Chapter 32: Girl, what did you say? You said you are not worthy of him?!

“Jingchuan… don’t blame Aunt Tang. What she said wasn’t entirely wrong…” Jiang Wan sniffled softly, clinging gently to Fu Jingchuan’s arm. “I’m just an orphan without parents. Ever since the Jiang family found out I wasn’t their biological child, they stopped caring about me…”

“No one in that family likes me.”

“But when I heard I could marry a soldier, I was genuinely happy! Ever since I was a child… I’ve admired comrades who are brave enough to charge into battle…”

“But then again, your Fu family is from a proud red military lineage. And me? I don’t even know who my birth parents are… Maybe I really am unworthy of you.”

When she said the word “orphan,” her voice carried a hint of real emotion. In her past life, she’d been an orphan too—who would’ve thought she’d end up one again in this life?

At that thought, tears began to fall from her eyes uncontrollably. Her clear apricot eyes, misted with emotion, shimmered with glass-like sorrow.

Fu Jingchuan’s long, rough lashes fluttered. His heart clenched tight like someone was wringing it. He reached out with his calloused fingers, a little panicked, instinctively wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes.

But before he could say a word, his grandfather interrupted—again!

“What nonsense?!! Girl, what did you just say?? You say you’re not worthy of him?!”

Fu Chang’s eyes widened, visibly fuming with words that almost exploded out of him. He stormed over with surprising energy and jabbed a finger at Fu Jingchuan.

“Girl, take a good look… My grandson here? He’s just an old man already! He’s thirty!”

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re what, eighteen or nineteen?”

“Oh, heavens! You’re such a delicate, pretty young lady—how are you not worthy of this rough old brute! Girl, listen to Grandpa, don’t cry!”

“If you ask me, it’s Jingchuan who isn’t worthy of you!”

Grandpa Fu looked at Jiang Wan’s delicate form, crying like a pear blossom in the rain, and his heart ached terribly. He pushed Fu Jingchuan aside and, frowning awkwardly, tried to comfort her clumsily:

“Aiya… girl, be good, alright? Don’t cry!”

“Did Grandpa’s sudden visit upset you today? Aiya… Grandpa was just worried about this rough blockhead Jingchuan. He’s not very smart—what if he got tricked again? His ex-wives were all terrible people…”

“But now that I’ve met you, I’m really, really satisfied! Girl, you… you truly don’t mind that blockhead Jingchuan?”

Tang Feng, overhearing all this, panicked when she realized Fu Chang was fully accepting Jiang Wan as his granddaughter-in-law. She quickly raised her voice:

“Aiyo, Old Master, this can’t be! The Jiang family clearly tricked us, how could you—”

“Aunt Tang…” Jiang Wan, with tears still clinging to her lashes, raised a pale hand to wipe them away. Her long lashes cast shadows over the glint of sly amusement in her eyes. She sighed and choked out tearfully:

“I know you don’t like me, but there’s no need to target me like this…”

“I understand—it’s probably because of the argument we had over the children’s meals, right?”

“I know you’ve been making gruel for the kids every day without even sparing a scrap of meat. Maybe you were trying to help save money for Jingchuan…”

“But our Chenchen had a fever last night! Even the director at the county hospital said he’s malnourished!”

“Aunt Tang, maybe you think I don’t know how to run a household, but when the kids get sick, doesn’t that cost even more money for treatment?”

“You’re talking nonsense!!” Aunt Tang’s face turned red from Jiang Wan’s words. She stiffened her neck and barked back:

“Saving money? You’re spouting nonsense with your city ways! We fed those kids all this time and they never got sick! Now you show up, and suddenly he’s sick?”

“Jiang Wan, don’t try to twist things and pin all the blame on us!!”

Tang Feng, who already lacked much education, was so agitated she began tripping over her own words, not even sure what she was trying to say.

Fu Chang’s face turned grim as he listened. He exchanged a glance with Fu Jingchuan.

Fu Jingchuan pressed his lips together, a chilling sharpness in his gaze, and gave a quiet nod.

In just a few seconds, the grandfather and grandson had exchanged all the information they needed—without saying a word, they both understood what was going on.

Fu Chang instantly saw through Tang Feng’s scheme. She was trying to use him to kick Jiang Wan out so that she and her daughter could stay and continue “taking care” of the kids.

Fu Chang’s temple twitched. Did she really take him for a fool?

He shot a look at Fu Jingchuan, who then straightened up and asked coldly:

“Comrade Tang Feng, did you not hear what my wife just said?”

“I’d also like to ask: with such simple food for the children, where exactly did all the money go?”

“Or are you really trying to say… you were saving for this family?”

His words, cold and sharp like blades, cut straight through Tang Feng. Her whole body trembled.

That was when she realized—she had fallen right into Jiang Wan’s trap!!

But it was too late now!

Eyes red, Tang Feng cast a last desperate glance at Fu Chang. But he only gently patted Jiang Wan’s slender shoulder, his touch cautious and careful. The old man even smiled—he hadn’t tried this hard to please someone in decades, so his expression was a bit stiff.

“Jiang Wan, don’t be upset. From now on, you call the shots in this house! Grandpa will back you up!”

“Child… you truly have a kind heart. Grandpa knows—you’re doing all this for the kids.”

“We’re not poor! Jingchuan makes over 80 yuan a month! And Grandpa’s pension isn’t small either! Not only do our kids not need to live frugally, if you want anything—just ask Jingchuan! He’ll get it for you!”

“… …” Tang Feng’s heart sank lower and lower. Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t say a single word.

After comforting Jiang Wan, Fu Chang shot a sharp glare her way. Before his retirement, he’d been a regiment commander. Even in old age, he radiated an intimidating aura without even trying.

His brows furrowed deeply as he said:

“Comrade Tang Feng, if you thought you could use this old man as your pawn, then you seriously miscalculated!”

“As of now, my grandson and Jiang girl are already officially married. And I’m very satisfied with my granddaughter-in-law!”

“She’s done nothing wrong. In fact, she’s clever—if not for her, who knows how long you and your daughter would’ve kept deceiving my Jingchuan!”

“You’d best pack your things and leave while I’m still willing to give you the dignity of being family. Otherwise, we’ll settle this through legal means!”

“The Fu family doesn’t care about the little bit of money you took—but we won’t let anyone bully us without consequence!”