Jiang Jinzhu returned home.
His mind was still dwelling on the glimpse he had just caught of his grandson.
He had grown taller, and the clothes he wore were well-fitted and decent.
He must be doing quite well at the Su family's house.
But... that was his grandson.
Jiang Jinzhu sat on the sofa and let out a long sigh.
The door was suddenly pushed open.
"Dad, we're back."
Jiang Jinzhu looked up and saw his son, Jiang Yinzhu, walking in, followed by his wife, Bai Mei, and their young grandson, Jiang Xiaobao.
Jiang Jinzhu's brows immediately furrowed. "What are you doing back here?"
Bai Mei piled a smile onto her face and set down the things in her hands. "Dad, isn't it the New Year holiday? We came back to spend the New Year with you."
She pushed Jiang Xiaobao forward a bit. "Aren't you going to say hello to Grandpa? Didn't you say you wanted to come play at Grandpa's place the most?"
Bai Mei knew that Jiang Jinzhu didn't like her.
She didn't like this father-in-law either, but she couldn't deny that he had money and power. He lived in the cadre compound and associated with people they could never reach.
Jiang Xiaobao was practically a second Su Lei.
He was also spoiled rotten at home.
But in front of Jiang Jinzhu, he didn't dare misbehave, timidly calling out, "Grandpa."
Jiang Jinzhu glanced over but didn't respond.
He stared at his son, Jiang Yinzhu, and said in a deep voice, "Let me ask you, when did you find out that Chengzhou had returned?"
Jiang Yinzhu froze for a moment, then unnaturally averted his gaze.
"I just ran into him at the bathhouse a few days ago."
"I knew it!" Jiang Jinzhu stood up abruptly. "If I hadn't asked, you probably still wouldn't admit it, would you?! You little brat! You knew and you still dared to hide it from me!"
Jiang Yinzhu took a step back. "Dad, if the Su family is willing to raise him, just let them. If you miss having a grandson, isn't there another one right here?"
He pointed at Jiang Xiaobao next to Bai Mei.
Jiang Jinzhu's temper immediately flared up.
"How is that the same?! That is Su Jia's son."
He looked around for something to hit him with.
Jiang Yinzhu quickly dodged to the door, shouting, "Su Jia has been dead for so many years, and you're still thinking about her..."
"You!" Jiang Jinzhu's hands trembled with anger as he cursed him for being an animal.
Bai Mei hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over. "Dad, don't be angry. Yinzhu is in the wrong here. You can hit him or scold him all you want, but don't make yourself sick with anger."
Jiang Jinzhu didn't give her any face either. "Mind your own business!"
Before Bai Mei married into the family, she had put on a very good act.
Jiang Yinzhu had also told him that Chengzhou was too young and needed someone to take care of him.
The two of them, being grown men, certainly couldn't be as meticulous in their care as Bai Mei.
Jiang Jinzhu hadn't agreed at the time; he had wanted to observe her a bit longer.
Besides, Su Jia hadn't been dead for long. Even if they wanted to find a stepmother to take care of Chengzhou, they shouldn't have been in such a rush.
But Jiang Yinzhu and Bai Mei secretly got their marriage certificate before telling him about it.
Jiang Jinzhu gave his son a beating.
But he couldn't force his son to divorce. After all, Bai Mei was only twenty-two at the time, while Jiang Yinzhu was in his thirties.
He had even thought that Bai Mei had been tricked into marriage by his brute of a son, and he couldn't let her bear the stigma of a divorce for nothing.
Jiang Yinzhu brought Chengzhou to interact with Bai Mei a few times.
Seeing that his grandson accepted her well, Jiang Jinzhu felt relieved.
Later on, if Su Lang hadn't stumbled upon it, Jiang Jinzhu would never have known how this couple was treating his grandson.
Thinking of this, his eyes suddenly blazed with fury. "Let me tell you, Chengzhou has nothing to do with you from now on. He is my grandson, and I am going to raise him!"
"Dad is right."
Bai Mei's words stunned the furious Jiang Jinzhu, as well as Jiang Yinzhu, who was standing far away.
Pretending not to notice the surprised looks from the father and son, Bai Mei continued, "How about this: let Yinzhu go to the Su family's house tomorrow. He is the child's biological father, so there's no reason for the Su family not to let him go."
Jiang Jinzhu looked at his daughter-in-law suspiciously.
He had figured it out after the fact.
Bai Mei's family background was poor.
A family of six crowded into a small house, relying solely on her father, a coal miner, to feed the whole household.
Although Jiang Yinzhu wasn't a good person and was older.
He was at least a minor leader in a factory. Plus, being a child of the compound, his material conditions were much better than the blind dates Bai Mei usually encountered.
Bai Mei was already in her twenties at the time. By marrying Jiang Yinzhu, she could immediately live a wealthy life and conveniently help out her maiden family.
Everyone is selfish.
In the early days, to win the favor of Jiang Yinzhu and himself, she had indeed treated Chengzhou very well.
But later, after she gave birth to a son, she thought she had secured her position.
Chengzhou then became a thorn in her side, competing with her son for resources.
Could someone like that actually suggest bringing Chengzhou back?
Bai Mei said with a beaming smile, "Dad, am I wrong?"
Jiang Jinzhu sneered, "I don't care if you're right or wrong. Chengzhou is my grandson and has nothing to do with you two!"
"Dad," Bai Mei's expression remained unchanged, "If Yinzhu doesn't go, can an old man like you bring Chengzhou back?"
"Rely on him?" Jiang Jinzhu scoffed disdainfully.
Bai Mei said, "Just let us try. We can talk about whether it works or not later."
Jiang Yinzhu wanted to say something, but Bai Mei held him back.
Jiang Jinzhu remained silent for a while. "Comrade Xu is in poor health. You are going there to beg them. Once you arrive at the Su family, you must let them hit and scold you as they please. You are not allowed to fight back or talk back, otherwise I will beat you to death when you get back!"
This meant he was relenting and agreeing.
Jiang Yinzhu's mouth moved, but Bai Mei quickly stopped him. "We understand, Dad. We'll go tomorrow."
Jiang Jinzhu waved his hand. "Alright, you can get lost now."
Bai Mei pulled her husband and son out together.
Just outside the door, Jiang Yinzhu complained, "Look at my dad. We kindly brought things back, didn't even get a sip of tea, and got kicked out again."
Bai Mei said softly, "Forget it, what we did before was wrong, and it's only natural for Dad to be angry. When Chengzhou comes back, we will make it up to him properly."
Bai Mei also regretted going to such extremes back then.
It was mainly because she had just given birth to a son at the time and her mindset had become a bit arrogant.
She also became even more intolerant of Jiang Chengzhou.
She hadn't expected Su Jia's brother to come over suddenly and catch Jiang Chengzhou washing diapers for her son, nor that it would blow up into such a huge deal in the end.
The outcome was neither good nor bad for Bai Mei.
The bad part was that old man Jiang Jinzhu was too stubborn.
Bai Mei thought that since she had given birth to a little grandson, Jiang Jinzhu would at least treat her better for his son's sake.
But things had actually gone in the complete opposite direction of what she expected.
Ever since Jiang Chengzhou was taken away, not only did Jiang Jinzhu not accept Jiang Xiaobao, but he also stopped giving Jiang Yinzhu his monthly allowance.
He claimed that the money he gave before was to raise Jiang Chengzhou.
Now that Jiang Chengzhou wasn't there, there was naturally no need to give them money.
Jiang Yinzhu tried many times, but he still couldn't get a single cent out of the old man's pockets.
That was the bad part.
But Jiang Chengzhou leaving the capital also had its good points for Bai Mei.
