Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
“Thank you.” Yan Huan walked over and put her hand on Liu Fang’s shoulder.
“Just stay here peacefully for a few days. After that, we can return to Chengjia Village together.”
Liu Fang blinked confusingly, as she could not comprehend it. I’ve just arrived, why are we going back so soon?
Yan Huan grinned as she gently brushed the edge of her clothes. “We’ll be there to provide electricity and mend the roads.”
It was something that she always wanted to do, ever since she left that place.
Before she knew it, grateful tears started to fall from Liu Fang’s eyes.
Half a month later, a team of constructors arrived at Chengjia Village. After endless measuring and studying the landscape, numerous bulldozers started work to push the boulders blocking the village’s entrance. Electric poles were built, the wiring was connected to every house, and electric lights were swiftly installed in the entire village. Besides, they even built a huge reservoir, connected piping to every house, and fixed the pond. This would provide clean water to the villagers that were extracted from the underground. Even without treating it, the natural water was pristine and sweet.
However, all the wiring and piping were not installed in one house, and that was none other than Jin Gen’s house.
Jin Gen’s mother always thought that the others would install these for her, so she did not pay any mind. When she saw that everyone had access to piping to tap water and wiring, so they no longer needed to use candles. When she saw them lighting the lamps and watching television, she realized that everyone had forgotten about her.
Even her closest friend, Changsheng, had access to them in their residence. So, why do we not have any?
She confronted the constructors and the only answer that she received from them was to not install anything for her. They would not install piping or wiring for her, much less television.
“Why can’t you install them?” Jin Gen’s mother shrieked.
“This is sponsored by a private party.” The constructor paid no mind to Jin Gen’s mother pestering them. “If they say no, we won’t do it. There’s no point for you to confront anyone here.”
Jin Gen’s mother had no idea whom she had offended. Perhaps, is it because I’m too ugly? She could flaunt her necklaces and pieces of jewelry to the poor villagers before this, but she was nothing to the contractors, so nobody paid her any attention.
She rolled her eyes, thinking. If you won’t install them for me, I won’t let anyone else have it either. In the end, the village chief said the constructors had stated clearly that everyone could have access to the electricity, except Jin Gen’s family. Anyone who let them use electricity would be banned as well. This was not a threat, but no one would want to meddle in their affairs. If they were too kind and helped them, they would pay the price for it and have their utilities snatched away as well.
The road leading to the village was mended very quickly, as rumors claimed that the person who sponsored the road reparation had splurged a huge fortune on it. The machinery used was all large and advanced, so the road was created and fixed without worrying about the expenditure. The road should be opened for public use in three months. Before this, the villagers had to travel for hours when they wanted to go down the mountain. Now, even on foot, it would only take them half an hour at most.
When the roadworks were done, another team came with Liu Hao, saying that they were agriculture experts who were helping turn the forest into farmlands. The entire village was located at the foot of a mountain, so the villagers would usually hike up the mountain to collect firewood. These experts were stunned as they exclaimed that it was a lush and thriving plot of land for farming, which was left untouched by the villagers for so many years.
The expert directly discussed with the village chief to seek permission to open up the land for agriculture. In fact, all the villages were welcome to participate, except Jin Gen’s family.
“Why am I the one that’s left out again?” Jin Gen’s mother came rushing over, she was already denied electricity, water, and even a television. Even the road to every other house had been repaired, except hers.
The experts merely gazed at her coldly.
“You are Ma Xiutian, and your son is Jin Gen?”
“Yes, I am Ma Xiutian.” Jin Gen’s mother lifted her chin haughtily, as though she was superior and above the other villagers. “Let me tell you, my son, Jin Gen…”
The experts simply rolled their eyes at her and left. They even warned the village chief to be careful of Ma Xiutian, as she was an evil woman and might poison their chickens.
As for why Jin Gen’s mother was barred from the agricultural program, the answer remained the same. The experts were hired by someone, and the only request they had was to exclude her.
Until one day, an extremely luxurious car came to Chenjia Village. This was one of the few private vehicles that came to the village, as it directly headed to Liu Fang’s house.
A woman in a mask walked out of the car. However, the sharp-eyed neighbors saw that the masked woman was none other than the Xiao Yan who lived in Changsheng’s house.
“Changsheng’s mother, Changsheng’s mother…” Someone hurried over to find her, who was sitting beside Jin Gen’s mother. Jin Gen’s mother was crying and sobbing sadly at how she had been bullied, that even Changsheng’s mother’s blood was starting to boil.
Everyone else in the village received it; is Jin Gen’s mother not one of us too?
“What is it?” Changsheng’s mother was consoling Jin Gen’s mother when she heard someone shouting for her, her mood immediately turned sour.
“Changsheng’s mother, your Xiao Yan is back. She’s at Liu Hao’s place…”
Jin Gen’s mother abruptly stood up when she heard it and dragged Changsheng’s mother along. “Let’s go, old friend. Let’s see that wretched creature. How dare she show her ugly face here! Let me tell you, even if she wants to come back, you cannot let her. Goodness knows how many people she has slept with, but she still wants to come back to your Changsheng. Doesn’t she look in the mirror, what right does she have to be with your Changsheng? Your son is destined to be someone successful, and could have any woman he wants. He doesn’t even need her! She sure is trying to punch over her weight, who does she think she is.”
Changsheng’s mother’s heart felt uneasy when she heard about Xiao Yan, especially since her house was still so dilapidated and she had struggled in the past. Even though she had electricity and a television now, her house was still unsightly. The frustration had her gritting her teeth every time Xiao Yan’s name was mentioned.
Alright then, she’s back now. How dare she return here, is she not ashamed? She actually has the audacity to show her face around here.
She hurriedly left with Jin Gen’s mother and headed to Liu Fang’s house. Before Liu Fang’s mother could stop them, the duo impatiently rushed into the house.
“You little wretched…”
