RBI1960 Chapter 21

When Jiang Dahai rushed over to his younger sister’s house with his son, Meng Pingchuan and his father were still at work at the steel mill. Only Jiang Dazhen and her mother-in-law, Qu Ying, were home, busy with chores.

Qu Ying had been a senior accountant at the textile factory before she retired two years ago. Although her pension was only half of her former salary, retirement gave her plenty of time to look after the two kids at home.

Technically, Qu Ying could have worked for a few more years—she had seniority, and the factory director had even tried persuading her to stay. But her health had been poor for a while, and retiring would free up her position for her daughter-in-law, Jiang Dazhen. That way, the role wouldn’t go to an outsider, and Jiang Dazhen’s temporary worker pay was about the same as Qu Ying’s pension. The family’s finances wouldn’t suffer, so Qu Ying agreed without hesitation.

However, giving that accounting position to Jiang Dazhen caused some friction with the family of Meng Pingchuan’s first wife.

His first wife, Wen Qin, died in childbirth. Her family, the Wen family, used to be neighbors with the Mengs. Even after the Mengs moved into a newer building and drifted apart, the two families remained on decent terms. Wen Qin’s father had worked in the same factory as Meng Donglin, Pingchuan’s father, and they had been old colleagues.

Even after Meng Pingchuan remarried, the two families maintained a civil relationship. The real problem started when Jiang Dazhen gave birth to a son. The Wen family began to feel uneasy, convinced that with a grandson in the picture, their granddaughter, Meng Xiangwen, would be pushed aside. They started bringing her back to their home frequently, worried the Mengs wouldn’t treat her well.

Being treated like potential villains didn’t sit well with the Mengs. Though they cared deeply for their granddaughter, she was now spending nearly half the year with her maternal family. Over time, her bond with her paternal grandparents faded. Whether the Wen family was right or wrong in their intentions remained unclear.

The Wen family had one son and three daughters. The eldest was Wen Qin, who died in childbirth. The second was Wen Qi, and the youngest, Wen Shu, was nearing twenty. With no strong connections, Wen Shu had only ever managed to find temporary work. Being the youngest and the most doted on, she always felt it unfair that her siblings had secured permanent jobs while she was stuck as a temp. Because of this, even when people tried to set her up with suitors, she was never satisfied with any of them.

Eventually, she set her sights on the Meng family.

To her, the accountant’s role in the textile factory was far more prestigious than a regular worker’s job. It paid better, too. She felt that since her elder sister had died giving birth to the Mengs, her second sister’s worker position was already a form of compensation. The accounting job should go to her niece, Meng Xiangwen. But since Xiangwen was only fifteen and too young to work, why shouldn’t Wen Shu hold the position in the meantime? She was Xiangwen’s aunt, after all—how could she possibly take advantage of her niece?

Her reasoning was simple: with that job, she could marry someone decent, and once Xiangwen was old enough, she’d naturally hand the position back.

But with Jiang Dazhen now in the role, who knew if she’d pass it on to some relative from the countryside?

Wen Shu brought this up to her family, and to her surprise, everyone agreed. Even Wen Qin’s father, who had initially been hesitant, was eventually persuaded. After all, he thought, he had to look out for his poor granddaughter. With a grandson in the Meng family now, the granddaughter might be left out in the cold. As her grandfather wasn’t it his job to fight for her while he still could?

An accountant’s job came with stability. If Wen Shu got it, the old man could rest easier knowing his granddaughter had a safety net. As for whether Wen Shu would give the job back later—well, that wasn’t his concern. In his mind, they were all one family. How could Wen Shu possibly rob her niece? But that stepmother—now, she was a different story.

So the next day, the old man brought his youngest daughter over to talk to the Mengs about it.

But come on—how could the Meng family possibly agree to something that absurd?

Over the years, the Wen family’s behavior had already worn the Mengs’ patience thin. Xiangwen had become moody and disrespectful. She used to get along well with her stepmother, but now wouldn’t even call her “Auntie.” Whenever she saw her half-brother, Xiangxue, she acted like a rooster ready to fight. Every encounter ended in a shouting match.

Though the elderly Meng couple still loved their motherless granddaughter, their patience had limits. Compared to a granddaughter who was barely around, they naturally felt more affection for the grandson they had raised from birth, especially since every fight seemed to be started by the granddaughter, while the grandson always swallowed his grievances quietly, even hiding when he’d been bullied so as not to worry them. The difference was clear.

To the Wen family, Jiang Dazhen might’ve been just an outsider. But to the Mengs, she was family. Wen Shu was the true outsider. Why would they give a good job to an outsider rather than one of their own? As for Meng Xiangwen, when she was older, they’d make arrangements. It wasn’t like they’d abandon her.

The meeting between the two families ended on a sour note. Meng Xiangwen was taken back to the Wen home and hadn’t returned in over half a month.

Yesterday, though, a message came through saying Xiangwen wanted to come home for a few days. Hoping to mend their relationship, Jiang Dazhen took the day off to prepare her favorite dishes, cleaned her room from top to bottom, and even changed the bedding with a new set she’d sewn herself.

Qu Ying saw all this and felt even more pleased with her daughter-in-law, thinking that introducing her to her son had been the best decision she’d ever made.

So when Jiang Dahai showed up with his son, Qu Ying greeted them warmly.

“You didn’t need to bring anything,” she said with a wide smile as she took the bundle he handed her. Feeling its weight, her smile grew even more genuine. She patted Jiang Yiliu’s head. “You’ve grown so tall! And more handsome too.”

Jiang Dahai was always quiet and awkward, smiling sheepishly without saying much.

Jiang Yiliu sighed inwardly. Looks like he’d have to handle the talking again.

“Grandma Qu, my grandma, asked us to bring this over. We appreciate what Uncle did for us with those coal briquettes the other day—they helped us get through a rough patch. We don’t have much, just some wild goods from the mountains. Please accept it as a small token of our thanks.”

With his fair skin and sweet smile, Jiang Yiliu had a way of charming women like Qu Ying instantly.

Qu Ying liked everything about her daughter-in-law—except her family. Her son had jumped through a lot of hoops to get those coal briquettes, and it had pained her. But now, with the Jiang family showing such gratitude, her heart softened. Compared to the troublesome Wen family, the Jiangs were more respectful and considerate.

“What a clever boy. You’re going to do great things someday. Sit down, I’ll get you some tea.” Smiling, Qu Ying took the gift bags into the kitchen and told her daughter-in-law to entertain her brother and nephew.

“Well done, Xiaobao! You didn’t embarrass your aunt,” Jiang Dazhen said as soon as her mother-in-law left. She ruffled her nephew’s hair affectionately. Her brother and sister-in-law were stiff and awkward, but the boy had a silver tongue that even the sharp-eyed old lady was charmed by. She couldn’t help but be impressed.

Jiang Yiliu covered his face. For some reason, he always attracted the attention of older women. Everyone who met him seemed to want to pinch his cheeks, which he found endlessly annoying. Puffing up his cheeks in protest only made him look cuter—and Jiang Dazhen adored it.

Jiang Dahai didn’t mind the praise. In his eyes, his son was perfect. He even recounted what had just happened on their way into the city, marveling at how his son had handled a situation that had left him speechless. “Can you believe it? That guy turned out to be an American spy!”

Still shaken, he patted his chest as he spoke.

Jiang Dazhen was startled. She hadn’t expected her brother to encounter something like that in the city. Thankfully, they were safe. She sighed in relief but still warned him, “Next time something like that happens, just get out of there fast. This isn’t the first time. Lots of respected families have been targeted lately. The family in the unit ahead of us—did you know the old man used to be the hospital director? Just a few days ago, a bunch of Red Guards stormed their house, smashed everything, and called him out for practicing ‘old’ Chinese medicine. They even shaved his wife’s head! Now she’s too ashamed to leave the house.”

She sighed again. All the middle schools had suspended classes. The students were too busy trying to join the revolution. Teachers and principals were living in fear. Who had the mind to study anymore? Luckily, elementary schools were still running, so Xiangxue could still go. But if things kept going this way, even elementary schools would be affected.

And if all the teachers got dragged into struggle sessions, who would be left to teach the children?

“I’m home!”

A loud, high-pitched girl’s voice cut through the heavy atmosphere.

Everyone turned toward the door. A girl in an army-green outfit and cap, a Chairman Mao badge pinned proudly to her chest, walked in.

When she saw the three people sitting in the living room, a look of obvious disdain appeared on her face.