Xiao’s mother walked over. “Changhe, be careful when you put Jiang Fusheng down; don’t give her a fright.”
“Right.” Xiao Changhe nodded and bent down to set her down.
Only once her feet touched the ground and she was standing steady did Jiang Fusheng’s nervous heart finally settle.
She looked at him, her face etched with earnestness. “Brother Changhe, thank you once again for saving me! So, whether you’re willing to marry me or not, I’m determined to marry you!”
Xiao Changhe said nothing, merely staring intently at her.
“Mind you,” Jiang Fuseng said as she headed for the door, “I need to step out now. I’ll be back later.”
If she didn’t leave now, the Jiang family would be knocking on the door; she had to get the opening plotline underway first.
However, he blocked her path. “Have… have a meal.”
Xiao’s mother seized the moment to speak up. “Lai Di, Changhe’s right. You’ve just woken up and haven’t had a drop to drink for a day and a night. Surely you must eat something? Wait here; I’ll go and cook you some lean pork congee.”
“Aunt Xiao, thank you, but really, there’s no need to trouble yourself…”
“Lai Di, are you in there? Come out quickly, we’ve come to take you home!”
A shrill shout from outside cut off Jiang Fuseng’s words.
It’s over!
She was a step too late; the trouble she’d been expecting had finally arrived.
Jiang Fuseng took a deep breath and stood up to leave the room.
Oh dear! They’re all here!
Her scumbag father Jiang Fu, her scumbag mother Chen Shuying, and their precious son Jiang Yaozu, along with grandparents, second uncle and aunt, and her cousin…
Chen Shuying cast a wary glance at the Xiao family, then hurried over to grab Jiang Fuseng’s wrist. “How on earth did you end up at the Xiao family’s? Don’t you know what sort of family they are… Never mind, let’s go home first. We’ll talk about it when we get home.”
“Get lost!” Jiang Fusheng yanked her hand away forcefully.
Chen Shuying looked at Jiang Fusheng in astonishment.
This girl had never dared to disobey her before; why did she seem a bit different now?
Could it be because she’d been thrown out of the house and was harbouring some resentment?
“Come on, dear, are you angry with your mother? Yes, I went too far yesterday, and I know I was wrong. Please don’t be sulking any longer. I’ve specially bought a pound of spare ribs today. Let’s go home, and I’ll make you some braised spare ribs! You’ve never had them before, have you? Now you can go home and have a proper taste!”
Chen Shuying coaxed her with a smile, reaching out to grab Jiang Fusheng once more.
Jiang Fusheng reacted swiftly, turning to hide behind Xiao Changhe. She lifted her chin, looking as though to say, “Who’s afraid of anything now that I’ve got a protector?”
“Give it a rest! For over a decade, the spare ribs at home were always reserved for Jiang Yaozu. You wouldn’t even let me or my sisters have a single sip of the broth. Now you’re only offering them to me to coax me back home—why didn’t you do this sooner?”
“No, Mother bought these especially for you to help you regain your strength! “Mind you, if you hadn’t divorced Wei Dong without a word, your father and I wouldn’t be this angry. Since we’re not meant to be with the Qian family, there’s no point in forcing it. Come home with us—what sort of example are you setting out there?”
Chen Shuying was taken aback by the rebuke and hastily began to explain, speaking with the utmost sincerity.
Jiang Fusheng rolled her eyes. “You’re not angry because I divorced him without a word; you’re angry because you’ll never be able to use me to squeeze money out of the Qian family again!”
Her words cut straight to the heart of the matter, and Chen Shuying felt a pang of guilt.
Damn it!
How had this girl suddenly become so sharp? There was no way to fool her.
No, this brat had to go home. She’d already got her hands on twenty yuan; once the girl was married off, she could go and buy the dual-band radio that Yaozhu loved so much!
“My dear, that’s not how you should talk. You were carried in my womb for ten months; you’re a piece of my own flesh and blood. How can money compare to that? I’ve told you, your father and I were angry yesterday because you didn’t consult us about anything. Come on, there are so many strangers here, and your divorce isn’t exactly something to be proud of. Come home with us first; we’ll talk behind closed doors, all right?”
If it had been the original body, she might have been taken in by Chen Shuying’s pleading expression; after all, the original body had never seen her own mother bow her head to her before.
What a pity.
She wasn’t Jiang Laidi; she was Jiang Fusheng!
“That’s not my home! Ever since you kicked me out yesterday, I’m not going back!”
“Jiang Laidi!” Chen Shuying frowned, her patience wearing thin, her face flushed with anger. “Stop making a scene. Come home! The Qian family only cast you out because you can’t bear children. Come home and let Mum nourish you; we can still find you a husband!”
“You’re the one who can’t bear children! I’m perfectly fine! You don’t even believe your own daughter’s words, yet you trust others—what sort of mother are you?” Jiang Fuseng exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.
“You, you… you wretch!” Chen Shuying was so enraged she was about to lunge at Jiang Fusheng.
But Mother Xiao stepped forward with her right leg, blocking Chen Shuying’s path. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it. What are you lunging at her for?”
“I’m going to teach my daughter a lesson. What’s it got to do with you?”
“You can teach a lesson to anyone, but not to Laidi. She’s a member of the Xiao family!” Mother Xiao took a step forward, her plump frame knocking the frail Chen Shuying straight to the ground.
Chen Shuying hadn’t seen it coming; the excruciating pain in her tailbone made her wince. “Ouch, my bones…”
“Yaozu, go and help your mother up at once.” Jiang Fu, who had remained silent until now, spoke in a flat tone.
Jiang Yaozu reluctantly walked over. “Mum, get up. Sitting on the floor is too humiliating.”
“Mum’s in agony, and all you care about is saving face?” Chen Shu-ying stared at him in disbelief. “If it weren’t for you…”
“Enough, Mum, don’t say any more!” Jiang Yaozhu interrupted impatiently, then turned to Jiang Fusheng and ordered, “Fifth Sister, stop making a scene. Didn’t you beg Mum and Dad in tears yesterday to let you come in? Now they’ve agreed to support you from now on. Don’t embarrass us and spoil the mood—get home at once!”
“I won’t go back!” Jiang Fuseng refused firmly. “This is my home! I’ve already remarried Xiao Changhe!”
Chen Shuying was stunned. “What? Have you gone mad, you little wench? You remarried without Mum and Dad’s consent—it doesn’t count!”
“Why wouldn’t it count? The state itself says we have freedom of marriage—it’s her choice!” Xiao’s mother placed her hands on her hips and snapped, “If you’d just talk properly, we’d be in-laws. But if you lay a finger on my daughter-in-law, I’ll beat you to a pulp!”
“Who’d want to be in-laws with a bunch of savages like you!” Jiang Fu roared, his eyes flashing with fury. “Stop dawdling! Everyone, give me a hand and drag this unfilial daughter of mine back home. I’ll treat you all to a drink another day!”
With a rush, the men Jiang Fu had brought with him surged forward.
“You dare?”
Xiao Changhe stepped forward with a stern expression, shielding Jiang Fusheng behind him.
“Let’s see who dares lay a finger on my daughter-in-law!”
“Let’s see who dares lay a finger on my elder sister-in-law!”
Xiao’s mother and daughter also stepped forward.