I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel

Chapter 433 - 372: Everyone Schemes Their Own Plans

That night when she returned, Jiang Zhenzhu developed a fever. Xu Ya used a cold towel to help relieve her, and stayed by her side until dawn when her temperature finally dropped. Exhausted, she collapsed on the other side of the bed, unwilling to move.

She regretted it!

If the events hadn’t unfolded as they did, she’d still be the respected matriarch at home, with Jiang Kangsheng’s money at her disposal, never questioned about its whereabouts.

She was in charge at home, the children listened to her, and she had a respected job. Patients’ families always showed her friendly smiles, and local specialties were never lacking.

Returning home from work, her daughter-in-law would serve her meals.

But now, there’s no one to serve her, instead, she has to take care of others.

The money is gone too, and she has to ask for money to support others.

Before, anyone in the hospital who saw her would call her Doctor Xu, but now she’s treated like a suspicious person, suspected and reprimanded, losing face.

Xu Ya truly regretted it!

"Mom, I’m thirsty," Jiang Zhenzhu suddenly said, waking Xu Ya. She struggled to get up, dragging her heavy steps to pour water.

"Wow!" Jiang Zhenzhu spat out after taking a sip, displeased, "Why is it raw water? Mom, how can this be drank? Especially since I’m still ill."

Her meaning was implicit; she needed hot water.

Xu Ya was in a predicament.

"But there’s only cold water at home, and no fire."

Jiang Zhenzhu could barely hold back, "You can boil it now. I’ll wait."

"But there’s no coal at home."

Jiang Zhenzhu didn’t pause, "Don’t you still have money? Mom, you care for your daughter the most. Could you please get me some hot water?"

Xu Ya sighed and agreed.

Otherwise, this daughter would once again lament the sufferings she endured in the countryside over the years.

Xu Ya lamented, "Why is my life so bitter?"

Xu Ya went out to buy coal, and Jiang Zhenzhu immediately sat up to curse, venting everything, dissipating her pent-up bitterness somewhat, and more determined to get money by any means, intending to leave quickly. As for taking Xu Ya along, she never considered it.

It’s undeniable; they are indeed mother and daughter, inherently alike, abandoning each other in times of trouble.

Did Xu Ya really go to buy coal?

Of course not.

Xu Ya walked in the opposite direction of the coal market.

Soon she knocked on the door of a small courtyard. The man who opened the door was very excited to see her, pulling her inside, then the two burned with passion against the door.

Tiansheng Bridge, the youth had already left, while Shen Qingmei still stood under the eaves looking toward the mountains, unlike before, this time her eyes were filled with ambition.

The youth had said that her cousin, mistaken for someone else, was living in the city alone in a large courtyard, bigger and prettier than theirs, and now her cousin had a city residency, commuting to work by bicycle, wearing floral dresses, and eating unlimited meat.

Was that not a fairy’s life? Yet an impostor had taken it.

Does this not mean she could wear floral dresses, ride a bicycle, be a city girl, and live in a big courtyard?

Maybe she could even meet a handsome city gentleman instead of being destined to marry a peasant from the village.

Influenced by her family’s two women, Shen Qingmei always felt she was supposed to be a city person enjoying life, not a rural person.

No wonder Grandma and Mother never agreed to their sibling’s marriages; they were meant to marry city girls, and live happily ever after.

Determined, Shen Qingmei ran to the fields to find her parents.

"What?" Fan Xiaocui’s heart was ablaze, her eyes filled with greed.

Living alone in a large courtyard, wasn’t that waiting for their whole family to move in?

"Qingmei, we are unfamiliar with the place, how do we find it?"

"Mother, don’t worry, that person left me my cousin’s address, I remember it all."

This time Shen Fangdiao stopped farming, "Come on, you go home first, I’ll find the village head to take leave and get an introduction letter."

They were determined to enter the city.

That night Jiang Cheng came home for dinner, the first time in so long.

Beforehand, Jiang Ming’an had told Jiang Mingyue about the background.

It turned out Jiang Cheng and he had known each other for a while. Six months ago, when Jiang Ming’an went north to procure supplies, he saw Jiang Cheng being attacked by wolves in a remote mountain and saved him, or Jiang Cheng would have met King Yan that night.

Grateful for his salvation, Jiang Cheng pledged allegiance, serving under him.

Jiang Mingyue was shocked at the time, but then she realized she had forgotten what a forceful presence her elder cousin was.

And the price was a vial of "All-Purpose Awakening Spirit," medicine that Xue Hong acquired for 100,000 yuan, now given away.

But she knew her elder cousin never made a loss.

And she learned, Jiang Cheng’s trip south wasn’t only for the Awakening Spirit but also for revenge and the Taotie Pocket Watch, with three purposes.

But since the Taotie Pocket Watch was on Jiang Ming’an’s side, he naturally let it go, leaving only revenge.

Xu Yong was dead, so the only one left was Xu Ya.

Jiang Mingyue knew, Xu Ya was in danger!

Cooking was unnecessary for Jiang Mingyue, her two brothers were busy in the kitchen.

Once Jiang Cheng arrived, the meal was ready to be served.

Jiang Cheng didn’t come empty-handed, Uncle Tao followed him, their hands full of temporarily unknown items, yet surely good stuff.

Uncle Tao dropped off the items and left.

The meal was served, and Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but stare at the delectable dishes.

"Did you really make these yourself?"

Jiang Ming’an nodded, "What’s so difficult about it?"

Jiang Cheng was silent! Look, like drinking water, was it easy, he asked, are you impressed?

Clay pot chicken stew, meat-filled pastry, old duck soup, crispy red beans, sour bamboo shoot stir-fried potato strips, and squirrel mandarin fish, simply extravagant.

It showed how much his brother valued him! Jiang Cheng happily indulged, soon too busy to speak.

How did he not know Jiang’s brothers had such impressive culinary skills?

Satisfactorily full, they chatted, keeping the topic on guiding the siblings.

If the siblings asked him to spare Xu Ya, even after subtle hints, they seemed not to understand, Jiang Cheng instantly sobered up; they themselves didn’t wish to spare her either.

Upon returning home, Jiang Cheng asked Uncle Tao to buy train tickets to send the medicine back first, while he was surely staying until vengeance was fulfilled.

As for Ning Yan, he didn’t get the money, returning home disheartened.

He deeply regretted it!

If he’d known Jiang Zhenzhu was such a person, would he have ended up in this predicament?

He was well-educated and cared for by his teacher, supposed to have an easy life, but he threw it all away because of a woman, losing his job and wasting his teacher’s kindness.

Now he ended up like this.

At this time, Han Shu played the role of a supportive wife, sitting next to him, leaning on his shoulder and holding his arm to comfort him.

"Don’t worry, things will get better," then she shifted the topic, "Jiang Mingyue lives alone in such a big courtyard, she must have lots of money. Why don’t we borrow some from her? We can repay her once our jobs stabilize."