Make a Fortune and Become Well-off [90] - Chapter 186

Before the Chinese New Year, the ferry in Shuibu Town was filled with boats every day.

Jiang Bai and Tong Jingang were not going back to the Jiang house. They were still thinking about returning to Wucheng that night, spending the night on the small bed in the shop, and then returning to Shuibu Town to sell for two more days. That year, New Year’s Eve was on January 30th. They planned to go back in the evening, just in time to worship their ancestors on the morning of New Year’s Eve on the 31st.

Jiang Ning didn’t force them. If it hadn’t been for Grandpa Jiang’s sudden return, Jiang Ning would have wanted to continue selling with them.

Grandpa Jiang wore his wolf-skin Lei Feng hat, a black down jacket that Jiang Ning had given him, underneath which was a sweater and his own wolf-skin vest, paired with thick wool pants. His granddaughter had gotten him special knee pads, and he also wore high-top black leather shoes lined with fur.

He remained hunched over, his head slightly stretched forward, and walked slowly, like an old turtle.

After taking medicine and improving his diet for nearly half a year, his once thin face had filled out, and his complexion had improved significantly. Jiang Ning wanted to help him, but he always pushed her away impatiently, insisting that he didn’t need her assistance. “It’s not like I can’t walk. Why would you help me?”

Stubbornly, he kept his hands behind his back and walked through the busy streets, proudly showing off his new clothes and shoes, as if taking a leisurely stroll all the way to the boat.

Many who knew Grandpa Jiang on the ferry greeted him when they saw him. “Uncle, what did you buy while you were out shopping for the New Year?”

Grandpa Jiang smiled, enjoying the sound of the familiar local accents, and replied that he hadn’t bought anything.

Seeing that his hands were empty, they looked at his outfit. “You’re doing well for yourself! New clothes, too! Your children must have bought them for you.”

When they mentioned the new clothes, Grandpa Jiang’s smile deepened. He proudly showed off his outfit. “My eldest granddaughter bought these for me—my jacket, pants, and shoes, all from her.”

They all praised Jiang Ning, “Your granddaughter is so filial.”

The more they praised Jiang Ning, the happier he became.

The people on the boat were from the Linhe Brigade, which consisted of six natural villages, with Xujiacun and Jiangjiacun being the largest. The boat they were on belonged to Xujiacun.

They didn’t know much about Jiangjiacun and thought that the young girl in front of them had simply gone out to work and just returned.

This was a common occurrence there. Factories didn’t offer long holidays, unlike the winter and summer breaks for students. Generally, factory workers only had five or six days off. Coming home on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month was considered early. Some people even returned on the 30th or New Year’s Eve itself. Many had to head back to work on the third day of the Lunar New Year.

At that time, there were many young people on the boat who had returned from working in other places, carrying large and small bags, their faces full of excitement as they looked toward home. Many on the boat greeted these youths, asking where they worked, how much they earned, and whether their factories were profitable.

To save face, the young men and women would talk about how good things were outside, how good the factories were, and how high their wages were.

When they asked about the highest-paying jobs, people quickly inquired about their hometowns, wondering if they could bring young boys and girls with them during the New Year holiday. These young workers, with their fresh faces, could only laugh, and some would say, “Send your children to my village after the New Year, and I’ll make sure they get work in the city.”

Despite these reassurances, many parents remained uneasy, especially after the events in Jiangjiacun that summer.

There was more than one boat heading back that day. Once one boat was full, it set off.

As the boat sailed, the wind along the river grew strong. Parents who had brought their children out to buy New Year’s goods tucked them under the awning at the bow of the boat. Jiang Ning also placed Grandpa Jiang under the awning, while she sat outside on the edge of the boat, her eyes fixed on the quiet lake in the distance.

The closer they got to Jiangjiacun, the more clearly Jiang Ning felt her rejection and disgust toward that place. Never before had she been forced to confront her inner feelings so directly—the overwhelming desire to escape.

In the winter, when the water level dropped, the rocks at the bottom of the river near their house became visible. The lowering of the water revealed a large beach along the riverbank. Many people took advantage of the winter lull to dig sand from the river beach.

At that time, the sand in the Shahe River hadn’t been contracted out yet. Anyone building their own house could come to the riverbank to dig sand. The boat, which could have docked near the ferry, had to moor several miles away from their village.

Jiang Ning helped Grandpa Jiang off the boat.

The river wind from both sides of the embankment blew on Jiang Ning’s face, sharp as a knife. It wasn’t a metaphorical knife, but the actual sensation of the cold winter wind cutting into her skin. The sting hurt, and even though she wore rabbit fur gloves, they didn’t protect her from the biting chill.

The hard ground was frozen in the mornings and evenings, but a rare sunny day had melted the ice, making the riverbank’s dirt path muddy and difficult to walk on. Each step sank the soles of her shoes five centimeters into the yellow mud. Despite the treacherous footing, the man carrying the load ahead of them moved steadily and quickly, disappearing into the distance. Jiang Ning, however, was left supporting Grandpa Jiang, along with a group of young people who had returned home for the New Year, carrying large and small bags. They had finally bought nice clothes and shoes but now struggled to walk through the thick, muddy road.

They had bought new shoes just to look good when they returned for the New Year celebrations. Some of the young people even took off their shoes, carried them in their hands, and walked barefoot through the mud. When they arrived at the entrance of the village, they washed their feet in the ditches, wiped them dry without much care, and then put on their new shoes before heading home.

Grandpa Jiang also wanted to take off his shoes and walk barefoot, but Jiang Ning wouldn’t allow it.

The mountains were damp and cold, with heavy dew. Grandpa Jiang had worked as a forest ranger, patrolling the mountains year-round. The dew from the trees and grass would soak his trouser legs, and on cloudy or rainy days, his legs would ache terribly.

In the past, no matter how much pain he felt, he could only endure it in silence. However, after his granddaughter had taken him to Shanghai for medical examinations and treatments several times, he had experienced some relief.

Jiang Ning wasn’t about to let him do anything that could worsen his condition. She directly threatened, “Grandpa, if you take off your shoes and walk barefoot, I’ll do the same. I’ve heard that if a girl lets her legs get cold while she’s young, not only will she suffer from cold legs, but she won’t be able to have children in the future.”