xixiacun
As December arrives in central Jiangdao, most houses are nearing completion. The former farmhouses have been replaced by two- or three-story buildings, some tall and some short. One house stands out: a glass room has been erected on the upper floor of the Jin family's house next to Zhang Xiaohui's. Such houses are usually standard features at subway stations, but now they are appearing on illegal buildings, which must have cost a lot.
Jiang Shuya couldn't help but stop and take a second look. These days, she's been leaving early and returning late, and Xixia Village has undergone some changes. The glass house upstairs in the Jin family's house stands out conspicuously in the sun. Old Mrs. Jin was chatting with the Ding family next door when she saw Jiang Shuya staring intently at her glass house and said, "Huang family's daughter-in-law, this house was built with money from my eldest daughter. It was very expensive, and your family can't afford it. There's no point in you looking at it."
Jiang Shuya was taken aback by his arrogant tone: "Oh, really? I just took a look out of curiosity. The material I saw on TV is used to make crystal coffins, which are worth millions. It looks a lot like this. It's a real shame that your daughter is using it to build a house."
"What are you saying, Huang family daughter-in-law?" Old Mrs. Ding shouted at her.
Jiang Shuya knew that this old lady Ding was always fawning over old lady Jin like a lackey, so she gave her a disdainful look: "Aunt Ding, what did I say? Do you want your family to build this house too?"
Old Mrs. Ding was so angry that she choked on her words. Old Mrs. Jin then said angrily, "What an ill-mannered woman from out of town! Talking nonsense at my doorstep first thing in the morning. If my daughter-in-law said such things, I would slap you twice."
Arguing with someone like that so early in the morning was pointless. Jiang Shuya hadn't expected that glancing at the house would cause trouble. She got on her bike and was about to leave when Old Mrs. Jin pulled her off the handlebars: "Did I say you could leave? Apologize to us." Old Mrs. Jin started arguing unreasonably.
Seeing that she was about the same age as her mother-in-law, Jiang Shuya's tantrum was even more intense than her mother-in-law's. Suddenly, she lowered her voice and said, "Why don't you call all the neighbors over? I'll apologize to you in person, first to you, the eldest wife of the Jin family, and then to the second mistress of the Jin family."
After saying that, she glanced at Old Lady Ding and said, "Stop saying this person is uncivilized and that person is ill-mannered all the time. You don't even mention the filthy things you've done, do you think others don't know? I heard that in my family's vineyard, there were people having an affair in the middle of the night. Do you want me to be more specific? It's in Old Man Li's house by the river outside the ditch in my backyard. You know, Old Man Li has been dead for several years, how come the house is still so clean? No one lives there usually, and he didn't have any descendants..."
Upon hearing this, Old Lady Jin's face contorted: "Shut up, shut up!"
Grandma Jin let go, her expression complex.
Jiang Shuya glanced at Ding Shi, who was still standing there motionless. Ding Shi was naturally well-maintained with fair skin. Although she was over fifty, she did not look her actual age. Standing next to Old Lady Jin, they looked like mother and daughter. Old Lady Jin had a face full of wrinkles and sallow skin. It was said that she was in poor health and had been ravaged by drugs for many years. Her hair was sparse and falling out, making her look very old.
Actually, their rumor was no secret. Most people in Xixia Village knew that when Jin's husband, Pan Jiaming, was young, he admired Ding. However, Pan's parents did not agree to let Ding into the family, believing that Ding would make their son unambitious. They would cling to their son all day long, and the two of them were inseparable, which the old-fashioned Pan couple could not accept.
Ever since their son met her, he took her everywhere he went, which infuriated the elderly couple. They took it upon themselves to find him a woman from a better-off family, surnamed Jin. Pan Jiaming couldn't go against his parents' wishes and had no choice but to marry Jin. Although they had a child, Pan Jiaming and Ding never broke off their affair. Jin gave birth to two daughters, but her health never recovered, and she was constantly plagued by illness. At this time, Ding became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When the Pan family heard about this, they insisted on taking the son back to raise. Jin knew that she could no longer have children, but she could only swallow her anger. She was often moody and took out her resentment on those around her. From then on, Pan Jiaming stopped going home and took the initiative to propose divorce to Jin several times, but Jin refused. Later, after Pan Jiaming's family settled in Jiangdao, they introduced Ding to their neighbor, Luo Dafa.
The Pan family wasn't originally from Jiangdao Island; they were from Xinhe Village, downstream across the river. One year, Xinhe Village's flood prevention along the riverbank was inadequate, and the area was flooded. The government relocated the villagers in batches to various places. Ding lived next door to Pan Jiaming. After marrying Luo Dafa, she gave birth to a son within two years, but her relationship with Pan Jiaming never stopped. Eventually, the news reached Luo Dafa's ears. He was wary, but since it was just a rumor, and Ding denied it, things seemed to have calmed down for less than two years. Then, while working in the fields, he witnessed their situation firsthand in his own vineyard. He heard that the two men had fought all the way from the field to their home, a truly spectacular sight. Even under these circumstances, Jin refused to divorce him and continued to endure the abuse. Over time, the entire Xixia Village looked down on her. In addition, her mood was unpredictable, she was tormented by illness, often lost her temper for no reason, and had an arrogant personality. People were even less willing to associate with her, avoiding her like the plague.
Since that incident was exposed, Luo Dafa has never been seen in Xixia Village again. It is said that he went to work in another place. Ding Shi is raising her son alone at home. Luo Dafa has not sent a penny or a letter. Some people say that the son is not Luo Dafa's, so he did not want to be taken advantage of. However, the boy looks more and more like Luo Dafa as he grows up. What is most puzzling is that Ding Shi spends all her time with Jin Shi. The two of them have become close friends. Some people say that Ding Shi is still with Pan Jiaming. There are even rumors that the three of them eat and sleep together. Ding Shi takes care of Jin Shi every day and helps her with chores. When Jin Shi is hospitalized, she goes to the hospital to stay with her. They really are like a family. The children also get along well. Soon, someone spread the strange rumor that Pan Jiaming has a first wife and a second wife.
Pan Jiaming originally had a respectable job as the deputy director of Jiangdao Water Conservancy Station. At that time, the station director, Huang Minghao, was about to retire, and Pan Jiaming was expected to succeed him as the next station director. However, due to competition for his job, he was reported, and the station made him retire early because of his improper personal behavior.
He was a very capable person. After retiring, he formed his own decoration team and led the team to work hard outside.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shuya felt a little annoyed. Every family has its own troubles, and she shouldn't have gossiped about others and brought up old stories. These were matters from a previous life, and she shouldn't be judging them. In any case, Jin Shi was a pitiful person from beginning to end. It was a fact that Jin Shi had always looked down on most people in the village since she was young. The current situation was also quite heartbreaking. But even the most arrogant person has a side that no one knows. This was not a secret, but it was her weakness. In the moment of her daze, Jiang Shuya awkwardly got on her bicycle and left Xixia Village.
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