Cheng You, carrying a large bag of gifts, went to Old Jiang's house but was stopped at the door by Jiang Wanrou.
Clearly, her time at home hadn't taught her any lessons.
"Cheng You, did you report me and Yuan He's situation!"
Cheng You looked inside and saw the old man's figure.
"Yes, I came here this time to tell Grandpa about Yuan He's situation."
Jiang Wanrou panicked, "You're not allowed to say it!"
In her eyes, Cheng You's appearance here surely meant no good intentions.
Cheng You smiled slightly and said, "Cousin, I saw Yuan He sent a telegram to his family saying he's going to marry the granddaughter of the village's Party Branch Secretary. Is it you? I'm only just finding out about such happy news in the family."
Jiang Wanrou stood rigid, staring at her blankly.
At the same time, her heart was filled with elation. Yuan He was actually going to marry her!
Yuan He had said that his family was already making arrangements to get him back to the city.
When that time came, he would definitely take her with him!
But before she could savor her joy for long, she heard the old man's voice, "What marriage?"
Jiang Wanrou stiffly turned her head and mumbled, "Grandpa..."
"You give me a good explanation, what does this marriage Cheng You mentioned mean!"
Jiang Wanrou lowered her head, afraid to speak. She was sure to be beaten to death.
Yet, when she thought about becoming a city dweller in the future, escaping this rural place, she felt it was all worth it.
"Grandpa, Yuan He and I have agreed to get married. See, he didn't lie to me!"
The old man, holding a cup of tea still warm, splashed it directly onto her face.
He wished he could pry open his granddaughter's head.
"Didn't lie to you? Do you really not hear or pretend to be ignorant about Yuan He's reputation in the village!"
Jiang Wanrou rushed to explain, "He's already explained all that to me! It wasn't his idea, it was his family's idea, it has nothing to do with him!"
In her opinion, that female comrade was also promiscuous, having done that thing with Yuan He before marriage.
Any man would find it irresistible.
Anyway, in Jiang Wanrou's heart, any man who could take her to the city was perfect in every way.
The old man spat fiercely, "Regardless, I'm making my stance clear today. I do not agree to this marriage! If you insist on marrying him, then you are no longer my granddaughter. We will sever ties!"
These words were grave.
Jiang Wanrou, terrified, immediately knelt down, "But I'm already his person. If I don't marry him, who else will I marry!"
The moment she finished speaking, a furious roar came from behind, "Jiang Wanrou!"
She turned around and saw the ashen faces of Jiang Dingcheng and Jiang Lao Er, with other villagers standing beside them.
Her face turned pale. It didn't matter if her own family heard these words.
If others heard them, they would spread throughout Qili Village in an instant.
"Grandpa, I beg you, fulfill our wish." Her voice lowered.
Old Master Jiang slowly closed his eyes. It was hard for anyone to be happy when their family produced such a descendant.
"Your marriage will be decided by your parents. I won't interfere!"
He angrily walked into the house and shut the door with a bang.
Jiang Wanrou timidly glanced back, only to be met with a severe beating.
Jiang Lao Er, like a beast who had lost his reason, wielded a stick and struck her, each blow landing squarely on Jiang Wanrou, as if he wanted to beat her to death.
"I'll beat you to death now instead of letting you do shameless things and marry that kind of person!"
Jiang Wanrou screamed shrilly as she was beaten, rolling on the ground, yet no one stepped forward to intervene.
When he felt he had taught her enough of a lesson, Cheng You finally gave Jiang Dingcheng a look.
"Uncle, you should stop him. Don't beat her too badly."
But only speaking up after she had been beaten so severely, Jiang Wanrou didn't appreciate her feigned kindness. Her resentful gaze seemed to want to devour her.
"You don't need to be so kind!"
Cheng You clenched her fist. "It's not for you, but I'm worried about Second Uncle's health."
Jiang Dingcheng immediately took the stick from Jiang Lao Er's hand and advised, "Children need to be taught. Does beating them help?"
Jiang Lao Er squatted down, looking dejected, clutching his hair.
"Beating is useless. Our family is unfortunate to have such a shameless daughter!"
Jiang Dingcheng sighed silently. His sharp eyes looked at Jiang Wanrou and asked, "Wanrou, Uncle asks you, have you made up your mind? Do you have to marry Yuan He?"
Jiang Wanrou lowered her head, crying, "With my reputation like this, besides marrying him, what good family would want me?"
Jiang Lao Er's veins bulged. "Isn't that your own doing!"
She brought it upon herself, so what was there to be wronged about!
Jiang Wanrou bit her lip, her tears welling up with grievance.
"Yuan He's family is making arrangements for him to return to the city. When that time comes, I will definitely go back with him. In the city, no one knows me, and then I can hold my head high."
In the countryside, you could run into someone you knew within a few steps.
Going out could lead to being pointed at.
She really didn't want to live like this.
Jiang Lao Er gave up. This daughter had decided to see things through to the end.
"If you want to marry, fine! The dowry will be as for an ordinary family. Once you marry, from now on, regardless of good or bad, you are no longer my Jiang family's daughter. We will sever ties!"
Jiang Wanrou cried out in anguish, "Dad, why must you force me!"
Jiang Lao Er's face was cold and his heart hardened, "It's not me forcing you, it's the path you chose yourself. This way, we won't have to worry about you later, and you won't think we are harming you."
Severing ties with a daughter he had raised for twenty years felt like gouging flesh from his heart.
But the Old Jiang family couldn't afford to lose face.
Jiang Wanrou, as if out of spite, stood up and gritted her teeth, "Fine, sever ties it is. I've already decided to marry Yuan He, and that won't change!"
Cheng You hadn't expected her second uncle to make such a decision.
With only this one daughter, without being truly ruthless, it was indeed difficult to sever ties.
"Uncle, why don't you take the things inside? I'll be going back now."
Jiang Dingcheng waved his hand, "You're not an outsider, no need to be so polite."
He led Cheng You inside.
"Director Lin came a few days ago. He said he'd bring people after the New Year to harvest the medicinal herbs that can be collected."
Cheng You smiled, "That's great. A good start for the year."
"Indeed. I'll give you a list of the herbs that can be collected, and you can see if you need any. I'll reserve some for you. The village has decided to expand the planting area further. As you suggested, we'll plant ginseng and Polygonum multiflorum. What do you think?"
Cheng You was a little surprised, "That would be wonderful, but ginseng is a long-term endeavor. It's not something you can harvest in one or two years."
Jiang Dingcheng naturally understood. "I know. I heard that the people you hired are all for the pharmaceutical factory?"
"Yes, Director Lin asked me to help with that."
Jiang Dingcheng's smile held a hint of pride. Many people had come to thank him these past few days, saying it was all thanks to Cheng You.
These country folk had never imagined in their lives that they would be able to eat the state's grain.