Chapter 21: Trouble at the Workshop

The middle-aged Yang Daqiang now had hair streaked with grey. Jiang Lihua felt a conflicted tangle of emotions within, unsure if she should acknowledge him.

"Lihua," Yang Daqiang called out again. He reached out as if to take her hand, but she stepped back. His hand froze in mid-air.

"Lihua, don't be afraid. I won't say a word. When I returned, the Sun woman told me you were already dead."

Jiang Lihua sighed softly and led him into Ni Wenyu’s courtyard. Upon seeing Yang Daqiang, Ni Wenyu greeted him, "Uncle Yang, you’re back?"

Yang Daqiang nodded. "Yes, Bin'er is getting married, so I came back to have a look."

Jiang Lihua invited him to sit and recounted everything that had happened during this time. After listening, Yang Daqiang puffed on his dry tobacco pipe, remaining silent for a long while.

"Lihua, rest assured, I won't tell anyone. But I think it would be better for you to leave Lihua Village."

"They caused my death; I want revenge." Jiang Lihua stated her purpose directly; she did not want to hide anything from the only person in the Yang family who had ever been kind to her.

"Lihua, if you really are capable of revenge... for my sake, please spare their lives."

Jiang Lihua was astonished, her eyes widening as she stared at him. Could he truly bear to see his wife and son suffer retribution?

Yang Daqiang sighed, gazing into the distance. "Actually, two years ago, I met a gentle and virtuous widow, and we have been together since. She already had a daughter, about your age, and last year we had a son."

No wonder he rarely returned; he had started a new family elsewhere.

"Working away these years, I’ve seen a lot of people, and I’ve come to understand things. The Sun woman and Bin'er look down on me from the bottom of their hearts. You and Xiuhua must also resent me, don't you? Resent me for being too weak to protect you."

"That is all in the past, Uncle Yang. How is your family doing out there?"

"We get by. I rented a small courtyard where I work, and she stays home to raise the children, doing embroidery to supplement our income." A smile bloomed on Yang Daqiang’s face as he spoke of them.

Jiang Lihua thought for a moment, then took out two hundred taels of silver notes and handed them to him. "Uncle Yang, take this. Buy a small house and live well with your family."

Yang Daqiang refused to take them. "Lihua, use it yourself. Your uncle can earn money."

Jiang Lihua pressed the notes into his hand. "Please take it, Uncle Yang. It’s for the little brother I haven't met yet."

Unable to refuse further, Yang Daqiang accepted the money. "Lihua, you must be careful. If that Sun woman finds out, heaven knows what kind of trouble she’ll stir up." He was truly terrified of the Sun woman’s shrewish outbursts.

"I know, Uncle Yang. Keep the money safe and don't let it be discovered."

"I know. I'll rest here tonight and leave tomorrow." He had been cursed at by the Sun woman since he arrived two days ago, and his son treated him like a ghost; he had been wanting to leave for a long time.

After sitting for a while longer, Yang Daqiang departed.

Ni Wenyu remarked, "I never expected an honest man like Uncle Yang to have a second family outside."

Jiang Lihua smiled. "The Sun woman is fat, crude, and sharp-tongued. Uncle Yang was suffocated by her at home; naturally, he wouldn't want to come back once he found someone gentle elsewhere."

"True. When choosing a wife, one should seek virtue."

Jiang Lihua looked at him with a mischievous smirk. "Heh, and what kind of wife do you want to marry?"

Ni Wenyu turned his slightly reddened cheeks away, not daring to look at her. "I... I want to marry someone like you."

Jiang Limu walked into the courtyard just in time to hear this. His delicate face clouded over with a frown, and he stepped forward to pull Jiang Lihua away.

"Limu, you brat, what are you pulling me for?" Jiang Lihua called out as she was led away. Ni Wenyu watched them go, feeling a faint sense of loss.

The next day, Yang Wenbin’s wedding concluded, and Yang Daqiang left. The village returned to peace, though news of Huang Yingrong and the Sun woman bickering surfaced from time to time. A few days later, new rumors began to swirl: it was said that the Yang family’s child bride, Jiang Lihua, hadn't died at all, but had run off with someone months ago, leading the Yang family to believe she was dead. Furthermore, she was reportedly hiding in Lihua Village under an assumed name. The village was abuzz with speculation about whose house she was hiding in.

Ni Wenyu hurried to find Jiang Lihua upon hearing the news. Jiang Lihua had heard it too, though she didn't know who had discovered her identity. Based on her understanding, if the Sun woman and Yang Wenbin had found out, they would have already come to make a scene; they were not the type to keep quiet.

"This is bad, this is bad! Miss, you should go check the processing workshop," came the anxious voice of Mother Zhang.

Jiang Lihua rushed out. "What happened, Mother Zhang?"

"Miss, several vats of pickled cabbage have gone rotten. I don't know why."

"Don't panic. Let me take a look."

When Jiang Lihua reached the workshop, the workers had gone home for lunch, leaving only her own staff. The stench of rot wafted from the open vats. She checked the cabbage and the contents of the vats, finding only diluted chili sauce.

"What about the other vats? Have you checked them?"

"Yes, Miss. They are fine. I thought they were ready today, so I opened them, only to find these ones ruined."

Jiang Lihua asked, "Do you know who pickled these?"

"I do. To calculate the workers' pay, I marked each vat."

"Are you suspecting the workers of sabotage?"

Jiang Lihua nodded. "The sauce in these vats has been diluted with water."

Mother Zhang checked the ledger. "Miss, these vats were prepared by Auntie Li."

"Auntie Li?" Jiang Lihua was puzzled. She had treated Auntie Li well. "When they come back this afternoon, keep a close eye on her. If she does anything suspicious, catch her."

"Yes, Miss," Mother Zhang replied.

Back in the courtyard, Ni Wenyu asked with concern, "Lihua, what do you plan to do?"

"If she truly did it, I will make her pay for the losses."

"And the rumors outside? Someone must know who you are. Perhaps you should go away for a while; I will watch over this place for you."

"I am not afraid of them now. I am no longer the same Jiang Lihua I used to be."

"But..."

Jiang Lihua interrupted him. "No 'buts.' Don't worry, I can handle it."

She was unfazed; she would meet every challenge as it came. Ni Wenyu looked at her helplessly, knowing how strong-willed she was.

After lunch, the workers returned to the shop. Mother Zhang watched Auntie Li like a hawk. Seeing Auntie Li glancing around and secretly trying to hide some chili sauce, Mother Zhang signaled Uncle Jiang, who rushed forward and grabbed the woman.

"Let go of me! Let go! Why are you grabbing me? Help, harassment!" Auntie Li, already guilty, shrieked at the top of her lungs.

"What is going on?" asked the other women, stopping their work. "Mother Zhang, why are you grabbing Auntie Li?"