Chapter 8: No Need to Pick Another Day, Let’s Settle It Today

“Oh, Xueying, you’re here!” Liu Guixiang acted as if she had forgotten what her son had done, warmly taking Chen Xueying’s hand and pulling her in front of the crowd.

The several elders of the Chen family present frowned upon seeing this scene, their faces filled with disappointment.

They knew that since Chen Xueying had arrived and Liu Guixiang was willing to humble herself, a few soothing words from her would likely brush aside the heated argument they had just had. It would end up being swept under the rug.

They shot Chen Xueying a frustrated glance, as if blaming her for her lack of resolve, then silently glared at Liu Guixiang.

Liu Guixiang, who had been too ashamed to lift her head under their earlier criticism and had no chance to retort, now straightened her back triumphantly upon seeing them fall silent.

Hmph, this was their family matter after all. How shameless of these people to meddle in others’ affairs! Arranging a marriage exchange was one thing but forcing them to divide the family property was going too far.

“Xueying, it’s my fault. You know how much I adore you. No one was happier than me when you married into our family,” she said, burying her face in Chen Xueying’s chest and pretending to sob twice.

“But what’s done is done. There’s no change now. From now on, you and Yanqing should live well together. I’ll treat you just as well as before, alright?”

She looked up at Chen Xueying with eager expectation.

Chen Xueying sneered inwardly but maintained a confused expression on her face. “Of course I’ll live with Jiang Yanqing, but I won’t let Jiang Jiali’s insult slide! He can’t just get away with humiliating me like this!”

Liu Guixiang’s smile froze on her face, momentarily at a loss for words.

The people around them quickly reacted, pulling Chen Xueying away from Liu Guixiang. “That’s right! Did you Jiangs really think you could keep treating her like a fool forever?”

“Exactly, Liu Guixiang! Don’t think you’re the only clever one while everyone else is stupid. Your Jiang Jiali has no shame rolling around with his sister-in-law in broad daylight!”

“You black-hearted woman! To avoid work, did you deceive a young girl like this? Have you no conscience? How could you sink so low?”

Several women from the clan launched a verbal assault on Liu Guixiang. They had initially thought Chen Xueying would be as spineless as before and side with Liu Guixiang, but to their surprise, she didn’t hold them back this time. Naturally, they weren’t about to give Liu Guixiang another chance to speak.

Hearing their words, Liu Guixiang anxiously looked toward Chen Xueying, but Chen Xueying was now comforted by Erzhuang’s wife. The young woman nestled in her embrace, shoulders trembling slightly clearly crying.

Erzhuang’s wife continued scolding Liu Guixiang while holding Chen Xueying, gently stroking her back in a comforting rhythm.
Outside the courtyard, Chen Xiujiang and Jiang Yanqing walked in. Seeing them, Liu Guixiang quickly shot a pleading look their way. Jiang Yanqing had already heard from the village chief outside about Chen Xueying’s stance.

He didn’t particularly care about whom he married. However, since Lu Niannian had already been with Jiang Jiali, Chen Xueying was indeed his best option now.

Moreover, he still wanted to continue investigating his origins through Chen Xueying.

He calmly averted his gaze and focused on Liu Guixiang. Approaching her, he lowered his voice and said, “Second Brother is still unconscious. Just agree with this for now. Building a house isn’t something that can be done overnight anyway.”

Liu Guixiang’s heart leaped into her throat at her eldest son’s first words. Then, following Jiang Yanqing’s line of thought, she realized he was right.

Building a house wasn’t something that could be done overnight. Chen Xueying was currently furious trying to appease her now would be futile and might even backfire, just as it had now with them confronting each other head-on. That would be counterproductive.

Seeing her expression soften, Jiang Yanqing concealed the coldness in his eyes and continued, “Second Brother has been unconscious for so long I’m afraid he might have suffered a head injury. I need to take him to the city to see a doctor.”

Indeed, anything that benefited Jiang Jiali was something Liu Guixiang would agree to without a second thought.

In the past, he couldn’t understand why, despite being her son and having sacrificed so much, she never saw his efforts and had eyes only for his younger brother.

Now he finally understood. The thought that the person before him might be a human trafficker made him clench his fists, nearly grinding his teeth to dust.

Liu Guixiang didn’t notice his unusual demeanor at all. Instead, his words made her extremely anxious.

He was right those bastards had beaten her Jia Li so severely, and he had been unconscious for so long. Who knew where they might have hit him?

Her earlier hesitation vanished, replaced by firm resolve. She took a deep breath and exhaled heavily: “Fine, I agree. Let’s settle it this way, marriage exchange and family division!”

No one had expected Jiang Yanqing’s arrival to resolve the matter so easily.

Chen Xiujiang exchanged a glance with Jiang Yanqing, then quickly looked away. He cleared his throat and added, “If no one has any objections, then it’s settled.”

He shot a look at Chen Zhenhua, who immediately caught on: “Alright, let’s sign this family division agreement in triplicate. And since it’s a marriage exchange, Jiang Yanqing and Xueying should go get their marriage certificate when the time comes!”

Chen Zhenhua didn’t know yet that Jiang Yanqing had been discharged from the military and thought he still needed to file a report first. With his status, he could go directly to register the marriage.

Liu Guixiang quickly pressed her thumbprint, pulled Jiang Yanqing over to sign, then turned and instructed, “No need to pick another day let’s do it this afternoon. We don’t know how Jia Li is doing yet, so we might as well go check on him while we’re at it.”
Everyone ignored the latter part of her statement, though Chen Zhenhua frowned as if to say something. Chen Xiujiang tugged at him, and he ultimately kept quiet.

Soon, the family division was clearly settled. The agreement was filled with numerous clauses, but no matter what the Chen family said, Liu Guixiang agreed to everything, eager to wrap things up quickly so Jiang Yanqing could take her son to the hospital sooner.

Chen Zhenhua wanted to hash out every detail on the spot, but Chen Xiujiang stopped him. The family division agreement was made in triplicate: one copy for Liu Guixiang, one for Jiang Yanqing and his family, and the remaining copy to be kept by the brigade.

“Ah, it’s getting late. Let the young couple go get their marriage certificate as soon as possible. Liu Guixiang lives in the village, it’s not like she can go back on her words, right?”

Liu Guixiang nodded repeatedly, though inwardly she sneered in contempt.

She urged Jiang Yanqing to take Chen Xueying and hurry Jiang Jiali to the hospital. As for the marriage certificate, she paid it no mind at all.

There was a tractor in the village. Jiang Yanqing drove the brigade’s tractor, with Jiang Jiali in the back and Chen Xueying seated beside him in the passenger seat.

Everyone watched as the tractor slowly left the village, growing more distant with each passing moment.

On the vehicle, Chen Xueying frowned and occasionally turned her head to glance at Jiang Jiali in the rear compartment. Seeing her nervous expression, Jiang Yanqing misunderstood, thinking she was still worried about him.

He had often seen Chen Xueying eagerly trailing behind Jiang Jiali before, and occasionally upon returning, he had also spotted this girl delivering things to their home.

She must be utterly devoted to him!

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Zephyr Yizelle

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