Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Protecting His Wife (New) Jiang Shixu had just returned home when Old Mrs. Jiang sent him to the study to speak with Father Jiang. After finishing that conversation, he had just stepped out of the elevator when he heard Old Mrs. Jiang aggressively ordering Chu Tang to serve the dishes. The man walked over with measured steps, his tone casual and indifferent. "Grandmother, has our family run out of money to pay the servants? Since when do we need guests to serve the dishes?" Seeing Jiang Shixu coming downstairs, Old Mrs. Jiang found it difficult to continue making things difficult for Ruan Chutang. She set down her teacup, her smile perfectly composed. "Grandmother just wanted to see if this girl Chutang knows how to be obedient." Jiang Shixu wasn't buying it. His tone turned slightly deeper. "My Tangtang doesn't need to be obedient. She just needs to be happy." Old Mrs. Jiang's expression turned grim. "Shixu, are you blaming your grandmother?" It seemed Xuanxuan was right—this Ruan Chutang had cast some kind of spell on Shixu. He was actually talking back to her, his own grandmother, for this Ruan Chutang's sake. Jiang Shixu's lips pressed into a thin line, his cold, handsome features hardening. The very air around him seemed to freeze with chill. "How would I dare?" Jiang Shixu said coldly. "Grandmother, Tangtang is someone your grandson waited many years for. Please don't try to tear us apart. If Tangtang gets upset and refuses to marry me, then I'll go become a monk and devote myself to Buddha." Chu Tang was momentarily stunned by these words. She hadn't expected Jiang Shixu to defend her so fiercely in front of the Jiang family, nor to openly admit that he had waited many years for her, placing himself in such a humble position. Chu Tang's heart trembled. The grievance she had felt from being harassed by the old lady moments ago dissipated like smoke, replaced by a heart full of sweetness—as if she were soaking in a jar of honey. These words infuriated the old lady. "You... nonsense! What kind of foolish talk is this?!" When she got agitated, her old ailment flared up, and her heart felt uncomfortable. Xu Jingxuan supported the old lady, frantically patting her chest to soothe her. "Grandmother, please don't be angry." She lowered her eyelashes to hide the jealousy in her eyes. Jiang Shixu's gaze was deep and dark as he glanced at Xu Jingxuan, his eyes probing. "Did you say something bad about Tangtang in front of Grandmother?" Xu Jingxuan's spine stiffened. She swallowed hard, a flicker of panic flashing through her eyes. "I... I didn't..." Jiang Shixu narrowed his eyes, studying her with a gaze as cold as the late spring chill, speaking each word deliberately. "You'd better not have." Xu Jingxuan broke out in a cold sweat from fright. "Alright, alright, time to eat." Lin Yueying stepped in with a smile to ease the tension. The dining room on the first floor alone spanned over a hundred square meters, decorated in an elegant, antique style with great taste. The dining table and chairs were made of golden nanmu wood, and the decorative potted plants included crystal orchids worth over ten million yuan and famous peonies worth a million. Originally, Old Mrs. Jiang had intended for Ruan Chutang to serve the dishes, so she had specifically instructed the servants not to do so beforehand. Now that Jiang Shixu had interfered, her plan was forced to a halt, and she had to instruct the servants to serve the dishes instead. Elder Jiang was far away in the capital and couldn't return. At the rectangular dining table, Old Mrs. Jiang sat at the head, with Jiang Yi and Lin Yueying seated opposite each other at the two positions just below the head. Jiang Shixu and Chu Tang sat together, with Xu Jingxuan across from Chu Tang. After the servants finished serving the dishes, a bowl of daily soup was placed before each person. Except Chu Tang. Displeasure rose in Chu Tang's heart. She refused to believe that the Jiang family's servants would make such a low-level mistake. The only explanation was that the servants had been instructed by Old Mrs. Jiang to do this deliberately, with the purpose of grinding her down and putting her in her place. No matter how much she respected her elders, with Old Mrs. Jiang making things difficult for her again and again, Chu Tang could no longer tolerate it. She was just about to speak up and question Old Mrs. Jiang directly when the man beside her spoke first: "Grandmother, since when has our family become so poor that we can't even afford a bowl of daily soup?" The old lady's expression stiffened. She glanced at Ruan Chutang and said with a forced smile, "Perhaps the servants were too busy and forgot. We'll just add one." The servant nearby: "..." Jiang Shixu suddenly laughed. "Tangtang, there are people here who don't welcome us. Let's go." Jiang Shixu abruptly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor with a jarring sound. As Chu Tang stared in astonishment, Jiang Shixu had already taken her hand, saying softly, "I'll take you out to eat." Chu Tang was deeply moved. Jiang Shixu was openly confronting Old Mrs. Jiang for her sake. On one hand, she felt deeply touched. On the other, she felt a bit worried. She didn't want Jiang Shixu to fall out with his family because of her. Seeing Jiang Shixu about to leave, Old Mrs. Jiang shouted sternly, "Shixu!" "Grandmother, enjoy your meal. We won't be eating this one." Jiang Shixu held Chu Tang's hand. "I don't want my Tangtang to suffer any grievances." "Shixu..." Chu Tang hesitated. "Ah Xu, is that how you talk to your grandmother?" Jiang Yi said in a deep voice. Jiang Shixu's expression turned serious. "Let me make this clear today. Tangtang is a treasure I hold in the palm of my hand. I won't let her suffer even the slightest grievance. If this meal isn't enjoyable, then we won't eat it. And if there's anyone in this family who can't accept her..." Jiang Shixu paused. "If there's anyone in this family who can't accept her, then I simply won't come back anymore." After saying this, Jiang Shixu took Chu Tang's hand and turned to leave, ignoring the Jiang family members calling after him from behind. In the car. Chu Tang sat in the passenger seat, her expression worried. "Shi Xu, you argued with your family because of me. I'm afraid..." "Don't be afraid, Tangtang." Jiang Shixu gently squeezed Chu Tang's hand. "I'm here." "Will your grandmother hate me even more because of this?" "She deliberately made things difficult for you. I have to show my stance, or else she'll go even further next time." Chu Tang lowered her eyes, her lashes trembling slightly. "Your family doesn't seem to like me." "That's not true." Jiang Shixu comforted her. "Don't overthink it. My parents both like you very much, and so does Grandpa. As for Grandma, she has some misunderstandings about you. I'll clear things up with her." Chu Tang let out an absent-minded "Mm." Jiang Shixu gently pinched Chu Tang's cheek. "What does Tangtang want to eat? I'll take you somewhere nice." After that scene just now, Chu Tang was in a somewhat low mood and had lost her appetite. "I don't mind." Jiang Shixu drove her to a members-only upscale Chinese restaurant and ordered a table full of her favorite dishes. ... Meanwhile, after Jiang Shixu left, the atmosphere in the Jiang family dining room grew heavy. Jiang Yi let out a sigh and rubbed his temples helplessly. "Mom, why must you make things difficult for a young girl like Chu Tang? Has she done something to upset you?" Lin Yueying pursed her lips in silence beside him. When she had first married into the Jiang family, the old lady had treated her the same way. The old lady had tormented her daughter-in-law, and now she was using the same tactics on her granddaughter-in-law. She really knew how to stir up trouble. Wouldn't it be better to just get along peacefully? She simply couldn't understand it. The Ruan family's girl had an impeccable family background, was a perfect match for Shi Xu in status, was beautiful and delicate, and was gentle, polite, and well-bred in her dealings with others. Why was the old lady still dissatisfied, even nitpicking at her clothes and appearance? Elder Mrs. Jiang let out a cold laugh. "Did you see how Shi Xu treated me just now? In all these years, when has he ever talked back to me? Today he actually defied me over a woman. It must be that Ruan Chutang who instigated him." Lin Yueying sneered inwardly. Ha, it's clearly you who was looking for trouble. My son was just being a boss and protecting his wife—good for him. Jiang Yi said, "Mom, don't hold prejudice against the Ruan family's girl. She's not that kind of person. She's a good girl. Please stop making things difficult for her from now on." "Making things difficult for her? You don't know what she did to Xuanxuan a few days ago!"