My Happy Daily Life After Being Reborn-Chapter 45 - 28 Visiting the Jiang Family

45: Chapter 28: Visiting the Jiang Family

45 -28: Visiting the Jiang Family

Jiang Xiaomei might have been obtuse at times, but occasionally she was particularly sensitive, as she was now.

She chatted on about various fun and interesting things without mentioning a word about Lin Xiaoguai’s near miscarriage.

When lunchtime came around, Shen Chi also returned and when he heard that Lin Xiaoguai wanted to visit Jiang Xiaomei’s house, he wished to accompany her.

However, Lin Xiaoguai stopped him and simply gave him the address of Jiang Xiaomei’s house, asking him to come pick her up before dinner.

“Xiao Guai, I had no idea you could cook so deliciously, even better than my dad,” Jiang Xiaomei said, arm in arm with Lin Xiaoguai as they got off the passenger bus.

Jiang Xiaomei’s dad had been a head chef at a restaurant in the county town in his youth until a special period forced him to retreat to the countryside to lay low.

Naturally, his culinary skills were not lacking, and locals would always want him to cook for their weddings and funerals.

“If you like it, come over more often.

I’ll definitely cook for you,” Lin Xiaoguai said with a slight smile.

“No need,” Jiang Xiaomei shook her head, “With great-grandma and great-grandpa above you now, it would be hard for you if I came over frequently.”

She was always a girl who understood others’ feelings.

The journey from town to Dajiang Village wasn’t far, and the two of them chatted and laughed, arriving before they knew it.

Aunt Jiang was feeding chickens and immediately smiled upon spotting her daughter and Lin Xiaoguai returning via the small path: “You’re back.”

Then, turning to Lin Xiaoguai, she said, “Xiao Guai, it has been quite a while since you’ve visited.”

Aunt Jiang, like Jiang Xiaomei, was very plump but much fairer, and her smile resembled that of a Maitreya Buddha—extremely warm and approachable.

Jiang Xiaomei had likely inherited much of her disposition from her.

“Aunt Jiang, hello.

Xiao Mei told me Uncle Jiang was ill.

I came to see how he was doing,” Lin Xiaoguai offered a large yellow croaker she had been carrying, “This is just a small token of my concern.

Please, don’t disdain it.”

“People are what matter most, why did you buy anything?” Mrs.

Jiang hesitated, knowing full well how expensive yellow croaker was.

“Ah, Mom, just take it if Xiao Guai gave it to you,” Jiang Xiaomei interjected, unable to watch any longer.

Mrs.

Jiang gave her a playful slap, “You cheeky girl!”

“That’s how it is.

Xiao Guai and I have been friends for over a decade,” Jiang Xiaomei said, not pleased.

After some persuasion, Mrs.

Jiang finally accepted the gift.

“Sit down, Xiao Guai.

I’ll go pick some peaches for you,” Mrs.

Jiang led them into the house.

“Oh, Xiao Guai, you’re here.” Just as she was about to sit, Mr.

Jiang came shuffling out from a room with a palm-leaf fan in his hand.

“Uncle Jiang, hello,” Lin Xiaoguai sized him up.

He still had his towering and burly stature covered in fat, dark, and robust like a gangster.

Xiaomei’s appearance resembled his, but upon closer inspection, one could see that his complexion was somewhat poor, with a faint sweat on his forehead.

“Why have you come out?

Sit down and rest,” Mrs.

Jiang quickly pushed Mr.

Jiang back down onto a chair.

“Didn’t I hear you talking and came out to have a look?

It’s too stuffy in the room; I was feeling claustrophobic,” Mr.

Jiang said as he fanned himself, his voice lacking the resonant quality Lin Xiaoguai remembered, clearly not in good health.

“What illness has Uncle fallen ill with?” Lin Xiaoguai asked with concern.

“Just an old problem.

A headache, nausea, and an inability to sleep—will get better after taking a couple of doses of medicine,” Mr.

Jiang dismissed with a wave of his hand.

That’s how it is in the countryside, they prefer not to take medicine if possible, avoid the hospital if they can, and spend money only when necessary, even the affluent Jiang family was no exception.

Lin Xiaoguai frowned slightly.

Generally, overweight people are prone to high blood pressure and heart disease, and Uncle Jiang’s symptoms seemed like they might be related to high blood pressure.

Therefore, she suggested, “Looking at Uncle’s condition, it seems quite like high blood pressure.

It would be better to have it checked out at the hospital.”

The Jiang family had one trait in common: they were straightforward and candid, so she didn’t beat around the bush.

“It’s nothing.

High blood pressure isn’t fatal,” Mr.

Jiang said nonchalantly.

“You shouldn’t take it lightly, Uncle Jiang.

Many cases of cerebral hemorrhage and strokes are caused by high blood pressure,” Lin Xiaoguai spoke softly, “Even if Uncle doesn’t consider it for himself, he should think of Xiao Mei.

She’s not yet married or had children.”

“Is that really the case?” Before Mr.

Jiang could respond, Mrs.

Jiang asked anxiously.

She was quite convinced in her heart, for Xiao Guai was a Capital University graduate, and her words would certainly carry weight.

Lin Xiaoguai nodded, “A blood pressure check at the hospital doesn’t cost much, and if diagnosed, it’s always better to take medicine prescribed by the doctor rather than those ineffective folk remedies.” She had heard from Xiao Mei that her dad had always been taking those kinds of traditional medicines.

“Alright, we’ll make a trip to the hospital,” Mr.

Jiang was persuaded by Lin Xiaoguai’s words, and thinking about the annoying family issues of the past few days, he felt his blood pressure rising.

“Xiao Guai, do you want to come with me to pick peaches?” Jiang Xiaomei asked.

“No, you go ahead, I’m a bit tired,” Lin Xiaoguai responded.

Jiang Xiaomei looked a bit disappointed but still went off reluctantly.

It wasn’t until Jiang Xiaomei had left that Lin Xiaoguai turned to Mr.

Jiang and Mrs.

Jiang, hesitating before speaking, “Uncle Jiang, Aunt Jiang, Xiao Mei told me about Luo Aidang, and there’s something I think I should tell you.”

Mr.

Jiang and Mrs.

Jiang exchanged glances, wondering why Xiao Guai, who was pregnant and had almost lost the baby previously, would come to visit out of the blue—clearly, there was an ulterior motive.

Thinking she deliberately sent Xiao Mei away to talk to them, the couple felt an ominous premonition.

“Uncle Jiang, Aunt Jiang, what I’m about to say may be hard to accept, but please don’t get angry.

If something happens to you, then nobody will plan for Xiao Mei’s future like you do,” Lin Xiaoguai started by giving them a warning.

The couple, feeling uneasy, nevertheless took in what Lin Xiaoguai had to say, bracing themselves for the worst.

Lin Xiaoguai looked at them, slowly saying, “A few days ago, I saw Luo Aidang in the town.

He was holding hands with a woman and going to the cinema.” She wasn’t lying; she had indeed seen it, but she’d never had much of a memory for Luo Aidang.

After so many years, naturally, she couldn’t recognize him at first glance.

It wasn’t until Xiao Mei mentioned him today, and she remembered how in her past life he had swindled the Jiang family’s money and vanished, that she made the connection—around that time, a girl from the village had gone missing.

She made the connection because she had once overheard this bit of gossip—that girl might have been abducted by Luo Aidang, I saw them more than once, one after the other, getting off the bus from town.

“You mean…” Mr.

Jiang’s chest heaved violently, Mrs.

Jiang, ignoring her shock and anger, rushed forward to soothe him.

Mr.

Jiang pushed her away, fixing Lin Xiaoguai with a stare, “Xiao Guai, is everything you’re saying true?”

Lin Xiaoguai nodded seriously, “Absolutely true.”

“Why didn’t you tell Xiao Mei but told us?” Mr.

Jiang asked softly after a long while, appearing to have regained his breath.

“Xiao Mei always refuses to think badly of people.

I was afraid she would go directly to Luo Aidang,” Lin Xiaoguai stated candidly.

“You’re right,” Mr.

Jiang muttered, covering his mouth, “My foolish girl, what am I to do…”

“Of course, we should expose what Luo Aidang has done and break off his engagement to Xiao Mei,” Lin Xiaoguai exclaimed in alarm, hearing that Uncle Jiang seemed to be inclined to smooth things over.

Although time had changed her in many ways, Lin Xiaoguai’s core remained intact.

She still had the integrity of an intellectual, and her veins pulsed with the blood of someone daring to love and hate.

“Even though it’s Aidang’s fault, a good woman shouldn’t marry twice…” Mrs.

Jiang said with difficulty etched on her face.

Lin Xiaoguai couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

She could excuse Aunt Jiang but, Uncle Jiang, normally so decisive, why was he hesitating now?

“Xiao Mei has always been a bit naïve.

With someone like Luo Aidang, as long as you are around, things are fine since you control the money and he wouldn’t dare harm her.

But what about when you’re gone?

Can Xiao Mei manage the money then?

Not only might she be swindled out of her wealth, but she could even lose her life!”

“I know Xiao Mei isn’t pretty, but her nature is so good, and anyone who spends time with her will grow to like her.

There are so many men in this world; surely, there’s one who can recognize her true worth.

Even if such a man doesn’t appear, it’s better not to marry at all than to jump into such a fire pit.

Xiao Mei is repeating a school year, right?

I can tutor her with her studies so she can get into university.

If one year isn’t enough, she can study for two years, or three, as long as she doesn’t exceed twenty-five; there’s plenty of time.

Then, she won’t need to rely on a man to support herself.”

Mr.

Jiang awkwardly avoided Lin Xiaoguai’s gaze, his heart full of bitterness.

What could he do?

He loved his daughter deeply but was also aware that young men wouldn’t fancy her.

He had good intentions initially: the Luo Family was poor but respectable people, and he had a good relationship with the Luo couple—they would surely treat his daughter well.

To be selfish, when the Luo couple died unexpectedly, there was a part of him that was pleased.

He thought of taking Aidang in as a son, not as a live-in son-in-law, but just to bring him up properly.

In return for the upbringing, he expected Aidang to be good to his daughter, but who could have imagined…

Years ago, he hadn’t missed the signs of Aidang’s crooked nature; whenever they showed favoritism towards their daughter, the boy, while not voicing any complaints, clearly showed his discontent.

Xiao Mei never forgot to share things with him, yet he always acted as if he were being insulted.

The boy only remembered their favoritism but failed to see their kindness towards him.

Mrs.

Jiang was moved by Lin Xiaoguai’s words; their affection for her had always been strong, not just because she was pretty and smart, but because she never looked down on their daughter for her looks and genuinely believed she was a good girl.

Whether Lin Xiaoguai’s offer to help with studies was serious or not, she was grateful in her heart.

“Xiao Guai, you’ve always been close to Xiao Mei, and now you’re married yourself.

Aunt Jiang won’t keep secrets from you.

Xiao Mei’s issue isn’t just her looks,” Mrs.

Jiang broke down in tears, “Both of us have fertility issues, which is why we had her so late in life.

The doctors said that our condition is hereditary.

Xiao Mei has our physique, and she has even more body hair…

I’m afraid…”

“I’ve thought about helping Xiao Mei lose weight, but even drinking water makes her gain weight, I’m really at my wit’s end.”