Chapter 423: Chapter 423: Seizing Power

Jiang Xinglan was also furious, “Aunt Qiu, you do nothing all day, just munching on seeds and gossiping about others. How has your mouth not rotted!”

Qiu Linghua spat out a shell loudly; if Jiang Xinglan hadn’t stopped her, she would have spat it into the flour.

Jiang Xinglan stepped forward and pushed her, sending her tumbling into the snow.

“You rotten hoof, kicked out after marriage and still want to hit me…”

Zhou Guizhi rushed over, grabbed her hair, and slammed her face into the snow. “Shameless creature, you insult my daughters, I’m going to fight you today!”

Qiu Linghua was dazed by the impact, shouting for help.

Jiang Xinglan stood motionless for a long time.

Her heart felt indescribably sour.

After Zhou Guizhi finished beating Qiu Linghua, she turned around to see Jiang Xinglan with tears all over her face and was startled. “Lan’er, don’t listen to that wicked woman’s nonsense. Your dad and I are delighted you’re back. You’re the apple of our eye; when you suffered at the Guo Family, your dad and I couldn’t sleep all night.”

Jiang Xinglan burst into tears, throwing herself into Zhou Guizhi’s arms, “I’ve embarrassed you!”

“Foolish girl!” Zhou Guizhi patted her back. “What embarrassment? You and Yinzi are doing well, that’s all we care about. Look, you neither eat our food nor wear our clothes, no one can say anything about you;

don’t take it to heart, be obedient. Your overthinking makes us uneasy, and even your grandparents aren’t happy!”

Jiang Xinglan wiped her face and nodded.

Qiu Linghua got up from the ground, “If not for the Shangjiang Team, could you support yourself?”

Before she could brush off the snow, Jiang Xinglan charged and kicked her, sending her sliding away, “Mind your own business!”

Qiu Linghua got up to run, but Zhou Guizhi grabbed her, “Don’t go, come with me to the Dong Family. I want to find out who’s been spreading rumors ruining my daughter’s reputation.”

She had Jiang Xinglan stay to mill the flour while she dragged Qiu Linghua along to the Dong Family. People followed to watch the spectacle, and by the time they reached the Dong Family’s entrance, the whole threshing floor was surrounded.

As the year-end approached, many intellectual youths were returning home, and the Shangjiang Team was on holiday. With nothing to do, anyone not watching the commotion was a fool.

The matter of promotion was indefinitely postponed. After Dong Jincheng inquired, he found out his father had an incident, digging into socialism’s corner, and was taken to the lock-up. At that moment, Dong Jincheng was thunderstruck.

He felt like the whole world mocked him; in the troop, everyone laughed at him.

He considered various options, but none worked.

Later, his spot was given to another who enlisted later than him. When it was time for discharge, the instructor talked to him, advising he request discharge proactively.

He had no choice but to return.

But he was thoroughly unwilling.

The Shangjiang Team was no place for anyone with the Dong surname anymore.

The Shangjiang Team was ruled by those with the Jiang surname.

Initially, he wanted to try, approached Dong Laosang, hoping to rally the Dongs to seize some power from the Jiangs, at least half of the important managerial positions in the team factories.

But no one responded, even clansmen treated him coldly.

Whenever he approached them, they backed away, avoiding him like a viper.

Dong Jincheng didn’t understand, then tried reaching out to his fool brother, only to be kicked out by Shen Jinju.

“We’ve separated, what do you want now? Good things don’t come our way, but for risky affairs you seek us?”

Later, he learned from Dong Youfu that Jiang Xingye had a promising fiancée, someone he’d never imagined from such a family in Yan City, with a father who was a martyr.

In the troop, he naturally heard of Xu Jing’an’s tales, envying Jiang Xingye until his eyes turned red.

How did Jiang Xingye get this stroke of luck?

If he had encountered Xu Qinghuan, even if his father committed murder, he’d still rise to fortune.

That’s why he had thoughts of marrying Jiang Xingmei.

He’s a high school graduate, cultivated by the troop for three years; it’s wasteful not achieving anything.

But he returned too late, his clansmen were useless, not securing any benefits in the factories to support him.

Moreover, his father’s actions tarnished their reputation, and he’s been home for so long without any matchmaker visits. Must he lower himself to plead matchmakers for a marriage proposal?

Since that’s the case, Jiang Xingmei, though having a broken engagement and damaged reputation, still offered some practical benefits if the marriage succeeded.

Dong Jincheng thought it was a sure thing!

Who would’ve known, Zhou Guizhi went and beat up his mom!

The Jiang Family actually thinks they’re so high up.

Dong Jincheng decided he might as well go all the way and use public opinion to cement this marriage!

Zhou Guizhi stormed in, and flipped the Dong Family’s table first thing.

Dong Jincheng was infuriated, teeth grinding; after his dad didn’t become village secretary, had their status fallen to this?

Back then, even the fool Dong Liangcheng could marry a pretty intellectual youth.

With his status, even a rejected second-hand wife wouldn’t consider him.

Dong Jincheng’s face was dark, “My mom wanted to suggest Xingmei for me. I originally didn’t want her; after all, she had a broken engagement. If she were good, why wouldn’t someone like Zhao Jianjun consider her?

We’ve grown up in the same village, out of that sentiment, I’m not picky.”

“Exactly. If you disagree, just say so. Why destroy our stuff?”

Sun Guihua stood firm with her son supporting her.

Zhou Guizhi had never been so enraged, now her daughter was suffering silently.

Xu Qinghuan saw Zhou Guizhi staggering, she stepped in to support her, “Of course we disagree. Why should Jiang Xingmei pick up your trash when you’re someone booted from the troop?

Speaking of growing up together, isn’t it just seeing our Jiang Family thrive and wanting to cling to us?”

Dong Jincheng’s face turned pale, “Xu Qinghuan, don’t use your sharp tongue to spew nonsense and slander. What grounds do you have to say the troop kicked me out? Apologize now, or I’ll report you for defamation.”

In the book, Dong Jincheng was promoted in the troop while the Dong Family flaunted their power.

Xu Qinghuan laughed, “You were preparing for promotion, so why were you discharged? The troop wants people with a clean background; can a convict’s son stay in the troop?

You should’ve returned long ago, only now because the organization advised you to apply voluntarily to return; isn’t that being kicked out?”

The members were abuzz with speculation.

Before this, Dong Jincheng had claimed his dad wasn’t home, siblings were young, his brother was ungrateful, and his mom called him back, making his return sound sacrificial.

This woman is truly a nuisance!

But undeniably, she’s uncommonly beautiful!

If only she were his.

How does Jiang Xingye, an illiterate nobody, deserve such a beauty?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep