Chapter 143

In the courtyard of the Second Branch of the Jiang Family, Jiang Cheng angrily pulled the door bolt.

Zheng Shi was worried, "Aman, won't your grandmother really go to the county office to accuse Azhan of being unfilial?"

They had all heard what Yan Pozi said while leaning against the window.

They had truly never seen such a malicious old person, always favoring outsiders and disregarding the lifelong happiness of her own grandson just to get a relative's daughter into the family.

"She won't," Du Ruo felt that Yan Pozi wasn't that stupid, "Everything requires evidence. How can she just rely on her own words to claim Azhan is unfilial?"

Saying this, she comforted Jiang Zhan, "Second Brother, don't worry. Even if Grandmother really goes, the County Magistrate won't believe her; he is a good official who can distinguish right from wrong."

Jiang Zhan smiled, "I have a clear conscience, I'm not afraid."

Du Ruo thought for a moment, "How about this, Azhan, you go back to the academy early tomorrow morning so that the old house won't keep trying to stir up trouble."

Jiang Zhan nodded in agreement.

Since Jiang Zhan was leaving the next day, Du Ruo hurried to the neighbor's house to check on the progress of the clothes, shoes, and socks.

Jiang Clan Head heard about this and immediately waved his hand.

"Everyone stop what you're doing and finish Erlang's clothes first!"

He also instructed the daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law not to let their hands shake and to stuff more good cotton inside.

Jiang Zhan was the hope for the revival of their Jiang clan; he couldn't be allowed to freeze.

By rushing and hurrying, they finally finished everything by that evening.

Two sets of unlined clothes, three sets of cotton-padded clothes, two pairs of shoes and socks, and several pieces of undergarments and vests—he was armed to the heels.

After bringing them back, Zheng Shi prepared to embroider a few plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos, and chrysanthemums overnight to decorate them, so that wearing them would make him look even more dignified and refined.

Seeing so many people busy for his sake, Jiang Zhan felt warm inside.

Perhaps this was what a real family was.

As for those living in the old house, although there was a blood connection, in his eyes, they were all outsiders.

The family happily finished dinner and was about to wash up and rest when the courtyard gate was knocked.

Jiang Zongbao had arrived.

Jiang Cheng, who opened the door, was in a bad mood, "What is it? Coming to steal things again in the middle of the night?"

Jiang Zongbao: "..."

The last time he came to steal things was the last time; it had been a long time since today, okay? This brat, always bringing up things that shouldn't be mentioned.

"Move aside, I'm looking for your Second Brother." Jiang Zongbao pushed Jiang Cheng aside and walked in.

Just as he entered the courtyard, he saw the dog lying in the corner eating mosquitoes. Man and dog looked at each other, and the dog's cold eyes revealed contempt.

Jiang Zongbao's footsteps stopped abruptly, and he instinctively turned and ran.

The memory of that night was too painful; his legs had been bitten with two large holes, and the scars were still there.

But thinking of the family's plan...

Jiang Zongbao stood his ground and shouted into the house with courage, "Jiang Zhan, come out!"

A group of people rushed out of the house in an instant.

Jiang Zhan frowned and asked, "Cousin, what do you want with me?"

Jiang Zongbao crossed his arms. He was wearing a green long gown, making him look even more like a giant, shriveled green bean.

"Of course I have something to find you for. Grandmother is sick, very sick. Come with me to see her."

Sick? Heh, faking it, right?

Du Ruo took over the conversation, "Wasn't she running over here to find trouble during the day? How did she get sick so quickly?"

Jiang Zongbao's gaze fell on her, and he suddenly froze.

Ever since Qin Shi died in childbirth, Jiang Zongbao had been decadent for a long time, doing nothing but eating, drinking, and sleeping, and he hadn't gone out.

This was his first time seeing Du Ruo after she had recovered her appearance.

This ugly monster—oh no, this Du Shi—had actually become so beautiful; it was simply unbelievable.

Jiang Zongbao suddenly thought of Meiniang.

If Meiniang was a demon who seduced souls, then Du Ruo was a fairy, without a trace of filth.

Even the way she rolled her eyes at him was filled with a sense of cuteness and charm...

"Hey, where are you looking?" Seeing Jiang Zongbao staring blankly at his eldest sister-in-law, Jiang Cheng was afraid he had lecherous intentions and hurriedly blocked him.

Jiang Zongbao came back to his senses and cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Grandmother... she just got angry at your place during the day, so she got sick from anger." He turned to Jiang Zhan, "Grandmother said you are the most promising of the Jiang generation, and she has something to tell you."

He paused and added, "It's about your mother."

Jiang Zhan was puzzled, "What about my mother?"

His mother had passed away for so many years; he really couldn't figure out what else there could be.

Jiang Zongbao curled his lips, "And you're a Prefectural Top Scholar? Stupid as hell. What could be the matter with your mother? Of course, it's about her origin."

Jiang Zhan and Jiang Cheng looked at each other and fell silent.

Their mother's origin was actually a mystery.

When they were young and saw other children visiting their maternal grandparents' homes, they had also asked their mother why they were the only ones without a maternal family.

Their mother would gently touch their heads, smile, and apologize, saying she didn't remember, only that her surname was Su.

Everything else, from the moment she woke up in the carriage, was a blank.

Later, their mother married their father by a twist of fate and gave birth to them.

Then their father had an accident, and their mother died...

Jiang Zhan's throat felt blocked. He really wanted to go and hear what Yan Pozi had to say, but he clearly felt that there was a trap in front of him.

Du Ruo's eyes rolled, "Fine, I'll go too!"

She wasn't at ease with Jiang Zhan going alone. Anyway, she had the system; if she encountered danger, she could just use poison. Protecting the two of them would definitely be no problem.

"Grandmother said that except for Erlang, no one is allowed to go." Jiang Zongbao had expected Du Ruo to say this and immediately blocked her, "Grandmother was made sick by you; she doesn't want to see you. And Third Brother, he doesn't speak in a way that people like, so she doesn't want to see him either."

Du Ruo pulled Jiang Zhan behind her, "Then forget it, Second Brother isn't going either."

Yan Pozi must be up to some evil scheme; maybe she was still thinking about letting Jiang Zhan marry that Hao Jinzhi.

Jiang Zongbao shrugged, looking like a rascal, "Whatever you want. Anyway, if Grandmother doesn't see anyone tonight, tomorrow the whole village will know that the dignified Prefectural Top Scholar of Wutou Xian wouldn't even go to see his own grandmother who is dying of illness. Truly, his filial piety is moving to heaven."

This was a threat.

Although the villagers knew that Yan Pozi didn't treat the children of the Second Branch well, human nature was like that; people would always sympathize with the weaker side.

Now that Yan Pozi had spread the word that she was sick, and Jiang Zhan had just become the Prefectural Top Scholar and was riding high, one could imagine which way the wind of public opinion would blow.

Scholars valued their reputation the most. Du Ruo could not care about her own reputation, but she couldn't ignore Jiang Zhan's.

Just as she was thinking of a countermeasure, the system suddenly spoke in her mind.

"Host, let your brother-in-law go. Maybe there will be an unexpected harvest."

Harvest? Harvest what?

That greedy black bear Hao Jinzhi?

"If the host is really worried, just let the dog follow him secretly. With the dog there, nothing major will happen," the system continued to lobby.

Du Ruo gritted her teeth, "Fine, I'll trust you once!"

She cut off communication with the system and then pretended to be helpless, sighed, and said, "Since Grandmother is dying of illness, then Second Brother, you should go and see her."

Everyone looked at her.

Zheng Shi wanted to say something but stopped.

Forget it, her daughter had always treated Azhan like her own brother; she definitely wouldn't harm him. She must have some plan.

Jiang Cheng and Jiang Wan had a blind worship of their eldest sister-in-law, so they wouldn't say anything.

Zheng Qinghe wanted to give a few reminders, but thinking that she was an outsider after all and shouldn't interfere in the Jiang family's domestic affairs, she let it go.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, can I really go?" Jiang Zhan confirmed.

Du Ruo smiled, "Don't worry, Grandmother is not a beast or a monster; she won't eat people."

After Jiang Zhan and Jiang Zongbao left the courtyard, she immediately called the dog over.

"Tie Dan, follow them secretly and see what the old house is up to. Report back to me when necessary. Also, remember, you must protect Azhan well. Don't let anyone, especially women, take advantage of him."