Chapter 87: Journey to the South of the Mountain (11)
"By the way, the old Zhao family at the east end of the village is gone."
"Old Zhao's family?" Jiang Ningyue was puzzled. Jiang Ni explained, "His daughter is called Zhao Rao. She has been to our house before."
"It seems... I have some impression."
Jiang Ningyue nodded.
Wang Zhen continued, "Then his wife ran away. He was left with only a lame old woman to take care of the children. It was so tragic."
"No one cares?"
"Who cares? Everyone is having a hard time."
"..." Jiang Ningyue frowned, "That Zhao Rao, what grade is she in now?"
"Sophomore year."
"Second year of high school?"
Jiang Ningyue stood up and said, "Sister, come with me to her house."
"Where are you going?" Wang Zhen was puzzled.
"I'll go take a look."
Jiang Ningyue said this and walked out. Jiang Ni stood up and hurriedly followed.
"Why is this kid so impetuous now?" Wang Zhen complained and continued working.
The two of them headed east, and Jiang Ni asked curiously, "Are you going to give her money?"
Jiang Ningyue frowned slightly, "Let's see, we have to make the child continue reading."
"Hmm..." Jiang Ni remained silent and didn't say anything.
The two walked eastward until they reached a hillside, where they found an adobe house at the foot of the mountain. Its walls were dilapidated, and its gate was old. Jiang Ningyue pushed the door open and walked in. Inside, a young girl, her face red from the cold, was chopping firewood with great effort, her hands red from the cold.
Hearing someone coming in, the girl raised her head and looked outside. The first thing she saw was the bright and beautiful Jiang Ningyue. She was out of tune with the shabby surroundings, and the girl felt a little ashamed of herself.
"Who are you looking for?"
Zhao Rao lowered her head and her voice sounded a little small.
Jiang Ni smiled and said, "Xiao Rao, don't you recognize me?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Zhao Rao raised her head, "Sister Ni'er."
"Yeah." Jiang Ni nodded, then pointed at Jiang Ningyue next to her, "What about her? Do you still know her?"
Zhao Rao bravely looked at Jiang Ningyue. The woman in front of her was even prettier than the actress on the poster. However, the more she looked at her, the more familiar she looked. "Sister Yueyue?"
"Hey." Jiang Ningyue smiled, stretched out her hand and pinched Zhao Rao's little face.
Zhao Rao was a little embarrassed, "My face is a little dirty."
"When did your father have the accident?"
"It won't work after the Chinese New Year this year."
Zhao Rao's tone was calm, as if she was telling someone else's story, or perhaps she had been asked about it too many times recently. "He passed away in April or May."
"What about your mother?"
"Mom said she was going out for a while, and she never came back."
"Oh." Jiang Ningyue nodded. This situation was not uncommon in the local area. In remote rural areas, when the pillar of the family fell, some women would choose to abandon their daughters and remarry. After all, life was indeed very difficult for a woman with a daughter.
"Hasn't the government said anything about your family's situation?"
"Yes." Zhao Rao nodded. "After the township leaders found out, they told my school, and the school waived my tuition and accommodation fees."
There is no high school in the countryside, only in the county. Naturally, you have to live in the dormitory if you go to school in the county.
"Oh." Jiang Ningyue nodded after hearing this. "Do you want to go to school?"
"I want to."
Zhao Rao stared at Jiang Ningyue, her eyes flashing with determination, "I want to pass the exam like my sister."
Before, Zhao Rao often heard others talk about Jiang Ningyue, the first college student in the village. Now that she saw Jiang Ningyue's transformation with her own eyes, she naturally became more determined to study hard.
"good."
Jiang Ningyue pulled out her wallet. She had taken out this cash specifically to deal with the problem of not being able to scan and pay in her hometown. She took out a wad of money, about two or three thousand, and without counting it carefully, handed it to Zhao Rao. "This is the scholarship my sister gave you. You just need to study hard."
"Thank you, sister."
Zhao Rao took the money and bowed to Jiang Ningyue.
At this age, he doesn't know how to refuse, and Zhao Rao really needs money.
Jiang Ningyue patted her head. "Life is so difficult. Break through these obstacles and you will be a more refined person. Come on."
"Um."
Zhao Rao looked at Jiang Ningyue, tears glistening in her eyes.
Jiang Ningyue and Jiang Ni left and returned home.
Wang Zhen was cooking at this time. Jiang Ningyue came over and asked, "What is this?"
"Rabbit stew with spareribs."
Jiang Ningyue: "..."
It wasted the quality steak I bought.
Jiang Ningyue resisted the urge to complain and took off her coat to help.
In the evening, when it was time for dinner, Jiang Su came back slowly, "Come here, girl, pour some for daddy!"
Jiang Ningyue unscrewed the bottle and poured a glass of wine for Jiang Su. Jiang Su took a sniff and shuddered, "Fragrant!"
Jiang Su is addicted to alcohol. Jiang Ningyue felt strange that he didn't drink at noon today.
In less than 20 minutes, Jiang Su drank half a bottle of wine.
Wang Zhen complained: "You can drink that much yourself."
Jiang Su laughed and said, "Hehe, this is good wine, I won't drink it with them."
Jiang Su looked at the bottle of Moutai and then at Jiang Ningyue. "Xiaoyue, you've really made it. Your mother and I have been discussing this. If you don't pass the exam this year, we'll let you return home and get married. We've even got a matchmaker this year. The son of a factory owner in the county is offering a 160,000 yuan betrothal gift."
Jiang Ningyue became furious when she heard this. This tone of voice that treated people like humans really made her uncomfortable.
Seeing Jiang Ningyue's face change, Wang Zhen quickly said, "Don't talk nonsense just because you drink a little."
"Who's talking nonsense?"
Jiang Su said loudly, "Aren't daughters just money-losing goods? Isn't it better to marry them off as soon as they grow up?"
Jiang Ningyue said slowly, "As you said, I'll give you 200,000 yuan, and you'll just leave me alone in the future."
"Nonsense!" Jiang Su cursed, "I'm your father!"
Jiang Ningyue sneered, she almost wanted to flip the table, "Don't act so arrogant, I won't buy it."
“Bang!”
Jiang Su slammed the table so hard that the cups fell over and the chopsticks dropped to the ground. He was filled with helplessness and rage.
Jiang Ningyue stood up immediately and said, "Smash it! Smash the house if you dare!"
After hearing this, Jiang Su raised the bottle of Moutai, but in the end he couldn't bear to smash it down.
Just when the whole family was on edge, there was a violent knock on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock! Lao Jiang! Are you home?!"
"I'm coming!" Wang Zhen patted Jiang Su and hurried out. Jiang Su stared at Jiang Ningyue with a cold face, and Jiang Ningyue looked at Jiang Su calmly and indifferently.
Jiang Su felt like he didn't recognize his daughter anymore. In the past, when he got angry, the whole family didn't dare to breathe. Now Jiang Ningyue dared to challenge him as soon as she started working.
"Hey, village chief, why are you here?"
"Hahaha, isn't this reporter Jiang back? The township leaders are very concerned. The township head personally brought some things to see reporter Jiang."
"Oh, Xiaoyue! She's at home."
When they entered the house, Jiang Su, who had been drunk, immediately sobered up a bit, and a bit more flattering appeared on his face, "Village Chief."
The village chief was the most senior official Jiang Su had ever met. Before this, he had never paid any attention to Jiang Su, but today, he shook hands with Jiang Su enthusiastically and said, "Comrade Jiang, you have a wonderful daughter!"
"Hehe." Jiang Su was not good at speaking and had never seen such a posture before, so he had no idea how to answer.
Compared to her family's enthusiastic response, Jiang Ningyue's reaction was rather indifferent. The village chief didn't think much of it. They were chatting and laughing with provincial leaders, so what was a small-time village chief like him?
"Reporter Jiang just came back today?"
"right."
While the township head and Jiang Ningyue were chatting awkwardly, the village chief pulled Jiang Su into the yard and asked in a low voice, "Old Jiang, I just heard it. Did you scold Xiaoyue again?"
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