I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel-Chapter 267 - 264: The Villainess Is Still a Villainess

Chapter 267: Chapter 264: The Villainess Is Still a Villainess

After dinner, Mrs. Jiang took Xiaxia to make mooncakes. Jiang Mingyue snuck out, fearing Xiao Ran would follow like a little tagalong.

Xiao Ran, unable to find his sister, felt a bit down and decided to walk Coal on his own.

Jiang Mingyue seemed to wander aimlessly around the village, greeting passersby. She was now a role model for the village’s young girls. Every time parents taught their children, they would inevitably say, "You should learn from Jiang Family’s Xiao Mingyue and grow up to be like her."

Therefore, wherever she went, villagers enthusiastically gave her things.

She hadn’t even reached the old house before she was covered in gifts.

A pumpkin, a radish, two cucumbers... Basically, whatever she couldn’t think of, the villagers could provide.

This? How could she dare venture out alone after this?

Too many people saw her, so cheating wouldn’t work. Luckily, she was strong.

She chose to wait beneath the juniper tree — it was secluded, so she wouldn’t run into her second uncle’s family, yet her view was broad. As soon as Jiang Beishan appeared, she had a plan to lure her over.

But, in fact, it seemed she didn’t need to lure her.

Crying could be heard from the old house; Jiang Mingyue swiftly released her spiritual power.

In the courtyard, Jiang Beishan, whom she hadn’t seen for just a few days, was so thin she was barely recognizable, Jiang Mingyue paused in surprise.

"I don’t agree, Dad, Mom. I’m your only daughter now; can you truly bear to marry me off? You better think this through. If you force me to marry, I’ll never come back. But if you listen to me, and I choose someone to marry into our family, we can be a filial couple to you. Which life is better? You should think carefully. Is it better to have a daughter and son-in-law nearby being filial, or to take a sum of money but have no one to be filial to you for life? Do you want to be so lonely in your old age that you have no one to take care of you when you’re sick?"

Wu Cuilan wavered. Although Jiang Beishan was not as cherished as the two older ones, she was still cherished, and now, with only this one daughter, their retirement truly depended on her.

But Jiang Zhenghui had a heart of stone.

With a smiling face, he soothed Jiang Beishan: "My daughter, I’m your dad. Can I do something harmful to you? Lin Haiyang is the son of the Little Stone Commune leader. His father is the commune leader; you marry him, you’ll both be backed by a big tree and live a comfortable life. Old Lin will arrange your work, and you’ll live enviably well."

Jiang Beishan was still skeptical: "If his conditions are so good, why not find a wife in their commune? I’m just a farm girl; I surely can’t compare to the intellectual youths there. If he truly had such good conditions, not just village beauties but intellectual girls would definitely flock to marry him. Dad, I know what kind of person you are best. You must be hiding something from me. Tell me, does Lin Haiyang have some defect?"

Jiang Zhenghui’s eyes flickered; he hadn’t expected his usually clueless daughter to hit the nail on the head.

Of course, he wouldn’t admit it.

His face turned suddenly dark: "What nonsense are you talking about? Is your dad such a person? You’re underestimating your dad. That young man is decent; don’t spread rumors. He merely wants to find a sincere person to settle down with, and I happened to know someone who found you such a good match through connections. Don’t be ungrateful."

Jiang Beishan felt a sense of despair. Though she only had a primary school education, she understood this sentence.

It’s hard to imagine that a biological father could say such words to his own daughter — it’s simply absurd.

"Fine, fine. Since you’re unwilling, forget it, but don’t regret it."

Jiang Zhenghui stormed out, his face grim as he slammed things.

Jiang Mingyue understood, too.

Lin Haiyang from Little Stone Commune?

She hadn’t heard of him; he wasn’t in the book. She’d need to get Yan Jinzhi’s help to check him out.

If he turned out to be good, Jiang Mingyue would support it. If he had intentions to harm someone’s daughter, Jiang Mingyue would make sure he paid a price.

Was Jiang Zhenghui just going to leave it there? Of course not.

He owed the Lin Family five hundred yuan, so this daughter had to marry into the family.

He had to come up with a way to cook the rice until done, making it impossible for her to refuse.

Oh my! This second uncle was truly malicious, treating his own daughter this way? Perhaps he wished to kick Wu Cuilan out too, then marry a younger one and have her bear a son to support him in old age. In his eyes, women weren’t worth a thing.

Jiang Beishan ran out crying, stumbling uphill, with Jiang Mingyue not too far behind.

As expected, Jiang Beishan went to the cliff where Jiang Beiyang had his accident, sitting alone by the edge, letting the mountain breeze blow. Fortunately, the mountain breeze was comfortable this season.

Jiang Beishan gazed at the abyss below, wondering what it was like for her third brother when he died. It must have been painful, having his closest person take his life.

To think, though they grew up together, she never understood her elder brother — having a secret affair with Hehua, bearing a child and trying to pin it on Jian Guo, and also courting another lady in the city. Each one was astonishing to Jiang Beishan. Was this really the elder brother who once fought her for sticky rice pudding?

Suddenly, Jiang Beiyang’s face appeared before Jiang Beishan, so familiar yet incredibly pale and gaunt. He stretched out to her pitifully.

"Second sister, I’m cold, it’s so cold down here. Can you come keep me company? Like when we were young?"

When they were young, she protected her brother too, stuffing him into straw piles when he was cold and standing outside to shield him from wind and rain.

Involuntarily, Jiang Beishan murmured, "Alright!"

While probing for nearby prey, Jiang Mingyue sensed danger.

In the blink of an eye, she flung her to safety.

"Jiang Beishan! Are you out of your mind?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The accused hugged her own arms and trembled, only one terrifying realization remaining in her mind: Just now, she almost died — jumped off the cliff and died, shattered to pieces.

It took a long time before she felt better, realizing she’d broken into a cold sweat.

Facing the enraged teenager opposite, although angry, Jiang Beishan suddenly smiled, revealing white teeth. She genuinely bowed: "Thank you, cousin. If it weren’t for you just now, I’d already be a ghost." Truly accompanying her third brother.

Jiang Mingyue examined her for a long while, confirming that her cousin had just been careless, not suicidal.

"Best not to come here again," she said, turning to descend the hill.

Jiang Beishan tagged along energetically behind, the previous gloom gone.

She decided that since her father had those intentions, he definitely wouldn’t let her off; she should find solutions herself.

Days later, Jiang Mingyue learned of Jiang Beishan’s solution, realizing villains remain villains after awakening — there’s no need for others to worry.

After descending the hill, villain Jiang Beishan secretly tracked her father Jiang Zhenghui’s steps. Didn’t he love gambling? She would find someone who could restrain him.