The next day, after seeing her two older brothers off, Shen Menglan took Jiang Wanxi to visit her maternal family.
Shen Menglan’s parents had passed away several years ago. Of the Shen family, only her eldest brother’s family and her younger sister’s family currently lived in the capital. Her second brother and his family lived far to the south in Yangcheng.
Shen Menglan had originally planned to bring Jiang Yu along, but she worried that Jiang Yu might feel uncomfortable.
Jiang Yu herself had no desire to visit the Shen family either. She claimed that she had already made plans to go out with her classmates.
Over the past few days, Shen Menglan had noticed Jiang Yu’s conflicted behavior. She understood that, deep down, Jiang Yu was terrified of being sent away.
There was little Shen Menglan could do about it. She could only sigh deeply before leaving the house with Jiang Wanxi.
Uncle Shen’s home was quite a distance from the Jiang residence, so mother and daughter went there in Grandpa Jiang’s car.
Perhaps because of Jiang Wanxi’s appearance, the two Jiang elders seemed especially fond of her. The moment they heard that their eldest daughter-in-law was taking Jiang Wanxi to visit her maternal family, they immediately prepared gifts and even arranged for their driver to take them there and bring them back.
The Shen family had also been eagerly awaiting their arrival.
Shen Menglan’s younger sister, Shen Xinlan, had arrived early with her husband and their son and daughter.
Everyone was extremely curious about Jiang Wanxi.
Shen Xinlan was chatting with her eldest sister-in-law, Zhao Ling, about the whole situation. Something as outrageous as babies being switched at birth had actually happened to her own sister.
They had heard that the child had grown up in the countryside, but they had no idea what kind of personality she had developed.
Truthfully, the Shen family had never particularly liked Jiang Yu. The girl always seemed to carry herself with an air of superiority.
But the moment Shen Menglan appeared before everyone with Jiang Wanxi, they immediately knew there could be no mistake.
This was undoubtedly a daughter of the Shen family.
The women of the Shen family all shared the same beautiful peach-blossom eyes.
Uncle Shen had no daughters, only two sons. Second Uncle Shen had a son and a daughter, fifteen-year-old twins. Shen Xinlan also had a son and a daughter.
All the girls descended from the Shen family shared one unmistakable feature—the exact same pair of beautiful eyes.
Zhao Ling had once wondered why Jiang Yu hadn’t inherited her mother’s peach-blossom eyes.
After seeing Jiang Wanxi today, she finally understood.
Jiang Yu simply wasn’t Shen Menglan’s biological daughter.
Uncle Shen had recently been promoted to deputy director of the flour mill, while his wife, Zhao Ling, worked for the Women’s Federation at the same factory. Their family lived in the residential compound provided by the flour mill.
Their eldest son had voluntarily given up his job at the machine-tool factory to his younger brother so that his brother could remain in the city instead of being assigned to the countryside. He himself had chosen to go to the countryside in his brother’s place.
Today happened to be everyone’s day off.
At the time, the two-day weekend system had yet to be implemented, and workers only received one day off each week. Shen Menglan had deliberately chosen this day to bring Jiang Wanxi over so that everyone could meet her.
The moment Jiang Wanxi appeared, Shen Xinlan and her husband, Lin Junwei, couldn’t take their eyes off her.
Their gazes were both astonished and intense, making Jiang Wanxi feel increasingly uneasy.
Shen Menglan reassuringly patted her daughter’s hand before glaring at her younger sister and brother-in-law.
Those two were suffering from an occupational habit again.
Both husband and wife worked at a clothing factory.
Today, Jiang Wanxi was once again wearing a dress she had personally altered. Her hair was styled in a fishtail braid, decorated with a matching hair accessory.
Simply standing there, she looked like a beautiful picture come to life.
Lin Qingran was speechless at the embarrassing way her parents were staring at Jiang Wanxi. Left with no choice, she stepped forward to break the awkward silence.
“You must be Cousin Wanxi, right? You’re so beautiful that I can hardly take my eyes off you! I’m your cousin Lin Qingran, and this is my younger brother, Qingrong.”
Even Aunt Zhao couldn’t stand watching her sister-in-law and brother-in-law continue staring at the young girl.
“Oh my, one look and anyone can tell you’re one of our family’s girls. Just look at how beautiful you are! I’m your eldest aunt. Come inside and have a seat.”
One on each side, Lin Qingran and Zhao Ling ushered Jiang Wanxi into the house.
Shen Menglan followed them inside.
She formally introduced Jiang Wanxi to everyone.
Her eldest uncle was warm and approachable, while her eldest aunt was sociable and tactful. Her second cousin was humorous, and her younger cousin was lively and energetic.
The relaxed atmosphere quickly swept away the awkwardness from earlier.
However, the person Jiang Wanxi was most curious about was none other than her cousin, Lin Qingran.
In the original novel, this cousin was the undisputed second major villainess.
As for the number-one villainess?
That title naturally belonged to the original Jiang Wanxi herself.
According to the novel, Lin Qingran had been jealous of Jiang Yu since childhood and constantly competed with her over everything.
After the country entered the era of reform and opening up, Lin Qingran repeatedly caused trouble for the female lead, making her life miserable.
However, as the plot progressed, the male and female leads eventually exposed Lin Qingran’s company for tax evasion, resulting in her being sent to prison.
Jiang Wanxi carefully looked at the so-called second villainess.
Lin Qingran had perfectly inherited all the best features of both her parents.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, as though it had been carefully painted by an artist. There was a lively sparkle in her eyes and brows, and every expression she made seemed naturally charming.
She was also tall and slender, with graceful proportions that made it difficult not to look at her twice.
Jiang Yu was certainly pretty herself, but if she stood beside Lin Qingran, she would immediately be overshadowed.
Jiang Wanxi couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
The two villainesses in this novel were ridiculously beautiful!
It really made one want to sigh—
A villainess being wicked isn’t frightening.
What’s truly dangerous is when the villainess is gorgeous!