Chapter 24 Clearing Up the Misunderstanding
Jiang Zhengyu is innocent! He didn't say anything!
"It wasn't me, Second Brother. I just told my sister to send some money over, I didn't say anything else."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhengxiao turned around and stared at Jiang Ruzhen curiously, asking, "How did you know that our parents and Xiaomin were sick?"
Jiang Zhengyu also stared at Jiang Ruzhen strangely. Fortunately, it was dark and he couldn't see the guilty look on Jiang Ruzhen's face. She grinned and said casually.
“When I first arrived in Jilin, I went to buy something to eat and happened to run into a group of people talking about the malaria that was prevalent in your village. That’s how I found out.”
"Oh, I see. That's quite a coincidence." Neither of the two older brothers doubted Jiang Ruzhen's words.
The three of them took care of the three patients together for more than half an hour, and saw that the fever of the three patients gradually subsided and their breathing became stable.
Jiang Zhengyu and Jiang Zhengxiao were finally able to relax completely.
They took Jiang Ruzhen's hand and led her to the entrance of the cowshed, carefully examining her by the moonlight.
Although Jiang Ruzhen has been using spiritual spring water and face masks to maintain her skin recently, she looks much younger than when she was first reborn.
But her eldest and second eldest brothers still saw her curly, yellow hair, the wrinkles on her forehead and around her eyes, her rough skin, and the calluses on her palms.
This is no longer the little princess they've carefully nurtured since she was a child. How could she have aged so much in just twelve years?
"Little sister, is your husband treating you badly? Why do you look so much older?" Jiang Zhengyu, the older brother, asked with concern.
"Yes, sister, when we were first sent down to the countryside, you were as delicate as a flower. How did you become like this?"
Jiang Zhengxiao and Jiang Ruzhen are about the same age and have been the closest of friends since childhood. He dotes on his only sister even more than his parents and older brother.
Seeing his younger sister's current state, he couldn't help but feel his eyes redden, and tears of heartache streamed down his face.
"I...eldest brother, second brother...your brother-in-law is long gone, gone twelve years ago..."
Overwhelmed with grief, Jiang Ruzhen unrestrainedly vented her pent-up emotions in front of her family, but dared not cry loudly, only covering her face and sobbing softly.
"What?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhengyu and Jiang Zhengxiao both stood up abruptly, staring in shock at Jiang Ruzhen, who was crying uncontrollably.
They hadn't heard from the girl for years, and they never expected to hear such horrifying news as soon as they met.
"So how did you get through all these years?" Jiang Zhengxiao felt as if a thousand ants were gnawing at his heart.
How did this young woman manage to raise four infants all by herself through all those difficult years?
He had initially harbored some resentment towards her for her neglect over the years, but that resentment had long since vanished, leaving only deep regret and affection.
Jiang Zhengyu was also shocked. He staggered a few times before regaining his balance and quickly put Jiang Ruzhen in his arms to ask her questions.
Jiang Ruzhen recounted her life over the years in a calm and brief manner, without any hint of complaining, but it made her two older brothers feel extremely bitter.
What kind of miserable life has that little sister, who loved to laugh since she was a child and was so delicate that she couldn't even peel an orange, been living all these years?
The two men crouched on the ground, clutching their heads in anguish, and remained silent for a long time.
"It's alright, eldest brother, second brother, all the hardships are over. The factory has already compensated me a lot of money, I have money now, and I don't have to live a hard life anymore."
Don't worry, your good days are coming soon. I specifically asked someone to inquire for you these past two days, and the policies from above are quite relaxed now. You might be able to return to the city soon.
"What? Really? We can go back to the city?"
Before the two older brothers could react, a surprised voice rang out from the wooden bed.
Jiang Ruzhen looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was her sister-in-law, who had woken up at some point and was sitting up looking at her with a face full of surprise.
"Yes, it's true. Sister-in-law, when I pass through Yangcheng on my way back this time, I'll go to the relevant departments to smooth things over and try to get you back as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, the eldest and second eldest brothers quickly waved their hands in refusal, saying, "That money is your brother-in-law's life-saving money. You better save it carefully and don't squander it."
"That's right. Your family has four children who will get married, buy houses, have children, and there will be expenses for all of them. Since you know we are going back to the city, it won't make a difference if we spend a day or two more. Don't waste money."
Upon hearing this, the elder sister-in-law lowered her head, feeling somewhat resentful.
Back when my parents-in-law got into trouble, my eldest and second sons were implicated and sent to the countryside with the whole family. All their property was confiscated.
They didn't have much money to begin with, and they used it to bribe officials, managing to save their sister-in-law, who was also supposed to be sent down to the countryside.
During the many years they were sent to the countryside, how much hardship and injustice did their family endure?
Who isn't living a life of misery?
Why is it only the sister-in-law who is pitiful?
Isn't she pitiful, this outsider who married into the family?
This whole family are selfish; they're either doting fathers or sister-obsessed freaks. It's infuriating!
"Sister-in-law, don't listen to my brother. Don't worry, I was just unable to send you a few dollars every month before.
Now that I have money, I will definitely rescue you from this hellhole as soon as possible.
As soon as Jiang Ruzhen finished speaking, several people turned to look at her.
"What did you say? You send us a few dollars every month?"
"Yes, you didn't receive it? That's impossible."
Jiang Ruzhen had a feeling that something was going on, so she quickly asked.
Jiang Zhengyu, Jiang Zhengxiao, and their sister-in-law looked at each other in bewilderment. The sister-in-law was so anxious that she got off the wooden bed and whispered to Jiang Ruzhen.
"Little sister, do you really send us money every month?"
"Yes, I keep a record of every time I send money through the post office."
The older brother sighed, "Then someone in the town must have embezzled the money. We haven't received a single penny over the years."
"What a bastard! He's heartless and stole the money meant to save someone's life. He's a disgusting scoundrel. Don't worry, eldest brother, second brother, and sister-in-law, I will definitely not let him get away with this."
Jiang Ruzhen was furious. She had lived such a hard life before, and she had finally managed to save up a few coins to send to her family so that their lives could be a little easier. But she never expected that someone would steal them.
Those who advocate for disaster relief really don't care about the lives of ordinary people!
"Little sister, don't be impulsive. You don't know anyone here, so don't do anything foolish. Anyway, we're going back to the city soon, so we'll talk about everything when we get back."
"Yes, no matter which bastard dares to intercept our money, they shouldn't expect to get away unscathed."
With her two older brothers speaking up, Jiang Ruzhen stopped dwelling on the matter; she had her own ideas.
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