11. Rivers and mountains may change, but one's nature is hard to alter.

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“Big Sister Dani really holds a grudge against me. What happened yesterday evening left such a bad impression on me. For the sake of our sisterhood, I didn’t say a word and let it go. But what is Sister Dani so dissatisfied about? Don’t you think you’re like a snake trying to swallow an elephant, never satisfied with what you have...”

Jiang Ruo stepped forward slowly and stood beside Granny Liu, gently patting her hand with her tender, fair fingers.

This small, considerate gesture immediately calmed Granny Liu, whose face had been flushed red with anger toward Dani, and her gaze toward Dani grew even more disappointed.

She had originally thought this girl was just wayward, hoping that with some discipline over these days she might be turned around. But now, she realized she had been too soft-hearted.

A leopard cannot change its spots; this girl was selfish and self-centered.

“I... like a snake swallowing an elephant?” Dani pointed at herself, her eyes filled with amusement as she looked at Jiang Ruo. “Have I not contributed to this family...”

“What have you contributed?” Granny Liu cut her off coldly, her gaze unusually calm, as if looking at a stranger.

This made Dani panic inside, as if she was about to lose something precious.

“As the grandmother, I ask myself if I have been fair to you all. How many girls in the neighboring villages can read and write? All they do from dawn to dusk is work hard; if they don’t work, they don’t eat. What have you really contributed? If you mean washing the clothes of the second branch’s family, occasionally weeding the vegetable patch, or cutting pig fodder on the mountain — but haven’t you eaten the vegetables from the garden? Haven’t you eaten the pork when we slaughter the pig at New Year? Besides, those chores aren’t just done by you; who in this family doesn’t work? Even San Ni tries to do what she can. Why is it only you who feels wronged? Do you think you’re nobler than others? Moreover, the value of the chores you do doesn’t even cover your food expenses, let alone the cost of your schooling over all these years...”

“Look at you, then look at the other girls in the village. Who is taller than you? Who is stronger? The hardships you think you endure are nothing compared to theirs, yet you still dare to complain. Even a granny like me who can’t read knows that even crows feed their parents in return. How can you not understand such a simple truth?”

“But... Jiang Ruo doesn’t do nothing, right?” Dani’s eyes flickered with a hint of guilt, though she still believed she was right.

Since they are all granddaughters, if Granny can treat Jiang Ruo better, why can’t she treat me the same? Just because I don’t have good parents or money?

After all the talk, it still comes down to favoring the rich and despising the poor, simply because she is of no use.

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“You even dare to compare yourself to my good child? What part of you can match up to her? If you’re so capable, why don’t you compare yourself to Da Jun and the others? They’re the boys of the family and do everything; the fields depend entirely on them. If you really had backbone, compare yourself to them. I might even look up to you a bit. But do you dare?”

“Eating from the pot while eyeing the bowl, wanting to gain without working for it — if you had lived ten years ago, you’d have starved to death. You’ve just been lucky to be born into the Jiang family to have enough to eat. But there are many who can’t afford food, even in our village. Many families feel lucky if they can eat six or seven-tenths full. In families favoring sons over daughters, girls starve to death all the time. Why don’t you compare yourself to them?”

“Granny, that’s exactly right — they starve lightly!” Jiang Ruo clapped and cheered, grinning triumphantly at Dani.

Good — let her be furious. She acts so self-important just because she does a little housework, thinking the whole family owes her.

She eats from her, takes from her, and dares to be jealous of Ququ — hypocritical and shameless. In her eyes, Granny is far too soft. People like her should be taught a lesson to show her why the flowers bloom so red and who truly rules this family.

“Indeed, starving lightly. People shouldn’t eat too much.” Granny Liu looked coldly at Dani.

“After all that talk, it’s just favoritism toward Jiang Ruo.” Dani’s face changed color like a palette.

No matter what she thought inside, she had to admit what Granny said was true. She was left speechless and could only blame favoritism.

“Even ten fingers have different lengths. I ask myself if I’ve treated you all fairly. Ask yourself, what haven’t you given to the good child? You’re truly like a snake swallowing an elephant — only thinking about what others give but never wanting to give a thing yourself. There’s no such free lunch. You eat and take, then curse your mother. Who spoils you? If you dare, try to snatch away the clothes and jewelry you coaxed from the good child, then come talk to me about favoritism.”

“How much has the good child contributed to this family? She gives almost all her monthly pension to you. Even San Jun sends half of his allowance home each month. If you’re really capable, try contributing that much, and then see if I’m biased. Without our good child, you wouldn’t even have enough to eat, let alone go to school. If you keep thinking like this, you’re just dreaming nonsense.”

After this outburst, Granny Liu felt much relieved.

She wondered if something was wrong with the ancestral grave, or how else could such an ungrateful creature come from this family — a heartless, ungrateful wretch.

Meanwhile, Dani’s defenses broke down, especially when she heard about the pension. Her jealous gaze was impossible to hide as she shouted, “Granny, don’t you think what you’re saying is unreasonable? If I had Jiang Ruo’s background, wouldn’t I contribute more to this family?”

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She had thought countless times: why wasn’t she the daughter of Fourth Uncle’s family? If that were the case, wouldn’t things be different?

“So Sister Dani, you actually envy me that much?” Jiang Ruo suddenly said, turning to Second Aunt with a face full of disapproval.

“Second Aunt, this is your fault. Why didn’t you let Second Uncle join the army? If he did, he’d have chances to rise and accumulate military merits...”

Li Cuihua: “...”

She hadn’t thought much of it before, but her niece’s words made her eyes widen in disbelief as she looked at her daughter.

So... her daughter actually envied Jiang Ruo for being an orphan without parents?

Her anger flared instantly. Wasn’t this wishing death upon herself and her husband?

How did this child become like this now?

“Slap!” All sympathy vanished in an instant as Li Cuihua angrily slapped her daughter.

“You little brat, what are you saying? How dare you curse me and your father? Granny was right — you’ve just eaten too well and had too easy a life. Come on, get to the fields now. If you don’t finish the work today, you’re not allowed home. I’m not letting you off!”

“Second Aunt is mighty! If Sister Dani dares to curse you and Second Uncle, she deserves a good scolding.” Jiang Ruo’s eyes curved into a smile as she cheered Second Aunt on, adding fuel to the fire: “Second Aunt, you always have a stomach ache, right? I have some brown sugar in my room. I’ll give you a good boost later. When you’re well, you’ll have more strength to discipline the kids.”