CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 23: SPACE PROSPERITY 5

Jiang Mingyue didn’t have much luck finding someone at the machinery factory. Her uncle wasn’t there; supposedly, he went to the countryside to help repair a tractor and might not be back by tonight.

As it was nearing noon, Jiang Mingyue decided to take Xiao Jiang Ran for a good meal.

Meanwhile, as Jiang Mingyue was leaving the machinery factory, Jiang Zhenzhu seemed to sense something was happening and glanced over, but didn’t see anything.

Her close friend, Zheng Honglian, was puzzled, "Zhenzhu, what are you looking at?"

Jiang Zhenzhu was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head, "Maybe I haven’t been sleeping well lately, causing me to see things."

Jiang Zhenzhu hadn’t been having an easy time recently. She thought her good days would arrive as soon as she sent that "bad luck star" to the countryside, but things went from bad to worse.

First, it was about her engagement. Clearly, when she had just returned, Xu Ya had promised her that the engagement was hers, that Cui Mingshi was her fiancé.

But three days ago, Aunt Cui suddenly invited Xu Ya for tea and subtly backed out of the engagement.

Jiang Zhenzhu naturally panicked.

Cui Mingshi was good-looking, came from a good family, and was capable—at such a young age, he already became the office director in the education system. Many young women wanted to marry such a fine young man, including her, Jiang Mingzhu.

Initially, she only wanted to snatch a good thing from Jiang Mingyue. But after privately catching a glimpse of Cui Mingshi from afar, Jiang Zhenzhu found herself secretly enamored.

After all, she had never seen such a dazzling man. He was nothing like Ning Yan, whom she could look down on, while she could only look up to Cui Mingshi like she was gazing at the stars. Jiang Zhenzhu believed only someone like stars was worthy of her, and she would strive to make herself excellent enough to match the stars’ height.

But now...

Her friend Zheng Honglian hesitated with her words before speaking, "Zhenzhu, I think it’s because Aunt Cui heard some gossip. Why don’t you talk it over nicely with her? There might be a turnaround."

Jiang Zhenzhu didn’t respond.

Of course, she had gone to see Mrs. Cui, and more than once. But that woman was impervious, always acting superior, and till now, Jiang Zhenzhu hadn’t found a way in.

Seeing Jiang Zhenzhu silent, Zheng Honglian pressed on, "How about this? I’ll go find Xue. You know Xue, right? He’s always with Cui Mingshi, and they’re close. I’ll talk to him, then we can arrange to have Cui Mingshi meet up with you for a chat. Maybe his thoughts differ from his mother’s."

Jiang Zhenzhu thought that might work and immediately cheered up.

"Honglian, you’re so good to me. My mom just gave me some money last night. Let’s go check out the department store. Didn’t you say you had your eyes on a bottle of Snow Cream last time? Come, I’ll buy it for you."

"How could I take your things?" Zheng Honglian protested, but inwardly, she was thrilled. Her status at home wasn’t like Jiang Zhenzhu’s. Her mother favored sons over daughters, caring only for her older and younger brothers, treating her like she was picked up from the streets.

She barely got any new things throughout the year. Snow Cream was something she had long desired. Her sister-in-law had a bottle, a gift from her brother. It was fragrant and white, a thing every woman wanted. She had wanted to borrow her sister-in-law’s just to try, but her sister-in-law always found excuses to refuse and even locked it up in a cabinet, as if guarding against a thief.

Jiang Zhenzhu knew Zheng Honglian’s little thoughts, which is why she had her wrapped around her finger every time.

Catering to one’s liking, she was a master at that.

Over on Jiang Mingyue’s side, she was planning to take her brother to the state-run restaurant for a feast but ran into someone at the department store entrance.

Jiang Mingyue was about to apologize, but the other person started cursing first.

"Blind or something? Don’t you watch where you’re going? In such a hurry to reincarnate?" The other person was cursing in an obscure dialect that ordinary people might not understand, but Jiang Mingyue, an expert in dialects from her past life who had researched over two hundred dialects globally, knew them well, understanding even those she hadn’t heard before from linguistic patterns and clues.

No one would feel good being scolded to the face, especially since the man also tried to kick the little Jiang Ran by her feet.

"Try touching him!" Jiang Mingyue’s face turned cold, making the cursing man pause. It wasn’t that he was frightened by Jiang Mingyue’s tone; it was that she had a good appearance.

The man squinted, his eyes full of conniving intent.

Just then, a woman in front had an issue, urging the man to hurry.

The man found himself in a dilemma, while Jiang Mingyue seized the moment to see what was going on.

The plump woman ahead had linked arms with a girl of similar age, an intimacy typically found between mothers and daughters. But the girl wore a frightened expression. When she saw Jiang Mingyue, the girl quickly shook and nodded her head, trying to speak, but could only make "ah ah ah" sounds.

When passersby stopped by, the plump woman would smile and explain, "It’s just my mute daughter. She was born unable to speak. I’m bringing her to the city for treatment this time, so don’t mind us."

Onlookers: "Ah, it turns out it’s just a mute daughter. Well, then it’s nothing."

Jiang Mingyue: The girl was clearly asking for help.

Jiang Mingyue knew these two weren’t good people and began channeling her spiritual power to attack.

Soon, there was feedback from her spiritual power. The couple were indeed no good, having harmed many young women and usually targeted familiar individuals. This current "mute girl" wasn’t truly mute; she was temporarily silenced by this unscrupulous couple using a local method, and they would eventually give her an antidote, but not without leaving side effects.

The "mute girl" likely believed this was her only chance to escape and refused to be taken by this couple. Suddenly, she became stubborn, like a donkey refusing to move.

The plump woman impatiently pulled hard, and the man came over, unyielding in his push. The girl, naturally unable to resist the couple’s combined force, helplessly sought aid everywhere, eventually landing her gaze on Jiang Mingyue.

Since she had run into them, Jiang Mingyue wouldn’t let this unscrupulous couple get away.

"Stop. She’s not your daughter."

The couple didn’t expect someone to meddle, as no one had ever interfered before. Whenever they claimed such, others would believe them.

With their path blocked, the unscrupulous couple’s eyes instantly turned menacing.

"I advise you to step aside. She is my daughter, so don’t meddle in our affairs."

"Today I’m definitely meddling. Come, there’s a police station up ahead. Let’s go together and have them ensure justice."

"You..." The couple, who were previously overbearing, immediately lost their momentum. They avoided that place, so how could they possibly deliver themselves there?

Meanwhile, other pedestrians also began doubting, fearing they’d be complicit if the couple were indeed bad.

Onlookers: "Yup, if you’re innocent, just like the girl said, let’s head to the police station to confirm."

The unscrupulous couple realized the situation was turning against them, pondering how to escape quickly.

The man: "Apologies, I urgently need to use the toilet."