CH 20

The Han family is strong; there are people in the military, political, and business circles. Han Xiao’s three uncles are not of low status. It’s just that his father- the old man’s eldest son, Han Zhongcheng- followed the old man and entered the army. He avoided death but became disabled, finding it difficult to walk and impossible to drive, and retired after receiving his merits. The old man and woman were superstitious, believing when the fortune teller said that if Han Zhongcheng was not far away from the war, his life was not guaranteed, and pulled him out of the army.

With no way, Han Zhongcheng returned to his home. After he returned home, he was unwilling to disappear in obscurity; if he couldn’t fight, couldn’t he do something else? As a result, the famous military boss became a famous businessman. His career had been getting bigger and bigger and was now one of the biggest in the country. The Han family was now standing in an invincible position as the top power in the capital.

The old man said that it was also the good fortune of Han Zhongcheng. Everything was fine, except that Han Zhongcheng had no children. According to the doctor, he’d hurt his body while serving as a soldier. But, while it was difficult to have a child, it wasn’t hopeless. It wasn’t until Han Zhongcheng had Han Xiao at 35 years old, that the family’s mood cleared.

Because of this, Han Xiao received countless favors as soon as he was born. His elder brothers and sisters loved him and the old man was even more extreme: anything Han Xiao wanted was given to him.

Because Han Xiao was the precious only child, the family naturally wouldn’t let him go to the army to suffer hardship- it was enough to simply inherit the family business. However, at the age of 18, Han Xiao’s wild behavior landed him in the hospital for two months. The old man ruthlessly sent him to the army for several years.

Although Han Xiao had become delinquent for several years, he also inherited the excellent genes of his father and grandfather and always performed very well in the army. It was a pity when he left, but Grandfather Han just wanted his grandson to be stable and not fight for his life. How could he be willing to let Han Xiao linger in the army?

So, out of guilt, the old man heaped even more love on Han Xiao.

As a bold man who’d been spoiled his entire life, how could the 28 year-old Han Xiao be willing to get married?

But this was the one time Grandfather Han refused to budge and Han Xiao and Jiang Nian got married.

“Jiang Nian” was still in college when she went to the Han family. At that time, Han Xiao was 26 and liked sexy women. The innocent 21 year-old Jiang Nian was too simple for him, like a little rabbit. He’d always regarded her as a younger sister.

He’d even proposed recognizing her as a god-sister, to ensure she would never have to worry in her life, but the old man wouldn’t agree even if he died.

Therefore, in this year of marriage, Han Xiao was not happy.

Although the two were sleeping in the same bed, they were split to left and right, each using their own quilt. Before marriage, he considered Jiang Nian as a sister. After marriage, he ignored her directly.

As a result, the relationship between the two became more and more rigid, and they barely said a word to each other every few days.

Of course, as the male and female leads, how could they not break through the difficulties, find that the other party is their true love, and then love each other successfully?

Unfortunately, there are still variables in this world.

Liang Yu, a high school classmate of “Jiang Nian”, suddenly contacted her. “Jiang Nian” had few friends who understood her, and even fewer after entering the Han family. Then Liang Yu suddenly appeared, with a special understanding of her. After a couple of visits, the original unfamiliar relationship became inseparable.

During one of these meetings, “Jiang Nian” and Liang Yu were abducted. The act that was supposed to promote the relationship between the male and female leads became the end of the road for “Jiang Nian” and she died directly in the accident. Liang Yu was also seriously injured and lay in the hospital for a month before getting better.

After that, the world line was messed up and it didn’t long for it to collapse.

****

Jiang Nian didn’t come too early or too late; it was right at the time when she and Han Xiao hated each other, and Liang Yu had been in contact with her.

The heroine aura of Jiang Nian is very low, too low, just slightly better than a passerby.

After the previous world, Jiang Nian keenly felt that, the closer the female aura was to a perfect 100, the better things were for her. Even a small mistake would work in her favor.

After all, she is the heroine. It would be sorry for her identity if there weren’t any accidents.

Then the first thing for Jiang Nian to do after coming to this world was to talk with Grandfather Han.

She went downstairs and heard Aunt Wang say that Han Xiao had gone out early.

“Did he leave any words for me?”

Aunt Wang shook her head awkwardly, “No.”

Jiang Nian was used to it. Han Xiao wanted to avoid her, why should she take the initiative?

She made a noise2 and had breakfast alone before going to the backyard to see the old man.

There were many members of the Han family, and the Han house had been expanded several times. Although most of them lived together, they were all detached houses. There weren’t many rules, and they were relatively free.

When Jiang Nian had eaten breakfast, the old man was fishing by the river behind the yard with a few old comrades sitting beside him. Although the old man had white hair, a wrinkled face, and some old spots, his eyes remained clear and sharp. His mental quality had always been good and, every morning and evening, he would go for a walk and then go to the backyard to fish.

“You came! Grandpa fished two big fish- let Aunt Wang cook them for your lunch today.”

Jiang Nian sat next to him and grabbed a fishing rod to catch with them. Smiling, she said, “Okay, then I’ll catch two big carps for my grandpa. The steamed fish made by Wang Aunt is the best.”

The old man replied a few words with a kind face.

The old man, who remained a daunting experience decades after being stained with countless blood from the battlefield, looked like a cheerful child at this moment.

They sat there for a while.

The heroine aura really wasn’t ordinary. She caught a big carp after a while, and another big carp a while after that, and so on, until the wooden barrel was soon full. A few old men looked at the small fish in their barrels. They all sat there together yet the gap was so big?

Grandpa Liu looked at her and said, “This little girl is lucky, ah.”

Grandpa Li nearby also joined in, “Indeed, she’ll soon catch up with us.”

The young people now can rarely find such a quiet place for a long time. Just look at their grandchildren, which one is free? Even when they sit in one place for a while, they’re likely playing on their phones and, even then, they’d be bored after ten minutes.

A temper like Jiang Nian’s is hard to come by.

She was too shy and quiet, but her character was good.

Although they all really liked Jiang Nian, they had to admit they weren’t optimistic about the marriage. The couple was still so unfamiliar after being married for a year.

Having said that, it was difficult for them to say anything. After all, the one responsible for this matter, old man Han, was so stubborn they couldn’t say anything.

After fishing in morning, it was natural for fish to be on the menu for lunch. Jiang Nian also divided her big carp.

At lunch, there were few people at home. Han Xiao’s second uncle was in the army, his third uncle worked for the government, and his fourth uncle worked away from the house. Han Xiao’s cousins were also either at work or school so noon was almost deserted. In contrast, when everyone returned at night, the house was as lively as a market.

So if there was something to say, it must be said now.

However, Aunt Wang’s cooking was really good. The fish soup was rich without being greasy. The steamed carp was also tender. Jiang Nian drank three bowls of fish soup and ate half a steamed carp.

Most people couldn’t eat as much when they got older, but the old man couldn’t help but eat a few more dishes when he saw Jiang Nian eating so fragrantly.

“Niannian, you don’t have to accompany this old man every day. Let Xiao Wu accompany you.”

Jiang Nian smiled and said yes.

Grandfather Han was smart, naturally he noticed Jiang Nian’s perfunctory reply. He frowned.

“Is Xiao Wu not treating you well? Did he scold you? You say, this old man will be the master!”

Han Xiao was about to step into the room when he heard the old man’s energetic voice. He rubbed his forehead helplessly, wondering if it was better not to show up. At this time, no matter what he said, the old man wouldn’t listen. As long as Jiang Nian was involved, the old man became extremely stubborn.

He listened as the old man continued, “What can’t you say to grandfather? You just tell me!”

Jiang Nian asked, “Grandpa, why are you so good to me?”

The old man sighed.

“Niannian, since your grandpa entrusted your care to me, I can’t let you feel wronged. Not to mention, we’d also made the marriage agreement that year. As the saying goes, ‘A gentleman is only as good as his word.’ The promise was made a long time ago but it’s already been made and, as you’re alone now, we can’t regret it.”

Jiang Nian somewhat understood the old man’s feelings. He was an easy-going and fair-minded person and paid particular attention to brotherhood. Add to that, Grandfather Jiang losing his legs to save him and his words before death and all of these obsessions became a weight on Grandfather Han’s heart.

Jiang Nian: “I understand. In fact, when I was young, my grandfather liked to tell me stories of the two of you in the battlefield. What he said most was that a lot of people died during the war, he was lucky to come out with just a broken leg. He never complained about it nor felt he didn’t live well without a leg. He often boasted he had such a hard life even Hades dare not accept him! Grandpa was a very optimistic and strong person, and lived well all these years. I’ve always taken him as my example.”

Grandpa Han was stunned for a while and said with relief, “That’s good. That’s so good…”

Jiang Nian looked down, rubbed her eyes and said, “Later, he was sick but the doctors were helpless despite trying their best to heal him…Grandpa was so happy seeing you those few days before he left.”

The old man’s eyes reddened and he couldn’t speak for a while. The older the person, the more he valued feelings.

Han Xiao stood outside the restaurant, hands in the pants pockets, frowning and not speaking.

He didn’t understand what Jiang Nian was playing at. Bringing up the past again would only make the old man sad.

Jiang Nian took a look at the old man and spoke seriously, “Grandpa, I say this to tell you that you don’t need to feel guilty- my grandpa’s death is not your fault.”

The old man was very affectionate, especially to soldiers. Han Zhongcheng’s body had been getting worse and worse recently- heavy wind and rain made his legs uncomfortable. At just over 60 years-old, he looked almost the same as Grandfather Han. The doctors said that Han Zhongcheng’s health was even inferior to the old man’s. Although he had been carefully raised, most of the pain wasn’t cured at all.

In this way, the old man was even more tortured with guilt. After all, his eldest son was shot in the leg while with him. They were ambushed, most of the members of their party died, and those two truly climbed out of a mountain of corpses.

In the old man’s heart, Han Zhongcheng was now suffering because of him.

The two people’s fates compounded in the old man’s heart. The superstitious old man asked a master to count his life and was told his life was too long and he should have suffered a disaster early on. He could only be so good now because someone blocked it for him.

Grandfather Han never felt he was a kind person, but, at this time, he became even more guilty.

He wanted to make up for this guilt by spoiling Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian said, “My grandfather said that you are a good person. You were good to him at the beginning, and you would divide your meat with him. You believed you weren’t born together but would die together. You don’t need to feel sorry for anyone; what happened back then was fate.”

The old man was shocked. Looking at Jiang Nian, he was stunned; it felt like a big stone that had been buried in his heart finally came loose. No one had said those things to him. Of course, that was because he’d never told these things to others. For Jiang Nian to see what he thought and persuade him was not easy.

His eyes widened.

“Your grandpa was a soldier under my control. I thought he was sometimes stupid, sometimes shrewd, and also terrible. He dared to do anything…’

The old man seemed to be recalling a long time ago. There was nostalgia, guilt, and relief in his eyes.

Han Xiao watched his grandfather from afar and felt a bit guilty. In his eyes, his grandfather was a very powerful man. Even old, he was still powerful, but just didn’t want to bear too much.

No wonder the old man treated Jiang Nian better than usual. He couldn’t make up to a dead person so he poured that love onto Jiang Nian.

He couldn’t help looking at Jiang Nian. The girl was thin, her cheeks were so white she was sickly pale. With eyes red from sadness, she looked very pitiful.

After a long time, Grandfather Han finally came back to himself and turned to Jiang Nian.

“Girl, why suddenly tell me this? Do you have something to say?

Jiang Nian nodded and said hesitantly, “Grandpa, did you see that I liked Han Xiaoge a bit so you let him marry me?”

“Xiao Wu is a bit messy now, but he’s not bad at heart. He’s smart and can make money. I can rest assured if you marry him.”

Han Xiao hiding behind: “…”

Jiang Nian said, “I know, Han Xiaoge is a very powerful person. I have never met a man who looks better than him. At first, he also cared about me. At that time, my parents were gone, my grandfather was gone, and I had no relatives around. So, out of fear, I grabbed onto you and Han Xiaoge like lifesaving straws. At that time, I really did like Han Xiaoge.”

“That’s good. Don’t be afraid; since you entered my Han family’s door, you’ll always be part of the Han family.”

Jiang Nian thanked him and hesitated.

“Although I liked Han Xiaoge, I haven’t been able to change his view even after a year of marriage. He even treats me more coldly than before and doesn’t speak to me…I’ve tried, but I’m afraid of wasting even more effort. So I think I should let go. I don’t want grandfather and Han Xiaoge to fight.”

Grandfather Han knew that kid was bullying Jiang Nian and tried to persuade her with a few distressed words, saying he must punish Han Xiao so he wouldn’t let her down again.

Jiang Nian smiled slightly and explained, “Grandpa, you misunderstood. I’m separating from Han Xiao for both him and myself. We shouldn’t torture each other like this.”

“…You don’t need to persuade me for Han Xiao. I know the kid must have done something bad!”

“No, it’s me. I figured it out. I want to go out and find a job after divorce, and live a simple life. Although I’m married, it’s the same as being single, so I can live alone.”

The old man was distressed for Jiang Nian. Even if he wasn’t guilty anymore, under his care for Jiang Nian, he still felt that his grandson was not a thing3. How could he torture such a little girl?

The old man had cut Han Xiao into eight pieces in his heart. He only listened to Jiang Nian say, “Grandpa, what I say is true. Please believe me.”

She looked so sincere that the old man was doubtful.

“Why did you suddenly figure it out? You haven’t been suffered any grievances?”

Jiang Nian thought for a while before finally saying, “…Probably it’s not that good after you get it?”

Old man: “……”

Han Xiao: “………!!!”

Jiang Nian continued, “Grandpa, don’t worry. I will live a good life after divorce and find a suitable person to fall in love with. When I get married again, you must come.”

The old man couldn’t help feeling distressed again.

“Didn’t you used to like Xiao Wu? You don’t like him anymore?”

Jiang Nian thought for a moment and responded seriously, “It’s not like I don’t like him anymore, I’ve just decided not to. I’m sure I can forget him and start a beautiful new life.”

The old man was distressed.

“That sinner!”

Han Xiao: “…………”

Han Xiao looked at Jiang Nian’s serious and longing look. Her eyes were still red with sadness, but how were her words so strange to hear?

And which of her heads thought she’d gotten him?

FOOTNOTES

1. Xiaojiao = little tender. I prefer the way ‘Xiaojiao wife’ rolls off the tongue. ^

2. Throughout the story, people will ‘hum’ or ‘make a sound’ a lot. It’s not to be annoying, but it’s more of a ‘hmm’ or ‘mmm’ people do to show understanding or agreement when they don’t really care.

3. A piece of s***