Chapter 453 Should I Take You to Recognize It

Once the pork was distributed, Jiang Yu led He Tingyue inside.

"Did you report everything?"

"Yes. The factory's strapped for cash recently, so this money couldn't have come at a better time to ease the urgent need."

Jiang Yu tsked. "With serious money like that, Factory Director Zheng must be thrilled."

He Tingyue chuckled. "The director said he’s putting this on your record."

Jiang Yu smirked, lifting her chin slightly.

"Darn right."

We're talking serious money here, yet she never once thought of keeping it for herself.

Turning in that kind of haul required tremendous self-control.

He Tingyue fished through his pocket and pulled out a few items.

"I thought this bracelet looked nice, so I took it for you."

At the time, Jiang Yu had been completely focused on the gold bars and other jewelry, didn't give another glance.

It was only when He Tingyue returned that he spotted it and casually picked it up for her.

It was a jade bracelet—glass-smooth with deep emerald tones, not a flaw under sunlight.

Jiang Yu knew nothing about jade, but she could tell this bracelet had a lived-in glow. Wearing it made her skin appear even fairer, stunningly beautiful.

"Can't exactly flaunt this. What's the point of taking it?"

She felt a bit regretful. Such a beautiful bracelet begs to be shown around.

He Tingyue held her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles.

"Your time'll come."

Jiang Yu took off the bracelet and swaddled it in soft cloth before storing it away.

"What about those?"

He Tingyue picked out a few items. "These are for Fei Yan and the others. As for this seal, take a look."

Jiang Yu picked up the jade seal and examined it. A name was engraved on it: "Qin Kangyi?"

It belonged to Shifu Ma’s husband.

"Why is there Shifu's husband's seal here?"

He Tingyue explained, "During the revolution, looters hit every household. The Qin family’s belongings walked off in the scramble. I spotted this seal and took it."

The seal was Qin Kangyi’s personal item. Returning it to Shifu Ma would give her something to hold onto.

Jiang Yu pocketed the seal. "I’ll return it to Shifu tomorrow."

The next day, Jiang Yu was barely out the door when she bumped into Jiang Ting, and the seal in her hand went flying.

Jiang Ting nervously shielded her belly and snapped, "Can't you see? If anything happens to my child, could you even afford to make it right?"

Jiang Yu ignored her and quickly picked up the seal, checking if it was damaged.

The seal caught Jiang Ting’s eye, and her eyes gleamed with interest.

These days, people didn’t dare flaunt wealth—wearing clothes without patches was already a sign of status.

Every household probably had gold, silver, or jade, but none dared to show it.

So the high-quality jade seal in Jiang Yu’s hand seemed like a rare treasure to Jiang Ting.

"Where did you get this?"

Jiang Yu glanced at her. "Why do you care? Haven’t I warned you before: mind your own business?"

She shoved the seal away and left. After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Ting followed.

To her surprise, Jiang Yu entered Old Lady Ma’s house.

This was something Jiang Ting looked down on about Jiang Yu.

A respectable cadre like her, associating with someone like Old Lady Ma.

Didn’t she know Old Lady Ma’s family were capitalists? They had a bad class status—wasn’t she afraid of being implicated?

Jiang Ting muttered, "Capitalists..."

Had that jade seal been given to Jiang Yu by Old Lady Ma?

Well, Old Lady Ma’s family had been wealthy before. No telling what she might still have hidden away.

Jiang Yu returned the seal to Old Lady Ma and left. As soon as she stepped out, she was confronted by Jiang Ting again.

"What are you doing here?"

Jiang Ting looked at her, a sneer in her eyes.

"I thought you were so kind, always helping Old Lady Ma. Turns out you're just after her valuables. Jiang Yu, she must’ve given you a cut of her stash, huh? That old woman used to be rolling in money. Even after being raided a few times, she must still have valuables stashed away."

Jiang Yu said coolly, "What are you getting at?"

"Whatever she’s given you, if you share some with me, I won’t rat you out!"

Jiang Ting smirked. "But if you want to keep it all to yourself, I’ll turn you in right now!"

Jiang Yu laughed, a cold glint in her eyes.

She beckoned Jiang Ting closer. "Come closer, I’ll show you."

Jiang Ting took a few steps forward and stopped in front of her.

"What is it?"

Jiang Yu's face went cold as she hauled off and slapped her twice across the face.

"How’s that for a show?"

After the two slaps, Jiang Ting stood too stunned to speak, gaping at her.

"Jiang Yu! You... how dare you..."

Jiang Yu rubbed her numb palm, her expression fierce, then suddenly grabbed Jiang Ting's hair, forcing her to look up.

"Jiang Ting, I’ve been way too nice to you, haven’t I? Made you think I’m a pushover! How did the child in your belly come about? Which man got you impregnated? Want me to drag you there to point them out? Those men are still locked up at the police station—should I take you there to identify them?"

Jiang Ting’s legs went weak with fear, and her knees hit the floor with a thud.

Her cheek stung from the slap, but she didn’t dare peep.

"I won’t say anything, never again! Jiang Yu, please spare me."

Jiang Yu coldly released her grip. "If there’s a next time, it won’t be as simple as two slaps!"

Jiang Ting collapsed onto the ground, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Jiang Yu actually knew.

Wang Meili knew about this, but to save face, she would keep it hidden.

But Jiang Yu had never gotten along with her—she’d blab any second.

Jiang Yu didn’t care what was going through her mind. She brushed her hands off and strolled off like it was nothing.

If nothing else, until this matter came to light, Jiang Ting would have to keep her head down around her. She could get some peace and quiet for a while.

But Jiang Yu hadn’t expected Sun Biao and the others to have such influence—the news spread like wildfire.

In less than two days, the rumors about the temple’s fertility rituals had reached the housing complex.

People bombarded Lin Hongxia with questions.

"Mrs. Lin, have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"That temple where your daughter-in-law prayed for a child—those monks were all fakes! They’ve been arrested!"

Lin Hongxia blinked. "I heard about that a while ago, but I kept thinking maybe it was a mistake. That temple was quite effective—look at Jiang Ting—she’s pregnant!"

The person shot her a knowing look.

"They weren’t wrongly arrested, but it’s true that the temple could help women conceive."

Lin Hongxia froze. "Was it... divine intervention?"

"What divine intervention? It was the men in the temple—sturdy and virile."

With a chuckle, they walked away.

Lin Hongxia stood there for a long time, her mind reeling.

Later, Fu Xianghong returned, yanking her arm.

"Mom, have you heard? Everyone’s talking about it outside!"

Lin Hongxia was stunned. "What’s being said outside?"

"That temple Jiang Ting went to for prayers—do you know how they *really* did it? It’s too disgusting to say aloud!"

Lin Hongxia's head buzzed as she grabbed her arm, her nails digging deep into the flesh.

"Tell me!"

Fu Xianghong, flushed with shame and anger, gritted her teeth and said, "They went to men for conception! I heard that when the temple was raided, there were still many wives from other families there!"

Lin Hongxia’s vision went black, and she almost collapsed.

Fu Xianghong rushed to support her. "Mom! Mom, don’t scare me!"

Lin Hongxia trembled, pointing at the door. "Close... close the door!"

She didn’t want to see anyone now.

The joy she’d felt upon hearing Jiang Ting was pregnant now shattered into crushing devastation.

She had been overjoyed, eagerly awaiting this grandchild, only to be struck a brutal blow, hurling her from heaven into despair.

Fu Xianghong suppressed her fury. "Mom, this time, we must make Xiangyang divorce Jiang Ting! After doing something so shameful, she doesn’t deserve to be our Fu family’s daughter-in-law!"

Lin Hongxia covered her face, weeping silently, too afraid to sob out loud.

"No divorce! We can’t divorce!"

By now, she knew the whole truth.

Jiang Ting going out to get pregnant had Xiangyang’s support.

He *had* to know the truth!

"Xianghong, your brother... he’s sterile! He went to the hospital long ago and was diagnosed as infertile. I was in denial, desperate for a grandchild. Or he’d never have sent his wife to do this!"

Fu Xianghong gaped, her throat clenched like a fist was choking her.