The news about her period meant Jiang Shuya could only rest at home. She lay in bed, quietly looking at the books she had bought earlier. Tangtang wandered around the room looking for her treasures. Jiang Shuya had bought her a whole set of Kinder Surprise eggs and placed them in different places, letting her find them herself. The little pink dumpling, wearing a thick down jumpsuit, moved around like a penguin, searching and touching things in the three rooms upstairs.
A phone rang, and the caller said, "I can't go to the mall to pick up the goods today. Could you go there, or can Chen Lin help me?"
After informing her younger sister that she would be taking a day off, Jiang Shuya sighed: "Even if the King of Heaven himself urged me, it would be useless. This old lady is going to rest today no matter what."
Jiang Shuya heard a knock at the door downstairs. She glanced out the window and saw her second uncle, Huang Tao's father, standing there as her mother-in-law opened the door. He was carrying two ducks and a chicken. Her mother-in-law exchanged polite words with him but refused to accept the ducks and chicken. Her second uncle couldn't hear what she was saying, but he insisted on giving them to her. He had always been hard of hearing; it was said that when he was young, he fell into the river while fishing, damaging his eardrums. He was completely deaf in one ear, and the other ear was intermittently deaf. Huang Tao was often away from home... Every year during holidays, Huang Minghao would bring his second uncle cigarettes, alcohol, and various gifts to visit him. This time, when the illegal construction was being carried out, the second uncle sold almost all of the chickens and ducks he raised, just waiting to clear the space to build a house. However, Huang Tao completely ignored him. The second uncle could only find someone to add two rooms to the backyard. People have been inquiring about the private plot of land next to his house, wanting to buy it to build a house. The second uncle hesitated. Although he also wanted to build a house, he didn't have the money. He then thought of selling the land to save some money to find a wife for Huang Tao.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Shuya felt a pang of sadness. Such an honest and simple old man had given birth to such a beast in human clothing. She could finally understand why Huang Minghao could still go to visit his second uncle after beating Huang Tao so badly that he was crying and screaming. It seemed that he was also teaching Huang Tao a lesson on behalf of his second uncle.
The mother-in-law walked into the backyard carrying chickens and ducks, her face showing no joy. She kept muttering, "If it weren't for my Hao Hao frequently bringing things to visit you, would you be so kind as to send over these chickens and ducks?"
The whole of Xixia Village is now talking about how Huang Tao is wanted by the police, and that Jiang Shuya was the one who reported him. Even the old lady came to question her: "Xiaoya, what they're saying outside is true. You're the one who reported Huang Tao."
"It's just a rumor. How could I possibly have such great abilities?" Jiang Shuya denied.
The old woman sighed, "I thought so too. Huang Tao is too outrageous. You must not provoke him. He is not the same as your second uncle. He is ruthless and vicious. He has been stealing chickens and dogs since he was a child and has been messing around outside since he grew up. He even dared to lay a hand on his father. Hao Hao caught him a few times and couldn't bear it anymore, so he beat Huang Tao up badly, but it was no use. That kind of leopard can't change its spots. He still does whatever he wants and forgets the pain once the wound heals. Now he's a wanted criminal again. Your second uncle is hard of hearing now and can't hear what people are saying outside. When others look at him coldly, he thinks they want to buy his family's land."
Jiang Shuya asked with some concern, "There are flyers plastered everywhere outside, can't Second Uncle see them?"
The mother-in-law sneered, "He can only recognize photos; he can't read."
Jiang Shuya: A wave of sadness washed over her.
Just then, Zhang Xiaohui called from downstairs. Jiang Shuya's heart tightened, realizing that she hadn't seen her for three months.
She reached out and opened the window, poked her head out, and waved to her: "Sister Xiaohui, come on up, I'm home."
Grandma glanced down, rolled her eyes, then turned and picked up Tangtang, who was squatting on the ground engrossed in playing with a puzzle.
As soon as I picked her up, Tangtang pointed at the puzzle and cried out, "Ah! Ah!"
The mother-in-law shrugged, squatted down, picked up the remaining puzzle pieces, and muttered, "You're always saying you have no money, and when I ask you, you still say you have no money. What's the use of buying this junk? Isn't it money too? It's a waste of money, and what good does it do? Tangtang won't play with it for more than a few days before she gets bored. The house is full of toys, and all the money is wasted. We don't even have money to buy New Year's goods. Are you all blind? I wonder if these things can be eaten. During the New Year, all the markets and shops will be closed. I wonder what you'll eat. You'll all be starving!"
Jiang Shuya watched her finish speaking with a cold expression, then said, "Don't worry, your son will be back in a few days, he won't abandon you."
Seeing the message on her phone, a text from Huang Minghao yesterday, she hadn't replied, but she knew he was getting anxious. Jiang Shuya knew she had always been the passive one in their relationship, so her initiating the divorce was something Huang Minghao hadn't expected. In his eyes, marrying Jiang Shuya was a favor he'd received. Now that everyone knew Zhou Island was about to be demolished, and his wealth would soar, he assumed she would cling to him even tighter, never considering divorce. The reality, however, surprised him greatly. In the month since his return, although they had less contact, he clearly noticed Jiang Shuya's feelings for him were no longer the same. As a man in his prime, how could he not have noticed?
When the mother-in-law heard that her son would be back in a few days, she was overjoyed and relieved. She happily carried Tangtang downstairs, just in time to see Zhang Xiaohui coming. She quickly stopped smiling and ignored Zhang Xiaohui's polite greeting.
Zhang Xiaohui glanced back at her, walked into Jiang Shuya's bedroom, and went straight to the point: "Did you have a fight with your mother-in-law? She seems to be in a bad mood."
Jiang Shuya smiled and looked at the person carefully: "She's just like that, don't worry about her. How have you been lately, Sister Xiaohui?"
Zhang Xiaohui pursed her lips and nodded with a smile: "I've been doing well lately. Last time I came to your house to look for you, you weren't home. Later I heard you came back very late, so I didn't bother you. I've pruned the grapevines at my house, and you're not home during the day, so I didn't call you. Just now at the small shop by the bridge, Zhou Lan said she saw you, so I guessed you weren't out and must be home, so I came to bother you."
Jiang Shuya shook her head and said, "I was just joking. I never thought about growing grapes. The grapes on Jiang Island will be in their last season next year, so I won't be going there. You know, there are many things I'm not good at, and I can't do anything. Sometimes I really feel useless. You must have heard some rumors at the convenience store. If you want to know anything, you can just ask."
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