When Jiang Mingyue opened her backpack, she glanced inside and estimated there was one hundred yuan and some tickets.
The net bag contained two old sets of clothing from the original owner. She shook it casually, and unexpectedly, a note fluttered out.
She picked it up and read: "Take care of yourself. This is the end of our mother-daughter relationship. Let's not see each other again in this lifetime."
She was once again grateful it wasn't the original owner seeing this.
The handwriting was unmistakably Mrs. Jiang's.
Turning to the back, there were no other words.
Jiang Mingyue showed no extra emotion, and casually tested the space, finding that she could put things inside. However, it was barren inside; the only consolation was that the pharmacy from the institute had come along, so at least she needn't worry about illness.
Once she had retrieved her backpack and net bag, she slung the pack over her shoulder and carried the net bag in one hand.
When she went out the door, there was no one in the yard, but her spiritual power sensed that people from the main house were watching her through the curtains.
Jiang Mingyue pretended not to know, lifted her foot, and left.
She was as clean and neat as could be!
But at the intersection, Jiang Mingyue felt a bit lost; this small town didn't even have a single signpost. How on earth was she going to find her way back to Qingshan Village later?
Meanwhile, at the mouth of the alley across the street,
a young woman around twenty years old with braided hair was looking anxiously for help from passersby.
She carried the hope of her whole family and had come to meet her sister, her biological sister!
Just then, two girls wearing pretty dresses walked up. Jiang Zhenmei immediately smiled and ran over.
"Comrade, may I ask…"
Before Jiang Zhenmei could finish, one of the girls she approached interrupted her abruptly and with a bad attitude.
"Is it you? Jiang Zhenmei, how come you've come to the city?"
The girl speaking had somewhat dark skin, but she wore the latest fashionable dress.
The tone was really quite unpleasant, as if she were an unwelcome relative coming to lean on them.
Jiang Zhenmei hadn't recognized her at first, but as soon as she spoke, she recognized her.
Wasn't this the sister Zhenzhu she grew up with, sharing a room since childhood?
"Zhenzhu…" Her voice carried a hint of grievance. Even though they weren't blood sisters, they had depended on each other for eighteen years!
But clearly, the other person couldn't empathize with her.
"Jiang Zhenmei, I'm asking you a question?"
At this point, the girl holding her arm finally realized the situation too.
"Zhenzhu, is this your sister from the countryside?" Is she here to ask you for money?
Although the latter part was left unsaid, her scrutinizing gaze clearly implied it.
It was as if Jiang Zhenmei was pricked by something, and her stubbornness made her straighten her back.
"No, I'm just here to take my sister home. Can you take me to her?"
Jiang Zhenzhu had long wished for someone to come and take Jiang Mingyue away, but she hadn't ignored Jiang Zhenmei's attire.
Patched old clothes, not a single pattern, like something a poor old man would wear. The pants were patched too, and she wore straw sandals. Coming from the same home, Jiang Zhenzhu knew this was already Jiang Zhenmei's best outfit.
Qingshan Village was the poorest in the commune, and the old Jiang Family was the poorest in the village.
Imagining how hard those days must have been.
She herself used to wear the same and went through those same hard times.
Not having enough food or warm clothes... All of this wasn't supposed to be her suffering, it was Jiang Mingyue who had stolen her life, so she would settle this score no matter what.
Jiang Mingyue, you will never have a good life in this lifetime.
At this moment, Jiang Zhenzhu had made up her mind to let Jiang Zhenmei take Jiang Mingyue away, but she definitely wouldn't bring her home. If people at the compound saw her like this, she would be thoroughly embarrassed, and people would gossip about her unfortunate upbringing. Just thinking about it was unbearable for her.
"Let's go!" Jiang Zhenzhu didn't bother with her friend beside her and instead agreed with Jiang Zhenmei's request.
Eager to quickly send her away, so that she would take one step and then another.
Initially, she planned to take her to the flowerbed on the east side of the intersection, then trick Jiang Mingyue to come out.
But now, it seemed unnecessary.
Jiang Zhenzhu could see from afar the person she despised to her core.
And that person was holding the bundle her mother had packed last night.
She saw her mother taking advantage of Jiang Mingyue's unconsciousness to clear the house of good things, leaving only two old pieces of clothing to stuff into that net bag bundle.
Jiang Zhenzhu touched the watch on her wrist, though it was used, it was still ninety percent new and would be entirely hers from here on out.
...
At that moment, Jiang Mingyue wasn't spacing out. She was watching ants move their home from the flowerbed.
She found it fascinating that such small bodies could possess immense willpower, carrying "heavy loads" much larger and heavier than themselves, working tirelessly as if they would never tire.
Whether they were forced or found joy in it was unknown.
Perhaps they had sensed something because the person who seemed in a "daze" suddenly looked up... Their eyes met. Jiang Zhenzhu couldn't control the hatred reflected in her eyes, leaving it completely exposed for the other to see.
But she, a white lotus, quickly arranged her braided hair and immediately regained her smile, just about to greet Jiang Mingyue, but the other's gaze passed right over her, leaving Jiang Zhenzhu feeling uncomfortable since every previous encounter ended with "sparks" between them.
Today, though, it was strange indeed!
Jiang Mingyue thought: It's not strange, you're not that important to me. I will avenge the original owner, but it will be something done in passing.
There are more important things awaiting her now.
Approaching closer...
"Are you the sister?"
Undoubtedly, Jiang Mingyue's eyes were on Jiang Zhenmei.
This girl who bore a three-point resemblance to her.
And Jiang Zhenmei was looking back at the girl in front of her with a "hot" gaze. Without any introduction, she was certain this was her real sister.
Not just because of the resemblance, but because of that familiar feeling from heart to heart.
This was the right feeling! This was the feeling that should exist between sisters!
"Yes… yes, I'm Jiang Zhenmei, your third sister. You must be the little sister Ming Yue, right?"
"I am!"
"You truly are a bright moon, I already like you so much!"
Jiang Mingyue: "..." Slightly unable to control her delight, heart, hold it together a bit.
It was fortunate that they were both girls; if it were a man and a woman staring at each other with such fiery looks…that would be unfortunate.
It would probably lead to chaos!
The townsfolk, who had previously pitied the little girl, now felt relieved for the girl they had watched grow up, glad she was finally returning home. This sister seemed decent, so her family should be okay too, apart from being extremely poor.
Between the two sisters, from their first meeting, their eyes held only each other.
Fortunately, Jiang Mingyue didn't forget her priorities, leading Jiang Zhenmei along the path in her memory to find Mr. Jiang first.
"Sister, wait here first. I'll meet someone and be right back."
Stuffing the things she was holding into Jiang Zhenmei's basket, Jiang Mingyue turned and entered the adjacent gate.
The old man guarding the gate saw her and waved cheerfully. Jiang Mingyue remembered this guard as the one who used to slip food to the original owner.
"Hello, Grandpa Ma!"
"Well, the girl's tongue has gotten sweeter." He praised with his mouth, but felt stifled inside, thinking the little girl must have suffered badly with those people.
He had heard bits of the Jiang family's situation. In his view, even if she wasn't their biological daughter, having raised her for eighteen years made her as good as biological… but he had no idea how the Jiang family had pressured her so badly, it drove her to the brink of despair.
"Isn't it because Grandpa keeps giving me sweets!" Made me sweet.
Uncle Ma chuckled at Jiang Mingyue's words and playfully tapped her on the head.
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes watched from the second-floor window directly across from them.