Chapter 238 - 238: Obtaining the Location
Chen Xing promptly said, “Rest assured, we won’t mention it. It’s just a simple population census; you don’t have to worry.”
At that moment, someone in the courtyard called out for Zhang Ling. By the sound of it, it seemed to be Old Madam Jiang.
Zhang Ling looked a little impatient, but she didn’t dare to delay. “If my family asks how you got our address, please make sure you don’t say I told you.”
She then gave a general direction, “There aren’t many homes up the mountain. If you search carefully, you’ll find it.”
Before Chen Xing could respond, Zhang Ling had already closed the door and returned to the main house of the Jiang family.
Old Madam Jiang lay on her bed and grumbled, “You’re so slow. It took you forever to answer. Can’t you be more efficient? Who was at the door? Are they here to mock me? Did you send them away?”
Listening to the old madam’s continuous rant without even pausing for breath, Zhang Ling secretly rolled her eyes. The way the old woman spoke with such energy didn’t seem like she was ill at all. She just stayed in bed and avoided work. How could the old madam blame others and not expect anyone to talk about her?
Usually, if there’s any gossip, she’s the first to be nosy. Now, she’s afraid of becoming a laughingstock. How ironic!
Though Zhang Ling thought this, she placated the old madam by saying, “It was the production team leader doing a population census. They just asked about the number of people in the house. Don’t worry, Grandma. If anyone dares to gossip about us, 1’11 be the first to chase them away.”
Of course, Zhang Ling didn’t mention Chen Xing’s questions about her hometown. This topic was a sore point for the old madam. Even mentioning it would make her explode in anger. “Never tell anyone where your hometown is. If Third Jiang finds out where his eldest daughter has been married off to, he’ll turn everything into chaos. That Zhou Lan isn’t easy to deal with either. Does she still want to get Jiang Qing back? Dream on!”
Old Madam Jiang finally felt relieved but added, “You didn’t include Third Jiang in our household, did you? That unfilial son has no relation to us now. He uses everything from home but doesn’t show gratitude. He even wants to separate the family. He’ll starve out there sooner or later!”
The old madam’s nagging wasn’t new, and Zhang Ling had long grown tired of it. Using the excuse that there were still chores to be done in the yard, she quickly exited.
Upon stepping out, the old madam continued to grumble and complain, saying that Zhang Ling was not diligent and always dragged her feet while doing chores.
Zhang Ling almost rolled her eyes to the heavens in exasperation. How dare they say she wasn’t active in her chores? She had to wash the entire family’s clothes by herself. How fast did they expect her to be?
Especially those men who worked all day, sweating profusely. After coming home, they would just throw their clothes aside without even airing them out. By the time Zhang Ling got to washing them, the clothes would already stink, requiring multiple washes to get them clean!
And Third Uncle, before he separated from the family, didn’t their house handle all the dirty and tiring tasks? She could enjoy some leisure back then. Now that they had left, all the work fell on their household. Who could Zhang Ling turn to for fairness?
The old madam had the audacity to say that Third Uncle ate and used their resources. Without him, would the family be able to enjoy such abundant meals?
However, Zhang Ling didn’t have a good impression of Jiang Chuan either. He was always meek and mild. When bullied, he would remain silent, only immersing himself in work. Just seeing him was infuriating.
Zhang Ling felt that trading herself to marry their family’s daughter to her elder brother was a loss for her!
But Jiang Chuan’s insistence on separating from the family for the sake of his second daughter changed her perspective. A father willing to go to such lengths for his daughter showcased a depth of paternal love that was truly enviable.
Zhang Ling couldn’t help but recall her own experiences. Thinking of her father’s impatient expression when he spoke of exchanging her to another family as a bride saddened her. What hurt her the most, however, was her silent mother standing by.
If only her mother hadn’t…
Nevermind, it was best not to dwell on the past. What’s done was done, so there’s no point in thinking about it. Wiping her moist eyes with her sleeve, Zhang Ling continued with her laundry..