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◎Day 12 of the control group◎

Jiang Wanzhou paced restlessly around the room, her hands unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes, her eyes filled with resistance.

"Why would Mother come? Wasn't she enough of a scene last time? She'll only make things worse for us!"

"My older brother and I have sent money back home. We just wanted some peace and quiet."

Zhou Qingyu supported her arm and helped her sit down in a chair, gently comforting her, "Don't be angry, it's bad for your health and the baby. Let her come, my brother and I are here, we won't let her disrupt our lives again."

Jiang Renzhou, holding Mingmei, had a face so dark it could drip water: "She must have heard that we're doing well now, and that Wanzhou and Xinglian are helping their wives with their work, and she's gotten jealous. As for Jiang Tiezhu..."

He paused, his tone grave, "After Mom caused trouble last time, he kept urging her to come to the island again, saying that I've forgotten my roots since becoming the group leader. He's probably coming with Mom this time, hoping to take the opportunity to get me to arrange a job for him."

Shen Xinglian crossed her arms, her eyes sharp: "Jun Yanghong is going to marry Officer Wei. Logically speaking, she should be more discreet, but she brought Jiang Tiezhu and Liu Cuihua here at this time. I'm afraid she has ulterior motives."

"The incident with Su Xiaomei just ended. What grudge does she have against us that she has to keep us from having any peace?"

"And Director Liu just said that the back door of the warehouse has been opened," Zhou Qingyu suddenly said.

"It's possible that someone infiltrated beforehand, perhaps specifically targeting the women's entrepreneurship team."

Jiang Wanzhou's heart tightened: "You mean, Jun Yanghong wants to steal our recipes and patterns?"

“Very likely.” Zhou Qingyu nodded. “Our weaving patterns and snack recipes are very popular on the island now, and some foreign guests who are on good terms with you have made reservations.”

Jiang Renzhou nodded in agreement: "Jiang Tiezhu has always been greedy for money, and Liu Cuihua loves to take advantage of others. They must want to take them for themselves."

"A better way to put it is that we are family." Jiang Wanzhou figured it out.

Just then, the orderly's voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Commander Jiang, there are three people at the gate. They say they are your mother and second brother and want to see you."

Jiang Renzhou's eyes turned cold: "They're here. Qingyu, you stay home with Wanzhou and Xinglian, I'll take them to the guesthouse."

“Brother, I’ll go with you.” Zhou Qingyu stood up. “It’s better to have more people to help each other.”

Jiang Wanzhou wanted to go too, but Shen Xinglian stopped her: "You're pregnant, don't go and join in the fun. I'll stay home with you and wait."

“If Liu Cuihua and Jiang Tiezhu dare to cause trouble, your brother and Qingyu will not let them off.”

Jiang Wanzhou could only sit down, but she was still uneasy.

She sighed, "I wish I weren't such a terrible biological child."

Shen Xinglian's eyes flickered: "Maybe?"

—

Outside the courtyard gate, Jiang Tiezhu was wearing a yellowed old shirt that Jiang Renzhou used to wear, and he was carrying a worn-out cloth bag.

Standing beside her was Liu Cuihua, who was wearing a patched blue cloth jacket and had a deliberately aggrieved look on her face.

Jun Yanghong, dressed in a brand-new dress, stood behind the two of them with a faint smile on her face.

"Brother!" Jiang Tiezhu greeted Jiang Renzhou warmly as soon as he saw him. "It's so good to see you. It wasn't easy for Mom and me to get here."

Liu Cuihua also wiped her eyes: "Renzhou, Mom missed you, missed Mingyuan, and also wanted to see where you, the regimental commander, lived, so I came with Tiezhu."

Jun Yanghong stepped forward to greet them: "Commander Jiang, Officer Zhou, it's been a long time. I was just about to go back to the island to take care of some things, so I gave Auntie and Brother Tiezhu a ride. We're all acquaintances, so it's only right that we help each other out."

Jiang Renzhou said expressionlessly, "Whether we're doing well or not is none of your concern. You wouldn't come here without a reason. So, what brings you here today?"

Jiang Tiezhu's smile froze for a moment, then he rubbed his hands together. "Brother, I heard you're a regimental commander now, and you're leading your wives in their business. I thought I'd come and come to you for help and find some work. Look, I'm strong and healthy; I can do any kind of job."

Liu Cuihua quickly added, "Yes, Renzhou. Now that you're successful, you can't forget your roots. Your brother is almost thirty and still doesn't have a proper job. You should arrange a job for him in the army, even if it's just raising pigs and growing vegetables."

Jun Yanghong chimed in, "Commander Jiang, Auntie is right. Tiezhu is your own brother, so it's only right that you help him. Besides, I think Tiezhu could also join the women's entrepreneurship team and work with Comrade Shen and Comrade Jiang. More people means more strength."

"Join the startup team?" Jiang Renzhou sneered. "You think you're worthy? Who instigated your mother's trouble last time? Jiang Tiezhu, you're lazy and good-for-nothing, stealing chickens and dogs back home, your reputation is ruined, and you still want to freeload in the army? As for Comrade Junyang..."

He looked at Jun Yanghong and said, "You're about to marry Officer Wei, so just live your life and don't meddle in our affairs. Otherwise, I'll have to ask Officer Wei to talk to you."

Jun Yanghong's face turned ugly, but she quickly regained her composure: "Brother Jiang, have I offended you? You've misunderstood my good intentions and are even trying to sow discord between my fiancé and me."

"Is it that excessive?"

Jiang Renzhou ignored Jun Yanghong.

Jiang Tiezhu's face flushed red: "Brother, how could you say that to me? I'm your younger brother! Mom also said that now that you're successful, you should help the family."

"Sponsor?" Jiang Renzhou's eyes sharpened. "Don't Wanzhou and I send Mom a lot of money every month? Here's the deal: I'll give Wanzhou four hundred for her wedding, you, as the second brother, will give two hundred, and Mom will give two hundred."

Liu Cuihua cursed loudly: "She's a worthless piece of trash and she still wants me to give her two hundred yuan."

Then, she noticed Zhou Qingyu: "Isn't this my son-in-law? My Wanzhou is a high school student. You can't just marry her like that. I don't even have a penny to my name."

"I'm telling you, don't even think about it!" Jiang Renzhou stopped him. "Father is gone, and the eldest brother is like a father to us. I'll agree if you agree."

Liu Cuihua rolled her eyes: "Since you acknowledge Qianhu, you have to acknowledge your brother too."

Seeing that Jiang Renzhou was unyielding, Liu Cuihua immediately threw a tantrum and sat down on the ground.

"Why is my life so miserable! I raised a thankless son who has become successful but has forgotten his own mother and brother! Everyone, come and see! Commander Jiang has become rich and forgotten his roots!"

Zhou Qingyu frowned and stepped forward: "Auntie, please don't throw a tantrum here. You know how much money Commander Jiang sends you every month."

“You know what Brother Tiezhu has done back in his hometown. We respect you as an elder, but we can’t let you do whatever you want.”

"How about this, I'll take you to the guesthouse first, and you can stay for a few days to see how life is here. I'll bring Wanzhou to see you later."

Seeing this, Jun Yanghong seized the opportunity to fan the flames: "Commander Jiang, Officer Zhou, Auntie is old, please don't hold it against her. Brother Tiezhu knows he was wrong, please give him a chance to make amends."

"Opportunity?" Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Xinglian walked over and happened to hear this.

Regardless of whether Xingxing's thoughts are true or not, Zhou Qingyu can choose to sever ties with her family.

Jiang Wanzhou walked out, her face icy cold: "Second brother, I haven't settled the score with you for instigating my sister-in-law to have a premature birth last time!"

"Now you've brought Mom here to cause trouble, just so your older brother and brother-in-law can go back to farming, is that it?"

“If you only think about outsiders, Mother, Second Brother, if we don’t behave well, you won’t get a single penny.”

"And Jun Yanghong, what are you up to? If you do this kind of thing again, I'll tell Officer Yao directly and let you taste the bitter fruit."

Jun Yanghong's expression changed, not expecting Jiang Wanzhou to expose her directly: "Comrade Jiang, you can't make false accusations. When did I instigate Auntie? I was just trying to give them a ride."

"Kind-hearted?" Shen Xinglian also came out carrying Mingmei. "If you were kind-hearted, you wouldn't have tipped off Qingyu behind her back, saying that Qingyu was the Ren family's son, and let her cause trouble on the island. You also wouldn't have spoken ill of Wanzhou in front of my mother, making her resent Wanzhou."

"Jun Yanghong, don't think we don't know what you're thinking."

"Mom and Wanzhou are mother and daughter, so she definitely wouldn't harm Wanzhou, right?"

Shen Xinglian smiled and helped Liu Cuihua up.

Jun Yanghong was speechless, her face turning red and white in turns.

Liu Cuihua's face stiffened, and she cried even harder: "I don't care, I want Renzhou to arrange a job for Tiezhu today, otherwise I'm not leaving!"

Jiang Renzhou's face turned ashen: "If you dare to cause trouble here, I'll have the security department take you away! Mom, I respect you as my adoptive mother, and I won't shortchange you on the money I owe you, but if you continue to mess around with Jiang Tiezhu, don't blame me for disowning you as my mother!"

Seeing that Jiang Renzhou was serious, Jiang Tiezhu felt a little scared and tugged at Liu Cuihua's arm: "Mom, why don't we go first and talk about it later?"

"Where are you going!" Liu Cuihua shook off his hand. "Your brother needs an explanation today!"

Shen Xinglian said with a stern face, "If that's the case, then it seems that even if Mom says she doesn't care about her own daughter, I wonder if Wanzhou might not be your biological daughter either."

Liu Cuihua retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Just then, Liu Hongying's voice came from afar: "What's going on? Making such a racket is really bad for your health."

Liu Hongying was worried when she returned from inspecting the warehouse. She heard a commotion at the entrance of the family compound and quickly went over to check.

She saw a rural woman sitting on the ground crying, and immediately her sense of responsibility as the women's director kicked in.

Jiang Renzhou and the others looked grim, immediately understanding what was going on.

“You’re Commander Jiang’s mother, right? Let’s talk this out. Don’t sit on the ground. It’s bad for the image of soldiers. You’ll get a major demerit and have your work points deducted.” Liu Hongying stepped forward and tried to help Liu Cuihua up.

"Commander Jiang and Sister Wanzhou are filial people. If there's anything, you can communicate well and definitely resolve it."

When Liu Cuihua saw someone coming to comfort her, she cried even harder.

"Sir, you have to stand up for me! My son has become successful and now he doesn't recognize me anymore. He won't even arrange a job for my second son. What's the point of me living?"

Liu Hongying smiled and said, "Auntie, my husband is a leader in the army, so he has to do things according to the rules."

"So, according to you, my daughter can also be directly assigned a job?"

Liu Cuihua muttered, "They've already made you a leader, and your family is still not satisfied. What good job can a little girl like you have?"