After observing Jiang Tianci’s physiognomy, a faint smile involuntarily appeared in Jiang Muyan’s eyes.
This Jiang Tianci didn’t even need her to lift a finger—he was perfectly capable of digging his own grave and meeting his demise halfway.
However, in her memories, Jiang Tianci had bullied the original host plenty, so she didn’t mind giving him a little “help”!
The food was quickly laid out on the table. The plate of stir-fried potatoes with meat was placed in front of Jiang Tianci and Jiang Muqian, while a plate of vegetables was set before Jiang Muyan.
This arrangement had been maintained in the household for over a decade, and everyone had grown accustomed to it.
But Jiang Muyan was not accustomed to it. She raised her arm, swapped the plate of stir-fried potatoes with meat for the vegetables, and, ignoring the astonished gazes of those seated around the table, began picking out the lean meat to eat.
“You wretched girl, what are you doing? Is this something you can eat?”
Jiang Tianci protested, reaching out to snatch Jiang Muyan’s chopsticks.
Jiang Muyan twisted her waist slightly, nimbly dodging his grasp. Her chopsticks remained steady as she picked up a piece of lean meat and brought it to her mouth. Chewing, she said:
“Why can’t I eat it?”
“You!”
Jiang Tianci couldn’t answer Jiang Muyan’s question. After all, as far back as he could remember, Jiang Muyan had always watched them enjoy the good food.
He wanted to hurl more insults at her, but upon seeing the wound on Jiang Muyan’s forehead, he reluctantly suppressed his anger. Fine, let Jiang Muyan have some meat to help her wound heal—Director Zhang would only like her more, wouldn’t he?
Still, why did he feel that Jiang Muyan had become rather sharp-tongued after hitting the wall!
Despite his inner grumbling, Jiang Tianci had no intention of eating any less. Afraid that Jiang Muyan would snatch all the meat from the plate, he immediately picked it up and began shoveling the meat slices into his own bowl. His eating manner was as if he hadn’t eaten for three days and nights.
Seeing this, Jiang Muyan simply put down her chopsticks. She hadn’t been craving the meat in the first place—she was only doing it to annoy the family. Besides, Liu Fangmei’s cooking wasn’t particularly tasty!
Jiang Muyan lifted her eyes and calmly stated:
“You don’t need to scheme anymore. I’ve already signed up to go to the countryside!”
“Wh… what?” Liu Fangmei seemed as if she had been struck by a sudden blow. She froze for a full three seconds before reacting, then slammed the table and stood up, her shrill voice nearly lifting the roof. “You wretched girl, what nonsense are you spouting! You’re going to the countryside? Who allowed you to go!”
If she went to the countryside, what would happen to her son’s job? How would she keep the girl under control?
“Why can’t I go to the countryside? I’m responding to the nation’s call to temper myself in the vast world. What’s wrong with that?” Jiang Muyan raised her gaze, meeting Liu Fangmei’s fury with calm eyes.
“There’s plenty wrong with it!” Liu Fangmei slammed the table again, causing the bowls and chopsticks to clatter loudly. “Who told you to sign up? Your father and I haven’t agreed yet! Tomorrow, you go and withdraw your name. Stay home and behave!”
Jiang Yucheng, who had remained silent until now, also darkened his expression:
“Going to the countryside is no joke. The conditions are extremely harsh, and a girl like you won’t be able to handle it. Listen to your mother and withdraw your name. The family can still arrange a good future for you!”
The “good future” he referred to naturally meant marrying Director Zhang. Ever since Director Zhang expressed his intention to marry Muyan, Jiang Yucheng had clearly felt Director Zhang’s favor toward him these past few days.
If Muyan didn’t marry Director Zhang, he felt certain that Director Zhang would target him.
No, he would not allow this to happen!
Meanwhile, Jiang Tianci also snapped back to reality. He stood up with a loud thud, pointing a finger at Jiang Muyan:
“You crazy girl! What’s so good about going to the countryside? Marrying Director Zhang is much better—I could even get a decent job, and our family would finally live comfortably! How can you be so selfish, only thinking about yourself!”
Looking at the finger wagging right in front of her, Jiang Muyan’s eyes suddenly turned icy, her voice carrying a bone-chilling coldness: “Take your claw away.”
Jiang Tianci paid no attention to what Jiang Muyan said, continuing viciously:
“You ungrateful wretch! Mom and Dad raised you for nothing. What’s wrong with asking you to contribute to the family? I’m telling you, tomorrow you go and withdraw your spot for the countryside assignment. Do you understand?”
Before he could finish, a sharp crack echoed through the room—the chopsticks in Jiang Muyan’s hand shot out like a sword, striking the back of his hand with precision.
“Hiss—” Intense pain shot through him. Jiang Tianci jerked his hand back, gasping sharply, his face contorted in agony. Since childhood, he had been spoiled rotten by his parents—never beaten, hardly even scolded. Now, to be struck by Jiang Muyan, whom he had always pushed around, instantly ignited his fury.
“You dare hit me!” Jiang Tianci’s eyes turned bloodshot, like a provoked beast. He rushed to Jiang Muyan’s side, reaching out to grab her hair.
“Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson, you insolent brat who doesn’t know her place!”
Seeing this, Liu Fangmei was momentarily stunned, then a flicker of schadenfreude flashed in her eyes. Letting Tianci teach this girl a good lesson might scare her into obedience and make her withdraw from the countryside assignment. Not only did she not intervene, but she also fanned the flames from the sidelines:
“Tianci, go easy. Don’t hurt her too badly—she still needs to get married.”
Jiang Yucheng frowned but made no move to stop it either. In his view, Jiang Muyan’s defiant attitude indeed deserved a good lesson.
Jiang Muqian, meanwhile, seized the chance to snatch the lean meat from the plate while eagerly preparing to watch Jiang Muyan get beaten.
Faced with Jiang Tianci’s furious outburst, Jiang Muyan showed no trace of fear. With a slight shift of her body, she effortlessly dodged Jiang Tianci’s lunge, her movements crisp and decisive.
Jiang Tianci stumbled forward, losing his balance and nearly falling to the ground. He staggered a few steps before steadying himself.
Before he could react, Jiang Muyan had already stepped forward, her hand snapping out to seize his wrist with precision, applying a firm grip.
“Ah—it hurts! It hurts, it hurts!” Excruciating pain shot from his wrist. Jiang Tianci grimaced, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead as he couldn’t help but cry out:
“Let go! Jiang Muyan, let go of me right now!”
Instead, Jiang Muyan tightened her grip even more:
“I told you to take your finger away. Do you not understand human language?”
The intense pain from his wrist bone made Jiang Tianci tremble all over. Sweat poured from his forehead as he turned to look at Jiang Yucheng and Liu Fangmei:
“Dad, Mom, I… it hurts! Save me, quick!”
Seeing her son’s face pale with pain, Liu Fangmei could no longer sit still. She sprang to her feet and rushed over:
“You wretched girl, let go! Are you trying to break your brother’s hand? I’ll beat you to death, you vile creature!”
Jiang Muyan’s eyes turned cold. With a slight shift of her feet, she deftly evaded Liu Fangmei’s lunge, released Jiang Tianci’s wrist, and swiftly moved upward, dislocating his arm with a single motion!
A crisp crack echoed, accompanied by Jiang Tianci’s heart-wrenching scream:
“Ah—my arm! Jiang Muyan, you damned wretch! My arm is broken!”
This scream was a hundred times more agonizing than his previous wails. Jiang Tianci collapsed to the ground, sweat pouring down like broken strings of beads. His face turned as pale as paper, and his lips trembled uncontrollably.
His hanging arm twisted at an unnatural angle, clearly completely dislocated.
Liu Fangmei, having missed her target, had just steadied herself when she heard the crack and her son’s scream. She rushed to Jiang Tianci’s side:
“Tianci, my son! What happened to your arm? Don’t scare your mother like this!”
With reddened eyes, Liu Fangmei lunged at Jiang Muyan again, this time truly driven to madness, devoid of any rationality.
She hurried to Jiang Muyan’s side, reaching out to grab her hair.
Jiang Muyan tilted her body to dodge the attack and, while secretly channeling her Spiritual Power, slapped Liu Fangmei across the face—smack!