Jiang Chengyuan was struggling internally.
He didn't have much savings to begin with, and almost all of his monthly allowance was spent on Jiang Chenghuan. The hundred taels of gold and the land deed were his grandfather's private savings when he was alive.
They took everything out. What did they give to Jiang Sheng?
Are you really going to give me a knife?
Seeing his predicament, Jiang Liao changed her tone, "It's all just a gift to mark our meeting, so what's the difference between you giving it to me and me? Don't worry, we'll add some more later and just say it's a gift from my son and me together."
Since things had come to this point, Jiang Chengyuan had no choice but to set off to retrieve the gold and land deeds.
Jiang Liao was satisfied and led Jiang Chenghuan away from Deren Courtyard.
If she turned around, she could see Jiang Sheng and the little maid covering her mouth.
Unfortunately, she didn't reply. Instead, she held Jiang Chenghuan's hand and whispered something to him.
When the entrance to Deren Courtyard returned to quiet, Jiang Sheng finally released the little maid's mouth and shook her somewhat stiff hands.
No wonder I didn't see my grandmother and Tan Yue when I woke up; they were there to vent their anger on my behalf.
Actually, it wasn't necessary. Jiang Sheng felt that she didn't care about anything from the Jiang family. She was always content, and having five older brothers was enough.
"Miss," the maid, her lips numb, asked tremulously, "shall we go in?"
Jiang Sheng pondered for a moment, but did not rush in immediately. Instead, she waited for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before entering, still half asleep.
Madam Jiang was giving instructions to Tan Yue when she saw her and her eyes lit up. "I was just about to go see you, and here I am."
The others stopped what they were doing and turned to look at them in unison.
Jiang Jizong, Second Madam, Jiang Chengfeng, Jiang Chengyu.
When she discovered that no one from the main branch of the family was there, Old Madam Jiang's expression turned cold and stern once again.
Suddenly, the chubby little girl snuggled up to her, and she smiled again. "Come, come, let me introduce you. This is your second uncle and aunt, and these are your cousins. Xiaoyu is about the same age as you, less than a month younger."
This was a scene Jiang Sheng had never encountered before.
Introduced by relatives, they met other people with blood ties.
Fortunately, Yao Siqing had taught her to be poised and confident, to keep smiling, and to greet people politely.
She stopped in front of Jiang Jizong and obediently greeted him, "Greetings, Second Uncle."
I received a silver note for five hundred taels.
This time, Jiang Jizong did not try to reach out again, but just looked at her quietly with a complicated expression in his eyes.
She stopped in front of the second madam and whispered, "Greetings, Second Aunt."
I received a pair of heavy gold bracelets.
She stopped in front of Jiang Chengfeng and pursed her lips, "Greetings, brother."
I received a delicate gold hairpin.
“Hey, Second Brother, how could you be so shameless?” Jiang Chengyu shouted from the side. “Mother would break ten of your hairpins with just one bracelet. That’s too stingy.”
Jiang Jizong and his second wife both glared at him menacingly.
Jiang Chengfeng quickly raised his hands and begged for mercy, "No, no, this hairpin has a mechanism, it can protect itself if necessary."
He demonstrated it; with a gentle press, the hairpin head indeed shot out silver needles as thin as hair, with a range of about five steps. By current technology, it was absolutely a top-notch item.
Madam Jiang smiled and nodded, and the second couple finally withdrew their glares.
Jiang Chengyu, however, sounded a little sour, "Even I don't have one."
But when Jiang Sheng came over, she generously took out a gold necklace, saying, "Although it doesn't have any mechanisms and isn't as heavy as my mother's bracelet, it's perfect for matching with clothes."
After saying that, he unfastened the buckle and was about to put it on Jiang Sheng on the spot.
The necklace, made of pure gold, has rows of tassels hanging down. It looks exceptionally beautiful and luxurious when worn around the neck. The only troublesome part is the clasp, which requires careful and patient fastening.
Knowing that the fourth young lady of the west courtyard had a quick temper, the clever maid stepped forward to help, but was stopped by Tan Yue.
Whether it was the second wife and her husband or Old Madam Jiang, everyone watched with smiles as the two girls, who were about the same age, got together and worked hard to fasten their buttons.
One was chubby and a little shorter, while the other was tall and slightly stocky.
The second wife couldn't help but mutter, "Other girls are all delicate and frail, but our girl is born strong and robust. I thought something was wrong, but it turns out she has someone just as sturdy."
Master Jiang was drinking tea when he almost spat it out because he couldn't swallow it properly.
Compared to Jiang Sheng, Jiang Chengyu is not actually fat. It's just that in this era of the trend towards slender figures, with delicate beauties like Yao Siqing and Jiang Chenghuan standing in the background, she appears to have changed from healthy and well-proportioned to robust and sturdy.
Everyone always praises Jiang Chenghuan, and inevitably brings up Jiang Chengyu for comparison. Gradually, the two have more and more conflicts, can't stand each other, and while vying for her affections, they inevitably try to trip each other up.
Only you know your own daughter.
Jiang Chengyu welcomed Jiang Sheng so warmly probably because—finally, someone fatter than himself.
Jiang Jizong, "..."
After a great deal of effort, they finally managed to hang Yingluo up. Jiang Sheng's face was already round, and now it looked even more noble and cute, gradually giving her the appearance of a young lady from a noble family.
Jiang Chengyu was very satisfied with his work and chuckled twice. "I heard that you have a particularly good appetite, sister. I have some top-quality children's pastries. I'll send you some later."
Jiang Sheng blinked and nodded in agreement when a commotion broke out outside Deren Courtyard.
It sounded like a maid's voice, "The young lady has arrived, hurry, hurry, hurry."
Jiang Chengyuan rushed in first, blushed when he saw Jiang Sheng, and scratched the back of his head shyly, not knowing how to express his feelings.
Then came Jiang Liaoshi, who seemed to be holding something in her hand, as she strolled in leisurely.
Madam Jiang's expression softened slightly.
“Jiang Sheng.” She waved to her granddaughter, “This is your own brother, and this is your mother.”
If a cousin is still a step away, then a brother born of the same mother must be the closest relative.
Jiang Sheng held a gold hairpin with her place of origin in her hand and slowly walked over, saying, "Greetings, elder brother."
This seemingly ordinary form of address, to Jiang Chengfeng, sent Jiang Chengyuan's heart plummeting to the bottom.
She didn't want to call him brother.
She sweetly calls others "brother".
Jiang Chengyuan felt bitter and aggrieved, but he knew he couldn't blame anyone. It was all his fault; he hadn't tried hard enough to find his sister, he had neglected her several times, it was all his fault...
The boy was overwhelmed with grief and self-blame, and for a moment he forgot to bring the gift.
He couldn't offer anything either.
Jiang Sheng walked calmly to Jiang Liaoshi, bowed her head and said, "Greetings, Madam Jiang."
One sentence caused a huge uproar.
The four members of the second branch all had solemn expressions. Old Madam Jiang slowly sat up straight, and Jiang Chengyuan even forgot his self-blame, staring blankly at them.
She called her second uncle, her second aunt, and her brother, but she refused to call her mother even once.
Jiang Liao was also somewhat taken aback. After realizing what was happening, she sneered, "What a fine Madam Jiang! It seems you can't get close to someone unless you keep them by your side. I was just being presumptuous."
Jiang Chengyuan was extremely anxious. "Jiang Sheng, you should call her Mother. This is our mother."
"Yes, young lady, Madam is your rightful stepmother, the one who carried you for ten months and gave birth to you." The maid in purple also spoke with a reproachful tone.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
