CH 133

Jiang Nian was unaware of the turbulent undercurrent between Xiao Zheng and the old lady and was now thinking about the Jiang family.

It had been almost ten years since she came to this world. When Xiao Zheng was taking ahold of Xiao’s power, her heroine’s halo finally got a breakthrough. By the time she reached the 60-point pass line, she was already stuck at fifty-eight points for years.

But it’s a pity that since reaching sixty, the score seemed to be stagnant, which meant that this point was not the key to her breakthrough.

In this way, Jiang Nian naturally put the abacus on the Jiang family. In the previous life, although the original owner died abruptly, from being placed under house arrest by Jiang Tao to being sent to the Yang family, the days where she suffered were numerous. Not to mention that the original owner had a face that toppled cities and brought disaster to the country and the people, how could Yang Hai be able to hold back from touching her.

Those days were true hell for the original owner.

Jiang Nian spent a long time and fished out information about Jiang Tao, Guo Xiuyu, and Yang Hai. Jiang Tao and Yang Hai have still been in touch in recent years. The two have cooperated on several projects. They were apparently successful, otherwise they would not have cooperated until now. However, in the past two years, Jiang Tao’s career has not been as smooth as before. Some time ago, it seemed that he had lost a lot of money. Jiang Tao and Yang Hai also made a big fuss about this.

It seemed that these two people have made a big move recently. They are planning to develop a commercial house in a residential area in the north of the city. There are many people living there, and there are many schools, hospitals, and large shopping malls around. It’s also near the subway entrance, so there’ll be always someone who’d buy from them and the clients are basically secured. Of course, the land must be won before any of this could happen.

Before, Jiang Nian also suspected that Guo Xiuyu and Yang Hai were in a relationship before, because the fact that they were old acquaintances and grew up together was too suspicious. She always wanted to seize the handle of these two people, but it was a pity that the people who followed them had not found anything. They had not found any proof of private adultery between the two over the years, but there was no shortage of contacts in private. Yang Hai helped Guo Xiuyu resolve several women who had entanglements with Jiang Tao.

The two were very cautious.

In fact, in the original owner’s memory, at least before her mother died, Jiang Tao could be regarded as a decent father.

It was only a year after her mother’s death that Guo Xiuyu entered Jiang’s house, and Jiang Tao’s temperament was increasingly revealed.

Because Jiang Nian’s instincts were always on point, she knew that Jiang was not a good person since the first time she saw him, so she investigated Jiang Tao and Guo Xiuyu’s encounters before and after her mother’s death, only to know that they met after the original owner’s mother became ill. The original owner’s mother was seriously ill for two years, and at first she was allowed to recuperate at home. Later, she spent most of the time in the hospital before her death. Jiang Tao couldn’t bear the loneliness and had already hooked up with Guo Xiuyu.

Before meeting Jiang Tao, Guo Xiuyu had just divorced her ex-husband, and when she married Jiang Tao, she also had a ten-year-old daughter.

Jiang Nian also thought about whether the death of the original owner’s mother was related to Jiang Tao and Guo Xiuyu, but Jiang’s mother really died of illness. In the week before her death, the original owner did not leave the hospital for half a step, and nothing suspicious happened.

She could only give up this clue and start from other directions.

This day, Jiang Nian received a call from Jiang Tao again, asking her to meet him. Jiang Nian thought about it and finally agreed.

Jiang Tao was naturally very happy, and even his dissatisfaction with Guo Xiuyu during this period has also decreased a little. If, as Guo Xiuyu said, the Xiao family he been over, Jiang Nian’s stay in the Xiao family would have been a drag on him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be fascinated for a while, to the point of really wanting to marry Jiang Nian to Yang Hai. That’s why the father and daughter fell out later, and they have not reconciled until now.

But since Jiang Nian now agreed, it means that she still wants to go back to this house.

The meeting place was not at Jiang’s house but at a tea house.

This should be the first time in a few years that Jiang Tao and Jiang Nian were drinking tea at the same table peacefully. Jiang Tao couldn’t help but feel a little dazed. He looked at Jiang Nian in front of him and found that she had lost her childishness. Even more so, the sharpness and despair when she fought against him were replaced with indifferent rationality. At that time, her eyes were full of pain and confusion, but now she looks at him with indifference.

“Sit, what to drink?”

“Tieguanyin*.”

(*literally “Iron Goddess of Mercy”, it’s a type of Oolong (tea))

Jiang Tao smiled and said, “Niannian, I didn’t expect you to be so powerful that you could support the Jiang family.”

Jiang Nian replied, “I studied finance in college.”

” As expected of my, Jiang Tao’s, daughter. You’re very promising. When do you think you can come home for dinner? You have been away from home for so long, and you haven’t come back. It’s alright now, and we father and daughter will move around more in the future.” After Jiang Tao voiced his intention, he looked at Jiang Nian expectantly.

Jiang Nian sneered inwardly, does this Jiang Tao really think she has that big of a heart, so much that she’ll forget what happened in the past?

She lowered her head and took a sip of tea, but did not speak.

Jiang Tao frowned, probably understanding Jiang Nian’s attitude, and continued: “I was wrong about what happened before, I shouldn’t have forced you, but the situation was special at that time, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Jiang Nian mocked: “Just like this? Yang Hai is merely a few years younger than you.”

Jiang Tao defended: “Actually, it’s your Aunt Guo, she asked the master to read your future for you, and he said that your life will not be very good… A very lonely life, Xiao Yi was dead and his family was in a tight spot, and Yang Hai’s and your eight characters are compatible. If you don’t marry him, your life might be even more difficult in the future. Was there anything I could do?”

Jiang Nian smiled and said, “Really? I thought you had a new son, that’s why you gave me away.”

Jiang Tao and Guo Xiuyu have a son, he’s eight years old this year. He should be the main reason why Guo Xiuyu was able to persuade Jiang Tao. Before, Jiang Tao had a daughter with her, similar to Jiang Nian, so naturally he would not be too biased. Later, it was different. Guo Xiuyu conceived a son for him, and their daughter was very good. The bad will of course be put later. Jiang Nian guessed that Guo Xiuyu must have told Jiang Tao that she was destined to kill her husband’s family. If she killed her husband’s family, she would kill her mother’s family. The first one to be killed must be the most vulnerable child in her womb. This is Jiang Tao’s only son… Not to mention, isn’t marrying Yang Hai saving Jiang Nian’s life too?

Jiang Tao summed it up and confirmed her conjuncture.

Being pointed out by Jiang Nian at this moment, Jiang Tao couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed, but he couldn’t show it on his face, so he could only persuade Jiang Nian that he was confused for a while and only hoped that the past would pass, “Niannian, I am on your side now. Now that I am your only relative, we will let go of our past suspicions, and we will still be a family in the future.”

“I was very concerned about those things at the time. If you really want me to forgive, let Guo Xiuyu apologize in person.”

Jiang Tao saw that there was a way out, so of course he wouldn’t refuse. He agreed immediately, anyway, it’s not difficult to ask Guo Xiuyu to apologize.

This meeting was quite pleasant, at least Jiang Tao seemed very happy, and before leaving, he taught Jiang Nian: “You have done so much for the Xiao family, and you have worked hard, not to mention that Xiao Zheng still relies on you today. Although you have stepped down now, you should keep your eyes on what belongs to you. Xiao Zheng is not a lamb, so don’t be easily deceived.”

Jiang Nian nodded: “I will keep a close watch on the Xiao family, and I will watch even more what my mother left me after her death. It has been in the Jiang home all these years, and I have not moved the part that belongs to me. Now that I am back, it can be handed over to me for a reasonable distribution.”

Jiang Tao’s face froze for a moment, and he said, “This is not urgent, it’s all yours anyway, there’s absolutely no problem with dad keeping it for you.”

Jiang Nian glanced at Jiang Tao with a faint smile then hummed.

God knows what Jiang Tao told Guo Xiuyu, but she called on the third day and said sorry in a sincere tone. What she did before was something she didn’t think about, and she hoped Jiang Nian could forgive her.

Jiang Nian raised her eyebrows: “This is too insincere, come to Xiao’s house.”

Jiang Tao was beside Guo Xiuyu when she made the call. Hearing this, he immediately asked her to do as told and go obediently. Guo Xiuyu was really smart, she pressed down the dissatisfaction in the bottom of his heart and said aggrievedly: “For you and Niannian to be reconciled, I will do anything.”

She coaxed Jiang Tao into satisfaction. She understood Jiang Tao’s character, so she needed to compliment and obey him to satisfy his arrogance and pride.

Guo Xiuyu also wanted to take her son Jiang Boxue with her, but Jiang Tao stopped her, saying that children should not be involved in this kind of thing. Guo Xiuyu, who planned to take Jiang Boxue there because she wanted to rely on her son to be next to Jiang Nian and not be embarrassed, had to give up her plan.

In the end, when Jiang Tao left, the leisure and inevitable victory just now was gone, and he was afraid that Jiang Nian would say something more about the shares.

Jiang Nian stood at the window on the second floor, watching Jiang Tao’s car go away.

…

When Jiang Tao and Guo Xiuyu arrived at Xiao’s house, the auntie led them to sit in the living room for about ten minutes. They first thought that Jiang Nian was delayed by something urgent, and only after asking Auntie did they find out that it was Jiang Nian’s snack time, so they had to wait.

“…”

Jiang Tao held his breath, suppressed his dissatisfaction, and decided to wait for Jiang Nian’s anger to calm down and talk about her, how can a junior let the elder wait?

Guo Xiuyu lowered her head and smiled secretly.

By the time Jiang Nian came out, another ten minutes had passed.

She wore simple home clothes today, white trousers, her long hair scattered over her shoulders, and she put on light makeup. In addition, she was too beautiful, and it seemed that everyone could not take their eyes off her.

There was actually Xiao Zheng who came out with her. He was wearing white shirt and black trousers. He had a handsome face, and the silver-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose made him look extremely refined and gentle, without the awe-inspiring indifference he had when facing outsiders.

He habitually walked behind Jiang Nian and followed her, as natural as breathing. Even if he didn’t say anything, they still had intimacy and trust that ordinary people couldn’t ignore.

She sat down on the sofa, and Xiao Zheng sat beside her.

Jiang Nian leaned lazily on the armrest and said, “I didn’t expect you to come so quickly.”

Jiang Tao returned her smile, replying, “I didn’t expect Ah Zheng to be at home too. Over the years, Ah Zheng has grown up a lot. I listened to many old friends who said that Ah Zheng you are young and fearsome, the color blue is made out of indigo but is more vivid than indigo*, and you are not inferior to those of the past…” He obviously meant by that Xiao Yi.

(*青出于蓝而胜于蓝, meaning the student surpasses the master.)

Xiao Zheng finally looked at Jiang Tao with an indifferent look, obviously not saying a word, but the indifference in his eyes made Jiang Tao shut up, he smiled awkwardly and muttered in his heart that this kid could only cry before. He didn’t expect that when he grew up, he became really scary, surprising indeed.

He winked at Guo Xiuyu.

Guo Xiuyu smiled gently: “Niannian, I came today to apologize for what happened before, I hope you can forgive me for being reckless at that time, I didn’t have any ill intentions, I was confused by a fortune-teller… I hope you don’t remember those small things. Forgive me, don’t hurt the relationship between you and your father because of me.”

Jiang Nian sneered, “Yang Hai can be my father, you really dare to introduce me, lock me in the house, and every day come and brainwash me, if it wasn’t for my firmness of mind, I’m afraid I’d really follow your way, and I wouldn’t have come to today. Now that I think about it, it was like being in hell at that time. Since you have come to beg my forgiveness, then kneel down first to show your sincerity.”

Jiang Tao was stunned, looking at Jiang Nian, and even Guo Xiuyu jerked in surprise.

Xiao Zheng’s eyes turned cold, and seeing Jiang Tao and Guo Xiuyu,  his mood turned for the worst. He had only heard about Jiang Nian’s experience a few years ago from other people’s mouths. Now that she said it herself, he felt as if his heart was squeezed and pinched tight, if she didn’t run out at the beginning, wouldn’t she be married to that Yang Hai?

Guo Xiuyu and Jiang Tao felt inexplicably creeped out, as if they were being stared at by something extremely dangerous. But although Jiang Nian made Guo Xiuyu kneel, she didn’t look gloomy, and Xiao Zheng also seemed indifferent.

Jiang Nian was non-commital: “Don’t you kneel? It seems that you have no sincerity.”

Jiang Tao looked at Guo Xiuyu and raised his chin.

Guo Xiuyu never thought that Jiang Nian, who was not tepid, would ask her to kneel as soon as he came!

Kneel down? How can it be!

My exams are over, so expect more updates in the future.