Before forty, Liu Caiyun had truly been the flower of Siyang Village.
In fact, Chiang Xiao had never understood why, in her past life, Liu Caiyun had insisted on forcing her way into her family’s home, tearing her reputation to shreds and clinging to her grandfather regardless of the cost.
To her, it was a mystery.
And then there was her grandmother, who had been willing to sever ties with her own family just to be with Chiang Songhai.
In Chiang Xiao’s eyes, her grandfather must have been quite handsome when he was young, and knowledgeable about herbs and medicine, kind, honest, hardworking, and diligent. Indeed, he would have been considered quite a catch.
But in that era, good looks couldn’t put food on the table.
Besides, the Chiang Family had always been poor and had nothing to covet.
Being too honest wasn’t really a virtue in that chaotic time; rather, it caused one’s family to endure endless bullying.
If he hadn’t been her own grandfather, from an outsider’s perspective, Chiang Songhai really didn’t seem like the kind of man worth entrusting one’s life to.
"Uncle Hai, did you just come back from town? I heard you went to the hospital," Liu Caiyun greeted Chiang Songhai with great enthusiasm.
Chiang Xiao recalled the day she had just come back to life, when Chiang Baohe had chased her with the intention of beating her. Liu Caiyun had seen but pretended not to, utterly indifferent.
It was like she was a different person from the Liu Caiyun she knew now.
However, right now, Liu Caiyun was only talking to Chiang Songhai and totally ignoring Chiang Xiao.
"Oh, yes," Chiang Songhai didn’t really want to engage with Liu Caiyun. A widow’s doorstep was prone to scandal, and Liu Caiyun had a way of attracting trouble. Talking to her too much could lead to rumors. There was another thing, the incident where Ding Dani had pushed her into the water had involved her son, Ji Desheng.
However, since the incident, Ji Desheng had become virtually invisible.
This bothered Chiang Songhai somewhat.
Liu Caiyun seemed oblivious to Chiang Songhai’s coldness, and she pulled out two buns from her bamboo basket, trying to stuff them into his hands. "Uncle Hai, I made these buns myself; they’re very sweet and fragrant. Try one!"
"No need, no need, you keep them," he deflected.
"Take it, I have more. Try it, and if you like them, I’ll make more for you in the future," Liu Caiyun reached out to grab Chiang Songhai’s hand.
Chiang Songhai felt extremely uncomfortable and kept backing away, but Liu Caiyun took two steps closer, almost catching his hand.
Just then, a hand reached out from the side, blocking hers.
Liu Caiyun turned her head, meeting Chiang Xiao’s cold gaze.
A flicker of disgust flashed through her heart.
This damn girl, Chiang Xiao, was so annoying, having bewitched her son beyond reason. She dared not even let her son come home but insisted on boarding him at school.
Although the conditions at the town school were better than in the village, how could they compare to the comfort of home?
"Chiang Xiao, I haven’t made many, and these are meant for Desheng. I can only spare two for your grandfather to try—you can’t compete with your grandfather for them, you know? Children should respect their elders. Do you understand? Your grandfather gave up a promising future and good days for you; you must always remember to repay him, got it?"
Chiang Xiao raised her eyebrows but before she could speak, Chiang Songhai spoke sternly, "Desheng’s Mother, what are you talking about? Little is my own granddaughter; it’s only natural for me to raise her. Where did you get such twisted logic? Now go on, take the buns to your son. We have business to attend to, so don’t block the way."