Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Be a Civilized Person Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Be a Civilized Person After dinner, Jiang Changhe went back to his room and saw Zhaodi clasping her stomach and frowning as she lay on the kang, obviously enduring hunger.
“Eat,” he said, taking out the coarse grain bun he had saved from his own meal, nearly half of it left.
He knew he had no talent and couldn’t earn money like the Eldest to provide good food and clothes for his daughter, but he wouldn’t let his girls go without food or clothing.
Zhaodi stared blankly at the rough, large hand holding the coarse grain bun, then raised her head to glance at her father, whose dark face was covered with traces of a life of toil.
Her dad was actually two years younger than Uncle, yet he looked much older.
“Dad…” Zhaodi tried to speak but choked up before she could say more.
Jiang Changhe seeing her eyes redden didn’t know what to say and just repeated dryly, “Eat quickly.”
He, a rough man, was not comfortable with such a sentimental atmosphere and stuffed the bun into his daughter’s hand before turning and walking out.
Zhaodi watched her father’s retreating figure, recalling events of her past life.
In fact, when she was young, she had also resented her father. When had she begun to understand him?
It must have been in her previous life when she was getting married. The old lady was harsh on her granddaughters, and apart from the clothes on her body, she didn’t have any dowry.
Her father saw all this, and though he didn’t say anything, he secretly harvested reeds in the fields during the cold winter months for a whole month, finally selling them for twenty yuan to give her as a dowry.
Harvesting reeds is the toughest and most exhausting task, one that no family in the village who could afford a mouthful of food would be willing to do.
It was a job that paid quickly but could easily lead to chronic ailments, and her father’s rheumatism was a result of that time.
It was at that moment, holding the twenty yuan, that Zhaodi suddenly unraveled the knot in her heart that had troubled her for years.
Her father didn’t lack love for them; he just couldn’t give them a better life or express his love for them.
But he would love them in his own way, quietly.
Zhaodi, lost in memories, moved by the bun she was eating, was unaware that her behavior today had alerted the observant Su Wanyu to something unusual.
“Brother Hai, have you noticed that Zhaodi seems different from before? She used to be submissive and compliant, always agreeing with what the adults said, but now she even dares to stand up to Laosan’s Wife,” Su Wanyu commented.
Jiang Changhai immediately recalled the way Zhaodi had looked at her daughter, and he nodded solemnly, “That child has indeed changed a lot, and her heart has grown bigger.”
Jiang Mianmian disagreed, “I think it’s good this way. Zhaodi can now stand up for herself and has her own opinions, which is better than anything. If she remains compliant all the time, she’ll be controlled by grandparents forever.”
Hearing her talk like an old soul, Su Wanyu laughed, “You little rascal, you sure know a lot.”
Jiang Changhai also laughed, “Our Mianmian is not just any little rascal; she’s a Little Prodigy.”
“I’m a kid, just a kid. Why do you have to add ‘rascal’?!” Jiang Mianmian protested, puffing up her cheeks, “We should be civilized. Don’t say ‘rascal’.”
“How is saying ‘rascal’ uncivilized? Mom doesn’t call you that in public,” Su Wanyu replied.
While the family chatted, someone knocked on the door from outside: “Mianmian, are you asleep?”
It was Er Ya coming to ask questions.
“No, hold on, Second Sister.”
As usual, Jiang Mianmian answered Er Ya’s questions, and when she was about to leave, gave her a few fruit candies and a piece of walnut candy.