When Jiang Cheng mentioned the diary, even Lin’s mother started to lose some confidence.
After all, looking into it, Jiang Cheng could truly say she was a nanny and maid at the Lin family for three years.
Although Lin’s mother could accuse Jiang Cheng of freeloading, it was not a good time to make a fuss; the Yang family might not be happy.
The Yang family is formidable, but they’re just in-laws.
Lin’s mother’s mind was racing through eighteen turns, and she pretended not to care with a scoff.
"Who cares about your worthless stuff!"
Granny Sun stepped forward, pointing at Lin’s mother.
"You!"
"Those eyes only admire, blinking like blue jewels!"
"Hahaha! Granny Sun, your word choice is spot on."
Jiang Cheng didn’t hold back on the praise, and Granny Sun forced a smile.
"I never lie."
Upon hearing she never lies, Jiang Cheng clapped her hands until they turned red.
Wonderful!
Absolutely wonderful!
As Lin’s mother was getting ready to curse, Li Chunxiang’s biological mother came out with a slop bucket.
Her piercing gaze and motion to splash water made Lin’s mother swallow her words.
Lin’s mother looked at the people in front of her and spat mentally: These freaks have gathered together!
Swallowing her anger, Lin’s mother returned to the Lin family, slamming the door with a bang.
With a loud voice, Li Chunxiang’s biological mother shouted, "Give it more force! It’ll be great if it breaks!"
After shouting, Li Chunxiang’s biological mother put down the slop bucket and looked at Jiang Cheng, saying, "Jiang Cheng, wait a moment. I’ve made some tofu for you to take back and eat."
Jiang Cheng agreed without hesitation.
The relationship among the three families needed no formalities.
While waiting for the tofu, many people from the courtyard came out to chat with Jiang Cheng.
"Jiang Cheng is back, you know Grandma Shen has been talking about you every day."
"It’s great to have you back, it always felt like someone was missing from our courtyard, it wasn’t right."
"I grew some small cabbages, take them and make a dish."
...
Several households in the courtyard each handed Jiang Cheng a handful of gifts.
Jiang Cheng politely declined.
"Keep it for yourselves! Don’t give it to me—I really can’t eat it all!"
"I don’t dare to take it, what if someone reports me for eating socialist vegetables!"
Jiang Cheng glanced towards the Lin family, not hesitating to put them on the spot.
With things said like that, everyone felt embarrassed to insist.
But the compliments kept coming, all wanting to make a good impression in front of Jiang Cheng.
No need to ask, Jiang Cheng knew the scrap cloth business was going well, and everyone enjoyed the benefits.
The textile factory’s orders were about to come in; if she took things today, there might be some plotting later when the doll orders come in.
So it was better to refuse from the start.
"Sis—it’s time to eat!"
Shen Xing cleverly called out to save the scene, giving Jiang Cheng a reason to slip away.
Back inside, Jiang Cheng gave Shen Xing a thumbs up.
Shen Xing returned a knowing smile.
The food naturally wasn’t ready yet.
Grandma Shen was still busy, and Li Chunxiang’s biological mother brought over the tofu. Jiang Cheng sat by the table teaching Shen Xing questions he didn’t understand.
Jiang Cheng looked at the progressively harder exercises.
"Xing Xing, did you learn this yourself?"
Shen Xing nodded.
"Do you find it difficult?"
Shen Xing shook his head.
"Sister, I just understood it the more I looked at it, I never really thought about whether it’s difficult."
Jiang Cheng put down the book she was holding and, looking at Shen Xing, said, "Xing Xing, you’re a graduate!"
After speaking, Jiang Cheng immediately put on a smile, messing up Shen Xing’s hair, and said, "You’re getting more confident like me!"
Shen Xing pushed away Jiang Cheng’s mischievous hand, trying hard to smooth his hair, looking at Jiang Cheng with resignation.
But once Jiang Cheng left, she always felt the house was empty.
Especially at night, after the two little ones went to bed, she had a whole belly of gossip that had no outlet.
Grandma Shen picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a rib, and placed it in Jiang Cheng’s bowl.
"Eat!"
"Eat!"
"Sister, eat!"
Shen Xing gave Jiang Cheng some eggplant, and Shen Yue gave her some tofu.
That meal was so filling for Jiang Cheng.
After the meal, Jiang Cheng was pulled by Shen Yue to look at her drawing, while Shen Xing went to wash the dishes.
Shen Yue had drawn a portrait of Jiang Cheng.
"Sister, how is it? The teacher asked us to draw someone we admire the most."
"It’s amazing! I love it."
After expressing her admiration, Jiang Cheng asked Shen Yue about her classes.
"The teacher is super amazing!"
"She knows so many things!"
"I also read books. The teacher said the same as sister, that having knowledge is important whether or not someone studies art."
Shen Yue shared about her classes chirpily until Grandma Shen came to urge her to wash her face and sleep.
Shen Yue looked pitifully at Grandma Shen.
"Aunt, can’t I stay up a bit longer? I’m not sleepy yet."
Grandma Shen held a firm face.
"No, if you don’t sleep now, you’ll be too tired for school tomorrow morning."
The main thing was she had a ton of gossip to share with Jiang Cheng!
Gossiping by oneself always felt a bit lacking.
With her plea being fruitless, Shen Yue had to say goodnight, albeit regretfully, and went to wash up and sleep.
Over half an hour later, Grandma Shen came out of Shen Xing and Shen Yue’s room.
She immediately saw the lit kerosene lamp, the set up snacks, and Jiang Cheng’s eager expression for gossip.

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