Faced with the villagers’ remarks, Jiang Xing’s expression grew increasingly grim.
Still, he forced himself to stay calm and asked, “Excuse me, where was Xiao Li’s herb garden? Who is taking care of it now?”
The villagers looked at him with disdain.
“What? You’ve still got your eyes on Girl Li’s herb garden? The medicinal herbs in her garden are all extremely valuable! Why would we tell you?”
“If you dare go to Girl Li’s herb garden and cause any trouble, we’ll beat you to a pulp!”
Jiang Xing hurriedly explained, “That’s not it. Xiao Li isn’t here right now. I just want to look after the herb garden she left behind for her…”
“Pah! Who are you trying to fool with that act of kindness?”
“A pampered young master like you, who’s never known hardship, thinks he can handle that kind of work? I’d say you’re broke now and want to steal the herbs from Girl Li’s garden to sell!”
“Come on, let’s go. Don’t waste time talking to him. In a few days, once he gets bored, he’ll leave on his own.”
Watching the villagers go about their work, Jiang Xing suddenly felt deeply defeated.
As Xiao Li’s biological brother, he had once been worse than these villagers.
The villagers had no blood relation to Xiao Li, yet they cared so deeply for her. But he, blinded by arrogance and pride, had hurt her so badly.
No matter what, he would persist until these villagers changed their opinion of him.
If he could not even win over these villagers, how could he dare hope that his sister, Xiao Li, would ever see him differently?
…
When Qin Yulian returned to the rented apartment, she found her husband, Jiang Yangxu, on the phone, his voice agitated.
“Principal Wang, we’ve known each other for years, haven’t we? I’m only asking you to create a few obstacles regarding the purchase of medical equipment while my eldest brother is in charge. You can’t even help me with something this minor?”
“With my abilities, I’ll take Jiang Medical back sooner or later. When I do, I’ll give you another one-percent discount.”
“Mr. Wang, I suggest you reconsider my proposal.”
After Jiang Yangxu hung up, Qin Yulian poured him a cup of tea and said angrily, “Xing’er disappeared, and I thought something had happened to him. I went to Starlight Entertainment to make a scene, and only then did Zhao’er finally tell me that Xing’er had run off to Jianshan Village.”
“You know Jianshan Village, right? The village our daughter used to live in. He’s a young master from a wealthy family—what on earth is he doing in that godforsaken place?”
“I’m furious! And what makes me even angrier is that ever since Xing’er was kicked out of Starlight Entertainment, even the female employees at the company have dared to set their sights on marrying him!”
When Jiang Yangxu learned that the eldest son he had painstakingly groomed had suffered a setback and then hidden himself away in a village, he flew into such a rage that he smashed the teacup in his hand.
“That useless bastard! I worked so hard to pave the way for him, not so I could watch him sink into despair! Does he really intend to hand the entire Jiang family fortune over to others?”
“Yang Xu, don’t be angry. I’ll go to the village and bring Xing’er back at once.” Qin Yulian rose to her feet as she spoke. “No matter what it takes, I’ll bring him back! I absolutely won’t let him waste away in some backwater like Jianshan Village!”
Jiang Yangxu had originally wanted to tell her not to waste her effort, but then he seemed to think of something. He waved a hand. “Fine. Go to the village and bring Jiang Xing back.”
“Okay.” Qin Yulian picked up the bag containing the car keys and her phone. Without taking anything else, she headed out at once.
After his wife left, Jiang Yangxu’s expression grew increasingly cold.
He lowered his head and stared fixedly at the little finger that had been cut off.
He would never forget this hatred!
He truly could not deal with that wretched girl Jiang Youli right now, but he could have Long Yuan do it for him. All he needed was for his family to suffer a few injuries.
With that in mind, Jiang Yangxu put on his coat, left the rented apartment, and headed for the Long residence.
…
Long residence.
In the spacious living room, Old Madam Long was leisurely savoring her tea. Her face was kindly, yet carried an air of authority. Suddenly, hurried footsteps shattered the calm. The butler rushed in from outside, his expression panicked, and reported, “Old Madam, something terrible has happened. Jiang Li has fainted in the ancestral hall!”
Old Madam Long’s brows drew together slightly. She gave a cold snort. “Bring her to me.”
Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable decisiveness.
Ever since Old Madam Long’s second son had been sent to prison, the fury in her heart had erupted like a volcano. Jiang Li, as the second son’s wife, naturally became the target of Old Madam Long’s resentment. She had been locked in the ancestral hall and deprived of her freedom, forced to spend each day within that cramped space.
What was more, Old Madam Long tormented her in every possible way. Jiang Li was given only one meal a day, and it was always nothing but plain, coarse food. Worse still, she was required to copy Buddhist scriptures every day to atone for her so-called “sins.”
Before long, Jiang Li’s lifeless body, like a rag doll, was roughly dragged into the room and tossed carelessly onto the cold floor as though she were garbage.
Old Madam Long sat on the sofa without expression, her sharp eyes fixed on Jiang Li on the floor like those of a hawk. Jiang Li’s face was as pale as paper, and she was so thin and frail that it seemed a gust of wind could knock her over, making her a pitiable sight.
Yet there was not the slightest trace of sympathy in Old Madam Long’s heart.
She said coldly, “Bring a basin of water. Splash it on her and wake her up.”
The butler did not dare delay. He immediately instructed a servant to bring over a basin of water.
The water was icy cold. Without hesitation, the servant poured the entire basin over Jiang Li’s head.
“Cough, cough…” Startled by the sudden cold, Jiang Li began coughing violently, her body shivering uncontrollably.
Only after a long while did she slowly open her eyes.
The moment she saw that Old Madam Long was seated before her, Jiang Li’s face turned deathly pale. Enduring her discomfort, she used her trembling hands to support her weak, frail body and struggled up from the floor. Then she dropped to her knees and pleaded with Old Madam Long, “Mom…”
Before she could finish, Old Madam Long cut her off mercilessly. “Don’t call me Mom! My son was sent to prison by that precious niece of yours, and you still have the nerve to call me Mom?”
Jiang Li’s lips trembled slightly, tears welling up in her eyes. Yet she struggled to keep her voice calm. “Mom, I’ve already severed all ties with the Jiang family... Mom, please let me go.”
“Let you go? Then who’s going to spare my son?” Old Madam Long’s face was twisted with fury, her voice thunderous. “If it weren’t for the fact that you gave the Long family a grandson, I would have shown you no mercy long ago and taught you a harsh lesson!”
Frightened by Old Madam Long’s imposing manner, Jiang Li trembled from head to toe. Her face was as pale as paper as she lowered her head, scarcely daring to breathe, afraid of provoking the formidable old woman even further.
“For every extra day my son spends in prison, don’t expect to have a single good day in the Long family!” Old Madam Long’s words struck Jiang Li’s heart like a heavy hammer, filling her with despair.
At the same time, a deep resentment burned within her.
It was all Jiang Youli’s fault!
If Jiang Youli hadn’t sent her husband, Long Junyu, to prison, how could Old Madam Long have tormented her like this?
