Chapter 184: Are You Going to Join the Army?

"You!"

Jiang Qi was so angry she nearly lost her mind, pointing at Xu Hu as she ranted, "Your hair looks like a bird's nest, you wear an ancestral tattered coat, you've got fake designer shoes on your feet, and your eyes are full of petty schemes. You don't look like much, but you sure think highly of yourself—you're nothing but a toad lusting after swan meat!"

Xu Hu:...

He felt as if his self-esteem were being trampled over and over by this middle-aged woman.

Now he somewhat regretted his thoughts from yesterday; he still hoped his uncle and aunt would handle his situation with Jiang Zhi. Although his uncle's beatings hurt, his words were much easier on the ears than Jiang Zhi's own mother's.

What did she mean by a toad?

He was the only college student in their village, and the hope of their entire village!

"Auntie, I hope you will speak with some respect!"

"Respect?" Jiang Qi crossed her arms, stepped forward in her high heels, and glanced at him with contempt. "A little yellow-haired brat who crawled out of some mountain ditch, and you want my respect? I'll put it plainly today: you are not worthy of my daughter, Jiang Qi's daughter! Even if you queued for eight laps, you wouldn't reach her!"

After saying this, she glared fiercely at Xu Hu and went downstairs.

Xu Hu:...

Who had he offended? Back in his village, he could pick and choose his girlfriends; how did he get belittled like this after coming to the city?

Xu Hu looked at Jiang Zhi quietly, waiting for her to apologize to him on her mother's behalf.

To his surprise, after Jiang Qi went downstairs, Jiang Zhi immediately let go of his arm.

For a moment, the scene went silent for a few seconds.

"Xiao Zhi, go wash up; Wu Ma should have the meal ready."

Si Rong then said to Xu Hu, "You go to the guest bathroom downstairs to wash up!"

She and Xu Yan exchanged a look.

Jiang Qi appearing so suddenly seemed to have provoked Jiang Zhi once more; there would likely be endless entanglements with Xu Hu in the future.

"Actually, it's fine. Who hasn't had a rebellious phase in their youth?"

Although Xu Yan didn't like this boy either, there was no helping it—Jiang Zhi was not her own child, after all.

"Teacher Jiang Cheng's son is quite outstanding. You'll know once you see him; he's a great match for Xiao Zhi." Si Rong only hoped things wouldn't get any worse.

As it happened, Chen Yun arrived early in the morning.

He even brought some tonics; anyone with eyes could see he was interested in Jiang Zhi.

What was even more coincidental was that Jiang Qi also quite liked Chen Yun.

His speech was natural and poised, making him the perfect candidate for a son-in-law, right in the heart of what middle-aged women desired.

Moreover, he was also from Huaiyang.

Xu Yan also thought highly of Chen Yun and whispered to Si Rong, "This young man is quite good, but I'm afraid..."

Si Rong knew what she was afraid of, and sure enough, what they feared most came to pass.

Jiang Qi made no effort to hide her satisfaction with Chen Yun, even inviting her daughter to sit next to Chen Yun during the meal.

Jiang Zhi gave her absolutely no face and ignored her entirely, dragging Xu Hu to sit as far away from her as possible.

Chen Yun clearly sensed that something was wrong, but he still responded to Jiang Qi's inquiries very politely.

The situation remained at a stalemate.

After the meal, Jiang Qi expressed to Si Rong her disgust for Xu Hu and her fondness for Chen Yun.

She demanded that Si Rong simply kick Xu Hu out.

Si Rong:...

"This is your house. Whether you let someone stay or not is just a matter of a single word from you, isn't it?"

Si Rong couldn't help but grumble inwardly: *Didn't you come here yourself even though I didn't want you to? *

Of course, she couldn't say that; she remained patient on the surface. "Sister, it can't be that simple and crude. Think about it: if I kick Xu Hu out directly, will Xiao Zhi still stay here? Won't you be worried when she lives outside?"

Jiang Qi thought about it, and it did make some sense.

"Then I'll stay here too!"

Si Rong:...

Although, but, that, please don't!

How chaotic would this house become?

Jiang Qi had already hugged Juzi and Si Nian, and even stuffed them with two very generous red envelopes. "I really love these two little ones!"

Si Rong:...

For the sake of the red envelopes, she truly couldn't bring herself to kick out her sister-in-law.

Three minutes later, faced with Juzi having a dirty diaper, Jiang Qi explained with great difficulty that she suddenly needed to use the restroom.

Just like that, Jiang Qi also moved in, finding ways to torment Xu Hu every day.

Either she made him go to the market with Wu Ma to carry groceries, or she had him running all over the city to buy her pastries and snacks.

And whenever Jiang Zhi found an opportunity, she would go against her mother and show off her affection for Xu Hu in various ways.

Xu Hu had never been tormented to such a degree; he was starting to feel mentally dazed.

This day, Jiang Qi took a reluctant Jiang Zhi back to the Jiang Family, and the house finally quieted down.

Si Rong was finally able to sit under the flower trellis with Fang Ting and the children, leisurely enjoying the afternoon.

"Xiao Yueer!"

Si Rong teased Fang Ting's daughter with a rattle. "What a beautiful little girl! How about you become my daughter-in-law when you grow up?"

Fang Ting immediately stopped her daughter's hand as she reached for the rattle. "Silly girl, that's just a willow hat covering up your Auntie Rong's sinister intentions. Trying to get a daughter-in-law with just a rattle? You wish!"

She thought for a moment and added, "I've noticed you're different now that you have a son."

Si Rong chuckled. "How am I different?"

"Every little girl you see looks like your daughter-in-law!" Fang Ting accused. "This is already the second time you've called my daughter that!"

"Let me tell you, that Jiang Sinian of yours looks like a bad boy at first glance, don't you go setting your sights on my Yueyue!"

Si Rong:...

It seemed, that was indeed the case.

Ever since she had a child, she had gradually adapted to the role of a parent, subconsciously beginning to plan out the child's future life.

"Help me hold Yueyue for a moment, I'm going to the restroom."

Fang Ting handed the child to her, but just as she reached the restroom door, she heard Si Rong say to her daughter: "Be good, Yueyue, come let Grandma hold you!"

Fang Ting:...

Good grief, she had adapted to her new identity really quickly; she herself wasn't prepared to be a mother-in-law yet!

Coming out of the restroom, Fang Ting remembered something, "By the way, are you going to follow the troops?"

"What?" Si Rong asked in confusion, "Isn't your military unit stationed right by the Huaiyang seaside? Where else would I need to follow the troops to?"

"Jiang Cheng hasn't told you yet?" Fang Ting took back her daughter, "Maybe things aren't confirmed on his end yet; Dacheng and I have already confirmed we are going to Wushan."

"Oh," Si Rong recalled Jiang Cheng's hesitation from a couple of days ago, and her heart suddenly began to feel uneasy, "Why are they suddenly making you go to Wushan?"

"That's a military secret," Fang Ting could only tell her what she was allowed to, "In short, the Huaiyang garrison area is already fully established, and there's no room for promotion if we stay any longer. But going to Wushan is different. I estimate that given the importance Old Chen places on your Jiang Cheng, he will definitely be among those selected for Wushan. Working there for a year is worth several years here."

Si Rong didn't really understand these matters of promotion.

But she had heard of Wushan; it was a mountain very far from Huaiyang, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as a barren mountain, with very harsh living conditions.

"Then do the military district leaders encourage family members to follow the troops?"

Fang Ting nodded, "Of course, those who are married naturally have to bring their families, otherwise are they supposed to live apart in two different places?"