In a year of natural disasters, the young woman had billions of resources to build a paradise.

In the torrential rain, Jiang Mianmian shivered, looking both aggrieved and pitiful.

Jiang Chuan looked at her with a complicated expression, and the rest of the Jiang family did not seem inclined to speak.

The villager who had spoken earlier suddenly felt embarrassed and somewhat indignant. "Really? Your Jiang family has money to live in a new house, but you can't even afford to feed your own daughter a meal?"

"Yeah, they rescued the person and brought them back to you. They can't be that heartless, can they?"

Jiang Chuan is very concerned about his reputation. If it were any other time, he would have invited the person in long ago upon hearing this.

But for some reason, something just felt off today.

I know my own daughter best. Ranran is such a delicate and weak girl, why would she run off to save a bunch of children for no reason? And that brother-in-law of hers, he's a petty thief, it's a good thing he doesn't rob others!

Moreover, when Jiang Mianmian left, she said she had nothing to do with her family anymore and even hit Li and the others, which meant she had already broken off all ties. Her current behavior is really abnormal!

Just as they were pondering this, they heard the leader of the group of children say sarcastically, "Uncles and aunts, let's just forget it. Since Uncle and Aunt Jiang don't welcome us, let's just leave. As for the thank-you gift, we were blind to have prepared the wrong one!"

Upon hearing the words "thank you gift," Jiang Chuan's mind stirred.

No matter what that girl's intentions are, the goods have already arrived at the Jiang family's doorstep, and there's no reason to push them away!

"Mother, how can family members hold grudges overnight? It's great news that my sister is back."

Jiang Ranran quickly tugged at Li Shi. She remembered the large boxes in the car; they seemed to be the same ones the Ye family had sent to Lingxiao Tower that day!

Li glanced at Jiang Chuan and saw his expression soften. She forced a smile and said, "Ranran is right."

"come in."

Jiang Chuan raised his chin at Jiang Mianmian, then turned and went into the courtyard without looking at her.

Jiang Mianmian felt nauseous.

Are all the Jiang family members brainless?

They were the ones who begged her to come back, and they were the ones who didn't dare let her in when she arrived at the door. They were also the ones who readily agreed to her adoption after she said just one word!

"Quickly, move the thank-you gifts we prepared inside!"

The mouse spoke, and the children rushed back into the car, each pair carrying a large box.

Four large boxes, locked tightly, were carried directly into the Jiang family's home.

The villagers were very curious, "What are all these things?"

"It looks quite heavy."

The rat addressed the group, saying, "It's nothing special, just some coarse rice, dark flour, smoked fish, salted meat, and some pickled vegetables. Judging by this downpour, it's not going to stop anytime soon. These things aren't worth much, but they might be hard to find later. Since we're expressing our gratitude, we should give something useful, shouldn't we?"

He is small in stature, but speaks with confidence and acts with competence and efficiency.

After a few words, the villagers nodded repeatedly, praising him endlessly. Some villagers, however, seemed lost in thought, their eyes darting around.

After the children went inside, Jiang Mianmian locked the car doors.

Li Shi helped Jiang Ranran, Jiang Bocai helped Li Mu, and Jiang Zhongtian helped Jiang Jiman.

Jiang Jiman coughed incessantly, "Mianmian, why...why did you leave that day?"

"Of course we went to bombard the city walls," Jiang Mianmian answered in her mind.

With a concerned smile, she asked, "Third Brother, what's wrong? You don't look well."

"Sigh, I don't know what's wrong. I've taken a lot of medicine but it's not getting better. I just have a cough and feel weak."

Seeing that Jiang Mianmian genuinely cared about him, Jiang Jiman was deeply moved and became even more certain of his suspicions.

She definitely didn't give me the wrong key on purpose!

The group entered the Jiang family home while talking.

After admiring the car for a while, the crowd lost interest in going to the fields and gathered together to chat.

Braving the torrential rain, the village chief rushed over, bewildered. "Where is the monster?"

"That's it! They say it's a car, but it's amazing! It can talk!"

Someone pointed it out to him.

The village chief had never seen anything so rare before, so he went up and touched it.

"Beep beep beep! Warning, please leave immediately!"

"what!"

The village chief was so frightened that he fell to the ground, his backside covered in mud. "What the hell?"

"Hahaha, this thing makes a weird noise!"

"But it can shelter you from the wind and rain, which is much better than a donkey cart or an oxcart."

"If one day we really have to flee east for our lives, wouldn't it be much easier to have a car like this?"

The speaker has no intention, the listener has the heart.

The village chief's breath hitched. "Don't you dare try to steal other people's things!"

He was secretly plotting something, and only after asking carefully did he go home thoughtfully.

Granny Li and the village doctor were invited into the Jiang family home.

In the Jiang family's woodshed, rats opened the four large boxes one by one.

Sure enough, it was filled to the brim with the food he had just mentioned.

Jiang Chuan was very satisfied. He told Li to lock the house and then instructed her to cook, "Make some of Mianmian's favorite dishes. It's rare for the child to come back."

There was no mention whatsoever of the incident during the last earthquake when Li was beaten and scolded by Jiang Mianmian.

Li was angry but dared not mention it, and could only say, "Let's check on Ranran and my brother's injuries first?"

The children immediately started complaining that they were hungry, and then cried, saying that the Jiang family hadn't really intended to invite them to dinner, and that all those gifts they'd given them were for nothing.

Jiang Chuan was exasperated by the noise and was also worried that the children might not be careful and would take the gifts back.

He quickly scolded Li a few times, and Li had no choice but to go and prepare the meal.

The mouse led all the people into the kitchen, ostensibly to help, but in reality, they were there to pick out the best meat and vegetables for her to cook.

If Li Mu's sister, Li Shi, doesn't help him pay off his debts, who will?

"Let's go see your sister and uncle."

Jiang Chuan smiled warmly.

Jiang Mianmian declined, saying, "She probably doesn't want to see me. I'd rather go see my third brother."

"That's fine."

Remembering the relationship between the two sisters, Jiang Chuan didn't force them and went to the main room by himself.

"Ouch, that hurts!"

Jiang Ranran's wailing came from inside the house.

Then there was Li Mu's slightly impatient voice, "She complains of pain, you show me first, my calf is broken!"

"Uncle, you're a grown man, please bear with it and let Ranran see."

Sure enough, in the eyes of the Jiang brothers, how could the gambling-addicted Li Mu compare to the gentle and lovely Ranran?

Jiang Mianmian glanced at the kitchen; Li Shi was so anxious inside that she burned her hands and had no time to pay attention to her.

She took out a wire and poked at the door lock a couple of times.

With a 'click', the lock opened.

Rich people use good locks, which she can't open, but she can open the broken lock in the Jiang family's house.

She packed everything from the box into the warehouse, and then stuffed all the farm tools, straw, bricks, and stones from the woodshed into it as well.

The 'gifts of gratitude' are all food that can be stored for a long time. Jiang Chuan would definitely not eat them now, but would carefully preserve them for future use.

I wonder what kind of interesting expression he'll have when he opens the box, thinking he's well-prepared, after the day when water and food are cut off.

Or perhaps we won't even have to wait until that day; the villagers will gang up on the Jiang family, and that will certainly be quite a spectacle.

Jiang Mianmian smiled slightly, locked the door again, and went to find Jiang Jiman as if nothing had happened.

Once inside, her expression shifted to one of anxiety, worry, and guilt. "Third Brother, did you go to Lingxiao Tower that night?"