Chapter 61

Chapter 61

He Xinzu's newlywed wife lived on the second floor and hadn't finished her month of postpartum recovery. Jiang Yicen's aunt—He Nuanqing's younger sister—had brought the baby over.

Jiang Yicen's grandmother sent him to look at the child while she pulled He Nuanqing into the farthest room on the second floor, as if they had private matters to discuss.

The younger aunt holding the newborn was accompanied by a shy teenage girl, around sixteen or seventeen.

Compared to He Nuanqing, who took great care of her appearance, this aunt had aged naturally, appearing several years older than He Nuanqing.

Aunt He Nuanyun was kind-hearted and spoke softly, but unlike He Nuanqing; her smile was natural and genuine.

He Nuanyun: "Yicen, it's been a long time since I last saw you. The last time was when you were in high school."

Jiang Yicen: "You still remember that, Aunt?"

He Nuanyun smiled: "How could I forget? That Chinese New Year, you even brought Liang Fu a doll, and she treasured it so much."

The embarrassed young girl nudged her mother: "That never happened."

Jiang Yicen felt comfortable talking with them; this felt more like real family interaction.

He said: "I didn't bring a gift for my cousin this time. If she wants anything, she can let me know, and I'll have it sent to your house."

He Nuanyun didn't intend to ask Jiang Yicen for a gift. She said, "Don't spoil her. How have you been these years abroad? I was also thinking about whether your cousin could study abroad. I think her grades are decent."

Liang Fu frowned and said: "I don't want to go abroad. I'd rather stay in China for college."

Jiang Yicen neither praised nor criticized. In his day, studying abroad was about learning advanced science and technology to bring glory to the country. Now it was merely a personal choice, so he didn't want to get involved in other people's life decisions.

He Nuanyun: "Oh, honey, if you don't want to go, fine. Why are you snapping at me?"

Jiang Yicen felt that although the mother and daughter argued, it was normal and wouldn't damage their relationship.

He looked at the baby in He Nuanyun's arms to shift the conversation.

"Is this my little cousin?"

He Nuanyun: "Yes, only a month old, can't be taken outside. I originally just wanted to hold a 100-day celebration, but your grandmother disagreed."

Jiang Yicen didn't say much; he was young and didn't know much about these customs.

The baby started fussing.

Jiang Yicen: "Is he hungry?"

He Nuanyun: "Probably. I'll take him inside to feed him. Liang Fu, you stay here and keep your cousin company. You won't be any help inside."

Liang Fu: "Okay, go ahead."

He Nuanyun carried the child and left.

Jiang Yicen didn't really know Liang Fu and didn't know what to talk about. After all, she was still a stranger to him. Fortunately, they were sitting quite a distance apart.

Liang Fu, however, had something to say to Jiang Yicen: "Cen Ge, if my mom and the others ask about studying abroad, don't tell them it's great over there, or they'll send me away."

Jiang Yicen hadn't had much contact with current students; Liang Fu was the youngest student he had encountered so far.

"You don't like going abroad?"

Liang Fu said: "What's so good about going abroad? Some of my classmates went abroad, and they had it rough, living with host families and having to depend on others."

Jiang Yicen got the meaning of "host family" from her words: "You shouldn't have to live with a host family, right?"

Liang Fu: "You know our family. My dad is just an ordinary teacher with a fixed salary. My mom gets up early and works late selling breakfast. She hopes Auntie will sponsor me to study abroad, but I don't want her to keep asking Auntie for help. I don't want to go abroad anyway. I can't get used to the food or the living conditions, and I have no friends there."

She spoke sincerely, things he had never thought about.

After his second brother returned from studying abroad, he never mentioned the hardships of studying overseas. At that time, studying abroad not only meant facing discrimination but also likely financial struggles. He just never talked about it. He was away for years, and the family only got letters from him once a year.

In those letters, his second brother always shared good news and hid the bad. He never mentioned being hungry, tired, or homesick.

Jiang Yicen said: "You're right. Nothing is as comfortable as home."

But he didn't forget the purpose of his conversation with Liang Fu.

"I haven't been back home in years. Do you know if anything's changed at grandma's house?"

Liang Fu was still a high school student, not very guarded, and she had a decent relationship with Jiang Yicen before.

Liang Fu: "Grandma's house? Nothing much besides Uncle He Xinzu divorcing his wife."

Jiang Yicen tried to dig deeper, but Liang Fu didn't reveal anything useful.

Just then, a middle-aged man came up to the second floor from downstairs, calling out "Mom!" and then asking "Has my sister come yet?"

The man was wearing a three-piece suit in this hot weather, but it couldn't hide his bulging gut.

Liang Fu whispered to him: "Uncle used to be handsome when he was thin, but now he's a big fat guy."

Jiang Yicen knew it wasn't nice to comment on others' appearances, but she wasn't wrong. The way he was dressed was a bit ridiculous. Maybe because it was the full-moon celebration, a festive day, and he looked very happy.

He Xinzu spotted Jiang Yicen, ignored Liang Fu completely, and walked straight to him: "Isn't this my nephew Yicen? You have to drink a few cups with your uncle later. I didn't get to drink my fill at your wedding last time."

Jiang Yicen remembered that at his wedding banquet, his uncle made an ass of himself, got drunk, threw a fit, and was carried away to a guest room by the security guards.

"Sure, I'll have a few drinks with you later." Since he was already here, he naturally wanted to accomplish what he came for today. Drunk people are the easiest to get info out of.

Before they could talk further, He Nuanqing and Sun Shi came out of the room together.

Jiang Yicen noticed that He Nuanqing didn't look good, and the hint of pride in her eyes had disappeared. It seemed that Sun Shi had discussed something unpleasant with her in the room. What could it be?

What could make someone who should be in control change her attitude so fast?

He Xinzu saw He Nuanqing and said cheerfully: "Sis, did Mom tell you?"

He Nuanqing's carefully preserved face darkened: "Yes, she did. You all..."

Seeing that Liang Fu and Jiang Yicen were both there, she held back her anger and swallowed her words.

Sun Shi, however, acted as if nothing was wrong: "Yicen, it's not every day you visit your grandmother's house. Let me make you something good. I'll cook your favorite—lion's head meatballs."

She grabbed Jiang Yicen's arm and led him downstairs, then turned back to glance at He Xinzu, winking at him. Seeing Liang Fu still sitting on the sofa, she pulled her along too.

Sun Shi: "Liang Fu, come downstairs with me and help your grandmother entertain the guests."

Liang Fu: "Oh, okay."

Obviously, Sun was deliberately trying to separate him from Liang Fu, leaving space for He Xinzu and He Nuanqing.

Jiang Yicen followed Sun downstairs, and Sun actually pulled him along into the kitchen.

Jiang Yicen made an excuse: "Grandma, I drank too much water earlier. I need to use the restroom."

Sun said, "Go ahead. The restroom is at the corner of the stairs."

Jiang Yicen turned and left, also tracking Sun's movements. When he was sure she didn't suspect anything, he went back upstairs.

He Xinzu and He Nuanqing were not in the living room on the second floor, but the rooms here weren't very soundproof, and their voices were quite loud—no, they were arguing.

Jiang Yicen had noticed a study on the second floor earlier, which had tea sets inside. It should be He Xinzu's private space.

He looked around; no one was coming up. He listened in on their conversation.

He Xinzu: "Sis, just help us one more time."

He Nuanqing: "Impossible. Don't even think about it. Haven't I done enough for this family?"

He Xinzu: "What do you mean 'don't even think about it'? Isn't this what you should do? You're a member of the He family. Who else would you help?"

"Let me do the math for you. Yicen has already gone to the Nan family and won't have his own children in the future. He wouldn't dare, right? You just said my daughter here is pretty, didn't you? When you get old, I'll have her stay by your side. I only have Ayang as my child. Can't you find a good girl for him? Our requirements aren't high—just the youngest daughter of the Jiao family."

He Nuanqing: "Why would the Jiao family's youngest daughter be interested in our family? Does she even like Ayang?"

He Xinzu: "Isn't he pursuing her? Give them a chance to get along, and Ayang will naturally seize it."

He Nuanqing: "What do you mean?"

He Xinzu: "Exactly what you think."

He Nuanqing: "No! I can't do something so immoral!"

He Xinzu was displeased: "Immoral? He's your nephew. Who has been taking care of you and helped you all these years when Jiang Yicen wasn't around? It's all my son, isn't it? He's practically your son too."

He Nuanqing said coldly, "I don't know the Jiao family's daughter, and I can't arrange for them to meet."

He Xinzu: "Just host a gathering. You have so many socialite connections. If you get the Jiao family's support, our He family can soar to success, and your status in the Jiang family will rise too. How could Jiang Gongming look down on us anymore? He'll have to come begging us to do things for him."

He Nuanqing still refused: "I can't do it. You know I have no status in the Jiang family. Jiang Gongming loves his two sons more."

He Xinzu: "Have you forgotten Yicen? He's entered the Nan family. Host this gathering under the Nan family's name. Why would the Jiao family not come?"

He Nuanqing: "So this is why you wanted Yicen to come to the full moon banquet?"

He Xinzu, seeing her repeatedly refuse, darkened his face: "Sis, don't forget who helped you when you were in your toughest times. Otherwise, how could you be living so well now? Now you're unwilling to help Ayang a little? There's no need for us, brother and sister, to tear each other apart, right? Besides, don't forget that secret from back then. Who knows if I might accidentally let it slip somewhere? If it gets exposed, you know the consequences."

He Nuanqing was furious. After a moment of silence, she took a deep breath: "Are you threatening me?"

He Xinzu: "Take it however you want."

Jiang Yicen heard the room suddenly go silent. After more than ten seconds, he heard He Nuanqing finally agree to He Xinzu's request.

When he heard He Nuanqing's footsteps approaching the door, he left.

What did He Xinzu have on He Nuanqing?

The He family's full moon banquet was lively. Before the feast began, Jiang Yicen finally saw He Muyang, the cousin who had always been supported by He Nuanqing.

How to put it?

As soon as He Muyang came back, he hugged He Nuanqing first: "Auntie, I've missed you so much!"

He Nuanqing couldn't help but care about him: "Ayang, you've lost weight lately. Is work very hard?"

He Muyang: "It's okay. Cousin Yiting has been taking good care of me."

He Nuanqing was extremely attentive to this nephew, doting on him. In contrast, her own son seemed like an outsider.

Jiang Yicen watched their interaction coldly, while others seemed pleased with it, as if nothing was wrong.

However, what surprised him was how affectionately He Muyang called Jiang Yiting. Did Jiang Yiting even know about this?

After interacting with He Nuanqing, He Muyang acted as if he had just noticed Jiang Yicen, feigning surprise.

His gaze toward Jiang Yicen carried some depth: "Cousin, why are you here too?"

Jiang Yicen: "I was free on Saturday, so I came with my mom."

He Nuanqing noticed Jiang Yicen's indifferent mood and realized she might have shown too much favoritism earlier.

He Muyang: "I heard you went to work at Nanyuan?"

Jiang Yicen and He Muyang, as cousins, had a very shallow relationship. Without even thinking, Jiang Yicen could tell that his opening words carried some ill intent.

Jiang Yicen: "Just learning."

He Muyang had a sleazy vibe about him. He asked Jiang Yicen, "Cousin, since you're together with Nan Shuyi, can you arrange a position for me too?"

Jiang Yicen remembered how He Nuanqing had set him up last time: "What's your educational background? Nanyuan usually recruits PhDs from top universities or students from prestigious overseas schools. If you want to go, I can give you an internal referral."

Everyone in the He family knew about He Muyang's education—he only had an associate degree. Spoiled by the He family since childhood, he'd turn to his wealthy aunt whenever there was a problem. Knowing his aunt doted on him too, he never took his studies seriously. Even He Nuanqing had to put in a lot of effort to get him into Jiangda, only for that job to be used by Jiang Yifeng to set Jiang Yicen up.

He Nuanqing's face darkened when Jiang Yicen brought up He Muyang's education. She quickly said, "Ayang, I brought you the latest phone you mentioned last time. I just had the driver put it in your room."

He Muyang deliberately looked at Jiang Yicen and said, "Thank you, Auntie. Auntie loves me the most."

Jiang Yicen looked down on his jealous behavior. It seemed that all these years, He Muyang had been enjoying He Nuanqing's attention, and he couldn't accept that her son had suddenly returned. His selfish possessiveness was barely hidden.

Jiang Yicen felt that today's trip to the Jiang family wasn't a waste.

During the banquet, there were too many people. Jiang Yicen had no chance to pry for information, so he didn't bother drinking with them.

He could find the information he wanted on his own.

At three in the afternoon, He Nuanqing and Jiang Yicen left the Jiang family.

Throughout the ride, He Nuanqing seemed to want to say something but hesitated. It wasn't until they were near Jiang Yicen's neighborhood that she finally spoke.

"Yicen, I might be hosting a spring tea party soon. Could you and Shuyi come and support me?"

Jiang Yicen sneered deliberately: "Sorry, I can't. I can't speak for Nan Shuyi. You know I'm living under someone else's roof now. I'm not like you—Jiang Gongming still loves you. But my husband doesn't love me at all."

He Nuanqing hadn't expected such a blunt refusal: "..."

Jiang Yicen got out of the car without looking back. As for the gifts He Nuanqing wanted to give him, he scorned them. Even taking them felt like burning his hands.

Meanwhile, Nan Shuyi, who was hosting a welcome home dinner for a friend returning from abroad, finally found a chance to speak with this friend alone.

Nan Shuyi sat on the sofa; unusually, he wasn’t his usual lazy, half-asleep self. His sitting posture today was so upright it didn't even seem like him.

Ran Wu, who had known him for years, was surprised by his transformation. The lazy Nan Shuyi was gone, and instead, he saw a look of determination on his face. He had heard about his marriage while abroad but was up all night with his thesis, so he couldn't make it back for the wedding banquet.

He took out the wedding gift he had prepared from his pocket: "Congratulations on your marriage. This is for you."

"Aren't you going to open it?" Ran Wu asked him. "Aren't you worried that this poor student just gave you a rock?"

"I'll open it when I get back." The gift was small and light. Nan Shuyi weighed it in his hand a couple of times, planning to let Jiang Yicen unwrap it later. "There's someone even poorer than you."

Nan Shuyi got down to business: "Ran Wu, I want to ask you something."

Ran Wu: "Go ahead. You've been restless all day."

Nan Shuyi hesitated for a moment: "Do you know Jiang Yicen?"

Ran Wu: "You mean your husband?"

Nan Shuyi: "Yeah."

Ran Wu looked at him curiously: "I know a little. We're alumni, and I was a few years his senior. Why?"

Nan Shuyi: "I want to get to know him better. Tell me what he was like during his time studying in the U.S."