The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: When She Gets Rich

Watching others carry off white flour steamed buns and golden-brown sugar cakes, Mrs. Zhu’s heart ached so badly she wanted to march right over and snatch them away.

It all came down to that wretched girl. She didn’t even have the decency to inform the main family residence about the house-raising, letting outsiders reap all the benefits instead.

When Mingmao heard it was all gone, he flung Mrs. Zhu’s hand away and began to wail.

"You just had to sleep in! See? Everyone else has snatched up all the good things! I don’t care! I want sugar cakes! I want sugar balls, too!"

A passerby overheard and chimed in, "Aren’t you that Wuan girl’s third aunt? Why not go over now and have a look? Surely she would have saved something to show respect to you, her aunt?"

This was clearly a taunt, and of course Mrs. Zhu knew it.

She planted her hands on her hips and shot back, "Can’t even stuff that foul mouth of yours shut with food? Careful you don’t choke to death on that white bun!"

Seeing her get angry, the crowd around them roared with laughter.

"Mom..." Mingmao wanted the treats but was too scared to go. He was terrified of that wretched girl now.

Mrs. Zhu thought of the slaps she’d received before, and her face throbbed faintly at the memory.

It was one thing to rush in with the crowd, but to go alone now that everyone was gone... She was afraid that wretched girl would fly into a rage. She might get her hands on something, but she wouldn’t live long enough to eat it.

"Let’s go! We’ll go home and tell your grandparents on her!"

Mrs. Mao had also managed to grab a good haul. She bustled home, her apron full of treats. When she saw that breakfast still hadn’t been made, she marched over to the room where Jiang Wu and Tian Jiao were sleeping and pounded on the door.

"Look how late it is, and you’re still not up? Do you think you’re still a new bride, waiting for me to cook and feed you by hand?"

From inside the room came a loud THUMP, followed by frantic rustling.

After a moment, Jiang Wu shuffled to the door and opened it. He was yawning, looking like he hadn’t woken up properly.

"Mom, why are you up so early? It’s not like there’s anything to do. Jiaojiao and I got to bed a little late last night..."

Mrs. Mao peered through the crack in the door and saw Tian Jiao just getting off the kang bed and tidying her clothes. It was obvious the two of them had been up to no good.

’Marry a little vixen like that, and of course he’d be up late.’

"Then can’t you go to bed earlier? What’s all this fooling around for! It’s been months, and still no sign of anything..."

Mrs. Mao’s expression was sour, and Tian Jiao’s was no better.

’Her mother-in-law was insinuating that she wasn’t pregnant, but that was just an excuse. Now that she couldn’t stand the sight of me, she could find fault in anything and everything.’

Tian Jiao quickly combed her hair, pasted on a smile, and walked out. "Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll go make breakfast right now..."

But now, the sight of her flighty smile just made Mrs. Mao angrier.

"I’m about to starve, how can I not be anxious? Go on, take a look around the village! Whose daughter-in-law sleeps this late? It seems our family has welcomed home the Queen Mother herself! I see it all clearly now. You’re nothing but a glib tongue. You do no real work, just spend all day seducing a man and fooling around on the kang bed. Well, why don’t you fool around and produce an heir for the Jiang family!"

’What kind of bullshit is this!’ Tian Jiao was both furious and humiliated, and tears instantly welled in her eyes.

"Mom, we were preparing vegetables last night. It’s not what you think."

Jiang Wu also thought his mother’s words were too harsh and couldn’t bear to see Tian Jiao so aggrieved. "Jiaojiao is trying to figure out how to earn money. Isn’t that for the good of our family? Mom, why can’t you be a little more understanding?"

Mrs. Mao’s heart went ice-cold.

’They all say there’s no point in raising a son, that he’ll forget his mother as soon as he takes a wife. I never used to believe it.’

’Jiang Wu had always listened to her since he was a boy. Mrs. Mao had thought that even after he married, he wouldn’t be ensnared by some woman who just appeared out of nowhere.’

’Back then, Tian Jiao had acted so obedient and docile, bending over backwards to please her. It made Mrs. Mao think she would be easy to control, which was the only reason she’d agreed to let Jiang Wu marry a widow’s daughter.’

’But who knew the little vixen was so full of schemes? How long had it been, and she’d already coaxed Jiang Wu into talking back to his own mother time and time again.’

’And look at Tian Jiao now. I say a few words to her and the waterworks start. Who is she putting on a show for? She just wants her man to feel sorry for her!’

Mrs. Mao was furious. She pointed at Jiang Wu and said, "You two were sleeping together before you were even married! If I wasn’t understanding, would she have ever been allowed through our door? And what did I get for my kindness? I ended up bringing a jinx into this family, one who’s turned my own son against his mother!"

As she spoke, Mrs. Mao broke into loud, theatrical sobs.

Jiang Wu grew frantic. He quickly let go of Tian Jiao and rushed to soothe his mother. "Mom, what are you doing? How could I ever disown you? Please, stop crying..."

Mrs. Mao was now broadcasting the scandal of their premarital relations. Her voice was getting louder and louder, and Tian Jiao, terrified the whole village would hear, could only swallow her tears, bottle up her anger, and step forward to grovel.

"Mom, please don’t be angry. It’s all my fault. Starting today, I’ll make breakfast. The weather is cold, so you and Dad can sleep in. Just wait for me to serve you a hot meal."

’Since marrying into the Jiang family, she had barely set foot in the kitchen. For now, she had no choice but to compromise.’

Being placated by her son and with her daughter-in-law now submitting, Mrs. Mao knew when to quit while she was ahead. Still, she couldn’t resist muttering, "You should bother your husband less from now on. I spent so many years raising him, and you’re going to suck him dry."

Tian Jiao’s face flushed crimson, whether from anger or shame, it was hard to say.

Seeing her enter the kitchen without another word, Mrs. Mao added, "We’re not having coarse flour buns this morning. We’re eating the white flour ones!"

It was only then that Tian Jiao noticed several large, white flour steamed buns on the cutting board, along with some fruit pastries and other snacks.

Who didn’t like good food? Tian Jiao’s mood lifted slightly, and she asked curiously, "Mom, where did you get all this?"

Mrs. Mao had been waiting for that question. At her words, she pulled Jiang Wu into the kitchen and began to lay out the treats for him to see.

"Wuan’s family had their house-raising ceremony today. I got a good spot and grabbed the most. Look at all this! It’s all good stuff. Have you ever seen anyone in our village be so generous for a house-raising? Everyone says Wuan is rich now, and I’d say they’re right! Her new house has a front and back courtyard. It’s at least twice the size of our house, not to mention it’s built with bricks and tiles. I went and looked today—even the courtyard is paved with bricks..."

Mrs. Mao went on and on, a look of vicarious pride on her face.

’As if it mattered to her how big or grand a house someone else built.’

’Now it’s ’Wuan’ this and ’Wuan’ that. Back then, wasn’t she just like everyone else, calling her a jinx?’

Tian Jiao silently cursed the old hag. She lowered her head, turning her face just enough so Jiang Wu could see her profile, as if her heart had been broken.

Sure enough, Jiang Wu’s heart ached for her. But remembering the tirade he’d provoked from his mother by defending Tian Jiao earlier, he didn’t dare speak up again.

Mrs. Mao was still gushing. "Oh, my heavens, how did that girl’s luck turn around so fast? If I’d known she was so good at making money, then I would have..."

"Mom!" Seeing she was about to say something outrageous, Jiang Wu couldn’t hold back any longer. He cut her off, afraid of how hurt Tian Jiao would be if she heard it.

"Mom, you don’t have to be envious of others. When Jiaojiao and I make money, we’ll build a big house for you, too... Let’s just make breakfast, alright? Your son is starving..."

"Make money? She should take a good look at herself. What’s she going to make money with..." Mrs. Mao grumbled. But, in the end, she couldn’t bear to let her son starve, so she urged Tian Jiao to hurry up with breakfast.

She left a few of the white flour buns out but gathered up everything else from the board and took it to her own room to hide away.

"Jiaojiao, don’t take it to heart. Mom’s just like that... She’s still very fond of you," Jiang Wu comforted her as he helped stoke the stove fire.

Tian Jiao gave a bitter smile. "I know, Brother Wu. You don’t have to say anything."

’Fond of me?’ Tian Jiao scoffed internally. ’Only when compared to the old Ji Huan who had nothing.’

’Now that Ji Huan has money, Mrs. Mao wishes she could swap her out for a new daughter-in-law on the spot.’

’She asks what right I have to make money? Well, I’ll make a fortune just to show her!’

The vegetables in the cellar were all dried according to Ji Huan’s method. Tomorrow, she would go to the military barracks.

’Once I’m rich, that old hag can get on her knees and wash my feet.’

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