Chapter 27: Secret – Suspecting the Third Son Isn’t His Biological Child
“Fine! So now I don’t even have the right to ask a single question.” Yuan Yuexian sneered coldly. “All the benefits go to others, while our second branch gets nothing. The room that belonged to the third branch was given to the eldest branch, claiming that Ying Ge’er needs to get married. Ying Ge’er is just a ten-year-old child! Just because he’s two years older than our Xi Ge’er, they unreasonably took that room. Now that the fourth son is getting married, Father and Mother are bustling about, practically handing all the gold, silver, and jewels to the fourth son. They’re not even living in our family home anymore, saying they want to buy a house in town for the fourth son. So what about our second branch? What does our second branch have?”
“Second daughter-in-law, what’s this? Do you have objections to the fourth son’s marriage?” Feng Shi’s face also turned cold. “Can’t you bear to see the fourth son do well?”
“Hah! I do wish the fourth son well, but who wishes our family well? Anyway, you people get to say all the nice words and the harsh ones—I can’t get a word in edgewise.” Yuan Yuexian’s sharp eyes scanned the room. “There’s no genuine feeling in this family at all. You called the third branch back just to make them contribute, and now Feng Shi and the eldest branch have joined forces, leaving our second branch as outsiders. If that’s how it is, why not let us move out too? Father, buy us a house as well. I don’t even need one in town—just a standalone house will do!”
Old Master Jiang slammed his chopsticks down. “Yuan Yuexian, stop being unreasonable here! Don’t think I won’t have the second son divorce you!”
“Go ahead and divorce me! What good days have I had in your Jiang Family all these years? The Jiang Family puts on a brave face despite being poor. Before I married in, I truly thought I’d enjoy a life of comfort. But after marrying in, I realized the Jiang Family is no longer what it used to be—the family is impoverished and destitute, and whatever little money we have goes to supporting the old and the young!” Yuan Yuexian became hysterical. “I know you’ve always looked down on me. After all, the wives of the eldest and third sons have their maternal families to back them up, while I have no parents. You can bully me however you want since I have no family to turn to. I’m not afraid of anything now. Today, Old Master, you must make it clear to me: where did the ancient painting and vase from your room go? If this isn’t cleared up, we might as well not celebrate the New Year this year!”
Even Jiang Wenjiang couldn’t take it anymore and stood up to pull Yuan Yuexian back. “What are you, this shrew, doing during the New Year? Our father has his own considerations…”
“You weak, incompetent coward! I’ve had enough of you long ago!” Yuan Yuexian shook off his arm violently and pointed at Jiang Wenjiang’s nose, cursing him. “You may look clever, but in reality, you don’t fight for anything and you’re lazy and useless. At least Jiang Laosan has some decent qualities—what do you have? Our Xi Ge’er is already so grown. Even if you don’t think for yourself, at least think for your son! Having a father like you is truly our son’s misfortune!”
Jiang Fengxi, the son of Yuan Yuexian and Jiang Wenjiang, had been busy shoveling food into his mouth, clearly accustomed to such scenes. But Yuan Yuexian’s outburst was too extreme this time. Jiang Fengxi was startled. He looked up and saw his mother’s distorted, flushed face. He froze for a moment, then burst into loud wails.
The scene instantly descended into greater chaos. Seeing Jiang Fengxi also crying, Yuan Yuexian’s years of pent-up grievances came pouring out. She stepped onto a stool, pointed at Feng Shi’s nose, and shouted, “You heartless old beggar! Who knows what shady business you were in before? Do you know what the villagers say about you? You just relied on your youth and some looks to latch onto the old master, and ever since then he’s obeyed your every word. You’re nothing but a user of filthy tricks! You’re only about ten years older than me, yet I have to call you mother. You don’t even feel ashamed yourself! Now you want others to pay for your useless son? You truly have no shame!”
Feng Shi’s face turned livid with rage. Though accustomed to putting on airs in the Jiang Family, provoked by Yuan Yuexian, she couldn’t maintain her composure. Despite her age, she scrambled onto a stool: “You two families haven’t actually paid anything, so why pretend to be wronged here? Yuan Yuexian, you’re nothing but a shrew! How dare you criticize others? If you hadn’t used tricks to seduce the second son back then, how would he have married someone like you? You were already pregnant before entering the Jiang Family, and only later did we learn that your useless brother was burdened with gambling debts. The old master had no choice but to pay them off. If not for your bloodsucking brother, our Jiang Family wouldn’t have fallen into such dire straits!”
“Now you’re bringing up old scores? If Jiang Wenjiang hadn’t been so lustful, he wouldn’t have gotten me pregnant,” Yuan Yuexian retorted, abandoning all pretense of dignity. “If we’re digging up the past, who can match the Jiang Family’s deeds? Putting on a brave face while being impoverished—if I’d known your family was so poor, I wouldn’t have married into this suffering. Since I was using tricks to seduce someone anyway, I might as well have aimed for a richer man.”
“What do you think you are?” Feng Shi sneered. “Look at your dull, plain face—what man would want someone like you? It was only the second son who was blind. If you had the third daughter-in-law’s looks, you might have snagged a wealthy man.”
Yuan Yuexian gritted her teeth, as if recalling something humiliating. She suddenly turned and glared at Jiang Qingshi and Lin Guilan.
Jiang Zhimiao, seeing Yuan Yuexian’s fierce expression, felt an inexplicable pang of fear. But he knew he was already a young man who needed to protect his father and mother. Little Jiang Zhimiao mustered his courage, spread his arms, and shielded Jiang Qingshi and Lin Guilan like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
Lin Guilan had been enjoying the drama, but her son’s action startled her. She pulled him into her arms, signaling that everything was fine.
“Thank you for the compliment, Mother. I’ve known since I was young that I’m good-looking—otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to marry my husband,” Lin Guilan said teasingly.
“You think you married some prize?” Yuan Yuexian hissed through clenched teeth. “Aren’t you curious why the Jiang Family always bullies you and your husband? Why the old master never values Jiang Qingshi… I’ve long overheard the old master and Feng Shi whispering privately. They said the third son’s mother became pregnant shortly after entering the family. The old master, with his suspicious nature, has always doubted whether the third son and Xiu Jie’er are even his own children!”
When Yuan Yuexian uttered these words, it was like a sudden clap of thunder on a calm day. Old Master Jiang finally couldn’t restrain himself and stood up, pointing at Yuan Yuexian’s nose as he scolded, “You shrew! How dare you spout such nonsense and drive a wedge between father and son! I’ll have my second son divorce you this instant!”
Jiang Wenjiang also felt humiliated and immediately slapped Yuan Yuexian across the face. “Such disgrace to our family! Shut your mouth!”
Yuan Yuexian was not one to suffer in silence. She grabbed Jiang Wenjiang by the hair, and the two began to brawl.
The scene instantly descended into greater chaos, with some trying to mediate while others joined the fray.
Amid the turmoil, Jiang Qingshi quietly took Lin Guilan’s hand and, with his other arm, picked up Jiang Zhimiao. The three of them stealthily slipped out of the Jiang Family residence.
Once they reached the courtyard, Jiang Qingshi paused and then motioned with his lips toward Lin Guilan. “Take our chickens with us.”
Author’s Note:
Jiang Qingshi: Whether she’s my biological daughter or not doesn’t matter, but the chickens must be taken! [dog head]