Chapter 661: Still Scheming to Ruin His Wedding

Chapter 661: Even Plotting to Ruin His Wedding

That evening, Jiang Yu's house was packed and lively again.

Tan Lizhu was a stranger, and no one recognized her.

But after she introduced herself, everyone remembered.

"Oh, the Tan family's daughter."

Most people knew about the incident where the Tan family's biological daughter had been switched.

Facing their curious looks, Tan Lizhu smiled back.

The looks from the neighbors were merely out of curiosity, without any malice.

Xu Lihua, afraid she’d feel out of place, quickly called out to everyone, "Let’s watch TV, or we’ll miss what’s next! Lizhu, come sit beside me. I'll catch you up on last night’s episode."

Tan Lizhu smiled. "Alright."

After sitting down, she listened to everyone talking excitedly.

Now cheering for the characters, now cursing the villains.

A little loud, but not annoying—the atmosphere was surprisingly warm.

Tan Lizhu glanced at Jiang Yu and let a slow smile spread.

Another two episodes passed, time flew by, and the crowd left, both sorry it was over and eager for more.

Everyone agreed to come back tomorrow, and Tan Lizhu couldn’t help but say, "I’ll come again tomorrow night."

Jiang Yu waved with a smile. "Get home safe."

After seeing everyone off, Jiang Yu said goodnight to her aunt before heading inside to rest.

Lying in bed with He Tingyue, she brought up Ding Jianan’s request.

"Do you think I should take it?"

Writing a script would pay good money.

He Tingyue asked, "Do you want to?"

"By exposing the harsh reality of trafficked women through Yu Lan’s story, I’m willing. But I’m worried I’ll mess it up."

The dead were at peace—would taking on this script disturb the peace of Yu Lan’s family?

Too many concerns made it hard for her to agree to Ding Jianan’s request.

He Tingyue reassured her softly, "How could you mess it up? *The Spark* is proof that you can do it well."

Jiang Yu hummed in agreement. "I’ll think about it more. Director Ding mentioned that the book of the same name is already sold out in major bookstores, and the publisher is reprinting. I expect another paycheck coming in soon. Let’s go see the courtyard Grandpa gave us and arrange for some renovations, alright?"

They hadn’t found the time to visit the courtyard the old man had gifted them, as they hadn’t planned to live there.

He Tingyue nodded. "I have a few friends in that line of work. I’ll ask them to fix it up."

A couple of days later, on another day off, Jiang Yu made time to visit Grandpa.

The old man looked displeased when he saw Jiang Yu arrive, grumbling under his breath.

Jiang Yu knew he was nursing a grudge.

"How long has it been? Still angry?"

The old man glared at her. "You knew I was upset, so why only come today?"

Jiang Yu replied matter-of-factly, "If I came earlier, wouldn’t I have walked into the lion's den?"

By now, no matter how upset the old man was, most of his anger had dissipated.

"Besides, this isn’t my fault. It’s He Dongqi and his mother who behaved shamefully, ganging up to deceive you. Instead of scolding them, you blame me—that’s hardly fair."

The old man snorted. "They deserve blame, but so do you! You knew exactly what was going on and deliberately called them over to the Tan family. It wasn’t just them who lost face, but the He family’s too."

Jiang Yu soothed him patiently in a gentle tone, "I can’t agree with that. Commander Tan knows exactly who you are—and what kind of men your two sons are."

Fortunately, the incident hadn’t affected the old man’s health too badly; he still looked in good health.

"Why didn’t Ting Yue come?"

This question came from the old lady.

She rarely spoke when Jiang Yu visited.

One reason was dislike—she'd never liked Wei Baiyun and could never bring herself to like Jiang Yu and her husband.

Another was her traditional mindset: men should handle guests, while women shouldn’t interrupt.

She always followed the old man’s lead.

This time, she spoke up mainly because of He Dongqi’s situation.

Jiang Yu smiled and explained, "My great-aunt had errands to run, so he had to stay home with the kids today."

The old lady said coolly, "He’s got it made now—married with children—yet he doesn’t care that his brother is still single. Worse, he went out of his way to sabotage his chances."

Jiang Yu: "...Grandmother, the Tan family simply didn’t take a liking to He Dongqi. If you really want to blame someone for ruining his chances, it’s probably his own fault for failing to impress Commander Tan."

The old lady bit back a response, her belly full of unspoken words.

She stole a glance at her husband beside her and, seeing he didn’t intervene, found her nerve.

"If not for you two, He Dongqi would still be in the military. How is he useless? Jiang Yu, as a daughter-in-law of the He family, you should know how to set your husband straight. Past grievances are the elders’ business—none of the younger generation’s concern. Don’t hold grudges."

Jiang Yu smiled faintly. "I’m not the He family’s daughter-in-law—I’m just Tingyue’s wife."

The old lady’s face darkened with anger as she complained to the old man, "See? After everything we’ve done for them, she refuses to acknowledge the He family at all. I told you long ago—Ting Yue’s turned his back on this family. You just wouldn’t listen."

The old man’s face darkened as he shot her a look.

"If Ting Yue has turned away from the He family, it’s all He Jingyi’s doing! Look at how you’ve spoiled He Dongqi—you think he’s perfect, but the public sees clearly!"

It’d be a miracle if Commander Tan ever took a liking to him.

The old lady, indignant, made a weak defense of her favorite grandson: "And what’s so great about that Tan Lizhu anyway? That little nobody from god-knows-where. I’d say she’s not fit to marry into our family!"

Jiang Yu had heard enough. This old woman barely said a word usually—why did she have to be so nasty when she did?

"Old lady, wasn't Grandpa just a dirt-poor soldier when he fought in the war back then? Could it be that you look down on Grandpa's origins?"

The old lady looked flustered, "I didn't mean it that way, I just feel sorry for Dongqi."

The old man gave her a cold glance and ignored her.

Before long, Aunt Xu heard someone knocking at the door and hurried to open it.

"Sir, Wei Xiuru and Dongqi are back."

Jiang Yu sat there cool as a cucumber, sitting firmly in place.

When Wei Xiuru stormed in, she was fuming and had no time to start trouble with her.

"Sir, please talk some sense into Dongqi quickly. This child is so stubborn. At a time like this, he still wants to marry that Tan Lizhu! What's so great about that no-good girl that he's so fixated on her?"

The old lady exclaimed, pulling He Dongqi to sit down and coaxing him as if he were her precious darling.

"That Tan Lizhu's background's shady, and she's not even a real member of the Tan family. Why would you want to marry her? She's not worthy of you."

He Dongqi was seething with resentment. If he didn't marry Tan Lizhu, wouldn't all his efforts in pursuing her be in vain?

He wanted to make Tan Lizhu understand that his willingness to marry her was doing her a favor.

"Grandma, don't be like my mom. I will marry her! I'm gonna marry her, no matter what!"