Chapter 77: Cannon Fodder Sister of the Female Lead (29)

Jiang Lai didn’t speak; she quietly stripped the bed of its covers and blankets, replaced them with clean ones, and tidied them up. After that, she slipped the hot water bottle she had brought into the blankets. Then she turned around and helped the old woman lying next to the bed onto it, lifting her legs to adjust her into a more comfortable position, leaning her against the wall.

The room was still cold, so Jiang Lai quickly found the drafty window. She randomly picked a book from the old lady’s bedside table and wedged it into the drafty spot.

"It’ll have to do for now. When He Xing comes back, he can arrange for someone to replace the glass."

The old woman gradually recovered under the blankets, her breathing weak, complexion pale. She trembled slightly as she gestured for Jiang Lai to come over.

"Thank you, Sanya. If it weren’t for you, these old bones of mine would have perished outside."

"You still have good fortune ahead. Just rest for now; I’ll go get something."

Jiang Lai brought in a thermos, poured a bowl of steaming mushy soup, and gently fed it to the old woman’s mouth, spoon by spoon.

"Eat a bit more to warm yourself up."

As she ate, the old woman cried, her lips quivering, one hand clutching Jiang Lai’s sleeve tightly.

After finishing, she wiped her tears away.

"You’re a good child. Our family’s He Xing doesn’t deserve you; he’s not that lucky."

"He Xing is a good person, very filial; it’s just that he and I are not meant to be. Grandma, if you need anything, just let me know. Anyway, I’m on holiday and have nothing to do at home."

"This is the first warm meal I’ve had these days, thanks to you. I really have nothing else to give you, but this... take this."

With trembling hands, the old woman unbuttoned her cotton jacket and took out a small cloth pouch from a sewn pocket beneath her sweater, handing it to Jiang Lai.

"Here, take this."

Jiang Lai accepted the pouch and tipped out a jade ring from inside.

Little Buding suddenly exclaimed excitedly.

"This ring is great! With the ruby set on a modern light, it could be worth several million."

Surprised, Jiang Lai gave the ring a feel; indeed, the jade was smooth with a bright luster. The gold threads surrounding it exuded an ancient charm, looking like it had been around for many years.

"I can’t accept this. You should keep it. Helping you was no trouble at all; you don’t need to be so formal."

"My father taught me that a drop of water should be repaid with a gushing spring. You handed me a bowl of water, a bowl of porridge when I needed it most. What’s a ring compared to that? I have nothing else worth giving; this one was passed down from my grandfather’s time. Please take it, or I won’t die at peace."

Jiang Lai felt a bit troubled.

She quite liked the ring, but it clearly appeared to be a family heirloom. In the last century, the He Family was quite wealthy, and Grandpa He and Grandma He met and married while studying abroad, forming quite a powerful alliance.

Their ancestral belongings must be of significant value. Accepting or refusing the ring felt equally wrong for Jiang Lai.

In the end, Grandma He began to cry once more, and Jiang Lai was left with no choice.

"Alright, alright, I’ll take it. But if you recover and want to exchange it for something else, that’s fine too."

Grandma He understood her meaning, knowing that in times of vulnerability, one is easily moved and prone to irrational actions.

But she was clear-headed and knew what she was doing.

"I don’t have many years left. Finding a good person for it resolves a wish of mine. It’s a pity... a pity He Xing isn’t lucky..."

Jiang Lai slipped the ring onto her ring finger, and it fit perfectly—not too tight, not too loose. The band was thin, looking simple and elegant, and not at all flashy.

A short while later, Jiang Qiuhe’s ox cart arrived, carrying a load of coal. When he passed by the He Family’s home, he met Jiang Lai, who was sweeping the yard.

"What are you doing here?"

"Grandma He fainted outside just now; I saw her and brought her in."

"Fainted? Is she alright? Does she need to go to the hospital?"

"She’s fine now. Go inside and light the fire; it’s too cold in there."

Jiang Qiuhe quickly carried a bucket of coal inside, lit it, and placed it in the stove. The fire tongs were leaning against the bed.

"I’ll come back tonight to change it once more."

"Thank you, both of you siblings, you’re good kids."

After settling the old woman, Jiang Lai and Jiang Qiuhe walked home together, with Jiang Lai sitting on the ox cart, holding a thermos. Finally, she thought to pass it to Jiang Qiuhe for a sip.

"Just now when I was delivering coal, I heard someone from the next village is doing business with electronic watches outside, and it seems pretty profitable."

"What? You don’t want to stay with your weaving factory anymore?"

"Staying at home, the most I can do is make a name for myself in the county. If I go out and take a look, maybe I can see a bigger world."

Jiang Lai nodded, swinging her legs on the ox cart thoughtfully.

"Do you have a place in mind if you plan to go out and explore?"

"Most electronic watches are sourced from Shenzhen, where they also learn the techniques. I want to check it out."

"Have you decided on whom to sell the goods to once you get them?"

"I haven’t."

"Are you aware of any relevant policies from the government in this area?"

"I’m not."

"Here’s a simple question: do you even know where Shenzhen is and how far it is from you?"

This question left Jiang Qiuhe in silence.

Currently, some in the county have keenly sensed the business opportunity, and the first ones to venture out have already left. Taking Cheng Lie as an example, He Xing should be following after Cheng Lie—they set out at roughly the same time.

Jumping in now does present a chance to earn some quick money, but Jiang Qiuhe is impulsive, gullible, and tends to believe others easily. The main issue is he lacks long-term ambitions, simply chasing after money.

Jiang Lai knew the original plot. While Jiang Qiuhe did make some money this time venturing out, he was later deceived by competitors in Shenzhen, losing sight in one eye. He also picked up many bad habits there. Upon returning, his character changed dramatically. Though he made a lot of money by opening an electronics factory, he ultimately faced a tragic end, dying away from home as the industry underwent reformation in the early 21st century, leading to the factory’s bankruptcy.

If he stayed to continue the legacy of the local handicraft industry and traditional industry, perhaps he could tread a longer and more stable path of development.

Given the recent frequency in international trade, if these traditional handicrafts could be sold abroad, it would be quite a good business as well.

Jiang Lai didn’t say much; she only posed a few questions for him to ponder.

"Without capital, moving away from home to explore a completely unfamiliar industry without trustworthy partners nearby—if you believe you can overcome these hurdles, then go ahead. I support all your decisions."

"Little Sister... honestly, I don’t know. I just want to earn a bit more money to add to your and Second Sister’s dowry, and let our parents live comfortably."