Chapter 586 Those Things Are Long Gone!

Chapter 586: Those Things Are Gone Now!

Seeing Jiang Yu and He Tingyue arrive, the patriarch quickly called out, "Aunt Xu, set the table. Ting Yue and Jiang Yu are here."

Aunt Xu came out of the kitchen and glanced over, nodding with a smile.

"I made some soup today, good for pregnant women. It’s perfect for Jiang Yu to give her some strength."

The patriarch frowned as he looked at Jiang Yu.

"Shouldn’t you be four months pregnant? Why do you look thinner?"

Jiang Yu smiled and explained, "Last month was busy with disaster relief, so it was hectic."

The patriarch got up using his cane and called them to the table.

"You need to learn to delegate. Distribute tasks to those under you instead of taking everything on yourself."

Jiang Yu acted perfectly obedient. "You're absolutely right, Grandfather."

Had he not known how willful she truly was, the patriarch might have been fooled by her act.

But Jiang Yu’s contrasting behavior was so vivid that it amused him.

She had skill, temper, and serious skills.

A daughter-in-law like this—he simply couldn’t bring himself to dislike her.

"You sit to my left, and Ting Yue beside you."

The patriarch sat at the head of the table, with the matriarch to his right. The left side had always been reserved for He Jingyi and Wei Xiuru.

When they returned home, they found their spots already taken by Jiang Yu and He Tingyue.

Not only that, but the meal had already begun without them.

With the patriarch present, Wei Xiuru didn’t dare make a scene, so she directed her anger at Aunt Xu instead.

"Aunt Xu, you’ve been with the He family for years. How could you forget basic etiquette? How could you start serving before everyone arrived?"

The patriarch shot her a cold glare. "You talk about manners? Since when does the He family answer to you?"

Wei Xiuru was called out in front of everyone, her face stiffening.

"Father, I’m part of this family. Don’t I even have the right to speak?"

The patriarch countered, "Are you?"

This was why he had pressured He Jingyi not to marry her.

Without that marriage certificate, Wei Xiuru could never be considered legitimate.

"Eat or don't. If not, get out."

The matriarch, a traditional woman with bound feet, had obeyed the patriarch all her life—the only person she stood up to was Wei Baiyun.

Now, she had come to resent He Tingyue and Jiang Yu, believing that without them, the family wouldn’t be in such chaos.

She glared at Jiang Yu, then said more gently, "That's enough. Jingyi, sit down and eat."

He Jingyi tugged at Wei Xiuru, gesturing that even if they skipped the meal, they had to keep an eye on the old man.

Wei Xiuru had to bite back her anger and reluctantly sat down.

When the meal was nearly finished, everyone moved to the living room to have tea.

Finally, the old man spoke: "You two must know why I called you here, right?"

Jiang Yu grinned. "It’s about that little bastard He Dongqi, isn’t it?"

The old lady frowned and glared at her.

"Young lady, you’re young, but your mouth is foul."

Jiang Yu glanced at her. "Harsh? For a guy who put a hit on his own sister-in-law, calling him a bastard is being kind. Old lady, you seem healthy, so how come you’re so blind?"

The old lady was furious, but she was no match in a war of words.

Jiang Yu ignored her and turned back to the old man.

"I get what’s going through your head. You just can’t stomach the idea of your own grandson doing hard labor."

The old man sighed. "If I had twenty fewer years on me, I’d drag that little shit to the labor camp myself!"

But he wasn’t young anymore, and he didn’t have the heart to watch He Dongqi’s life be ruined.

Jiang Yu chuckled. She got where he was coming from, but she wasn’t buying it.

"My being here means we can still work something out. You know that, right?"

The old man glanced at Lao Shi. "Bring out what I prepared—it’s in the study."

He didn’t look down on Jiang Yu’s methods.

On the contrary, he felt relieved.

Jiang Yu wanted something, and luckily, he could pony up—that was the only way to negotiate.

Lao Shi carried a square wooden box, about thirty centimeters in length and width.

He opened it to show Jiang Yu—inside were gold bars along with some gold and silver trinkets.

The shiny haul was downright tempting.

"This is Grandpa’s gift for you and my great-grandson."

Jiang Yu toned down her gold-digger grin and passed the box to He Tingyue.

Lounging on the sofa, she rested one hand on her stomach, looking relaxed.

"I have one more condition."

The old man nodded. "Spit it out."

Jiang Yu said, "My mother-in-law’s dowry—some of it’s still missing. It needs to be returned to us."

Wei Xiuru’s face turned pale. "You already stole those!"

Jiang Yu batted her eyelashes. "Auntie Wei, what’s this nonsense? Since when did I lay a finger on your stuff? Keep lying, and I’ll have the cops at your door."

The old man's face darkened as he looked at He Jingyi.

"If I remember correctly, the things Bai Yun left behind were in your custody. You even said they were meant for Fei Yan and Ting Yue."

He Jingyi looked troubled. "Dad, I've been strapped for cash these years. I liquidated those assets long ago and spent them all."

Jiang Yu laughed. "So when you're short on money, you spend the dowry your ex-wife left for her two children? Why not spend your current wife's money? Oh, wait—is it because she's broke too? How pathetic."

"Using your ex-wife's money to support your current wife and love child while mistreating the kids your ex-wife left behind—you're a real piece of work."

He Jingyi's face was ripped to shreds by Jiang Yu, trampled underfoot without mercy.

Even the old man felt ashamed on his behalf.

"Hand over everything Bai Yun left behind!"

He Jingyi glanced at Wei Xiuru and muttered, "I gave most of it to you for safekeeping."

Jiang Yu made a show of disgust. "Ugh, that's even more disgusting."

Wei Xiuru dug in her heels. "Those things are long gone!"

She was seething—Jiang Yu had taken them all, yet she was the one left holding the blame.

Jiang Yu scoffed. "If they're gone, then pay up in cash instead! Don't tell me after all these years, you've been mooching off the family without saving a single cent."

Wei Xiuru turned away. "I don't have the money!"

The old man snapped, "If you refuse to repay, then from now on, He Jingyi gets cut off from the He family! Get out of this house—you won’t be living here anymore!"

Wei Xiuru gritted her teeth, her expression furious.

The old man was playing favorites—the eldest line should get the biggest cut.

He Jingyi lowered his head, running the numbers in his head.

They all knew Wei Xiuru's belongings had been taken by Jiang Yu, yet now they had to compensate in full.

It was a total disgrace!

"Dad, it's not that I won’t give it back—it's just that the things in Xiuru's care were lost! Gone for good!"

The old man shot back, "How do I know if they're really lost? Enough excuses—just answer: will you repay or not?"

He Jingyi gritted his teeth. "I will—just give me some time!"

The old man held out his hand demandingly. "Hand over your passbooks now!"