CHAPTER 657: CHAPTER 632 THE POOR SECOND UNCLE’S FAMILY

Bai Jiefang negotiated with the police,

"Don’t worry, this is a letter of introduction from our village. This is my niece, and I vouch for the other two children. I can even have the village head vouch for them. The children will stay at our home for now. Once their father provides a letter of introduction and verification, we’ll return the children to him.

Rest assured, our families know each other, we’re relatives, and I take responsibility for these two children. Trust me, I will protect them even if something happens to me."

With the village head and the village secretary stepping in to vouch, Bai Jiefang was able to take Bai Yiyi, Tang Yuan, and Baozi back to the village.

We couldn’t let the children stay at the police station, and going to the welfare home was not an option. Bai Yiyi was adamant about not being separated from Tang Yuan and Baozi.

Fortunately, the police knew that their families were acquainted, so they made an exception, especially with assurances from the village head and secretary.

This was a big gesture of trust.

In these times when you need a letter of introduction for everything, such a guarantee was quite reliable.

Bai Yiyi and Tang Yuan followed their uncle home.

Jiang Lei also went back to the village with them, unable to escape his role as both uncle and brother, stepping in to protect the children.

His brother-in-law entrusted him with these three children, and if anything went wrong, he wouldn’t forgive himself.

The whole family set off back to the village on a tractor.

Their village was decent, at least it was flat land. Even though it was a dirt road, the tractor could still make its way into the village.

Jiang Lei, aching and sore from the bumpy ride, quickly jumped off the tractor when they reached the village and helped the three children down.

Seeing Baozi grimacing and clutching his backside, Jiang Lei playfully flicked his forehead.

"With all that meat, you’re still squealing? My backside got bruised worse."

Baozi muttered, "Always picking on me."

Tang Yuan, hearing this, bravely stood in front of Baozi.

"Uncle, why are you picking on Baozi? He’s my big brother. Without him, we’d be in big trouble. Bully him, and you’re bullying me. I’ll tell mom about this."

Jiang Lei grabbed Tang Yuan by the scruff and pulled him aside, "Complain about what? Just wait until you get home for a spanking. Don’t you know you’re worrying your mom? She’s so faint she can’t even get out of bed.

You ungrateful child, and you dare talk about complaining to your mom."

Tang Yuan instantly wilted upon hearing this.

"Uncle, how’s mom? Is she feeling better? I didn’t mean to upset her."

Baozi lowered his head, feeling as if he had done something wrong.

"Not meaning to doesn’t make it okay. Not meaning to can still be deadly."

Jiang Lei found himself speechless. What’s the use of saying so much to a two-year-old kid? He might not even understand.

He must be crazy.

Baozi, feeling glum, thought about how vibrant his mom usually is. Yet now expecting a baby, she must be feeling unwell. With their troublemaking, she’s probably fallen ill.

Seeing Jiang Lei scolding the children, Bai Jiefang stepped in.

After all, it wasn’t the kids’ fault alone.

Now the two young children were getting scolded. Bai Jiefang gave Bai Yiyi a look.

Bai Yiyi blushed and led Tang Yuan and Baozi inside.

Bai Jiefang invited the others into the house.

"Come, come, please come in!"

Cui Fen hurriedly went to pour them some water, feeling a bit embarrassed. In the village, their family was considered poor, with many children to support, which meant they couldn’t afford a brick house.

It was still an earthen house.

Thankfully, it had five rooms and was relatively spacious.

When Jiang Lei and the others entered, the five children crowded together by the window, curiously observing them.

Jiang Lei looked around at the bare room, the faded yearly calendar on the kang probably already several years old, with mottled yellow marks from rainwater dripping through.

The bedding on the kang looked worn, patched in places.

The paint had chipped off the two red kang cabinets, stirring a sense of heartbreak.

The room’s moldy scent spoke of rain leaking through the roof.

Cui Fen, a bit self-conscious, came in carrying two large bowls, followed by two sons, each carrying a bowl.

"Sorry, we’re out of white sugar. Please make do. Later, his dad will go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some."

It had been a long time since Jiang Lei had been served sugar water as a welcome.

They had moved on from treating guests with sugar water and switched to tea leaves.

But a quick glance around revealed that in this home, even white sugar was a luxury.

Sighing inwardly, Jiang Lei realized just how poor Bai Yiyi’s second uncle’s family was.

"No need! We usually just drink plain water, we’re not used to sugar water. Really, don’t bother, right, Yiyi?"

As Bai Yiyi’s second uncle, he hoped the child grasped the meaning.

Face turning red, Bai Yiyi lowered her head, hiding her embarrassment. She hadn’t expected her second uncle’s family to be so poor.

In her mind, her uncle only shared the good news, not the bad.

He’d said they were doing well, and she’d believed it.

It turned out everything was a facade.

Both her uncle and aunt, and her brothers and sisters weren’t living well at all.

What if I had known earlier? What could I have done?

As a child herself, she had no concept of earning money.

Earning money felt far away, yet no moment had ever made her realize more clearly she needed to look at the world anew.

It wasn’t the kind and beautiful place she had always seen.

"No, thanks! None of us like sugar water now. Who even drinks sugar water these days?"

The dismissive tone allowed Cui Fen to exhale in relief.

Buying sugar cost fifty cents, and money was tight. They had to save for children’s tuition fees.

They had yet to pay the self-sufficient plot of land charge.

Everything cost money.

Unable to afford electricity, their family was one of the few still using kerosene lamps in the village.

They couldn’t afford the electricity bill.

If they could save money, they would.

Tang Yuan still wanted to say he would drink.

He loved sugar water, only his parents wouldn’t let him have it at home.

Now finally, without his parents around, he could drink to his heart’s content.

Just as he was about to speak, Baozi pulled a piece of candy from his pocket and handed it to him.

"It’s yours!"

Tang Yuan instantly forgot what he wanted to say, happily popping the candy into his mouth.

"Sister-in-law, don’t trouble yourself. We’re here not to be a burden. Treat us as family, no need to stand on ceremony."

Jiang Lei wanted to ease their burden.

Cui Fen smiled and welcomed, "No ceremony, no trouble, we’re thrilled to have you visit. Yiyi never came back here before. Her dad grew up here. I’ll go prepare some food. You all sit down."

It was already noon, and not preparing food for guests was unacceptable.

Bai Jiefang had just gone out to get some meat, unsure if he’d manage to buy any.

They were planning to make dumplings.