Jiang’s father, receiving a signal from his youngest daughter, glanced at the items brought by the country bumpkin. What he saw astonished him.
Two cases of Maotai, a carton of Huaizi cigarettes, a leather bag, a belt, and many other things they couldn't identify, but judging by their packaging, they were all luxurious and clearly expensive.
Damn it, this gift for visiting was truly substantial, especially in contrast to Hong Baobao arriving empty-handed, it seemed even more precious.
But such a grand gesture wasn't something a country bumpkin could afford.
Could this Zhang Liunian have some other identity?
“Cough, cough, Director Hong, regarding our matter, let’s postpone it for now. How about this, I’ll personally visit you tonight to discuss it.” Jiang’s father, realizing Zhang Liunian might not be simple, immediately helped Hong Baobao towards the door.
But who was Hong Baobao?
He wasn't someone who could be called at will and dismissed just as easily. No matter how nicely Jiang’s father spoke, he wouldn't accept a bird in the hand flying away.
“Get out of my way. I must drive this man of unknown origin away today.”
Hong Baobao pushed Jiang’s father’s hand aside, glaring at Zhang Liunian. “You son of a bitch, you want to fight me for a woman? I’m telling you, before Qingqing went to the countryside, we almost got together. Now that she’s finally back, we naturally want to rekindle our past. Be sensible and get out now, or don’t blame me for being impolite.”
Hong Baobao’s boastful words sounded impressive, and if one ignored his trembling legs, he almost seemed convincing.
But Zhang Liunian had already taken in his fear, raising an eyebrow coldly. “I think you want to leave here on your back today.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Liunian lifted his leg, preparing to kick him again.
Seeing this, Hong Baobao instinctively jumped back several steps, hiding behind Jiang’s father and pretending to be calm.
“You brute, all you know is to use your fists and feet. You truly are a simple-minded, muscle-bound countryman.” Halfway through his sentence, seeing Zhang Liunian approaching and making a move, he changed his tune. “Never mind, I have other things to do. I’ll come back later to settle the score with you.”
Finding an easy way out, Hong Baobao quickly rushed out of the Jiang family's door.
“……” The entire Jiang family watched his fleeing back, suddenly realizing their judgment might be flawed.
Initially, they considered Hong Baobao a decent person with income and a household registration. But when he encountered a country bumpkin, he acted like a mouse meeting a cat, getting scared after just one blow.
In contrast, Zhang Liunian, despite coming from the countryside, outshone Hong Baobao in both appearance and demeanor.
Compared this way, it was clear they lacked foresight.
“Well, your name is Zhang Liunian, isn’t it? Please sit down, let’s talk!” Jiang’s father, realizing the potential of this son-in-law, nervously rubbed his fingers, inviting him to sit.
Zhang Liunian remained silent, his gaze fixed on Jiang Qingqing in his arms, wanting to know her thoughts.
Jiang Qingqing also looked up at this moment, but she didn't express her opinion. With tear-reddened eyes, she looked at Zhang Liunian, as if she had suffered great injustice.
As a man, it was natural to stand up for his wife when she was wronged.
“Before that, I think you need to apologize to my Qingqing. Although she is your daughter, she has human rights and self-respect. She is not your puppet. You have no right to restrict her personal freedom, nor do you have any reason to bully her using blood ties.” Zhang Liunian’s face was stern as he spoke, each word piercing the Jiang family’s pride.
Hearing this, Jiang Qingqing’s tears flowed even more torrentially. She knew that only Liunian could understand her. As long as he was here, she wouldn't be bullied.
“What kind of talk is that? Qingqing is my daughter, how could I harm her?”
Jiang’s father’s face turned ashen. Was it wrong for him to discipline his daughter?
What was wrong with him wanting his daughter to live a good life?
And to expect them, her parents, to apologize to their daughter? That was absolutely impossible.
“Third sister, Mom and Dad are thinking of your happiness, so don’t misunderstand them. Are you really angry with Mom and Dad?” Jiang Xiaoqing stepped forward at the opportune moment to show her concern.
But her saccharine words made Zhang Liunian frown.
“Yes, third sister, you’ve really misunderstood us. Your elder brother and I heard that you were deceived by a country bumpkin and were living a hard life, so we brought you back. Now it seems there’s been some misunderstanding. Please don’t resent us. We truly meant well for you.”
The speaker was Jiang Qingqing’s elder sister-in-law, Su Hong. She and Su Jie were distantly related, more than five degrees removed, and their relationship hadn't been particularly good before.
The reason she stepped forward to explain now was because she had seen the gifts Zhang Liunian brought, which did not seem like something a country bumpkin could afford.
If Zhang Liunian had a respectable identity or wealth, they couldn't afford to offend him.
“For my own good, so you disregard my wishes and want to marry me off? For my own good, you brought me back to Jiangcheng without a word, ignoring that I was still in confinement? You are truly doing this for my own good. I’m so touched I could cry.” Jiang Qingqing, perhaps ignited by something Su Hong said, raised her head and fired back at Su Hong.
Seeing her sister-in-law suddenly become assertive, Su Hong’s face turned ugly. “Third sister, why are you taking your anger out on me? We were just following father’s orders, we didn’t force you to come back.”
This sister-in-law, after years of absence, had truly changed. Could marriage change someone so much?
Before, although she was clear-headed, she didn't dare to challenge them. Now, not only did she dare to challenge, but she would also retort and curse. She had indeed gained a lot of confidence.
“Alright Qingqing, bringing you back was my idea, because I heard you weren’t doing well. As for the matter with Hong Baobao, that was also my idea, because if you weren’t doing well, I wanted to help you regain a good life. You don’t need to hate me. This was indeed Dad’s idea, but I didn’t expect you to be so reluctant to part with this Zhang Liunian.
Now that he’s here, you two as husband and wife can sit down, and we’ll settle everything.”
Seeing that Hong Baobao was gone and there were no outsiders, Jiang’s father sat down grandly in the main seat, assuming an elder’s posture.
Zhang Liunian raised an eyebrow and sneered, “Do I need to repeat myself? Apologize to my Qingqing first, and then we might have a chance to sit down.”
“Who do you think you are? Talking to your father-in-law like that, you truly are a poor boy from the countryside, disrespectful and lacking in manners.” Jiang Qingshan couldn’t stand it and stepped forward, yelling at Zhang Liunian’s nose.
He had long found Zhang Liunian displeasing. Ever since he had repelled his hand, he had considered Zhang Liunian a scoundrel.
“It seems there are few sensible people in the Jiang family. Qingqing, let’s go. There’s no need to come here again in the future.” Zhang Liunian scanned the crowd, noticing their varied expressions, and turned to leave with Jiang Qingqing.
Jiang Qingqing nodded without speaking, obediently following Zhang Liunian’s footsteps.
“Unfilial daughter, scoundrel.” Jiang’s father was furious and rushed out, only to see Zhang Liunian opening the car door and carefully helping his daughter into the car.
Jiang’s father recognized the car, as did most of the following Jiang family members. It was a Liberation-model sedan, a car exclusively used by government agencies.
How could this man from the countryside have such a car?
Could it be that their entire family had been fooled by Su Jie?