Tang Nannan used a voice changer to call her ex-boyfriend, demanding he hand over the contract they had all worked on. Her ex-boyfriend recognized her within five seconds.
"Tang Nannan, is that you?"
"No wonder you suddenly came back to find me, no wonder my things were exposed. It was all your doing!"
"Didn't they say you'd been living a miserable life for the past two years? Didn't they say... whose coattails are you riding now? Who instructed you to do this?"
Tang Nannan cut to the chase, asking if he would hand it over. If not, she'd immediately send the video to the relevant department, and his future would be ruined.
Her ex-boyfriend flew into a rage, cursing her fiercely over the phone. Hu Jiasheng listened for a few moments and hung up.
"There's no point talking to someone like that. If he can't even control his own emotions, he's a giant baby. I'm sure a major incident like this will require his father to intervene. Why not call his father directly?"
His father's reaction was much calmer.
Upon hearing Tang Nannan wanted the contract, and concerned about his son's future, he calmly agreed.
Tang Nannan warned him, "Don't try any tricks, and don't think about retaliating. I've set up timed delivery. If I don't return by tomorrow, the information will go straight to the relevant department. We'll see."
To make them uneasy and cause them to panic, Hu Jiasheng deliberately set the deadline for tomorrow.
Tonight, he was sure these people would gather to discuss the contract.
As soon as someone panicked, they would reveal themselves.
Hu Jiasheng had already hired people to stake out the homes of the suspects, waiting to capture their mistakes.
However, the extent of the vested interests behind this matter was beyond their imagination.
Her ex-boyfriend's father had been in his position for nearly twenty years, yet he didn't even live to see the next morning. He collapsed at home in the middle of the night from a sudden heart attack.
And the video was sent to the relevant department even before Tang Nannan could.
Her ex-boyfriend and his father were abandoned as pawns overnight, rendering all of Hu Jiasheng and Tang Nannan's efforts in vain.
This was a truly disheartening outcome.
What were these people trying to cover up? How many more steps were needed to bring them down?
Tang Nannan and Hu Jiasheng fell into a state of confusion.
With such a major incident in Sucheng, Zhan Beijue naturally became aware of it.
Not only he, but even his mother, Zhan Mama, who was recovering abroad, found out.
As the young people were strategizing their next move, Zhan Mama called Zhan Beijue.
"I've booked a flight and will be back tomorrow."
She had only undergone major surgery a few months prior. While her condition had improved significantly, she was still quite frail.
With the current situation in the country, Zhan Beijue couldn't understand why she was returning.
Zhan Mama said, "Seeing the news of the incident, I can roughly guess what you've been busy with. I'm not bragging, but there are some things you can't accomplish without my help. There are many things you don't know, and never will."
Zhan Beijue, concerned for her health, didn't want her involved, but she insisted.
"If that shameless woman dares to bully you, I won't stand by and watch. She thinks I'm really on my last legs. I've never lost to her in my life, and this time will be no different."
"Even if I die, I'll die in my own country. And before I die, I'll take her down with me. I'm not discussing this with you; I'm informing you. Have things ready for me. Come pick me up on time."
With Zhan Mama's declaration, Zhan Beijue told Hu Jiasheng and Tang Nannan to pause their actions. The next day, he took Jiang Nanfang and the children to the airport to pick her up.
The old lady sat in a wheelchair. Although she looked thin and moved with difficulty, her makeup was exquisite, and she appeared spirited, like a warrior returning to battle.
Grandma had always been rigid and unyielding, unlike the gentle and loving figures portrayed in books and movies. Coupled with the fact that the children didn't interact with her much, they didn't particularly like her.
Jiang Nanfang had a strained relationship with her before. She visited her abroad during the Lunar New Year last year.
At that time, Grandma was at her worst, and she didn't have the energy to argue with Jiang Nanfang, so their interactions were relatively peaceful.
Upon her return today, as soon as her gaze fell upon Jiang Nanfang's stomach, Old Mrs. Zhan couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark.
"Pregnant again?"
She had never seen a mother who wasn't happy about her son having children.
Zhan Beijue doted on Jiang Nanfang immensely and couldn't stand her attitude.
He reached out and placed his hand on Jiang Nanfang's stomach.
"What kind of tone is that? Isn't getting pregnant a good thing? Grandpa is overjoyed. You're not allowed to say such nonsense."
Zhan Mama coldly withdrew her gaze from Jiang Nanfang's stomach and looked straight ahead.
She taunted Zhan Beijue, "You always tell me she's different from others, that she's particularly ambitious. I really don't see it."
"At such a young age, her sole focus is on having children to trap men. Don't let your daughter learn from her. She's not a good role model."
The children nearby overheard this and immediately became unhappy, especially Tiantian, who detested the old hag intensely.
Usually, her mother didn't allow her to speak out, so she kept her anger to herself. Today, she finally found an opportunity.
"Grandma speaks so nastily. Daddy is always pestering Mommy to have more children for him, but Mommy disagrees. We all talk nicely to Mommy, and finally, we have a younger sibling, but you say Mommy is unambitious."
"Grandma is like the wicked witch from animated movies, not likable at all!"
Before Jiang Nanfang could stop Tiantian, Jing Yu chimed in to support his sister.
"Exactly. I think the most unambitious thing about Mommy is that she doesn't dare to say a word when Grandma bullies her."
"We're all people. You're not her biological mother, so why do you always scold her?"
"Books say grandmothers are gentle and loving, but you're nothing like that."
Zhan Beijue knew Jiang Nanfang had never coached the children like this behind his back; these were their own thoughts. However, Zhan Mama didn't.
Upon hearing this, her face turned pale with anger.
"Zhan Beijue, listen to this. Listen to how your children are speaking to me! They've gone too far!"
The last time they met, they had managed to maintain a semblance of civility. Zhan Beijue thought the issue was resolved.
He hadn't expected the old lady to reignite the conflict as soon as she felt a bit better.
She was competitive and enjoyed bossing people around and finding fault. Now that she had met some people who couldn't tolerate being mistreated, it was truly troublesome.
"Alright, although the children may have said something inappropriate, you were indeed in the wrong first. I suggest everyone be more polite in the future. Elders should act like elders, and juniors should act like juniors. Do I need to explain such a simple principle again?"
Zhan太太 got into the van. Zhan Beijue had a caregiver accompany her and then turned to join Jiang Nanfang and the children in the back.
However, when he reached the door, Jiang Nanfang slammed it shut, locking him out.
Through the car window, Zhan Beijue looked at her helplessly.
"I don't think I did anything wrong, do I? You're still going to vent your anger on me?"
Jiang Nanfang ignored him and ordered the driver, "Let's go."