Chapter 723

Uncle Jiang’s wife thought that no matter how parents did, once children didn’t measure up, people would always blame them and say there’s no such thing as perfect parents.

She thought for a moment and said, “Wait till your eldest uncle comes back.”

Uncle Jiang’s wife actually wanted to stay. In her heart, Jiang Ning was no different from her own daughter. Jiang Ning was close to her, and rather than spending New Year with her three sons and their wives, it was better to be with Jiang Ning.

Even if she got along well with her three daughters-in-law, they had all lived separately since they got married, so there was no friction. If they really had to live together every day, it would just be annoying.

But Uncle Jiang wasn’t necessarily willing to spend the New Year with Jiang Ning. To Uncle Jiang, Jiang Ning was still a niece from a separate household; naturally, he would spend the New Year with his sons—he wasn’t without children.

When she discussed spending the New Year at Jiang Ning’s place, Uncle Jiang was definitely unwilling. He had three grown sons, after all. Why would he spend New Year’s at his niece’s house? 

“Sounds like I don’t have sons at all,” he said.”

Only then did Uncle Jiang realize he’d said something wrong. “Well, it is what it is. You’re the same—you don’t visit your three sons for New Year, and instead go to your niece’s.”

In Uncle Jiang’s eyes, his niece was always a step removed.

Aunt Jiang quietly said, “Ning Ning,  Guoping, and Ah Lian are celebrating New Year in two different houses—it’s just not right. Ning Ning is not married yet.”

Hearing his words, she glared at him and continued, “You know how strong-willed Ah Lian is, right?”

Aunt Jiang twisted him in annoyance, “It’s because you never had a daughter.”

Uncle Jiang said, “I have three sons, why would I need a daughter to bother with me?” Aunt Jiang said, “What I mean is, how about this for New Year? This year’s the first year Ning Ning’s new house is built. Traditionally, you should have a half ‘beam-raising’ banquet, and if you don’t have that, at least a half ‘warming’ banquet, right? Then the old man and old lady, plus my three sons, Guoping, Ah Lian, Baizi—all can come to Ning Ning’s house for New Year.”

Uncle Jiang, impatient with all these matters, pulled the quilt up and said, “Fine, whatever you want.”

Aunt Jiang then shared this idea with her eldest daughter-in-law.

Among the three daughters-in-law, the one closest and easiest to get along with Aunt Jiang was her eldest daughter-in-law.

After receiving Aunt Jiang’s instructions, the next day her eldest daughter-in-law came to the Jiang house to find the Jiang parents. Mainly to talk to Mother Jiang, “Auntie, you’re at home?” She washed her hands and joined in rolling the meatballs, chatting as she worked.”

After some small talk, she said, “Auntie, since Ning Ning’s house is built but hasn’t had a warming banquet yet, yesterday Hongjun told me to come talk to you and Uncle about celebrating New Year’s Eve dinner at Ning Ning’s house. Her main room is big, the dining table’s big, no fear of not enough seats.“Good idea! Baizi is shooting and can’t come back. I was worried only that I, Ah lian, Ning Ning, Baizi, and the old folks would have a quiet New Year.”

Father Jiang already agreed, so Mother Jiang couldn’t refuse.

Then Aunt Jiang and her eldest daughter-in-law shared this plan with Jiang Ning. Jiang Ning immediately saw that Aunt Jiang had realized the tension between her and her parents and wanted to ease it.”

Aunt Jiang gently stroked Jiang Ning’s smooth hair, sighed, “Ah, girl…” She wanted to advise her but didn’t know where to start.called and said he wouldn’t come back for New Year.

Father Jiang was anxious, “How can you not come back for New Year? You can’t spare two days?”

Jiang Bai cared for Mother Jiang but, strangely, never spoke nicely to Father Jiang. His tone was sharp, “Do you know how much money the crew loses if we don’t shoot for one day? If the director gives us time off, who covers the loss? It’s not just me not having a holiday; the director and producers are at the crew too.”

Actors on set burn money when resting a day; no holidays until filming was done, even during New Year.

Jiang Bai had a serious and dedicated work attitude, much like Mother Jiang. When the director and producer said no holidays, he called Father Jiang to explain he couldn’t come back for New Year.

Father Jiang was silent for a moment, then he said, “How about your studies?” They both fell silent, no more words. 

Jiang Bai said, “Take care of yourselves.”

For both Jiang Ba and Jiang Ning, after so many years of being ignored, these words now felt useless.

The Jiang parents could never forget, never be at peace with how, if they were truly busy, not one of the three kids cared for or checked on their parents. They all understood the hardships, but all their effort, energy, and money had gone to their eldest brother, who never even gave a look or greeting back.

As a child, Jiang Bai craved parental love and was understanding. When Jiang Song played joyfully with friends, young Jiang Bai came home after school to clean, cook dinner, wash dishes, do housework—just because he saw his parents’ hardship and wanted to help.

But the obedient children get neglected; the crying ones get the milk.

After Jiang Bai hung up, Father Jiang sat down, disheartened, losing interest even in preparing the New Year dinner. Nothing felt right anymore.

Father Jiang could never have imagined that, after having two sons, the one who ended up staying with them for New Year was not the sons they expected to take care of them, but the daughter they thought would marry out and celebrate New Year elsewhere.

He tried to comfort himself: the kids work away, it was not just him not coming home.

Not to mention Jiang Bai—didn’t he have years of hiding debts, not daring to come home for New Year?

Logic was understood, and when young, he never minded, but now the kids were grown, and it was their turn. The Jiang parents ate by the small red clay stove, but the food had no flavor, and their spirits were low.

Especially when looking out the window at the bright lights on the barren hill.

Those lights were bright and warm. Even without hearing the chatter inside, the warmth was obvious, making their own cold and lonely home even starker.

Clearly, the owner of that big house should have been their daughter, sitting there warmly, eating and drinking, celebrating happily. That should have been their place.

Father Jiang sighed and told Mother Jiang about Jiang Bai not coming back.

Mother Jiang silently listened, said nothing.

They sipped rice wine slowly. At night, Father Jiang cleared the dishes, Mother Jinag’s hands hurt and couldn’t touch water, not even wanting to watch TV. She lay down, staring at the ceiling, silently crying.

When Father Jiang finished washing up and went to bed, Mother Jiang was still crying.

Father Jiang didn’t comfort her either; he lay silently, sighing through the cold quiet night.

After the 26th day of the lunar month, most tourists left Jiang Village, but the village’s lively spirit never stopped. More migrant workers returned home, many bringing partners. Some planned to have a baby before land division to secure their share, but having a baby wasn’t something they could just decide. Few girls came back without demands for bride price or wedding ceremonies.”

They boasted not about the woman’s understanding, but about their son’s ability.

Villagers with sons envied them.

Father Jiang heard these conversations. His two sons were of marrying age and needed plans, but he felt gloomy. Neither son was home for New Year, and who knew what laughter and jokes were behind his back.

Thinking this, he didn’t want to stay among the crowd and went to the embankment, hoping his eldest son would appear at the dock anytime, watching the changes in his hometown.

Though he returned every year, it always felt like a lifetime since his last visit. The village had changed too much—it was no longer the dirty little mountain village where he grew up. Now, it was a tourist scenic spot, and he believed it.