Chapter 23: Like Father, Like Daughter

One day, Sang Yu invited Auntie Pang from next door to go grocery shopping with her.

"Oh my, Auntie Pang, who is this young lady? She’s so pretty—is she your daughter-in-law?" Everyone at the market who knew Auntie Pang looked at Sang Yu with curiosity.

Auntie Pang smiled and explained, "I don't have such good fortune to have a daughter-in-law like her! This is Captain Jiang's wife."

Almost everyone shopping here knew Jiang Jingming. He frequently helped them resolve various issues, especially back when the area was quite chaotic. There had even been people collecting "protection fees"—it was hard to believe such things still existed—but out of fear, everyone had paid them for years. Things changed once Jiang Jingming arrived; the extortionists never dared to return. The locals were deeply grateful to him and often tried to give him gifts.

Hearing that she was Captain Jiang's wife, the vendor’s smile widened. "So it’s Captain Jiang’s wife? My, she is truly beautiful. She and the Captain make such a perfect pair."

"Isn't that the truth? Just look at that sweet face—she’s so endearing."

Sang Yu felt a bit shy under the warm attention of the uncles and aunties. She finally gained a real sense of the impact Jiang Jingming’s reputation had on the community, and she understood why He Xiulan had told her at home that Jiang Jingming had been a man with a strong sense of justice since he was a boy.

Sang Yu responded to their praise with a graceful, gentle manner, which only made everyone like her even more.

"Come, come! I have some fresh mushrooms here, they’re delicious in soup. Let me pack some for you," one woman said, pulling out a bag and filling it for Sang Yu.

Sang Yu took out her money. "How much is this, Auntie?"

The mushroom vendor waved her hand. "What money? This isn't worth much; consider it a gift."

"That won't do," Sang Yu insisted. "You all rely on this to make a living; I can't just take it for free." Even if the mushrooms weren't expensive, they were still a source of income.

"No, no, just take them," the woman said, pushing Sang Yu’s hand away.

Sang Yu said seriously, "Auntie, I am Brother Jiang’s wife, and he is a police officer. If you don't take the money and someone with bad intentions sees this, it could cause trouble for him. Our country’s police and soldiers are not allowed to accept even a single thread or needle from the people. If you don't take the money, you’ll be making Brother Jiang commit an error."

The mushroom vendor grew worried, as her intention had been to show gratitude, not to cause him trouble.

Auntie Pang, watching from the side, laughed. "Just take it. This girl is just as principled as the Captain."

The vendor then relented, "Alright, just give me one yuan."

Sang Yu knew the vendor was giving her a discount, but she knew when to stop; pushing further would seem ungrateful. "Thank you, Auntie. These mushrooms look so fresh; I’ll make soup with them tonight."

The vendor beamed. "Good, good! I’ll save some fresh ones for you next time."

Auntie Pang looked at Sang Yu, thinking to herself how sensible the girl was.

After saying goodbye, Auntie Pang took Sang Yu to buy meat. "Let me tell you, buy your meat from him from now on. His meat is fresh, and he’s an honest man," she whispered. Sang Yu nodded; she had previously just bought things at random since it was only the two of them eating at home.

Along the way, many people greeted Auntie Pang. Sang Yu realized that Auntie Pang must be a social butterfly, as it seemed half the market knew her. As Auntie Pang introduced Sang Yu to others, they all grew much warmer upon learning she was Jiang Jingming’s wife, and Sang Yu greeted them all with a smile.

When they reached the pork stall, they found the butcher arguing with someone. Auntie Pang hurried over with Sang Yu in tow. Sang Yu heard a familiar voice—Song Jiajia. *Why is it her again?* she wondered. *Is this the gravity of the original book's characters?* Following the usual pattern, nothing good happened wherever Song Jiajia appeared.

The butcher looked at Song Jiajia. "I’ve weighed this for you multiple times. It is exactly one jin. If you don’t want it, you can leave." The butcher had seen all kinds of unreasonable people, and he wasn't about to be intimidated.

Song Jiajia stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "How could this be one jin? Don't think I don't know that people like you intentionally mess with the scale to cheat money out of people!"

The butcher’s face darkened. He had lived an upright life and never engaged in such behavior. "I told you, if you think my scale is wrong, go to another stall. I never forced you to buy from me."

Song Jiajia scoffed, "Who knows if you people are all in on it together? Birds of a feather."

The surrounding crowd grew angry. "Hey, young lady, we didn't say anything because you're young, but how can you talk like that?"

"Exactly. Did we offend you? Why are you being so nasty?"

Song Jiajia looked at them with disgust. "What is it? Don't stand so close to me, you stink!" She had been in a bad mood coming out to shop, and encountering these people—whom she deemed dirty and smelly—only made her angrier. It was all the fault of those two old fools for forcing her to come.

Several people’s expressions hardened at being called "stinking." Auntie Pang stepped forward, looking at Song Jiajia. "Young lady, what family are you from? How can you be so ill-mannered?"

"None of your business! Don't meddle," Song Jiajia retorted.

Auntie Pang sneered, "Meddling? I just want to know who raised a child with so little class, calling working people 'birds of a feather' and 'stinking' one after another."

Song Jiajia felt a bit guilty, so she raised her voice. "I didn't say anything wrong! What does it have to do with you, you fat woman!"

Auntie Pang was a little plump, but certainly not "fat." Sang Yu had originally wanted to avoid a direct confrontation, but hearing Song Jiajia insult Auntie Pang so brazenly, she frowned and stepped forward. "Cousin, is this what Uncle and Aunt taught you?"

"Why are you here?" Song Jiajia shrieked upon seeing her.

"Why I am here is none of your concern, but I am truly surprised by your behavior today. Next time I see Uncle, I shall have to ask him if he also looks down on the working class just like you do. After all, as the saying goes, like father, like daughter."