The Jiang Family home.
Mother Jiang had made Jiang Caixia cook dinner. In the courtyard stood an osmanthus tree, towering well above the roof. Jiang Tang sat nearby, using a small stick to draw and write on the ground while whispering with Dongdong. Dongdong hadn’t started school yet, so Jiang Tang was teaching him how to write his own name.
Jiang Caixia was seething as she cooked. Seeing Jiang Tang sitting there comfortably in the breeze, waiting only to be served, made her even more resentful. She walked over, her expression sour. "Big Sister, you cook so well—could you come over and teach me?"
Jiang Tang looked up, her eyes curved into crescents. "I don't know how to cook."
Jiang Caixia was speechless. If Jiang Tang didn't know how to cook, who would? It was obvious she just didn't want to. The air was stifling, and tending the stove in the kitchen was exhausting work. Why should Jiang Tang get to sit there enjoying herself? The sight of it made her blood boil.
She didn't give up. "Then go wash the vegetables for me."
Jiang Tang ignored her, continuing to speak gently to Dongdong. Seeing herself treated like air, Jiang Caixia’s temper flared. *Who does she think she is? What is she putting on airs for?*
"Big Sister, did you hear me?"
"If you don't want to wash the vegetables, then tend the fire. You can at least do that, right?"
"I really don't know how," Jiang Tang replied, cool and composed compared to Jiang Caixia’s flushed face. She raised an eyebrow. "If you don't believe me, go ask Mother."
That single sentence choked Jiang Caixia off. The next second, she wanted to clamp a hand over Jiang Tang’s mouth—how dare she threaten her?
"Mother! Caixia says she doesn't know how to cook!" Jiang Tang called out loudly. Mother Jiang hurried out of the house, looking fierce as she glared at Jiang Caixia. "You useless girl! I told you to cook, so what are you doing standing around? Get back to the kitchen immediately!"
"Look what time it is! Get moving!"
Jiang Caixia bit her lip and went to cook, brimming with resentment.
Mother Jiang turned to Jiang Tang. "Tang-ya, don't listen to her. You don't have to do a thing in this house."
Jiang Tang smiled. "Alright."
After dinner, Jiang Caixia washed the dishes. Once she finished the household chores, she prepared to take a bath, thinking of the hot water in the pot. But when she picked up the basin and looked, the water was gone. It was completely empty.
"How did you use up all the water?" Jiang Caixia stared at the empty basin, dumbfounded.
Just then, she saw Jiang Tang stepping out of the bathing area. Her long black hair was damp and draped over her shoulders, and a faint, pleasant scent drifted from her. Taking a closer look, Jiang Caixia noticed Jiang Tang was wearing a different outfit than she had earlier—another new piece of clothing. It made her look exceptionally beautiful, and her skin looked far better than Caixia's own.
Jiang Caixia had always felt she was the prettiest one in the family, but now, it seemed it was Jiang Tang. If Jiang Tang had the money, why hadn't she bought one for her?
Resentment surged in Jiang Caixia's chest. "Why didn't you leave any water for me?"
Her tone was sharp. Jiang Tang blinked. "You didn't ask. Besides, that water was left for me and Dongdong. If you don't believe me, go ask."
Jiang Caixia could hear the note of vanity in Jiang Tang’s voice. *You...* She had already been warned by Mother Jiang regarding Jiang Tang, so there was no way she would ask. Even if she did, she would likely just get scolded. Most importantly, she knew Mother Jiang wouldn't take her side.
Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow and smiled. "If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving."
Fuming, Jiang Caixia returned to her room, cursing Jiang Tang over and over in her head, using the most vicious language she could imagine. Suddenly, she heard Jiang Tang cough, and her internal cursing stopped instantly. She only dared to do it in silence.
Back in her room, Jiang Tang saw Dongdong poking his little bottom out as he made the bed.
"Mommy!" As soon as Dongdong finished, he saw her enter. He climbed off the bed and pulled a thick towel from the cupboard, handing it to her. "Mommy, dry your hair."
Jiang Tang took it, her voice gentle. "Thank you."
"Dongdong, use your finger to trace your name on the table with some water."
He had learned it earlier that night, but she needed to reinforce it so he would remember it thoroughly. Dongdong ran to the table, recalling what his mother had taught him, and traced the characters for "Shen Xiangdong" one stroke at a time.
"That's fantastic." Jiang Tang kissed his little cheek.
If they stayed here, Dongdong’s education would be a major problem. With that in mind, Jiang Tang began to think of ways to leave. "Dongdong, learning allows you to understand many things. I’ll teach you more words later, okay?"
Dongdong had seen the older children in the village going to school. He had heard them reciting poems. "Then I want to learn how to write Mommy’s name."
"Alright, I'll teach you tomorrow." Jiang Tang rubbed his hair, which was already dry from his bath. "Go get into bed and wait for me."
"Okay," Dongdong said. He didn't need help undressing; he took his clothes off himself. Summer was coming to an end, and it was neither too hot nor too cold in shorts under a thin quilt.
Whenever she saw Dongdong doing things for himself, Jiang Tang felt fortunate that when she had taken over this body, Dongdong wasn't a baby wailing for food. Otherwise, she truly wouldn't have known what to do.
"She’s eaten a few meals now, yet she hasn't mentioned giving us any money," Mother Jiang muttered, tossing and turning in bed. "You need to ask her tomorrow."
Father Jiang, who had already been asleep, was poked awake.
"Did you hear me? Ask her tomorrow. Have her give us some money," Mother Jiang urged. To get money out of Jiang Tang, she had even cooked the white rice the family usually saved.
In the darkness, Father Jiang opened his weary eyes. "I have to work in the fields."
At this, Mother Jiang grew angry. She had borne his children and handled all the chores, while he did nothing but obsess over his crops—he was completely useless. Marrying him was the worst luck of her life.
"When can't you work in the fields? What's wrong with asking? That girl has so much money."
"Once we get our hands on it, we can have Shen Chuan find a good job for Ahong when he returns. We’ll have some security for our future."
"Do you want to watch our son remain a bachelor forever?"
After a long silence, a sigh escaped Father Jiang. "I know."