Chapter 240: Plan
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
In the first few years after Jiang Gu was born, Zhou Lan was exceptionally busy. Besides engaging in farming activities, she also undertook sewing tasks to earn extra money for the family. It was Jiang Qing who took care of the daily needs of Jiang Gu and Jiang Xia, so they naturally shared a very close bond.
Furthermore, Jiang Qing was remarkably beautiful, the prettiest among the three daughters. Her skin was fair, and no matter how much it was exposed to the sun, it never tanned. While others would be dripping with sweat and their faces oily after working in the summer heat, she always remained neat and clean.
Usually, she would wear two twisted braids, and even in modest clothes, her beauty was undeniable. Many young men in the village hoped to marry her, and she was affectionately referred to as the village beauty. There were countless people who showed her special attention.
Yet, in the end, she was sold off to the mountains by Old Madam Jiang, and no one knew which fortunate man got her as his bride.
Although Jiang Gu spoke these words casually, they resonated deeply with Jiang Chuan.
Reuniting with his daughter and having the whole family together was essential for him. After all, that’s what families do.
But he pondered over how to handle this son-in-law he had never met. He wanted to know about their marital relationship so he could decide on the next steps. If they were happy together, he would welcome the son-in-law’s family to their village. Given the financial means of their family, supporting a few more people wouldn’t be an issue.
However, if things weren’t good and his daughter was being mistreated, Jiang Chuan wouldn’t hesitate to intervene. He would ensure their separation and take care of his daughter for the rest of his life, rather than see her suffer.
Expressing his thoughts to Chen Xing, Jiang Chuan said, “I want to bring my daughter and her family down from the mountains.”
After pondering briefly, Chen Xing replied ambiguously, “It might not be easy.”
Locating his daughter was doable, especially with the upcoming census. But relocating an entire family of five from the mountains to the village was a different matter altogether.
Just speaking about the issue of residency, their sudden move to the village requires various administrative procedures which are difficult to manage. If asked where they came from, surely they can’t say from the mountains?
Then there’s the issue of housing. It’s said that Jiang Chuan and the others currently live in houses that used to belong to the village chief, built with the help of the villagers. Where will this additional family of five live?
Beyond all these concerns, there’s the question of whether the Zhang family is even willing to move to the village. No one knows the answer to that.
Jiang Chuan didn’t expect Chen Xing to agree to help. It was impossible for him to make a big contribution to the relocation after treating him to a meal.
However, Jiang Chuan had his own plans. In the modern era, he was a businessman, and making friends was paramount in business. Jiang Chuan believed he had some skills in this area and planned to leverage his connections in the coming days.
After the meal, Jiang Chuan’s family escorted Chen Xing out. Before leaving, they handed him a cloth bag containing two jars of meat sauce and some preserved dried meat.
Meat was a rare commodity in the village. Presenting Chen Xing with such a large quantity took him by surprise, and he was unsure whether he should accept the generous gift.
Jiang Chuan insisted, pushing the bag into Chen Xing’s hands and preventing him from returning it.
Jiang Chuan gracefully said, “I’ve bothered you with tasks these past days, and I feel quite apologetic. Please accept this meat sauce and dried meat as a token of gratitude. When you have some free time, let’s have a good meal together.”
The taste of the liquor was still lingering on Chen Xing’s lips. Now, after receiving the gifts, he felt a bit guilty for initially refusing to help them.
Before Chen Xing could respond, Zhou Lan spoke up, “You address me as sister-in-law; that means we’re family. There’s no need for formalities among family. Take the gifts and travel home safely.”
Feeling embarrassed to decline and sensing the sincerity of the family’s gratitude, Chen Xing felt closer to them. He realized he might have misjudged them earlier. The villagers were very genuine and kind-hearted. He concluded that if they wished to bring their daughter back, he would certainly do his best to assist.
Chen Xing was originally from this village. He later married a girl from the neighboring village whose family was quite well-off. They had only this one daughter and were unwilling to see her marry far away. As a result, they gave a generous dowry, making Chen Xing essentially a groom who moved into his wife’s family home..