CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 10: THE SWALLOW RETURNS 10

However, before Jiang Mingyue could ask Jiang Zhenmei, an unexpected visitor arrived at their home.

A young man with good looks, and an air of scholarly charm that didn’t fit with the village.

Jiang Zhenmei immediately whispered to Jiang Mingyue, "He’s Ning Yan, he used to secretly meet with Zhenzhu often."

So this is Ning Yan!

Jiang Mingyue glanced at the young man a few more times, but unintentionally met Ning Yan’s gaze.

Ning Yan smiled gracefully, no wonder he was very popular in the book.

But Jiang Mingyue could detect insincerity in Ning Yan’s eyes, she tried to attack his memory with spiritual power.

Without a doubt, she succeeded.

This person really is no good either, just wearing a façade of refinement.

No wonder he matches well with Jiang Zhenzhu, they’re practically a tailor-made pair.

If that’s the case, why disrupt Cui Mingshi?

But the focus now is that Ning Yan’s target this time is her.

"So Ning Yan came, huh. Have a seat." Mrs. Jiang courteously attended to the guest, Jiang Zhenmei habitually poured water for him.

"No need to rush, I’ve come for Ming Yue."

Upon hearing this, both brothers and Mrs. Jiang paused, staring blankly at Ning Yan’s next words.

Ning Yan slowly pushed the gift beside him toward Mrs. Jiang.

"I’ve come to propose to Ming Yue. I fell in love with her at first sight. It’s up to Aunt Jiang whether she’s willing to give her up."

Jiang Mingyue almost laughed.

How can this guy claim love at first sight, clearly he and Jiang Zhenzhu concocted this plan to destroy her.

However, she was curious to see her family’s reaction.

Her second brother slammed the table with his palm, his lean body suddenly transformed into Zhang Fei: "You damn well say that again?" With such bravado, it seemed like if Ning Yan dared repeat himself, he would surely beat him into submission.

Not long after, the big brother grabbed a fire poker and came to the front: "Ning Yan, I thought you were a good person, didn’t imagine you’re just a hypocrite. You think I don’t know about you fooling around with Jiang Zhenzhu, don’t you think you can covet my sister, I’ll cripple you today."

Ning Yan, sensing the situation, retreated behind Mrs. Jiang in fright, unaware that there was trouble from behind too; Jiang Zhenmei directly hoisted a clump of grass toward his head.

"Ah! You, you... if you don’t agree, fine, why hit me? I’m well-intentioned, don’t believe me, just watch, except me, no one else would want to marry your lazy daughter."

"Splash!" A basin of water drenched Ning Yan, unmistakably Mrs. Jiang.

"Take your stuff and get out, my daughter deserves the best, someone like you can only be suited for the likes of Jiang Zhenzhu."

Mrs. Jiang directly threw out the gifts, Ning Yan hurriedly left in embarrassment.

Jiang Mingyue: "..." Another flaw of the original book, the original didn’t depict the rural Old Jiang Family like this.

Especially Mrs. Jiang.

First, swapping the newborn child, sending her daughter to the city for comfort, while others’ daughters suffer in the rural area.

Then, showing favor to boys over girls, refusing to let Jiang Zhenzhu study, Jiang Zhenzhu only completed high school through her own abilities, like working for the school, getting the principal to waive her tuition.

Yet now, she entirely doubts.

Firstly swapping the child, how could Mrs. Jiang be someone who covets others’ good lives?

And about Jiang Zhenzhu’s schooling, if it was truly Jiang Zhenzhu’s efforts alone, where did the ten yuan monthly pension of Mr. Jiang go?

Ten yuan was considerable money back then, Zhu Xiangxiang, working as a nurse in the hospital, only earned 18 yuan a month.

Flour was only one yuan eight cents per pound, ten yuan could buy over fifty pounds, enough to fill the entire family.

But considering the Jiang family’s situation, they never had enough to eat, as thin as kindling, clothes full of patches, shoes just straw sandals, where did the ten years’ worth of money go, no need to ask, she bets it was spent on Jiang Zhenzhu.

"Ming Yue, don’t believe a word that scoundrel says, our Ming Yue is pretty and kind-hearted, there surely would be the best man waiting for her.

Jiang Mingyue: "..."

Admittedly, the feeling of being protected by a mother and siblings is truly wonderful.

After the farce, it was time to go back to work, leaving only Jiang Mingyue at home again.

Although no one wanted her to do any chores, she couldn’t remain idle.

Jiang Mingyue returned to her room and immediately entered the space, realizing that the original patch of wild grass had been automatically cleaned up by the space, the tilled land looked as if it’s waiting for seeds to be planted.

Jiang Mingyue felt a bit troubled.

Leaving the space, she went to Granny Shi’s house.

The door was open, clean bowls laid on the table, the old lady was sitting on the chair, the fan had fallen on the ground, she was asleep.

Jiang Mingyue had an illusion, the old lady before her wasn’t like a rural old woman, more like a former wealthy wife, and a powerful one.

However, she secretly asked Jiang Zhenmei, the old lady’s background was just a poor farmer, couldn’t possibly be of any other status, after all the eyes of the masses are sharp.

If there were fake credentials, someone would have reported long ago.

"Sneaking around, huh? Got any business?" The sudden voice didn’t surprise Jiang Mingyue, anyway, this old lady was quite weird.

She casually found a place to sit.

"I want some rice seeds, wheat seeds, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet potato vines preferably, then corn, buckwheat, peanuts, sugarcane, etc., preferably at the quality suitable for planting."

Granny Shi squinted her wrinkled eyes slightly but didn’t ask directly.

Jiang Mingyue explained first.

"I’m requesting for a few friends, the place they went for countryside living, the seeds were washed away by floods this year, they begged me for help."

Granny Shi didn’t clarify if she believed or not, she briefly pondered, "Okay, I’ll arrange for someone to get them for you, will notify you when ready."

"Thank you, Granny Shi, I knew Granny Shi is capable."

"Flatterer."

"By the way, Granny Shi, we ran out of oil at home, do you have any?"

Granny Shi didn’t want to talk to her, Jiang Mingyue just went to the kitchen and took the remaining half pot of oil on the stove.

Granny Shi snorted coldly.

Jiang Mingyue was unaffected, taking the bowl home.

Back home, Jiang Mingyue went into the space, took a bath in the spring pool, looking at her knees turning white and slightly swollen from soaking, she decisively went into the pharmacy.

Seaching for alcohol swabs, wiped them thoroughly, then applied anti-inflammatory and healing powder, and took antibiotics.

These aren’t ordinary medicines, they were new drugs developed by the ten pharmacists back at the base, no doubt regarding effectiveness.

As Jiang Mingyue exited the space, she heard some movement in the yard, checking it out, it was Granny Shi.

The old lady wore a serious face: "You sleep well. Didn’t you want something, I’ve had someone deliver it to your backyard."

Jiang Mingyue paused, genuinely surprised at Granny Shi’s efficiency.

Smart people dealing with each other naturally wouldn’t inquire deeply, Jiang Mingyue certainly didn’t ask.

She joyfully ran to the backyard, "Thank you, Granny Shi."

The Jiang Family’s front yard had no fence, but the backyard did, albeit made with sunflower stalks, each carefully woven together with vines, raised as a railing, not particularly sturdy, but sufficient to block external peeping.

Jiang Mingyue opened the gate from inside, a burly man greeted her with a "hehe" smile.