Chapter 104: Arms Turn to Colorful Wings, Carrying Me to the Clouds (9K Words, Requesting Votes)

Jiang Xiao Yan carried a bundle of green grass, crouching low as she emerged from the cornfield.

On the scorching July day, she had buttoned her shirt completely, revealing not an inch of skin.

Jiang Xiao Yan’s skin was unusual—if lightly brushed by corn leaves, it left red marks that, once stained with sweat, would ache for days.

At the field’s edge, she dropped the grass, rolled up her pant legs and sleeves, and unbuttoned one button at her chest.

“Phew~”

After several deep breaths, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and squatted down to tie up the grass.

A large pile of grass had already gathered at the field’s edge—all pulled from the cornfield—to be carried home as animal feed.

The family kept a few sheep and one pig—her mother Chen Jinhua’s “private savings”—meant to grow large enough to sell and pay off debts.

And those debts were mostly incurred for Jiang Xiao Yan’s sake.

So after finishing the college entrance exam and returning home, Jiang Xiao Yan took over her mother’s chores: lighting the stove, cooking, cutting grass, tilling the fields—nothing was left undone.

And her mother Chen Jinhua wasn’t idle either—every day she wove baskets and crates from thorn branches, taking them to market on fair days to sell for spare cash, which she secretly saved.

“I’m saving up for my daughter’s journey! It’s over a thousand li from Qingshui County to Jingcheng—can’t let my daughter suffer from poverty on the road.”

This simple woman had never left the area within a few dozen li in her life, yet she understood everything—unlike the two men in the house, who always said, “When the boat reaches the bridge, it’ll find its way.”

But when they actually reached the bridge, they did nothing.

Jiang Xiao Yan bent low, carrying a grass bundle twice her size, and hurried back to the village in small, quick steps.

As she passed the village entrance, she greeted the aunts and grandmothers sitting in the shade, sewing shoes.

“Aunt Liu, I pulled the weeds from your field—my ewe’s pregnant, so she’s been eating a lot lately.”

“Oh, Xiao Yan, you’re doing us a favor! Come eat dinner at our place tonight! Don’t you dare refuse.”

“Third Grandma, I saw your little Fu sneak into Old Hu’s lotus pond again—you’ve got to discipline him. He steals lotus leaves and gets chased for miles—it’s not worth it.”

“Let him go! I can’t control him anymore. A good beating will teach that little rascal a lesson.”

“Jiang family’s really blessed—your mother’s such a capable daughter-in-law, and you’re such a capable granddaughter.”

The village women all laughed and chatted with Jiang Xiao Yan, while silently sneering at the laziness of the three Jiang men.

Jiang Xiao Yan smiled shyly without replying, returned home, dumped the dozens of pounds of grass into the firewood shed, then walked into her younger brother’s room.

There she saw Jiang Xiao Ning hugging a comic book, grinning with wide, gleaming eyes.

She glanced at the test paper she’d left on the table—only three or four fill-in-the-blank questions answered, the rest blank white space—such a waste of good paper.

Jiang Xiao Ning saw his sister enter, rolled his eyes, then went back to his comic with a grin.

He’d just swapped it with a classmate—he wouldn’t dare read it fewer than three or five times.

Jiang Xiao Yan gave up trying to scold him. Ever since childhood, he couldn’t take criticism—say three words and he’d jump three feet high, summoning Grandma and Grandpa.

She turned to leave and bumped into her grandfather returning with a fish spear. He snapped: “What time is it? You’re not preparing dinner? Why are you still out? I speared two fish—we’ll have fish soup tonight.”

“I’ll go meet Mama. I’ll be back to cook—won’t be late.”

Jiang Xiao Yan dodged her grandfather’s questions and slipped out the door.

Mama had gone to Shuangliu Town, twenty li away, to sell goods—she should be returning soon.

Watching her granddaughter hurry off with her head down, Jiang the Elder grunted, his brow furrowed, stern without raising his voice.

Jiang Xiao Yan reached the village entrance just as Chen Jinhua appeared in the distance, returning from market.

The day’s sales must have been poor—Chen Jinhua’s shoulder pole still carried several un sold thorn baskets.

Jiang Xiao Yan hurried forward, took the pole from her mother’s shoulders, and balanced it on her own.

Passing the village entrance, the women laughed and asked: “What’s wrong, Jinhua? Didn’t sell all your baskets today?”

Chen Jinhua scowled: “Don’t mention it, Third Aunt. Today I ran into a fool from Taoyuan Township competing with me—big baskets for 1.5 yuan, small ones for 9 jiao—barely covered the cost of the thorns. I won’t sell at a loss just to make noise. Let him sell them himself—he’ll go broke.”

“Oh, I told you this business won’t work. How easy is it for women to earn money? You should stay home and manage things—let your husband go out and make his fortune!”

“I’d love to! But where’s the fortune? I’ve always been a woman of hard work and worry. Ugh—I need to rest first, then go home and tend to those wooden blocks.”

Chen Jinhua cursed her husband as she led Jiang Xiao Yan ten meters away, found a shady spot, and sat down.

Watching her mother rub her aching legs, Jiang Xiao Yan said with concern: “Mama, let me cut thorns tomorrow! More people are weaving baskets now—the cost’s too high, we’ll lose money.”

Watching her mother relentlessly massage her legs, Jiang Xiaoyan said with concern, “Mom, let me go cut brambles tomorrow! More and more people are weaving baskets—this investment is too high, we’ll lose money.”

Chen Jinhua gave her daughter a sharp look and whispered: “How can you believe everything you hear? If everyone knew weaving baskets was profitable, would there be any profit left for us?

I’ve already cut all the thorns around our village. If you go to another village, will they let you? Don’t go stirring up trouble.”

As she lectured Jiang Xiao Yan, Chen Jinhua pulled a small packet of sesame candy from her basket.

“Here—your mother earned this for you. Eat up!”

“I won’t eat it, Mama. Xiao Ning hasn’t had any yet!”

“If he sees it first, will there be any left for you? We’ll eat first—I’ll save his share.”

The mother and daughter pushed the candy back and forth, splitting it again and again, savoring its faint sweetness to dull the lingering fatigue in their bodies.

After a long silence, Chen Jinhua asked: “Xiao Yan, your exam results should be out soon. Should I go to school with you tomorrow?”

Jiang Xiao Yan lowered her head: “No need, Mama. Last time I went, Li Dayong told me he’d come tell me as soon as the results are out—he has a bicycle.”

Jiang Xiao Yan was anxious too—she’d gone to the county town a few days ago, but the results hadn’t been posted yet, and Li Dayong had told her to wait patiently at home.

“We can’t rely on others,” Chen Jinhua said grimly. “When I married your father, I thought he’d be a great hero.”

Jiang Xiao Yan’s heart sank. She whispered: “Dad’s just honest, but he’s good-hearted. Don’t worry, Mama—I’ll pass this year. I definitely will.”

Jiang Xiaoyan’s spirits sank, and she whispered, “Dad’s just too honest, but his heart’s good, Mom, don’t worry—I’ll pass this year, I definitely will pass this year.”

The mother and daughter sat in the shade, falling silent.

Originally, Jiang Xiao Yan had confidently told the family after the exam that she’d definitely pass—her estimated score was very high.

But soon after, Jiang the Elder ran into Jiang Xiao Yan’s former middle school teacher.

The teacher scoffed: “Your daughter applied to Beijing Aviation University? How high her ambitions!

Do you even know what Beijing Aviation University is? It’s the top among national key universities—even the city’s top students dare not apply!”

When a professional speaks, his words are golden—no matter how Jiang Xiao Yan insisted, the Jiang family no longer believed her.

Even Chen Jinhua, who had been overjoyed for days, now felt hollow inside. Though she still acted outwardly bold and carefree, Jiang Xiao Yan had heard her sighing several times at night.

Gradually, Jiang Xiao Yan herself began to doubt and worry.

“Xiao Yan, don’t lose heart. Even if you don’t pass this year, we’ll try again next year. I’m earning money now—I’ll see you through.”

“Yan’er, don’t lose heart. Even if you don’t pass this year, we’ll try again next year. I’m earning money now—I’ll see you through.”

Jiang Xiao Yan didn’t know how to explain to her mother—even if she’d overreached by applying to Beijing Aviation, her second and third choices should still admit her.

Jiang Xiaoyan didn’t know how to explain to her mother—even if she’d overestimated her score for the Capital Aviation Academy, surely her second or third choice would still accept her?

“Hey, Sister Jiang, I’ve got something to tell you.”

As Jiang Xiao Yan frowned in worry, a village woman approached from the entrance.

“Sister Jinhua, sit down, sit down. What’s up?”

Chen Jinhua invited the woman to sit, forcing herself to perk up.

Sister Hua whispered mysteriously: “Yesterday I saw Old Cui from the township flour mill talking to your father-in-law again.”

Chen Jinhua’s face darkened: “Hmph. Still not giving up? Let him try—he won’t get anywhere. My Xiao Yan’s going to school. No rush for matchmaking.”

Sister Hua smirked: “I know you two have ambition, but your father-in-law might not. I heard… Old Cui’s willing to offer this much.”

Chen Jinhua saw Sister Hua hold up one finger—and her temper flared.

“Old Cui’s family really knows how to calculate! Our Xiao Yan’s a high school graduate—smart as she is—any factory would fight to hire her!

They want to marry her for a hundred yuan just to get a wage-earning daughter-in-law? How dare they think so highly of themselves!”

Sister Hua chuckled: “No one in our village calculates better than you, Chen Jinhua—but no matter how sharp you are, can you out-calculate your own husband?”

Sister Hua pointed toward the dirt road east of the village, where a sturdy man was walking over.

Jiang Xiao Yan sat up straight and wiped the sesame candy crumbs from her lips.

The man was her father, Jiang Yougui.

Chen Jinhua glared at him: “Where have you been loitering?”

Jiang Yougui blinked, hurriedly explaining: “Dongzi’s building a house—I helped out for half a day. You knew about that, right?”

Chen Jinhua’s nostrils flared: “You helped him build a house, so why are you back now? Didn’t he feed you?”

Jiang Yougui grinned sheepishly: “We’re good friends. Dongzi’s family isn’t well-off—I didn’t want to eat at his place.”

“You didn’t want to eat, so why did Dongzi ask you to help? If I hadn’t cooked today, would you have starved?”

Chen Jinhua looked at her husband’s foolish expression and grew angrier—always preaching “losing is gaining,” yet everyone just treated him like a fool.

Jiang Yougui had been married to Chen Jinhua for twenty years—he knew exactly how fierce her outbursts could be.

So he rushed to say: “I’ll cook today. I’ll cook. You rest.”

“You cook? If I relied on you, your wife and daughter would starve.”

Chen Jinhua snatched up her shoulder pole and stormed home—it was time to cook.

Jiang Xiao Yan quickly stood to follow, but her father Jiang Yougui called: “Xiao Yan, wait—I need to talk to you.”

Jiang Yougui sat down where Chen Jinhua had been, and sighed: “Your brother doesn’t want to go to school anymore. The township flour mill needs an electrician—it’s easy, not tiring—a good job.”

Jiang Xiao Yan stayed silent, but her heart sank deeper and deeper.

Jiang Xiao Ning was only a middle school student—he couldn’t just become a township flour mill electrician without a price.

Jiang Yougui felt a pang of guilt, but still forced himself to say: “You’ve studied for over ten years—I shouldn’t stand in your way.

But now… you should help the family. A twenty-year-old girl still living at home? People will laugh.”

But now you should start contributing to the family. A twenty-year-old girl still being supported at home? People will laugh.

「.」

“Dad, I’ll pass—I’ll hear the results in just a few more days. From now on, I’ll send money home every month.”

Jiang Xiao Yan sucked in a breath, holding back the rising bitterness, and explained to her father.

She knew her father wasn’t cruel—just easily swayed, simple-hearted, and genuinely fond of her.

But whenever it came to her younger brother, this father who had once carried her around the yard as a child could only reluctantly surrender to fate.

“I believe you did well this year,”

Jiang Yougui stared at the ants on the ground, muttering to himself: “But I asked the principal of the township high school—his top student this year scored only three hundred and forty or so.”

“But you applied for a full bachelor’s program—minimum four hundred points. That aviation academy alone requires four hundred and forty-five. Last year you scored only two hundred and ninety-nine.”

Jiang Yougui rubbed his face hard. “The township flour mill’s hiring deadline is the day after tomorrow. Your brother’s only chance in life might be this one.”

“.”

Jiang Xiao Yan’s mind went blank. Her body felt drained of all strength. She sat on the ground, motionless.

Was all ten years of her hard study worth less than one opportunity for her brother?

I’m far better than him—why can’t my family just look up to me?

“I’ll beat you to death, good-for-nothing! You’re eighteen and still reading comic books! Why don’t you wear diapers too?”

The furious scolding of her mother, Chen Jinhua, jolted the limp Jiang Xiao Yan back to awareness.

There, fierce Chen Jinhua swung a yoke, chasing Jiang Xiaoning around the village.

“You can’t even finish one exam paper in a whole day—I might as well beat you to death, save the Jiang family the shame.”

Jiang Xiaoning fled in panic, still shouting back: “I can’t do it! Sister won’t explain it to me! How can you blame me? If you’re going to beat someone, beat Sister!”

“You can’t do it and you blame your sister? Then do lazy bums blame the God of Wealth for not making them rich? Does the Jiang family really expect you to carry the household? Are you not ashamed?”

“Don’t hit! Don’t hit! Don’t hurt his head!”

Seeing his wife truly going for the kill, Jiang Yougui panicked and chased after them, shouting to stop the fight.

The three of them chased each other through the village, drawing loud laughter from onlookers.

Jiang Xiao Yan laughed too—laughed until tears streamed down her face.

She frantically wiped them away, but the more she wiped, the more tears came—she couldn’t stop them.

Since childhood, her brother had been beaten and cursed by their mother. Every time Chen Jinhua swore she’d “beat him to death,” she was always stopped by her father, grandfather, and grandmother.

Surely her clever mother knew—her son hadn’t feared beating for ten years already?

No, her mother knew.

But she refused to give up. She refused to admit her son was useless. She still clung to the belief that “a stick produces a filial son,” hoping Jiang Xiaoning would rise up and carry the Jiang household.

Otherwise, Chen Jinhua would have long since ignored him completely.

Her mother’s hopes for Jiang Xiaoning were no less than those she held for Jiang Xiao Yan—she was just helpless, furious at his failure to rise.

【Must a family have a man to carry its name?】

Jiang Xiao Yan wiped her eyes hard, sucked in a breath, and adjusted her emotions using Professor Li Ye’s method.

She had to grow strong—to face tonight’s trial.

Since her father had laid it all out, tonight her grandfather would take full control and make the final decision.

This time, Jiang Xiao Yan would not yield.

Tears stopped flowing. Snot was held back. Jiang Xiao Yan grew strong.

After wiping her eyes clean, in her sharpened vision, two bicycles sped toward her from afar.

On the front bike rode a boy as bulky as a bear; on the second, two girls pedaled hard but fell far behind.

The bear-like boy waved his arms, his voice carried faintly by the wind.

“Jiang Yan—the results! You scored four hundred and nine!”

Jiang Xiao Yan, who had been powerless moments before, suddenly unleashed the power of her dantian and sprinted like a galloping horse.

She ran into the wind, into the sun, toward Li Dayong—desperate to hear the news, even if only a second sooner.

Ten years. She had waited ten years. She could wait no longer.

“Jiang Xiao Yan, your college entrance exam results are out—you scored four hundred and seventy-nine.”

The clear voice finally reached her ears, sweet as honey to her heart.

Yet she kept running full speed—letting the hot wind sweep over her arms, as if giving her two colorful wings, lifting her higher and higher, soaring above the clouds.

【Girl, make your mother proud. Only by getting into university can you control your own life, never again suffer under a man’s tyranny, live the life you want.】

Mom, I did it!

Wait for me—I’ll make you live the life you dreamed of.

Today I’ve written nine thousand characters. I wanted to split it into three chapters and call it a massive update, but it wouldn’t divide well—I’ll just admit honestly: “It’s not short.”

Since it’s not short, folks, give me a vote! Old Feng begs, on his knees, for votes!

Thank you to reader “Jinghou Xin” for the 500-coin reward, and to reader “Yijian Xilai” for the donation; thank you both!!!

(End of Chapter)