“Hit him. Go ahead and hit him. If he dares fight back, I’ll beat him to death myself.”
With the old man’s words backing her up, Xu Suyu looked at Jiang Sun again. She said nothing—simply stood there, poised and elegant, smiling faintly. Yet that alone made Jiang Sun feel an overwhelming sense of provocation and smug triumph.
Damn it. When had Young Master Jiang ever suffered this kind of humiliation?
This woman really didn’t know her place. Just wait until Grandpa isn’t home—he’d make her cry and beg for mercy.
After speaking, the old commander pulled out a thick stack of bills from his pocket and handed them to her.
“Suyu, this is four hundred yuan in betrothal money from the Jiang family. The marriage was arranged in a hurry, so I didn’t have time to buy you anything. Later, see what you still need and have Jiang Sun take you to get it.”
Xu Suyu wanted to refuse. Four hundred yuan was enough to cover two or three years of living expenses for an ordinary family of four.
But the old man pressed the money into her hand anyway. “Rules are rules. They can’t be broken. Take it.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.” Xu Suyu did not argue further. If they divorced in the future, she could simply return the money.
She slipped the red envelope into her pocket. Jiang Sun leaned over.
“Hey, split it in half with me.”
The old man glared, about to scold him, when the front door was suddenly pushed open from outside. A middle-aged woman in a gray Lenin suit barged in, dragging along a young man whose forehead was wrapped in blood-stained gauze.
“Dad, you have to stand up for our Mingguang!”
A bad premonition rose in the old commander’s heart. He shot Jiang Sun a glance.
Jiang Sun looked utterly unconcerned, flopping back onto the sofa and continuing to crack sunflower seeds.
The old man’s voice turned stern. “What happened to Mingguang’s head?”
“What do you think happened? Jiang Sun beat him!” The woman burst into aggrieved tears. “Dad, everyone in the compound knows how well I’ve treated Jiang Sun since I married into this family. During those years when he was so traumatized he refused to speak, it was me, this stepmother, who kept him by my side day and night to take care of him.
“For his sake, I even neglected my own children and told them they had to give way to him. And what happened? He bullies and beats his younger siblings at home—and now he’s injured Mingguang outside! What kind of deep hatred is this?”
The old commander stood up, furious, and swung his cane toward Jiang Sun.
“How many times have I told you—no fighting! No fighting! Do you treat my words like the wind in your ears?”
Xu Suyu rose and caught the cane mid-swing. She had been sitting quietly, observing the mother and son across from her. She hadn’t missed the fleeting look of smug satisfaction that flashed in the young man’s eyes the instant the cane was raised.
“Grandpa, please calm down!”
“Suyu, this doesn’t concern you. Sit aside. Today I’ll beat this—”
“Grandpa, we haven’t clarified what happened yet.” She helped him sit back down, her voice gentle as flowing water, soothing his anger. “Besides, isn’t Jiang Sun under my supervision from now on? Then his matters should be handled by me.”
Only then did the pair across the room notice Xu Suyu.
Seeing that she had calmed the old man with just a few words, the woman frowned. “And who are you?”
The old commander patted Xu Suyu’s arm.
“This child is Xu Suyu, the granddaughter of my lifesaver—and the granddaughter-in-law I’ve chosen for Jiang Sun. They’ll register their marriage in a few days.
“Suyu, this is Sun Rou, Jiang Sun’s stepmother. The boy beside her is Mingguang, two months younger than A’Sun. He came with her from her previous marriage. He’s been raised in the Jiang family for years and now bears the Jiang surname. He’s like one of our own.”
Sun Rou looked shocked. “Dad, you arranged A’Sun’s engagement? For such a big matter, why didn’t you discuss it with Anbang and me first?”
Jiang Sun let out a mocking laugh. “You really know how to flatter yourself. Why would my marriage need to be discussed with you? What are you even supposed to be? You think you’re worthy?”
Sun Rou looked as though she might collapse from emotional injury, tears streaming down. “A’Sun, I’ve taken care of you for over a decade. How can you speak to me like that?”
Jiang Mingguang stepped forward to steady her, then looked helplessly at Jiang Sun.
“Big Brother, Mom only cares about you. I know you don’t like us, but if you have an issue, can’t you just take it out on me? You can hit me, scold me—just don’t hurt my mom.”
Jiang Sun stood up immediately, cracking his knuckles. “Hit you and scold you, huh?”
Jiang Mingguang squeezed his eyes shut, looking frightened. “I’m used to it anyway. Big Brother, go ahead. Hit me.”
Xu Suyu walked over and stood in front of Jiang Sun, shielding him. She looked at Jiang Mingguang.
“Comrade Jiang Mingguang, I don’t quite understand your peculiar hobby of asking people to beat you, but I respect it.
“However, my fiancé is not obligated to act like a dog just because you invite him to hit you. Perhaps you should find someone else.”
Jiang Mingguang’s eyes snapped open as he stared at Xu Suyu.
What kind of comprehension was that? Was that what he meant?
Jiang Sun: …
Who’s the dog here? Whose side is this little weakling even on? Why is she attacking everyone indiscriminately?
Sun Rou studied Xu Suyu’s face—so beautiful it was unmatched in the entire compound, delicate and seemingly harmless. She had assumed the old commander had found Jiang Sun a pretty but useless decorative pillow—someone even easier to manipulate than Jiang Sun himself. She hadn’t expected this young woman to be hiding her claws.
Xu Suyu felt Sun Rou’s scrutiny and met her gaze calmly.
“Aunt Sun, since you came seeking Grandpa’s justice, shouldn’t you explain exactly what happened?”
Sun Rou looked at Jiang Mingguang. “Mingguang, tell your grandfather—and your sister-in-law—yourself.”
Jiang Mingguang glanced timidly at Jiang Sun before speaking.
“At noon today, I was eating with my classmates at the state-owned restaurant when we ran into Big Brother. I greeted him, but he ignored me. My classmates said a few things about him.
“I was afraid Big Brother would be angry, so I stopped them. But he still held a grudge. After I finished eating and walked home alone through an alley for my lunch break, Big Brother beat me up.”
Sun Rou gently stroked Jiang Mingguang’s head, looking at Jiang Sun with reproach.
“A’Sun, it’s one thing to scold or hit your younger brother at home, but this time you injured his head. He’s still studying—what if you’d caused serious damage? You—”
“Aunt Sun,” Xu Suyu interrupted calmly.
He spoke unhurriedly.
“Even the Public Security Bureau wouldn’t decide a case by listening to only one side. Comrade Jiang Mingguang has finished telling his part. As one of the people involved, Jiang Xun also has the right to defend himself. He hasn’t even said a word yet—how can you convict him so directly? Such arbitrary favoritism toward your own biological son is not something a good stepmother should do.”
“I didn’t! I’ve always favored A’Xun. Everyone in the compound knows that—”
“What others think, I don’t know. But at this very moment, you are clearly choosing to believe and side with your own son. Jiang Xun has the right to speak as well!”
After saying that, she turned around and looked up at Jiang Xun. Her tone was gentle yet firm.
“Do you remember what I just told you? I keep my word. So now—you speak. I’m listening.”