Five thousand?
She really dared to ask for it!
He couldn’t even take out ten thousand right now!
The Xiang family’s business had been going downhill these past two years and had long since been hollowed out—where was he supposed to get fifty thousand for her?!
“No!”
“If that’s the case, then I won’t go follow the army. I don’t even have money to rely on—going would just be suffering anyway.”
“You… you…!”
Xiang Xinrong was so angry he couldn’t even get his words out.
This damn girl actually dared to threaten him!
He had just told the Lu family, right in front of them, that she would go follow the army. If she went back on her word now, how was he supposed to explain it to the Lu family?
Had she reincarnated into the Xiang family in this lifetime just to oppose him?
“Xinrong, don’t be angry! Don’t be angry! Wanwan is still a child.”
Li Jinglan continued putting on an act, patting the scumbag father’s back.
“That’s right, Dad! What Sister said was just said in anger,” Xiang Shuxue echoed.
The two of them looked like they were speaking up for her, but every single word only added fuel to the fire.
Xiang Wanwan continued:
“Oh, and one more thing! I heard Uncle say before that Mom’s dowry was quite substantial. I don’t know when I’ll be back after going to follow the army, so I’ll trouble you to pack up all of Mom’s dowry for me. I’ll take it all with me!”
Xiang Wanwan enunciated every word clearly.
“No! If you take it, what will we live on?”
Xiang Shuxue jumped out immediately, without even thinking, to oppose it.
When Li Jinglan heard the words “dowry,” the hand patting his back froze.
Back then, when Huo Qian married into the Xiang family, it caused quite a stir in Nanshi.
The dowry the Huo family prepared was extremely generous—not only several tens of thousands in cash, but also several chests full of gold and silver jewelry.
And all of it had always been kept by Xiang Xinrong.
She had asked him, openly and secretly, for quite a bit of jewelry over the years.
She never expected this girl to still be thinking about it!
These things absolutely couldn’t be taken away by her. Otherwise, the Xiang family would be nothing but an empty shell—what would be the point of her being Madam Xiang then?
She looked at Xiang Wanwan, her voice tinged with pleading. “Wanwan, you’ve never lacked food or clothes since you were little, but your father has poured his heart and soul into the Xiang family. If you take all the dowry away, how is your father supposed to live in the future?”
“That’s right, Sister. You’re going to follow the army, with the Lu family backing you up in everything. But what about Dad? What is he supposed to do?”
Hearing Li Jinglan and Xiang Shuxue’s words, Xiang Xinrong felt slightly comforted.
These were the people worth loving! Their hearts were always thinking of him.
Unlike this wretched girl, who wished he were dead.
A cold smile curved at the corner of Xiang Wanwan’s lips.
“What? Are you saying my dad is useless, that he can only rely on the dowry my mom brought from the Huo family to survive?”
“Or are you worried that without this money, you won’t be able to live your good life where food is served and clothes are handed to you?”
Li Jinglan had been hit right where it hurt, and her expression almost cracked.
“I… I was only thinking of your father. If I have even a little selfish motive, I would—”
“Enough, Jinglan! I understand. There’s no need to say more to this unfilial daughter.”
The two exchanged a smile.
Xiang Wanwan was utterly disgusted by the sight.
She didn’t want to continue tangling with them and spoke directly, “Dad, I’m not discussing this with you. If I don’t see these things before I leave, then this army-following business…”
“You decide for yourself.”
With that, she turned and went upstairs.
Xiang Shuxue stared at Xiang Wanwan’s back as she went upstairs, wishing she could shove her straight down the staircase.
If those things were really taken away by her, how were they supposed to live?
She walked up to Xiang Xinrong, leaned against his knee, and said softly, “Dad, fifty thousand plus Auntie Huo’s dowry—that’s not a small amount. If all of it goes to Sister, then we…”
“Yes, Xinrong! I’m mainly thinking of you. You’ve worked so hard all your life—how can you not even keep your retirement money in the end?”
Xiang Xinrong looked at the two in front of him, his eyes reddening.
In the end, only they truly cared about him!
He patted Xiang Shuxue’s hand and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Shuxue. Your sister won’t be able to take it.”
He paused, then continued:
“I remember tomorrow is Shuxue’s birthday. I plan to hold a birthday party for you at home and announce to everyone that you are my biological daughter, Xiang Xinrong’s. And your mother—she will officially become Madam Xiang from now on!”
Xiang Shuxue’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Dad! You’re so good to me!”
Li Jinglan leaned against his chest as well, lowering her voice. “Xinrong, you know I don’t care about these things. I only want to stay by your side forever.”
From the second floor, Xiang Wanwan watched this scene, and her heart couldn’t help but ache.
She pressed her chest and spoke coldly, “Don’t worry. I won’t let them have it easy.”
This wave of pain must have been the original host acting up. As soon as she finished speaking, it finally eased.
Xiang Wanwan returned to her room. She only had three days left before she had to go follow the army.
But there were still many things she hadn’t dealt with.
Her mother’s dowry, the money in the Xiang family that belonged to her, and that jade bracelet.
This was related to her golden finger!
The book only mentioned that the bracelet was secretly given to Xiang Shuxue by Xiang Xinrong, but it didn’t say the exact date.
She opened the door and took a look. For tomorrow’s birthday banquet, Xiang Xinrong had taken them out to buy clothes. There was only her left at home.
Xiang Wanwan quietly slipped into Xiang Xinrong’s room.
After her mother died, the dowry had all been kept by the scumbag father, so this was the first place she searched.
She turned over the bedside table, wardrobe, even under the bed—she didn’t see even a trace of jewelry.
There wasn’t even a safe!
No wonder Xiang Xinrong was so confident she wouldn’t be able to get anything!
That old bastard, hiding things so deeply.
She searched every room on the second floor one by one. She didn’t even spare Xiang Shuxue and Li Jinglan’s rooms.
Yet she didn’t find so much as a single coin!
Xiang Wanwan cursed angrily.
Could it be that all those good things would really end up benefiting Li Jinglan and her daughter?
Damn it—she’d die of anger if that happened!
Just then, the butler’s voice came from the living room.
“Miss, Young Master Ning is here to see you.”
Young Master Ning?
The son of the textile factory director—Ning Feng?
She came out of the servants’ room and saw Ning Feng standing in the living room.
He was wearing a gray double-breasted Lenin suit. His height was barely around 1.7 meters. Standing next to her, he might not even be as tall as she was.
A melon-seed face, a few pockmarks on his cheeks, and a big black mole on his brow!
This was it?
She’d thought Ning Feng must be incredibly handsome for the original host to love him so desperately.
Seeing her, Ning Feng immediately strode over, trying to grab her hand.
Xiang Wanwan stepped back, frowning deeply.
“What are you here for?”
“Wanwan, I heard you’re going to follow the army. We—”
“Stop!” Xiang Wanwan quickly cut him off.
“I only talked a little more with you than with others before. Don’t misunderstand!”
“And I’m already a married woman. Please mind your influence!”
Ning Feng clearly hadn’t expected her to say this.
His face was full of disbelief.
“Wanwan, are you afraid of the Lu family…? Don’t worry. We can sign up to go to the countryside and lie low for a while. Once things blow over, we’ll come back.”
A cold smile curled on Xiang Wanwan’s lips.
Looks like Xiang Shuxue and Ning Feng had long colluded, all to trick the original sweet, naive girl into going to the countryside.
“Ning Feng, don’t you ever look in the mirror? You think I’d give up a military district commander for you and go to the countryside?”
“Wanwan, you weren’t like this before. Aren’t you just greedy for wealth and status now?”
“I already know about you and Xiang Shuxue. Stop pretending.”
Ning Feng’s expression changed abruptly.
That Xiang Shuxue—hadn’t she promised to keep it secret?
If it weren’t for the Xiang family’s money, and considering Xiang Wanwan looked decent enough, he wouldn’t even bother dealing with this young miss.
“Xiang Wanwan, do you even have any other choice now? If you don’t leave with me, I’ll go make a scene in front of the Lu family.”
“Do you think the Lu family would want a loose woman?”
Xiang Wanwan’s lips lifted slightly.
Threatening her?
She, Xiang Wanwan, wasn’t scared of that!
She grabbed a water cup from the table beside her and smashed it straight at Ning Feng.
“Ah—!”
“Are you crazy, Xiang Wanwan?!”
“Yes, I’m crazy! If you don’t leave right now, believe it or not, I’ll chop you!”
With that, she turned and went into the kitchen, grabbing a kitchen knife.
Seeing she was serious, Ning Feng staggered toward the door.
Xiang Wanwan held the knife, advancing toward him step by step, a cold smile still on her lips.
She looked completely deranged.
“You… Xiang Wanwan, you really are crazy.”
“Go back and take a good look in the mirror. A toad dreaming of eating swan meat!”
Ning Feng left in utter humiliation, his eyes full of resentment and fury.
After scaring Ning Feng away, Xiang Wanwan collapsed onto the sofa.
Suddenly, as if she thought of something, she sprang up.
Ning Feng’s words had reminded her of something.
Xiang Wanwan went straight to Xiang Shuxue’s room and found her work ID in the drawer of her vanity.
Xiang Shuxue had a proper job. She worked during the day and only came back in the evenings to be a nanny.
Her job had been arranged by the scumbag father—she worked at the textile factory.
Easy work, four days off a month—in this era, it was practically a dream job!
Holding the work ID, Xiang Wanwan left the Xiang house and headed straight for the neighborhood office.
Since she loved the countryside so much, then she would grant her wish!