Chapter 17

She wore a look of amusement as though watching a drama unfold, though her tone was one of reproach. “Child, how can you talk like that?”

“Your second aunt is only thinking of your good. A man like that with such good prospects is hard to come by, even with a lantern in hand. You should learn to cherish him. Don’t wait until it’s too late and all you’re left with is regret.”

Kang Qing curled her lips into a smile as she righteously lectured Jiang Yao. Whether she truly meant well for Jiang Yao was something only she herself knew.

“You’re a grown woman now. Sooner or later, you’ll have to marry. You can’t stay at home forever—your brother and sister-in-law won’t appreciate it.”

Before Jiang Yao could respond, Jiang Yun stood up anxiously. “Mother, if Big Sis doesn’t want to go on the blind date, don’t force her.”

“Besides, once she gets married, she won’t be able to visit home often. It makes sense that she doesn’t want to grow distant from her family—that’s reason enough not to go.”

Jiang Yao didn’t want to marry Deng Hongda—but Jiang Yun did!

He was the future father of three prodigies across different fields. If she could marry him and have children of her own, those kids would be no less exceptional than the three stepsons raised by Jiang Zhu!

Heaven had granted her knowledge of the plot and allowed her to transmigrate into this world—as the younger sister of Jiang Yao and Jiang Zhu. That had to mean she was meant to take Jiang Yao’s place as the original wife and claim the glory currently held by stepmother Jiang Zhu.

At that moment, Jiang Yun forgot why she had even come to the main house or her argument with Jiang Zhu. All she wanted was for Jiang Yao to back out of the matchmaking meeting.

“Big Sis lost her mother so young—it’s pitiful. Grandma, Mom, stop forcing her to do things she doesn’t want to do.”

As long as Jiang Yao didn’t go see Deng Hongda and get in her way, Jiang Yun didn’t care who she married.

“Hey now—what’s this? Jiang Yun, isn’t it enough that you have your eyes on my fiancé? Now you’re going after the man Big Sis is about to meet too?”

Shameless! Always going after her sisters’ men.

“Big Sis, don’t fall for Jiang Yun’s nonsense. If she can covet her future brother-in-law, it wouldn’t be surprising if she changes her mind and tries to steal an even better one.”

Jiang Zhu was the one in the room most determined not to let Jiang Yao back out of the blind date.

She shot a sharp glare at Jiang Yun, who was busy fanning the flames. If Jiang Yun hadn’t stirred things up, Jiang Yao wouldn’t be hesitating at all.

In the previous life, Jiang Yao had obediently gone on the date, no drama whatsoever, and ended up with Deng Hongda.

Jiang Yun truly was the one person who had always been at odds with her, fighting her at every turn.

“You! Jiang Zhu, even if you’re my older sister, you can’t just slander me like that! How could you accuse me of being interested in your man without proof? Do you really hate your own sister that much?”

Jiang Yun didn’t show the slightest bit of guilt. She didn’t believe Jiang Zhu could have any concrete evidence. Making a scene in front of their grandparents was just Jiang Zhu trying to pressure her and her mother.

Jiang Zhu sneered and pulled a letter from her pocket, handing it to Jiang Yao. “Big Sis, when we were little, you taught us to read. You even helped tutor us through school. You should recognize Jiang Yun’s handwriting.”

“If I’m lying—if I’m trying to slander her out of spite—you’ll know the truth as soon as you read this letter.”

Jiang Yao took the letter from Jiang Zhu. Upon opening it, she found a very passionate love letter.

Every line revealed the writer’s deep feelings for Li Yuan and lamented their unfortunate timing.

“Well, Big Sis? Have your thoughts about our third sister changed now?”

“Yao Yao, what’s written in it?” Grandma Li Guihua stood up, craning her neck to glimpse the letter. Was it really written by Jiang Yun?

Jiang Yao shook her head at her grandma and handed the letter to Grandpa Jiang Jianguo. Seeing her reaction, Li Guihua’s heart sank halfway.

What had the Jiang family done to deserve this—sisters fighting over men? Li Guihua felt faint.

Jiang Jianguo read the letter with a stern face and then slapped the table twice, startling everyone in the room.

“Second son, take a good look. This is what you’ve raised? A good girl, ruined by her own father’s poor upbringing.”

Jiang Yao’s father, Jiang Chaomin, had never taken much interest in Second Brother’s household. He only stayed seated to avoid upsetting their parents.

Back when Second Brother had tried to sell his kids, Jiang Chaomin had already decided—he had no more brothers, only three sisters.

“Yao Yao, is that really Yun Yun’s handwriting? I can’t quite remember what her writing looks like,” Second Uncle asked with a sheepish grin, trying to toss the issue back to Jiang Yao.

That way, if his daughter ended up hating someone, it would be Jiang Yao—the one who identified her handwriting.

“Second Uncle, I haven’t studied with Yun Yun in a long time. I don’t really remember her handwriting clearly,” Jiang Yao answered, refusing to take the bait. She wasn’t about to make herself a target.

“Second son, why are you asking Yao Yao? If even you don’t recognize your own daughter’s handwriting, how could her cousin possibly recognize it? Foolish!” Li Guihua snapped.

This second son of hers—utter nonsense. Instead of brushing the issue aside, he wanted to drag his niece into it. Was he worried his daughter’s reputation was still too good?

“There’s another one. Big Sis, take a look,” Jiang Zhu said, pulling a second letter from her other pocket.

“Take a good look this time. Maybe now you’ll recognize her handwriting.”

So Jiang Yao didn’t want to confirm it—but that didn’t matter. There were still Yun Yun’s old middle school notebooks in her room. They could compare the handwriting easily.

Jiang Yao hesitated as the letter came close to brushing her clothes. She didn’t want to be dragged into her sisters’ mess!

She took the letter but didn’t open it. Her gut told her this one might be even more scandalous than the first. So she passed it directly to her grandfather, Jiang Jianguo.

Jiang Jianguo had once served as village chief of the Forward Brigade during wartime, and had attended private school—an uncommon feat in those days. That’s why the Jiang family was the only one in the brigade that sent both boys and girls to school.

“Hmph! Jiang Second, this is what you call raising a daughter right? No shame, no modesty, not a shred of a proper girl’s upbringing. No wonder—like father, like daughter!”

Jiang Jianguo pointed an accusing finger at Jiang Yun’s father. Then, after venting his anger, he slammed both letters on the table.

“Third girl, read these and give me an explanation.”

Jiang Yun stepped out from behind Kang Qing and picked up the letters from the table, reading through them carefully.

One was a confession of the original Jiang Yun’s love for Li Yuan. The other was a reply from Li Yuan himself.

Jiang Yun was utterly shocked.

How could this be possible? How did Jiang Zhu get her hands on these two letters?!