Read Novel Full Chapter 101
Chapter 101 : The Jiang Family’s Secret
Some said he was caught in bed with the widow and chased out by her mother-in-law, running naked through three streets.
Others claimed that to avoid further trouble, the Jiang family paid the widow’s family several hundred yuan.
“Where did Jiang Changyi get those hundreds of yuan? They don’t work hard in the fields, so how could they save that much in a year?”
“Humph, I don’t believe they saved it. I think the money probably came from Xu Shuzhen”.
“That’s right. When Xu Shuzhen passed away, Jiang Li was just a little girl. Even if she had money, she wouldn’t know how to spend it. Who knows? Jiang Changyi and his wife might have swindled it from her.”
“Hey, hey, stop talking! Jiang Changyi is here!”
Jiang Tianci followed behind Jiang Changyi, his head hanging low. These days had worn him out. Even working only half days, his hands were blistered, and his shoulders, back, and legs ached. The skin on the back of his neck had peeled after just two days.
That wasn’t the worst of it. For some reason, the villagers often pointed and whispered about him, but the moment he approached, they scattered like he was some kind of stinking dog droppings.
Humph, forget it. He was too lazy to care about these peasants.
He was a scholar, destined for great things. Speaking to such people was beneath him.
Jiang Changyi walked to the task field silently, starting his work with a hoe. Recently, matchmakers had visited one after another, looking for a match for Tianci, but all of them claimed there were no suitable prospects.
Feeling it was strange, he asked around and discovered a detailed rumor spreading about Tianci and Malanhua. He couldn’t go door to door explaining things to everyone, it was infuriating!
Meanwhile, Li Chunlan told Jiang Li everything about the village gossip and the day a crowd came demanding money from the Jiang family’s doorstep. Jiang Li’s eyes flickered. She knew the rumors weren’t baseless.
Where had Jiang Changyi and his wife gotten the money? It could very well have been her parents’ money. Aside from the bracelet, they might have hidden other secrets.
Recalling the details of the original novel, an idea struck Jiang Li. “Xiaoting, when my mother passed away, did anyone from my grandmother’s family come?”
Qin Xiaoting shook her head. “I’m not sure. But I heard from my mother that in the first few years after Uncle Jiang and Aunt Xu got married, they often received letters from Haicheng. Back then, you even shared some high-end candies, remember?”
Jiang Li did remember. The original novel mentioned that as a child, she had tasted liquor-filled chocolates sent from Haicheng.
A theory formed in Jiang Li’s mind: her mother had maintained contact with her family in Haicheng in the early years after moving to the countryside. Later, the turbulent times likely disrupted communication. However, in recent years, many had been rehabilitated and returned to the city.
What was the situation at her grandmother’s house now? Either way, Jiang Li needed to visit the Jiang household.
The vast plains were blanketed in green as spring painted the landscape, and even the wind seemed gentler, carrying a breath of renewal. People were changing into lighter spring clothes.
This particular day, Qin Xiaoting’s family was moving into the city. Jiang Li had spent over a month searching and finally found a suitable house near the food factory’s staff quarters.
It was a small courtyard owned by an old lady who had lost her only son and cared for a disabled granddaughter. She had a peculiar temperament, but the house was clean, spacious, and included a vegetable garden that Qin Xiaoting instantly liked.
Liu Lixin approached the old lady, mentioning they might stay until the baby was born. Her attitude immediately soured, and she refused to rent to a pregnant woman, citing concerns about noise during the confinement period.
Qin Xiaoting later visited with some red bean cakes she had made herself. The old lady reluctantly agreed but issued stern warnings, forbidding men from being brought in casually and insisting on absolute quiet. Qin Xiaoting accepted all the terms.
Jiang Li found it odd. “Xiaoting, why not find another place? This old lady doesn’t seem easy to get along with.”
Qin Xiaoting shook her head. “It’s fine. She has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. It’s normal for her to be cautious, given her situation with her granddaughter.”
“Look, these vegetables are from her garden. She said we can help ourselves. I’ll make something delicious for you.”
Qin Xiaoting was two months pregnant and had not stepped into the kitchen even once. As soon as she tried, her mother-in-law became anxious and quickly told her to stop.
“You don’t understand, I’m almost sick from staying at home all day. I’m not allowed to move or work. All I do is eat, sleep, and review my notes. I feel like I’m growing mushrooms from being so idle.”
Jiang Li pinched her lightly. “You just can’t sit still, can you? But you really should take it easy while you’re pregnant and take care of yourself.”
Qin Xiaoting gently touched her belly, her eyes softening. “I don’t know what’s different this time. In my previous life, when I was pregnant, I couldn’t eat or sleep. For the first three months, I almost lived on pickles with my meals. This time, everything tastes good, and I don’t even feel pregnant.”
As she was speaking, Liu Lixin came in carrying some items, his face pale and his demeanor uneasy. His eyes darted around, and he looked extremely uncomfortable.
Qin Xiaoting asked what was wrong. Liu Lixin hesitated before admitting, embarrassed, that he had felt inexplicably nauseous since the day before. At first, he thought it was a stomach upset, but since the entire family ate the same meals, he couldn’t figure out why only he felt unwell. Worse still, today he had a strong craving for wide noodles drenched in vinegar and chili.
A suspicion formed in his mind. He recalled reading about cases where a husband developed pregnancy-like symptoms when his wife was pregnant. The symptoms would disappear after the pregnancy ended.
Liu Lixin reasoned that Xiaoting might be carrying twins, and his nervousness was manifesting physically. He decided to keep this from her to avoid adding to her stress.
“It’s fine. Maybe it’s just an upset stomach. It’ll pass in a few days.”
However, the vomiting persisted for a week. Finally, Qin Xiaoting couldn’t stand it anymore and took him to see a doctor. When they returned, she laughed so hard that she could barely stand. She quickly shared the story with Jiang Li.
Jiang Li was stunned. “Is something like this even possible?”
“It seems so! This is the first I’ve ever heard of it. You don’t know how shocked I was when the doctor at the county hospital explained it. Liu Lixin’s face turned so red, he must’ve suspected it all along.”
“It’s because he loves you so much that he’s sharing in your morning sickness.”
Qin Xiaoting beamed. “At least now he understands how hard it is for a woman to carry a child. It makes everything I’m going through for these twins feel worthwhile.”
As the weather warmed, the college entrance exams loomed just a few months away. Jiang Li and Qin Xiaoting made a pact to study together, throwing all their energy into their final preparations.
Meanwhile, Liu Lixin and Qi Shaoqiang took charge of the household, handling all the chores to support them.
One day, Chen Xianyun suddenly showed up in the county, looking worried. After hesitating for a moment, she revealed shocking news.