Chapter 131 – Report This Cemetery

Xiaoqing Mountain.

This was one of the earliest cemeteries in Jiangzhou.

It wasn’t a large area, but when converted to price per square meter, it was even more expensive than villas outside the city.

Of course, that was the future price.

Right now, there weren’t many clients buried in Xiaoqing Mountain.

It was still the same cold, quiet place.

Jiang Ning’s father was laid to rest in one corner of the cemetery.

Maybe it had been a while since she last visited, but Jiang Ning actually found a new neighbor beside her father’s grave.

While her mother was clearing weeds in front of her father’s tombstone, Jiang Ning glanced at the new neighbor.

It was a woman in her forties.

A round face, classic wavy curls.

Her smile was warm and friendly.

Maybe it was because of the color photo, but Jiang Ning felt like the woman was smiling directly at her.

She didn’t know why, but she smiled back at the photo, as if to say hello.

At that moment, her mother finished pulling the weeds.

She pulled two apples from her bag and placed them in front of the gravestone.

Then she took out a small bottle of Erguotou liquor, opened it, and poured a little over the grass.

“Old Jiang.”

“Same routine—two apples and a bottle of liquor.”

“Don’t be picky.”

“This is all we can afford at home.”

“Make do.”

“Not like you were ever a particular person anyway…”

Seeing that her mom had a lot she wanted to say to her dad, Jiang Ning sensibly took a few steps back.

By the time she reached the path, she suddenly caught the scent of cigarette smoke.

She turned her head.

Tian Wenhao was crouched under a tree ahead, smoking slowly, one drag at a time.

Seeing him, Jiang Ning walked over.

“What’s up?”

“Thinking about your dad?”

Tian Wenhao didn’t answer, just gave a small nod.

Jiang Ning didn’t know what to say to that.

Strictly speaking, this eldest cousin of hers had grown up almost like a child of a single-parent household.

When he was three or four, his dad said he was going into business with someone, took all 262 yuan the family had, and left.

Then for twenty years, not a single word.

Tian Wenhao had assumed something terrible had happened to his dad.

But Jiang Ning knew the truth.

That uncle of hers, who had been missing for nearly two decades, had actually settled down in a northern city.

He even had a well-behaved daughter.

She’d accidentally seen them during a work trip in her past life.

She didn’t tell anyone at the time—only quietly came back and informed her aunt.

That very night, her aunt drank a lot.

She even sang a traditional opera for Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning didn’t understand the tune, but the emotion in it made her heart ache.

The next day, a memorial tablet for Tian Wenhao’s father appeared in the study.

And her aunt’s once-black hair turned silver.

So in this life, Jiang Ning didn’t plan to say anything.

Let her aunt have her thoughts, and let Tian Wenhao have a place in his heart to mourn.

A short while later, she heard her mother calling.

She responded and turned her head.

“Since we’re already here, want to go say hi to your dad?”

“Sure.”

Tian Wenhao thought that sounded reasonable.

He stubbed out his cigarette and followed Jiang Ning to where Tian Cuilan was standing.

At the moment, Tian Cuilan didn’t look very happy.

She was frowning at everyone.

“Ning Ning, go burn the paper money for your dad.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Ning obediently took the lighter from Tian Wenhao and lit the pile of “Bank of Heaven and Earth” bills on the ground.

As the colorful paper turned to ash in the flames and scattered in the wind, Jiang Ning muttered silently in her heart:

Dad…

Don’t give me a hard time…

I really am your kid…

It’s just that I used to be a boy, but now that your son ran off, I had no choice but to become a girl…

Honestly, it’s not that different… aside from not being able to carry on the Jiang family line…

But Dad, if you really want that, then… I guess… just appear in Mom’s dream, tell her to pass the message to me, and I’ll go adopt a few dozen for you. They’ll all have the Jiang surname.

A dozen boys and girls, continuing the Jiang family name—how’s that?

So, Dad, just watch over all of us and keep everyone safe and well, okay…

“Ning Ning, what are you muttering about?” Her mother suddenly came over, poking at the burning paper with a stick.

“Old Jiang, I’m telling you, our girl’s doing great.”

“First prize in the provincial math competition! Extra points for the college entrance exam!”

“She’s amazing!”

Her mother’s voice was full of pride.

But just as she finished, she seemed to remember something, and her expression turned a little gloomy.

“Old Jiang…”

“Do you think there’s something wrong with my eyes?”

“I picked you out of so many people back then, and you turned out to be a useless sickly man.”

“Then I found that damned Chen Zhenguo.”

“And now look, he’s in jail.”

“Heh.”

Hearing her mother’s self-deprecating laugh, Jiang Ning couldn’t help but pat her on the shoulder.

What met her hand was her mother’s comforting smile.

By now, the paper offerings were mostly burned.

Her mother stood up, ready to leave.

Just as they were about to go, while Tian Wenhao was bowing, her mother suddenly noticed something.

With an unhappy look on her face, she turned to Jiang Ning and said,

“Next time we come, report this cemetery.”

Huh?

Jiang Ning looked at her mother, puzzled.

Then her mother pointed at the neighboring grave and snapped angrily,

“So many empty spots around, and they just had to bury someone next to your father!”

“What, they trying to pair them up!?”

———

The first visit with her father after being reborn ended with her mother’s grumbling.

Who knows if the conversation went smoothly this time.

Can Dad understand what I mean?

I hope Dad, for the sake of me being his child for two lifetimes,
will look out for me a little more.

Afternoon.

After lunch, Jiang Ning didn’t go help out at her mother’s shop.

Instead, she rode her bike to Orange Music.

Just as she stepped through the door,
she saw Tang Tu talking to a mother-and-daughter-looking pair,
gesturing toward the piano in the store and explaining something.

Jiang Ning perked up her ears to listen.

Once she realized he was introducing the piano’s origin and sound quality, she immediately lost interest and walked straight into the store.

By the time she reached the recording studio,

Orange Peel—also known as the silver-haired, blazing-hot songwriter Liu Ming—

was sitting in the booth singing.

As for what kind of song he was singing,
Jiang Ning frowned and listened for quite a while,
but still couldn’t figure it out.

She just chalked it up to some wild, free-style genre.

A moment later,

when Liu Ming finished a song and walked cheerfully into the studio,
he saw Miss Jiang flipping through a manuscript and excitedly asked,

“Jiang Ning! What do you think of my latest work?”

“It’s listenable.”

“Really?”

“Nope.”

Just two words—
and the light in the child’s eyes was completely extinguished.

Actually, Jiang Ning wasn’t that heartless.

It’s just that she’d discovered something—
if you didn’t hit this creative genius with a few harsh words,
he’d cling to you endlessly,

asking for your opinion over and over
until you were ready to lose your mind.

At that moment—

Tang Tu pushed open the door and walked in,
handing Jiang Ning a phone at the same time.

“Did you close the deal?”
Jiang Ning asked casually as she took the phone.

In response, she was greeted by Tang Tu’s constipated-looking face,
and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“It’s been two whole months, and you guys still haven’t landed a single client?”

“Tell me…”

“When are you going to sell your body to save the store?”

Seeing that Tang Tu didn’t plan to respond, Jiang Ning laughed and answered the call.

“Liao Liao-jie, what’s up?”

On the other end of the line,
Liao Liao sat alone in her office,
twirling her freshly permed curls around her finger,
and spoke with clear irritation:

“Missy, when are we getting that song of yours?”

“Your two competitors have already started their promo campaigns.”

“Aiya, don’t stress. Recording starts today,” came that clear and melodious voice from the other end, as pleasant as an oriole’s song.

“You said it! If you don’t get it done, don’t blame me for showing up at your door!”

Jiang Ning knew perfectly well that Liao Liao was just venting.

Though she had showed up at her door once—
that was back when “Jiang Jiang” still wasn’t a known name.

Now, after the solid foundation laid by the first three songs,
her reputation as a composer was already gaining traction.

Never mind public recognition—
even entertainment companies were starting to take notice.

As long as Liao Liao wasn’t an idiot,
she wouldn’t out Jiang Jiang’s real identity to anyone.

After a few more grumbles from Liao Liao,
Jiang Ning finally hung up.

Right then, Tang Tu leaned over,
eyes full of curiosity as he stared at the manuscript in her hands.

“This song…”

“Is it any good?”

At that, Jiang Ning simply smiled.

“Whether it’s good or not, I don’t know.”

“But I think it might open up a whole new era for Chinese pop music.”

(End of Chapter)