Chapter 91

Chapter 91

The reason Wang Shufen had deceived Xu Qi was simply to help Xu Lei marry Jiang Yiwei—who she saw as a financial asset.

If Xu Lei had steady work, Zhang Cuifen wouldn’t have rejected them outright. With a job, Jiang Sanjie and Zhang Cuifen would definitely consider him.

And since she was Xu Qi’s sister-in-law, they were practically family. On that basis, Zhang Cuifen couldn’t exactly say no, could she?

Besides, Wang Shufen didn’t think Xu Lei was any kind of problem—she thought her son was just fine.

If possible, she’d hoped he could marry into a wealthy family who’d bring a generous dowry with them, so he’d never have to worry about money again.

But it wasn’t bad either if he married Jiang Yiwei, another financial asset.

Jiang Yiwei must’ve earned quite a bit already, and probably had plenty of savings.

No matter what, Xu Lei wouldn’t lose out—and their family certainly wouldn’t suffer.

“Cui Fen, Xu Lei’s like my own nephew. I’ve watched him grow up. He’s always been a good kid. If Yiwei marries him, she won’t be mistreated.”

“Yiwei’s like my niece. If Xu Lei ever bullies her, I’ll set him straight myself.”

Since Xu Qi believed Xu Lei would eventually take over Xu Fu’s job, she spoke with her chest out.

Jiang Yiwei almost laughed out loud.

“Auntie, you’re pushing me to date Xu Lei?”

“Exactly! You two would be great together.”

Xu Qi naturally wanted to push Jiang Yiwei toward Xu Lei.

After all, Jiang Yiwei had a lot going for her. Luckily, she was still single, and Xu Qi agreed with one thing Wang Shufen had said—Jiang Yiwei *was* getting older, which put Xu Qi off a little.

If Jiang Yiwei had heard that, she’d have torn into her hard.

“So you’re planning for me to marry Xu Lei right after I graduate next year?”

Her eyes lit up—charming as ever.

Wang Shufen and Xu Qi both took this as a yes.

They figured aside from not having a real job, Xu Lei was easy on the eyes. Why wouldn’t Jiang Yiwei like him?

“It’d be even better if you could marry before the New Year,” Wang Shufen said, eager to get Jiang Yiwei married into the family ASAP.

She wanted them to tie the knot quickly so she could stop worrying.

Mainly because Jiang Yiwei was still in school. With her pretty face, who knew what could happen? Her classmates might start chasing her.

Best to tie the knot quick.

“No need to wait till after the New Year—why not just marry next month?”

Grandma Xu was even more impatient than Wang Shufen.

She felt bad for her grandson. Xu Lei scraped by on odd jobs, backbreaking work most days. If Jiang Yiwei married early, she could stay home sewing clothes for cash, and Xu Lei wouldn’t have to grind for work out there anymore.

As for studying—why should girls even bother with books?

"You don’t need to read anyway. Since you can make clothes, just stay at home and sew all day. You can make money just fine without it."

Since Jiang Yiwei could earn a living with her skills, there was no need for her to study. As for work, they thought it was better she stayed where they could keep an eye on her.

Zhang Cuifen’s face darkened more and more.

She was itching to throw them out.

Just then, Jiang Erjie and Jiang Sanjie came home one after the other.

Jiang Ningning watched the commotion inside from outside the door. Her gaze fixed on Jiang Yiwei’s calm and composed face. Jiang Ningning thought it was downright weird.

Jiang Yiwei was *way* too calm!

"Uncle Sanjie, you're back."

Seeing them return, Xu Qi walked up to Jiang Erjie. "Erjie, Yiwei and Xu Lei are together now."

She happily shared the good news with Jiang Erjie, then turned to Jiang Sanjie:

"Uncle Sanjie, our families are gonna be in-laws."

Both Jiang Sanjie and Jiang Erjie froze—shock, confusion, then disbelief flashing across their faces.

No way they believed Jiang Yiwei would ever go for Xu Lei.

"That's right! Now we’ll be family."

"Xu Lei, why don’t you say hello to Uncle Sanjie?" Wang Shufen noticed Xu Lei still sitting and urged him to greet Jiang Sanjie, hoping to leave a good impression.

"Wait."

Jiang Sanjie stopped them outright.

"Hold on—let me figure this out first."

He needed to understand what was going on—he *knew* there was no way Jiang Yiwei would ever be interested in Xu Lei.

He glanced at Zhang Cuifen, who was clearly furious, and Jiang Yiwei, cool as a cucumber, like it had nothing to do with her.

"What the hell are you up to? Didn’t I tell you not to meddle?"

Jiang Erjie seized the moment while they were distracted and pulled Xu Qi aside into a corner.

"I didn’t meddle. I only did what my sister-in-law and mom asked—to bring them to Third Uncle’s house so they could meet."

She hadn’t interfered—she’d simply brought Wang Shufen and her mom to meet Zhang Cuifen and the others.

"If you didn’t meddle, then how’d this happen?"

"Yiwei *chose* to be with Xu Lei." She didn’t force her—it was Yiwei’s own decision.

"Did Yiwei personally tell you she wants to be with Xu Lei?"

Jiang Erjie wasn’t stupid. No way Yiwei would *ever* go for Xu Lei. He figured Xu Qi was lying through her teeth—or worse, that she’d pulled some shady trick to strong-arm Yiwei into saying yes.

Xu Qi’s expression froze. “Yiwei never said yes outright, but her words practically screamed agreement.”

Sure, Yiwei never flat-out said it, but she had been listening without objecting. Nothing she said sounded like a “no”—it was more like she agreed to be with Xu Lei.

Jiang Erjie got it now—Yiwei hadn’t actually agreed. They’d just jumped to conclusions.

“From now on, keep your mouth shut—not another word.”

“I won’t let your family mess up me and Sanjie.”

He had no intention of letting Xu Qi’s folks come between him and his brother.

Just as Xu Qi was about to speak, Jiang Ningning, standing by the door, snapped, “Mom, zip it. We’re your daughters—Xu Lei is just your nephew.”

Her mom was being a total idiot, sticking her neck out for Xu Lei and pissing people off.

If it were Xu Yao instead of Xu Lei, Jiang Erjie might’ve had some standing to argue. But with Xu Lei? He had zero clout here.

At least Xu Yao was now a college student, guaranteed a government job—his future was set.

Yet Wang Shufen insisted on making Yiwei Xu Lei’s wife. Talk about wishful thinking.

“If you dare say another word, get out and go live with them. Don’t come back.”

Jiang Erjie meant that to scare her straight—if she didn’t wanna get kicked back to her parents’ house, she’d stay quiet.

“Yiwei, what’s going on?” Jiang Sanjie demanded.

He refused to believe Yiwei would agree to be with Xu Lei.

If even he thought Xu Lei was trash, there was no way Yiwei would ever go for him.

No matter how you sliced it, there wasn’t a single thing Jiang Sanjie could stand about Xu Lei.

Even if Yiwei did want to be with Xu Lei, Jiang Sanjie wouldn’t allow it. In his eyes, Xu Lei was no different from Fang Guohua. He had opposed Jiang Yuexin being with Fang Guohua—naturally, he wouldn’t let Yiwei be with Xu Lei either.

Yiwei threw up her hands, all wide-eyed innocence. “I never agreed. I just thought what they said was… a damn joke.”

Wang Shufen’s words had genuinely amused her.

“Exactly, a joke. Yiwei only said a few things, and they ran with it like it was gospel,” Zhang Cuifen glared at Wang Shufen in disgust.

A few sentences, and they were already chomping at the bit to shackle Yiwei to Xu Lei.

Suddenly recalling something, her face darkened further. “They called our girl a spinster, saying no one would want her if she didn’t marry soon.”

“And they wanted Yiwei to marry next month, quit her education, and stay home sewing clothes to earn money for them.”

“The nerve of these people.”

Even though Wang Shufen was Xu Qi’s family, Zhang Cuifen didn’t hold back.

She had nearly exploded with anger earlier.

“What? You don’t agree to let Yiwei marry Xu Lei?” Wang Shufen screeched.

Hadn’t they already settled this? Why was Zhang Cuifen backing out now?

"We never agreed to anything. You're just yapping away here by yourself. I never said Yi Wei could date your Xu Lei."

Agreed? As if! Zhang Cuifen would never agree, not if she's in her right mind.

Sure, she wants Yi Wei to find someone, but it has to be someone decent.

If it's a guy like Xu Lei, Zhang Cuifen would rather Yi Wei stayed single forever—she's got no problem supporting her.

"How dare you look down on our Xu Lei? He's such a catch!"

Grandma Xu can't stand anyone badmouthing Xu Lei. He's her pride and joy, raised by her own hands, and nobody gets to talk about him that way.

"Because you've got some nerve!"

Yi Wei stood up, towering over Grandma Xu, Wang Shufen, and Xu Lei. When her eyes settled on Xu Lei, he shrank back and dropped his gaze, too scared to even look at her.

What a loser.

"You really don’t know why I look down on Xu Lei, seriously?"

Don't Grandma Xu and Wang Shufen know what he's like? He's got nothing going for him—do they want her to marry into hardship?

"Your precious son, your precious grandson—I don’t see anything special in him at all." She doesn’t respect Xu Lei one bit.

"Flunked the college entrance exams year after year, can't even get into a vocational school, yet he has the gall to look down on me, a university graduate."

Who does he think he is?

Have you no shame?

What a bunch of shameless people.

"You—just because you got into college, you think you're so great?" What's so great about getting into university?

"You're right, I am great, hah! I am better than Xu Lei."

She *is* great, and she *is* better than Xu Lei.

"And what makes you so sure I'd even consider Xu Lei? He doesn’t even have a decent job. What gives you the nerve to think I’d ever be interested in him?"

What gives them the nerve? To actually believe she’d be interested in Xu Lei.

"You're practically foaming at the mouth to marry me off, you don’t even want me to go to school—just stay home stitching clothes to earn money."

"You just want me to make money for your family, so I can support Xu Lei, right?"

In such a hurry to marry her off, even telling her not to go to school, just keep her at home stitching clothes.

They just want to use her as a cash cow, mooching off her labor so Xu Lei won’t have to work.

"What's wrong with that! Once you marry Xu Lei, he'll own you. Of course, the money you earn belongs to him."

Even the money she earns should be Xu Lei’s.

Grandma Xu thinks all of this is only natural.

"So you admit it—the only reason you want me to marry him is so I can be your little money-maker."

"You’ve got it all figured out, eyeing the daughter-in-law’s money."

Scheming to take the daughter-in-law’s money—The nerve of them to admit it!

Suddenly, Jiang Yiwei thought she should broadcast their family’s greed for the daughter-in-law’s money for everyone to hear. After this, Xu Lei would surely never find a wife.

"You brat, still young but already so sharp-tongued! Once you’re married in, you’re part of this family. If you won’t give your money to your husband, who will you give it to—your parents?"

With that thought, Grandma Xu’s gaze turned vicious, as if Jiang Yiwei were already her daughter-in-law and her money already belonged to their family.

"I’d sooner marry anyone else than your family, anyone but a family that covets their daughter-in-law's money."

Hmph! She would never marry into their household.

A family of leeches, draining their daughter-in-law dry.

"Yiwei, don’t mind my mother’s rambling. She’s just lashing out in anger."

"I would never think that way. And once you two marry, Xu Lei will take your uncle’s position."

Wang Shufen didn’t want to lose a money-earning daughter-in-law like Jiang Yiwei.

Though she shared Grandma Xu’s thoughts, seeing Jiang Yiwei’s reaction and the presence of Zhang Cuifen and others, she was glad she hadn’t spoken up earlier to support Grandma Xu.

Instead, she took a firm stance, even mentioning that Xu Lei would get Xu Fu’s job—but only once married.

"Yiwei, Auntie’s not fooling you. Our Xu Lei is a good man. If you marry into our family, I promise he won’t bully you, and you’ll keep every penny you earn."

Wang Shufen said one thing with her mouth but meant another.

Right now, she needed to sweet-talk Yiwei into marrying in. Once she had children, the money she earned would have to be handed over, like it or not.

"Hold it right there, Sister-in-law Fu."

Jiang Sanjie cut her off directly.

"Brother Sanjie, what are you doing?" Wang Shufen had a bad feeling.

"Sister-in-law Fu, I’m against Yiwei and Xu Lei getting together. And you can see Yiwei wants nothing to do with Xu Lei either."

"I also don’t want to put Erjie on the spot because of this."

The matter was already clear—both he and Jiang Yiwei wanted nothing to do with Xu Lei or his family.

Jiang Sanjie didn’t want to make things harder for Jiang Erjie because of this.

"Sanjie, Cuifen, wouldn’t it be good for Yiwei to marry Xu Lei? My sister-in-law has already promised that once they marry, my brother will pass his position to Xu Lei. As for not letting Yiwei study, it’s not that important. Marriage is the most important thing for a girl. What good are books if you don’t marry?"

"If Xu Lei had a job right now, do you think such a good opportunity would fall to you?"

Worried that Xu Lei might not find a wife, Xu Qi grew anxious.

Of course, she wanted Xu Lei to marry Jiang Yiwei.

A girl like Yiwei doesn’t come around often.

After all, girls are expected to marry when they grow up. What does it matter if she earns money or is educated? No matter how successful she becomes, she still has to marry eventually.

Xu Lei’s just working odd jobs for now, but once he marries Jiang Yiwei, Xu Fu will pass his job to him.

If Xu Lei had a stable job now, finding a wife would be much easier.

“Auntie, this so-called ‘good opportunity’ is not for me. Please find someone else.”

Jiang Yiwei wasn’t buying it at all.

A job doesn’t make him special.

She has a job too and earns even more than Xu Lei.

What’s he got to show off to her?

“Xu Qi, why are you butting in? I told you to stay out of it!” Jiang Erjie had already warned her, yet she still meddled.

“Xu Lei is my nephew. If I don’t help him, who will?”

Xu Lei was her flesh and blood—she couldn’t just stand by and watch him fail to find a wife.

“Yiwei, just spell out what’s wrong with Xu Lei. I’ll whip him into shape.”

Since Jiang Yiwei thought Xu Lei was no good, she’d just have him improve.

“Auntie, there’s nothing good about Xu Lei.”

Jiang Yiwei saw zero redeeming qualities in Xu Lei—only flaws.

Xu Qi scowled, convinced Jiang Yiwei was doing this on purpose.

“Sis, quit meddling. Xu Lei isn’t right for Yiwei, and I don’t want him as my son-in-law either.”

Jiang Sanjie had made himself clear.

Continuing to push the matter was pointless—beating a dead horse.

“If you think he’s no good, there must be a reason.”

“Exactly, you can’t just send us away without a proper explanation.”

Neither Xu Qi nor Wang Shufen was willing to give up—Jiang Yiwei’s earning ability made her too valuable to let go.

Every family wants more earners.

If Jiang Yiwei married Xu Lei, the Xus would hit the jackpot.

Otherwise, why would Wang Shufen target Jiang Yiwei, trying to shackle her to Xu Lei before she graduated or got assigned a job?

That way, even if Jiang Yiwei later met someone better than Xu Lei, she’d be stuck as his wife.

That’d lock her in.

“Look at Xu Lei—what a chicken. How could I dare marry my daughter to him?”

Xu Lei was the kind of guy who always let his mom, grandma, and aunt fight his battles, waiting for others to clean up his messes.

“No way am I letting my daughter marry a useless coward who’d leave her holding the bag.”

Jiang Sanjie could already imagine what would happen if any daughter-in-law married Xu Lei—he’d probably just hide behind the woman and let her handle everything.

A useless son-in-law like that? Even if he were handed to Jiang Sanjie for free, he wouldn’t want him.

His own daughter—he’d never let Yi Wei marry a spineless coward like that.

Xu Qi and Wang Shufen froze.

Wang Shufen quickly defended Xu Lei, “Xu Lei’s just a bit soft-spoken, that’s all.”

She even added, “Isn’t that ideal? Yi Wei’s such a go-getter—wouldn’t a meek guy like Xu Lei suit her perfectly?”

“Auntie, Dad and I have been crystal clear—I won’t date Xu Lei, let alone marry him. I don’t like husbands like him either.”

Yi Wei was fed up. She had already made it plain that there was no chance between her and Xu Lei.

But Wang Shufen kept buzzing around like an annoying fly, pushing them together.

“You’re just a kid—what do you know? We’re just looking out for you.”

Wang Shufen lectured Yi Wei, pretending it was for her own good.

“Save it. My parents are alive and well—they’ve got my back.”

With Jiang Sanjie and Zhang Cuifen around, there was no need for her to worry.

She should mind her own damn business.

“We’ve made ourselves clear. It’s getting late, and we need to start dinner, so we won’t be keeping you for a meal.”

“Get out.”

Zhang Cuifen outright kicked them out.

Jiang Erjie knew Jiang Sanjie and Zhang Cuifen were furious.

He hissed at Xu Qi to drag them out.

“Mom, sister-in-law, it’s time to go home.”

“Xu Qi, hurry and get your mom and sister-in-law out.”

Then he grabbed Xu Lei himself.

“Uncle, ease up—I’m going!”

But the louder Xu Lei whined, the harder Jiang Erjie yanked him.

Panicked about their boy getting hurt, Wang Shufen and Grandma Xu rushed out too, checking if Xu Lei was okay.

Wang Shufen and Grandma Xu dug in their heels, but Jiang Sanjie refused to let them back in, so the three of them were stuck cooling their heels at Jiang Erjie’s place.

By then, Jiang Xuehua and the others had returned, and of course, everyone had heard about Wang Shufen and Grandma Xu’s meddling—their faces darkened.

Even Jiang Erjie shot Xu Qi and Wang Shufen a murderous look.

“Xu Qi, how many times do I have to tell you not to interfere with Xu Lei’s love life? Why can’t you get it through your head?”

He’d warned Xu Qi repeatedly not to get involved—why did she keep blowing him off?

Risking offense to Jiang Sanjie and Jiang Yiwei.

"Erjie, Xu Qi is Xu Lei's aunt. What's the harm in helping him?"

Grandma Xu wasn't happy about this.

As Xu Lei's aunt, shouldn't Xu Qi help him?

Especially when it comes to finding a wife for Xu Lei, she should naturally help him find a partner.

"Do you want Xu Qi to just stand by and watch Xu Lei end up a bachelor? Jiang Erjie, do you have something against Xu Lei?"

Did Jiang Erjie really have something against Xu Lei?

"Mom, of course not. But when it comes to Yiwei, I absolutely disagree."

Jiang Erjie flat-out denied telling Xu Qi not to help Xu Lei.

If Grandma Xu found out about such words, with her temper, who knows what kind of scene she'd make.

No matter who they set their sights on, they'd better not set their sights on Yiwei.

As for Xu Lei, he simply wasn’t good enough for Jiang Yiwei—or any girl, for that matter.

Making someone marry Xu Lei was no different from throwing her to the wolves.

"What's wrong with that? She's just another girl. If she doesn’t marry Xu Lei, she'll have to marry somebody someday anyway."

"Rather than marrying someone else, she might as well marry Xu Lei."

In Grandma Xu’s eyes, Jiang Yiwei wasn't anything special. Since she would have to marry someone anyway, it was better for her to marry into their own family.

Better to keep it in the family than let others take advantage.

"Exactly! Erjie, Jiang Yiwei will have to marry someone sooner or later. Why not let her marry Xu Lei?"

Wang Shufen just couldn’t understand—wouldn’t it be good for Jiang Yiwei to marry into their family?

Tch. Jiang Erjie suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "Sanjie doesn’t agree. If he did, we might be talking differently."

Jiang Erjie couldn't decide for Jiang Yiwei, and Jiang Sanjie was against it.

"Xu Qi, how can you stand to see Xu Lei end up alone in the future?"

"I never should've let you marry Erjie back then. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so cold-hearted watching your nephew die a lonely old man."