Drive her out?

Listening from next door, Jiang Yichu heard everything clearly.

 

She couldn’t help but think—the Jiang family really was something else.

 

Despising their biological daughter for being embarrassing while treating the fake heiress like a treasure—that alone was bad enough.

 

But when they needed her as a substitute bride, they brought her all the way to the capital.

 

Now that she had no more use, even knowing she had nowhere to go, they were really planning to kick her out without leaving her even a place to stay?

 

Was that a mother—or an enemy?

 

The two next door kept crying endlessly.

 

Jiang Yichu yawned sleepily. After listening to a few meaningless lines, she soon drifted off.

 

—

 

The next morning.

 

The Jiang family of three sat neatly in the dining room.

 

Only the seat at the corner of the table was empty.

 

“Where is she?” Madam Jiang frowned and asked the maid.

 

The maid hesitated, looking troubled.

 

Madam Jiang understood immediately and raised a brow. “Still not up?”

 

A country girl indeed—no sense of manners. Making the whole family wait for her at breakfast.

 

“Go wake her up,” Madam Jiang ordered.

 

“Well, actually—”

 

“Are you calling me?”

 

Jiang Yichu’s voice came from the doorway, interrupting.

 

She was fully dressed, arms filled with boxes of pastries.

 

Madam Jiang looked over. “Where did you go so early in the morning?”

 

“Visiting neighbors.”

 

Jiang Yichu set the boxes down, washed her hands, and sat.

 

Casually, she added, “I’ve been here three days and still haven’t met the aunties next door.”

 

Oh, they wanted to drive her out?

 

Then she’d make sure every neighbor knew the Jiang family didn’t even acknowledge their own biological daughter.

 

She wanted to see where Madam Jiang—who cared so much about appearances—would put her face now.

 

She spoke lightly.

 

But the expressions of the three at the table all changed.

 

Jiang Sirou cared deeply about her background and feared the neighbors finding out she had been switched at birth.

 

Naturally, she couldn’t tolerate Jiang Yichu spreading it around.

 

“Jiang Yichu! Do you think this is your countryside? Going around visiting people like that?!”

 

Her voice was louder than a crowing rooster.

 

Jiang Yichu lowered her head and continued eating, ignoring her.

 

The Jiang family’s wealth showed—even breakfast was far better than hospital cafeteria food.

 

Watching her eat as if no one else existed, Madam Jiang’s face darkened completely.

 

Now everyone knew that shabby-looking girl was her biological daughter.

 

She wouldn’t even dare go play mahjong anymore!

 

Suppressing her anger, she asked, “Fine, you visited neighbors—but what’s with all the pastries?”

 

“Oh, those…”

 

Jiang Yichu glanced at the boxes. “Wedding gifts from the aunties.”

 

That did it.

 

Even Jiang Zhiyuan lost his composure.

 

He slammed the table. “Outrageous!”

 

“Is secretly getting married something to be proud of? And you even go around announcing it?!”

 

The dishes rattled loudly.

 

He rarely lost his temper, and Jiang Sirou watched with undisguised satisfaction.

 

Madam Jiang didn’t even want to speak anymore.

 

If she had known Jiang Yichu would cause such a scene, she would have thrown her out the night before.

 

Jiang Zhiyuan regretted it too.

 

Men valued blood ties more. When his wife first suggested sending the girl away, he had hesitated.

 

With their son far away in the south serving in the military, having a daughter at home seemed comforting.

 

But now—

 

His wife was right. A badly raised child couldn’t be kept. Otherwise, the whole family would lose face.

 

“Speak!”

 

Jiang Zhiyuan’s face was stern.

 

Jiang Sirou and her mother might be afraid.

 

Jiang Yichu wasn’t.

 

She smiled faintly. “Say what?”

 

“I saw the slogan outside the Civil Affairs Bureau—it says ‘one husband, one wife, freedom to marry.’”

 

“So why is it shameful when it comes to you?”

 

“Did the country get it wrong?”

 

Jiang Zhiyuan’s face darkened.

 

Jiang Yichu set down her bun and looked at Madam Jiang.

 

“Or was what you said yesterday—that I’m old enough to discuss marriage—just a lie?”

 

Madam Jiang had no answer.

 

Jiang Yichu shook her head, looking puzzled.

 

“Then I don’t understand. I got married on my own—you don’t even have to worry about it. Doesn’t that save you trouble?”

 

“Why are you so angry?”

 

“Is it only not embarrassing if I marry the family you picked?”

 

One question after another left the couple speechless.

 

“Or…”

 

Jiang Yichu rested her chin on her hand, clicking her tongue.

 

“Dad looks so upset… is it because you wanted to use my marriage for an alliance?”

 

“I see…”

 

Her tone suddenly turned sorrowful as she lowered her eyes.

 

“No wonder the timing of finding me was so convenient…”

 

If she continued, it would completely tear apart their façade.

 

Jiang Zhiyuan immediately cut her off. “No!”

 

Madam Jiang glanced at him.

 

He shot her a look: What are you staring at? The neighbors already know. We can’t kick her out now—what else can we do but keep her steady?

 

It was just another mouth to feed. The Jiang family could afford it.

 

—

 

Breakfast ended with Jiang Yichu’s complete victory—and the Jiang family’s total defeat.

 

Jiang Zhiyuan left for work without another word.

 

Before leaving, he instructed, “Hold off on sending her away.”

 

Madam Jiang looked like she had swallowed something foul, but could only nod.

 

Blame it on Jiang Yichu’s luck—going out to visit neighbors so early.

 

“Luck? Or maybe I’m just smarter?”

 

Lying on the bed after eating her fill, Jiang Yichu listened to the conversation next door.

 

The “show” had resumed.

 

“Mom…”

 

Jiang Sirou called softly.

 

After two days of frustration, even Madam Jiang’s patience was wearing thin.

 

“Calling me won’t help.”

 

“You heard at breakfast—she’s already told the neighbors about her marriage.”

 

“Even if we make her divorce now, do you think the Liang family would accept a secondhand bride?”

 

“Listen to me. Give up on the Ying family. I’ll go cancel the engagement later.”

 

“No!”

 

Jiang Sirou panicked. “Mom, don’t cancel it yet—I can still marry into the Ying family!”

 

“You’re still dreaming.”

 

Madam Jiang sighed. “How? The Liang family engagement is written in black and white!”

 

“Do you think the Ying family would offend an old comrade just for you? Fight over one woman?”

 

Her daughter had been raised delicately, with good temperament—but not stunning enough to cause such a situation.

 

Madam Jiang knew that much.

 

No matter how reluctant she was to give up the Ying family, there was no choice.

 

She shook her head.

 

But then Jiang Sirou suddenly said:

 

“Mom, I have a way—”

 

“A way to make the Liang family break off the engagement themselves.”