Selling paintings?
Jiang Yan was stunned; he had no idea that Song Jiawen also sold paintings.
The art teacher handed her a slip of paper with a name, address, and telephone number on it, and then patted her shoulder, "I've mostly taken your paintings to sell at his place in the past. He's also surnamed Song. Just call him Teacher Song. He has his own studio and shop where you can paint, and after you finish, you can leave the paintings in his shop."
As for the proceeds from the painting sales and the division of income, the art teacher didn't mention it because Teacher Song was very appreciative of Song Jiawen's paintings. He had bought several pieces for himself, and all the money from the other sales went entirely to the art teacher; Teacher Song didn't take a penny, just helping out purely.
Song Jiawen thanked the art teacher and then walked with Jiang Yan toward the school entrance.
They had packed their luggage the day before, one set at the uncle's house and the other at an internet cafe.
Jiang Yan didn't even go back to Jianglin Village to inform his grandmother; after all, nobody noticed whether he was around or not. Not going home was even better for him—his grandmother would probably be glad not to give him the twenty yuan for food allowance each week, even though that money was his.
He really wanted the old man locked inside to see; this was the family he had worked so hard to serve and support. At the first sign of his trouble, they abandoned his son and clung to him like vampires, sucking him dry.
In his previous life, every time he visited the old man inside, the old man would repeatedly emphasize that he should be filial to his grandparents on his behalf, that his uncles were not very capable, and that he should help them as much as possible....
He didn't care at all about how his son was getting on in life.
Since his rebirth, Jiang Yan had not gone to see his dad even once, the excuse being the intense study required in his senior year of high school and lacking the time.
His third uncle, on the other hand, visited frequently because he suspected that his father might have hidden some money away. For this reason, his third uncle had sounded out Jiang Yan, but Jiang Yan feigned ignorance.
Having no other choice, his third uncle had to visit his elder brother more often.
But Jiang Yan knew that, in the end, he would be disappointed.
Not long after the two left, someone also sneaked out of the school.
It was Song Xiaoli.
She had just found out that Song Jiawen was transferring to the City's No. 1 Middle School. She heard that the teachers from there had called to recruit her before, but she hadn't gone at the time. Now that the teachers were asking again, it was Principal Wang who convinced her to make the move.
Song Xiaoli was so jealous it hurt her heart, liver, and lungs.
Song Jiawen...
A girl not favoured by her parents and elders, what made her stand out?
Thinking of her aunt's instructions, she immediately sneaked out of the classroom and planned to call her aunt from the town.
Song Shuqin received the call from Song Xiaoli, who said that Song Jiawen was transferring to the City's No. 1 Middle School. Song Shuqin was shocked; they hadn't even started to make their move yet, and that girl had already transferred?
How could she leave?
"It's not that easy to transfer to a school in the city, and to do so this quickly. Are you sure about your information?"
Song Xiaoli pursed her lips; the person had left, how could it not be accurate?
She didn't mention that the City's No. 1 Middle School had actively sought Song Jiawen, only saying, "Isn't her maternal grandmother's family in the city? They must have asked them for help."
Song Shuqin said angrily, "That wretched girl always only thinks of herself. Doesn't she consider others?"
After speaking, she hung up the phone with a slam, and Song Xiaoli put down the receiver with satisfaction.
On the other side, soon after hanging up with Song Xiaoli, Song Shuqin immediately called home to tell Grandma Song about the transfer.
Grandma Song was even more upset than she was; after all, it affected the jobs of her two precious grandsons and the monthly filial payments given to her by Song Shuqin.
But now...
She ran furiously to her third son's home.
Xie Jingying and Song Laosan were both there, unmoved by her rage. Once she'd vented enough and finished cursing, Song Laosan said, "We told you that day, it's not happening. So stop thinking about it. You and Song Shuqin had better give up on this idea for good."
Song's matriarch was not about to agree. "Song Jianqiu, just because you don't have a son and your family line will end, do you have to begrudge your nephew's good fortune? How could you be so malicious..."
With a "bang!", Xie Jingying slammed the dustpan she was holding onto the ground, the peanuts inside scattering everywhere with a crackling sound.
"If you want a good job go find it with your own ability. Are we stopping them? With no capability of your own, you spew nonsense here. You want us to sell out our daughter once, and you expect us to do it a second time? Old lady, don't let your bias go too far."
Song's matriarch had been speaking non-stop since she arrived, and Xie Jingying seemed to have let go of all restraints, shouting right back at her.
Just at this time, the villagers had been gossiping about the couple, so let everyone hear that the girl's engagement was forced, and they had no choice in the matter.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were close to erupting into a full-blown argument, and Xie Jingying even went so far as to curse out Song Laosan's elder brothers' families. If it hadn't been for those two mothers trying to curry favor with the old lady, would she have been clinging to their family like this?
In the end, it was the silent Song patriarch who came and took Song's matriarch away, putting an end to the matter.
Once the yard was quiet again, Xie Jingying sat on a stool, gasping for breath, exhausted and angry.
After all, arguing was also a physically demanding task.
Song Laosan poured her a glass of water and handed it to her, "That girl... has she really gone to the city?"
Xie Jingying snapped back, "How would I know?"
Because of her, her mom and brother had stopped talking to her. She hadn't dared to phone Xie Yanhai these past few days, so she really had no idea what Song Jiawen was up to.
"Xiaoxi is in the city; wouldn't she be bothered if she went there?"
Song Laosan thought the same. They didn't want Song Jiawen to go to the city mostly because they didn't want her to disturb Song Xiwen.
"Why don't you call Yanhai and ask him?"
"Why don't you call?"
Both fell silent.
Finally, Xie Jingying called Song Xiwen. She figured that if the girl had gone to the city, Xie Yanhai would have informed the eldest daughter no matter what. After all, who else could she rely on in the city, if not her sister?
Xie Jingying didn't ask directly. First, she inquired about Song Xiwen's grandson, then asked, "Has your uncle called you recently?"
"No, is there something wrong with Uncle?"
After saying this, Song Xiwen thought of something and added quickly, "Mom, did something happen to Jiajia again?"
Xie Jingying immediately denied it, "What could happen to her? I was just thinking... Last time your uncle didn't get to talk to you, so I wondered if he might call you after going back."
"He didn't."
After hanging up, Xie Jingying breathed a sigh of relief, "Xiaoxi doesn't know, so it looks like Yanhai hasn't told her."
Song Laosan also relaxed. As long as that girl didn't bother Xiaoxi, it didn't matter where else she went.
They both knew they couldn't stop her from taking the college entrance exam. As for what might happen in the future, they'd take it one step at a time.
They hoped she had a conscience, that considering how well her sister had treated her over the years, even if her family took her back one day, she would put in a good word for Xiaoxi.