True Solution of the Sword Dao

Jiang Yan and Jiang Nan, the two sisters, sat on a bench watching television. Lin You held a kitten and appeared lost in thought, not knowing what she was thinking.

The uncle’s voice in the living room grew louder and louder, talking about how he had drinks last time with some deputy director or had dinner and played cards with some director, spending tens of thousands each time. Anyway, it was all about highlighting his glorious deeds. There was also talk of who had given him what gifts, where he was planning to travel this year, and whom he had made plans with. His boasting knew no bounds, and even Lin You and Lin Fei in the inner room could imagine the uncle’s face glowing red with vigor.

Jiang Yan remained indifferent, while Jiang Nan was very close to Lin Fei, occasionally leaning in to whisper into Lin Fei’s ear, exposing the true nature of her father. Like that time he planned a trip with someone, which was actually just a casual gesture of politeness, not taken seriously by the other party.

Lin Fei, meanwhile, half-listened while smiling, guiding True Force within her body as Jiang Nan spoke.

"Feifei, I feel like you’ve become a different person since you returned," Jiang Nan said, only truly relaxed and generous when with Lin Fei. Normally, she was introverted, not good at school, with poor social skills, and quite stubborn, which made her less favored at home compared to her sister Jiang Yan, who was good at studies and likable by their parents. Compared to her, Jiang Nan was even less favored. But the former Lin Fei was in a similar situation, plus they both shared similar interests, so naturally, they had a kind of sympathy for each other, and their relationship had grown very close.

"Really? I haven’t noticed," Lin Fei replied softly.

"You’ve become more mature and steady," Jiang Nan exclaimed with a hint of surprise. "How should I put it? There’s also something... well... sharply perceptive about you now."

Though they spoke quietly at the side, Jiang Yan and Lin You could still hear them, only the boy named Huanhuan was boredly flipping through a comic book.

"Sharp?" Lin Fei asked with confusion, "Why do you say that?"

Observing Lin Fei closely, Jiang Nan said seriously, "It feels like you’ve grown... confident! Yes, confidence! The old Feifei seemed somewhat lacking in confidence. But the new Feifei is completely different."

Lin Fei was slightly amazed, "You’re quite perceptive. But which do you prefer, the old me or the new me?"

"The old one," Jiang Nan replied without hesitation.

"Why?"

"I don’t know," Jiang Nan laughed and moved her stool closer to sit next to Lin Fei.

Just then, people in the living room called them to come and eat. They all exited the inner room together.

In the center of the living room, a large circular table was filled with more than a dozen homemade dishes, the air filled with the aroma of stir-fried vegetables and meat soup. The uncle sat majestically in his chair, urging another uncle to sit with him. Lin Jianguo and Jiang Feng were still serving rice and getting chopsticks. It seemed like Lin Fei’s family was the only one busy there.

After the meal, Lin Jianguo helped collect the dishes and bowls, and Jiang Feng was responsible for washing them. The others just sat there motionless. Every time Lin Fei saw this scene, she felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Her parents were courteous and kind, always eager to work, but at the annual family gatherings at their grandmother’s house, it always seemed like Lin Jianguo and Jiang Feng did all the work and nobody else lifted a finger, as if everything was taken for granted. It was a tradition everyone seemed to be used to. Lin Jianguo and Jiang Feng always did more than others. This had always been the case.

Lin Fei recalled that when her uncle was in high school, their grandmother’s family was poor, unable to provide much money. Her mother started working early and, after marrying her father, neither of them earned much. Back then, Lin Jianguo was just a common textile factory worker. The uncle’s tuition and living expenses were all borne by their family. Half of their wages each month were spent on him, and most of it came from her father, Lin Jianguo. Later, when the uncle wanted to start a business but lacked the initial capital, Jiang Feng had no money to lend. Still, at her father’s insistence, they decided to let the uncle use their house deed as collateral for a loan, which became his first business start-up capital. Now, it seemed as if the uncle had completely forgotten those days.

After dinner and washing the dishes, the younger generation was called to another room, leaving the elders to sit together and chat.

"Jianguo, how is the bookstore doing now?" The second uncle shifted the conversation to Lin Fei’s father.

"I was just about to talk to you all about that." Lin Jianguo and Jiang Feng exchanged a glance before he spoke. "We need to speak with Yuansheng for a moment."

Yuansheng, the fourth uncle, was smoking. Hearing Lin Jianguo mention his name, he paused and asked, "What’s the matter? Let’s hear it."

"It’s about the bookstore. Our business has been growing, and we’re looking to open a branch, but we’re short on funds, so..." Lin Jianguo, who had discussed this with Jiang Feng beforehand, still felt his face heat up in front of so many people. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The fourth uncle frowned and exchanged a look with his wife before responding, "I would normally have no problem lending some money, but my supermarket’s finances are strapped, and I’m missing hundreds of thousands. I was actually planning to talk to the third brother about a loan. You see, Jianguo, I really have no way to help."

Lin Jianguo had been quite confident, considering the deep relationship he previously shared with his fourth uncle. Now, however, he was taken aback by his uncle’s immediate refusal without even hearing the amount. He and Jiang Feng’s expressions turned visibly awkward. Jiang Feng’s gaze fell on the family of the second uncle sitting beside them.

The second uncle was about to speak but was suddenly pulled back by his wife who said hastily, "We don’t have money either. The Water Bureau isn’t doing well, and we barely make it on our salaries. Huanhuan also needs to attend a better primary school..." She didn’t finish her sentence, but the implication was clear—they had no money.

It was then that the grandmother spoke, "If it’s about money, I have some saved up. See if it’s enough?"

Lin Jianguo could hardly take money from an elderly person and quickly declined.

"Actually, Jianguo, isn’t your little bookstore doing well? Why even open a branch? Branches aren’t easy to manage. I’ve been in the supermarket business long enough to know the ins and outs. It’s easy to open a branch, but making it profitable is hard. It’s better to just manage one well-established store," advised the fourth uncle.

Lin Jianguo offered a forced smile, "It’s okay, we have plans." Jiang Feng, who always had a gentle demeanor, noticed Lin Jianguo’s discomfort and took his hand.

"Let’s go throw out the trash bags," she said with a smile, finding an excuse to leave with Lin Jianguo.

Lin Fei was sitting in the inner room. The people inside had heard everything. Lin You’s expression instantly turned cold. The siblings were well-aware of their family’s relationships, having heard about the days the fourth uncle lived at their home from their mother.

Jiang Yan’s expression remained unchanged, her thoughts unknown. Jiang Nan, however, looked slightly upset. He glanced cautiously at Lin Fei.

"Feifei..."

Lin Fei softened his expression, "It’s not your fault, don’t worry about it." He already knew about the fourth uncle’s character from his past life and wasn’t surprised.

Following the departure of Jiang Feng and Lin Jianguo, the living room fell silent for a moment before the conversation resumed.

"It’s really not easy for their family," said the second uncle. "Look at your sister, she doesn’t even have decent jewelry. And she doesn’t care much about her appearance."

"Your sister has a tough life. Look at her now, she’s only a few years older than us but looks like she’s aged a decade. Work’s too taxing, and she neither has time nor money for self-care," sighed the fourth uncle. "I knew it would be like this when your sister married Lin Jianguo."