Chapter 6: Returning Home to Cry Poverty

With this thought in mind, Jiang Yuman couldn’t sit still for even a minute. After finishing her meal, she hurried upstairs to change clothes.

In the bedroom, Fu Jingchen followed her.

“Do you want me to accompany you?” he asked as he saw Jiang Yuman sitting in front of the vanity.

Jiang Yuman was combing her hair and glanced at the tall man in the mirror, “No need.”

To avoid Fu Jingchen overthinking, she added, “I’ll go by myself. If you’re not around, I can exert the maximum effect.”

There’s a saying: when a daughter-in-law goes out to cause trouble, she relies on the power of her man back home.

Today, she was going to the Jiang family to leverage that power!

“What do you mean?” Fu Jingchen didn’t quite understand.

Is this visit to her family just about going to the countryside, or is there more?

“You don’t know,” Jiang Yuman turned around. “Previously, I foolishly gave my family quite a few things.”

“And now that our family is in trouble, they’re treating me like a pariah. This time, I’m going to retrieve everything I’ve given them.”

Fu Jingchen looked at her, his expression unchanged, “That’s fine.”

Though he didn’t say it outright, Jiang Yuman immediately understood his implication: the things from the past weren’t important to him.

He knew that the original owner had given gifts to her family, they must have known that, or else there wouldn’t be no emotional reaction when she mentioned retrieving her things.

He understood but had never said anything before.

The family had been so indulgent towards her!

But this man truly was excellent; he just didn’t know how to manage money.

So many items; how could he be so casual about them?

Jiang Yuman raised her brows, “What do you mean it’s fine?”

“I used to be blinded by foolishness and misjudged that family. Now wanting to reclaim what belongs to me is only right!”

Fu Jingchen’s gaze lingered on her fiery eyes for a long time.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yuman narrowed her eyes, feeling unsatisfied. “You don’t think I’m being petty, do you? That I can’t even recognize my own parents?”

Fu Jingchen called out her name, “I don’t.”

“Then what is it?” Jiang Yuman pressed.

“I just didn’t think you could…” care so much for this family.

Before today, he had never considered that there could be a future for the two of them.

However, everything Jiang Yuman had done today told him that she had been thinking about their future all along.

After a pause, Fu Jingchen rephrased, “You’re doing this for the family.”

“That’s more like it.” Jiang Yuman huffed, marginally satisfied.

This was her character; she was outgoing and adept at reading people’s moods.

She knew that the Fu family and Fu Jingchen adored her and, as a result, she naturally revealed her authentic self.

She couldn’t tolerate any form of grievance.

She picked up the comb again and started brushing her thick, seaweed-like hair. “In any case, I can handle this alone; I know what I’m doing.”

“I’m going with you.” He was still worried.

If Jiang Yuman was indeed heading there to create a scene, what if a conflict erupted with her family?

Now wasn’t the best time to take risks, especially since she was pregnant, and the Jiang family could easily overpower her.

“If you come along, it’ll only complicate things; it’s better if I go alone,” Jiang Yuman insisted.

Fu Jingchen stared at her for a while before nodding in agreement.

…

After leaving the Fu residence, Jiang Yuman didn’t waste any time and quickly arrived at the textile factory’s family compound.

The Jiang family lived here. Looking up, she noticed the gray, old buildings of the compound; the weathered walls could barely reveal their original colors.

Yet, those old buildings were once fought for with great effort back in the day.

If it hadn’t been for the original owner’s mother sacrificing herself during a factory fire, Jiang Yuman’s father, Jiang Mingbin, would have had no right to a house after just under ten years of work.

In the tightly clustered courtyards, life was bustling.

Due to it being the weekend, the sounds of neighbors chatting filled the air—quite lively.

Jiang Yuman found the Jiang family’s courtyard and pushed the door open to enter.

As she stepped into the living room, her stepmother, Pan Lanfeng, was just opening the door to take in the radishes she had left out to dry for two days.

Who would have thought that by opening the door, she would see Jiang Yuman?

A flash of annoyance crossed her face. “What are you doing back here?”

Jiang Yuman smiled, “Aunt Pan, did you forget? This house still bears my mother’s name, so I can come back whenever I want.”

Caught off guard by Jiang Yuman’s response, Pan Lanfeng didn’t know how to react.

For so many years, the property had been registered under Xu Mei and Jiang Mingbin’s names, and Pan had never been included, which gnawed at her.

How typical of Jiang Yuman to bring up such a sore spot.

Looking at Jiang Yuman’s face, which resembled Xu Mei’s so closely, an intense hatred simmered within her.

However, she maintained a pretentious smile, “Aunt Pan didn’t mean anything by it; I just thought you’d inform us ahead of time, and I could prepare something delicious for you.”

“Now that you’re back, does it mean you’ll be treated like royalty?” Just then, Jiang Mingbin, her father, walked out from inside.

Jiang Mingbin, around fifty years old and the director of the textile factory, had not suffered much, and he could still faintly display the charm of his youth.

But at this moment, he couldn’t help but show a look of disdain as he regarded Jiang Yuman’s shabby clothes and her pregnant belly.

Immediate coldness filled Jiang Yuman’s eyes.

Pan Lanfeng added fuel to the fire, “You came back this time; are you divorced?”

Before Jiang Yuman could respond, Pan continued, “Divorcing is good; at least you won’t have to follow the Fu family to the countryside. After getting well and abandoning the child, Aunt Pan and your dad will definitely find you a good family.”

“You used to climb the social ladder, but now you’re back to bring misfortune to your family!”

Jiang Mingbin’s expression darkened at her words as well.

Once a daughter is married, she becomes like spilled water, and now she had the audacity to want to return? Of course, he wouldn’t be happy about it.

“Back then, when you accepted gifts from my in-laws, you weren’t saying this,” Jiang Yuman couldn’t help but retort.

“You ungrateful girl! How dare you talk back!” Jiang Mingbin raised his hand, seemingly wanting to hit her.

“If you’re not afraid of my husband coming to discipline you, go ahead and touch even a finger!” Jiang Yuman stood her ground, looking at him defiantly while resting a hand on her belly.

Jiang Mingbin really did feel some fear towards her tall husband. Not only was he tall, but he was also from the military.

He looked strong, and if he found out that Jiang Mingbin harmed his wife, he might just come knocking at the door.

At his age, he found he barely had the strength to withstand even two punches.

He could only put his hand down in dismay, but his words did not soften at all, “Aren’t you soon going to the countryside for re-education? What are you trying to show off about?”

Jiang Yuman shot him a glance, not wishing to engage in a prolonged argument.

She didn’t want to waste her breath.

However, Pan Lanfeng was already calculating, her mind picking up on the undertone.

“Manman, you’re not planning to divorce Fu Jingchen, are you?”

If Jiang Yuman was divorced, how could she leverage that against Jiang Mingbin?

As Jiang Mingbin caught on to Pan Lanfeng’s cue, he also widened his eyes, staring at Jiang Yuman intently.

Jiang Yuman didn’t deny it and proceeded to explain her intentions, “Yes, I’m here to reclaim what I previously gave you.”

As she said this, her gaze primarily fell on Pan Lanfeng.

Pan Lanfeng’s eyes flickered, looking to Jiang Mingbin for guidance.

Jiang Mingbin, of course, exploded, “Do you even have a conscience? Others return empty-handed when going back to their parents’ house while you want to take more from us?”