I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel-Chapter 254 - 251: Everyday Life Between Brother and Sister
The sky suddenly changed, and then it started to drizzle. The weather in the south is just so capricious.
Mrs. Jiang originally planned to lead her daughter and daughter-in-law in taking their tools to start work, but it started raining just as they were lining up.
Tool distribution was paused.
After waiting for another quarter of an hour, the rain became heavier, and the village announced a day off. The trio ran home through the rain, a common sight in the village.
After getting home, they took a hot shower, and Xia Xiaosi remarked: She really lucked out with her husband.
After changing into dry clothes, Mrs. Jiang remembered the gifts stored in the storeroom from yesterday and went to check them with the two, recording everything because they were really valuable.
"Xiaxia, do you have any thoughts?"
Xia Xiaosi naturally understood her mother-in-law’s meaning, thought for a moment, then seriously said: "Mom, since we haven’t divided up the family, these naturally belong to the whole family, and most of those people were here for Yueyue anyway. If they invite us over in the future, Yueyue will have to reciprocate, so it’s not suitable for me and Jian Guo to take them. Therefore, I think Yueyue should keep the cash gifts, while the congratulatory gifts should belong to the communal pool. After all, we can’t return what others gave us, and the family pool should provide reciprocal gifts when the time comes."
"It’s rare for you to be so generous, Xiaxia. Yueyue has already talked to me about it, and most of the congratulatory gifts are practical. We’ve put you through quite a bit, so take those gifts to your room. Let Yueyue keep the cash gifts. That’s that."
Xia Xiaosi felt warm at heart, accepted the kind gesture, and thought that she would just keep them for now. Whoever in the family needs them will get them; they are all family anyway.
Now considering herself part of the third household, Xia Xiaosi still doesn’t understand that relationships are mutual, and genuine kindness begets genuine kindness.
On Jiang Mingyue’s end, when it started raining, she left a note and pretended to ride out to the city, while actually locking the door and entering her hidden space.
She slaughtered some chickens and rabbits, marinated some, roasted a few, and dried the rest. Then, like talking to her neighbor, she called out to Yan Jinzhi.
He had left with Qiao Mingtang after dinner last night, just like everyone else.
She knew he would be leaving next month and needed to repeatedly verify the data this month, so he was very busy. Precisely because of this, she worried about his health. Though she doesn’t dream much these days, occasionally some fragments still flash by, showing "him" in a weak state, often coughing violently, sometimes coughing up blood. His hand was also broken, and the prosthetic didn’t fit him well, often causing him discomfort physically and mentally.
These fragments were very chaotic, and she didn’t know if they were events from a past life or... But with the same face, someone so frail, it left a strong impression, making her uneasy.
Yan Jinzhi appeared after ten minutes, his pale skin highlighting the shadows under his eyes.
Jiang Mingyue felt quite distressed: "You stayed up late again?"
Yan Jinzhi pulled her into his arms and rubbed her hair: "I’ll take every opportunity to rest."
Jiang Mingyue: "...Is it really the same?"
Yan Jinzhi also knew his words were just for comfort, "Then I’ll definitely sleep tonight."
Jiang Mingyue expressed doubt; she wasn’t with him 24 hours a day.
"Agreed!"
Yan Jinzhi felt helpless: when did he become unreliable in her eyes?
"Alright, agreed."
"Have you had breakfast?"
Yan Jinzhi’s fingers paused briefly, honestly saying: "I forgot!" Qiao Mingtang had placed breakfast next to him, but he still forgot.
Jiang Mingyue sighed: "I knew it. Wait here, I’ll get you something to eat."
Jiang Mingyue quickly set up breakfast on the table.
The most noticeable item was the half bowl of black truffle sauce, which made Yan Jinzhi feel comforted. Having someone who cares for him is indeed a sought-after happiness.
"Come on, eat."
He’s more particular than them. She watched as he sliced the bun before applying the black truffle sauce. Even the way he did it was so organized that it seemed like a compulsive disorder’s paradise.
"Mm, very savory."
"I knew you’d like it. I’ve temporarily stored fifty jars. How many do you want? These can be kept for up to two weeks once outside the space, and there are still fresh black truffles."
"Give me twenty jars to give to others. Dr. Lu has indeed been working hard lately, let’s reward him a bit."
"Alright."
"Shen Bo truly is talented. Upon arrival, he took over a tricky project that others had abandoned after multiple failures. Yet, as soon as Shen Bo took over, he inspired hope. He’s indeed born for this. Thanks for helping me discover talent."
"No need to thank me, it was an easy task. If he’s really good, then you can give him a jar."
"Since Yueyue suggested it, I’ll reluctantly give him one jar."
Jiang Mingyue: His serious tone is really charming!
"You mentioned there are still fresh ones, then give me a basket. Everyone has been working hard lately, so I’ll improve their meals when I get back tonight." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"Sure!" Jiang Mingyue agreed readily.
After parting, Jiang Mingyue also fed black truffle sauce mixed rice to Lightning, then took him to No. 42 Magpie Street.
After waiting for a while, her brother finally returned, and Jiang Mingyue gave him ten jars of black truffle sauce before intending to leave, only... Huang Shiren wasn’t going to let her off so easily.
Jiang Ming’an glared at her: "Not enough, this isn’t even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth."
Jiang Mingyue: Go ahead and try to fill a gap now, I don’t mind verifying it on the spot.
"You know it doesn’t last, especially now during autumn tiger season without a refrigerator, you can’t waste it."
"Tsk! Who are you talking to? Don’t you think I know? Just take it out, even if you give me a train car full, I won’t waste it. I’ll turn it into real cash."
Jiang Mingyue: Who gave you such confidence?
With her bandit-like brother, Jiang Mingyue surrendered another ten jars.
"Brother, that’s it!"
She saw her brother’s handsome face break into a cold smile that didn’t match his looks: "Haha! With a name like Ming Yue, go be an actress. I have the connections."
Jiang Mingyue: "..." Is surrendering not enough?
"Brother, I’m down to ten jars. I need to save them for the new sister-in-law. She’s my childhood friend."
Jiang Ming’an: "..." Someone might think you’re the one who got married!
Ultimately, her remaining ten jars ended up in the capitalist’s pocket.
Jiang Ming’an was thoroughly pleased with his coercion and persuasion. Even his smile became exceptionally genuine.
He didn’t just take the black truffle sauce, he also swiped a basket of black truffles, ten roast chickens and rabbits, ten marinated chickens and rabbits, ten dried chickens and rabbits, and more than ten portions of spicy rabbit dice.
Of course, there was also the indispensable wine, which finally satisfied Jiang Ming’an.
Before leaving No. 43, Jiang Mingyue mentioned the "Xue Family’s secret" to Jiang Ming’an.
Jiang Ming’an began to seriously ponder: "So that’s the secret. I’ve met Xue Family’s grandfather a few times, and it really doesn’t show he’s so vile. No wonder when I first met the two, I felt they were so alike... It’s not just superficial resemblance, something in their very essence was similar. At the time, I even convinced myself... it was normal, as cross-generational inheritance in genetics is abundant, not a rarity."
