Chapter 22: Late Evening

The person who had come was none other than Jiang Dazhen’s stepdaughter, the granddaughter of the Meng family, Meng Xiangwen.

She was wearing the most fashionable outfit in the city. In the county town, any household with even modest means would have at least one set like this. It was no different from modern people chasing name brands for status. In this era, a man in a Zhongshan suit and a woman in a Lenin suit would draw admiring glances wherever they went.

Meng Xiangwen was dressed in precisely this popular style,an imitation green military uniform. The green cloth at the county’s supply and marketing cooperative was in short supply; even with ration coupons, you might not be able to buy any.

Jiang Dahai couldn’t help glancing at her with a bit of envy. Then he turned to look at his own precious son and thought to himself: their family had managed to save up quite a bit of cloth this year. When he got the chance to go into town, he ought to get a bolt of that fabric and have a set of clothes made for his boy. Wouldn’t that look grand?

“Country bumpkins,” Meng Xiangwen muttered under her breath. Although she spoke softly, it wasn’t so soft that the people in the living room couldn’t hear.

Jiang Dazhen’s expression immediately turned ugly. She could tolerate her stepdaughter’s petty squabbles on most days, but to insult her family like this right in front of her face, if it were just her alone, she could swallow it. But what had her elder brother and her little nephew done to deserve this scorn? The Meng family had promised to take good care of Wenqin’s daughter, was this the result? To raise someone so ill-mannered?

Jiang Dahai reached out and pressed his sister back into her seat. Though he was equally displeased by this girl’s attitude, he also understood her position. Jiang Dazhen might be her mother, but there was always that “step-” in front of it, making everything more complicated. If they started a quarrel with this little girl, it would only stir up more trouble.

Jiang Dahai thought to himself that it was a rare occasion for him to come into town. Best not to cause any problems for his sister.

Jiang Yiliu took a long look at the spoiled, willful girl across from him. In the end, she was just a foolish child being used by others. He was mentally in his forties, far too old to stoop to arguing with a little girl.

He lowered his gaze, thinking of Meng Xiangwen’s fate in his previous life. She was pitiable in her own way. But the person he loved most in this world was still his aunt, and he had no sympathy for this girl who always schemed to stir up discord between his cousin and his uncle.

Meng Xiangwen saw the three of them sitting there, unable to respond, and let out a self-satisfied snort. She straightened her brand-new clothes, swaggered into the living room, and flopped onto the sofa without so much as a greeting.

The atmosphere was growing more awkward by the second when Grandma Qu finally emerged carrying a few cups of water, breaking the heavy silence.

Once she’d entered the kitchen, Grandma Qu first examined all the things the Jiang family had brought over. She hadn’t expected them to be so generous, everything was first-rate mountain produce. The dried mushrooms released a rich aroma the moment she opened the package, and the black fungus was large and perfectly intact. Even the county supply cooperative couldn’t source goods of this quality. And they’d brought quite a lot enough to last the household a good while.

Grandma Qu carefully put everything away, then took out a tin of malted milk powder from the cupboard. She prepared a cup for Jiang Yiliu, adding two generous spoonfuls, brewed a cup of green tea for Jiang Dahai, and piled up a large plate of sesame biscuits and peach crisps. Satisfied, she finally carried everything out.

“Wenwen, you’re back.” Although Grandma Qu disapproved of how her granddaughter always sided with her maternal grandmother’s family, she still missed her after not seeing her for so long and greeted her warmly.

Meng Xiangwen lay sprawled on the sofa and called out “Grandma” listlessly. But when she caught sight of the malted milk in Grandma Qu Ying’s hands, her eyes immediately brightened. She reached out, took the cup, and drank it down in one go.

After she set the empty cup on the coffee table, her gaze fell on the plate of pastries, and she grew dissatisfied again. She cast a cold glance at Jiang Dahai and Jiang Yiliu, muttering under her breath. But with Grandma Grandma Qu Ying present, she restrained herself, not daring to speak as brazenly as before.

Not that she had to, Jiang Yiliu could already guess what she was thinking: they were just a pair of poor relatives coming to scrounge for favors. And probably, in her mind, also conspirators helping her stepmother snatch away the Meng family’s things.

When Grandma Qu Ying saw that the cup of malted milk she’d poured for her grandson had been drained by her granddaughter, she shot her a glare. But there was nothing for it but to go back and prepare another.

“Brother, Xiaobao, have some pastries.” Jiang Dazhen smiled as she invited them. “These peach crisps are expensive, but they really are delicious. It’s gotten late with all the errands,have a few to fill your stomachs. I’ll pack some up for you to take along in case you get hungry on the road.”

Jiang Dahai had already explained they wouldn’t be staying for dinner,they didn’t want to risk angering the revolutionary committee by returning too late. Jiang Dazhen could only urge her brother and nephew to eat more while they were here.

In those days, peach crisps were considered a luxury treat,ideal for New Year gifts and visiting relatives.

At the supply cooperative, they even sold them in gift boxes. Though “gift box” really just meant a meticulously wrapped paper parcel: the innermost layer was dried lotus leaves, the second thick brown paper, the outer layer yellow or white paper, tied up with fine twine. Finally, a red label was affixed with the food factory’s name,a kind of early trademark.

A box weighed about a jin (500 grams), and buying one required a lot of ration coupons and cash. Though the Jiang family had done well in recent years, they only ever bought a box during the holidays.

Usually, that box would be saved for Jiang Yiliu, though he would always share most of it with his four older sisters, leaving himself with very little.

The main ingredients were eggs and wheat flour. But wheat was precious, so the crisps were mixed with coarse grains. Compared to modern versions loaded with cream and flavorings, Jiang Yiliu much preferred these simpler ones.

Fragrant, crisp, and crunchy,especially the toasted sesame layer on top,biting into them was an unparalleled pleasure.

Jiang Dahai picked out the sesame biscuits instead,they were much cheaper. He wasn’t shy about eating, knowing that if he didn’t fill his stomach now, the journey back would be even harder.

Jiang Yiliu also happily picked up a peach crisp and began eating with relish.

“Humph. Freeloading moochers,” Meng Xiangwen sneered as soon as Grandma Qu Ying left the room.

(TL: I got one for you, Bi***)

Jiang Yiliu had suffered every hardship imaginable in his past life;he'd heard far worse insults. This little girl’s petty barbs were nothing to him. He continued calmly eating, letting her words blow past like a stray breeze.

But Jiang Dahai was not so composed. He didn’t know whether to keep holding the pastry or set it down, his face stiff with embarrassment. He’d already lost any goodwill for this child.

They hadn’t provoked her in any way,why should someone so young be so vicious? He could only imagine how much grief she gave his sister on a daily basis.

Thinking of Jiang Dazhen, the anger he’d just felt dissipated. So what if a little girl hurled a few insults? His sister still had to live in this house. A wife was never closer than a granddaughter,if he made Grandma Qu unhappy, it would only make Dazhen’s days harder.

(TN: F that, if it were me, I would gladly divorce the guy there is no way he’s not aware of his daughter’s disrespectful attitude with his wife he should have done something the first time it happened.)

He could only keep eating his sesame biscuit in silence, pretending nothing had happened.

Meng Xiangwen watched them sitting there speechless, contentedly chewing, and her disdain only deepened. Just as her little aunt had said, Jiang Dazhen was all smiles on the surface but secretly plotting to help her family of paupers. If the accounting job fell into her hands, there’d be no hope of getting it back.

Unlike Meng Xiangxue,who was a boy and could inherit their father’s or grandfather’s position someday,she was just a girl. She couldn’t do heavy labor. The accounting job was perfect: sitting in an office, barely any work, respected by everyone.

It should have been hers. But it was being snatched away by this interloper, who had so many nieces. Who knew which of them would end up in the position?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew. Just as she was about to speak again, she glimpsed her grandmother returning with the malted milk and fell silent.

“What are you all chatting about? I thought I heard Wenwen’s voice from the kitchen.” Grandma Qu smiled as she placed the malted milk in front of Jiang Yiliu and gently stroked his little head.

“Nothing much,” Jiang Dazhen replied quickly. “We were just discussing how my brother will be heading home soon. I said I’d pack some pastries for them to eat on the road.”

In those days, houses didn’t have any notion of soundproofing. The kitchen was close enough that everything said in the living room was perfectly audible. Jiang Dazhen didn’t believe for a second the old lady hadn’t heard what was just said.

But she was a clever woman who knew Grandma Qu’s temperament well. The Meng family’s scandals could be aired only among themselves. If she publicly scolded Meng Xiangwen in front of her brother and nephew, no matter how wrong Meng Xiangwen was, Grandma Qu would feel displeased.

Now, though, by speaking up for Meng Xiangwen despite being the one insulted, she was sure the old lady would remember her kindness and eventually make it up to her. Those pastries were proof enough.

After so many years in this house, Jiang Dazhen had learned every nuance of these people’s hearts. Since she’d already suffered the humiliation, she might as well take something in return. She wasn’t like the Wen family, stupid enough to alienate such a good in-law.

Sure enough, Grandma Qu looked very satisfied. She didn’t begrudge the pastries and even fetched a whole unopened box of peach crisps from the cabinet.

“From the moment I laid eyes on Yiliu, I liked him so much,” she said kindly. “And you brought all those good things over. Take this box of crisps as a little gift from Grandma.” She pressed it into Jiang Yiliu’s arms.

Jiang Dahai quickly tried to decline,they’d only come to deliver things, and here they were taking more back home.

“Dahai, don’t be so polite with your old aunt,” Grandma Qu scolded gently. “If you keep refusing, I’ll be angry.”

Jiang Dahai immediately fell silent.

Grandma Qu nodded in satisfaction, then shot her troublesome granddaughter a weary glance.

She couldn’t let this child be utterly ruined by the Wen family. Tonight, she’d have to discuss with the two men whether to limit her contact with them.

Meng Xiangwen watched the Jiang family eating and leaving with gifts, her face flushed red with fury. She had no idea Grandma Qu was actually cleaning up her mess,if word of what she’d just said spread, she’d be gossiped about for life. What family would dare marry such a rude, spoiled girl?

But Grandma Qu’s efforts were doomed to be wasted.

“I want this month’s grain coupons and cloth coupons,” Meng Xiangwen demanded abruptly, unable to bear staying here for another moment.

Grandma Qu’s face stiffened. “Didn’t I just deliver the grain at the beginning of the month? What’s the matter—is it not enough to eat?”

In fact, it wasn’t that there wasn’t enough food. The issue was that this month, Meng Xiangwen had stayed at the Wen family far longer than usual.

Normally, the Meng family would give the Wen family a full month’s worth of her rations, but Meng Xiangwen only stayed there about half the time. The leftover food naturally went into the Wen family’s mouths. But this time, because of the quarrel over the accounting job, the two families had fallen out completely. Meng Xiangwen had simply stayed with the Wen family ever since, never mentioning coming home. The rest of the Wen family didn’t mind her presence, but her eldest uncle’s wife, Lu Xingfang, certainly did.

The house was already cramped with so many people. Now there was one more mouth to feed—and none of the extra rations that used to soften the burden. She hadn’t been able to tolerate it and had started hinting at how hard things were.

(TL: hey this is THE real moocher)

Meng Xiangwen had always seen the Wen family as her true support. As soon as she heard this, she couldn’t stand it and immediately came running to the Meng house to ask for more rations.

And she wasn’t just here for grain. She also wanted cloth coupons to have another set of clothes made. The Wen family had many mouths to feed, and money was always tight. Wen Shu had tried coaxing their parents into giving up a cloth coupon but hadn’t succeeded. So she had set her sights on her niece. After all, the Meng family was well-off. Better to use the cloth coupons on Meng Xiangwen’s new clothes than let them end up with Jiang Dazhen or her son.

Meng Xiangwen and this aunt of hers had always been closest. She hadn’t even needed to be asked—she had patted her chest and promised. She and her aunt were about the same size, anyway. If they had clothes in different styles, they could swap them back and forth.

Meng Xiangwen never once considered whether the Meng family would agree. In her eyes, this was her due. If they refused, it simply proved their bias against her. If that happened, she would have nothing more to do with them. In any case, only her maternal grandparents truly cared for her. Only her aunt cherished her. As for her father and her paternal grandparents, they had long since been seduced away by that fox of a woman and her son. Whether she was here or not, what did it matter?

“Just tell me, do you have them or not?” Meng Xiangwen said impatiently to Grandma Qu. “If you don’t, I’ll just go home.”

Grandma Qu’s breath caught in her throat. “Go home? Isn’t this your home? Which home are you going back to?” Her tone had grown hard, and if not for the guests present, she might have lost her temper completely. She really wanted to crack open her granddaughter’s skull and see what kind of nonsense the Wen family had stuffed into her head.

Meng Xiangwen saw that she wouldn’t get what she wanted today. She shot Jiang Dazhen a venomous look, including Jiang Dahai and Jiang Yiliu in her glare, then stood up to leave. As she went out, she slammed the door behind her with a thunderous bang.

The loud thud startled Grandma Qu so badly her body jolted. Her anger surged again, and she lifted a trembling hand to point at the door. “This child…this child, she’s going to be the death of me…”

Jiang Dazhen stepped forward to rub her back, speaking softly to soothe her. “Mother, don’t get upset. Wenwen is still young. When she grows up, she’ll understand. Tonight I’ll have Chuoping bring her some grain coupons and cloth coupons. She’s a big girl, she’s growing fast, so of course she eats more. The family isn’t short of these things. There are only two children, Wenwen and Xiangxue, whoever uses them, what’s the difference?”

If there was ever a time to earn favor with the old lady, it was now.

Sure enough, Grandma Qu’s expression eased a little. Elders always had soft hearts for their own blood. She could scold her granddaughter herself, but if someone else so much as echoed the criticism, she’d feel defensive.

In her mind, her granddaughter was not truly at fault. If she had turned out this way, it was because the Wen family had misled her. She only had one grandson and one granddaughter—both were precious to her. She could never truly abandon either of them.

(TL: imo, it’s you, grandpa Meng and Meng Chuoping’s fault, you all just let the Wen family poison her. I think the three are so preoccupied with the new baby that they forgot her. Kids are sensitive and they tend to depend more on the people that give them attention.)

Jiang Dazhen had seen this clearly long ago. No matter how furious the old lady was today, if Meng Xiangwen came back to apologize in a few days, Grandma Qu would forgive everything. If she herself were the one complaining about Meng Xiangwen now, she’d end up resented by both sides. Better to say something comforting and win a little goodwill.

“You must think we’re a laughingstock,” Grandma Qu finally said, a bit embarrassed, turning to the two who had witnessed it all.

(TL: yes, that was embarassing.)

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Dahai said quickly, scratching his head with an awkward smile. “Kids are all like this. I have four daughters—every one of them has a temper.”

(TL: THEY ARE ANGELS!)

Jiang Yiliu nearly rolled his eyes. His father was really hopeless. His four older sisters were some of the most sensible people in the world. Except for the second sister’s occasional fiery outbursts, none of them were anything like that spoiled girl.

Still, Grandma Qu was visibly cheered by his words. She started chattering away about the difficulties of raising children, not giving Jiang Dahai any chance to interrupt. He could only sit there stiffly, smiling as she went on for over an hour.

At last, he found an excuse that it was getting late and they needed to head out, finally escaping her endless stories.

When they left, all the big bundles they’d brought were once again filled with gifts, things Grandma Qu had insisted on pressing into their arms. She even said she enjoyed talking with Jiang Dahai so much that he should come to town more often to visit and chat with her.

Standing outside the door with his arms full, Jiang Dahai felt dazed. How had things spiraled like this? But for now, the most important thing was to get his nephew back. This time, he wouldn’t dare take the same road, they might still be waiting there. So he deliberately took a long detour, spending an extra ten minutes before finally reaching the revolutionary committee.

By then, dusk had already fallen. Jiang Yiliu looked at the glow of electric lights in the distance, and his heart surged with anticipation.

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Chapter 22: Late Evening