Chapter 32: Lifting a Rock Only to Drop It on One’s Own Foot

“Is it ready?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Let me do it!”

“Here you go.”

Jiang Xiangxiang handed over her food, and Lu Jianshen carried it into the house. They didn’t exchange many words, yet they acted like an old married couple, perfectly in sync.

Ye Meiping watched from the kitchen, green with envy. For years, she’d been alone at home with two children, while Lao Jiang just worked in the mines. She handled everything herself; he’d never been this kind to her.

But Jiang Xiangxiang, after simply falling into the water, had somehow met Lu Jianshen, who seemed deeply infatuated with her.

Ye Meiping felt she couldn’t bear it. She had to find a way to break them up; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

Jiang Rourou and Chunhua disliked each other intensely. Seeing the couple enter, one after the other, made them even more uncomfortable. If she’d known this would happen, she would have jumped into the river herself. Why did she create this opportunity for Jiang Xiangxiang? It was like lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot.

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became.

Jiang Xiangxiang saw the jealousy in Jiang Rourou’s eyes and found it amusing. “Oh, sister, what’s wrong? Your face looks terrible. If you’re not feeling well, go to the hospital quickly. Don’t end up dying without knowing how, that would be embarrassing.”

Jiang Rourou: “Jiang Xiangxiang, don’t push it!”

She genuinely felt helpless now that Jiang Xiangxiang was about to marry Lu Jianshen.

Jiang Xiangxiang shrugged, unconcerned about Jiang Rourou’s attitude. After all, the mother and daughter had no other skills besides bickering. What could they do?

Lu Jianshen, however, was displeased. He glared at her warningly. If Jiang Rourou weren’t a woman, he would have already intervened.

But it was clear that neither Jiang Rourou nor Ye Meiping had a clear understanding of their position, constantly testing his limits.

Seeing his gaze, Jiang Rourou’s eyes flickered with confusion, but she quickly recovered and smiled at him. “Lu…”

Ye Meiping: “Rourou, come out and serve the dishes.”

She had been waiting in the kitchen for Jiang Xiangxiang to help, but seeing Jiang Xiangxiang sit down after entering the room, her face darkened even further.

What a useless girl! Her Rourou was much more reliable.

Jiang Rourou, eager to prove herself, quickly went out to serve the dishes. There was medicine in them, so she had to be careful. No matter what, she had to make sure Lu Jianshen drank it; otherwise, she wouldn’t feel at ease.

After she left, Jiang Xiangxiang didn’t idle. She quickly approached Chunhua.

“Auntie, during dinner, please only eat the dishes and pancakes I made. Don’t touch anything made by those two.”

“Why?”

“Well…”

“Xiangxiang usually cooks. The food made by the other two probably won’t taste good.” Lu Jianshen said calmly. Mentioning the medicine would be too alarming.

So, he changed his approach.

Jiang Xiangxiang nodded. “That’s right. You know my mother’s cooking skills. Her food is inedible. Why don’t you try mine?”

Chunhua: “Okay!”

She didn’t care for Ye Meiping anyway. In her eyes, Ye Meiping was a mentally ill woman who abused her daughter, and Jiang Rourou wasn’t much better.

Jiang Xiangxiang breathed a sigh of relief after Chunhua agreed. This had nothing to do with Chunhua; it would be bad if she got involved because of her.

Thinking this, she was about to pour the brown sugar water into the trash can when she saw Ye Meiping and Jiang Rourou approaching. To avoid alarming them, she sat down.

Jiang Rourou looked at her suspiciously, noticing the empty mug of brown sugar water before speaking. “Alright, everyone’s hungry, let’s eat!”

Ye Meiping: “That’s right. After this meal, we’ll consider the proposal accepted, Lu Jianshen. You can do whatever you need to do afterward. But let me make it clear, from now on…”

Jiang Xiangxiang: “Just eat your food and stop talking nonsense!”

They were incredibly annoying. She was amazed at Ye Meiping’s audacity; she didn’t acknowledge Jiang Xiangxiang’s existence yet pretended to care.

Ye Meiping felt extremely aggrieved. She had never suffered such humiliation. These past few days with Jiang Xiangxiang had been disastrous for her pride and dignity.

If this continued, she would go crazy. Thankfully, success was imminent.

She had seen that Jiang Xiangxiang’s brown sugar water was gone. She only needed to persevere, feed her some poisoned food, and everything would be fine.

Soon, she would show Jiang Xiangxiang the consequences of defying her.

Ye Meiping served them a full bowl each, as if afraid they wouldn’t have enough. Her actions were almost maniacal.

Jiang Xiangxiang found it hilarious. Did she think everyone was a fool and that they couldn’t see through her?

Ye Meiping: “Eat!”

Jiang Xiangxiang: “Eat! You eat first, then we’ll eat. After all, you made the food. You worked hard all morning, how can you not eat?”

Jiang Rourou: “Sister, do you have to be so sarcastic? Mother worked so hard to make this food, you’re not grateful, and you even…”

Jiang Xiangxiang: “You eat too, come on.”

She spread her hands, clearly resorting to tit-for-tat. If they didn’t eat, neither would she.

Ye Meiping never expected to lift a rock only to drop it on her own foot. She could only resignedly pick up her chopsticks and begin to eat. Eat and drink.

So what if it was poisoned?

It was just an aphrodisiac; she would find a way to counteract it later. Jiang Rourou’s matter was more important.

Jiang Xiangxiang was dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected Ye Meiping to go this far. Could it be that she was wrong, and Ye Meiping hadn’t poisoned the food?

Jiang Rourou was equally unconcerned. She had included herself in the plan and didn’t see anything wrong with it. If she also got poisoned, it would be easier to explain later and frame Jiang Xiangxiang.

So, she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

Jiang Xiangxiang was stunned. She knew something was wrong, but she couldn’t pinpoint it. Were they both this ruthless?

Lu Jianshen exchanged a glance with her and nodded slightly. They could only wait and see what happened next. He was curious to see how far they would go.