As dusk fell, Aunt Li finished preparing dinner and called them to eat.
When Xu Suyu entered the living room, she saw three people already seated at the dining table.
Besides Sun Rou and Jiang Mingguang—whose head was now truly wrapped like a mummy—there was also a middle-aged man who bore some resemblance to the old master. His brows carried an unmistakable air of authority.
Seeing Xu Suyu, Sun Rou immediately introduced her warmly, “Anbang, this is Comrade Xu I just mentioned. Comrade Xu, let me introduce you—this is Jiang Sun’s father.”
Xu Suyu looked at Jiang Anbang and nodded politely. “Hello, Uncle Jiang.”
Jiang Anbang studied her for a moment, his expression stern. “Mm. Hello.”
Sun Rou gently shook Jiang Anbang’s arm. “Anbang, what kind of father are you? Your son is getting married, and you don’t even try to learn about your future daughter-in-law?”
Before Jiang Anbang could respond, Jiang Sun spoke first. “My marriage is for the old master to decide. Since when does a transparent figure who never fulfilled any fatherly duties get to meddle?”
He pulled out a chair and sat down.
Jiang Anbang’s face darkened instantly as he glared at him. “Jiang Sun, who allowed you to speak to me like that?”
Jiang Sun shot him a disdainful glance. “Then how should I speak? Kneeling? You should ask your beloved second son. Isn’t he the one best at licking boots?”
“Big Brother, I truly respect Father!” Jiang Mingguang protested.
Jiang Sun let out a short laugh. “You changed your surname after your mother remarried and even abandoned your biological father’s name. And you claim you respect someone else’s father? Even stray dogs would laugh themselves to death.”
Jiang Anbang suddenly raised his hand and slapped Jiang Sun.
“Jiang Sun, if you don’t know how to speak properly, then shut your mouth!” His speed was so fast that Xu Suyu hadn’t anticipated it.
What she anticipated even less was that the next second, Jiang Sun stood up and kicked Jiang Mingguang—who had a faint smile in his eyes—straight to the ground.
“If I can’t hit you, I’ll make your favorite adopted son repay your debt!”
“You wretch!” Jiang Anbang raised his hand again, but this time Jiang Sun dodged and stepped forward to kick Jiang Mingguang down once more as he tried to stand.
“Go on. Hit me again!”
Crying, Sun Rou hurried to help Jiang Mingguang up. He sobbed, “Dad, Mom, it hurts so much. I didn’t do anything wrong. Why does Big Brother treat me like this?”
“That’s enough. You’re the younger brother—be more tolerant of your elder brother,” Sun Rou said, wiping her tears as she held back the furious Jiang Anbang. “Anbang, calm down. You know Ah Sun’s temper. Don’t be angry. If we mother and son suffer a little grievance, it’s nothing. Harmony in the family is what matters.”
Jiang Anbang, still fuming, pointed at Jiang Sun. “You wretch! Your aunt always thinks of you. Why do you insist on bullying them?”
“You call me ‘wretch’ quite smoothly. If I’m a wretch, then what does that make you, my biological father? Oh right, I forgot—you’re not much of a man to begin with. Your wife had barely died before you were fooling around with another woman. Just a lecherous old man.”
“Jiang Sun! Are you trying to anger me to death?”
Jiang Sun sneered. “Don’t worry. If you could die that easily, you’d have died long ago. Calamities live for a thousand years.”
“If I’d known you’d grow up this rotten, I should’ve strangled you at birth!”
Jiang Sun’s expression darkened.
Xu Suyu gently patted the back of his hand, her voice calm and steady. “That’s enough, Ah Sun. Uncle is your father. He understands that what you meant just now was that Comrade Jiang Mingguang is socially adept and better at managing his relationship with Uncle.
“But Aunt Sun isn’t your biological mother. It’s normal if she can’t catch your hidden meaning and feels hurt. Uncle is remarried now—don’t make him feel torn between you and someone else’s child.”
Hearing this, Jiang Sun cast a provocative glance at Sun Rou. “Sister is right. Second marriage is second marriage. No matter how sweet the words, she won’t understand me.”
Sun Rou’s eyes reddened. “Comrade Xu, are you implying I don’t understand Ah Sun and haven’t raised him properly? Anbang, do you think so too? I’ve truly done my best in raising Ah Sun. Even when Mingguang was beaten, I never blamed Ah Sun.”
Jiang Anbang patted Sun Rou’s shoulder in comfort. “Xiao Rou, don’t overthink because of a junior’s words. It’s Jiang Sun’s own fault for not striving and not walking the right path. He’s courting his own destruction!”
Jiang Sun stepped forward again but was caught by Xu Suyu gripping his wrist.
He turned angrily, only to meet her steady, tranquil gaze. It seemed to soothe him, and he gradually calmed down.
Xu Suyu stepped in front of Sun Rou. “Auntie, my words just now were like yours—meant to calm Ah Sun and stop him from opposing you. They weren’t about your parenting.”
“I am a stepmother, after all. It’s never easy. When it comes to children, it’s natural to be sensitive. I tread carefully every day, afraid that even if I try my best, others will still say I failed to raise Ah Sun well.”
“Aunt Sun, perhaps you misunderstand Ah Sun. Others may think he’s unreliable, but he’s actually very good. His straightforward courage and willingness to take responsibility are strengths others simply can’t compare to. Haven’t you noticed?”
Jiang Sun turned to look at Xu Suyu. It was the first time someone had praised him publicly.
Sun Rou clenched her jaw.
This woman was openly slapping her face—suggesting she was incompetent—and even trying to rehabilitate Jiang Sun’s reputation. Impossible.
“I know Ah Sun is a good child. It’s just that outsiders don’t understand him. They won’t interpret his excessive words kindly.”
“If outsiders don’t understand, Ah Sun doesn’t care. As long as his family understands him, that’s enough. But if even his family thinks everything he says or does only causes them grievance, how pitiful must he feel?”
Sun Rou’s fists tightened.
She had merely said that suffering a little grievance was nothing. This woman had immediately twisted it into a defense of Jiang Sun.
She was formidable—and she could easily soothe Jiang Sun’s volatile temper.
Since the afternoon, she had been helping Jiang Sun. If she truly married him, wouldn’t that give him an extra layer of protection?
No. She had to ruin this marriage.
Just then, the old master returned from outside, leaning on his cane, and sensed the tense atmosphere at the dining table.
“Second son, it’s not even Sunday yet. Why are you back?”
Sun Rou glanced at Jiang Mingguang.
Immediately, Jiang Mingguang ran to the old master, crying pitifully—
“Grandpa, Big Brother just kicked me twice. It hurts like hell.”
The old master looked at the exaggerated bandaging on his head—more dramatic than when he arrived that afternoon—and clearly had no interest in getting involved in this trivial dispute. He immediately tossed the problem to Jiang Anbang.
“Anbang, can’t you handle even something this small? I’m already this old—do I still have to come back and judge your cases for you?”
Jiang Anbang cast a solemn glance at Jiang Mingguang. “Mingguang, your elder brother was in the wrong about this. I’ll have him apologize to you…”