Jiang Youli looked at Old Master Jiang with a firm, candid gaze and said without the slightest attempt to hide her feelings, “Grandpa, aren’t you asking something you already know the answer to? Do you really think I’m not angry with them at all?”
Meeting Jiang Youli’s eyes, Old Master Jiang let out a deep sigh. A hint of helplessness and guilt showed on his face as he slowly said, “I know that almost all of the Jiang family’s businesses have been handed over to you now, and I no longer have the right to ask you to do anything. The only reason you’re not angry is because I’m your grandfather.”
Jiang Youli spoke bluntly. “It’s good that you understand, Grandpa. The only reason I was willing to turn a blind eye to your tacit approval of Jiang Yangxu’s family coming to pick us up today is because when I first returned to the Jiang family, you at least acknowledged me as your granddaughter. You didn’t look down on me or treat me differently just because I had been brought back from the countryside. So naturally, I won’t treat you the same way I treat Jiang Yangxu’s family.”
Old Master Jiang was silent for a moment, seemingly reflecting on her words. Then he raised his head and stared at Jiang Youli before asking directly, “Youli, tell me the truth. Have you really made up your mind never to forgive your second uncle, second aunt, and their family for the rest of your life?”
Jiang Youli answered without hesitation, “Grandpa, you haven’t known me for very long, but you should understand my personality by now. I will never forgive them for what they’ve done.”
Old Master Jiang sighed. “So be it. Asking you to forgive your second uncle and second aunt is indeed too much. But I still selfishly hope that you can spare Jiang Xing’s life and remove the poison from his body.”
“Youli, you don’t need to deny it. I know that Jiang Xing must have been poisoned by you.”
Jiang Youli smiled. “I wasn’t planning to deny it this time. But I want to make one thing clear: I poisoned him because the first time he saw me, he intended to stand up for Jiang Yonghe and ruin my face.”
Old Master Jiang was silent for a while before saying helplessly, “Jiang Xing did bring it upon himself.”
Even so, a uniquely elderly, pitiful look appeared in his eyes. “But no matter what, Jiang Xing is still my eldest grandson. I don’t want to suffer the pain of a white-haired parent burying a child. Youli, I’m begging you to spare Jiang Xing. Can you do that?”
“So this is what you really wanted, Grandpa.” Jiang Youli smiled faintly.
Old Master Jiang gave a quiet hum. “Youli, can you grant your grandfather this final request?”
Jiang Youli smiled. “Grandpa, as you said, almost all of the Jiang family’s businesses are now in my hands. I could easily refuse to do you this favor.”
Old Master Jiang’s expression became conflicted.
“But since you’ve asked me yourself, Grandpa, I won’t really refuse you. However, let me make this clear first: I can agree to it this once. If they ever try to do anything to hurt me again, I will not let them off.”
Besides, she hadn’t truly removed the poison. She had merely made the poison in Jiang Xing’s body temporarily dormant, just as she had done with Qi Feixue.
The moment they made any move against her, she would make the poison flare up again.
Seeing that his granddaughter had agreed, Old Master Jiang breathed a long sigh of relief and said solemnly, “If they dare to lose their heads and do something foolish again, then they’ll have brought it upon themselves. Whatever happens to them, they’ll deserve it.”
…
By the time they arrived at the Jiang residence, it was already six-thirty.
Since it was already the end of October, night fell quickly in the capital. By then, it was almost completely dark.
Jiang Youli got out of the car first, then turned around to help Old Master Jiang out.
As soon as Old Master Jiang was steady on his feet, Jiang Yangxu hurried over after getting out of the car. With concern written all over his face, he said, “Dad, let me help you.”
Unexpectedly, Old Master Jiang did not appreciate the gesture. He shook Jiang Yangxu’s hand away. “My precious granddaughter is helping me just fine. Who needs you meddling?”
Jiang Yangxu withdrew his hand, his eyes filled with embarrassment and resentment.
Judging by the old master’s attitude, could it be that he still hadn’t gotten over what had happened after all this time? Was he really not planning to let their family move back in?
No matter what, he was still his own son!
Jiang Zhao and Jiang Xing were his own grandsons as well!
“Stop wasting your effort trying to curry favor with Dad,” Jiang Yehan said. “Dad listens to Youli now. As long as Youli doesn’t intend to forgive you, none of you can even dream of moving back into the Jiang residence.”
With that, Jiang Yehan took Zhang Susu’s hand and followed Jiang Youli and Old Master Jiang inside.
Hearing this, Qin Yulian watched the backs of the couple in front of her and said bitterly, “What’s there for your eldest brother to be so pleased about? If he hadn’t taken our daughter away from us, would he have what he has today? In the end, he’s only relying on our biological daughter. Doesn’t he have any shame?”
Jiang Zhao reminded her again, “Mom, don’t say things like that in front of Grandpa and Youli.”
“I know. For the sake of Xing’er’s poison, I can endure it!” Qin Yulian took a deep breath.
Jiang Xing was suffering terribly inside. He simply couldn’t accept that he had now become a burden to his family.
Jiang Zhao comforted him. “Big Brother, don’t worry. Grandpa will definitely plead with Youli on your behalf. He can’t really bear to watch you suffer until you’d be better off dead.”
Jiang Xing gave a bitter laugh. “Let’s hope so. Come on. We’ll know soon enough whether there’s any chance of getting rid of the poison in my body.”
As he spoke, he limped after them.
Watching her son struggle forward on one leg, Jiang Yangxu still found it impossible to accept how everything had changed.
Once, their family had been happy and their life prosperous. Yet in the blink of an eye, everything had become so miserable.
His eldest son, Jiang Xing, had not only lost a leg but was also tormented every day by the deadly poison in his body, reduced to a state worse than death!
As for Jiang Yangxu himself, he had lost a little finger, leaving a permanent blemish on his life!
His goal was not merely to have the poison removed from his eldest son’s body. He also intended to reclaim everything that had originally belonged to him—the Jiang family’s assets!
And that wasn’t all. He would never forgive his own daughter, Jiang Youli!
Even if their family had wronged her in many ways, she was still his biological daughter. She had no right to overstep her position and bring such ruin upon their family!
…
Since Jiang Yangxu’s family was there as well, they had dinner at Old Master Jiang’s residence.
“Here, Grandpa. I specifically used the medicinal ingredients I developed to have the kitchen prepare this nourishing soup for you. Drinking it will help prolong your life.”
Jiang Youli rose from her seat and personally ladled a bowl of soup for Old Master Jiang.
“Good girl, my precious granddaughter.” Old Master Jiang grinned from ear to ear.
Afterward, Jiang Youli ladled a bowl for Pretty Mom as well. “Mom, you should have some too. This medicinal soup can replenish your qi and blood and help preserve your beauty.”
“All right.” Zhang Susu smiled happily.
When Qin Yulian heard that it could preserve her beauty, she lifted her bowl and held it out toward Jiang Youli. “Youli, give me a bowl too.”
Jiang Youli raised her eyes and glanced at her. “Mrs. Qin Yulian, how do you have the nerve to ask me to serve you soup? You really have no self-awareness at all.”
That little wretch!
Not a single thing she said was pleasant to hear!
Suppressing her anger, Qin Yulian forced a smile. “…It’s fine. I’ll serve myself.”
Jiang Youli sneered. “The medicinal ingredients in this soup were developed by me. A single plant is worth tens of millions. Do you really think you’re worthy of eating it? And you don’t even need me to serve you.”
Qin Yulian: “…”
Forcing a smile, she said, “All right, then I won’t have any. I’ll leave more for your grandfather.”
Jiang Youli served a bowl to Handsome Dad before filling one for herself.
Old Master Jiang took a sip and praised it despite himself. “Although it’s made with medicinal herbs, it doesn’t smell unpleasant at all.”
Seeing that Old Master Jiang seemed to be in a good mood, Jiang Zhao seized the opportunity to speak. “Grandpa, about what I mentioned earlier regarding Big Brother…”
Old Master Jiang glanced at his eldest grandson, Jiang Xing, then scooped up another spoonful of the medicinal soup. “Eat first. We’ll talk after everyone’s had their fill.”
