Although Jiang Chuying’s father and mother were a bit biased and each kept their own little schemes, when it came to dealing with the elders, they were unusually united.
At the very least, they were always respectful. On Jiang Nanshan’s side, the number of times he got scolded practically matched the regularity of a monthly period.
So when the time came, if he hadn’t been scolded, he’d still have to take a trip around the old house.
If he was scolded, he left the old house feeling completely refreshed.
“Good granddaughter, do you want to come home with us?” Old Jiang looked at his granddaughter, his eyes full of affection.
Indeed, in their eyes, the couple over there weren’t really her family this old couple’s home was her true home.
“Dad, Yao Yao is our daughter. We can take care of her. You shouldn’t be so biased. People might think she’s your biological child!” Jiang Chuying’s father couldn’t help feeling a little envious seeing how devoted the old couple was to Jiang Chuyao.
After all, he was the only male in the Jiang family. Even if they didn’t value him, that was one thing but when it came to property, everything had been carefully planned in advance. Apart from the factory, he couldn’t get a single advantage.
“Nonsense! You bastard!” Old Jiang was enraged, and even the normally gentle grandmother lost her temper.
She picked up the teacup in front of her and threw it at Jiang Chuying’s father.
Instinctively, Jiang Chuying’s father pulled his wife over to shield himself, putting her directly in front.
The cup of tea, as expected, was entirely absorbed by Jiang Chuying’s mother without a drop wasted.
Jiang Chuying’s father felt a bit secretly pleased fortunately he had stayed calm and applied the technique he had just learned from Jiang Chuyao: remain still to handle change.
“Let go of me!” Jiang Chuying’s mother ground her teeth as she spoke. That damned man had just used her as a tea shield!
Luckily it wasn’t hot; otherwise, her face would’ve been ruined.
Thinking of this, she decided the house wasn’t safe better to go to the hospital immediately.
But just as she tried to leave, Jiang Chuying’s father wouldn’t let her. What if the old couple decided to take action?
Amid all this chaos, Shen Hexuan walked in carrying a burlap sack.
If you looked closely, you could see something moving inside the sack.
“Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Jiang, Auntie!” Shen Hexuan had arrived.
Naturally, everyone resumed their elder-respect posture, and Jiang Chuying’s father pretended to sip his tea before nodding.
“Hexuan is here! Come, sit!” Old Jiang beamed with joy upon seeing him.
“Wasn’t the engagement broken off?” Jiang Chuying’s mother blurted out innocently.
Jiang Chuyao nearly laughed at that he really did have a way with words; she thought, “Say more!”
“Go make tea!” Grandma commanded, and Jiang Chuying’s mother had no choice but to get up.
“Pfft, pfft!” Jiang Chuyao made little gestures at Shen Hexuan, unsure why he had come.
She worried he might say something shocking or reveal her involvement in managing the dance hall with him.
After all, she hadn’t had time to tell him to keep it secret what if he slipped up?
“Because it was rushed the other day, I forgot to bring this. Since I had business here today, I brought it along.”
Shen Hexuan pulled a red brocade box from his pocket, placed it on the table, and smiled knowingly at her, signaling her not to worry.
Inside the box was a small gold lock. Seeing it, Jiang Chuyao was astonished she didn’t expect to encounter it again in this setting!
If she remembered correctly, the old couple had commissioned it specially at the time of her birth, and one of the tiny gold beads was engraved with her name.
“How did this end up with you?” Grandma asked, puzzled.
Suddenly, there was a crash. Everyone turned to see Jiang Chuying’s mother standing amidst broken glass.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re grown, and yet so careless.” Jiang Chuying’s father frowned, increasingly unimpressed with his wife, his tone full of disdain.
“I’ll clean it up right away,” Jiang Chuying’s mother said nervously, one foot still on the shards. Fortunately, her shoes had thick soles, or she would have been pierced.
“Jiang Nanshan, explain why this was given to Hexuan!” Old Jiang also sensed something was amiss.
“Grandpa, this was exchanged as a token between our families when I got engaged to Jiang Chuying back then.” Shen Hexuan immediately understood the gold lock must have a different origin.
Fortunately, he returned it today, otherwise it would have been hard to explain.
“Dad, Yao Yao was lost at the time, and Chuying got engaged to the Shen family on her behalf. Using this as an exchange token is perfectly reasonable.”
Jiang Chuying’s father spoke with the air of self-evidence, seeing no problem.
Jiang Chuyao realized that in his eyes, both daughters were equally his. At the time, the Shen family was prestigious, so for him, the benefit outweighed the risk. Naturally, he saw nothing wrong.
Jiang Chuying’s mother nervously tidied up the gift had been her idea originally. She hadn’t expected Jiang Chuyao to retrieve it, nor that the old couple would be present when it was returned after the engagement was broken.
“Dad, Mom, no need to get angry. This was given to our granddaughter.
Although Chuying isn’t our biological child, she’s been raised with us for years, like a real daughter.
It’s fine to give it to her too,” Jiang Chuying’s father continued, oblivious.
“The bead on the little gold lock is engraved with Yao Yao’s name. No outsider should touch it,” the old couple stated firmly.
Hearing this, Jiang Chuying’s father was startled. He examined the lock closely and indeed found the character for “Yao.”
Awkward.
“Anything else to say now?” Grandma fumed, itching to hand her husband her slippers.
“Dad, Mom, you’re too biased. Chuying has called you ‘Grandpa and Grandma’ for years, yet you’ve never given her a decent gift. And now you fuss over a small gold lock?”
Jiang Chuying’s father protested, conscious of Shen Hexuan’s presence.
“Darling, give ” Grandma could no longer sit still. She took off her old layered cloth shoes and handed both to him.
Jiang Chuying’s father endured a double blow.
Fortunately, this time, he wasn’t hit in the face.
Shen Hexuan was startled too, instinctively dodging as the shoes flew past. Luckily, he avoided being caught in the crossfire otherwise, he would’ve been collateral damage.
Seeing the mess, Jiang Chuying’s mother thought, “Might as well clean it up properly…”