Er Ya was even more serious, "Zhaodi, Uncle’s family has been so good to us sisters; you can’t talk about them like that. If others hear you, they’ll call you an ungrateful wretch."
Zhaodi looked at her parents and Er Ya in disbelief. She couldn’t believe that they were taking the big house’s side and speaking against her—accusing her. She felt extremely wronged.
In her previous life, her parents had never spoken a harsh word to her, and her sisters had all been very affectionate towards her. But now, because of Jiang Family, they had scolded her twice and even said they wanted to beat her to death!
Her chest heaved violently, filled with resentment towards the big house and a sense of injustice at not being understood, as if it was about to overflow.
But remembering that she had already been slapped by her dad last time for talking back, she could only swallow her grievances and grind her teeth, deliberately speaking in a sarcastic tone, "Yes, Dad, Mom, I understand. I will remember the big house’s kindness to our family. I will surely repay them in the future."
Jiang Changhe and Zhao Xiaojuan didn’t pick up on the tone Zhaodi used when she spoke last. Seeing that she admitted her fault, they did not scold her further.
Zhao Xiaojuan even felt somewhat distressed and touched her little face, "Mom knows you’re a sensible good child. Alright, aren’t you uncomfortable? Go lie down and sleep."
After a minor disturbance, the family of the second house also went to lie down for a nap.
The villagers who had listened to two episodes of "The Story of Yue Fei" in the main house, upon hearing the storyteller’s familiar conclusion, also got up one after another, stretched their limbs, and happily left the Jiang Family’s home.
When Er Ya woke up from her nap, she took out the candy she usually couldn’t bear to eat from her pocket and ran out to find Jiang Mianmian.
The couple from the big house had woken up and gone out; they weren’t in the house at the moment, leaving only Jiang Mianmian sitting on the kang, groggy from sleep.
"Mianmian, these candies are for you—to thank you for speaking up for me at noon." Er Ya placed the candy on the kang and expressed her thanks once again.
Jiang Mianmian replied with a voice still soft and mushy from sleep, "It’s nothing, Er Ya. It’s just a few words; you don’t have to be so polite about it."
But Er Ya was serious, "Mianmian, it might not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, it is of utmost importance. You know that going to school has always been my dream. Right now, I have nothing and don’t know how I can repay you. This candy is the most precious thing I have; please don’t despise it."
"Alright, Er Ya, I’ll accept the candy. Don’t think too much about it. Just focus on your studies and strive to be number one—that will be the best reward for us."
Although Jiang Mianmian didn’t think that she and her father had done much to help, Er Ya insisted, so she chose to accept the candy, letting her go to school in peace.
"As long as you don’t despise it, that’s good. Mianmian, I have some chores left to do outside; I’ll go take care of them now." Er Ya tidied up Jiang Mianmian’s hair, which had become messy during sleep, and said with a smile.
"Alright, Er Ya, go ahead with your work."
Er Ya had been gone for a while when Jiang Changhai and Su Wanyu returned, beaming with over a dozen big plums in their arms.
"Daughter, guess what this is?"
"Wow, big plums, Dad, you’re the best! I love these plums the most." Jiang Mianmian grabbed one, rubbed it on her body, then took a big bite—juicy, and sweetly sour.
Mmm, the familiar taste.
Seeing her eat so contentedly, Jiang Changhai was also happy, "I knew you’d like it; your mom and I went out specially to pick them for you."