CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 30: SPACE PROSPERITY 12

What did she see?

The Western Zhou Jade Wall, the Qin Dynasty Dragon Pattern Mirror, the Tang Dynasty Painting Fan... Tsk! Each of them is priceless, if it were in later generations.

"Young comrade, if you want them, I’ll give them to you, but I must warn you, these things cannot be seen in public. They will bring you trouble, even cost your life. Do you still want them?"

"Grandma, I’m not afraid. Don’t worry, I have my own ways. Like this, tell me how much, and I’ll buy them from you, or exchange them for grain if you prefer."

The old lady waved her hand dismissively, "These things, even if given away, no one would want them, it’s just that you don’t understand them, young comrade."

I do understand!

It seems the old lady really considers these items to be troublesome things.

"Then how about I don’t take your money, and I give you some more grain instead, as a form of offset, how does that sound?"

"How could that be right? These things are a hassle!"

Jiang Mingyue waved her hand nonchalantly, "Don’t worry, grandma, they’re not for me."

Jiang Mingyue swiftly pulled out a ten-pound bag of rice from the basket, along with a twenty-pound bag of flour, and added two chickens and two pounds of pork. Though she wanted to take out more, that would easily expose her, as the basket could only hold so much.

"Grandma, these are all for you, use them for exchange. I’m in a hurry to pick up my brother, so that’s it."

After saying this, Jiang Mingyue moved the large wooden box to the yard, carried her basket on her back, and rode away on her bike. Once she entered an empty alley, she immediately stuffed the box into her space, and even placed it separately into a large warehouse, planning to fill that warehouse up.

It was a while after Jiang Mingyue left that the old lady came back to her senses, tears streaming down her face, "Xu Kang, we’ve encountered a kind-hearted person. You must remember the benefactor’s appearance, and when you’re capable in the future, be sure to repay the kindness."

The eight-year-old Xu Kang nodded heavily like a little adult, "Grandma, I’ve remembered. I will definitely repay her in the future."

When Jiang Mingyue picked up Xiao Jiang Ran, Uncle Ma had a good laugh at her expense.

"It’s rare that you remember you have a brother left here? What happened? Did it come to you?"

Jiang Mingyue intuitively felt that Xiao Jiang Ran must have done something to annoy the old man, but Xiao Jiang Ran was such a good boy, how could he have annoyed him? It must be because the old man wasn’t being nice.

Uncle Ma glared, "Don’t think I can’t see it, are you trying to say that I’m talking nonsense?"

"I’m not!"

"Hmph!" Uncle Ma snorted coldly.

Jiang Mingyue smirked, "Grandpa Ma, was the braised meat tasty?"

Uncle Ma: "..."

"I’ll bring some for you next time too."

In other words: if you keep harping on, I won’t bring you any next time.

Uncle Ma: "..." Just for a bite to eat, was it worth it?

"Hmph!"

"Grandpa Ma, older folks should be kind. Those who snort through their nostrils all the time aren’t very lovable to the younger generation."

Uncle Ma, who wanted to snort again, held back: That dead girl, if not for the bite to eat, he... ah, forget it!

Looking at the soon-to-set sun, Jiang Mingyue didn’t dare delay.

"Thanks so much today, Grandpa Ma, I’m taking Xiao Ran with me. I’ll come again... to see you."

"Hmph!"

After they left, Uncle Ma quickly chased a little and stuck half his body out to see them off, feeling empty inside, wondering when that dead girl would come again.

Jiang Mingyue noticed Xiao Jiang Ran wasn’t speaking, his little hand clenching her hem tightly, as if afraid she would disappear again.

"It’s okay! Big sis is back now. But Xiao Jiang Ran has to be honest with big sis, did you do something at Grandpa Ma’s place?"

Suddenly, Xiao Jiang Ran lowered his head, not daring to look at Jiang Mingyue.

"It’s okay, big sis won’t scold you. Are you this downhearted because of it?"

"I, I, he wouldn’t let me find big sis, so I... poured water on his bed."

Goodness!

No wonder the old man was so angry.

But how could this soft-looking little kid be like a little wolf cub? Did she misjudge him?

"So that’s what happened? It’s okay, big sis always poured water on that bed when she was little too."

The little guy immediately looked up, "Really?"

"Of course, it’s true. But that was when big sis was little, and as she grew older and wiser, she stopped doing it. Does Xiao Ran want to be a wise child?"

"I do."

"Then will you pour water on Grandpa’s bed again next time?"

"No."

"Our Xiao Ran is genuinely sensible! Grandpa Ma, you know, is a very good person. He always treats big sis like his granddaughter, saving all the good food for her, reluctant to eat it himself.

He doesn’t have any family and usually lives in that room at the entrance. You saw it, at night he only has that bed, so if you pour water on it during winter, it won’t dry and will freeze. Think about it, if you sleep on ice at night, will you sleep well?"

The little guy thought seriously, "No, it’d be so cold you couldn’t sleep, and you could get sick."

"Then, do you want to wish illness on someone who’s good to you?"

"I don’t want to," the little guy answered firmly.

"That’s right. In the future, when big sis comes to the city, she’ll bring Xiao Ran again, and you’ll see Grandpa Ma. Can Xiao Ran treat Grandpa Ma as nicely as big sis?"

The little guy thought for a moment, "I can’t be as nice as I am to big sis, but I won’t pour water on Grandpa’s bed again or make him angry."

Jiang Mingyue was very pleased, it seemed the little guy was starting to think.

"Our Xiao Ran really is a good child. Come on, big sis will take you to find your dad."

The old man at the door saw Jiang Mingyue and this time he spoke first: "Girl, you’re here again? You’re really persistent, this is the third time, right? But fortunately, you’ve come, I saw that Xiao Liu, who went to the countryside with your uncle, has returned. Your uncle should be back too, maybe you should check where he lives?"

"Isn’t my uncle living at the factory dorm?"

The old man shook his head, not wanting to say more.

Jiang Mingyue immediately took out a pair of rabbits from her basket, "Old man, these rabbits I caught from the mountain, a male and a female, they’re easy to raise and reproduce quickly. Your family won’t worry about eating meat anymore. Here you go."

Meat! Although the old man felt it wasn’t good to take something from others, he couldn’t resist the temptation. Thinking of the greedy look on his little grandson’s face, the old man’s hands weakened.

"Thank you, thank you. Child, I’ll tell you what I know.

Your uncle is one of the senior technicians at the factory, so theoretically, life should only get better. But three years ago, when your aunt passed away, he sank into depression, acting like a ghost at work. Initially, the factory planned to promote him, but seeing his state over months, they decided against it. Later, with a few more incidents, he became less valued, and some opportunistic people started to trip him up.

First, they moved him out of the single dormitory, then... in short, there were constant little shoes thrown in his path.

And your uncle didn’t argue about it, maintaining that same demeanor, and it was thanks to Director Wei above him looking out for him, that he found a place to stay outside, so with less contact from the troublemakers, life’s been a little better."

Jiang Mingyue hadn’t expected her uncle’s life at the factory to be like this.

With mixed feelings, she got the address from the old man and hurried with her brother.

This time, she finally found the person.