Facing his scrutiny, Jiang Yan was unbothered. After all, her skills weren’t limited to just writing.
Jiang Yan said, “You didn’t invite me into the carriage to talk about this, did you?”
Ouyang Siyun smiled and said, “Since you sent them away, you must have something to tell me?”
Despite her young age, she was as cunning as a fox.
Jiang Yan looked at Ouyang Siyun and said, “Since you’ve guessed it, Mr. Ouyang, I won’t beat around the bush. I need a favor from you, and rest assured, you won’t help for nothing.”
“What kind of favor do you need?”
Ouyang Siyun hadn’t investigated Jiang Yan, so he didn’t know about her family’s situation.
Jiang Yan detailed her mother’s situation to Ouyang Siyun.
A mere town magistrate was nothing to Ouyang Siyun.
He looked at Jiang Yan and asked, “You won’t let me help for free; what are you going to offer in exchange?”
“Beer.”
Jiang Yan said calmly.
Without a doubt, Ouyang Siyun had never heard of it.
Curiously, he asked, “Beer? I’ve heard of white wine, grape wine, Du Kang, Nuerhong, Huadiao, but this beer you speak of is new to me. How does it differ from other wines?” “There’s a huge difference, from the brewing process to the taste and aroma. If you’re willing, when it’s ready, I’ll let you try it. This beer pairs perfectly with hot pot and barbecue.” Jiang Yan said with a crescent-eyed smile.
Speaking of hot pot.
Ouyang Siyun thought of someone who ate a lot, and he couldn’t help but look forward to the beer. His voice deepened as he said, “Girl, what I hate the most is people deceiving me. If you dare to trick me…”
“Don’t worry, if I say I can do it, then I definitely can.”
Jiang Yan was confident because she had made it before.
“Alright, I agree!”
Ouyang Siyun asked Jiang Yan a few questions, then sent someone to handle the matter.
Miao Juxiang loved money, that was true, and she was also timid. After some threats, she confessed everything.
Following the leads.
Ouyang Siyun’s men knocked out Li Guanjia of the Zheng family, took him to a secluded place, and after a brief interrogation, he too confessed.
With his testimony.
And others’ testimonies.
Ouyang Siyun brought in the magistrate from Bailing County to adjudicate the matter.
After an autopsy.
Su Jinniang’s cause of death was not as they had claimed; she was raped and then suffocated to death.
To protect Jiang Yan and her sisters’ reputation.
Ouyang Siyun only allowed the coroner to say she was suffocated, without revealing the rest.
When the news spread.
The people of Anning Town sighed in sorrow.
The Jiang sisters felt indescribably bitter. On the day of Su Jinniang’s funeral, they cried uncontrollably.
Jiang Yan, holding Jiang Sijia, also felt a bit bitter, but she wasn’t the original owner, so besides sympathy, she didn’t feel much else.
Back at home.
Jiang Sanjia, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said, “Sis, I want to marry someone with power and influence in the future!”
Jiang Yan knew what was on her mind.
She ruffled her hair and said, “You’re so young, already thinking about these things! I know you want to protect those you care about, but I just want all of you to be happy and joyful in the future.”
“Sis.”
Jiang Sanjia hugged Jiang Yan tightly.
At that moment, Jiang Erjia, holding her youngest sister, saw them embracing and approached, saying, “Sanmei, if anyone should protect, it should be me and your eldest sister protecting you and the little one.”
“I just want to protect all of you.”
Jiang Sanjia’s voice was muffled as she spoke.
Jiang Yan gently patted her back and said, “Sanmei, it’s good you have such thoughts, but there’s something I need to make clear. People with power and influence have their own struggles and sorrows, so we should focus on doing our best and strengthening ourselves. There are many powerful people in this world, but they can’t cover the sky with one hand, right?”
Chapter 15: Should We Change Our Names?
Suddenly, Jiang Yan realized they hadn’t yet registered their household.
She looked at Jiang Erjia and Jiang Sanjia, “Ermei, Sanmei, I plan to handle our household registration tomorrow. Do you want to change your names?”
“Yes!”
Jiang Sanjia didn’t hesitate at all. She continued, “I’ve wanted to change my name for a long time. We’re all granddaughters of the Jiang family, but while Jiang Xue’er and the others have such nice names, we’re just called Dajia, Erjia, Sanjia, and Sijia.”
Seeing Jiang Erjia was silent.
Jiang Yan asked her, “Ermei, what about you?”
Jiang Erjia opened her mouth and said, “Sis, I want to change, but I don’t know what name to choose.”
Hearing this.
Jiang Sanjia said boldly, “Erjie, don’t we have our eldest sister here? She’s so capable now, she’ll definitely come up with beautiful names for us.”
Jiang Yan laughed, “You really think highly of me. What if I choose something not so good?”
“It would still be better than what we have now.”
Jiang Sanjia laughed cheerfully.
Alright.
She wasn’t wrong in saying that.
Jiang Yan thought for a moment and said, “I’ve thought of a few names. See which one you like. Jiang Ran, Jiang Yun, Jiang Ling, Jiang Wan, Jiang Yuan…”
After Jiang Sanjia heard the names, she asked, “Sis, which ‘Ling’ is this? Is it the ‘Ling’ for clever?”
“Yes!”
Jiang Yan nodded in response.
Jiang Sanjia immediately said, “Sis, I like this name. I’ll take this one.”
“Okay, Ermei, do you have a favorite? If not, we’ll think some more!”
Jiang Yan looked at Jiang Erjia.
Jiang Erjia softly said, “I don’t know which name to choose.”
Was she indecisive?
Jiang Yan didn’t press her. She said, “How about this, I’ll choose one for you. You’ll be Jiang Wan, the ‘Wan’ for gentle, how does that sound?”
“Okay.”
Jiang Erjia agreed.
Jiang Sanjia then asked, “Sis, you’ve chosen names for us, what about you and our little sister?”
The little girl hadn’t forgotten about them.
Jiang Yan smiled and replied, “I’ve already decided on my name, Jiang Yan, the ‘Yan’ for a thousand words. As for our little sister, she’ll be Jiang Ran, wishing her a lifetime of peace, smoothness, and happiness!”
“That’s a good name!”
Jiang Sanjia pinched her little sister’s cheek, saying, “Little sister, you have a name now, too!”
…
True to her word.
The next day, Jiang Yan went to the village head to handle the household registration. After finishing there, they still needed to go to the government office to register.
The former town mayor had been dismissed, and the new one hadn’t arrived yet.
Jiang Yan went to find Ouyang Siyun.
Ouyang Siyun agreed to help without hesitation, but as Jiang Yan was leaving, he urged her to make the beer soon.
Jiang Yan had planned to buy the ingredients for brewing beer that day anyway.
After settling the household registration.
Jiang Yan treated the village head to a bowl of wonton soup, then went to the general store to buy barley. Since she was just starting out, she only bought five pounds of barley.
After buying.
When she arrived at the market.
Sun Shi and the others had already sold most of the Immortal Tofu.
“Sis, you’re back!”
Jiang Ling greeted her happily.
“Yes!”
Jiang Yan walked over with the barley.
Jiang Ling noticed the sack in her sister’s hand and asked, “Sis, what are you carrying?”
“Barley.”
Jiang Yan set it down on a bench.
Sun Shi, upon learning it was barley, couldn’t help but feel curious, “Dajia, why are you buying barley?”
Although Jiang Yan and her sisters had told her they changed their names, she still called them by their old names out of habit.
Jiang Yan just let it be.
