Zhang Auntie was so nimble with her hands that in no time she had braided two pretty buns, with plaits wrapped prettily around Jiang Sheng's ears and framing her face cutely.
To make up for his earlier mistake, Zheng Ruqian smiled ingratiatingly as he leaned in front of Jiang Sheng, heaping excessive praise upon her, "Beautiful, just beautiful. These two little caterpillars are so pretty."
At those words, even the stoic Xu Mo couldn't help but cough lightly twice.
Not to mention the other brothers who were already laughing uproariously.
Jiang Sheng glanced back and threw Second Brother another dirty look before lowering her head silently.
Zheng Ruqian still thought she was angry and leaned in to coax her, "I was wrong, Jiang Sheng. Your braids are truly beautiful, exceptionally beautiful, I really mean it."
But Jiang Sheng still had her head lowered without a word.
Zheng Ruqian panicked and crouched down before her, only to find the little girl biting her lip with a layer of crystalline tears shimmering in her big eyes.
He was now thoroughly flustered.
"Jiang Sheng, don't...don't cry now. Second Brother was wrong, Second Brother really was wrong."
The other brothers who had been laughing themselves sideways also sobered up and gathered around to comfort her.
"Jiang Sheng, I'll hit Second Brother for you. Don't be upset, I'll punch him until he's black and blue," Fang Hengan consoled.
"I'll prick him with needles," Wen Zhiyun threatened fiercely.
"I won't let him have any food," Chang Yan chimed in.
Sitting on the driver's seat, Liu Cui and Zhang Qiquan watched with suppressed smiles.
These children really were so good.
Finally, just when Zheng Ruqian felt he was about to be stabbed through by their stares, Jiang Sheng lifted her head with aggrieved eyes and glanced longingly in the direction of Shili Village before murmuring softly, "It's not Second Brother's fault."
Zheng Ruqian heaved a sigh of relief.
Jiang Sheng touched her own hair, choking back sobs. "Jiang Sheng just misses Auntie. Auntie used to tie such pretty little braids for Jiang Sheng too."
But just now as they passed the Zhou family compound, none of them dared to visit Zhang Auntie.
Because of the endless scolding and yelling from within.
And also because after the cotton-padded jacket incident, Zhang Auntie had secretly held Jiang Sheng's little hand and urged her, "Stay away if you see Zhou Zhiqiang in the future. Don't go to the Zhou residence anymore."
But Auntie was, after all, the only one who had come to see Jiang Sheng off when she was forced to leave.
She was also the only one who had given Jiang Sheng food and tied her hair in little braids when she went begging.
To Jiang Sheng who wandered homeless, Zhang Auntie embodied all her longing for a mother.
Jiang Sheng missed Auntie.
"If you miss her, we can go see her," Xu Mo said gently.
Jiang Sheng was silent for a moment before shaking her head.
She didn't want to see Zhou Zhiqiang beating Auntie, nor see Auntie's shame and humiliation every time others saw her.
The little girl gazed enviously at Liu Cui. "It would be great if Auntie could leave like Sister-in-law Liu."
The carriage was suddenly reined to a halt.
Fang Hengan looked back. "Maybe we can ask Auntie if she wants to leave too?"
Hope rose in little Jiang Sheng's eyes.
Could it be true? Could Auntie leave that awful family? Never have to be beaten or scolded again, or sit alone in the kitchen eating vegetable soup after cooking and working all day?
"But we can't visit empty-handed." Xu Mo eyed the nearby town of Shili.
Fang Hengan understood his meaning and rode over to buy two bags of pastries, the same amount they brought to the Zhangs.
Liu Cui watched and couldn't bear it. She spoke up, "Good child, don't buy pastries."
Fang Hengan was puzzled.
"Pastries are expensive yet meager. More importantly they're not practical either. If you really want to visit relatives, just buy brown sugar and carry over a couple jugs of wine. It won't cost much but looks decent." Liu Cui patiently explained.
Only wealthy households used pastries as gifts. Ordinary rural families could only afford them once or twice a year.
Unlike brown sugar which could be added to water or medicine, and even served to guests.
Poor families would only treat close relatives to sugar water.
Fang Hengan hadn't realized gift-giving had so many intricacies and was briefly at a loss.
At this time Jiang Sheng had also recovered. She stuffed half a tael of silver to Liu Cui and pleaded coquettishly, "Auntie please buy them. Third Brother is silly and muddled, he doesn't know how to pick things."
Liu Cui was childless herself and adored sweet and soft little girls. Her heart was wrapped around Jiang Sheng's little finger and she hastened to nod. "Of course, of course, Auntie will go buy them."
Not knowing much, she carried over two bags of brown sugar and two palm-sized jugs of wine, costing no more than 100 wen in total.
The carriage turned back towards Shili Village with clear purpose this time, heading straight for the Zhou residence.
Jiang Sheng's expression also turned from hopeful to tense, even somewhat hesitant.
Finally the carriage rolled to a stop.
Fang Hengan stepped up and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" It was Zhou Zhiqiang's voice. "Go open the door."
He was presumably ordering Zhang Auntie.
Soon the door latch was removed to reveal a worn yet graceful face, with clear finger marks on her cheeks.
Seeing Jiang Sheng at the door, she was both startled and overjoyed. She quickly glanced back into the yard and lowered her voice. "Little Jiang Sheng, you've returned. Have you been well these days? Had enough to eat?"
Then she realized her question was silly.
In half a year, little Jiang Sheng had grown half a head taller and wore tidy, clean clothes unlike her former dirty appearance. The difference was like night and day.
"Good child, as long as you're doing well, that's good enough for me."
Tears glistened in Zhang Auntie's eyes.
Inside, Zhou Zhiqiang asked again, "Who is it?"
"No one," Zhang Auntie called back. Just as she wanted to step out and shut the door, Zhou Zhiqiang shuffled out in his slippers.
Seeing Jiang Sheng, he first frowned and looked at her with distaste.
But spotting Fang Hengan behind her holding brown sugar and wine, his expression changed to a smile. He shoved Zhang Auntie aside and beamed. "We have guests, why didn't you invite them in to chat? And they've even brought gifts, how embarrassing!"
He took the items from Fang Hengan naturally.
Zhang Auntie's face flushed crimson with humiliation but she couldn't get a word out.
Jiang Sheng stood there with teary eyes, doubting again whether coming to see Auntie was right or wrong.
Xu Mo and the brothers all angled their bodies to avoid facing the door, sparing her more embarrassment.
Zhang Qiquan sighed. He knew the Zhou family were scoundrels but didn't expect such reprehensible behavior.
Only Liu Cui clenched her fists with gritted teeth. "Sister Zhang, why do you not stand up for yourself? Must you rely on him? Being with this kind of man is worse than going begging!"
"Can't you have some self-respect?"
