Chapter 148 Praise to Death (1)
Jiang Ruzhen took her home and told her to go to the bathroom to wash up first. She also gave her some trendy clothes for the season.
Qin Lanlan went into the bathroom with gratitude, while Lao Si watched coldly. Only after everyone left did he pull Jiang Ruzhen aside and ask her in a low voice.
"Mom, what are you trying to do? I can't figure it out."
Jiang Ruzhen glanced at the fourth brother sideways, "It's strange that you didn't angrily question me, but instead stopped me. What are you thinking?"
The fourth brother glanced back at the bathroom door and whispered something in his ear.
"Mom, I'm not the same person I used to be. I used to be impulsive and easily angered. Uncle Lu taught me that a dog that bites doesn't bark. You have to use underhanded tricks behind people's backs to avoid hurting yourself and the people around you."
So, Mom, have you figured out what underhanded tricks you'll use to deal with Qin Lanlan?
Using underhanded tactics? Jiang Ruzhen tolerated it.
But a dog that bites doesn't bark? Is this what Lu Mingzheng taught his son? Did he also include her in the insult?
"Since it's a dirty trick, the fewer people who know about it, the better. Just be yourself and watch the show." Jiang Ruzhen rolled her eyes at the fourth brother, telling him to go and talk to the second brother.
After the fourth brother left, Jiang Ruzhen waited in the living room. Qin Lanlan took a long time to wash off all the grime that had accumulated over the years.
After getting dressed and coming out, she touched the fine fabric of her clothes with great care, and cried with red eyes.
"Mom, this dress is so beautiful, the fabric is so smooth and soft, I'm so happy."
"Lanlan, don't worry, you'll eat well, dress well, and use the best things here with Mom. Mom will also send you to learn to dance and etiquette so you can marry a rich and powerful man and become a wealthy lady."
"Really?" Qin Lanlan looked at Jiang Ruzhen in astonishment, not expecting this silly woman to be so kind to her.
Before coming, she hesitated for two days before deciding to test Jiang Ruzhen's attitude. The shadow of Jiang Ruzhen locking her up and torturing her was still deeply rooted in her mind.
She thought Jiang Ruzhen would never forgive her, or at least wouldn't accept her so quickly, but she never expected that this woman was still so soft-hearted and so kind-hearted.
It seems that winning her back will be a piece of cake from now on.
"Mom, you're so good to me."
Qin Lanlan nestled into Jiang Ruzhen's arms like a fledgling returning to its nest. Jiang Ruzhen suppressed the urge to slap her, feeling nauseous as she held her close and patted her gently.
Suddenly, she changed the subject, saying, "Your mother and your brother are dead, did you know that?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Lanlan froze, then stood up and angrily cursed.
“They deserve to die, they should have died long ago, Mom. Ever since they sold me to Old Hu without regard for my life, I have been irreconcilably opposed to them.”
I also heard they tried to kidnap Third Sister and you; they're utterly heartless and despicable bastards.
I saw how good you were to them back then. Not only did they not repay your kindness, but they even dared to scheme against you. It's fortunate I wasn't there; if I had been, I would have stabbed them to death first.
Jiang Ruzhen watched Qin Lanlan's performance with a cold eye, her face filled with anger, but her eyes also held fear and a cautious probing.
It seems Qin Lanlan knew about her mother and brother's deaths, and even came to her seeking protection. This person is a two-faced, wicked seed by nature, and no one can save her.
However, it is precisely because she is young and lacks the life experience of her previous life, and is not shrewd enough, that she walked right into the trap.
She will definitely not let her down and will surely give her a satisfactory ending.
While the two were talking, the second and fourth brothers returned.
The second brother's originally sunny and cheerful expression returned to its previous gloomy and sinister state after seeing Qin Lanlan.
He glanced at Qin Lanlan and said fiercely, "You'd better not have any bad intentions. If I find out that you dare to scheme against any member of our family again, I will personally cripple you."
Qin Lanlan shuddered and quickly hid behind Jiang Ruzhen.
If you were to ask Qin Lanlan who she was most afraid of growing up, it would undoubtedly be her second child.
The entire Shen family doted on her, protecting and indulging her, except for her second brother, who always looked at her as if she were an enemy.
At first, he targeted and made things difficult for her in every way. Later, after Jiang Ruzhen and her other siblings persuaded and mediated, he was able to behave himself on the surface, but he always stared at her with a sinister gaze behind her back.
It gave her the creeps.
Fortunately, she rarely spent time with her second brother. This time, she was especially afraid that her second brother, who had become the sole pillar of the Shen family, would not tolerate her.
Her eyes darted around, and she knelt down on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly to the second son.
Sobbing uncontrollably, tears and snot mingled together as she pleaded, "Second brother, I won't. I'll never dare to scheme against the family again. I only schemed against third sister because my mother and brother encouraged me. It's really not my fault, it wasn't my intention..."
"Alright, then I'll see how you behave in the future." The second brother was annoyed by Qin Lanlan's behavior, so he looked up and exchanged a glance with Jiang Ruzhen.
The unspoken understanding between mother and son made him instantly realize that his mother was definitely plotting something wicked.
Let's eat!
The second and fourth brothers took the lunchboxes they were carrying to the dining table and opened them one by one.
A delicious aroma of meat wafted out.
Qin Lanlan's eyes flashed with greed. She was now so thin that she was unrecognizable, and Old Hu had tortured her until she was skin and bones.
They ate nothing but leftovers from Old Hu's meals year after year, never getting a single bite of meat.
She pounced on the table like a hungry wolf, reaching out to grab the meat dishes—braised pork belly, braised pork hock, sweet and sour pork…
She ate with her mouth greasy and the plate a mess, and it took her two minutes to suddenly come to her senses.
He stared blankly at Jiang Ruzhen and the others, grinning widely to reveal a mouthful of smelly yellow teeth, and smiled ingratiatingly.
"I'm sorry, Mom, I'm just so hungry."
"It's alright, my Lanlan has suffered. You eat, make sure you eat your fill, don't worry about us."
Jiang Ruzhen patted Qin Lanlan's head indulgently, her gaze gentle. Upon hearing this, Qin Lanlan immediately turned around, stepped onto the stool, and like a bandit, grabbed the dishes on the table with her left and right hands, eating in a very messy manner.
Jiang Ruzhen gave her second and fourth brothers a look, and the three of them went to a coffee table, opened their lunchboxes, and started eating while chatting and laughing.
When Qin Lanlan was so full that her stomach felt like it was about to burst, she finally finished eating, let out a burp, and turned to look at Jiang Ruzhen.
She hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "Mom, why did you go to eat over there?"
Jiang Ruzhen put down her chopsticks and said gently, "Mom knows you're hungry. These were specially bought for you, and you can only enjoy them alone."
I don't want your older and younger brothers to take it from you, so I'll let them eat with me.
"How's it going? Are you full? Do you want to buy anything else?"
"No need, no need..." Although Qin Lanlan had special feelings for Jiang Ruzhen's family, she was still moved at this moment.
Jiang Ruzhen has been too good to her. Otherwise, after she takes all the family's property in the future, she should be spared her life.
Keeping it as a watchdog shouldn't waste much food.
"I'm full, Mom. These dishes were absolutely delicious! I haven't had meat in over a year. Can I save some for my next meal?"
Jiang Ruzhen shook her head. Qin Lanlan felt a pang of regret. It seemed that Jiang Ruzhen had only just returned, which was why she had specially bought these restaurant dishes for her.
The next meal will be a home-cooked meal.
Well, given our family's current circumstances, it certainly won't be bad.
"Lanlan, how could Mom bear to let you eat leftovers? We'll definitely buy you fresh food for the next meal. You can eat whatever you want, Mom will buy it all for you."
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