Chapter 162: Truly Worthy of Being My Jiang Ran's Seed

"Our magazine has recently received several reader letters and anonymous phone calls questioning the veracity of our last issue's report on Chongsu, alleging we whitewashed problematic businesses, and even hinting that we took bribes from you."

Su Ruan's heart sank, but her tone remained steady: "Editor Shen, I'm sorry for the trouble. You and your team should know best whether the report's content is truthful."

"As for those doubts, the clean ones remain clean. We're willing to cooperate with your publication on any verification."

Shen Man sighed: "Boss Su, I believe in your character and our reporters' professionalism."

"But these voices do affect the magazine's reputation too. Our editor-in-chief's opinion is that it's probably not suitable to do any follow-up reports on Chongsu in the near future. I hope you can understand."

"I understand. Thank you for letting me know in advance."

Su Ruan hung up the phone, stood by the counter, and looked out at the bustling street, her heart turning ice-cold.

The siege of public opinion had begun.

They wanted to suppress them not only through official channels but also isolate them through public opinion.

Jiang Ran walked over, saw her pale face, and asked what had happened. Rage flared in his eyes, but he forcibly suppressed it.

He gripped Su Ruan's shoulders, turned her to face him, and looked firmly into her eyes: "Wife, don't panic."

"The more they want to drag us through the mud, the more we need to live brilliantly!"

"If the magazine won't report, fine—we'll let our clothes speak! Let our customers' word of mouth speak!"

"Once the Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation results come out, once we make achievements at the Incubation Park, let's see what those gossips can still say!"

The fire in his eyes and his unquestioning trust, like a beam of light, dispelled the chill in Su Ruan's heart. She nodded firmly.

Just then, the shop door was pushed open, and a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure walked in.

It was Lin Wei's mother.

She looked even more haggard and aged than when they'd last met outside the police station, carrying a very old cloth bag in her hand.

Seeing Su Ruan and Jiang Ran, she paused mid-step, a complex expression—shame mixed with resolve—crossing her face.

She walked to the counter, placed the cloth bag on the surface, and said in a hoarse voice: "Su... Boss Su, Boss Jiang, I'm not here today to plead for my worthless daughter. She deserves what she got."

"I'm... here to thank you, and to return some things."

Both Su Ruan and Jiang Ran were somewhat surprised.

The mother of Lin opened the cloth bag. Inside were several half-worn but good-quality children's clothes, along with a small stack of grain coupons and industrial coupons.

"These... were things that Ranran's mother and the neighbors gave us when our family was in difficulty."

"After Xiaowei's father passed, things were hard at home... I couldn't bear to use these things, and I had no face to return them. Now... it's time to return them to their rightful owners."

"I know this little bit doesn't amount to much, and it can't make up for the mistakes Xiaowei made... but it's my intention."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she bowed deeply: "I'm sorry, truly sorry... and thank you, for not... for not crushing our family back then."

Looking at the old woman's graying hair and stooped back, Su Ruan's heart was a mix of emotions.

She picked up the stack of grain coupons, pulled out a few, and pushed the rest back along with the clothes: "Auntie Lin, let the past be the past. We'll take these grain coupons. Take the clothes and the rest back. Life has to go on."

Lin's mother froze, tears finally falling, and left with endless thanks.

This small interlude was like a gentle breeze, a stark contrast to the storm raging outside.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Ru wrapped his arm around Su Ruan's shoulder and said softly: "See that, wife? Not everyone in this world is jealous and malicious. We walk upright and do good—someone always remembers."

That evening, Jiang Ran closed the shop early and went home with Su Ruan.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard laughter from the Main Hall—Jiang Nainai and Li Huijuan playing with the children, mixed with the babies' babbling responses.

"Daddy and Mommy are back!"

Li Huijuan came out holding Nian An.

The little girl was wearing a soft pink cotton jacket and a tiger-head hat made by Su Ruan with two little pom-poms. She was waving her little arms, and her big, black-grape-like eyes immediately curved into crescents when she saw Su Ruan and Jiang Ran. She made happy "ah, ah" sounds, leaning her body toward Su Ruan.

"Oh my, my little Nian An, missing Mommy?"

Su Ruan's heart instantly melted. She quickly took her daughter and kissed her soft, fragrant little cheeks again and again.

Nian An giggled from the kisses, her little hands grabbing randomly at Su Ruan's hair.

On the other side, Jiang Jianguo was holding Jinjin on a rattan chair.

The little guy was wearing a matching blue cotton jacket, his brow habitually slightly furrowed. But when he saw Jiang Ran, he also became noticeably excited, kicking his little feet in his grandfather's lap and making "mm, oh" sounds as if greeting him.

Jiang Ran leaned in and gently rubbed his stubbly chin against his son's delicate cheek, making Jinjin furrow his little brow and lean back, but his small hand grabbed one of Jiang Ran's fingers and held it tight.

"You little brat, looking down on your dad?"

Jiang Ran laughed and scooped up his son too, one in each arm.

On the left, a giggling daughter; on the right, a son with a serious expression but gripping his finger tightly—a sense of fulfillment welled up inside him.

"Look how heavy they are! My Jiang Ran's seed—solid and strong!"

"Easy! Don't scare the kids!" Li Huijuan scolded playfully, but her eyes were full of smiles.

Watching Jiang Ran clumsily yet preciously holding both children, and then looking at Nian An snuggling trustingly against her, the tension from days of investigation and rumors was greatly diluted by the thick warmth of family in that moment.

The family had a lively dinner, and Jiang Jiaojiao and Gu Yanshen also came over.

Gu Yanshen was carrying two boxes of exquisite pastries, a gentle smile on his face.

"Yanshen's here, have a seat."

Jiang Jianguo greeted him, his gaze sweeping over his daughter and future son-in-law, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Uncle Jiang, Auntie Li, Grandma," Gu Yanshen greeted politely and set down the pastries. "My parents have already picked a date. On the 18th of next month, at the Guoying Hotel, they'd like to invite your whole family for a meal to formally set the wedding date for Jiaojiao and me. Would that be convenient for you?"

"Convenient! Of course it's convenient!" Li Huijuan beamed with joy. "The 18th of next month, a good day! We'll definitely be there!"

Jiang Jianguo also nodded with a smile: "Your parents are too kind. Since the two children are so devoted to each other, it'll put our minds at ease to settle the big matter early."

Jiang Jiaojiao was unusually shy, sitting close to Gu Yanshen, a happy blush on her face that she couldn't hide.

Gu Yanshen quietly took her hand under the table, and they exchanged a tender smile, full of affection.

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran were also happy for their sister.

Jiang Ran teased: "Sis, you've finally got someone to keep you in line! From now on, keep that temper in check—don't scare Brother Gu away."

"To hell with you!" Jiang Jiaojiao lunged to strike him, but Gu Yanshen laughed and blocked her.

"Ranran, that's not right," Gu Yanshen said warmly, "Jiaojiao's temperament is exactly what I admire most."