Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Calm Restored, Yet Winds Rise Again

Grandpa Hu was irritated by his granddaughter’s cries and angrily said, “Shut up! Why are you crying? You have the nerve to cry. I told you not to leave the house and stay home obediently, why didn’t you listen!”

Hu Xiaoqing was startled by her grandfather’s “Shut up,” her sobs paused, and then she felt wronged when he scolded her again. She didn’t dare cry loudly and couldn’t help but sob again.

Mrs. Hu, feeling sorry, tried to console her daughter while also feeling resentment towards the Jiang Family and blaming her daughter’s lack of effort. Seeing Jiang Yan standing there as if nothing had happened, she couldn’t help but become agitated, saying, “Jiang Yan, tell me, what have you done? Why has my daughter had to suffer because of you…”

“Aunt Hu, you’re mistaken.” Jiang Yan replied calmly, without emotion, “I was walking just fine in front, why did she insist on throwing herself at me? I just stepped aside to distance myself from her, is that wrong?”

As soon as he said this, Mr. Hu, Mrs. Hu, and Grandpa Hu all turned red with anger at their daughter’s lack of self-respect.

The Hu Family knew their own matters. They all knew Hu Xiaoqing liked Jiang Yan, and that Jiang Yan didn’t like her back. They had told her to give up, but she wouldn’t listen.

“Couldn’t you have just helped her up? After all, you grew up together.” Mrs. Hu felt upset and complained.

But Jiang Yan’s next words nearly made her faint from anger…

“No, I still want to marry a wife clean and pure.”

The hearts of the Hu Family sank… Wasn’t he implying that touching their daughter would make him unclean? How much did he dislike their daughter…

“Heh, Xiao Yan has a girlfriend?” Mr. Hu forced a laugh, feeling a bit smug, as he had considered Jiang Yan as a son-in-law, but Jiang Yan’s words were too dismissive of the Hu Family.

“No.” Jiang Yan couldn’t help but picture Wang Miaomiao, but he didn’t admit it. It wasn’t the right time to mention such matters, “However, eventually, I will find one. We soldiers must conduct ourselves with integrity and set a good example!”

Cheng Xue had already seated herself beside Grandma Jiang, resting her face on her shoulder, her body shaking slightly, seemingly unable to hold back laughter…

“You…” Mr. Hu wanted to say something more but was interrupted by Grandpa Hu.

“Alright, stop talking.” Grandpa Hu spoke, and Mr. Hu fell silent, but he inwardly resented the Jiang Family.

“Xiao Yan, this is our Xiaoqing’s fault, Grandpa’s here to apologize to you.”

“Grandpa Hu, there’s no need for that. I also have my faults.” Jiang Yan maintained a respectful attitude towards Grandpa Hu.

“Hmm, good.” Grandpa Hu was satisfied with Jiang Yan’s respectful attitude, “I’ll have your Uncle Hu arrange for Xiaoqing to join the cultural work group, she won’t bother you anymore.”

“Grandpa, I don’t want to.” As soon as Hu Xiaoqing heard this, she stopped crying and immediately opposed it. She didn’t want to join the military, let alone the cultural work group, where training was exhausting and miserable.

“Shut up and listen to your grandfather.” Mr. Hu agreed with the decision as well; their daughter was already twenty and still idling at home without any occupation. She needed discipline to channel her energy away from being infatuated all day.

Hu Xiaoqing wanted to argue but was pulled back by Mrs. Hu, who pinched the back of her hand.

The pain made her stop. She looked at Mrs. Hu in disbelief, who had a stern expression, motioning silently, “Shut up!”

Seeing that even her usually kind and gentle mother was angry, Hu Xiaoqing dared not argue anymore and unwillingly closed her mouth.

Old Master Jiang, seeing the Hu Family had stated their position, also expressed his view, “Heh, each generation finds its own way. We’re old and can’t control how young people think. It’s said that a forced melon isn’t sweet, and there’s some truth to that.”

“Right, right…” Jiang Zhongyi added, “Marriage is about the harmony between two families, but it should be built on mutual affection among the children. Otherwise, it would only result in an unhappy marriage, which benefits no one.”

Grandpa Hu laughed at this, “Lao Jiang speaks wisely, and Jiang Zhongyi is understanding.” He then turned to his son, “You should learn as well, think and act less presumptuously.”

Mr. Hu, unsure if he truly understood, obediently nodded in front of Grandpa Hu.

The two families exchanged a few polite words, and the Hu Family left with a reluctant Hu Xiaoqing.

As soon as the Hu Family left, Jiang Zhongyi got angry, “Jiang Yan, can’t you speak more tactfully? Offending the Hu Family, how does that benefit you?”

“Dad, I get it.” Although Jiang Yan didn’t think he had been overly harsh, he had to maintain his father’s dignity. Admitting fault wouldn’t hurt him, as long as it resolved the troublesome situation.

“That’s enough, no more talking, have dinner, and visit Hong Bing at the hospital afterward.” Old Master Jiang spoke, knowing some things weren’t suitable to discuss here.

In the kitchen, Aunt Li had already prepared dinner. Cheng Xue helped set the table and serve the dishes, prompting Jiang Zhongyi to praise, “Xiao Xue has grown and matured in her half-year away…”

Grandma Jiang smiled, “Yes, I’ve heard she was well taken care of at her classmate’s home. She even cooked two dishes today, learned from her classmate’s family… You should all try it…”

“Is that so? Then I’ve got to try it…” Jiang Zhongyi, stern and authoritative with outsiders, appeared approachable and amiable at home, more so than Zheng Zhen, easily earning the children’s affection.

“Hmph… Can any good come from the countryside? Who knows what that family saw in that foolish girl, she wouldn’t even know if she was deceived.” Zheng Zhen, with her superior attitude, inherently looked down on rural folks.

“Grandma, how can you say that? I can feel whether the Wang Family’s kindness towards me is genuine or not. Please don’t tarnish my friendship with baseless assumptions.” Cheng Xue, bringing in dishes, overheard the conversation and felt truly pained. Her grandmother was becoming someone she increasingly disliked.

“You kids don’t know anything, you wouldn’t even realize if you were sold.” Zheng Zhen, angered by her granddaughter’s disrespectful retort, fumed.

“You’re the one who doesn’t understand, how could you not realize when you’re older than a child,” Jiang Zhongyi interjected before Cheng Xue could respond, “Hmph, looking down on rural people, the Jiang family has been honest farmers for three generations. When you go out, keep your mouth shut about things you shouldn’t say and don’t bring trouble to the Jiang Family!”

“You…” Zheng Zhen, humiliated in front of the younger generation, was embarrassed, “You’re just fed up with me, afraid my family’s background will drag down the Jiang Family. Then why did you marry me back then…”

Jiang Zhongyi, finding her unreasonable and increasingly obstinate with age, was frustrated by her penchant for making decisions and temper tantrums, so he said, “If you know your family background isn’t glorious, then keep a low profile!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep