Chapter 652: I Should Have Kicked Them Out Sooner

Chapter 652: Should’ve Thrown Them Out Earlier

The old man disagreed with her words and argued, "If Lizhu didn’t like Dongqi, why would she even consider marrying him? She must’ve liked him."

Jiang Yu clearly remembered Lizhu saying she’d break up with He Dongqi.

Based on Tan Lizhu's attitude, there was no way she would agree to marriage.

Chances are, Grandpa went to discuss the marriage with Commander Tan without Tan Lizhu even knowing.

"Grandpa, who put you up to proposing?"

The old man froze, hesitating over whether he should say.

The more he talked, the deeper he dug himself. He should never have brought this up with Jiang Yu in the first place.

"It was Tingyue’s dad."

Jiang Yu smirked to herself. She didn’t even need to ask to know it was Wei Xiuru’s doing.

Trying to settle the marriage behind Tan Lizhu’s back—talk about scheming.

"Grandpa, I’ll go talk to Lizhu and persuade her to sweet-talk her grandpa. It’d be best if both families sit down together and hash it out."

Jiang Yu took the initiative to handle the matter, which took Grandpa aback.

"You’re willing to help Dong Qi?"

Jiang Yu smiled faintly. "I’m not helping He Dongqi. I’m doing you a solid."

The old man felt much better, thinking that all those gifts he’d given her hadn’t gone to waste.

Jiang Yu was a good kid.

"If you can convince Lizhu to talk to Old Tan properly and get both families to discuss the marriage, I’ll hook you up."

Jiang Yu clicked her tongue. "As if I’d do it for rewards? I just don’t want you to overwork yourself. You’re not getting any younger, and your health isn’t great—yet you keep worrying about these things. Listen up: even if Commander Tan agrees, you’re not allowed to go. Let Wei Xiuru handle it herself."

The old man was puzzled. "Why’s that?"

"Think about it. If you go, Commander Tan’d feel obligated to consider your feelings. If you don’t, they can speak freely."

The old man found her reasoning sound and nodded.

"You’ve got this."

As they walked out of the He family home, Jiang Yu’s grin widened.

"Your grandpa’s way too trusting."

He Tingyue: "...He’s gotten older in recent years and started longing for family time and grandkids."

Precisely because he couldn’t have it, he wanted it even more desperately.

Desperate and muddled, he actually believed Jiang Yu would help He Dongqi.

"Lizhu never wanted to marry He Dongqi. Wei Xiuru is pulling out all the stops to land this match."

Marriage? Please. They weren’t even really dating.

If Tan Lizhu's marriage arrangement were to be set without her knowledge, one can only imagine how disgusted she would feel.

"Head home first. I’ll stop by the Tans’ place."

He Tingyue glanced at the time. If Jiang Yu went now, it would be evening by the time she returned.

"I’ll go with you. I happen to know Grandpa Tan—it’s a good opportunity to visit."

Though dropping in unannounced this late was rude.

The couple arrived at the Tan household, much to the family’s surprise.

The Tan family hadn’t split up, so the whole extended family shared one house.

Even with some grandchildren absent, the house was still full.

"Ting Yue, it’s been a while," Commander Tan spoke first, motioning for He Tingyue to sit.

His gaze shifted to Jiang Yu. "Your wife?"

He Tingyue nodded. "Commander Tan, this is Jiang Yu."

Jiang Yu greeted him with a smile, then said, "I’m here to see Li Zhu. Is she home?"

The Tan family’s maid set down the tea and quickly replied, "Yes, she’s upstairs. I’ll go call her right away."

Just as she was about to head upstairs, Tan Lizhu descended.

"I heard you from upstairs. Jiang Yu, what brings you here?"

Jiang Yu smiled. "I need to talk to you. Do you have time?"

"Of course. Let’s go upstairs."

With that, she took Jiang Yu’s hand and led her upstairs.

Jiang Yu preferred to cut to the chase, so she laid out Wei Xiuru’s scheme to Tan Lizhu.

Tan Lizhu paused, stunned, for a moment before exclaiming, "She wants to bypass me and arrange the marriage directly with my grandfather?"

She jumped up, her expression screaming "ridiculous."

"How dare she do this? I already broke up with He Dongqi! And now she’s going behind my back to talk to my grandfather—what kind of nonsense is this?"

She looked furious and suddenly felt a pang of regret.

If she hadn’t been in such a hurry to find a scapegoat back then, if she hadn’t vetted He Dongqi properly, none of this would be happening now.

"So what should I do now?"

Jiang Yu chuckled. "Why ask me? Your grandfather never liked He Dongqi in the first place. With him backing you, whether you marry him or not, it’s your call."

If Tan Lizhu refused, no one could force her.

"Wei Xiuru tried to scheme against me. A flat refusal feels too easy—I’m not satisfied." Tan Lizhu muttered. It was letting her off too lightly.

Jiang Yu nudged her with an elbow. "Why do you think I came today? Even if I hadn’t told you, your grandfather would’ve eventually. Why bother?"

Tan Lizhu blinked. "You’re scheming?"

Jiang Yu: "...How could you say that about me? Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"

Tan Lizhu held her gaze steadily. "I used to think you weren't, too."

Meanwhile, He Tingyue had drunk enough tea before finally seeing Jiang Yu come downstairs.

Commander Tan narrowed his eyes at him. "You made this trip just to have tea with me?"

He suspected He Tingyue was here about He Dongqi's marriage, but after waiting for so long, he hadn't brought it up.

He Tingyue replied seriously, "I came with my wife."

Commander Tan wasn't buying it, but He Tingyue truly hadn't mentioned He Dongqi at all.

Only when Jiang Yu came downstairs and He Tingyue got up to leave did he believe they really hadn't come for He Dongqi.

Commander Tan thought to himself with a snort—at least they knew better.

If they had dared to bring up He Dongqi in front of him, he would have definitely lost his temper.

That brat He Dongqi was not even close to being good enough for his granddaughter.

However, right after Jiang Yu left, Tan Lizhu said to him, "Grandfather, has Old Master He approached you?"

Commander Tan's expression darkened. "Did Jiang Yu tell you?"

Tan Lizhu said, "Grandfather, we should invite He Dongqi’s family over for a meal sometime to discuss the marriage."

Commander Tan’s face instantly turned stormy. "I knew Jiang Yu was up to no good! She came to persuade you, didn’t she? To get you to convince me, banking on me giving in!"

Tan Lizhu was at a loss to explain it to him and could only coax him. "Grandfather, just listen to me and invite them over for dinner."

Commander Tan glared at her and huffed angrily. "Do you even know what kind of person He Dongqi is? How can you settle for someone with his character? You said you wanted to leave the newspaper, and I agreed! You said you wanted to go to the Second State Cotton Mill, and I agreed! But why can’t you listen to your grandfather just once when it comes to marriage?"

With Tan Lizhu’s parents not around, he had no choice but to worry more about her.

But Tan Lizhu simply didn’t understand his concern, insisting on being with that good-for-nothing He Dongqi.

Tan Lizhu pressed her lips together. "Grandfather, please listen to me just this once—invite them over for dinner. Please."

Commander Tan snorted coldly. "I shouldn’t have let Jiang Yu in earlier. I should’ve shown them the door immediately!"