As expected, the next day when Jiang Si stepped out of the alley, she spotted the same unfamiliar faces from yesterday.
At the same time, she also noticed two bicycles parked not far away.
When she saw the oversized burlap sacks tied to the back seats of the bicycles, Jiang Si knew this was a sure bet!
Third Uncle had moved to the outskirts a few years ago, and getting there by bus required two transfers.
Adhering to her life philosophy of "never skimping on comfort," Jiang Si headed straight to the pedicab station near the old family residence.
After filling out a form and paying two dollars, she secured her ride.
The fare was steep, but at least she wouldn’t be crammed in like a sardine.
When she arrived, Third Uncle was just about to take his medicine.
Uncle Zhong, who was responsible for his care, immediately tattled the moment he saw Jiang Si.
"Miss Si, you’re just in time! The old master hasn’t been taking his medicine properly lately. He won’t listen to me, and he even forbade me from calling you!"
Hearing this, Third Uncle widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Y-you’re lying… cough… I’ve been taking it…"
Uncle Zhong let out an exaggerated "oh," his expression clearly saying, "Do you really expect me to believe that?"
Jiang Si chuckled at their antics. "Uncle Zhong, hand me the medicine."
"Of course, Miss Si. I’ll go buy groceries now."
Once he left, Jiang Si pulled up a stool and sat right in front of the bed.
She didn’t say a word, just stared at Third Uncle.
He squirmed under her gaze. "It’s… it’s just too bitter. Hard to swallow…"
"You’re a grown man, scared of a little bitterness?"
"Last time, the doctor warned you—if you keep coughing like this, your pneumonia will only get worse."
She paused, then added, "You promised Grandpa you’d look after me. Don’t go back on your word now."
Third Uncle’s face fell. Without another protest, he grabbed the bowl and downed the medicine in one go.
In their line of work, nothing was worse than breaking a promise.
Before his elder brother passed, he’d sworn on his life to protect this girl.
If he couldn’t even do that, how could he face his brother in the afterlife?
Watching Third Uncle’s face twist into a grimace, Jiang Si suppressed a laugh and quickly handed him a bowl of pear soup.
Third Uncle had few indulgences, but he adored anything sweet and sticky.
When he learned Jiang Si had made it herself, his expression brimmed with pride.
This was her first time cooking—even if he skipped dinner, he’d finish every last drop of this soup.
And he wasn’t exaggerating—her pear soup was divine!
The pear chunks, soaked in syrup, melted in his mouth with a soft, fragrant sweetness. The broth was silky and refreshing, never cloying.
Third Uncle couldn’t stop eating.
Maybe it was his imagination, but after the soup, his entire body seemed to hum with one word: bliss.
His throat didn’t itch as much either.
Previously, his coughing fits left him breathless after just a few sentences.
Now, feeling somewhat better, he chatted with Jiang Si.
"Little Si, isn’t today Tuesday? What brings you here?"
Even if he hadn’t asked, Jiang Si would’ve brought it up.
Aside from delivering the springwater, she had another purpose today: to tattle.
"Uncle Zhong, I sold my job."
"What... you sold your job?"
As if realizing something, Uncle Zhong's voice turned grave. "Child, tell me the truth—did they mistreat you again?"
Jiang Si didn’t deny it. She recounted everything that had happened over the past few days in detail.
"Shen Qingqing was assigned to the Heilongjiang countryside for re-education. Lin Yueru couldn’t bear to see her daughter suffer, so she set her sights on me instead."
"They told me the Jiang Family was on the purge list, and if I stayed in the city any longer, I’d likely be sent away soon."
"But I think the purge might actually be real."
"Child, are you sure?" Uncle Zhong’s voice trembled with shock.
His elder brother had contributed money and resources to the front lines during the war. Later, when the state called for public-private partnerships, he was among the first to answer.
Over the years, whenever disaster struck, his brother had been the first to donate funds and supplies.
Even high-ranking officials had praised him, saying his unwavering patriotism earned him the title of "Red Capitalist."
Yet now, just a few years after his brother’s passing, the authorities would do this? It was utterly disheartening!
"Uncle Zhong, it’s most likely true."
Jiang Si hesitated to reveal everything—especially about the hidden space, which was too fantastical to share with anyone.
Instead, she mixed truth with half-truths. "Not long ago, I discovered a secret room at home. Everything inside had already been packed into boxes."
"I checked and realized all the antiques and paintings Grandpa collected were gone!"
"The money in the accounts had vanished too, replaced entirely by gold bars."
"I also found stacks of Hong Kong Dollars and U.S. currency in that room."
"If he hadn’t received concrete news, he wouldn’t have prepared all this."
"They’re sending me to the countryside now for two reasons: to protect Shen Qingqing and to cut me loose."
"Another possibility is that my departure could divert attention, making it easier for them to flee!"
Hearing this, Uncle Zhong was ready to kill.
"That backstabbing bastard! Even a wild beast wouldn’t harm its own kin—you’re his flesh and blood!"
"Has he even considered what will happen to you once the authorities start investigating? He’s pushing you toward ruin!"
With that, he stood up, ready to make a call. "All these years, out of respect for you and your grandfather, I turned a blind eye to his schemes. And now he dares to cross the line?"
"No, today I’m going to end him!"
Seeing Uncle Zhong’s unwavering protectiveness, Jiang Si’s eyes stung with unshed tears.
"Uncle Zhong, don’t throw your life away for trash like him. It’s not worth it."
"Besides, death would be too easy for him."
She then laid out her plan in full.
Uncle Zhong fell silent for a long moment.
He’d always thought of her as a spoiled, willful girl—partly his and her grandfather’s doing.
After all, she was the Jiang Family’s only heir.
Was it wrong to dote on her?
Yet now, after all this, she’d grown beyond his expectations.
"Child, have you thought this through? Are you really going through with it?"
Jiang Si nodded, her voice firm.
"Yes, from the moment he schemed against me and betrayed my mother, our father-daughter relationship could only end here."
"Once I finish handling these matters, I’ll leave Hu City..."
Third Uncle sighed. "That might be for the best. Given how things are now, Hu City will likely only grow more chaotic by the day. It’s good for you to lay low elsewhere."
But as he spoke, his worry crept in.
Jiang Si had never left Hu City since she was a child. Could she really manage alone in a foreign place?
It was no wonder Third Uncle was concerned. Even now, as he loathed that bastard Shen Xiuwen with every fiber of his being, he had to admit one thing—the man’s looks were undeniably striking.
Otherwise, Little Man would never have taken a liking to him.
As for Jiang Si, there was no need to even mention it—her features perfectly captured the best of both her parents.
From a young age, she’d been as delicate as a doll.
And as she grew older, she blossomed into a stunning beauty.
With a face like hers, no matter where she went, she’d inevitably attract unwanted attention!
