Zhang Liunian gently patted her head, his starlight eyes sweeping across the Jiang family. "Did you hear that? You're not welcome here. Disappear from our sight immediately."
After saying that, he didn't even glance at the Jiang family being driven away. He carried Jiang Qingqing back into the house, leaving the Jiang family to shout outside.
"Liunian, you're back? Are you hungry? Aunt will make you a bowl of noodles?" Zhang Guihua's face lit up when she saw her nephew, and she went to the kitchen.
Zhang Liunian smiled, carrying his wife into their private room.
"Qingqing, you've suffered. From now on, if you don't want to deal with these people, leave them to me. Just focus on your postpartum recovery," Zhang Liunian said, holding his wife on his lap. He gently stroked her long hair, his expression infinitely tender.
Jiang Qingqing adored his caring and gentle demeanor. She couldn't help but lift her neck and nibble on the corner of his lips.
This small action seemed to captivate Zhang Liunian, rendering him motionless. Then, he cupped the back of his wife's head and kissed her with the intensity of a storm, leaving Jiang Qingqing disoriented.
"Liunian, the noodles are ready. Remember to come out and eat," Zhang Guihua said with foresight. Seeing that the room door was closed, she didn't go in but called out to the doorway before busying herself again.
Meanwhile, the situation inside the room was becoming a little more intimate. Zhang Liunian's restless hands had already begun to reach for Jiang Qingqing's clothes.
"No, Aunt is still here?" Jiang Qingqing reached out to press his hand away from her chest, casting a shy, sidelong glance at Zhang Liunian.
Her gaze was filled with an alluring charm that set Zhang Liunian's heart ablaze. Fortunately, he was not entirely devoid of reason.
He discreetly counted the time in his mind, estimating that he could truly enjoy the fruits of their labor in just a few days. Time would pass quickly. He got up, kissed his wife a couple of times, and then went to eat his noodles.
During this time, the four individuals came to report, saying they had driven away all the Jiang family members and that they would not be allowed into the residential area anymore.
Zhang Liunian, satisfied, gave each of them ten yuan. After eating his fill, he went back to embrace his wife.
"Dad, what do we do? Are we still staying here?" Jiang Xiaoqing felt an intense displeasure as she was driven away as if she were some kind of vermin.
Jiang's father's face turned ashen. "This ungrateful girl! If I had known she would turn her back on her own family, I wouldn't have given birth to her."
"This daughter is a curse upon our entire family, a thankless wretch. She's living a good life but unwilling to help her own kin. We truly raised her for nothing," Jiang's mother also gnashed her teeth in hatred, but she was powerless.
This was Zhang Liunian's territory. He had money and influence. How could they possibly contend with him?
If he truly decided not to help them, they could do nothing.
"Dad and Mom, you can't blame third sister. If you had treated her better before, she wouldn't be unwilling to help us. The blame can only be placed on you," Jiang Qingtian, walking behind everyone, spoke in a low voice, yet his words clearly reached everyone's ears.
Upon hearing this, Jiang's father and mother became enraged. His words were not wrong, but they refused to admit it. To admit it would mean negating the first half of their lives as a mistake.
"We haven't wronged her. We let her study, and she ate our food. What more could a girl want?
Don't you try to be like that dead girl. She just doesn't want to help us; she's just selfish."
"Exactly! Qingqing is a white-eyed wolf. This old woman truly raised her in vain."
Seeing her parents still arguing, Jiang Qingtian knew it was useless to debate with them. "I'm going back. You can stay here if you want!"
He wanted to return to Jiangcheng and try selling crayfish. If Zhang Liunian could succeed, he didn't believe he couldn't.
With his mind made up, Jiang Qingtian, disregarding the expressions of his parents, elder brother, and younger sister, headed for Nancheng on his own.
The rest of the Jiang family exchanged glances and finally decided to go back as well.
Since they had confirmed that Zhang Liunian would not help them, there was no need to stay.
Only Jiang Xiaoqing was reluctant to leave so soon. Although she felt she couldn't compare to Jiang Qingqing and couldn't snatch anything away from her, she still wanted to stay.
"Dad, Mom, why don't I stay here and try to mend my relationship with third sister? Perhaps she'll come around eventually and help the family," Jiang Xiaoqing suggested hesitantly.
Unexpectedly, Jiang's father and mother did not object. Their youngest daughter had no job and stayed at home all day anyway.
It might as well be to stay here; perhaps it could truly help mend their relationship.
And so, the entire Jiang family returned to Jiangcheng, leaving only Jiang Xiaoqing behind.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Qingqing asked her younger sister, who had reappeared, with a look of impatience.
Jiang Xiaoqing said pitifully, "Third sister, Mom and Dad left me behind. They said if I can't get your forgiveness, they won't let me go back.
Please, for the sake of our sisterly bond, take me in!"
Jiang Qingqing and Jiang Xiaoqing's sisterly relationship was not particularly good, but it wasn't bad either. Seeing her own sister speak this way, Jiang Qingqing naturally hesitated.
Zhang Liunian, seeing her conflicted expression, sent someone to inquire. After confirming that the Jiang family had indeed left, he told Jiang Qingqing about it.
Hearing this, Jiang Qingqing finally softened and asked Zhang Liunian to find a place to settle her. As for living at home, forget it. After the incident with Su Jie, she now dared not let any woman into their home.
However, Jiang Qingqing did not know that even if she didn't live at home, some people would still scheme against you if they wanted to.
As if on cue, that evening, when Zhang Liunian personally escorted his sister-in-law to the county guesthouse, Jiang Xiaoqing suddenly hugged him from behind. "Brother-in-law, I'm scared alone. Can you stay... Ah!"
Before Jiang Xiaoqing could finish her sentence, Zhang Liunian threw her out. She crashed against the wall of the room.
"Stay away from me," Zhang Liunian roared angrily.
Jiang Xiaoqing, sprawled on the ground, her face contorted in pain, couldn't utter a word.
Zhang Liunian didn't want to hear her speak. He turned and closed the door, returning home in a rage.
"What's wrong, Liunian?" Jiang Qingqing saw Zhang Liunian's unhappy expression and stepped forward to show her concern.
Zhang Liunian pulled his wife into a hug, not mentioning the incident to her.
His wife was still recovering from childbirth; he didn't want to bother her.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaoqing, after being thrown by Zhang Liunian, finally realized with absolute clarity that this brother-in-law was truly exceptional.
He wasn't the type of man who would pounce if given the chance. Yet, it was precisely because of this that she became even more resentful.
Why did all the good things belong to Jiang Qingqing, while she, Jiang Xiaoqing, had nothing?
She was unwilling, but what could she do about her unwillingness?
A good man like Zhang Liunian was completely out of her reach. Thinking this, Jiang Xiaoqing raised her small hand and punched the ground twice. Feeling the pain, she obediently crawled to the bed, clutching her stomach, and began to meticulously plan her next move.
Since Zhang Liunian's path was blocked, perhaps she could target someone else around him.
He was so capable; surely he would have capable men around him.