CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 69: UNPROTECTED, FALLING INTO THE PREY’S NET

The pain on his face was intense. He wiped his face with his hand, staining it with blood, which further provoked Jiang Zhenghui into a monstrous state. He lifted his foot again, fast and hard, breaking two of her ribs with brutal force, as if trying to kick her to death.

The old lady, who wanted to remain beautiful alone, finally couldn’t bear it anymore. She came out and grabbed a broom, swinging it at Jiang Zhenghui.

The pain that suddenly hit Jiang Zhenghui brought him back a bit to his senses. He stopped his foot, but indignantly shouted at the old lady.

"Mom, I’m your real son. Why are you hitting me? It’s this woman who’s at fault. Am I wrong to teach her a lesson?"

"What kind of person who hits women can be a good person? Don’t think that just because you’re my son, I’ll always protect you. If you’re so capable, go outside and act tough. What kind of hero bullies a woman at home? If you’re that dissatisfied, why don’t you hit your old mother too?"

Jiang Zhenghui didn’t dare to hit the old lady.

Wu Cuilan’s injury left her bedridden for a week without improvement. Xu Feng had no choice but to grit her teeth and take out money set aside for funerals to get help transporting her to the town’s health clinic for treatment. She had just returned from town now.

When Jiang Mingyue’s spiritual power came over, it happened to be the moment Jiang Beishan was helping Wu Cuilan sit up.

"Mom, if you need anything, just call Grandma. I’m going to find Ning Yan."

"Stop." Wu Cuilan suddenly called out to her.

"What’s wrong, Mom?"

Wu Cuilan: "Don’t think I can’t see what you’re up to. Forget about Ning Yan. His heart has long been captivated by that vixen Zhenzhu. You’d better look for someone else. I think this Yang the Third is very good."

Jiang Beishan’s voice rose as if her tail had been stepped on, "Mom, I’m your daughter. How can you not wish for the best for your daughter? Anyone would think Zhenzhu was your daughter. Zhenzhu went to the city; only a fool would marry someone from the countryside. Besides, I grew up with Ning Yan. I might have liked him even earlier. Why should Zhenzhu always have the upper hand?"

Despite being misunderstood by her own daughter, Wu Cuilan did not get annoyed.

"Sigh!" She sighed, "It’s not that I don’t wish well for you. It’s that Ning Yan is no longer of use. We can only hold onto Zhenzhu now. She promised your grandma that once she is stable, she would help you and Beiyang find partners in the city. Are city people not better than some poor irritant from the countryside?"

Jiang Beishan finally softened, "But Mom, Zhenzhu has been in the city for almost three months, and there’s still no news? Could she be tricking us?"

Wu Cuilan’s face hardened as she said, "Would she dare? Your grandma has already sent a message to your brother, asking him to remind Zhenzhu. If there’s still no news, your grandma and I wouldn’t mind going to the city ourselves to find her."

To Jiang Beishan, marrying a city person was too tempting a prospect.

Once she’s married off, her in-law’s family would find her a job, and she’d be eating state grain. If she still liked Ning Yan, she could seduce him all the same. By then, it wouldn’t be her chasing after him, but him coming over with a snap of her fingers.

From a distance, Jiang Mingyue could only hear the conversation between the mother and daughter, unaware of Jiang Beishan’s inner thoughts.

It seems she still had to meet Jiang Beishan face-to-face to attack her memory sea.

However, it wasn’t without gain. So this is how Jiang Zhenzhu was keeping the old lady and her crew in check. Well, she wanted to see how Jiang Zhenzhu would help—is she going to set someone up, or simply crush the old lady and the second household?

But Jiang Mingyue thought Jiang Zhenzhu didn’t yet have the guts, and guessed someone would soon have bad luck.

******

In Nanxi City

Ever since Mrs. Cui rejected Jiang Zhenzhu as a daughter-in-law, Jiang Zhenzhu panicked.

She first went to Mrs. Cui’s workplace to gain favor, then bought her gifts, hoping to persuade Mrs. Cui to retract her refusal of the engagement. But who was Mrs. Cui? How could she not see through a young girl’s intentions? She simply refused to meet her, and no matter what Jiang Zhenzhu did, she couldn’t see Mrs. Cui.

Jiang Zhenzhu had to take Zheng Honglian’s advice and turned to find Cui Mingshi.

But the mother and son seemed to have planned it; they both avoided her.

Zheng Honglian, who had a good relationship with Xue Zongsheng, asked for his help, and Xue Zongsheng did her a favor.

Xue Zongsheng arranged a get-together, and a group of friends had a meal. Cui Mingshi didn’t expect Jiang Zhenzhu to be there too and immediately wanted to leave, but was persuaded to stay by Xue Zongsheng.

Jiang Zhenzhu was not in a good mood. She didn’t know where she went wrong to make him dislike her so much. She had intended to gain his favor. Him liking her would be more effective than anything, and Mrs. Cui’s opposition would be useless then.

But now, even Cui Mingshi had this attitude towards her, which left her feeling both shocked and angry.

It must be that bitch Jiang Mingyue who did something.

But clearly, last month, she had Jiang Mingyue tightly under control, with just an offhand comment enough to make her jump in fury. It was hard to like her; it didn’t make sense.

Could it be that she’d been pretending all along?

Didn’t seem like it.

Jiang Zhenzhu suddenly remembered that time when Jiang Zhenmei came to pick someone up, Jiang Mingyue, who had always shown her a sour face, treated her like air. She found it odd back then.

And that time in front of the department store, when Jiang Mingyue, that bitch, cornered that pair of men and women, she couldn’t deny it; if they hadn’t been arch-enemies, she’d have wanted to applaud. Courageous and resourceful, intricately plotting—that Jiang Mingyue, she almost suspected they were twins, just with similar looks.

Could there be a master teaching her?

Jiang Zhenzhu thought of Jiang Kangsheng’s attitude toward her. Although still gentle, perhaps she was sensitive, she felt a hint of disdain in Jiang Kangsheng’s eyes. But she’s his daughter! Weren’t things great when she first returned that month?

Being drifted away by Jiang Kangsheng didn’t bother her much since she was meant to marry off anyway.

But the fact that the man she fancied had no interest in her was driving her crazy.

Luckily, she had made some preparations.

Ning Yan still listened to her as always, ready to acquire anything she wanted.

People like Cui Mingshi were usually toasted by others at gatherings.

Having long been accustomed to it, he had developed a high tolerance. Yet today, after just two drinks, he started feeling dizzy and, fearing he’d really get drunk, got up to head to the restroom.

The Xue Family’s house had a toilet, and Cui Mingshi stayed there for quite a while before others outside started worrying.

Zheng Honglian said, "Xue, I think Cui might really be drunk; it could be dangerous for him to go back. Why don’t you have him stay over?"

Everyone being sharp, it hit him: "Do I even need you to teach me? Don’t worry. As for me, a big guy, it’s not like I’ll take care of him."

Zheng Honglian glanced at Jiang Zhenzhu and laughed, "That’s simple, isn’t it? Zhenzhu is engaged to Cui. It’s perfectly logical for his fiancée to stay and look after him."

Cui Mingshi didn’t know that tonight, he was the prey caught in a trap.

Returning from the restroom didn’t relieve his dizziness. Instead, he felt increasingly hot all over.

Considering his buddy’s well-being, Xue Zongsheng escorted him to a room to rest.

Then he handed the key to Jiang Zhenzhu.

Cui Mingshi was no fool. Once he calmed down in the room, he realized his drink had been swapped when he wasn’t paying attention.

The only question was whether Xue Zongsheng was involved. Hopefully not.

But right now, he knew he couldn’t stay, not even for a second longer.