CHAPTER 87: JING ZHAO, THE SECOND AUNT, DEMANDS GRAIN IN A STORM

Wei Chang, gripped by emotion, clutched his elder aunt, who was in a cold sweat from the pain. "A few days ago, I pulled many strings but could only get a little alcohol. Applying it was useless; the wound still festered and was getting worse. It was only then that I called, thinking it might be our last meeting... Jing Shu, I can’t thank your family enough! Your uncle will remember this favor."

Without medicine, with such a large, infected wound festering and the flesh rotting away, what else could be done but wait for death?

The elder aunt, embarrassed, lowered her head. "Quick, get some apples for everyone to eat."

Wei Chang then went to the cellar and brought back some shriveled apples. "They’ve been stored a bit too long, but we’ll make do."

Jing Shu, whose palate had become spoiled, couldn’t get used to these dry apples. She hid in the corner, nibbling on Brazilian Pine Nuts one by one, while Second Aunt Jing Zhao quickly grabbed a few and bit into them. Li Yun wolfed down two in big bites, swallowing them whole—it was clear he was starving.

"Where is my grandson, Wei Zheng?" Grandma Jing looked around but didn’t see him.

"He’s digging a well in the apple orchard. The water shortage is severe now. The soldiers are only giving out one bucket per household, which is nowhere near enough to water the vegetable plots. Many apple trees have already died. We’ve dug two wells already. They used to produce water until recently, but now they’ve completely dried up. The town lacks both water and food," Wei Chang sighed.

He then spoke of the robberies. In such a small town, half the residents knew each other. If you ’lent’ to one person, you were pressured to ’lend’ to another. It escalated to the point where familiar faces would knock, and upon the door opening, they’d barge in with knives to rob the place without a word. Eventually, it all ended in violence.

The outcome was left unsaid, but everyone understood—only the survivors could stand here and talk about it, and Aunt Jing Pan had been injured in the process.

"Our family exchanged one thousand jin of wheat six months ago. After husking the bran ourselves, we still have seven hundred jin of white flour left. Mom, Jing An and you live together with more mouths to feed, so take half of it. We won’t be able to grow anything next year, and if the government doesn’t distribute grain, I fear many people will starve to death," Wei Chang said.

Second Aunt Jing Zhao’s eyes lit up. "Brother-in-law, lend us some too."

The conversation shifted toward Jing Zhao.

Grandma Jing, looking at her disheveled second daughter, glared fiercely. "What happened to you? How did you end up in jail?"

Second Aunt Jing Zhao murmured like a mosquito, "I was short of money recently, sold some alcohol and tobacco at high prices, and got arrested. They confiscated all the tobacco and alcohol in the shop—goods worth hundreds of thousands." As she spoke, she started crying again.

"You’re short of money? Of the three sisters, your family is the best off! With a tobacco and alcohol store earning over a hundred thousand a year, what money could you possibly lack?"

Grandma Jing tapped Jing Zhao’s head sternly as she scolded her. Decades ago, in the countryside, it was common to discipline a daughter by grabbing her hair.

"I bought a villa in Wu City and had just finished renovating it when the housing market collapsed. Now it’s worthless!" Second Aunt Jing Zhao sobbed, wiping tears with her plump hands. Agitated, her dry lips cracked and bled. She nearly toppled from her chair from her mother’s poking but was too scared to resist.

"This..." Wei Chang hesitated, looking at Jing Pan.

Aunt Jing Pan sighed. "Wei Zheng has been a bachelor for thirty years and finally found a girl he likes, but her family wants a betrothal gift of two hundred jin of white flour. After giving the gift and keeping a little for ourselves, plus with another person joining the household, there won’t be much left. At most, I can give you twenty jin."

Li Yun, chomping on an apple, frowned upon hearing this. "My dad is in prison, waiting for grain to survive! They don’t get fed in there, and they have to do a lot of work every day. Those without grain are just waiting to starve. Grandma..."

Grandma Jing glared at the silent Jing Zhao. This daughter of mine has been cunning since childhood, she thought. I know exactly what crap she’s about to pull the moment she starts fidgeting. Instigating her son with all those elaborate excuses—weren’t those her ideas in the first place?

"Alright, Jing An and I don’t need the grain. Give my share, one hundred jin, to Jing Zhao. You two keep the rest. After all, you’re adding another member to the family. Who knows, I might even get to hold my great-grandchild next year." Thinking of this made Grandma Jing smile again; old people always love the birth of new life.

"You, stop thinking about taking advantage of your own family with these ridiculous ideas."

Grandma Jing poked her second daughter’s head vigorously. "I called each of you last year telling you to stock up on grain! Your sisters all listened and stocked up, afraid they wouldn’t have enough. But you! You went and bought a house! This is the absolute last time I’m helping you. Next time, don’t you dare shamelessly ask for help again. Go ask that mother-in-law of yours, the one who talks so sweetly but disappears the moment trouble starts!"

Jing Shu covered her mouth, struggling not to burst out laughing. So Grandma’s catchphrase, ’Back in my younger days, with my temper, I would have...’ was actually something she really said!

Once the old lady spoke, the whole family had to listen. The matter was thus settled.

Just then, the agonizing squeal of a pig came from outside. Jing Shu exclaimed, "Oh no!" having forgotten about important business. The whole family followed her out, only to find someone had thrown stones at the pig.

Jing Shu and Mr. Jing hurriedly unloaded the black pig, weighing a few hundred jin, from the roof of the car.

"This pig is...?" Wei Chang was genuinely startled when he saw such a large black pig; he hadn’t even noticed what was on the car roof when they first arrived.

"Find a cool place to tie it up and give it some water," Jing Shu said.

Wei Chang tied the black pig in the cellar, where there were also three hundred jin of wheat bran, perfect for feeding it.

Once they were back in the house, Jing Shu explained the situation: they had previously borrowed money and were now using the black pig to repay the debt. When Jing Pan and Wei Chang learned that Jing Shu’s family had brought the black pig, they were so touched they were at a loss for words.

"This sow is pregnant. I felt her belly; there are at least six or seven piglets," Wei Chang said.

"We have enough grain. This pregnant pig is too valuable; we can’t possibly accept it. It’s not easy for you to be supporting the elderly when grain is so tight. You should take it back, whether to slaughter it or let it give birth to the piglets. Besides, we’re all family. We never expected you to repay the money. It was Mother who said we three sisters should just consider it our contribution to her," Jing Pan said.

"Alright, since it’s already been brought over, and Jing Shu managed to get several pigs, this one will stay with you as repayment for the debt. You focus on recovering," Grandma Jing declared, looking very pleased. This impish granddaughter of mine, Jing Shu, is just so lovable. She handles everything so thoughtfully. My affection for her hasn’t been in vain.

"Then let’s keep it and let it have its piglets. This pig is very valuable, and we happen to have wheat bran at home. Jing Shu, my dear, I... your aunt... I hardly know how to thank you. Not only did you save my life, but you also gave us something so precious. Rest assured, if you ever need anything in the future, I’ll help you without a second thought," said Aunt Jing Pan.

Jing Shu chuckled lightly, finding herself the center of attention. I don’t expect any help in return; as long as they don’t betray me, that’s enough. I really don’t want to repeat past mistakes. It’s true what they say: once bitten, twice shy. She found herself always looking at everything with a wary and defensive gaze.

Jing Zhao had been staring at the pig’s dark, glistening eyes, unable to look away. Hearing that Jing Shu’s family had more, she said excitedly, "Jing An, I contributed to that money back then too! Doesn’t your family still have a few more pigs? It’s only right that you share one with me."