Chapter 5: Chapter 005 Uncle, take it easy
"Brother, what do you mean by saying that?"
Speaking like this in front of her in-laws was clearly a slap in her face. Song Shuqin glared with her not-too-large eyes, her voice shrill, "When I spoke to your wife about it initially, she agreed enthusiastically. Now she's talking about delaying her future? Where exactly is her future? Can it be pinned down right now? Is there even a shadow?
What are you bragging about when there's nothing certain?
It's her good fortune that our Xiaojie took a fancy to her. Does she really think that just because she took the college entrance exam and got into university her future is all bright and promising? There are plenty of university graduates who aren't doing well; do I need to give examples?
But it's different if she goes to the medical school. It's a sure thing that she'll get into the county hospital later on. That's a secure job. What's wrong with that?"
Song Laosan was sitting on a little stool opposite the group. After hearing the nonsense spouted by Song Shuqin, he abruptly threw the lighter in his hand onto the coffee table in front of him.
He looked up at Song Shuqin and then turned towards Chen Yijie's father, "Does Director Chen share this view too? If so, there's no point discussing this any further today. Please, you may all leave."
Upon hearing this, Director Chen was stunned, exchanging a glance with his wife.
Both were somewhat dissatisfied with Song Shuqin. They understood the weight of being the city's top scholar better than she did. So even if the person you look down upon is your own brother and niece, they wouldn't be pleased by your condescension.
Yet they had forgotten how reasonable they thought Song Shuqin's words were just moments ago.
They simply didn't anticipate Song Laosan to be so stubborn and hard to send away.
Director Chen managed a smile on his face, about to say a few words to ease the tension, when his son, Chen Yijie, tugged at his sleeve, speaking in a nervous whisper, "Dad, I just want Jiajia."
Although he had lowered his voice deliberately, everyone in the room heard him.
This made Song Shuqin's already upset countenance even worse.
Grinding her teeth and glaring hatefully at her brother, she knew it. This brother had never treated her as a younger sister, always liking to oppose her, not wanting her to have it good.
She had assured her elder brother and sister-in-law that this matter was a done deal. And now they wanted to go back on their word?
Where does that leave her face?
Director Chen's expression became a bit stiff too, but it was only for a moment before he regained his composure and lightly said to Song Laosan with a smile, "Song brother, why get so worked up with your own sister? You know exactly what Shuqin is like. She might sound harsh, but she is very fond of Jiajia. She used to come by our place all the time saying how pretty and smart Jiajia is, and how wonderful she is in every way. If this child marries into our family, I guarantee, Shuqin will be the one who adores her the most."
"Yes, Brother Song, I will also treat Jiajia as my own daughter," said Chen's wife.
Director Chen and his wife were good at lightening the mood, and their words smoothed over the awkwardness. They subtly promised what they could offer to the Song Family.
Song Xiwen had already graduated from university, and with her husband being an instructor at a military academy in Yunzhou, they didn't need any help with arranging their affairs.
Although Song Laosan and his wife lived in a rural area, they used to do business in Yunzhou and still made deliveries to the city every month. They had their own connections, and one could tell from their home setup that they were doing quite well.
Mainly, it was the sons of the eldest two sons of the Song family. Old Madam Song had her eyes set on County Director Chen finding good jobs for them.
Director Chen had not interacted with Song Laosan before and only knew about his two daughters, thinking that he would be like what Song Shuqin described – willing to simply arrange jobs for his two nephews.
That was the condition.
But today, he realized Song Laosan didn't see it that way.
From Song Laosan's attitude towards Old Madam Song and Song Shuqin, it was clear that he wouldn't care much for his other two brothers and their sons. The only one he likely cared about was his eldest daughter.
With this development, he had no demands that he could make of them.
It was truly odd – how could he bear to give up such an outstanding younger daughter?
However, this was none of their business as long as he and his wife let Song Jiajia become engaged to his son, to be married after her graduation from the medical school.
Everything else was not his concern.
......
Meanwhile, Xie Jingying arrived at her brother's house, yet she didn't find Song Jiajia.
"She has already gone back. Could she have taken the wrong path?"
Just moments ago, barely five minutes earlier, Li Yun had received a call from her good friend, who said a group of people had visited her eldest cousin's house.
Among them was Jiajia's aunt.
There were four other people who looked unfamiliar, but they seemed to be a family of four, dressed respectably and carrying gifts and sweets, looking like they had important business.
The moment Xie Yanhai heard this, his temper flared. Fearing that Jiajia would run into Xie Jingying, Li Yun quickly suggested they find a place to hide.
No sooner had she left than Xie Jingying arrived.
Upon hearing that Song Jiawen was not there, Xie Jingying didn't even bother to put down her bike. She greeted Shi Peirong, who was sitting at the entrance of the main hall knitting, turned around, and left.
"Mom, see what I said? If it wasn't really important, would she have left in such a hurry?"
Shi Peirong put down the yarn in her hands, thought for a moment, and said to Li Yun, "Call your sister again, have her ask around at the Song Family, see exactly what's going on. If it is indeed about arranging a blind date for Jiajia and they've already brought the person over, there's no need to keep it secret anymore."
"Alright, just wait."
Although not much time had passed, her good friend had already managed to find out quite a bit about the situation.
It wasn't so much that she had asked around, but rather a Jiang family lad had climbed over the wall to eavesdrop and had run into her on his way out.
As soon as she asked, the Jiang family lad spilled everything like pouring beans out of a bag.
After hearing it, Li Yun's face turned ashen. She gritted her teeth and said to Shi Peirong, "Song Jianqiu is discussing with that director about fixing Jiajia's engagement, and then sending her to the county to attend a health school..."
She stopped midsentence, stunned. Shi Peirong, having realized the same thing, calmly patted off the fluff on her clothes and stood up, saying to Li Yun, "Let's go to Jianglin Village."
While the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were preparing to leave, Xie Yanhai and Song Jiawen ran into Jiang Yan at the entrance of the village.
Jianglin Village was part of Jianghai Town to begin with; it was at most a ten-minute bike ride from the village to the town.
Jiang Yan had actually climbed over the wall and left after just a few minutes at Song Family's house, as the situation was unfolding similarly to his previous life; there was no need to waste time inside.
Before that, he had also made calls to three people.
At this moment, he had arrived at the head of the village to meet those three.
And Song Jiawen's return was just in time, much as he had anticipated.
"I've informed Principal Wang and the others; after they get here, we'll go to your house. You take your uncle ahead," he said.
Song Jiawen, hearing that he had informed the principal and the teachers, was slightly surprised, but she quickly understood.
However, Xie Yanhai was not in the know; so far, he was only aware that the Song family had arranged an inescapable blind date for Jiajia.
Even that had already angered him greatly; could there be some other inside story?
"Little Jiang, explain clearly, why did you ask Principal Wang to come over?"
Song Jiawen also put on a puzzled look and turned towards Jiang Yan.
"Song Jiawen won't take the college entrance exam, so of course the principal and the teachers need to be informed," he said.
"Not taking the college entrance exam? Why won't she take the exam?"
"The family that wants to arrange a marriage with her plans to send her to the health school in the county. With her grades, going to a lousy vocational school, does she need to arrange that? Does she need to take the exam?"
Xie Yanhai was shocked, and then his anger started to boil over again.
"Uncle, stay calm!"
Seeing Xie Yanhai roll up his sleeves, Song Jiawen quickly stepped forward to hold him back, "It's not worth it to get into a fight with someone like that. Can we just talk this out? What am I going to do if you get in trouble for fighting?"
Xie Yanhai turned to look at his niece, his eyes faintly red.
He had forgotten that the other party was the director of the county hospital; if he actually fought him, matters wouldn't end well.
The Song family was cold-hearted and ruthless towards Jiajia; without him, who would protect her?
After taking a few deep breaths, Xie Yanhai suppressed the anger in his chest. He patted Jiajia's hand and comforted her, "Don't be afraid. Your uncle won't fight with them. Rest assured, I'll always protect you."
I damn well can't touch the Chen surname; can I not touch the Song surname?
Jiang Yan watched silently as Xie Yanhai and Song Jiawen walked away, his gaze lingering on the rolled-up sleeve that wasn't put back down, lost in thought.
He hadn't expected the seemingly gentle and refined Uncle Xie to be so fierce; if he wasn't going to have a go at the Chen family, then he would definitely have it out with Song Laosan; otherwise, wouldn't his rolling up his sleeves be for nothing?
Jiang Yan felt somewhat regretful; he still had to wait here for Principal Wang and the others, unable to rush off to watch the commotion.
He hoped Uncle Xie would take it easy until he could get there.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone