Jiang Wanru and Ji Yan walked one in front of the other, through the heavy snowfall, along the long corridor, past the courtyard filled with laughter, across a desolate empty space, and then towards the most remote part of the Jiang residence. The two women remained silent all the way until they saw their own courtyard gate, where they spotted a woman in blue clothes, carrying a basket of food in one hand and a large brown thermos in the other, pacing back and forth at the entrance.
"Miss, its my mother who has come to deliver food and warm water for you." Jiang Wan saw this and slightly turned her body, allowing Jixiang to quickly run up front with an extremely joyful expression. She continued to walk slowly forward. Jixiang rushed up, stretching out his hand to take the things from the womans hands, but the woman dodged to the side, looking towards Jiang Wan with a gentle voice saying: "Jixiang, youve forgotten your manners again, you should be walking behind Third Miss."
Ji Yan looked at Jiang Wan with a hint of embarrassment after listening to his mothers words. Seeing her lightly shake her head, Ji Yan smiled twice at the woman in blue and turned around to push open the side door of the courtyard. After Jiang Wan approached, she saw the womans frozen face and said softly, "Ji Yans mom, its cold outside, you can come straight into the courtyard from now on." Ji Yans mother quickly shook her head and said, "Third Miss, you are kind-hearted, but a small woman like me cannot be above or below others."
Jiang Wanmu glanced at her and stopped talking, walking straight into the door. The courtyard was empty, with only a few flat houses. Jiyans mother followed Jiang Wanmu from behind and entered the middle room. The room was simply decorated, with a square table in front of the door, a small square table by the window, and several stools of different heights inside.
In the middle of the house stood a row of old, dark yellow screens that separated the back area from the rest. Mrs. Ji had heard her son mention that there was only a low bed in the back, with two old wooden trunks beside it for storing Third Miss Jiangs clothes. Since Mrs. Ji started serving Third Miss Jiang Wanru, she had come to this place several times under the pretext of delivering food and hot water. Every time she looked around, her eyes felt a little sour - even an ordinary servants room in the Jiang household was better furnished than Third Misss quarters.
Jiang Wanru sat at the table, looking at Jiyans mother in front of her, placing a bowl of plain boiled white vegetables and a small dish of beans on the table, then bringing out a small bowl of white rice. Jiang Wanru reached out to touch the rice bowl, feeling some residual warmth on her hand. She looked up at Jiyans mother, turned her head and instructed Jiyan: "Jiyan, take your portion back to your room to eat." Jiyan looked at her with some delay, then looked up at his own mother.
"Miss, Ji Yan has to serve you after youve used it, only then can she go eat." Jiang Wanru looked up at Ji Yan and understood the meaning behind her words. She wasnt necessarily heartless towards her own daughter, but she had always been cautious in her actions. Jiang Wanru shook her head lightly and said, "You all go out, Ill be more comfortable alone. Ji Yans mom, come back later to clean up."
Ji Yans mother still wanted to talk, but Ji Yan had already reached out to pull her away. Jiang Wanru clearly lowered her head, not wanting to speak with her again. Ji Yans mother walked over to the side, brought over a cup, poured in some warm water, and placed it in front of Jiang Wanru, softly saying: "Third Miss, drink some warm water to warm your stomach before eating, its good for your body." Jiang Wanru didnt speak, she simply picked up the cup with one hand and took small sips of the water.
After Ji Yans mother and daughter withdrew, Jiang Wanju slowly ate her meal. Before long, she heard the muffled laughter coming from next door, and could also make out Ji Yans mothers good mood. The corners of Jiang Wanjus mouth curved up slightly as she thought to herself, In this world, there are people who are happy, just like there are those who are unfortunate. Jiang Wanjus gaze was no longer dull, but instead was a calm and serene stare at the food on the table, with a sense of peace in her eyes that had come from experiencing life and death.
Jiang Wanting thought of her birth mother in this life. Since she was three years old, she had been far away from herself. Over the years, she had never approached herself. Occasionally, when Jiang Wanting saw her, the womans eyes were filled with tears, and her face was full of sorrow and regret as she looked at her. The simple meal with a cold tone once again reminded Jiang Wanting that she was not in a dream, but living in reality.
Jiang Wanru was listless and apathetic before the age of three, being manipulated by the serving women around her. Every morning, she would wait punctually outside Jiang Old Ladys door until all those who came to pay their respects had arrived and dispersed, then she would be led back to her own courtyard by the servants accompanying her.
The legitimate children of the Jiang family, when they were young, all lived with their legitimate mother. Only illegitimate children, worried that their birth mothers upbringing was not good, would affect the childs future, they were born and separated from their own courtyard with the accompanying women sent by their legitimate mother, and the accompanying women reported their respective situations to their legitimate mother every day.
After Jiang Wan was born, she always seemed particularly quiet, not crying or making a fuss, not smiling or moving much, with a single and wooden expression. Until she was one year old, when the doctor took her pulse, he said to her stepmother: "This child is ill, if she doesnt become stupid in the future, its just her good luck." Her birth mother fainted on the spot after hearing this news. No matter how bad Jiang Wan was, when she could walk, she still had to go to Jiang Old Madams courtyard with the accompaniment of the maids to pay respects.
Madam Jiang originally didnt get along with her birth mother, and after hearing that she had a foolish illness, she directly ordered the accompanying maids to let her stand outside the door, which was considered as showing her small filial piety. The maids who followed Jiang Wanru had long received instructions from Madam Jiangs legitimate mother, so they made her stand outside the door from start to finish, regardless of whether it was windy or rainy, and never avoided it once.
Jiang Wans stepmother, speaking to outsiders, said "I pity this child, so I will exempt her from the daily duty of paying respects." By the time Jiang Wan was three years old, the maids no longer stayed by her side but instead had her stand alone outside Old Lady Jiangs door, listening to the lively and joyful sounds coming from inside.
That day the sky was just as blue, little Jiang Wanruo stood stupidly outside. But that day was slightly different, Jiang Lao Tai Tais eldest son had returned to Beijing on business and brought several promising grandsons with him. On that early morning, they came from the official residence to pay their respects to Old Lady Jiang. Among them was a five or six year old boy who was exceptionally mischievous and exceptionally favored by Old Lady Jiang. The little scamp hopped in and out of the room.
That child kept staring at Jiang Wanmu with a dull expression, and was particularly curious about her. He stretched out his hand to tease Jiang Wanmu, who naturally reacted passively to his actions. Because of Jiang Wanmus obedience, the child became more and more excited, and even reached out to pull her away. Unfortunately, Jiang Wanmu had already gotten used to it, and if there was someone else in Old Lady Jiangs room, she would definitely stand guard outside the door. Jiang Wanmu refused to listen, and as the two pushed and pulled each other, the child accidentally pushed Jiang Wanmu to the ground, causing her head to heavily hit the floor.