Chapter 10: Lady Zhang Visits

She never expected that Mother would buy fabric to make them clothes. If the younger siblings found out when they got back, they would probably be excited to the point of madness.

It was rare for Jiang Ning to see Yang Datou act so childishly, and she found it quite amusing. She patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "It’s just a set of new clothes. There will be plenty more good things in the future, don't be so pathetic!"

Yang Datou nodded frantically like a chick pecking at rice. Because he was so excited, his strides were huge, and Jiang Ning almost couldn't keep up.

After the mother and son returned, they discovered that the thatched shed had actually been roofed. This came as a huge surprise to Jiang Ning. What surprised her even more was that the roof the children had made was dense and sturdy; she didn't even need to test it to know it wouldn't leak.

There were two logs and some clay in the open space of the courtyard, and it looked like the children had been very diligent.

Seeing her return, the children swarmed around her. "Mother, what did you buy for us?"

It was Yang Santie who asked, his darting eyes showing just how impatient he was.

Amused, Jiang Ning put down the basket and took out the fabric inside. "Mother bought thirty feet of material. I’ll make each of you a set of autumn clothes. How about that?"

"You're really making us new clothes?" A scorching light erupted in Yang Santie's eyes.

It was a kind of joy Jiang Ning had never seen before. She couldn't help but reveal a loving smile and nodded heavily. "There will definitely be clothes, but Mother isn't very good at sewing. I still have to find ways to earn money, so I don't know if I can finish them in time."

She had been excited when buying the fabric, but once she calmed down, she remembered that the original owner was a useless person with no skills. She herself only knew how to do simple mending, and she wasn't sure if she could actually make clothes.

Seeing her dilemma, Liu Ye spoke up, "Mother, if you trust me, give the fabric to me. I know how to sew."

Jiang Ning was overjoyed and immediately shoved the fabric into Liu Ye's arms. "Then I'll leave it to you. This lake-blue fabric is quite large; it should be no problem to make a set for Datou and Sizhuang each. This dark green fabric is for Santie, and then make a set for Erdan. This black piece is smaller, so just make a pair of trousers for Erdan.

This pale yellow piece is for you to make a top, and then make a set for Xiaoya. As for the jujube-red piece, make yourself a pair of trousers, and then make a set for me. If there isn't enough fabric, just say so, and I'll go back to town to find that peddler and buy some more."

Liu Ye had never expected that there would be a share for her. The sudden surprise made her eyes redden with emotion, and she nodded repeatedly. "It's enough, it's enough! Don't worry, Mother, I will measure carefully and won't waste any fabric."

Having offloaded such a massive project, Jiang Ning felt completely relaxed. She hurried over to help Yang Erdan with the door frame. Because they were about to have new clothes, the children worked with extra vigor—some cutting thatch, others repairing the shed—busy and full of energy.

When Zhang Shi arrived, she happened to see this scene and was so shocked her mouth wouldn't close. The children were also quite surprised to see her and all stopped what they were doing.

Jiang Ning stood up. "Something the matter?"

Zhang Shi snapped out of it, pointed at the thatched shed, and asked curiously, "Are you building a house?"

There wasn't even a head of livestock in the yard, so it couldn't possibly be a shed for animals!

Yang Datou hurried forward, patted the dust off his clothes, and replied, "Those two rooms aren't fit for people to live in, so we can only temporarily build a shed to stay in."

Zhang Shi’s gaze fell upon the kitchen, which didn't even have a door panel and had been burned beyond recognition. She was so shocked she couldn't speak for a long time. After a while, she asked with a complicated expression, "Then where have you been living all these days?"

Yang Datou pointed to the bonfire in the yard. "We slept in the yard. It just so happens it hasn't rained these past few days; it would be troublesome if it did. Is there something you needed, Auntie?"

Zhang Shi came to her senses and hurriedly handed the basket to Yang Datou, then fished thirty-five wen out of her pocket. "Thanks to your help yesterday, otherwise we wouldn't have known what to do. This is thirty-five wen; count it. Also, there are a few eggs the hens laid at home—keep them to eat."

"No, no. I'll take the money, but we can't take the eggs. Auntie, take them back quickly so Uncle can nourish his body." Yang Datou kept refusing.

Zhang Shi insisted on giving them.

Seeing that if they kept tugging back and forth, the eggs would end up broken, Jiang Ning stepped forward to help Yang Datou and pushed Zhang Shi toward the exit. "It's good enough that you returned the money. We don't need the eggs, hurry back!"

Jiang Ning wasn't good at social niceties, and her expression wasn't particularly pleasant, but the fact that she didn't take the eggs shocked Zhang Shi even more. She wondered to herself if the Jiang woman had walked through the gates of hell and suddenly had an epiphany? Otherwise, how could a perfectly normal person suddenly change her temperament so drastically?

Zhang Shi couldn't figure it out, but her opinion of Jiang Ning had changed somewhat.

After heading down the hillside, Zhang Shi ran into a few village women. Seeing her carrying a basket, they hurriedly asked, "We heard your man was badly hurt, why did you run all the way up here?"

Zhang Shi looked up at the courtyard on the hillside, which was blocked by a banyan tree, and lowered her eyes. "Yesterday, Datou and his mother lent us some money, so I came to return it."

"What? You said Datou's mother lent you money? Is it raining red rain from the sky?" The women looked disbelieving.

Someone muttered, "I told you that Jiang woman wasn't a good thing. I heard they didn't get any money when the family split, yet she could lend you money? She must have been secretly hoarding it! Who knows, she might have more silver than her parents-in-law!"

"Is that the point? The point is that the stubborn woman actually took money out of her own pocket. It's truly bizarre!"

Zhang Shi couldn't listen anymore. She pulled a long face and spat, "Nonsense! If the Jiang woman really had money, would she need to sleep in the yard with her children? Go up there and see for yourselves what the situation is with that house!

If you ask me, the eldest uncle went too far this time! That broken shack isn't even fit for raising chickens, yet he let his own daughter-in-law and grandchildren live in it. You don't know how they've been living these past few days!

They slept directly in the yard at night and are still building a thatched shed now. If they really had money, do you think the Jiang woman would let herself suffer like this?"

The women looked at each other, not believing Zhang Shi's words at all. Driven by curiosity, they actually snuck up the slope and peeked around the outside of Jiang Ning's courtyard. Seeing them busy building the shed and that burned-out kitchen sitting there, they finally believed Zhang Shi.

Someone gloated, "Tsk tsk tsk, I never thought that after lording it over everyone for a dozen years, the Jiang woman would end up like this!"

The people beside her nodded repeatedly. "Forget it! It's none of our business, let's go!"

Seeing Jiang Ning having a hard time made everyone feel comfortable, and no one thought about seeking justice for her.

Zhang Shi had the heart to go to Old Man Yang's place to say something, but unfortunately, she had a mountain of chores at home. Yang Yong couldn't work the fields, so she had to take his place; she simply couldn't spare the time.

Jiang Ning didn't know that Zhang Shi had been worried about their family. She worked with the children until dark and finally finished the thatched shed. They had also thatched the four sides, and when they had time, they could add another layer to make it even sturdier.

That night, the family finally didn't have to sleep out in the yard anymore.