"Go back this afternoon, and remember to do as Granny told you," the Ruanlin family matriarch said.
Ruan Jun accepted the money with a grave expression, his eyes stinging and on the verge of tears, but he held them back and nodded vigorously, "Okay! Granny, I know what to do!"
This matter was not something the Ruanlin family matriarch intended to keep from Ruan Jiandang, so when he came back from the fields at noon, she talked about it at the dining table.
Ruan Jianguo was eating his food and paused briefly when he heard, then continued eating as if nothing had been said.
Ruan Jiandang’s face looked terrible.
His hand trembled as he was picking up food, and the chopsticks he held fell onto the table.
The Ruanlin family matriarch picked them up, wiped them off, and handed them back to him. At the same time, she said, "Ruan Jiandang, you are my son; don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Put away that pitiful and pathetic sympathy of yours. As for Liao Zhaoji, you better completely get rid of any thoughts about her from now on, especially if you still care about your three children."
"I know," Jiandang said, nodding, his voice unusually hoarse.
How could he not have given up on her?
He had given up long ago.
After today’s events, even that last bit of pity and mercy had utterly vanished.
After lunch, Ruan Jun didn’t rest for long before he got up and left for the Liao family. Jiandang didn’t return to the fields that afternoon either, instead locking himself in his room. The Ruanlin family matriarch couldn’t be bothered with him, and Jianguo, after some thought, told her where he was going before stealthily following behind Ruan Jun.
The Ruanlin family matriarch looked at the tightly shut door of the second house and then at Jianguo’s retreating form, her disappointment plain to see.
Sometimes she wondered—despite all being born of her, why was there such a large gap between her sons? People always said she favored the first house and Jiaojiao, and she never argued, because it was true, she did favor them, but no one ever pondered why...
It had been years since the family partition, and she’d always depended on the first house for food, proudly declining resources from the other branches. Yet, her sons and daughters-in-law never offered her so much as a grain of rice or a single garment to wear!
Sons and daughters-in-law like these, how could she possibly dote on them? Pah!
Was she out of her mind or did she have water on the brain to favor such people?
The Ruanlin family matriarch now had no other desires; as long as she could live out her days with the first house and her Jiaojiao, she would be content. She didn’t ask for anything more.
Ruan Jun finally arrived at the Liao family’s doorstep, just in time to see Liao Zhaoji tidying up, sweating profusely.
As he approached, Zhaoji noticed him immediately and, leaving her rake behind, quickly ran over, "Xiaojun, have you managed to get the money?"
Ruan Jun looked at her and said nothing, only nodding his head.
Liao Zhaoji’s face lit up with joy and praise, "You’re truly a good son, so filial. Where’s the money? Is it three hundred yuan? Where did it come from—did Granny give it to you, or did your dad borrow it?"
Compared to Liao Zhaoji’s excitement and agitation, Ruan Jun was expressionless.
Zhaoji quickly noticed his abnormal demeanor.
"What’s wrong? Son, why aren’t you talking? Where’s the money? Hurry up and take it out," she said, reaching for his pocket.
Ruan Jun stepped back, avoiding her hand.
He looked at her steadily, "This money isn’t from Granny, nor did dad borrow it."
"Then where did it come from?" Liao Zhaoji frowned.
"I signed a three-year contract to go down into the mines," Ruan Jun said. As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on her face, not wanting to miss even the slightest hint of her expression.