After that, the only sounds in the cramped room were those of the two of them eating.
The golden, fragrant eggs and the springy, delicious noodles were so good that each bite made one crave another.
Dongdong had never tasted such wonderful noodles before.
Between mouthfuls, he snuck a glance at his mother.
Yes, it really was his mother.
After the meal, Jiang Tang washed the dishes while Dongdong wiped down the table.
By the time they were full and satisfied, the sun had yet to set.
Jiang Tang knew that the Shen Family would not return until evening.
Looking at the cluttered room, she decided to start by tidying up.
Shen Chuan would not be back for another month; before he returned, she would make sure they paid back every grievance suffered previously.
When the room was mostly cleaned, Jiang Tang stroked Dongdong’s hair and said, "Dongdong, I'll give you a bath in a little while."
In her memories, the original owner of this body rarely bathed him; he had always done it himself.
Dongdong felt a bit shy. "Mom, I can do it myself."
"Mom knows Dongdong is very capable," Jiang Tang said with a smile, "but I want to take care of you, just as you have taken care of me."
Dongdong felt a sweetness bloom in his heart.
Jiang Tang told him to go outside and wait for a moment, saying she would join him shortly.
When Jiang Tang looked at the original owner’s appearance in the mirror, she was absolutely stunned.
This body looked almost exactly like her own; the only difference was a faint mole by the corner of one eye, which was barely noticeable unless one looked very closely.
She was thinner now than she had been before, and there was a hint of sorrow between her brows; her slight frown added a sense of fragility to her features.
She touched her face—it was real. It was a relief that she looked the same; otherwise, it would have felt truly bizarre.
In the very corner of the room stood a tiny wardrobe, roughly twice her size.When the wardrobe opened, there were only three pieces of clothing inside. Two of them had been bought in town by Shen Chuan on the first day after they got married.
Later, she had shoved them to the very bottom of the chest.
Dongdong sat on the only chair in the room, obediently watching his mother.
When it was almost time, Jiang Tang took Dongdong to bathe. There was a bathing tub in the house. Jiang Tang first poured in some hot water, then added some cold water, and tested the temperature with her hand.
Only when she felt it was about right did she say, "Dongdong, touch it and see how the temperature is."
A child's sensitivity to temperature is different from an adult's.
"Just right," Dongdong replied.
The weather was still quite warm, so bathing in the courtyard wouldn't be cold at all.
Looking at Dongdong, who was so thin he barely had any flesh on him, a pang of heartache welled up in Jiang Tang's chest. But she held it in, refusing to lose her composure in front of him.
There was no fault to be found in Dongdong's looks. He had round eyes, a small nose, and bright red lips and white teeth. If he put on some weight, he would definitely look even better.
Dongdong didn't wiggle around while bathing; he was exceptionally well-behaved and saved her a lot of trouble. Fearing he might catch a cold if it took too long, Jiang Tang finished washing him, dried him off with a clean towel, and changed him into another set of clothes.
Jiang Tang hadn't bathed in days, and she could smell her own body odor when she lowered her head. She used the remaining water to wash herself as well. Once the grime was washed away, she looked noticeably fairer, and her body felt much lighter.
Dongdong was playing by himself on the bed. Hearing the sound of his mother opening the door, his round eyes turned toward the entrance.
Jiang Tang smiled gently at him, and seeing his mother smile, Dongdong couldn't help smiling back.
"Dongdong, Mommy needs to tell you something." Jiang Tang sat down on the bed, only to find how truly hard the mattress was.
"Okay," Dongdong replied with an innocent and adorable look.He was simply too adorable. Jiang Tang pinched his cheeks and ruffled his hair, saying, "You need to go to bed early tonight."
Dongdong blinked his eyes. "Okay."
Usually, by the time everyone else in the house was asleep, they weren't necessarily able to sleep themselves. There were too many chores, and his mother couldn't finish them all; he could only help with what he was capable of. Often, when the others were already asleep, his mother was still working. He was his mother's child, and he had to keep her company; he couldn't let her struggle alone.
"Only by going to bed early can a child grow up fast," Jiang Tang said as she tucked him in and lay down beside him, her voice soothing like a lullaby.
Dongdong found a comfortable spot in his mother’s arms, feeling the warmth of her body. He wanted to grow up fast; only then would he be able to protect his mother and make sure those people could never bully her again. During the day and a half that Jiang Tang had been unconscious, Dongdong had been terrified. He hadn't dared to sleep, fearing that his mother would be like the old man in the village, who had fallen asleep and never woken up.
Now, with a full stomach and a bath, Dongdong—only three years old—could no longer fight off the exhaustion and drifted off to sleep. Before falling asleep, a happy smile played on his lips. He hoped that when he woke up tomorrow, his mother would still be just like this.
Listening to the steady sound of breathing against her chest, Jiang Tang looked down at his thin cheeks with affection. Her gaze lingered on him for a long time, filled with a tenderness she herself didn't even notice.
On a small path somewhere in the village, the Shen Family was walking along at a leisurely pace.
Shen Shan looked at Mother Shen, who didn't seem to be in any rush, and said, "Mother, sister-in-law is still back at the house..."
Mother Shen shot him a sharp look. "And so what if she’s at home? Just looking at her irritates me. She’s completely useless. After doing so little work, she’s been lying in bed for over a day. It’s generous enough that I didn't make her do anything. You don't expect me to wait on her hand and foot, do you?"
In this family, the person Mother Shen looked down upon most was Jiang Tang. Her son was a soldier with a bright future; he should be with someone educated and capable, not someone like Jiang Tang, who was useless and lacked any perspective.
Wang Cuihua cast a glance at Shen Shan. "What, are you feeling sorry for her?"
Don't think she didn't know what he was thinking. Wasn't it just because Jiang Tang was pretty that he felt pity? If she were ugly, she’d like to see if he would still be acting this way.
Shen Shan sensed the mockery in her tone and frowned. What kind of nonsense was this? No matter what, Jiang Tang was Shen Chuan’s wife. If something really happened to her, how would they explain it?
"Can you learn to hold your tongue? Is that something you can just say casually? If someone hears you, there’s no telling what kind of gossip will spread. I still care about our reputation."
Seeing that Shen Shan was genuinely annoyed, Wang Cuihua’s arrogance instantly vanished.
Mother Shen felt a headache coming on from their bickering. "Enough, enough! It’s such a trivial matter, yet you two won't stop arguing. She has a tough life; nothing is going to happen to her."
Shen Shan persisted, "I'm just worried it won't be easy to explain to my younger brother."
Mother Shen said with full confidence, "What is there to explain? Do you really think your brother wouldn't believe us? You know how well your brother has treated me all these years. I’ve eaten more salt in my life than you’ve eaten rice. Just listen to me and it will be fine."
Mother Shen was actually hoping Jiang Tang would die; that way, there would be no proof left. Then, she could just find someone else for Shen Chuan.