Volume One, Chapter Two: A Sister Doesn’t Always Want to Go to School

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Jiang Yu carried a wooden box in one hand and held his mother’s hand with the other as they stepped out of the courtyard. Just then, a brand-new army green jeep came to a steady stop outside the Jiang family home.

Hearing the noise, the people inside also came out.

Jiang Yuehua stared wide-eyed at the vehicle. She was reluctant to hand over their affluent life to Jiang Yu, yet she did not want to go with them to the Huo family either—because once there, she would no longer be cherished as she was in the Jiang household but instead treated coldly. She could not bear such a drastic fall from grace.

She pitifully clung to Jiang Weimin’s arm, her voice filled with grievance, “Dad, once Mom and sister go to the Huo family, they’ll surely live well, but will they forget about us?”

No sooner had she spoken than Jiang Baoguo spat disdainfully and cursed bitterly, “One remarried, the other a burden—so what if they marry into a prestigious family? Over there, who knows how they’ll be looked down upon.”

Jiang Chengzhi self-righteously added, “They can still rely on my radio resale in the Jiang family for a living, but at the Huo family, they won’t be of any help. Sooner or later, they’ll be kicked out. When that happens, don’t shamelessly come crawling back to the Jiang family, begging us to take you in.”

Jiang Zhenguo, seeing the striking new car for the first time, could not hide his yearning. But hearing his two brothers’ words, he immediately cleared his throat and put on a haughty air, “So what if our mother and daughter go to the Huo family? That money isn’t really theirs. Maybe once those two jinxes leave, only the lucky little sister remains, and our family will be better off than the Huo’s.”

Jiang Weimin’s face remained ashen as he listened to his children.

No matter what the future held, the fact that the Huo family had come to fetch his ex-wife in person was a slap to his face.

He glared fiercely at Lin Wenxiu, “You better think it through. No one will treat you as well as I do. If you die after leaving this place, I won’t even bury you.”

Lin Wenxiu frowned, but before she could say anything, the car door opened.

Stepping forward was the stepfather, Huo Jianjun, clad in military uniform, standing straight as a rod. He glanced coldly at Jiang Weimin. “How my wife and daughter will fare in the future is no concern of yours.”

The air of authority accumulated from years of high rank made Jiang Weimin shrink his neck involuntarily.

Huo Jianjun approached to take the wooden box from Jiang Yu’s hands, patted her shoulder, then reached out to hold Lin Wenxiu’s hand. “Wenxiu, Xiaoyu, I’m here to take you home.”

Huo Chenyuan got out of the car and cast a glance at the two soon to be welcomed into the Huo family. He opened the door and said indifferently, “Aunt Lin, my father was worried you had a lot of things, so he sent me to help.”

Lin Wenxiu looked a little uneasy at the eldest son of the Huo family. Jiang Yu quietly held her mother’s other hand and softly said, “Thank you for your help.”

Just as Jiang Yu was about to leave, Jiang Yuehua suddenly rushed forward and grabbed her hand. Her eyes glistened with tears, implying much as she said, “Sister, once you get to the new home, don’t be as willful as you are here, doing whatever you want. But even if you make mistakes and get kicked out, Dad, my brothers, and I will always welcome you back.”

Jiang Yu saw through her clumsy act, shook off her hand, and sneered inwardly: Come back for what? To keep being a beast of burden for you all?

She had thought that Jiang Yuehua, having been reborn like her, would have learned some wisdom, but it turned out she still relied on such underhanded tactics.

Without changing her expression, Jiang Yu said, “Little sister, you should worry about yourself. Without Mom and me, no one will help clean up your messes anymore.”

Jiang Yu was very curious to see how this family—with its spoiled father and brothers, and a scheming yet hardworking little sister—would manage life without her as their tireless workhorse.

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Huo Chenyuan remained silent as he watched, not speaking even after sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the engine.

Jiang Yu sat in the front passenger seat, leaving the back for Huo Jianjun and Lin Wenxiu.

Lin Wenxiu’s face was flushed from the earlier confrontation at the Jiang household. She kept her head down, saying nothing.

Huo Jianjun lowered his voice and awkwardly comforted his wife.

Through the rearview mirror, Huo Chenyuan glanced at Jiang Yu and casually remarked, “I heard from my father that you used to work at the tractor factory? Our military compound is different from a factory; there are many rules and complex social relations. I hope you and Aunt Lin can adapt quickly and not cause my father any unnecessary trouble.”

Though the words sounded caring, they were actually a subtle reprimand.

Jiang Yu looked at Huo Chenyuan. In her previous life, she had heard about him and knew that this man, taciturn as he was, was far more complicated than he appeared.

She lowered her eyes gently and replied softly, “Thank you for your concern, big brother. Mom and I will adapt quickly to life in the compound and definitely won’t cause any trouble.”

Her calm and composed answer made Huo Chenyuan’s fingers tighten slightly on the steering wheel.

He had seen the drama unfold at the Jiang home earlier.

Jiang Yu’s father and siblings looked utterly foolish to him.

He had expected Jiang Yu to be somewhat naive like them, but this stepsister was even more composed than he had imagined—speaking neither arrogantly nor obsequiously.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. It seemed life in the compound would become more interesting.

The rest of the journey passed in silence between Huo Chenyuan and Jiang Yu, only the gentle conversation between Huo Jianjun and Lin Wenxiu could be heard.

The jeep entered the military compound and finally stopped in front of an elegant two-story house.

As soon as the vehicle halted, many people quietly observed from a distance, but no one dared approach hastily.

Huo Jianjun led Lin Wenxiu ahead, with Jiang Yu following behind.

Once inside, Jiang Yu immediately felt two hostile gazes fall upon her.

Following the gaze, she saw two young men seated on the living room sofa.

Huo Mingyu wore gold-rimmed glasses and a white coat, with a medical newspaper beside him. When Jiang Yu looked at him, he gave a polite smile, though there was no warmth in his eyes.

The other, Huo Zhenshan, looked rugged with sun-kissed skin. He was the third son and cast a cold glance at Jiang Yu and the others before lowering his head to continue polishing a hammer.

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“Mingyu, Zhenshan, this is your Aunt Lin and Xiaoyu. From now on, we’re one family,” Huo Jianjun introduced.

“Aunt Lin, hello.” Huo Mingyu adjusted his glasses and stood to greet them, but his eyes subtly flicked toward Jiang Yu’s hands, roughened from years of hard labor.

Huo Zhenshan seemed not to hear and remained focused on his tools.

Having been rebuffed by his third son, Huo Jianjun’s face darkened. He shot a warning glance at him, then said to Lin Wenxiu, “They’re a bit shy, don’t take it to heart.”

Jiang Yu and Lin Wenxiu could tell they weren’t just shy, but now they were guests under someone else’s roof, so Huo Jianjun’s words were law.

After seating Lin Wenxiu beside him, Huo Jianjun said to Jiang Yu, “Xiaoyu, find yourself a place to sit. Don’t be so reserved. From now on, consider this your home.”

Jiang Yu did not dare sit just anywhere. She deliberately chose a small sofa far from the three Huo brothers.

Huo Jianjun knew his sons did not welcome his new wife and stepdaughter, but he did not call them out. Instead, he asked Jiang Yu in front of them, “Xiaoyu, what grade are you in now?”

Jiang Yu answered truthfully, “I graduated from middle school and haven’t continued.”

Huo Jianjun sighed, “That won’t do. Since you’re part of the Huo family, there’s no reason you can’t be supported through school.”

Jiang Yu’s heart stirred. She wanted to study, but with so many people present, she was about to decline politely when the usually cautious Lin Wenxiu said, “Jianjun, please help Xiaoyu with this.”

Jiang Yu looked at Lin Wenxiu in surprise; she did not expect her to volunteer on her behalf.

The three brothers exchanged glances. Huo Zhenshan disapproved, saying, “Dad, if you let her go to the same school as the fourth brother, what will the others think of him?”

Huo Mingyu feigned concern, “Dad, she was just a factory girl before. She might not keep up at school.”

The Huo family was willing to support one person’s schooling, but they were reluctant to sponsor Jiang Yu’s education. They thought their father was overly indulgent toward a stepdaughter.

Huo Jianjun chuckled, “I’m not discussing this with you; I’m informing you. The matter is decided.”

“Dad, maybe we should discuss it again,” Huo Chenyuan said, ignoring his father’s warning look. “Sister might not want to go back to school.”