News from Taiwan

Chapter 20 Those Past Events
“Your maternal grandmother and your great-grandmother have been like this for decades. But because of your birth, their relationship has improved.” Jiang Yun sighed, a helpless look on her face. In recent years, she has been busy with work, and many things at home can be resolved as long as the money is available.

Her relationship with her mother wasn't particularly close; they maintained a polite but distant relationship. She never expected that this balance would be broken.

Jiang Guier and Lin Wan quickly exchanged a glance and sat down directly opposite Jiang Yun.

"Get out, don't disturb my work." Jiang Yun glanced coldly at the two of them and told them to leave, not wanting to say anything more.

"Aunt, please tell us. Gui'er has suffered a lot these past two days because of this. She's even been to the police station and fell into the water. The fact that she didn't catch a cold is because she's in good health. If you could give her some advice, wouldn't this matter be much easier to resolve?"

Lin Wan has always been very good at getting along with people, and her ability to read people's expressions and moods has long surpassed that of her mother. She could see that her aunt was indulging and protecting Gui'er, otherwise she wouldn't have...

“If she were obedient, we wouldn’t have to worry about anything. There would be no such thing.” Jiang Yun’s gaze turned cold as she looked at Jiang Gui’er.

“Mom, I’ve already apologized to you. I know I was wrong.” Jiang Guier’s attitude was very good. “Like Wanwan said, at least let me die knowing why. You’ve left me wandering around like a headless fly. What if I end up making things worse like today?”

Jiang Guier's words changed Jiang Yun's mind somewhat.

Since you're not going to live there, you might as well give me some direction.

"Actually, I don't remember many things because I was young at that time. During that period, your maternal grandmother and great-grandmother lived together, but not in the countryside of Baoshan. At that time, we moved to a small alley in Zhabei for your maternal grandmother's work."

Jiang Yun took a sip of coffee, glanced out the window, and began to reminisce:
“I think it was my birthday that day. Your great-grandmother specially made braised pork for me. Didn’t she mention how to make it in the letter? Your great-grandmother’s braised pork was very delicious, sweet but not greasy. I think she kept making this dish so that one day when that person came back, she could eat it.”

Jiang Yun's expression was faint, with a hint of sadness and a touch of irony. "Back then, it wasn't easy to have any meat to eat, so when your great-grandmother made braised pork, the aroma was so strong that the whole alley could smell it. All the children in the alley were drawn to our window, making many people drool with envy, and it attracted a lot of attention."

"And then...it was because of this that someone took notice of me."

Jiang Yun fell silent as she spoke.

"Auntie, um, did you leave out a lot of things? I don't quite understand." Lin Wan rested her chin on her hands, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"Yes, what happened next?"

"Later... your grandmother made a huge scene, quit her job, and went into business." Jiang Yun tapped the table with her fingers. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have the good life you have now."

Jiang Guier's face fell, and she said with dissatisfaction, "Mom, it's so frustrating to only tell you half the story. Everything is so unclear." She pouted, "Then what does all this have to do with the letter?"

“Yes, Aunt, you didn’t tell us the most important thing,” Lin Wan chimed in from the side.

Jiang Yun put down the coffee she was holding and glanced at the two people opposite her. "You two have been working on this for several days now, and you still haven't figured out the key to the problem? Don't you have any sensitivity at all?"

Jiang Guier and Lin Wan looked at each other with a somewhat bewildered expression.

The two of them pondered together whether there was something they had overlooked.
Jiang Guier remembered that there seemed to be something else in her great-grandmother's camphor wood box, but she had taken the letter and left that day without paying much attention.

Something flashed through my mind.

"Ah!" Jiang Guier stood up excitedly.

"Is it that signature, that postmark, that address in Hong Kong?" Jiang Guier finally remembered. She had carefully examined the envelope of that letter that day. Although the words on it were a bit blurry and difficult to read, she had a feeling it was from Hong Kong. "You're not entirely stupid, but not much."

A mother's complaints are the most damaging.

Jiang Guier pouted, revealing the face of an old man on the subway looking at his phone. Excuse me? Huh?

"Mom, can you listen to what you're saying? You're saying your daughter has no brains? Have you forgotten about this daughter? She's the one you gave birth to." She had a "what's the use" attitude, shrugging her shoulders.

“That letter was indeed sent from Hong Kong, but… it was forwarded from Hong Kong.” Jiang Yun’s expression was somewhat strange.

"That……"

"It's a letter sent from Taiwan."

Looking at the two surprised faces opposite him, Jiang Yun suddenly burst out laughing.

"Mom, why did I never know any of this?" Jiang Guier complained softly.
If she had known sooner, she would never have said those things to her grandmother.

Having gone through nine years of compulsory education, how could I not know what happened during that period?

If she knew, she would definitely be more careful. Thinking of the argument at the hospital just now, Jiang Guier felt extremely upset.

"You won't say it's because you're stupid?" Jiang Yun stretched out her finger and poked Jiang Gui'er's head hard.

"No, I can't let Grandma suffer." Jiang Guier suddenly stood up and announced loudly.

“You really are stupid. These are all historical issues, why bother with them?” Jiang Yun had a different opinion.

She believes that people should live in the present and not dwell on the past, especially by tearing open painful memories.

“Mom, it’s different.” Jiang Guier was firm on this point. “I didn’t understand before, but now I know it will cause her a lot of pain. But Grandma is also wronged. I don’t understand why she doesn’t go to that man?”

"Which man? Don't talk nonsense." Lin Wan desperately stomped on Jiang Guier under the table to stop her from talking, but it had no effect at all.

She cautiously peeked at Jiang Yun's expression; her aunt seemed fine, so it should be alright.

"You want to go find that man? That man has been missing for decades. Not to mention you, I've never even seen him in my life." Jiang Yun didn't know whether she was amused or annoyed.

“A person always leaves a trace when they are alive. Even if he is dead, I will find him.”

Jiang Guier was very confident. She looked at her mother and said, word by word, "Mom, have you never thought about me? Have you ever wanted to go find me?"

Jiang Yun shook her head without any hesitation, "Never."

She looked out the window, her expression relaxing slightly. "Our family doesn't need a man, and we're still doing just fine, aren't we?"

(End of this chapter)