Chapter 7: Returning Fully Loaded

“Father, don’t forget that when I used to work at the supply and marketing cooperative, I handed over my entire salary to the family.”

Jiang Yuman gave a faint smile. “When my Mother died saving the factory from a fire, the compensation went straight to you two. Not to mention the gold jewelry Jingchen bought for me.”

“Your Mother’s compensation money is long gone! You think you grew up drinking air?” Jiang Jinbin was flushed with anger.

“I’ve grown up—how much money have I actually cost this family?”

Jiang Yuman had no intention of wasting her breath. She spoke directly, “I’m about to be Sent Down to the Countryside to live a hard life. I just want to take what belongs to me. After all, I’m the only daughter of a martyr from the factory.”

“If you refuse to hand over the money, I’ll go straight to the textile factory and ask them. Let’s see if the factory leadership is willing to step in.”

Xu Mei sacrificed her life to save public property during the fire at the factory. In return, the factory awarded a compensation package, a commendation certificate, and allocated a large residence.

Jiang Jinbin had even leveraged his late wife’s reputation to gain promotions and salary increases.

Thanks to her, he was guaranteed a spot every year among the factory’s Outstanding and Active Workers.

Jiang Yuman didn’t believe for a second that Jiang Jinbin could afford to lose that kind of face.

Sure enough, as soon as he heard her words, Jiang Jinbin’s face turned a deep shade of purple with rage.

Yet, fearful of his son-in-law showing up to cause trouble, he didn’t dare lay a finger on this defiant daughter!

Pan Lanfeng nearly ground her silver teeth to dust but forced a smile and said, “Manman, we’re all family. Why make things so difficult for us?”

After a pause, she added, “How about this—if you just divorce Fu Jingchen, then you won’t have to be sent to the countryside. As for money, the family really can’t come up with any right now.”

As she spoke, she even squeezed out a few fake tears.

Jiang Yuman said calmly, “Do you know what your suggestion is called?”

Pan Lanfeng looked up, confused.

“Interfering in a military marriage. If this gets out, what do you think will happen?” Her tone was gentle, but the words sent chills down one’s spine.

Because Fu Wangshan was suspended and sent for re-education in the countryside, Fu Jingchen was implicated but had not yet been expelled from the military.

If things followed the original storyline, he wouldn’t return to the army so quickly either.

So, if this crime were truly pinned on Pan Lanfeng, it’d be enough to ruin her completely.

Pan Lanfeng was so frightened that her face turned pale. “Don’t spout nonsense,” she immediately stopped trying to convince her stepdaughter to divorce.

This girl—who knew if she had been severely affected by something, but this time she came back so sharp-tongued.

It was like she had turned into a completely different person.

Even the two of them felt somewhat unable to cope with her.

Jiang Yuman said, “I’m about to go to the countryside to live a hard life. I have nothing to lose. Let me tell you the truth: if anyone provokes me, I don’t know what I might do this time.”

The barefooted are not afraid of those wearing shoes.

It was precisely because Jiang Jinbin and Pan Lanfeng were afraid of what Fu Jingchen might do that Jiang Yuman was able to easily hold their lives in her hands.

Jiang Jinbin was so angry he nearly fell backward. “Unfilial daughter! Do you even have the slightest attitude of a daughter?”

“Enough talk,” Jiang Yuman frowned, “If you don’t act now, I’ll go to the textile factory.”

“How much do you want?” Jiang Jinbin, seeing that she wouldn’t listen to reason, could only ask darkly.

Jiang Yuman started listing her demands, “My previous salary was eight hundred. You also need to give me a thousand for my mother’s compensation, and then there are the gold jewelry pieces that were stolen from me.”

Jiang Jinbin didn’t expect her to make such a large demand. “Why don’t you just rob it?” He said, so angry his fingers were shaking.

In the past, this ungrateful daughter barely earned anything.

When Xu Mei died, the factory had only compensated one thousand five hundred for her death.

With this one demand, she seemed to want to take away the entire family’s savings accumulated over the years!

Pan Lanfeng sarcastically replied, “Manman, you can’t be heartless like this. The family really can’t come up with that much money. Are you trying to push the whole family to the brink of destruction?”

This was, of course, a false claim. Together, Jiang Jinbin and she earned about two hundred each month.

The family’s savings were close to three thousand! It was because of this money that they were able to live so freely.

But asking them to take out so much money all at once was like cutting off their flesh.

If all the money was gone, wouldn’t they be just like the other workers, having to live each month counting every penny, barely scraping by?

The thought of living that kind of life made Pan Lanfeng shudder.

“When you took my things, you were all sweet words and promises. Now, when I ask for them back, you want to drive me to death?”

Jiang Yuman couldn’t help but laugh. “Get this straight: you’re using my mother’s compensation money and living in the big house that came from my mother’s work. The ones without conscience are you, not me.”

In the original plot, the original host had an abortion, and they wouldn’t even take her in.

Now, they were trying to use emotional blackmail. She wasn’t going to fall for it.

Jiang Jinbin and Pan Lanfeng were hit where it hurt, their faces turning ashen, unable to say any word.

“Fine, I’ll give you five hundred. I’ll return your jewelry, but nothing else. Don’t dream about it.” After a pause, Jiang Jinbin said darkly.

Jiang Yuman didn’t bother to argue. “Looks like I’ll have to go talk to the leaders of the textile factory.” With that, she turned to leave.

Pan Lanfeng was startled, quickly grabbing her. “Manman, don’t act impulsively. Let’s talk it through.”

The scandal about Xu Mei’s death was still being passed around at the textile factory.

If Jiang Yuman, the daughter of the heroic woman, went to complain, with her shabby appearance and heavily pregnant belly, and with Jiang Jinbin and Pan Lanfeng unwilling to give her money, what would the factory leaders think?

Were they really going to keep their faces after all this?

“There’s nothing more to say,” Jiang Yuman shook off her hand. “If you won’t let me live, I won’t let you live either.”

At this point, Pan Lanfeng truly felt like crying. “It’s not like that…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Jiang Jinbin’s furious roar: “Take the money out and give it to this ungrateful daughter!”

Even though Pan Lanfeng usually managed everything at home, when it came to major matters like this, Jiang Jinbin was the one who made the final decision.

Seeing how furious Jiang Jinbin was, Pan Lanfeng, though reluctant, had no choice but to wipe her tears and head into the room.

Soon, the living room was left with only father and daughter.

Jiang Jinbin, filled with anger, couldn’t help but say, “How did I end up with such a cold-blooded daughter like you?”

Jiang Yuman didn’t hold back in her retort, “That’s because I take after you.”

With those words, she effectively silenced Jiang Jinbin.

Just as he was regaining his composure, Pan Lanfeng came out of the room, holding a small cloth bundle.

Jiang Jinbin snatched the money and tossed it onto the table, pointing toward the door. “Take this money and get out right now!”

Jiang Yuman didn’t bother responding to his impotent rage. She opened the cloth bundle and counted the contents.

Eighteen hundred in cash, along with the gold jewelry from before…

After confirming everything was in order, she turned and walked out.

Before leaving the living room, she also took down the certificate of commendation for Xu Mei from the wall.

Seeing this, Jiang Jinbin was so furious that his heart ached. “You ungrateful girl, put that down!”

“I’m taking my mother’s certificate” Jiang Yuman didn’t even look back, pushing open the door and walking out.

People nowadays care a lot about reputation. Those who were sent down for rural reform are often looked down upon, but with this certificate, she could avoid a lot of trouble after going to the countryside.

Of course, she had to take it.

As for the two people in the room, they were livid with anger.

As she walked out into the Courtyard, Jiang Yuman could still hear Jiang Jinbin furiously stomping his feet inside.

“Ungrateful girl who bites the hand that feeds her! Let her suffer in the countryside for the rest of her life—she better not expect a single handout from me!”

“Jinbin, now that we’ve given her all that money, what will we do in the future?”

“What else can we do? The money’s gone, but this house won’t have her name on it anymore! My job will go to Xia’er—she has nothing to do with it.”

“…”

Their voices, mingled with the sounds of things being slammed and thrown around, spilled out from the house without pause.

Jiang Yuman didn’t even slow her steps.

She’d be back in two years, living even better than before—what help could Jiang Jinbin possibly offer?

As for the house, her mother’s name was still on the property. When she returned, she could settle that score slowly and thoroughly.

Carrying the heavy bundle in her hand, Jiang Yuman walked down the road with an especially light heart.