Chapter 24: The Belly Black Five

Chapter 24

After making the agreement, it was obvious that the siblings felt much closer.

If before they were just living under the same roof due to various reasons, now they were truly family, caring for and thinking of one another.

They were children without parents, orphans without anyone to rely on. They met each other in the ice and snow, huddling together for warmth and comfort.

Perhaps they all had unspeakable pasts, gloomy and oppressive secrets, but at this moment, they were truly warm and relaxed.

It could be said that the only one in the dilapidated temple without a care in the world was Jiang Sheng.

From a beggar girl who was yelled at and beaten by everyone, to being able to earn money and live, with a group of elder brothers to protect her, Jiang Sheng's life had completely changed.

She was so happy that even when sleeping she had a smile on her face.

The next day, Jiang Sheng was woken up by shouts and yelling.

The little girl was startled, thinking the warm and beautiful days yesterday were just a dream. She quickly pinched herself to check.

When it hurt enough to make her yell "ow!", she was relieved. She got up and rushed outside the dilapidated temple.

It was Zhou Zhiqiang. His injured leg was completely healed. Right now he was dragging along Zhang Auntie, angrily coming to demand an explanation.

"It was you who sold the cotton-padded jacket right? How dare you sell it to her? That money was earned through our Zhou family's blood and sweat. Give it back!"

Jiang Sheng was confused for a moment. Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com

Xu Mo didn't know when he had hobbled over to stand in front of her, shielding her behind him. In a deep voice he said, "Uncle Zhou, business transactions are based on mutual consent. We took the money, you wore the clothes, what's the problem?"

"There is a problem, a big problem. Our family was already poor as mud, and we still spent over ten cents to buy a cotton-padded jacket. How are we supposed to live like this?!" Zhou Zhiqiang's face was red, spit flying from his lips as he yelled.

It was obvious he was truly furious.

Zhang Auntie was being clutched by him like a chicken. Her face was full of shame and grief, but she couldn't get any words out.

"I'm asking you, are you giving it back or not? This jacket, are you giving it back or not?!" Zhou Zhiqiang became hysterical. "If you don't give it back, I'll beat this worthless woman to death. Buying a padded jacket with the family's money, I'll beat her to death!"

Jiang Sheng pressed her lips tightly together, a chill coming over her heart.

In the past she was a beggar who stole food to eat, but after gaining elder brothers, especially the fourth brother Wen Zhiyun becoming the village's apprentice doctor, the villagers had been quite polite to them.

Everyone got sick nowadays after all.

But she hadn't expected the Zhou family to be so shameless. They'd just gotten rid of his crutch, and were now cursing up a storm, not only being terrible people, but also petty.

So this way, it was selling him a used cotton-padded jacket for five cents, and it had to be stripped off of Chang Yan.

Jiang Sheng was furious. She wouldn't allow others to bully her fifth brother.

Unexpectedly, Chang Yan actually agreed. He picked up the ten copper coins from the ground and counted out five to hand over.

Zhou Zhiqiang also hadn't expected that the other party would agree to his baseless demand. He blankly stretched out his hand.

The ten copper coins were split in half.

Chang Yan calmly picked up the flower cotton-padded jacket and headed back to the dilapidated temple. He changed out of his own cotton-padded jacket and handed it to Zhou Zhiqiang.

Exchanging an unwearable flower jacket for a wearable cotton one, and even getting five cents, Zhou Zhiqiang was elated. He got up from the ground and immediately tried on the cotton-padded jacket.

As expected of a new padded jacket, it really was warm.

He happily dragged Zhang Auntie away, saying, "You should have just bought me a cotton-padded jacket earlier, why insist on floral print? This plain one looks so good! I'll wear it for two or three years before giving it to you."

The onlooking villagers who'd come to watch the show dispersed when there was no more excitement.

After everyone had left, Jiang Sheng grabbed Chang Yan in irritation. "Fifth brother, why did you give him five copper coins? Why did you give him your cotton-padded jacket? What right does he have?!"

Chang Yan didn't speak, only looking at Wen Zhiyun who seemed to have just returned.

The two boys of similar age shared a smile, secret meanings in their eyes.

Jiang Sheng wanted to ask more, but was pulled back into the dilapidated temple by Xu Mo and pressed into a seat at the table.

A burst of aroma came from the small earthen stove, making everyone in the dilapidated temple feel refreshed.

"Eat." Xu Mo said unhurriedly.

Zheng Ruqian's eyes filled with tears. Fang Heng wolfed the food down like a starving wolf.

After being poisoned by his little sister's terribly cooked congee for so long, they finally got to eat something a human could appreciate.

The eldest brother really deserved his title, lying there motionless for so long before getting up and showing off these skills.

The usually lively dilapidated temple was unusually quiet for once, because everyone's mouths were busy eating without anyone talking.

Near the end of the meal, people from the Zhou family came rushing over.

It was Madam Zhou. She stood hesitatingly in the entrance of the dilapidated temple. "Little doctor...please come take a look at our home."