Chapter 231 Great Joy and Great Sorrow
After eating and drinking to her heart's content, Jiang Ningyue left contentedly. The tourists were relatively rational. Apart from secretly taking photos of Jiang Ningyue, there were only a few brave enough to take photos with her.
After returning home, Jiang Ningyue lay on the bed and began to reply to WeChat messages.
When Jiang Ningyue replied to the WeChat message, she felt a little guilty. She had indeed been rather restless in the past few years. As a friend, she had to constantly check in on what earth-shattering events her good friend had been up to.
Jiang Ningyue got tired of replying and simply posted a message on her Moments: "I'm not hurt and I feel fine. Thank you all for your concern! (Bow)"
Afterwards, Jiang Ningyue started to answer the calls one by one.
I called my parents and sister first to reassure them. Then I called Li Chunyan, and finally, Gu Meng.
After chatting with Gu Meng until midnight, Jiang Ningyue fell asleep again.
This sudden heavy rainfall affected the northern part of Zhaoyang County. However, it is the rainy season now, and the entire Taozhou City is often hit by heavy rain.
In early August, the acceptance letter from Haizhou University arrived at Zhao Rao's home. Zhao Rao took a photo and sent it to Jiang Ningyue. She also went to Jiang Su's home. Jiang Su had been taking good care of Zhao Rao during this period. Zhao Rao had already regarded Jiang Su and Wang Zhen as family.
Jiang Su was very happy when he saw the admission letter. "Xiao Rao! You must study hard in college and become a contributing person like your sister Yue."
"Um."
Zhao Rao smiled and nodded.
Jiang Su said with a smile, "According to the rules here, if you get into university, the village has to hold a banquet! Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it."
Zhao Rao was stunned for a few seconds, then nodded. She then ran back home, took the money the county government had given her, and handed it to Jiang Su, "Uncle, this is all I have. You can do whatever you want with it."
Jiang Su waved his hand without even looking at her, saying, "If you call me uncle, I'll treat you as my own niece. How can I ask you for money? Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it."
On the day of the graduation banquet and buffet, Jiang Ningyue also returned to the village.
After the old lady of the Zhao family learned that her granddaughter had been admitted to a prestigious university, her spirits and energy improved. On the day of the buffet, she was supported by a middle-aged woman as she walked out.
Jiang Ningyue sat between Jiang Su and Wang Zhen, looking curiously at the middle-aged woman supporting Old Lady Zhao. "Who is this? Why haven't I seen her before?"
"Zhao Rao's aunt," Wang Zhen replied while cracking some melon seeds. "She came early this morning."
"Aunt?"
Jiang Ningyue was stunned. "She still has relatives? Zhao Rao has been so miserable these past two years, why hasn't her aunt come back?"
“I’ve been back before.”
Wang Zhen thought for a moment and said, "She came here when Zhao Rao's father passed away. She seems not to have come here since then."
Jiang Ningyue sighed, her face full of confusion.
Jiang Su sneered, "That's what they call, a daughter once married off is like spilled water."
“Tsk.”
Jiang Ningyue glanced at Jiang Su with dissatisfaction. Jiang Su realized that he had said the wrong thing, and immediately shrank his neck, picked up the wine glass, and went to drink with the person next to him.
Wang Zhen said with a click of his tongue: "This is because Zhao Rao has made great progress. This auntie quickly came over to establish a relationship with her."
Jiang Ningyue sighed, but did not continue to comment.
Although the living conditions of every household in Jiang Ningyue's village had improved compared to previous years, there were still many people who liked to snatch food from the banquet. Many plates were empty shortly after the meat was served. Sometimes, even before others were full, they'd already taken out plastic bags to fill their plates. Some even stole alcohol and drinks.
Fortunately, the people at Jiang Ningyue's table were all members of the village committee, who were considered prominent figures in the village and still had some dignity, so this situation did not occur.
After the banquet, many people sat and chatted at Zhao Rao's house.
Zhao Rao was the second college graduate in the village, and Jiang Ningyue's achievements were widely recognized. Many people believed that Zhao Rao, a college graduate, might become like Jiang Ningyue in the future, becoming a county leader and a national celebrity in her twenties.
It is too late to curry favor with Jiang Ningyue, as all the leaders in the township and county have to curry favor with her.
But it’s the right time to curry favor with Zhao Rao.
Zhao Rao clearly felt that the people around her were much kinder to her and more understanding.
However, the ups and downs of human relationships over the past two years have also made Zhao Rao understand what is real and what is fake.
That night, heavy rain fell in Chenmu County.
In the middle of the night, the gate of Jiang Ningyue's house was knocked. Dahuang, who was originally sleeping in the house, immediately stood up and barked non-stop.
Jiang Su walked to the door holding an umbrella and shouted, "Who is it? It's the middle of the night!"
Zhao Rao said anxiously: "Uncle, my grandma is dying!"
Jiang Su, who had been sleepy, woke up immediately. He opened the door and said to Zhao Rao, who was drenched by the rain, "Hurry home and carry your grandma on your back. I'll tell your sister Yue to get up and drive."
Jiang Su returned home and knocked on Jiang Ningyue's door, "Xiaoyue! Zhao Rao's grandmother is dying."
Jiang Ningyue had actually woken up when the dog barked, but she was half asleep and about to go back to sleep. When she heard Jiang Su's words, she immediately woke up. She got up, dressed, and walked out of the room. Da Huang wagged his tail at her, and Jiang Ningyue pointed at him and said, "Stay home!"
After saying that, he walked out of the house holding an umbrella, came to the yard, started the car, and drove to the door of Zhao Rao's house. When he arrived at the door, Jiang Su looked left and right and said anxiously: "This child, shouldn't I let her carry her grandmother out?"
Jiang Ningyue was stunned for a few seconds and turned off the car. "Maybe we don't need to go to the hospital."
“…” Jiang Su heard the crying mixed in with the rain and understood.
She had just celebrated her graduation banquet, which should have been the happiest day of Zhao Rao's life. However, her grandmother passed away that very night.
Jiang Su called the person in charge of funeral affairs in the village overnight, but it rained heavily at night and the road was difficult to travel, so he did not arrive until the next morning to set up the mourning hall.
Zhao Rao knelt on the ground in despair, her face a little dull.
Seeing Jiang Ningyue like this, she felt a little distressed. What a poor child.
Zhao Rao's aunt hadn't left yet. She knelt beside Zhao Rao and comforted her softly, "My daughter! You can live with me from now on. Don't worry, you won't be homeless."
Hearing her aunt's words, Zhao Rao's eyes lit up a bit. She raised her head and looked at her aunt, "Aunt, I'm an adult now and can take care of myself. Don't bother me."
Aunt Zhao was a little annoyed after hearing this. "How can you be so ignorant, child? I'm doing this for your own good."
Zhao Rao didn't answer and returned to her previous state.
At this moment, Zhao Rao was full of self-blame. Today she thought that her grandmother was happy and could come out to eat, which was a sign of recovery. She didn't expect that it was the last moment of her life.
Thinking of grandma holding Zhao Rao's hand and mumbling before she died: "I don't want to die yet, I still want to see Rao'er get married..."
Zhao Rao couldn't help but shed tears.
Poor grandma, she suffered all her life and never enjoyed a few days of happiness.
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