Chapter 169: Jiang Gui Arrives
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The little girl was still arguing with another little girl. They didn’t manage to resolve their dispute, which led to Jiang Gu speaking again.
Jiang Gu calmly addressed the two little girls, “We’re poor at home. My family can’t afford to buy me clothes. I’ve told you before, someone else gave me these clothes. My mother told me to take good care of them since they were given by someone else. It would be disrespectful to wear them out carelessly. Besides, look, the cuffs of this dress have been worn out by the previous wearer. How could it be new?”
As she spoke, she lifted her sleeve for the two girls to see.
Presented with evidence, the two little girls stopped nitpicking. They both started to admire Jiang Gu’s luck, getting clothes from kind people in town, having such a wonderful sister and a mother who cooks well. They were truly envious.
Hearing this, Jiang Xia pondered on how her younger sister had indeed inherited the family’s good virtues. At the same time, she felt pity for the little girls whose lives were clearly not easy.
Just a piece of clothing was enough to spark their envy.
Once the house was tidied, the spirits of the Jiang Chuan family greatly lifted.
Looking around their renewed home, Jiang Chuan stroked his chin, feeling as if something was missing. Finally, his gaze fell on the windows.
Yes, glass!
The last time Jiang Gu went to town, she had mentioned that the glass there was pretty. They could bring a couple of pieces back. They couldn’t always rely on these paper-covered windows, what if it rained?
Even though it was dry season now, it’s better to be prepared, right?
With that thought, Jiang Chuan started to plan on getting a certification from the village chief to bring some glass back next time he went to town.
When Jiang Gui arrived at Jiang’s house, they were having their meal around a small worn-out table.
The main dish was still wild vegetable porridge, unchanged. Only that Zhou Lan had skillfully pickled the wild vegetables with the salt Jiang Xia had brought back. The chili sauce they brought from the future also added an extra kick to the dish, making it more appealing and delicious.
Jiang Gui was practically drooling as he eyed the food at Jiang Chuan’s house.
“Big brother, have you eaten yet? What brings you here today?”
Jiang Chuan asked politely, which was quite generous considering what Jiang Gui’s family had done in the past.
“It’s still early, 1 haven’t eaten yet.”
Jiang Gui had his meal, but the food at Jiang’s house looked so appetizing that he couldn’t resist wanting to try some. He saw that there was still a lot of porridge left in the big bowl.
Unexpectedly, after he spoke, no one invited him to eat. Everyone continued to eat on their own.
Despite his irritation towards Jiang Gui, Jiang Chuan politely asked him again, “Why haven’t you eaten yet? Is there something urgent?”
Jiang Gui despised Jiang Chuan in his heart.
There was still so much porridge left, why couldn’t they let him have a taste? Truly, even when their circumstances improved, they were still stingy by nature.
Thinking this, Jiang Gui spoke irritably, “Of course, there’s a matter. I wouldn’t willingly come to your house otherwise. I came to discuss the wild vegetable issue. It was your family who led everyone to pick those vegetables before. Now people in the village are either secretly picking them or doing so in groups, almost depleting them. The relief grains have not arrived yet, so you should take responsibility for this, right?”
“Big brother, there’s something I don’t understand. It’s true that 1 found the wild vegetables and invited everyone to pick them, but what gives you the right to question me about it? I didn’t ask you to come with us to pick the wild vegetables in the first place, did I?” Jiang Chuan paused for a moment, then continued in a cold voice: “Also, if I’m not mistaken, our families have separated, right? Setting aside whether or not I should be responsible for the wild vegetables, since we’re separated, isn’t it a bit much for you to interfere with our affairs?”
Needless to say, as soon as Jiang Gui started speaking, Jiang Chuan knew that his family must have secretly gone to the mountains while they weren’t home.
The wild vegetables on the mountain were almost all picked. Now that they couldn’t benefit from the wild vegetables, they came to question the person who found them.
Jiang Gui would never have been so brazen to confront other families, but things were different with Jiang Chuan’s family. After all, he was Jiang Chuan’s elder brother. Jiang Chuan should show him some respect, shouldn’t he?
What Jiang Gui didn’t expect was how the previously timid and simple Jiang Chuan could be so confrontational now.
And then there was Jiang Gui, who didn’t even consider that his concern for the village people in discussing the wild vegetables issue today seemed very much like it was for his own selfish interests. Who couldn’t see through that?