Chapter 657: I Don’t Look Down on Your Background

Chapter 657: I Don’t Care About Your Background

Jiang Yu didn’t overthink it. After all, it was the Tan family’s private matter, so she didn’t pry further. As Commander Tan told her to, she left with He Tingyue.

As they stepped out of the Tan residence, Wei Xiuru was waiting at the gate, blocking them.

Her face contorted with rage, her anger erupting.

“What did our He family do to deserve a troublemaker like you? You plotted to wreck my son’s marriage—aren’t you scared of karma? Jiang Yu, you have a child too—aren’t you afraid karma will hit your daughter—”

*Slap!*

Wei Xiuru’s words were abruptly cut off by a resounding slap.

The slap landed with full force, sending Wei Xiuru sprawling to the ground. Her hair a mess, blood trickling from the corner of her split lip.

But it wasn’t Jiang Yu who had hit her.

Jiang Yu was stunned. She had been about to raise her hand, but He Tingyue had acted first.

He hated dealing with the vulnerable—women, kids, or the old. It was a principle ingrained in him after years of military service.

But this time, Wei Xiuru had gone too far.

Wei Xiuru, recovering from the shock, went at He Tingyue like a madwoman.

Before she could reach him, He Jingyi restrained her.

“Haven’t you made enough of a scene? Isn’t this humiliation enough?”

He and Wei Xiuru had once shared happy times, but somehow, in recent years, she’d become more and more disgraceful.

Wei Xiuru felt wronged. She’d been slapped for no reason—her teeth were nearly loosened—and instead of standing up for her, He Jingyi blamed her for stirring things up!

“How is this my fault? He hit me! After all these years with you, I’m at least his elder, and he dares strike me without a second thought—he has no respect for you! He Jingyi, you’re even afraid of your own son—you’re a damn coward!”

He Jingyi covered her mouth and dragged her away.

Her words hit a nerve, and in his shame and anger, his grip tightened.

Jiang Yu took He Tingyue’s hand, rubbing his palm gently.

“Didn’t that hurt your hand? You hit her hard.”

He Tingyue murmured, “I’m tough. It didn’t hurt.”

Jiang Yu glanced back at the Tan family’s gate. “We’ll ask Li Zhu tomorrow what’s going on. For now, let’s go home.”

But the next day, Tan Lizhu didn’t show up at the factory—she’d called in.

Jiang Yu went straight to Factory Director Zheng to inquire about her.

“Why did she take time off?”

Factory Director Zheng was already troubled by the matter. Tan Lizhu had just been promoted, and now this happened.

“You’re just in time. Let me explain.”

The Tan family affair had already spread within a small circle, and he had only heard about it last night.

Tan Lizhu, the beloved daughter of the Tan family, turned out to be a fake.

Jiang Yu went still. "Factory Director Zheng, what do you mean?"

Factory Director Zheng sighed. "Just what it sounds like. Back then, there was a case of babies being switched in the Tan family. It wasn’t until now that they realized Tan Lizhu isn’t their biological child. The real daughter of the Tan family had been switched."

Jiang Yu was completely stunned. "How could such a thing happen? What’s the Tan family planning to do now—switch the girls back?"

Her emotions were in turmoil. The situation was complicated, and Tan Lizhu had only been an innocent infant at the time.

Yet, she had undeniably enjoyed the love and favor of the entire Tan family all these years. If the real daughter who had been living elsewhere had suffered hardships, how could the Tan family remain without resentment when comparing the two?

Jiang Yu sighed. "The person who swapped the babies back then was absolutely vile."

Factory Director Zheng also sighed and shook his head.

"Exactly. The real daughter still hasn’t been found, and the entire Tan family is busy searching for her. They probably don’t have time for Tan Lizhu right now. She just learned about this and must be having trouble processing this. You should find time to visit her."

Jiang Yu nodded. "I’ll go see her this afternoon."

She had just started at Factory No. 3 today, and Lan Raoping had given her some work. She needed to familiarize herself with them first.

"Alright, get to it."

After arriving at Factory No. 3, Jiang Yu got her own office.

It was quite spacious, with a desk, a chair, and a large bookshelf behind it.

Near the door, there was also a coffee table and a couch for receiving guests.

Her first visitor was unexpectedly He Tingyue.

The tall man leaned casually against the doorframe, a lazy smile curling on his handsome face.

"Deputy Factory Manager Jiang, may I come in?"

Jiang Yu leaned back in her chair, her posture relaxed and unhurried.

"What brings Section Chief He here? A man and a woman alone in a room—doesn’t seem very appropriate, does it?"

He Tingyue chuckled. "Deputy Factory Manager Jiang has just taken office. I’m here to suck up."

Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow, resting her chin in her hand as she studied him.

"How exactly does Section Chief He plan to curry favor? If it’s not something good, I won’t be interested."

He Tingyue stepped into the office and closed the door behind him.

Only the desk stood between them as he leaned slightly forward.

"I don’t have much to offer. I wonder if what I've got would catch Deputy Factory Manager Jiang’s eye?"

Jiang Yu pretended to pout. "Section Chief He, I’m married, you know. Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?"

"What a coincidence—so am I. Doesn’t that make it more exciting?"

Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes as she met the man’s playfully challenging gaze.

"Oh, now you're looking for excitement, so I'm not exciting enough for you now?"

Her pouting and eye roll made He Tingyue chuckle.

He reached out and poked her cheek. "Why are you getting so upset over nothing?"

Jiang Yu suddenly remembered Tan Lizhu's situation and pulled him down to sit, getting serious. "Have you heard about the Tan family?"

He Tingyue had naturally heard—Tan Lizhu was now the head of the publicity department and getting a lot of attention. Word about her situation had already spread throughout the factory.

"I plan to visit her this afternoon."

With something like this just happening, she must be feeling down.

He Tingyue asked, "Do you want me to come with you?"

Jiang Yu shook her head. "Probably not. If you're there, she might feel uncomfortable too."

He Tingyue didn’t press further, just told her to be careful.

After finishing up her work, Jiang Yu went to see Tan Lizhu in the afternoon.

To her surprise, Tan Lizhu wasn’t home.

The Tan family’s maid spoke hesitantly, too scared to say much.

Unable to get any useful information from her, Jiang Yu had to leave.

Then she remembered—Tan Lizhu had a small place near her old newspaper office.

It was said Commander Tan, concerned about her coming home too late, had called in a favor to buy her a place nearby.

It wasn't big, but it was enough for her alone.

Right away, Jiang Yu headed there.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she heard He Dongqi’s voice.

"Li Zhu, who else would take you now?"

"With this just happening, your parents are only focused on that other daughter of theirs, ignoring you. Do you think you’ll have a good life in the Tan family from now on?"

"If you’re smart, you’d see that me still wanting to marry you shows how much I care. Li Zhu, marry me. I know you’re beneath me now, but I don’t mind your background."

Then came Tan Lizhu’s voice, full of contempt: "He Dongqi, even if I’m not the Tan family’s daughter, I still wouldn't have you. You don’t mind me? Well, I can't stand you."

Jiang Yu had to stifle a laugh. From the vigor in Tan Lizhu’s voice, she was probably holding up just fine.