Volume One, Chapter 21: But From Now On, She Has Me

That evening, the lights in the Huo family residence within the military district compound shone brighter than ever.

Huo Jianjun had managed to procure a plump, fat hen from somewhere and personally cooked a pot of fragrant chicken soup. The neighbors next door all assumed it must be some grand occasion.

At the dinner table, Huo Jianjun placed the largest chicken leg into Jiang Yu’s bowl, his voice booming like a bell: "Xiao Yu, eat! Eat more! You’ve brought great honor to your father. Today, you can eat this whole chicken yourself if you want!"

Before even returning home, Huo Jianjun had heard his colleagues at the office teasing him, saying that Old Guo was trying to snatch his daughter away. He had even found his tea tasting particularly sweet while sitting in the office earlier. He looked at Jiang Yu now, his eyes filled with undisguised pride.

Jiang Yu sipped her soup slowly. While her stomach felt warm, a strange, sour ache rose in her chest. She suddenly recalled when she was nine years old, the first time she had learned to repair a radio independently under the guidance of a master at the factory. The treasure that belonged to Aunt Zhang next door had been broken for a long time; it was only after Jiang Yu tinkered with it for an entire afternoon that it finally hummed back to life. Aunt Zhang had been overjoyed and gifted her a small bag of rare fruit candies.

She had clutched those glistening candies, running home excitedly, wanting her father to taste one and hoping for a word of praise. However, she was met with Jiang Weimin’s impatient face.

"What’s the use of fixing that junk? Can you eat it?" He snatched the paper bag away, not even glancing at her, and turned to hand it to Jiang Yuehua, who was sitting in the room reading a comic book. "Yuehua, have some candy."

Jiang Yuehua happily took it, peeled one open, popped it into her mouth, and called out sweetly, "Thank you, Dad!" She didn't even share one with Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu stood where she was, whispering in defense, "Dad, I wanted one too..."

"Want what?! You’re a girl, hanging around those hunks of iron all day—what does that look like? Your hands are so dirty, aren't you afraid of getting the candy filthy!" Jiang Weimin scolded. Seeing that she didn't leave, he actually raised his hand.

The crisp sound of a slap and those few candies she could never taste became the most profound scar of her childhood. All her efforts were met not with appreciation, but with disdain. All her accomplishments ultimately served only to embellish her younger sister, Jiang Yuehua.

"...Xiao Yu? What's wrong?"

Huo Jianjun’s voice pulled Jiang Yu out of those icy memories. She collected herself, meeting the worried gazes of the family, and shook her head, forcing a smile. "It’s nothing, the soup is just really delicious."

After the meal, Huo Jianjun took out fifty yuan and several ration coupons, placing them solemnly in front of Jiang Yu.

"Xiao Yu, Dad knows you are sensible and don't like to spend money recklessly. But this money and these coupons are a reward for you. Tomorrow, have your eldest brother and fourth brother accompany you to the department store to buy a watch and pick out some new fabric for a few new outfits. All young girls love to look pretty; I don't know what you like, so you go and pick them out yourself."

"I saw those bright red hair ribbons and butterfly headbands that the girls on the street wear; they look lovely. You’d definitely look even better with them!"

Jiang Yu looked at the stack of brand-new money and coupons, her fingers curling slightly. Just as she was about to decline, Huo Siye began shouting boisterously, "Did you hear that? Dad told you to buy them! I’ll take you tomorrow, and I guarantee we’ll pick out the best-looking one! Buy me something while you're at it!"

Huo Jianjun rapped Huo Siye on the head. "Buy what? You just keep wearing your black pants and black shirts; don't go around acting like a colorful butterfly all day!"

Lin Wenxiu laughed as she listened. "How can you talk to the child like that? I think he looks just fine."

Huo Siye gave Lin Wenxiu a thumbs up. "Aunt Lin is the only one who understands me!"

Lin Wenxiu froze, but then felt much more at ease. She had thought that bringing Jiang Yu with her when she married into the family wouldn't be entirely smooth sailing. She hadn't expected life to be like this—a bit of bickering, a bit of teasing, quite happy.

"Look at my taste—it’s the trendsetter of the military district!" Huo Siye said, styling his hair. Everyone laughed; his "Golden Lion King" hairstyle was likely the subject of gossip behind closed doors elsewhere.

The next day, the weather was clear. Huo Chenyuan and Huo Siye did indeed accompany Jiang Yu to the city's largest department store. Jiang Yu ultimately chose the simplest ladies' watch. Just as she was preparing to pay, a snide voice, laced with the heavy stench of alcohol, came from behind her.

"Oh, isn't this our Jiang family’s top student? What’s this? Have you climbed a high branch and now have spare money to stroll through the department store?"

"Don't embarrass yourself. The stinginess and rust soaked into your bones give off a stench even when you walk out."

Jiang Yu’s body stiffened. That familiar, nauseating scent of cheap liquor made her stomach churn. She turned slowly to see the Jiang brothers and Jiang Yuehua supporting Jiang Weimin, blocking the way not far off.

When Jiang Yuehua saw the watch in Jiang Yu’s hand, she gritted her teeth in hatred. In her previous life, she had once mentioned to Huo Jianjun that her classmates all had new watches and that she wanted one too. At the time, Huo Jianjun had said that girls shouldn't compare themselves to others and that studying hard and being grounded was more important than anything. Later, she had asked her eldest brother, Huo Chenyuan, who gave her the same excuse—that he was busy with military affairs.

Yet now, why were there no military affairs? Why was he even accompanying Jiang Yu to the department store? Recalling the words Huo Chenyuan had used back then, telling her not to do things that trampled on her own self-respect just to gain something, she felt a surge of bitterness. But what about her, Jiang Yu?

What exactly had Jiang Yu done to make everyone in the Huo family so devoted to her? Meanwhile, this dead drunkard and these brothers of hers, who were like mud that couldn't be propped up, were each more useless than the last!

In her previous life, things weren't like this in the Huo family! Why had everything changed in this life?

Jiang Weimin was clearly drunk, his face flushed, his eyes clouded, and his gaze toward Jiang Yu filled with resentment.

"Jiang Yu! You unfilial daughter! Your wings have grown stiff, haven't they?!" Jiang Weimin, fueled by the alcohol, strode over and pointed at her nose, cursing loudly. "I raised you through such hardship, and this is how you repay me?! You’ve conspired with outsiders to shame your own brother and sister in front of the whole city! What kind of heart do you have!"

Seeing that Jiang Yu didn't speak, his rage grew. His eyes swept over the money and coupons in her hand, and he reached out to snatch them. "Hand it over! I raised you, so what’s wrong with spending some of your money? You eat and dress at the Huo family’s expense, yet you don't know how to help us out? Your sister is in poor health, and your brother needs to get married—don't they all need money?!"

His hand was about to touch Jiang Yu. She didn't even dodge. She simply closed her eyes by instinct, out of habit, out of fear.

However, the expected tugging did not happen. A slender, powerful hand with prominent knuckles firmly gripped Jiang Weimin’s wrist in mid-air, locking it like an iron clamp, preventing him from moving even an inch further.

It was Huo Chenyuan.

He had stepped in front of Jiang Yu before anyone realized it, pinning down the hand that was about to strike.

"You!" Jiang Weimin struggled, but found that the other’s hand didn't budge. He could only roar in a display of bluster, "Huo Chenyuan! Let go! This is my daughter; it is only right and proper for me to discipline her. You have no say in this!"

Huo Chenyuan lowered his eyes slightly, a flicker of fury burning in his dark pupils.

"Director Jiang, let me remind you of something. From the moment she stepped through the door of the Huo residence, she became my, Huo Chenyuan’s, sister. Since when does a member of the Huo family allow you to lay a hand on them?"

He exerted slight force on his wrist, and Jiang Weimin immediately let out a cry of pain, his entire face contorting. Huo Chenyuan flung his hand away as if discarding something filthy, then brushed off his own sleeves as if he didn't want to be contaminated.

He looked at the middle-aged man throwing a tantrum before him, his thin lips parting to speak, enunciating every word clearly. His voice was not loud, but it was clear enough for everyone gathered around to hear:

"I don't care about the past. But from this day forward, she has me. Just try laying another finger on her."