"Such a big thing, and you call it nothing?" Jiang Shan walked over and sat down next to Xue Zhen, handing her a handkerchief.
"My aunt told me not to tell you, afraid you'd worry." Xue Zhen was an honest person who couldn't keep secrets. Provoked by Jiang Shan, she spilled everything.
“My aunt’s brother handed the restaurant over to his son and daughter-in-law to manage, and went home to take care of his grandson. My aunt’s nephew asked her to return the restaurant’s shares to him, and kept saying that she should go home to retire. They just want to drive her away!”
"My aunt was so upset that she couldn't eat, and that's why she lost weight!"
"Then, why did Aunt Hong come to see my mother today?"
Xue Zhen paused for a moment, then said honestly, "I told my aunt that you wanted to buy a house. It just so happens that my aunt has also bought a house in Guxian Town over the years. She's going back to Yuzhou City now, so she can sell the house to you."
After gathering all the information, Jiang Shan turned and walked towards the backyard.
Aunt Hong was talking about money when she suddenly stopped, seemingly not expecting Jiang Shan to rush in.
"One hundred taels? Why don't you just give it to me for free, Auntie!" Jiang Shan heard this number and his face darkened even more.
Aunt Hong was somewhat caught in a dilemma and asked awkwardly, "Isn't it... a bit too expensive? How about eighty taels?"
Jiang Shan laughed angrily, "Auntie, such a big thing happened, why didn't you tell me? Were you afraid I would worry? We've known each other for a long time, and you just left Guyang Town without a word, and I wasn't worried?"
Aunt Hong's eyes reddened instantly. She turned her face away from Jiang Shan and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes before turning back and forcing a smile, saying, "It's not as serious as you make it out to be... That house is indeed a bit old, but it's spacious and not too far from the shop. You can go and take a look first, and if you're satisfied..."
"Aunt Hong!" Jiang Shan slammed his fist on the table and stood up, finally losing his temper.
"Don't get agitated, be careful of the child! Sit down!" Aunt Hong shouted, giving Jiang Shan a reproachful glare.
“I know you feel indignant on my behalf, but I did it voluntarily! I am extremely grateful to my brother for taking me in. They are my brother’s son and daughter-in-law, and I will never blame them no matter how they treat me. I have earned quite a bit of money over the years, enough to cover my expenses for the rest of my life, so you don’t need to worry about me.”
Jiang Shan sighed helplessly, could she say she didn't support Aunt Hong's choice?
Jiao's mother sighed and asked, "If you were living a good life in Yuzhou City, you wouldn't have come to Guxian Town to seek refuge with your brother. Now that you're back, how are you going to face those people in the clan?"
Aunt Hong forced herself to speak, "To be honest, Sister-in-law Jiao, back then, because we had no money, no power, and no one to rely on, my child and I suffered all kinds of cold looks from the clan. If my child stayed in the clan, at least he could go to school, and they wouldn't abandon the Xue family's descendants. If I stayed in the clan, I would only be a burden to my child, so I made the difficult decision to leave him and come to my brother's house. Now I have money, and I no longer need to accept their charity. My son and I can live with our heads held high in the clan!"
As she spoke these words, Aunt Hong's eyes held the unwavering determination of a mother, as well as the achievements and pride she had gained through years of hard work.
"But you are still very sad. You are disliked and abandoned by your nephew, whom you regard as your own son. You have suffered betrayal of family affection once again and been hurt by your relatives once again!"
Jiao's mother's words were like a boning knife, cutting into Aunt Hong's skin with excruciating pain. Her lips trembled, and her face grew paler and paler.
"But you must remember, you still have your son. He is your only flesh and blood, and he is the biggest bond in your life. Everyone else is just fleeting, so you don't need to take them too seriously, understand?"
Jiang Shan watched as Jiao's mother gradually guided Aunt Hong, and he truly felt that this stepmother was not simple.
Aunt Hong, with tears in her eyes, held Jiao's mother's hand and nodded repeatedly: "I know, I know everything. Sister-in-law Jiao is reminding me not to waste my energy on people who are not worth it. I'll remember that!"
Madam Jiao smiled, instructed Jiang Shan to fetch 150 taels of silver, and then brought paper and pen. She personally wrote a sales contract and asked Jiang Shan to sign and affix his seal.
"I'll buy the house for two hundred taels. You can keep this one hundred and fifty taels for now. Shan'er will deposit the remaining fifty taels with Wansheng Bank for you, so that you and your son can access it at any time in Yuzhou City. Keep this contract with you; it will make things easier!"
After seeing Hong off, Jiang Shan sat down next to Jiao's mother and said with a grin, "Mom, you're amazing!"
Jiao's mother smiled, but a bitter smile appeared on her lips. "I was too optimistic before. I thought that I would be fine as long as I took care of you children. I didn't realize that the only reliable person in this world is yourself. You have to fight for what you want and protect the people you care about. Only by standing tall can you become a superior person and avoid being bullied."
Jiang Shan clapped her hands, "Well said! Mother, you're absolutely right, you have the spirit of a female knight-errant!"
This time, Jiao's mother truly laughed heartily. She reached out and poked Jiang Shan's forehead, laughing and scolding, "You chatterbox! Your belly is getting bigger and bigger, be careful, don't rush into everything!"
Jiang Shan lowered his eyes to look at his growing belly, paused for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "Mother, this child is not a member of the Jiao family. He is what outsiders call an illegitimate child. Are you really not bothered by this?"
Jiao's mother's face changed color from pale to green, and finally she held Jiang Shan's slightly cool hand tightly and said, "Shan'er, he is your child, your mother's grandson! Remember, he is your mother's own grandson!"
Jiang Shan nodded, buried his head in Jiao's mother's arms, and forcefully held back the tears in his eyes.
Inside the inn.
“Young master, I’m useless. The owner of that house… says he doesn’t want it anymore.” Yuan Wen said with a bitter face, holding up the house deed in both hands.
"Why? She should be able to afford one hundred taels of silver!"
"The landlord has already found a house." Yuan Wen told her about Aunt Hong selling the house and Jiangshan.
Fu Qiyuan paced around the room, then pointed at Yuan and asked, "Buy her a carriage, by whatever means necessary, you must make her accept it! If you can't do this, go back to where you came from!"
"Rest assured, young master, I guarantee I will complete the mission!"
Three days later, Yuan Wen and Jiang Shan picked up Sanlang and took him home. When they passed the carriage shop in town, Yuan Wen casually mentioned that it would be nice to have a horse-drawn carriage. Horse-drawn carriages are smooth, fast, and can carry people and goods and go on long journeys.
Sanlang nodded and said absentmindedly, "Yes, Mother said that my sister can't handle bumpy rides now and can't walk too far. If we had a carriage, my sister could go out anytime!"
After Yuan Wen's persuasive tongue and a bloodless battle with the shopkeeper, Jiang Shan bought a carriage and a chestnut horse for thirty taels of silver.
From then on, Jiang Shan was considered a member of the "house and car" family in this other world!
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