I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel-Chapter 214 - 211: Magpies Circling the Window

Uncle Ma’s nose twitched, and instantly that familiar aroma wafted into his nostrils. The old man couldn’t be bothered to stay angry now.

"Wine! Is it the same wine as last time? Quick, give this old man a taste."

Jiang Mingyue: "..." So, whether old or young, what men love most is still wine.

But as long as it makes the old man happy, that’s good.

"Yes, yes, I saved it just for you."

However, this time Jiang Mingyue brought corn wine. Those who know wine can tell the ingredients. Corn is common, and one can get some from Meizi Mountain, but grapes were rare in those years, especially in a poor place like Qingshan Village, not to mention the climate doesn’t permit it.

Jiang Mingyue took out a jar of corn wine, two cans of canned yellow peaches, a bag of wheat flour, a braised chicken, a braised rabbit, and four dried chickens and rabbits.

Enough to last the old man a while.

Initially, the old man was only concerned about his wine, but when the girl took out all these good things, his face instantly fell.

"I say, girl, did you empty your home? Don’t your family eat? You can’t have such a wasteful nature, you..."

His words were cut off by Jiang Mingyue hugging his arm.

"Grandpa Ma, my family is doing well now. My second brother dug over ten traps on the mountain, we can’t finish all the wild game at home. My eldest brother can even collect wild honey from the mountain to bring back for me, my third sister can make clothes, her skills are amazing, she’s made me many clothes, and my mom can make pancakes, they’re the tastiest I’ve ever had, I’ll bring some for you to try next time.

Also, my eldest brother is now the secretary, he earns a salary each month, and my second brother is the deputy director of the brick factory, he got forty-seven yuan last month including bonuses, we also get dividends, we got twenty yuan last month. All this money is given to me to hold, we’re not short of money now, I’m really rich, really!"

Jiang Mingyue was glad she wore the pair of white leather shoes her eldest cousin bought today; they were much better than those sold at the department store. Grandpa Ma, with his sharp eyes, would surely notice, but as for her clothes... cough cough...

Grandpa Ma indeed looked Jiang Mingyue up and down. This girl’s nonsense came easily; when he saw the girl’s clothes, he instantly frowned. This old blue cloth seemed like something elders wore, but then he saw the girl’s white leather shoes, and his eyes immediately lit up. These were top-notch leather, and the style was something he hadn’t seen before, but clearly good quality.

Alright, he reluctantly believed the girl’s words. Jiang Mingyue casually lifted her sore left hand, and as her sleeve slipped, there was a plum blossom watch on her fair, slender wrist.

The old man, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized its value and saw the difference.

"This isn’t the one you had before."

Jiang Mingyue was momentarily stunned, "Ah! Right, it isn’t. Before I went to the countryside, I wasn’t unconscious. My mom took advantage of that time to clear out all my things, including that watch. Later, I saw that watch on Jiang Zhenzhu’s wrist."

Hearing this, the old man felt both angry and pained, blaming himself for bringing up unpleasant memories.

"Alright, alright, it’s Grandpa’s fault, I won’t mention it again."

Jiang Mingyue blinked: This was a misunderstanding!

"Grandpa Ma, I don’t mind. I only went to the countryside because I figured things out. Since Xu Ya didn’t want me, I wouldn’t want her either."

Grandpa Ma paused, carefully observing the girl, seeing she wasn’t lying, and sighed.

Eighteen years of nurturing couldn’t be easily severed.

Before leaving, Grandpa Ma tried to sneak some money to Jiang Mingyue, but she quietly put it back under his pillow. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Jiang Kangsheng watched as the girl left, hurriedly closed the door, and quickly chased downstairs.

His office on the second floor happened to overlook the gatekeeper’s lodge; it was strange, usually only seeing sparrows, a few magpies were just circling outside his window. That’s when he looked outside a bit more, and saw that girl.

Watching her interact with Grandpa Ma as if they were real grandfather and granddaughter, Jiang Kangsheng’s heart felt bitter.

In the past, he was even closer to the girl like a father and daughter. Every winter or summer vacation, the girl would always run to him, Xu Ya used to scold her for being wild, and he would protect her. As a result, the girl grew closer to him, and whenever she and the good-for-nothing second one roamed the streets, she’d always remember to bring him back something good.

He wasn’t greedy for the girl’s things, but being thought of felt so good.

Being forgotten and neglected was so bitter.

He still remembered when the girl used to bring him a gift when she came up, but now she turns and leaves directly, this gap made Jiang Kangsheng’s heart feel heavily blocked.

He originally wanted to sulk and ignore her.

But his feet moved faster than his brain; seeing her leave, Jiang Kangsheng dashed out like a young boy at a school track meet.

Jiang Mingyue always felt like she had forgotten something, and when it occurred to her to turn back, she saw the real person had already come after her.

Jiang Mingyue: "..." This was awkward, despite having him in her heart.

Jiang Kangsheng got off his bicycle, face dark, "Why are you running so fast? And, have you forgotten who I am?"

Jiang Mingyue: "... Dad, I could forget myself but never you. I only meant to go to the state-owned restaurant to buy you some meat buns because I heard from Grandpa Ma that you were busy with work and hadn’t eaten, really, believe me!"

Jiang Kangsheng: "... Hehe!" If she hadn’t emphasized that, he might have believed her.

Jiang Mingyue was helpless, she really slipped today.

"Dad, I mean it, I came to bring you wine." She gestured toward her heavy backpack.

Jiang Kangsheng hesitated, feeling sorry for her carrying it so far from the countryside, so he began to set up the bike stand to take it, but Jiang Mingyue refused.

"Dad, I’m strong, it’s not heavy. I heard you moved into a new house, I’ll bring it there for you."

"How can it not be heavy? Look at your slender arms and legs."

"Dad, I’ve been exercising at home, I’m really strong now."

Jiang Kangsheng felt even more pained and guilty.

He thought the girl’s "exercise" meant working in the fields every day, swinging a hoe, which could indeed build strength. What did this say? It said the girl had endured hardship, if not for his inaction back then, she wouldn’t have needed to go back to the countryside.

Jiang Mingyue knew Jiang Kangsheng was feeling guilty and said nothing, just let him feel guilty as much as he wanted.

Unknowingly, walking with the bicycle, they reached a courtyard, Jiang Mingyue looked back at the route. Honestly, the bicycle wasn’t even needed. It was really close to the county committee, however, with Jiang Kangsheng’s position requiring frequent trips out, inspections below, meetings above, a bicycle was indeed needed for transportation.

It wasn’t until they unlocked and entered the courtyard that Jiang Kangsheng let go of some of the gloominess.

Jiang Mingyue leisurely observed the whole yard.

Not large, smaller than all her yards.

In the courtyard, there was a lone old locust tree.

Tsk! Clearly not a meticulous person.

Fortunately, the two-story wooden house had been refurbished, with doors and windows painted red, looking fresh and bright.

"Dad, did you refurbish this yourself?"

"Mm! I bought the courtyard and just got someone to do it up a bit."