An extraordinary life journey through old Beijing courtyard houses

"You bastard!" Jiang Mantang roared, grabbing his pipe and throwing it away.

Unfortunately, Jiang Baobin had already slammed the door and left!

Then, to his surprise, he found that almost everyone in the hospital had come out.

Right now, everyone outside is listening intently through the window.

Upon seeing him, everyone's expression was somewhat complicated—daring to propose severing ties with me, he's definitely a tough guy these days!

Jiang Daya also arrived, thinking she had been sentenced to death, and was crying bitterly.

Standing next to her were the wives of Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui, who also didn't know how to persuade her.

Without saying a word, Jiang Baobin grabbed Jiang Daya and left.

West courtyard, side room.

The lamp was already out, and Jiang Daya's big eyes, which were sleeping at the end of the kang (a heated brick bed), shone brightly in the moonlight.

As usual, the melodious sound of a pipa drifted in from outside the window.

After a long while, Jiang Daya spoke up: "Third brother, please stop arguing with Dad and Mom. They're afraid of being bullied."

Then, resolutely, she said, "I'll marry him! But on our wedding night, I'll kill myself in front of him, so he'll never know what to do with himself again!"

Jiang Baobin was already furious, and now he was shocked—

What kind of brain circuit is this? Trading one's own life for someone else's anxiety?

The problem is, whether you'll feel uneasy if you encounter someone with a heart of stone is uncertain.

From the perspective of future generations, most people in this era were either fools or had mental problems.

The modern mindset is: if you won't let me have a good life, I won't let you have a good life either; let's all perish together!

How could anyone sacrifice themselves in such a resentful way as Jiang Daya?

Jiang Baobin was also puzzled—this usually shrewd kid actually said something so foolish.

According to his analysis, there's a 50% chance that Jiang Daya was just saying those harsh words in a fit of anger.

After being brainwashed by Aunt Jiang and her sister-in-law, she resigned herself to her fate and obediently became the fifth concubine.

Then, for the sake of the Chiang family, they were squeezed dry of their last bit of value.

The other half might actually take their own life at the wedding; this child has a fierce side.

Whether she lives or dies is entirely up to her.

"Third brother, don't forget me from now on. Burn some paper money for me every New Year and Qingming Festival..."

Jiang Daya choked up as she spoke.

Jiang Baobin couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Jiang Daya finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.

Jiang Baobin raised his hand and lightly slapped himself in the face.

You're such a terrible person! How can you still laugh at a time like this? Look how upset you've made the child!

But he just found it ridiculous.

These days, there are too many injustices.

Just like what happened to Liu Ling'er's mother, how arrogant were these villains? They dared to snatch people right in the street!

And then there was the incident with my younger sister; they just used their power to bully others.

Ordinary people dare not comply? Just wait to be severely punished!

From ancient times to the present, when has it not been like this?

People are as worthless as grass!

Just as Jiang Daya was venting her grievances.

The Jiang couple in the east courtyard also couldn't sleep.

Jiang Mantang instructed, "My dear wife, you should try to persuade Daya tomorrow."

Jiang's mother couldn't bear it and said, "Honey, is there really no way at all?"

To be honest, Aunt Jiang was really reluctant to part with her. Although she usually ordered her eldest daughter around to do this or that.

But the child has been diligent since she was little, and now she does everything at home and outside.

After a long pause, Jiang Mantang finally said quietly, "Didn't the second brother say that?"

"Things have come to this point, and Director Zhao will not let this go easily."

"In the end, either he quits his job, or our family will have to come up with a large sum of money, sigh..."

Jiang Mantang didn't say what came next, but his mother already understood.

Of the two conditions mentioned above, only Jiang Daya is someone who can be sacrificed.

Seeing her husband sighing and lamenting, Jiang's mother tried to comfort him, saying, "Her father..."

"I'll talk to Daya properly tomorrow. Don't get upset, you still have to get up early to set up your stall."

"That bureau chief, he's a high-ranking official, so his qualifications can't be bad."

"When Da Ya was young, at least she would have been dressed in gold and silver and never had to worry about food or clothing."

Jiang Mantang didn't have high hopes, though; he already knew what kind of people treated their concubines.

They're all novel for a few years, then forgotten and ignored.

Actually, he was right.

How many people like this will there be when the KMT is defeated and forced to retreat?

By then, Jiang Daya will also be one of them.

They were the ones being exploited and manipulated, and they deserve sympathy.

However, due to their deep ties with former employees, coupled with some of their own issues, they are not well-liked by new employees.

They were even blamed, misunderstood, and suspected of being spies lurking in the shadows.

This is a very tragic thing.

The elderly couple from the Jiang family talked for a long time, discussing how to handle the aftermath.

Quite coincidentally, neither of them mentioned Jiang Baobin.

As for his threats to sever ties with his father, they dismissed it as mere rhetoric.

West Courtyard.

Jiang Daya finally finished crying.

Jiang Baobin then said, "Silly girl, what nonsense are you thinking? How could I not care about you?"

"Don't worry, Third Brother has a brilliant plan to keep you safe."

"What brilliant plan?" Jiang Daya asked in a hoarse voice.

"Never mind that, go to sleep early, just come with me tomorrow."

"Where are you going?"

"Didn't I tell you to mind your own business, don't talk, and go to sleep?"

But how can one fall asleep whenever they want?

When Jiang Daya first heard the news, she felt like the sky had fallen.

My father and second brother actually want to give me away to an old man as a concubine.

Jiang Daya's first thought at that moment was "death"!

I ran to Shichahai Lake, plunged in, and that ended it all.

But she still had lingering feelings, especially wanting to hear what her increasingly respected third brother had to say—

Looking back now, it seems that Third Brother has indeed not disappointed me.

Jiang Baobin was also lost in thought.

He had calmed down considerably and began to analyze why people at this time would do something that seemed utterly absurd to him.

In later generations, there were also many cases of older men marrying younger women, with the latter willingly becoming mistresses. But that was because the women themselves were willing, and no one could stop them.

How can there be a family like the Jiangs, where the daughter is unwilling, yet the parents try to persuade her?

Everything that exists has its reason; there must be aspects here that I don't understand.

Jiang Baobin was certainly not trying to excuse his parents; he had absolutely no interest in doing so.

He simply wanted to view this era more objectively, because he wasn't a historian and didn't really know much about it.

All he had to do was remind himself not to cling to the perspectives of the future and impose them on people today.

That would only make you an outcast.

Even if it is true, it doesn't matter, but you must not let outsiders find out.

History has proven countless times that those who are different never have a good outcome.

Even if he represents the truth, as long as he goes against the majority, he will definitely be unlucky, extremely unlucky!

This is the curse that all time travelers must face, which is why he was so cautious when he first arrived.

As for the other main characters, they could handle them with ease, their bodies trembling as they exuded an aura of dominance.

He can only say, "You're awesome, I admire you," but he genuinely can't do it.

If you have to be careful and humble when you move to a new workplace, how much more so in a completely new world?