After leaving the small building, Lin Anning realized belatedly that she was so hungry her stomach rumbled. She walked to the other end of the alley and found a small food stall.
Since the market was not open, those small stalls only dared to set up at night in inconspicuous alleys.
With thirty cents, she got a bowl of dumplings with thin skins and plenty of meat, topped with piping hot broth that was so fresh her tongue almost fell out.
After finishing the dumplings, Lin Anning broke out in a sweat.
As she got up to walk back, just after turning a corner of the alley, she heard Su Jiaojiao crying.
"Dad, Mom, just let me go, please! It's because I came back that my sister is thinking of going to the countryside. With her health, how can she go to the countryside? Right, she has already signed up, so let me go in her place. I've been accustomed to hardship since I was young, I'll be fine."
Zhao Hua was clinging tightly to the luggage, touching Su Jiaojiao's face with heartache.
"Jiaojiao, you are the apple of your parents' eyes. It was not easy to find you and bring you back. If you leave again, wouldn't that be the death of us? Old Lin, say something!"
Lin Jianguo was blocking the other end of the alley, fiercely puffing on the cigarette in his hand.
"Jiaojiao, listen to us and don't go. After your birthday, when the matter of marriage with the Huo Family falls upon you, we won't have to care whether Lin Anning is dead or alive."
Su Jiaojiao bit her lip and slowly bowed her head.
"But, the daughter-in-law the Huo Family wants is my sister, not me. If I stay, it will just make it difficult for Mom and Dad and the Huo Family. I am a burden..."
"Nonsense!"
Zhao Hua hugged Su Jiaojiao tightly, grinding her teeth in anger.
"If it hadn't been for the baby mix-up back then, what would this have had to do with Lin Anning? This marriage was supposed to be yours. The initial plan was to let Ma San ruin her reputation, so that the marriage would naturally fall upon you. But Ma San messed things up."
"Don't worry, when your birthday comes, the Huo Family will surely send someone. Then, Mom will make Lin Anning lose face in front of the Huo Family. Humph, Old Master Huo wouldn't want a 'discarded shoe' as his granddaughter-in-law, would he?"
"Even the man you're going to marry, Mom has already picked out..."
Perhaps because she saw no one around, Zhao Hua talked nonstop.
In the middle of her speech, there were faint signs of Su Jiaojiao's hesitant "Is this really okay?" but she never refused.
Lin Anning, having heard almost enough, returned the recorded loudspeaker back to the pharmacy.
Did Zhao Hua really dare to think she could treat the Huo Family like vegetables in the market, to be chosen at her will?
Without disturbing them, she returned home by another route.
Late at night, Su Jiaojiao, who was finally persuaded to go home, was preparing to head back to the attic when, as if remembering something, she went to Lin Anning's room and pushed on the door.
"Sister, are you asleep?"
No one inside responded to her, but the door was locked from the inside, which meant Lin Anning must be asleep.
Relieved, Su Jiaojiao turned around and climbed up to the attic.
————————
She slept a heavy sleep that night and did not awaken until nearly noon the next day.
From downstairs, waves of laughter reached her, stirring curiosity.
When she opened the door and went downstairs, it turned out that Ren Jing had come.
The Huo Family patriarch had three sons; the eldest and his wife had tragically died for the country early on.
The youngest was married to a decent and honest woman who never sought attention.
Typically, all the major and minor family affairs were handled by the second son's wife, Ren Jing.
In her past life, Ren Jing always tried to pair her up with Huo Wenchang, claiming they were of similar age and compatible personalities.
In front of Old Master Huo, she had advocated countless times for her to become the daughter-in-law.
But after the incident, Ren Jing was the first to jump out in opposition to her marrying Huo Wenchang.
Right after sending her back to the countryside, she brought Su Jiaojiao into the Huo Family.
Calling her daughter-in-law with every breath, she did not allow Su Jiaojiao to do any chores and often took her shopping, their relationship looking incredibly harmonious.
It was all from Su Jiaojiao visiting her and boasting with pride.
Previously, she could never understand why Ren Jing had changed her tune so rapidly.
It was only later that she found out Zhao Hua had long reached an understanding with Ren Jing.
She had sanctioned the smearing of her reputation to pave the way for Su Jiaojiao.
Ren Jing was just over forty this year, and once, she had been the belle of the arts troupe. Despite having three children, her face showed not a sign of aging.
She carried herself with a graceful elegance, exuding the composed demeanor of someone accustomed to being treated with respect.
"Auntie Jing, please try this, I made this little cake especially for you. I know you can have anything you want in Beijing, so this is just a small token of my esteem. I hope you won't disdain it."
Su Jiaojiao sat with her back towards Lin Anning, a beaming smile on her face as she offered the cake up to Ren Jing's lips.
Ren Jing chuckled and nodded her head as she took a bite.
"Mmm, tastes good. Jiaojiao, you have a real knack for baking. Whoever marries you will be lucky indeed!"
Su Jiaojiao's face turned red, and she gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Oh, I couldn't compare! Auntie Jing, you're so beautiful and gentle, when you go out with your future daughter-in-law, people will mistake you for sisters!"
Such sweet talk brought a beaming smile to Ren Jing's face.
"You flatterer, your words are as sweet as honey!"
Looking up, she saw that Lin Anning had appeared by the staircase without her noticing.
Ren Jing's smile faded slightly as she beckoned with her hand.
"Is Anning up? I was just asking your mother about you! Come, sit down."
Lin Anning walked down the stairs, nodding her head without glancing to the side.
"Auntie Ren."
She skirted the sofa and went into the kitchen.
She steamed two buns with meat filling and made herself a glass of Mairujing.
Ren Jing's extended hand remained awkwardly in mid-air, revealing subtle discomfort.
"How is it that you've grown so distant from me after such a short time? After your birthday, you'll be nineteen, won't you? The old master intends for you to marry Wenchang and get the wedding over with. You might as well start calling me 'mom' from now on!"
Seeing the change in Ren Jing's expression, Su Jiaojiao immediately stood up and scurried into the kitchen.
"Sis, are you making something delicious for Auntie Jing in the kitchen? Let me help."
Zhao Hua felt a sudden thud in her heart and forced a smile.
"There's no hurry, Auntie Jing. The child is still young."
Watching Su Jiaojiao's silhouette in the kitchen, a deeper smile appeared on Ren Jing's face.
"Jiaojiao is a good girl, but as for my son Wenchang, he's 22 this year and still hasn't found a job!"
Zhao Hua understood Ren Jing's implications. Among the Huo family's grandchildren, aside from the eldest who was thriving in the military,
the others hadn't found decent jobs.
The old master liked Lin Anning and had said that he would pull strings to solve the job issue for whoever married her.
If a high-ranking official like Huo took action, how could the job be less than stellar?
Despite Jiaojiao's return, the old master had yet to give his approval, and they dared not chase Lin Anning away.
Not only was Ren Jing anxious, Zhao Hua was as well!
Stealing a glance at the two people talking in the living room and seeing that they were not paying attention, Su Jiaojiao quietly took the chicken soup off the small coal stove.
"Sis, this is the chicken soup I have been stewing; when you serve it to Auntie Jing later, just say you made it. It's rare for Auntie Jing to visit, try to make her happy."
After Lin Anning finished her last sip of Mairujing, she washed her hands and turned to leave.
"I wouldn't dare take the credit; you should bring it yourself."
Ren Jing's smile diminished when she saw Lin Anning emerging from the kitchen, and she casually propped her foot on the coffee table.
"Ow, I don't know if it's because the weather is about to change, but my leg is killing me. When Wenchang gets here, he's going to worry..."
She seemed to expect Lin Anning to massage her, a task to which she had grown accustomed to directing Lin Anning.
Su Jiaojiao poured the chicken soup into a bowl and hurried after Lin Anning, attempting to thrust the bowl into her hands.
"Auntie Jing, this is specially stewed for you by my sis—"
She hadn't finished speaking when Lin Anning stepped aside.
The scalding hot chicken soup from Su Jiaojiao's grasp splashed, drenching Ren Jing's legs.