find Jiang Nuan and asked, "Mom, did you make this?"
You mean the Xie family?
"Yeah, I heard they're in a really bad situation; a lot of girls got dumped."
"Do you feel guilty?"
“A little, just a tiny bit,” Xie said sullenly, “It’s a bad marriage, really.”
“Don’t think so much. The Xie family has only themselves to blame for what they’ve done,” Jiang Nuan explained. “It has little to do with our family.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Xie asked in surprise, "Didn't Mother spread the news?"
“No,” Jiang Nuan paused, then explained, “The ten people we hired were just local thugs, people from all walks of life. And no one told them to keep it a secret, which is why the Xie family’s affairs spread everywhere.”
What Jiang Nuan didn't say was that before these people left, she specifically hinted that there was no need to keep it a secret, and even gave them an extra twenty copper coins.
Although these scoundrels did not engage in any productive work, they were all very clever, and they understood Jiang Nuan's meaning with just a glance.
He took people's money to solve their problems, and that very night, he told the news to busybodies, and it spread like wildfire overnight.
Originally, they were just a few scoundrels; they didn't have that much ability.
Unfortunately, some people have always wanted to forge a good relationship with the Huang family and have been stirring things up behind the scenes.
“I knew it,” Madam Xie said, lowering her eyes. “How did the Xie family suddenly fall apart? It’s just so pitiful for those sisters…”
“There’s no need to pity them,” Jiang Nuan interrupted her. “This matter is more beneficial than harmful to them. If the reputation of mistreating the girl gets out, countless people will be watching the Xie family’s every move. If they don’t want to be universally condemned, they should at least pretend to treat the girl well.”
As long as there are real benefits, it doesn't matter whether it's fake or not.
Everyone wants to pursue pure and flawless love, but perhaps Jiang Nuan is too dark, she feels it is unlikely to exist.
It was she who, in addition to familial affection, felt a sense of gratitude and guilt towards her sons and daughters-in-law.
“Indeed,” Madam Xie also understood, “If the Xie family had a brain, they should know what to do.”
But she was a little unsure.
I always felt that those people weren't very smart, especially the former clan leader, who seemed like an idiot.
It's okay to protect your own, but you should at least have a bottom line. As for him... well, it's a long story!
"Alright, keep packing. We'll be leaving soon. Don't overthink it. Everything's been taken care of, and your father's funeral arrangements have been arranged."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xie felt a pang of sadness and whispered, "Thank you, Mother."
"Stop being dramatic, I'm busy, I don't have time to comfort you."
"Mmm, no need to comfort me, don't cry."
"That's good," Jiang Nuan waved her hand helplessly, "You continue with your work, I'll go check on Mei Yu."
As they were talking, Meiyu slowly walked over.
“My benefactor, I’m afraid Meiyu won’t be able to come up the mountain with you.”
"Hmm? You don't want to go?"
“No,” Meiyu shook her head, “I have been bothering your household for a long time and am about to leave.”
"You're leaving?" Jiang Nuan was momentarily dazed.
Meiyu remained quiet and reserved at the mansion, only occasionally coming over to join in the fun.
During this period, I've come to understand a person better.
Although Meiyu is cunning and resourceful, she has principles and principles, and is not the kind of person who would wantonly hurt others.
“Meiyu will guard the graves of a thousand families,” she said with a forlorn expression. “I was not able to fulfill my filial duties to my parents while they were alive, nor have I been able to observe mourning for them after their deaths. Meiyu will spend the rest of her life guarding their graves to atone for my sins.”
With no hope of revenge, she didn't know who to resent.
Was it his own incompetence? The emperor's indifference? Or Li Fuzai's ruthlessness?
Each factor is present, but none are the most fatal.
When these three elements intertwine, destiny is created.
Their entire family ultimately became victims of the power struggle within the imperial court.
After hating and resenting, in the end, all that remained was the inability to accept it.
"Guarding a grave?" Jiang Nuan looked at her in surprise. "Isn't it a bit too much for a weak woman like you?"
“No,” Meiyu smiled gently, her whole being exuding a cool and aloof aura, the lingering languidness gone. “Building a hut on the side of the road and living a vegetarian diet for three years is something Meiyu has always wanted to do.”
It's something she owes too.
She was caught up in the ways of the world and had no choice in what she did; now, it was time for her to take action.
Upon hearing this, and thinking of Meiyu's background, Jiang Nuan couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl in front of her. "It's good that you have this intention. I imagine your parents wouldn't want their precious daughter to live such a hard life."
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