Chapter 41

When someone passes away, the family must naturally handle the funeral. Although no one in the family has died since two children passed away unexpectedly more than ten years ago, death commands respect, and as long as the proper procedures are followed, no one will usually cause trouble.

With Old Yun around, the household has not fallen into chaos, and there isn’t much for Jiang Muti to worry about.

However, keeping vigil and dealing with guests who come to pay their respects is not an easy task.

There’s also the need for her aunt to look after things, because of the heavy atmosphere at home. Even her mischievous younger cousin has become unusually quiet.

Jiang Muti and Jiang Yunjuan both wore full black mourning clothes, standing side by side.

She could tell that ever since their father passed away, her brother had been overwhelmed by an unprecedented sense of sorrow.

But he didn’t want to talk about it, so she could only silently accompany him.

Jiang Muti patted her brother’s hand. “Brother, you should go eat something. I’ll stay here and watch. You haven’t had a proper meal in days.”

Jiang Yunjuan smiled at her, the smile a little weary, but he simply ruffled her hair. “You go eat, I’m not very hungry.”

Jiang Muti disagreed. “You need to eat even if you’re not hungry. Look at you, you’ve lost weight. Recently, there’s been so much going on at the company. Aren’t you worried about your health?”

Jiang Yunjuan sighed. “I never expected this. Dad went through so much in his life, endured hardships, did everything, enjoyed it all, and even had his ups and downs. Even in defeat, he was dignified and calm. But someone like him could disappear just like that.”

Jiang Muti couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. Normally, someone like Father Jiang would fit the typical protagonist in a novel—never truly fading away and always being the major figure. But in comparison, people like their mother, Xuanxuan, seemed like minor characters, who could exit the stage at any time.

Yet reality didn’t follow the rules of a novel. No matter how powerful or glorious someone was, in the face of such an unexpected event, they appeared small and helpless.

She hugged her brother’s waist, burying her head in his chest. “I know that, compared to me, you have a deeper connection with Dad.”

Although there were certainly more complicated emotions tied to that connection, “He raised you, taught you, and supported you. Now, what we did indirectly led to his passing, but—”

Jiang Muti’s voice became choked as she continued, “But you really don’t have to carry all of this alone. I—I’m the one who can’t bear to suffer a loss, and if anything displeases me, I’ll turn everything upside down. I—”

Jiang Yunjuan gently patted her back, slowly comforting his increasingly frantic younger sister.

He spoke softly, “No, it’s not you. You don’t know what I was planning in the beginning.”

“I’m not blaming myself for this accident. It’s just—Dad was a towering figure, unshakable, but it’s undeniable that without him, I feel a bit lost.”

“I’m fine. I still have a sister to take care of, so I won’t fall.”

Jiang Muti finally felt a little more at ease and said, “Then you should go eat something.”

Jiang Yunjuan sighed, looking like he wanted to say something, but this time, his sister didn’t listen.

She gave Yun Cheng, who was nearby, a look, and the lackey immediately came over to guide him.

“Brother Jun, I’ll take you to eat something. We’ve made porridge in the kitchen. It smells great.”

Although Yun Cheng usually had to clean up after the silly young man, he was actually stronger than Jiang Yunjuan, an adult. At this moment, Jiang Yunjuan, exhausted, was no match for him.

With a combination of words and force, he was dragged away, his teeth grinding in frustration, wishing he could throw a punch.

Meanwhile, Mother Jiang coldly watched the behavior of her two children, a chill running down her spine.

She couldn’t believe things were this coincidental. How many flights had she and Jiang Zhide taken in their lifetime? But this time, at this exact moment, something went wrong.

Yet Jiang Yunjuan seemed more upset than even his own daughter, Muti, to the point that his sister felt guilty and wanted to comfort him instead.

How deep must his scheming be to put on such a show?

After Jiang Yunjuan left, Mother Jiang couldn’t hold back anymore and tugged at Jiang Muti’s sleeve, whispering, “Watch your words lately, don’t keep discussing your father with your brother.”

Jiang Muti raised an eyebrow. “This is Dad’s funeral. If we’re not discussing him, who else should we talk about?”

Mother Jiang was both frightened and angry, but she couldn’t say it outright. If she did, it would be like tearing her relationship with Jiang Yunjuan apart. If it turned out that he was the one responsible, there wouldn’t be much mercy from him, either.

So she gritted her teeth and said, “When I tell you to shut up, shut up. Why do you always have so much to say? Do you think your mother would harm you?”

Jiang Muti smirked. “Harm me? I don’t think so. But it’s clear that you’re only concerned about yourself.”

“Oh, by the way, how is cousin Xuanxuan at the hotel? Is she okay with the towels there? Do you think she needs toothpaste, soap, or anything sent over?”

Mother Jiang’s face stiffened. After Old Jiang’s body was brought back, and with all the funeral preparations and her constant unease, she had almost forgotten about her other daughter.

But since the family had arranged for her to stay at the hotel, and they specifically told her to go there, someone else was supposed to take care of her, so there was no need to worry.

Jiang Muti sarcastically smiled. “See? Aside from yourself, have you really ever cared about anyone else?”

So don’t talk about doing things for the sake of your children.

From what Jiang Muti knew, these days, her Aunt had actually found time to call cousin Xuanxuan to check if everything was settled at the hotel—if there were any problems with the accommodation or food.

Although Xuanxuan was still upset, and their conversations usually ended badly, at least the foster mother still showed concern for her.

But the biological mother, who claimed to be thinking about her for life and promised to give her a better life—

Mother Jiang was left feeling defeated in front of her daughter, thinking her daughter was too cold-hearted, showing no affection for her parents, and being indifferent to relationships.

But what Mother Jiang thought didn’t seem to matter to Jiang Muti.

Mother Jiang pretended to feel dizzy and had someone help her away, planning to rest for a bit, but really, it was just an excuse to avoid her troublesome daughter.

Soon after she left, another familiar face came to offer condolences.

Recently, Ji Feishi had been sending Yun Cheng back to their place every day for various reasons, and as he passed by their house, he’d stop to visit him.

It had only been a few days since the incident, but it already felt like a long time since they’d seen each other.

After Ji Feishi finished offering his flowers and condolences, he approached Jiang Muti and softly asked, “Are you okay?”

Jiang Muti shrugged, noncommittal.

As for the entire sequence of events, aside from the Jiang siblings who were directly involved, no one else knew the details. But Ji Feishi had seen it all with a cold, discerning eye.

He knew how the two siblings gradually pushed their old father out of the family leadership.

Now, with their father gone in a plane crash while on a trip, as children, unless they had completely lost their conscience, it was inevitable that they would feel complicated and guilty.

Ji Feishi didn’t know how to comfort her at that moment. After a long pause, he finally said, “If you need help with anything, feel free to ask. I’ll do what I can.”

Jiang Muti looked up in surprise, not expecting the conversation to shift in this direction.

But such a promise from him couldn’t be taken lightly, considering the weight it carried.

Even though the timing wasn’t ideal, Jiang Muti couldn’t help but feel moved.

She nodded. “Thank you!”

Ji Feishi didn’t linger, exchanging a few words with Yun Cheng before quietly leaving.

Although the atmosphere was heavy due to the funeral, everyone who needed to be there had arrived, and there was no sense of decline or hopelessness from Jiang’s family despite the sudden loss of the family head.

Anyone with eyes could see that the Jiang family wasn’t facing a downfall. In fact, they were the biggest winner in this year’s largest development project, securing the coveted deal that many had been vying for.

Although there were many who weren’t pleased with how things unfolded, in the business world, the maneuvering and bold strategies that had taken down two giants from the previous generation to use as stepping stones were impressive.

The timing was perfect, and Jiang Laozi’s passing hadn’t caused any instability. On the contrary, the Jiang family’s stock prices had risen steadily following the release of the latest development documents.

With a younger, more capable successor, the whole interest group was confident and eager for the future.

Objectively, Jiang Yunjuan and his sister were in a better position than ever, in every sense.

Meanwhile, the Zhou family, who had been closely connected with the Jiang family, didn’t even show up for the funeral.

While Jiang Yunjuan had exploited his father, the Zhou family had taken advantage of the situation as well, leaving Jiang’s family unscathed and even profiting massively. The Zhou family, on the other hand, was in a rather precarious position now.

The lack of confrontation with them was more due to the fact that the Zhou family had their own problems to deal with, but any pretense of friendliness had vanished.

Unfortunately, it also meant that the engagement that had been in the works between the families was now off.

Jiang Muti overheard several ladies discreetly trying to comfort her.

She thought to herself that these women must be out of their minds. Although the marriage arrangement had been pulled by the Zhou family, was it really fair to view her as a pitiful woman being rejected?

Look closely—her worth had just doubled, and with her father’s death, she would officially inherit his fortune, which would soon skyrocket from the billion-dollar range to the tens of billions.

Even if the Zhou family had been thoroughly outplayed in this plan, could anything really make her feel small when she was on the brink of inheriting such an enormous fortune?

But Jiang Muti knew that some women, given a scrap of cloth, would happily play the role of a Qing dynasty landowner’s wife.

She didn’t bother engaging with these women’s odd reasoning, simply responding briefly and then moving on.

After the funeral, her brother quickly recovered, and the benefits from the land deal were being actively managed.

But no matter how busy he was, there was still one important thing to do: reading the will.

The only people present that day were the Jiang family mother and children, along with her aunt and uncle, as it was rumored that the inheritance included a portion for them.

Although it wasn’t much, given that they were the closest relatives, it was unlikely anyone would be left out.

The will didn’t worry the siblings. Their father, Jiang, had always been someone who meticulously planned his affairs, and he definitely wouldn’t let something that was controllable turn into a disaster.

A company this large, involving so many conflicting interests, would never be allowed to consume itself in internal strife, arrangements had been made long ago.

When the lawyer team read the will, most of the contents were as expected.

Jiang Yunjuan had already inherited shares from his biological parents, which had been significantly diluted by Jiang before he came of age, but they were still considerable.

As for Jiang’s personal estate, the company’s shares were distributed between the two children in a set proportion, ensuring that Jiang Yunjuan would have absolute control, while the unlucky daughter would be comfortably set for life, living in luxury without needing to lift a finger.

In addition, there were real estate properties, funds, shares in other places, and a collection of antique treasures—

Jiang Muti only now learned that her father had even bought two islands in the Pacific Ocean, naming them after the two brothers who had passed away. One island was named after her, and the other after her brother.

These assets were also divided between the three members of the family, with Jiang Muti receiving the largest share, presumably because her father knew she was the one most in need of practical benefits.

Previously, Jiang Muti hadn’t thought much of her father, but now, with his death, some of the advantages became glaringly evident, and she couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions.

Her aunt and uncle received a certain sum of cash and two villas in the city, which, while not much, were considered a small gesture from her brother-in-law.

Everyone was generally satisfied with the will, except for Mother Jiang.

She had endured for a long time, but finally, after the will had been read and she confirmed there was nothing specifically left for her, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

“This is all the will says? As his spouse, this is all I get? No shares in the company, and my share of the other assets doesn’t even match half of what’s left to the daughter?”

The lawyer flipped through the documents. “This is the full content of the will, and it’s valid. We’ve double-checked everything. Please, Mrs. Jiang, don’t doubt our professionalism.”

Mother Jiang’s expression twisted, and she suddenly burst into laughter. “Jiang Zhide, oh Jiang Zhide, I followed you for a lifetime, bore you three children, and in the end, I’m left with nothing but scraps! Because I don’t have Jiang family blood, I’m not considered a person, is that it?”

Jiang Muti had long known that her mother was greedy, but objectively speaking, Father Jiang had been quite harsh in his distribution of assets to his wife.

First of all, he didn’t know about her affair and the illegitimate daughter, otherwise, he probably wouldn’t have given her a penny.

But the reason for this distribution was easy to guess. The couple had long been estranged and naturally didn’t care about each other’s needs.

Secondly, as Mother Jiang had said, someone as obsessed with bloodlines as Jiang was definitely going to keep his wealth within the Jiang family bloodline.

She was right— in Jiang’s eyes, anyone who didn’t have Jiang family blood wasn’t worth his attention.

But Mother Jiang’s hysterical performance now was rather unseemly. She didn’t lack money, aside from the shares Jiang held in the company, which weren’t distributed to her, it didn’t mean she had no stake in the Jiang family—though small, she had earned her share over the years.

Moreover, she had run her own businesses. Saying her business was mediocre and small was only true compared to Jiang’s family. In reality, with dozens of chain stores across the province, her business was not to be underestimated.

As for the assets Jiang had distributed, her share was roughly equal to Jiang Yunjuan’s, just slightly less than Jiang Muti’s. Combined, these assets were quite considerable.

It was simply an insatiable desire that couldn’t be satisfied.

Of course, Jiang Muti knew that this wasn’t something she should say—being a beneficiary herself, it would be inappropriate to act like she didn’t understand.

But Mother Jiang, probably already under a great deal of pressure in the past few days, finally lost her temper when the property distribution dealt the final blow. She had completely lost her reason.

She laughed for a long time, then pointed at Jiang Yunjuan and shouted, “Is it you? You arranged all this, you just wanted to take over the whole Jiang family!”

“Hahahahaha! Jiang Zhide, didn’t expect this, did you? All those years you schemed, and in the end, the retribution caught up with you. In the end, the Jiang family still belongs to the Jiang Wei Chou family.”

Jiang Wei Chou was her biological brother’s name, and Mother Jiang had used her cousin’s name.

Well, it was now confirmed that her father had betrayed her. As for the details of the betrayal—

At this moment, Jiang Yunjuan wouldn’t tolerate his mother’s madness any longer. He turned to a nearby servant and said, “Madam is tired. Please take her to rest.”

As soon as the servant approached her, Mother Jiang pushed him away. “Stop with this nonsense.”

“Are you trying to quietly kill me? Just like how you killed your father—no, did you ever consider us as your parents? Jiang Zhide was too arrogant, thinking you were too young back then to know anything.”

“Look, others remember everything, don’t they? At such a young age, you were already able to play the fool and deceive the adults, enduring all these years. Such skills aren’t something easily overlooked.”

As Jiang Yunjuan listened to his mother’s words, his fists tightened. When he saw his sister’s thoughtful expression, he knew that no matter what, he couldn’t let his adopted mother continue to speak recklessly.

He exchanged a look, and someone came over, doing something that caused Mother Jiang to lose consciousness and slump.

Aunt Jiang, startled, rushed over to help her sister, but the servant quickly intervened and took her away.

With all the commotion from Mother Jiang, the room was once again filled with an awkward atmosphere.

However, the lawyers were used to such scenes, and had seen even more disgraceful behavior when it came to interests. Without showing any emotion, they packed up their things, gave some instructions for what was to come, and left.

Although Aunt Jiang had just received a considerable sum, she wasn’t happy at all. Her request to see her sister had been rejected by her nephew.

“Mother is mentally unstable right now. Let her calm down first,” he had said.

As for when she would calm down, Aunt Jiang knew that was up to her nephew.

The couple left the room, leaving only the two siblings behind.

Jiang Muti shrugged her shoulders, wearing a “you know what I mean” expression, waiting for her brother to explain.

But her brother only rubbed her head. “Mom’s just talking nonsense. Don’t take it to heart.”

Jiang Muti wasn’t so easily dismissed. “But these past few days, when she looks at you, it’s like she’s a terrified rabbit. If it weren’t for the unfair distribution of the assets, I wouldn’t be surprised if she ran off to the other side of the earth to hide tomorrow morning.”

Then Jiang Muti asked the one question that, every time she thought about it afterward, made her want to slap herself—

“Brother, that… can’t be really your doing, right?”

As soon as she asked, she saw her brother’s pupils shrink, and his expression shifted from complexity to something else.

But Jiang Muti could tell clearly that this wasn’t a reaction of being caught in a lie, but more like someone shrinking after something shameful had been exposed.

Her brother looked at her, his face firm. “That was just an accident. You need to understand, I would never do anything to harm you.”

Jiang Muti could tell from his reaction that she had gone too far with her test. She and Father Jiang had no emotional connection, but Jiang Yunjuan didn’t think the same way.

Right now, all he felt was sorrow for his sister’s doubts.

Jiang Muti quickly hugged him. “No, no, don’t be upset. I’m the one at fault, I shouldn’t say such hurtful things. I didn’t doubt you, I was just—”

She hesitated and said, “I just heard my mom say those things, and I wanted to figure out what really happened.”

Jiang Yunjuan, only he knew how much he breathed a sigh of relief. He then helplessly looked at his sister’s sharp intuition.

He patted her head. “Sometimes, I wish you were a little dumber.”

He then became serious and said, “Those are matters that should have been buried long ago. The previous generation’s issues are complicated, but now everyone is gone. There’s no need for us to be dragged down by the past.”

“Your only task now is to live a carefree life. The past won’t haunt you, and you promised me you’d learn to turn a blind eye to some things, right?”

Jiang Muti stared at him blankly. Although her brother kept emphasizing she should look ahead, he himself couldn’t do so and remained bound by the past. This was quite obvious.

She wasn’t unaware that sometimes ignorance is bliss. If she really dug into the details, with just a little more effort, she could probably get to the bottom of things.

But since her brother didn’t want her to inquire into these matters, it seemed that, in his eyes, the consequences would be even more devastating than something like her mother or another daughter suddenly showing up, right?

So Jiang Muti chose to play dumb. She knew that maybe she didn’t care about the truth, but her brother definitely wouldn’t think the same.

Now she finally noticed what her brother had said twice—

“You are my only family.”

When he poured all the meaning of family into her, this careful protection became mutual.

He would protect the bright, carefree world in her eyes, even if it meant getting covered in blood. And she, no matter what, wouldn’t allow herself to destroy what he had built.

The day Jiang Yunjuan waited for Mother Jiang to wake up, he went to her. They spoke for a long time, and the next day, Mother Jiang left the house.

She looked fine when she left and said she was going abroad for a long vacation. Before she left, she looked at her daughter and let out a heartfelt remark: “I don’t know if you’re lucky or unlucky.”

Jiang Muti shrugged. “I’m naturally happy.”

Mother Jiang thought for a moment. “I see. You’re like your father. People like him don’t have bad lives.”

Jiang Muti was taken aback. She didn’t expect to hear such an evaluation.

Soon after, she heard that Mother Jiang had taken Xuanxuan with her when she left. She didn’t forget her this time. Now that Father Jiang was dead, her identity was no longer a secret. With Jiang Muti in the Jiang family, Xuanxuan couldn’t find a place there.

If Mother Jiang wanted to make up for it, she had to take Xuanxuan with her.

But that was all a side note. With the confinement, the company’s change of leadership, and her father’s death, Jiang Muti finally returned to her long-absent school a week after the funeral.

By this time, finals were approaching. She had originally wanted to stay home, but her brother dragged her out, and with help from the jealous Yun Cheng and Yun Duo, she was quickly put on the bus.

However, as soon as she arrived at school, Jiang Muti immediately noticed something was off.

Although she had been absent for almost a month, it was inevitable that she would attract attention. But who was Jiang Muti?

As she would say, when others focused their attention on her, it meant something. It had a certain taste to it.

Now, Jiang Muti clearly sensed the smell of gossip, sympathy, and schadenfreude.

She casually grabbed someone—known as the class gossip—and directly asked, “Come on, what’s the latest topic about me?”

The gossip initially denied it strongly. “No, there’s no such thing. It’s just that you’ve been gone for half a month, and people are curious.”

Caught off guard, Jiang Muti smiled and pulled out some money.

The gossip immediately began to spill everything, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube. “They’re saying your dad just passed away, and then Zhou Lu broke off his marriage, only to turn around and get engaged to some young lady from another province. They say you’re pitiful—though, that’s not what I said. I’m just giving an objective statement.”

Jiang Muti handed him the money and sent him off. She then once again marveled at how, in this school, no matter the situation, gossip spread without any hesitation.