Chapter 9

Zhu Chang’an kept his word and actually split his winnings with Sang Ran.
He was just having a lucky day today. In the past, he usually lost more than he won, and the rare occasions when he did win felt like celebrating the New Year. But today, he kept winning and didn’t lose a single round.
The person who got into an argument with him wasn’t a stranger. They had played cards together many times before, and he knew what kind of person he was dealing with. But he had lost so much that he was getting desperate, which led to his outburst of frustration.
After hearing the story, Sang Ran grew worried. Was this the person from the plot who had a knife and ended up crippling Zhu Chang’an?
She wasn’t sure, so she could only advise Zhu Chang’an to avoid going there for the time being: "We’re getting married in a few days. If you show up with a bruised and swollen face from fighting on our wedding day, what am I supposed to do?"
Through their recent interactions, Sang Ran had come to understand Zhu Chang’an’s weak spots. He was a somewhat immature teenager, proud, playful, and a bit reckless. But he also had a considerate side, believing that Sang Ran, like him, cared about face.
That was why he had wanted to buy her a bicycle as well.
Sang Ran now understood why Zhu Chang’an had suddenly insisted on getting her a bicycle to complete the "three rounds and one sound" dowry set.
As soon as she mentioned it, Zhu Chang’an immediately grasped her point. Of course, as the groom on the wedding day, he needed to look presentable. If he ended up being the laughingstock of the village because of a fight, Sang Ran would surely resent him. And if that happened, it might not be so easy for him to go out and play cards in the future.
Besides… he didn’t want to see those bright, lively eyes of hers filled with tears.
Zhu Chang’an suddenly felt his thoughts were a bit too sentimental. Uncomfortable, he rubbed his arms but still nodded in agreement. Then, feeling that he might come off as lacking in masculinity, he quickly added in a gruff voice, "Alright, I won’t go play cards for the next few days. But you better remember that I’m doing this for you, got it?"
Sang Ran smiled and nodded. "I know."
When she smiled, her round eyes curved into crescents, making her look especially lovely.
Zhu Chang’an awkwardly turned his face away.

Zhu Chang’an walked Sang Ran to her doorstep before heading back home.
It was already quite late.
Sang Ran didn’t invite him in or anything like that. She herself didn’t even consider this place her home, so how could she act like the host?
Once inside, she took the nutritional supplements for Grandpa Sang and went to give them to him.
But this time, when she went to her uncle’s place, she didn’t see Grandpa Sang there.
Sang Ran frowned, a bad feeling creeping into her heart. Lately, Grandma Sang had been scolding people more and more frequently. Even when passing by nearby, she could often hear the shouting.
She had reminded her countless times, but Grandma Sang always acted as if she hadn’t heard. After that incident when Zhu Chang’an had embarrassed her, she had quieted down for a while, but it didn’t last long before she started up again.
So when she realized Grandpa Sang was missing, her first thought was that he had been forced to go work again.
She hurried out to look for him, cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and calling, "Grandpa!"
The girl's voice was bright and carried far.
Everyone nearby heard her, and one uncle said, "I think I saw him earlier heading toward the foot of the mountain to gather firewood. Sang Ran, why don’t you check over there?"
"Thank you, Uncle," Sang Ran said gratefully, then ran in the direction he’d pointed.
Halfway there, she spotted the elderly man, a bundle of firewood strapped to his back, leaning on a wooden stick as he slowly made his way home.
Sang Ran’s chest tightened. She quickened her pace and called out, "Grandpa."
Grandpa Sang’s hearing wasn’t what it used to be, so he hadn’t heard his granddaughter calling earlier. Only when he saw her now did he notice her, and he instinctively smiled. "Sang Ran, you’re back."
Before Sang Ran and Zhu Chang’an had gone out, they had stopped by to bring Grandpa Sang some things and told him what they’d be doing that day.
Sang Ran pressed her lips together, not wanting to say anything, and reached out to take the bundle of firewood from his back.
Grandpa Sang shook his head. "No need, Grandpa can carry it. This stuff is dirty, and your clothes are clean"
"Grandpa!" Sang Ran said sternly.
Grandpa Sang seemed to shrink back a little, afraid to resist.
As people grow old, it’s as if they become children again. In front of the younger generation they’ve loved their whole lives, they become more timid, and a single stern look is enough to make them back down.
Sang Ran took the bundle and carried it herself. Seeing that Grandpa Sang seemed frightened, she realized she had scared him and quickly softened her expression. Taking his arm, she said gently, "Didn’t I tell you not to go out and work?"
"It’s just a little bit. We’re running low on firewood at home," Grandpa Sang said weakly.
If he didn’t work, his wife would keep scolding him. Though he was used to being scolded, he still felt guilty. Lately, he hadn’t been doing much work but was still eating well, even enjoying expensive treats like the milk powder his granddaughter had bought him. It felt like a dream.
He felt that his health had improved a bit lately, and he could walk more steadily. So when his wife scolded him today and told him to go gather firewood, he went.
Sang Ran said quietly, "Grandpa, your health isn’t good, and not many people come around these parts. What if something happens like last time? Who would be here to help you?"
"Sang Ran, Grandpa was wrong. Don’t be angry," Grandpa Sang said hoarsely, bowing his head in shame.
For a moment, Sang Ran didn’t know how to respond.
It wasn’t entirely Grandpa Sang’s fault for being so timid, it was just his nature. It was also why he had raised the original host to be so kind-hearted and gentle.
And then there was Grandma Sang, with her strong personality, who couldn’t stand the idea of him lazing around without working.
Thinking about what she had learned while adjusting to the rules of this era, Sang Ran tentatively suggested, "Grandpa, after I get married, why don’t you come with me to the Zhu family and take care of me?"
She knew that telling him to come live a life of leisure wouldn’t work, but if she framed it as him taking care of her, he would seriously consider it.
Sure enough, as soon as she said it, Grandpa Sang’s interest was piqued. But then he quickly remembered his granddaughter’s situation and shook his head. "Silly child, you’ve just gotten married. You can’t do something like that, your mother-in-law might not be happy."
Sang Ran smiled. "How about after I start earning money, I bring you over to live with me?"
"We’ll talk about it when you start earning money," Grandpa Sang said with a chuckle.
The fact that his granddaughter wanted him to come live with her made him happy. It meant he still had a purpose.
Especially since this granddaughter was the one he loved most.
Sang Ran smiled confidently. "It'll definitely be quick!"
The two of them slowly made their way back to the home of Sang Ran's eldest uncle.
Sang Ran had her grandfather sit down first and checked his leg. From the outside, the surgical site still looked normal, so she breathed a sigh of relief and went to check the woodshed.
As soon as she opened the door, she saw that most of the space inside was neatly stacked with firewood. A surge of anger rose within her.
Just then, her grandmother returned. Sang Ran said sharply, "Grandma, Grandpa just had surgery. The doctor said he needs to rest for three months. Why are you in such a hurry to make him go out and gather firewood? Isn't all this wood enough for you to burn?"
Her grandmother had been in a good mood, a smile still on her face, but as soon as she returned, she was met with this barrage of questions. Her expression darkened. "How could this little bit of firewood be enough? Besides, it's just gathering firewood, it's not like I made him do heavy labor. If he can't even handle this little bit of work, is he really just going to sit around and eat for free?"
"Then when you get sick in the future, I'll force you to gather firewood too, and scold you every day for not being productive. Would you like that?" Sang Ran said coldly.
Her grandmother's face turned livid. She picked up a nearby broom and was about to strike. "You wretched girl, who taught you to talk like that?"
Seeing her swing the broom, Sang Ran nimbly dodged, then took advantage of the moment to get closer and grab hold of the broom.
Her grandmother tried to struggle, but found that her granddaughter's strength was so great she couldn't break free. She immediately shouted, "Eldest! Sang Ran, this wretched girl, is hitting her grandmother!"
"Sweetie, stop making trouble!" Grandfather Sang was startled and hurriedly stood up to intervene.
But he was slow, and having just exerted himself earlier, his legs ached even more after sitting for a while. His steps were as slow as a turtle's.
Sang Ran's eldest uncle came out of his room and saw his niece and mother grappling with each other. He grew furious and roared, "Sang Ran, have you lost your mind?!"
Before he could finish speaking, Sang Ran had already yanked the broom away. Her grandmother, now disarmed, staggered back two steps, staring at her in shock and anger. She yelled, "Oh my, I've never seen such a bold girl! Just wait until your father, "
Crack!
Sang Ran, who was usually obedient and well-behaved, was now holding a wooden stick as thick as two arms. With a flick of her fair fingers, she snapped the stick in two!
It effectively silenced her grandmother, who couldn't utter another sound.
The furious expression on her eldest uncle's face froze.
Grandfather Sang's struggling footsteps came to a halt.
They all stared, dumbfounded, as Sang Ran broke the stick in her hands with her bare hands!
The jagged break looked like the teeth of a shark, fierce and terrifying.
How could she break it so easily?!
Sang Ran snorted coldly, tossed aside one half, and gripped the remaining piece. With another forceful twist, crack!, the half-meter-long stick broke once more.
"Hiss, " Uncle Sang gasped sharply, his heart already filled with fear as he supported Granny Sang and took two steps back.
Granny Sang patted her chest, her heart still racing, her wrinkled lips trembling slightly.
Seeing that she had frightened them, Sang Ran tossed aside the stick in her hand, clapped her hands together, and first helped Grandpa Sang sit down before turning to the two stunned individuals and saying:
"Grandma, Uncle, Grandpa has taken care of you all his life. Now that he’s having health issues, I think it’s perfectly fine for him to just eat without working. If you have any conscience at all, take care of him for now. Don’t worry, in a little while, I’ll take Grandpa away. It won’t cost you much food."
Uncle Sang trembled and quickly replied, "Okay, okay, okay!"
Sang Ran smiled contentedly, her expression gentle and as harmless and obedient as before.
After this incident, Sang Ran successfully ensured that Grandpa Sang could live in peace.
Although Grandpa Sang was puzzled about how his granddaughter had suddenly become so strong, after her brief outburst of anger, she quickly returned to her usual self, obedient, gentle, and well-behaved, with no trace of the person who had snapped that wooden stick.
So, Grandpa Sang let it go.
Granny Sang and Uncle Sang felt the same way. Were they superstitious? Although it wasn’t that special era anymore, they didn’t think to that extent. They simply believed Sang Ran had been so angry that she had a momentary outburst.
They had been frightened at the time, but afterward, they pretty much went back to their usual ways, especially since Sang Ran had returned to her normal self, no different from before. They didn’t dwell on anything too unbelievable.
Still, some things lingered in their hearts.
Grandma Sang no longer dared to scold Grandpa Sang easily, and Uncle Sang occasionally looked at Sang Ran with a strange expression. Whenever that happened, Sang Ran would innocently meet his gaze, a smile on her face, as if that incident had never occurred.
Two days later, Uncle Sang even wondered if what had happened that day was just a dream.
The rest of the Sang family were busy with their own affairs. After all, a wedding was a big event, and since they had accepted such a generous bride price, they had to make sure everything went smoothly.
As the wedding day approached, Zhu Chang’an came by twice more, mysteriously promising her a surprise.
Sang Ran was quite looking forward to it.
But the day before the wedding, while Sang Ran was in the yard chatting with her grandfather, someone came to call her: "Sang Ran, your man is fighting with someone by the Dai River! It’s getting really intense!"
Sang Ran’s expression turned serious, and without another word, she stood up and ran off.