After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Jasmine

Mingzhu likes you too.

Sunday at noon. A white Ferrari pulled out from Rongguang Tianjing, performing a sleek, stylish right-hand drift as it navigated through the spring sunlight and verdant trees.

Strong-beat road music pulsed through the car. Mingzhu, her slender finger adorned with her wedding ring, tapped along on the steering wheel. Her body swayed to the rhythm, and her red lips moved as she sang along joyfully.

In the passenger seat, Rong Zhao wore black sunglasses. She looked out at the passing scenery, a smile lingering in her eyes, her ears filled with Mingzhu’s pleasant voice and laughter.

They arrived at the Jiahe Farm in the western suburbs. After parking outside and gathering their gifts, Mingzhu smilingly took Rong Zhao’s arm. They walked to the gate, where Rong Zhao used facial recognition to grant them entry.

Rong Zhao explained, “In the winter, Grandpa and Grandma let cars drive in. During the other three seasons, they make everyone walk.”

Mingzhu laughed. “They must think you’re all too lazy.”

Entering the farm felt like stepping into a massive park. After rounding a bend, they saw a couple in baseball caps sitting on a bench, leaning against each other and soaking in the sun.

“That’s Second Uncle and Second Aunt,” Rong Zhao told Mingzhu.

Mingzhu recalled Rong Zhao saying this branch of the family didn’t participate in the inheritance battles. She quickened her pace and leaned over the bench, seeing that both had their eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

“Second Uncle, Second Aunt,” Rong Zhao called out. “Mingzhu and I are here.”

The couple opened their eyes, looking momentarily dazed. After a second, they realized who was there and stood up with smiles.

Mingzhu was perfectly polite. “Hello, Second Uncle and Second Aunt. I’m Mingzhu.”

“Mingzhu is here! I’ve been chatting with you in the WeChat group so much; it’s finally great to see you in person. You’re so beautiful.” Second Aunt stepped forward to give Mingzhu a hug. Both had kind, gentle faces.

After exchanging compliments about the weather and each other’s looks, Second Aunt handed Mingzhu a meeting gift: a key. “Now that you’ve married our Little Mingyue, we’re family. Mingzhu, your uncle and I run a small B&B. Come play whenever you like. If you ever fight with Rong Zhao, come find me; I’ll sleep with you and make sure you don’t have insomnia.”

Rong Zhao let out a soft chuckle.

Mingzhu was surprised to hear Rong Zhao laugh—it was rare. Realizing Rong Zhao must truly be close to them, she accepted the key without ceremony, thanked them, and asked where little Rong Yi was, mentioning she had brought a gift.

The couple had had a child late in life; they had a five-year-old daughter.

Second Uncle waved a hand. “Feeding the chickens. Don’t worry about her.”

Mingzhu: “…?”

Rong Zhao chuckled again. It was a light, pleasant sound that made Mingzhu’s ears feel a bit tingly and itchy.

“Keep enjoying the sun,” Rong Zhao said to the couple. “Mingzhu and I are going to see Grandpa and Grandma.”

As they walked further in, Mingzhu glanced back to see the couple already settling back into their nap.

“Second Uncle and Second Aunt really know how to enjoy life. They seem to have a great relationship,” Mingzhu remarked.

Rong Zhao took Mingzhu’s hand, seemingly absent-mindedly stroking the soft skin on the back of her hand. “Mhm. They’ve let go of things. Most of the dividends they get from the group go into subsidizing their B&B. They never get stressed—the only thing that riles them up is their rowdy daughter.”

Mingzhu nodded, then laughed. When it came to “rowdy,” she understood exactly how much of a headache that could be for parents.

As she laughed, she spotted Rong Li ahead, playing frisbee with two dogs. He was in a shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Seeing them, he took a drag before lowering the cigarette, waving as he exhaled smoke.

“Mingyue and Mingzhu are here!” he called out familiarly. “Mingzhu, make yourself at home.”

The man who had pretended not to know her two days ago now acted as if they were lifelong friends. Mingzhu gave a polite wave and nod, while Rong Zhao simply pointed toward the main house, and they kept walking. Rong Li often smelled of smoke, something Rong Zhao had disliked since childhood.

Mingzhu pressed closer to Rong Zhao as they walked, their soft bodies bumping into each other. Mingzhu whispered, “Rong Li has a band-aid on his forehead. Did you see?”

Rong Zhao: “Mhm. Third Uncle likes throwing ashtrays.”

Mingzhu was shocked. “His dad hit him? That’s harsh.”

Rong Zhao: “It’s just a show for Grandpa and Grandma. His father wouldn’t actually hurt him, and no one is going to peel that bandage off to check for a real wound.”

Mingzhu: “…” So Rong Li is just spoiled by his parents.

Jiahe Farm was where the grandparents lived. The older they got, the more they returned to nature. They raised chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, pigs, horses, and sheep, and managed greenhouses for vegetables and fruits—all started from scratch by the couple.

Mingzhu’s “illness” from the Qingming festival was now “cured,” so the grandparents had used the excuse of a weekend dinner to introduce her to the rest of the family.

As they strolled, they passed wooden cabins, decorations, gym equipment, and a playground. Finally, they reached a beautifully designed B&B cottage where Grandpa, Grandma, and a middle-aged man sat outside cleaning vegetables.

“That’s Third Uncle,” Rong Zhao introduced, leading Mingzhu toward the elders.

Third Uncle looked up and immediately strode toward Mingzhu, speaking loudly: “Oh, Mingzhu! I heard about what happened the other day. I’m so sorry. It was your brother’s ignorance and that little friend of his being immature. It made you lose face in front of your friends. I’ve lectured him; he knows he was wrong. Don’t be mad at your brother.”

Mingzhu: “…I won’t. Hello, Third Uncle.”

Third Uncle had triangular eyes that gave him a somewhat shifty, cunning appearance. He chatted loudly and enthusiastically. Neither Rong Zhao nor Mingzhu interrupted him. Finally, Grandpa Rong spoke up: “What good things did Mingzhu bring us today?”

Mingzhu took the cue to present her gifts. “Hello, Grandpa and Grandma. Just some wild mountain specialties. Rong Zhao said you liked them; we asked a friend specifically for these. They’re great for stews.”

Third Uncle eagerly snatched the gifts to take them inside. Grandpa glared at him, but Third Uncle just shrugged with a sheepish grin.

Grandma Rong smiled and patted Mingzhu’s hand. “Don’t bring things next time. Just having you here makes us happy.”

Mingzhu acted affectionately. “Then we must come often to keep you smiling. It’s so beautiful here, I want to stay for a while—you wouldn’t be able to kick me out.”

Grandma: “That would be wonderful! I’d love for you to stay. There are plenty of rooms.”

Rong Zhao listened for a moment before interjecting before Mingzhu could actually commit to sleeping over: “Rong Yi should still be feeding the chickens. Want to go find her?”

Mingzhu had stayed with He Chan for five days and with Jiangjiang for five. If she stayed at Grandma’s too, it would be time for Rong Zhao’s “fake illness” phase where she needed Mingzhu’s care.

Mingzhu laughed and said “Yes,” taking her doll gift to find little Rong Yi.

Rong Yi was wearing tiny yellow boots and white gloves, carrying a blue bucket. She was chasing chickens around the coop with a small shovel full of millet.

“Baby? Are you Little Rong Yi?” Mingzhu called out from outside the fence.

Rong Yi turned and immediately beamed. “Hello, Sister Mingzhu!”

Mingzhu was delighted. “You know me?”

Rong Yi hurried out of the coop, expertly locking the gate. She threw her gloves on the ground and hugged Mingzhu’s legs. “Mama said the prettiest sister is Sister Mingzhu, and she’s the person Sister Mingyue loves most!”

“Oh, how cute!” Mingzhu knelt to pinch the girl’s chubby cheek, handing her the doll. “A gift from the ‘prettiest sister.’ Do you like it?”

Rong Yi didn’t actually care for dolls. She preferred reading. She wasn’t lazy like her parents; she wanted to be a big boss someday, which required many skills and managing many people. But she liked the pretty sister and didn’t want to disappoint her. She squinted her eyes and chirped, “I love it! Thank you, Sister Mingzhu!” Then she pecked Mingzhu’s cheek several times.

Mingzhu’s heart felt sweet and soft. Seeing eggs in the coop, she asked, “Want to go gather eggs?”

Rong Yi shook her head. “I’m scared. Mama said the chickens will peck me.”

Mingzhu: “Then I’ll go. I’ll gather them and hand them to you. You help me hold them, and we’ll take them to the kitchen. How about that?”

Rong Yi thought about it. She’d listen to the pretty sister. “Okay!” You have to work hard to be a big boss! No sleeping all day like Mama and Papa!

And so, the sisters—seventeen years apart—hit it off and got to work.

While Rong Zhao sat with Grandma, Mingzhu and Rong Yi were busy. They gathered eggs, then cut grass (Mingzhu with a sickle, Rong Yi with safety scissors and her bare hands), then went to feed the rabbits, hopping along like them. After that, they raced to feed the sheep.

Mingzhu looked radiant. She wore the ruby earrings from Rong Zhao’s mother and the red watch from Rong Zhao. Her red hair fluttered as she ran like a spirited wood elf.

Rong Yi was in a mismatched outfit her mother had thrown on her, and her hair was a mess from playing, but she was pretty enough to pull it off. Seeing Mingzhu’s bright smile while playing with the child, the coldness in Rong Zhao’s eyes melted.

Grandma Rong watched Rong Zhao’s face, seeing the affection in her gaze.

“I used to wonder if you married Mingzhu just to help her,” Grandma smiled. “Now I believe it. You truly like her.”

Rong Zhao paused her vegetable cleaning and looked at her grandmother. “What?”

Grandma teased, “You smell like roses because you think Mingzhu is like a red rose. Mingzhu smells like jasmine because she thinks you are like white jasmine. You two youngsters… so deeply in love that you want to keep each other’s scent on yourselves. How bold.”

Rong Zhao lowered her head. Her usually calm brain went blank for a few seconds.

Is that so? I’m like white jasmine, and Mingzhu wears the scent?

A moment later, she mocked herself internally. How could it be? It’s just a coincidence.

She had worn the rose scent and Mingzhu the jasmine scent for years. Aside from the first time they met, Mingzhu had spent years glaring at her. How could Mingzhu have intentionally worn a scent to match her years ago?

It was just a coincidence. Besides, Mingzhu probably didn’t think of her as jasmine—more like a block of ice. She could practically hear Mingzhu grumbling about her being cold. Only Grandma would think of her as beautiful, elegant, and gentle jasmine.

Rong Zhao composed herself and looked toward Mingzhu, who was racing the five-year-old. “Yes, of course we love each other. Why else would we marry?” She locked the bitterness deep inside her heart.

They played until Rong Yi announced she had to go find her mother to voice-record her daily diary. Mingzhu, startled by the child’s work ethic, hurried her back so as not to hinder her “progress.”

The moment they entered the living room, the atmosphere was off. Mingzhu noticed that Rong Li’s band-aid was gone—his forehead was perfectly fine.

Mingzhu handed the baby to Second Aunt and sat next to Rong Zhao, whispering in her ear, “Did you peel it off?”

Rong Zhao: “My dad did.”

Just then, Rong Zhao’s father spoke up: “Third Brother, who is this act for? Our Mingzhu was wronged. Your Jashan and Rong Li bullied both Mingzhu and Mingyue, and now Rong Li thinks he can apologize by sticking a band-aid on his head?”

Mingzhu looked over in surprise. At their last meeting, Rong Zhao’s father had been clumsy and silent. Now, he was as angry as a bull.

“No, Brother, you misunderstand,” Third Aunt explained awkwardly. “Ah Li really was punished by his father; the hits were on his body. We don’t know what happened with the band-aid.”

Ji Yue: “Oh? Then take his shirt off and let’s see?”

Third Aunt hurried to say, “Sister-in-law, Mingzhu is here. That’s not appropriate.”

As they argued, Grandma Rong finally shouted, “Enough! If Third Brother and his wife won’t educate their son, then I’ll be the villain! Africa seems nice. Let Ah Li go there to toughen up.”

Third Uncle immediately looked at Rong Zhao. “Mingyue, say something for your brother. He really didn’t know anything, and he really hadn’t met Mingzhu before, right?”

Rong Zhao’s father: “Don’t pressure your niece. The old lady already sent the photo of Rong Zhao and Mingzhu riding horses to the group chat. How could he not have seen her? Besides, Mingzhu hasn’t changed much since she was a kid; how could he not recognize her?”

Third Aunt muttered, “But… this is making a mountain out of a molehill. How can he survive in Africa? The food, the sleep… he’ll get sick. Mingyue, help your brother…”

They knew Rong Zhao was sensible and usually gave them face to keep the peace. They expected her to play the “good person” and plead for mercy.

But Rong Zhao looked at them coldly and said in a voice that brooked no argument: “Ligania in Africa isn’t bad. Brother can go develop the market there; it will benefit the group.”

Rong Li looked up in disbelief. Mingzhu was also surprised.

Rong Zhao lowered her eyes and took Mingzhu’s hand, lacing their fingers together. She could handle anything they threw at her, but hurting her Mingzhu was not a small matter. If she didn’t make a “mountain” of it now, would she wait for them to scheme against Mingzhu again?

However, she knew a cornered dog would bite. She looked at Third Uncle and said politely, “Since Brother is going to Africa and I just got married, for the next month, those who are capable should work more. I’ll have to trouble Third Uncle and Aunt with more company business.”

The room went silent. Mingzhu’s heart skipped a beat for no reason.

They stayed until 5:00 PM. Upon leaving, Grandma Rong gave Mingzhu a pair of pink jade bracelets. Imperial green jade was rare, but top-tier pink jade was equally so. Grandma had originally prepared green jade for Rong Zhao, but after meeting Mingzhu, she felt pink suited her better and had pulled many strings to find this translucent set.

Mingzhu clutched the box nervously as she sat in the passenger seat. After Rong Zhao drove away, she was still on edge.

Rong Zhao teased, “Want some music?”

Mingzhu shook her head, looking terrified. “No. I’m afraid they’ll break.”

Rong Zhao: “How brave of you.”

Mingzhu: “…These are expensive, Rong Zhao! Do you know how expensive?!”

Rong Zhao smiled. “Peace comes with every year. Even if they break, they’re protecting you. Just wear them.”

Mingzhu still didn’t dare. Rong Zhao wasn’t her real wife, and Grandma wasn’t her real grandmother. She clutched the box tighter. Rong Zhao eventually pulled over, put the box in the trunk, and Mingzhu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Rong Zhao drove slowly through a narrow road lined with swaying trees and sunlight. Mingzhu realized this wasn’t the way home.

“Where are we going?”

“The pier.”

“Why?”

“To get on a yacht.”

Half an hour later, they were at Biyue Beach. Jiangyue City was where the river met the sea. They boarded the Rong family’s private yacht. Mingzhu saw the seafood and the chef on board. “Are we having dinner here?”

Rong Zhao picked up a blanket. “We’re sleeping here, too.”

“Huh?”

The wind at sea was strong. Rong Zhao draped the blanket over Mingzhu’s shoulders and whispered, “I wanted to show my gratitude. You’ve worked hard visiting my family lately.”

Mingzhu: “?” She hadn’t felt it was hard at all. All she’d done was eat, sleep, and receive gifts.

“Not hard?”

“Hard! So hard!” Mingzhu immediately slumped against Rong Zhao’s shoulder.

As the yacht left the pier, Rong Zhao steadied herself with one hand and held Mingzhu with the other. Breathing in the jasmine scent of Mingzhu’s hair, she said slowly, “There’s a sunrise over the sea tomorrow. If you’re interested, you can have the staff accompany you to watch it.”

Mingzhu looked up. “You’re not watching?”

Rong Zhao’s white jade earrings swayed as she gently nudged Mingzhu. “Miss Bai, if I watch the sunrise with you, it might be a bit too… ambiguous.”

Mingzhu immediately hugged Rong Zhao’s waist. “It’s not ambiguous! What’s ambiguous about that? I worked so hard to meet your parents; you have to watch it with me. Rongrong, please watch it with me.”