Jiang Tang was almost laughed to the point of anger by Wei Cuiying’s reaction.
Just moments before, Wei Cuiying had put on the posture of a loving mother, all of which was just a ploy to make her give up her job.
She hadn’t done anything, nor had she even said a single word, yet Wei Cuiying blamed her just because of Su Yinyin’s impending tears?
How blind had she been in her past life to actually believe that as long as she gave enough, she could win the love of her biological parents?
Before Jiang Tang could reply, Su Jiyong popped up from somewhere, wearing an expression of equal dissatisfaction.
“How were you raised by that Jiang couple to turn out like this? You don’t even have an ounce of sympathy for your younger sister. It looks like we really need to send you down to the countryside to properly temper your temperament, lest you embarrass other people in the future.”
Jiang Tang could accept Su Jiyong and Wei Cuiying criticizing her—after all, they were her biological parents, and besides, letting them say a few words wouldn’t cost her a piece of flesh.
However, she had been raised by her adoptive parents; without them, she wouldn’t be who she was today.
By what right did Su Jiyong and Wei Cuiying point fingers and criticize her adoptive parents?
Unable to hold it in any longer, Jiang Tang let out a cold snort.
Su Jiyong’s anger instantly flared up as he raised a shaking finger toward Jiang Tang. “You—is this your attitude toward your elders? You really have zero upbringing!”
Jiang Tang blinked innocently, glanced at Su Yinyin—who was shedding hypocritical tears nearby—and said pointedly, “I actually think my adoptive parents raised me very well, at least they didn’t raise me with the habit of snatching other people’s belongings.”
Su Jiyong grew even angrier and wanted to make a move on Jiang Tang right then and there, but Wei Cuiying stopped him in time.
“Old man, don’t lose your temper. Xiaotang definitely didn’t mean it.”
Wei Cuiying pulled Su Jiyong back, winking at him frantically.
She can’t be beaten, she can’t be beaten! If she gets badly hurt, who is going to go to the countryside in Yinyin’s place?
Being a married couple, Su Jiyong understood Wei Cuiying’s gaze and finally came to his senses, forcefully suppressing the rage in his heart.
“I don’t care whether anyone taught you rules at the Jiang family before, but since you are back in the Su family, you must follow the Su family’s rules. As the older sister, you must protect your younger sister. Whenever your sister needs something, you should hand over your things to her. Do you understand?”
Wei Cuiying also nodded in agreement. “Xiaotang, the Jiang family is a small household, so it’s normal that you don’t understand the rules. Just remember to think of your sister from now on and take good care of her. Our family will always be able to live well together.”
Looking at Wei Cuiying, who was doting on Su Yinyin at that moment, Jiang Tang felt a very complex mix of emotions. Why would someone treat an adopted daughter better than their biological daughter? Just because she is the female protagonist of a book?
Since Jiang Tang had no expectations of them, she naturally wouldn’t feel hurt.
She feigned compliance, intending to steady the Su family first.
“As long as you don’t speak ill of my adoptive parents, I won’t hold any grudges.”
Wei Cuiying and Su Jiyong looked at each other, both thinking in their hearts that this daughter was indeed raised by outsiders and wasn’t of one mind with them.
No matter, as long as Jiang Tang took Yinyin’s place in the countryside, their goal would be achieved.
Su Jiyong offered an apology. “We spoke wrongly just now. Don’t take it to heart, we didn’t mean it that way.”
Jiang Tang also shrank her neck and lowered her head. “I didn’t mean to blame my sister for taking my job either. Actually, I feel sorry for her, too. Mom, you mentioned earlier that you would prepare food coupons and money for me—don’t forget. I still have to go to work tomorrow, and I will transfer the job to my sister before going to the countryside.”
Wei Cuiying nodded perfunctorily. “Alright, I won’t forget. Focus on your work with peace of mind.”
Su Jiyong and Wei Cuiying exchanged glances, both fully aware that it was impossible for them to prepare much of anything for Jiang Tang.
To them, the family’s savings were all meant to be kept for Su Yinyin; how could they possibly share them with someone else?
Neither of them noticed the flash of mockery in Jiang Tang’s eyes.
She would give the Su family three days. Three days later, however many food coupons and how much money the Su family prepared for her was how much she would leave behind for them.
If they fobbed her off like in her past life, she wouldn’t be blamed for being ruthless.
Over the next three days, Jiang Tang stayed at the Su family house, acting very well-behaved and obedient. This gradually lowered Su Jiyong and Wei Cuiying’s guard, assuming she only spoke up for outsiders because she was raised by the Jiang family.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed, arriving at the day when the original novel’s male protagonist, Song Chenchuan, was scheduled to meet the female protagonist, Su Yinyin.
Jiang Tang planned to take advantage of today when the Su family was out to find an opportunity to empty out all their household assets.
Before that, however, she was going to welcome her eldest brother, Jiang Sijie, back.
In her past life, right after recognizing her biological parents, she had grown distant from her adoptive parents because of the issue of going to the countryside in the adopted daughter’s place, and she hadn’t gone to welcome her eldest brother.
Later, when she insisted on going to the countryside and had a huge fight with her adoptive parents, her eldest brother wanted to come and persuade her, but the military unit had an emergency mission, forcing him to cut his family visit short and return early.
And later on, she died in the countryside and witnessed all those things written in the book’s plot.
Remembering these things, Jiang Tang’s heart ached.
Her adoptive parents and eldest brother had both treated her very well; she could no longer let them down.
Therefore, taking advantage of her noon break, Jiang Tang asked her supervisor for a half-day leave to go welcome her eldest brother.
In her past life, her adoptive parents and eldest brother had waited for her at the state-run restaurant all afternoon, yet they never got to see her face.
Thinking of this, Jiang Tang’s eyes stung with heat.
Riding her “28-inch heavy-duty” bicycle, she arrived at the state-run restaurant, only to bump right into Su Yinyin, who had come to eat.
Standing beside Su Yinyin was a man dressed in a green military uniform.
The man looked toward Jiang Tang, momentarily dazed.
Not noticing the look in the man’s eyes, Su Yinyin walked quickly up to Jiang Tang, furrowed her brows, and asked, “Sister, aren’t you supposed to be working? Why are things bringing you to the state-run restaurant?”
Jiang Tang hadn’t expected such a coincidence. She hadn’t come for Su Yinyin—who would have thought she’d run into her outside the restaurant?
“To welcome my eldest brother.”
With that, Jiang Tang parked her bicycle outside and walked in.
Su Yinyin instantly felt the displeasure of being brushed off, but she couldn’t afford to anger Jiang Tang just yet. She hadn’t gotten the job yet, and if she didn’t have a job by then, she might really have to go to the countryside.
Thus, Su Yinyin suppressed her emotions as much as possible, pretending that nothing had just happened.
After snapping out of his daze, Song Chenchuan subconsciously asked, “Yinyin, who was that just now?”
Su Yinyin hadn’t wanted to say anything, but since the man she loved at first sight asked, she treated it as a sign of Song Chenchuan’s care for her.
With a bitter smile, Su Yinyin explained, “She’s my older sister. Mom and Dad dote on me more, so my sister probably harbors some resentment toward me and deliberately gave me the cold shoulder. She shouldn’t have done it on purpose, though.”
When Song Chenchuan had first laid eyes on Su Yinyin, he was captivated by her fragile and kind-hearted temperament, falling in love with her at first sight and inviting her to eat at the restaurant.
Yet seeing Jiang Tang just now, Song Chenchuan had been stunned once again by her striking beauty.
Thus, Song Chenchuan unconsciously muttered to himself, “Your parents probably have bad eyesight.”
Su Yinyin didn’t hear what Song Chenchuan mumbled. When she asked, Song Chenchuan simply shook his head.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go in.”