Jingxia Rose

Chapter 21: The Past
Before dawn, Ji Xuan took a taxi directly to the airport.

Upon arriving in the provincial capital, she had lunch and then boarded the high-speed train back to Luanying City.

Luanying City is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the Yangtze River on the other, boasting beautiful scenery. In recent years, thanks to the development of tourism, its economy and urban planning have achieved a qualitative leap.

Ji Xian's last return was probably the summer after he graduated from university.

It's been five or six years now.

The changes in Jialing Town are quite significant. Ji Xuan got out of the taxi and walked several hundred meters with his suitcase, barely recognizing his second uncle's house anymore.

If she hadn't remembered the approximate location and the iconic old locust tree in the courtyard, she would have walked past it.

The three-story villa is surrounded by a stone wall.

Just as she was in a daze, the wooden gate opened, and a young man walked out, holding car keys in his hand.

Upon seeing her, he was stunned for a moment before reacting and exclaiming, "Sister? You're back!"

As he spoke, he excitedly rushed up and hugged her, then quickly let go. "I was just talking to my mom about how I didn't know when you would arrive. Why didn't you call me? I could have picked you up at the station."

"It's not far, taking a taxi will save us the trouble." Ji Xuan asked, "Which hospital is Second Uncle in?"

"The city's central hospital. My mom came back at noon to make soup, and I was just about to bring it over." Lin Heng reached out and took her suitcase. "Sis, come in quickly, it's very sunny outside. Mom, I'm back."

As I walked to the middle of the courtyard, a slightly plump middle-aged woman, dressed in simple and casual clothes, came out of the main house.

His round face didn't show any kindness; instead, it appeared harsh against the backdrop of his sharp eyes.

It wasn't much different from what I remembered, except that from a distance, its hair had turned a bit whiter.

Ji Xuan called out, "Second Aunt."

"Oh, who was I looking at? You're dressed so well, I almost didn't recognize you."

The woman sneered, her face not only harsh but also her words extremely sarcastic, "So you know how to come back? I thought you were like your mother, living a good life in the city and looking down on our little place."

Ji Xian's heart was suddenly stabbed hard, and a ripple appeared in his usually calm eyes.

Upon hearing this, Ji Heng's expression immediately changed. "Mom, what are you doing! My sister has come all this way back, it's not easy for her, why are you bringing this up!"

"Did I say something wrong? In all these years, has she ever come back to visit even once? Your father and I have raised her for so many years, and we thought we had raised another ungrateful child!"

Ji Heng argued back, "Mom, can you please not say such hurtful things? What do you mean by 'ungrateful wretch'? So, didn't my sister pay for this house? Although she hasn't come back these past few years, she's always sent things and money back for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions for you and Dad!"

Besides, the last time she came back, you were the one who told her to get lost and never come back.

He didn't dare say those words; they circled around his lips before he swallowed them back down.

Upon hearing this, the woman flew into a rage, grabbed a broom leaning against the wall, and prepared to beat him. "The way you're talking makes it sound like I'm the one who stole a few stinking coins from her. When she was little, she ate my food, used my things, wore my clothes, and lived in my house. Did Jiao Yan ever give her a single penny?"

The implication was that Ji Xian should now show them filial piety.

Of course, Ji Xian wouldn't refute this point, after all, the debt of gratitude for raising one is greater than heaven.

Jiao Yan is her biological mother. After her father passed away when she was six years old, Jiao Yan used her father's compensation money to remarry a wealthy man in the city.

She lived with her grandparents for two years. After her grandfather passed away, her grandmother was taken to her second uncle's house, and she began living as a dependent.

As for her birth mother, she never came back.

Even when she went to the city to ask Jiao Yan for tuition money when she was 16, Jiao Yan only gave her 800 yuan and told her not to come looking for her again.

Ji Xian knew her second aunt's personality well; she disliked Jiao Yan, and consequently, she couldn't like her daughter either.

During those years living here, I was often scolded and even beaten by her.

Although she wasn't a stubborn person, she didn't kick her out after her grandmother passed away.

This isn't her home, but it has sheltered her from the wind and rain for over a decade. When she graduated from university, her second uncle and aunt wanted her to take the civil service exam in town, but she wanted to stay in Beijing and build a home and future for herself.

"Second Aunt." Ji Xuan stepped forward and took the broom from her hand, saying softly, "If you're angry, take it out on me, don't hit Aheng."

The second aunt snorted coldly, glared at her angrily, and then, as if she had vented her anger, turned around and went into the house.

Ji Heng touched his arm where he had been hit and walked to Ji Xuan's side. "Sister, let's go inside. Don't take my mother's words to heart. She just has a sharp tongue and can't stand not to scold me every day. I don't know how many times I've been scolded at home."

Ji Xian chuckled, "I'm fine."

"Sis, have you eaten?"

"I've already eaten, I'm not hungry," Ji Xian said. "Aren't you and your second aunt going to the hospital to see your second uncle? I'll go with you."

Her second aunt came out of the kitchen carrying a thermos, not even glancing at her, and shouted, "Ji Heng, I told you to drive the car out, are you deaf?"

Ji Heng put Ji Xuan's luggage down, shrugged, and said, "I'll go."

More than half an hour later, the car arrived at the city's central hospital.

Uncle Ji Er wasn't surprised to see Ji Xuan. He simply nodded and said calmly, "You're back."

In my memory, he was not a talkative person; he was usually quiet and serious.

Ji Xian was quite afraid of him when he was a child.

He looks much older now, and the wrinkles on his face are much deeper.

Ji Xian wasn't one to reminisce or ask how she was doing or if her work was going well; he simply didn't like to bring up those things.

All things considered, they weren't exactly close.

So, after exchanging a few words, Ji Xuan went to find the doctor to ask about his condition.

The surgery is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow. It's a minor to medium-sized surgery with relatively low risk. The most important thing is postoperative recovery and rest.

Uncle Ji didn't want to have surgery. He had worked hard for most of his life and couldn't stand being idle. Suddenly being asked to lie at home for several months was unbearable.

But this time, we really had no choice but to do it.

After leaving the doctor, Ji Xian went to the payment counter and prepaid for tomorrow's surgery.

Not long after they returned to the ward, Aunt Ji said impatiently, "You're just standing here anyway, so go back if you have nothing else to do, and come back tomorrow morning."

Ji Xuan didn't say anything, turned around and left the ward, then asked Ji Heng, "When does Niannian get her vacation?"

Ji Heng replied, "She just came back last week, and she won't be back until next week."

Ji Nian is the daughter of Ji Ershu, and she just started high school this year.

She had excellent academic performance and was admitted to a key high school in the city last year. She even gave them a big red envelope.

When I was little, I would follow her around and call her "sister."

Next week.

It seems there won't be a chance to meet this time.

Ji Heng twirled his keychain casually, "That girl would be ecstatic to see you. Sis, how long are you staying this time?"

"I have to leave this weekend."

"Oh, so soon." Ji Heng said disappointedly, "You finally came back for a visit, couldn't you have stayed a few more days?"

Ji Xian didn't say anything, but suddenly remembered that she hadn't had time to tell Wen Qi about coming back today. She would call him later and ask for a couple more days off.

(End of this chapter)