"What safety lock? How would I know? What, you think I can't get out now because you see I'm like this, and you're making up some excuse to get some money back?"
To repay the carpenter's family's dowry, I even handed over the land deed. Your brother's future is uncertain; how can you possibly have a share?
At the police station, Jiang Chun dared not hurl insults as usual, and spoke angrily.
"The little silver lock that I've worn since I was a child was later taken off my neck and given to Jiang Dalong to play with because he liked it."
Seeing that the old man was nearing the end of his life, Jiang Yu was not angry. Instead, she repeatedly helped him recall the tormented days in his memory.
Jiang Chun seemed to have thought of something, and said nonchalantly:
"A broken stone, I don't know where it was thrown away a long time ago."
Hearing his answer, Jiang Yu said nothing more. She knew Jiang Chun's temperament; if he really hid it, he would at most say he wouldn't give it to her, or try to extort money from her. It seemed that Jiang Meier had indeed stolen it.
After asking all her questions, she got up to leave. Jiang Yu didn't feel much sympathy for this man; he had only himself to blame, and no one else was to blame.
"Jiang Yu".
As she reached the door, Jiang Chun called her back. The woman stopped, awaiting his final words. She had a premonition that they would never see each other again.
“I know that Jiang Meier was behind everything, and she was the one who reported me for being arrested. When the police ask me about it later, I will confess all the evidence against her.”
It's just so pitiful for Dalong. He's all alone at home now, has nothing left, and his future is uncertain. Could you please help him, for the sake of all the years we've raised you? I'll remember your kindness and thank you from beyond the grave.
Tears streamed down Jiang Chun's face. Only now did he realize that he had been too harsh on Jiang Yu in the past.
“I will redeem a piece of land from the carpenter for Jiang Dalong. As for what happens after that, it’s up to him.”
After saying that, the woman turned and walked away without looking back. Jiang Chun watched her disappearing figure, sobbing uncontrollably.
It was past midnight when we got back to Shenjiazhuang. Luckily, the moon was big and round, shining on the ground as brightly as during the day, and adding a touch of tranquility to the rural night.
It was already April, and unknown wildflowers and weeds were gradually emerging from the ground. The temperature was also not as cold as it had been a couple of days before.
Throughout the journey, Shen Ying held the woman's hand tightly. Jiang Yu had already grown accustomed to the sense of security that came from being held firmly in a man's large hand.
Upon reaching the front door, the two noticed candles lit inside the house and, thinking something bad had happened, rushed anxiously inside.
Pushing open the door, she saw that the two children were already fast asleep. Shen Wan was a light sleeper; upon hearing the noise, she turned over and opened her eyes.
Zhao Meiyun was looking at the clock on the wall, counting the time second by second.
"Mom, why aren't you asleep yet?"
The woman asked in a low voice, and was somewhat touched to learn that Zhao Meiyun had lost her mind after leaving Shen Ying and had left food for the two of them in the pot.
After dinner, Shen Ying took out the medicine, intending to reapply it to Jiang Yu. Upon removing the gauze, she found that the wound had already scabbed over, and breathed a sigh of relief.
The next day, the workers arrived early to apply cement. After a day, they had completed most of the work. At this moment, Jiang Yu was sitting in the shade by the east door, 'supervising' the work while munching on melon seeds. The sound of a bicycle bell came from outside, followed by knocking on the door.
"Is this the home of Comrade Jiang Yu? This is a letter from the city."
Upon hearing this, the woman placed the plate of melon seeds she was holding on the steps and ran outside.
After thanking the postman, she returned to her seat and tore open the envelope. It was from General Manager Luo Zewen, who said that a school had recently come to order school uniforms and that she absolutely had to find some time to go back to the garment factory in the next couple of days to check on things.
They specifically mentioned it was for a prestigious private school, and the clothing they ordered was vastly different from the school's regular uniforms. The designers at the factory, however, knew nothing about such things, and several designs they created were rejected by the client.
After they lost patience, they issued an ultimatum, claiming that if they couldn't design a satisfactory design by tomorrow, they would have to order from the clothing store.
Jiang Yu stared at the letter for a long time, racking her brains but finding no inspiration. She had seen it while researching before; the school uniforms of this era were very similar to those worn by people born in the 1990s. They were basically simple in color and sporty in style, making the wearers look neat and giving off a youthful and lively vibe.
The letter mentioned that the elite schools, in addition to meeting these requirements, also demanded that clothing convey a sense of high social standing. Even if it wasn't that extreme, it should at least be immediately distinguishable.
With her mind replaying the clothes from those prestigious schools and foreign universities on TV, Jiang Yu suddenly had an idea.
She went inside, took out paper and pen, and got straight to the point. While slowly figuring things out, she would also ask Shen Suisui for her opinion after school. Not only Shen Suisui, but she didn't even spare Dongdong next door.
Because it's Friday, the two students usually have fun that night and then get together to do their homework the next day.
Shen Suisui won't start primary school until September. In the meantime, Jiang Yu teaches her some first-grade material whenever she has free time. She has already learned pinyin and addition and subtraction within 100. Under Jiang Yu's praise-based teaching, the children are very willing to chat with her.
Upon hearing that she was going to consult the children, Shen Suisui and Shen Dongdong launched into a long explanation of their ideas.
"Sister-in-law, dinner is ready."
In the evening, after the sun had set, Jiang Yu looked at the fruits of her labor on the design drawings and happily worked on color matching. Shen Wan brought the dishes to the table and called her to eat.
The woman responded, neatly placed the papers aside, and went to the outer room.
"Once the workers have finished applying all the cement tomorrow morning, we can start laying the floor tiles. The blueprints for this small building show a total of six bedrooms, three upstairs and three downstairs. There will be a living room on each floor. You can choose your own room."
"We can move in in less than a week. The weather will be warm then, and we won't be so cramped in this tiny place anymore; even turning over in bed is a struggle."
From the moment Shen Ying first conceived the idea of building a house until now, all he had been waiting for was to share this joy with his family, making all the planning over the long term worthwhile.
"So does that mean I'll have my own bedroom, where I can do whatever I want?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Suisui was so excited she almost jumped up. From childhood to adulthood, she had never had a room of her own; not only her, but even her parents didn't have their own bedrooms.
"Of course, not only will I have my own room, but I will also have my own desk with my favorite extracurricular books."
Jiang Yu stroked her head and smiled indulgently.
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