Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Jiang Yiyán's words were quite harsh.

But it wasn't her fault; they had spoken rudely first.

In the book *Beloved*, although the details are somewhat vague, there are hints that tell the readers about Cai Wenqing's motives for approaching Jiang Cheng. To put it bluntly, she had endured a hard life and wanted to seize this opportunity for herself and her daughter to have a better life.

However, in the original novel, Shu Yao is the protagonist, which means Cai Wenqing, as the mother of the protagonist, naturally has to be portrayed positively. Therefore, while the setting is such, the author describes Cai Wenqing with a sense of helplessness.

She is a pitiful good woman.

Though not portrayed as a perfect saint, because of her love for her daughter and the abuse she suffered from her ex-husband, she naturally becomes an object of sympathy.

When reading the novel, there were a few readers who criticized her, but their voices were quickly drowned out by the majority.

The absence of criticism doesn't mean it didn't exist.

Moreover, now that she is Jiang Yiyán in the story, standing against Cai Wenqing, she naturally emphasizes this point even more.

Cai Wenqing's face turned red with anger, and her usually fair complexion flushed crimson, extending all the way down to her neck.

"You, you, you speak without thinking," Cai Wenqing said, trembling with rage. "How can someone your age have such a dirty mouth? I am your elder, yet you dare to make jokes about me and your father."

Jiang Yiyán's expression was stern as she coldly replied, "Aunt Cai, if you know you're an elder, then act like one. It was you who spoke ill of me first. Are you relying on your age to justify your actions? Because you are older and an elder, you can accuse me, but I, being younger and a junior, cannot state the truth?"

"You, you... I will call your father," Cai Wenqing said, shaking as she reached for her phone.

Jiang Yiyán was undaunted: "Aunt Cai, if you don't make this call today, I will look down on you."

Suddenly, Cai Wenqing's body went limp, and she collapsed backward.

"Mom!"

"Madam!"

Shu Yao and a police officer from the local police station shouted simultaneously and rushed to support Cai Wenqing.

Cai Wenqing was weak but not completely unconscious. After being supported, she half-opened her eyes and said softly, "I am fifty years old, and I've lived a clean life. I never expected to be slandered like this today."

Cai Wenqing, true to her nature, shed tears instantly. As she cried, she spoke, portraying herself as a pitiable stepmother who only wants the best for her stepdaughter but is unfairly mistreated.

Jiang Yiyán sighed inwardly, admiring her tactics.

But Jiang Yiyán did not back down. She pinched herself hard, and tears started streaming down her face.

She cried loudly, "When my mother was sick, you were seducing my father, hoping she would pass away so you could become the lady of the Jiang Group! I was only thirteen or fourteen at the time. After you came into our lives, you pretended to be kind to me, but behind the scenes, you isolated and ostracized me!"

"I was just a child, what did I understand? I was scared!"

"You caused my mother's death and ruined my personality. Now that I have a family and a good life, your daughter comes and tries to seduce my husband. Are there no other men in the world? Must you and your daughter target the men in our family?"

"Aunt Cai, how terrifying you are! You schemed to isolate me, ruining my youth and my personality, making me into someone everyone despises. Even my father dislikes me now. Yet you enjoy the fruits of my parents' labor, sending your daughter abroad for education. Even my own brother fell hopelessly in love with your daughter. And today, because of your daughter, they ended up fighting at the police station."

"Are these not facts? Why do you keep using the same tricks to slander me?"

Using your methods against you. If she wants to play mind games, let's play.

This moment also allowed her to voice the original character's grievances and frustrations.

She thought these were things the original character would have wanted to say.

But the original character was too proud and disdainful to engage in such tactics, unwilling to compete with Cai Wenqing for her father's or brother's affection.

Little did she know, dealing with someone like Cai Wenqing requires using her own tactics. If she pretends to be innocent and helpless, she must be even more innocent and helpless.

Steal her thunder and leave her with nothing.

Indeed, after Jiang Yiyán's outburst, the tide turned.

Although there weren't many people in the police station, there were still a dozen or so. Everyone stopped what they were doing and focused their attention on the scene.

Cai Wenqing cried, but Jiang Yiyán cried even harder.

She didn't care about losing face; what did she care about?

With Jiang Yiyán's display, Cai Wenqing was left speechless.

Shu Yao felt embarrassed and whispered to her mother, "Mom, please say less!"

Seeing this, Jiang Yiyán intensified her crying.

"Yao Yao, think about it. What kind of life did you have before your mother married my father? All the wealth he has now was built with my mother. You sit back and enjoy it, yet you scheme against me."

"Now my brother and my husband are fighting over Yao Yao. Is this my fault?"

"Aunt Cai, do you think you can bully me because you've done it before? Do you think you can use the same tricks on me again and again?" Jiang Yiyán became increasingly upset and angry, empathizing with the original character's past.

Her whole body trembled, and her tears were now real.

Cai Wenqing knew Jiang Yiyán had changed, but she didn't expect her to become so formidable.

Caught off guard, she didn't know what to do.

Her arguments seemed weak and powerless against Jiang Yiyán's outburst. She opened her mouth several times, trying to find something to say, but couldn't come up with anything.

In the end, she could only put on a wronged expression, pretending to be so upset that she had fainted.

Shu Yao also played along and immediately cried out, "Mom! Mom! What's wrong with you, Mom! Wake up quickly."

Jiang Yiyán, however, did not indulge her. He immediately fetched a glass of water and splashed it on Cai Wenqing's face.

Cai Wenqing was feigning unconsciousness. Caught off guard, she was suddenly splashed with a cup of water and naturally coughed as she woke up.

Jiang Yiyán slammed the cup heavily on the table beside her and exposed her once again: "Pretending to faint again! My father isn't even here—who are you trying to fool with your act?"

The people at the local police station looked at each other, and they all understood each other's thoughts.

But after all, it was their family matter, so they couldn't meddle; they could only try to smooth things over.

"Calm down, everyone. This is the local police station, not a place for you to make a commotion. If you have anything to say, it's better to discuss it at home."

"Wen Mochuan's family." At that moment, someone suddenly called out.

Jiang Yiyán pursed her lips and, for the moment, bothered no further with the mother and daughter. She walked over to the police officer and said, "I am." Then she asked, "Can he go now?"

The officer said, "Alright, just sign your name here, and you can go after signing."

"Alright." Jiang Yiyán nodded, then immediately picked up the pen and signed.

Regaining her composure, Cai Wenqing immediately ran over and asked, "What about Jiang Xu? The other person, when will he come out?"

"This..." The officer probably understood the relationships among these people and what had led to today's incident, so he was somewhat at a loss when it came to this question.

But he had no choice but to answer, so he gave an awkward smile and said, "It's because he hit someone, and the person who was hit wouldn't accept mediation, so..."

"What?" Cai Wenqing was quite startled. "He... he... he wants to lock them inside? It's just a fight, why is it so serious?"

The officer: "It wasn't a fight. Mr. Jiang was the one who hit someone; Mr. Wen didn't lay a hand on anyone. So..."

Jiang Yiyán had already signed the papers, and Wen Mochuan came out from inside. Cai Wenqing saw Wen Mochuan and immediately went over to plead with him.

"Mochuan, I know this is Xu's fault, but you can't just stand idly by while he's locked up. Even if you don't consider Auntie's feelings, you should think about your father's. Xu is your father's son. If you're so heartless, wouldn't your father be very upset if he found out?"

"Think about it. He is so old and in poor health. Considering his dignity, you should try to keep the peace."