Chapter 213: Biased
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Zhou Wan felt upset as he listened. Why was Jiang Chuan praised for selling vegetables in the county town when Zhou Wan had once wanted to do the same, only to be scolded by his mother? She had warned him that he was too naive and would surely get cheated.
Why was she treating Jiang Chuan differently? She was clearly biased.
Just then, Zhou Wan’s wife came out of the kitchen, having finished cooking. Seeing her husband, she cheerfully said, “Father, Mother, Zhou Wan, dinner is ready. Let’s sit and eat. We can talk while dining.”
Zhou Wan went over to help his wife and playfully pinched her waist, showing his affection.
The four settled at the dining table. Some wild vegetable pancakes that Zhou Lan had brought were still left. Zhou Wan served them, with meat sauce on the side. The combination was incredibly fragrant.
Zhou Cheng, already missing his daughter, felt the longing intensify as he ate the food she prepared. “Why didn’t Zhou Lan come back with you to visit? It’s been nearly six months since I last saw her. 1 heard her family was forced into the mountains by the old madam jiang and almost didn’t return…”
Zhou Cheng’s voice trembled, the thought of almost losing his daughter filled him with anger and sorrow.
However, dealing with the entire Jiang family was challenging. Their brother was strong-willed and articulate, making arguments against him fruitless. In contrast, Jiang Chuan was timid and rarely defended himself. It frustrated Zhou Wan’s family to witness such treatment, but they often felt helpless.
Zhang Min wiped her tears upon hearing this. “They’ve split up anyway, so we might as well bring their family back! Even if we tidy up this courtyard, we can still accommodate them. It’s better for them to stay by Father and Mother’s side than to suffer outside! If my daughter stays by my side, I’ll see who dares to bully her in the future!”
Seeing his parents’ growing distress, Zhou Wan quickly reassured them, “Father, Mother, don’t worry. Zhou Lan is doing well. After the separation, she didn’t take anything from the old Jiang family. But with the village’s support, she built a decent house. Their life is sorted.”
“Later, they ventured up the mountain a few times and were fortunate to discover a wild vegetable field. The wild vegetables 1 brought back were harvested by them. Zhou Lan instructed me to share them with you guys. She also mentioned that these vegetables are exceptionally sweet and would likely be popular in the county town.”
After that, Zhou Wan offered a wild vegetable pancake to the elderly couple. “I’ll prepare wild vegetable porridge for you tonight. Taste it and see if the vegetables are as delightful as Zhou Lan described.”
Zhang Min continued to probe, “Is just having food and shelter sufficient? What about their clothing and household items? They seemed to have left with nothing, so how do they manage financially? Life must be tough!”
“Not really. I went to take a closer look. The porcelain pots they own are of excellent quality. Despite some chipping, they’re far superior to what we use. 1 also noticed Jiang Xia and Jiang Gu in new outfits. Apparently, these were garments that city kids outgrew, so they were passed on to Jiang Xia and Jiang Gu. Additionally, their newly acquired furniture, made from quality wood, looks splendid.”
“I also heard from Jiang Chuan that he’s been inquiring about the whereabouts of their eldest daughter, Jiang Qing. He’s eager to reunite with her. Zhou Lan plans to bring her three daughters and have the family of five visit you. She wants you to meet the three granddaughters you’ve missed for so long.”
Zhang Min recalled her eldest granddaughter who was sold by Old Madam Jiang and, in anger, slammed the table. “That woman has such a malicious tongue! How dare she determine the fate of my granddaughter? My poor girl is mistreated merely because she’s gentle!”
“Mother, calm down. Jiang Chuan mentioned that the Old Madam Jiang has shown some remorse. He’s even devised a plan to ascertain her precise location. In just a day or two, he should be able to bring his daughter home.”
Though still upset, Zhang Min’s primary concern was for her granddaughter’s swift return, hoping the family would soon visit the village..