Chapter 121: Jiang You Seeks the Truth

While the Zhao family was busy instructing their own, chaos was erupting at Grandpa and Grandma Jiang’s place.

Upon learning that their exceptionally capable son had lost both his position and future prospects because of that scheming Qian woman, Grandma Jiang immediately demanded that the head of the Xiao family agree to have Qian drowned.

Qian, frantic and wild, lunged at Jiang You, but he stood motionless.

“Jiang You, you’re lying! I’m not sick at all, you’re framing me, aren’t you?” she shouted.

“You only pretended to get close to me recently to infect me, didn’t you?”

“Jiang You, I curse you to die without heirs!”

Qian was the sort to panic whenever trouble arose, so in her furious outburst, she vented her emotions without regard for logic or consequence. Her bitter words, especially the curse of barrenness, infuriated Grandma Jiang.

Qian’s family had no parents left, and since she was always disdainful of the poor and favored the rich, she had few relatives who kept in touch with her. Now, with all accusations leveled against her, she had no chance to defend herself.

Entangling with men, infecting Jiang You with disease, cursing him.

Just the charge of unchastity alone was enough for Grandma Jiang to crush her. At a time like this, adultery was an extremely grave offense.

Thus, Qian was utterly defenseless, with no hope of survival.

Early that morning, the village was in an uproar.

***

Bai Yan loved excitement and was about to dash outside once she put on her shoes.

Jiang Chengyan, standing at the door, promptly pulled her back.

“We need to put the lotus down later; no running around,” he said.

Bai Yan didn’t know what was happening outside, but Jiang Chengyan did.

Today was the day Qian would be dealt with.

“But it’s so lively outside,” Bai Yan said softly, with a hint of anticipation.

Jiang Chengyan said nothing and led her toward the chicken and dog coops.

Inside the dog pen, two puppies were playfully chasing and biting each other’s tails.

Bai Yan quickly hid behind Jiang Chengyan.

He spoke calmly, “It’s lively here too. Just look here.”

Bai Yan whimpered softly.

***

In the end, Qian was dealt with. People only hurled curses at Zhao Shi, while everyone kept their distance from Jiang You, knowing he had been dragged down by Qian’s misdeeds. All sighed deeply for him.

The station intended to cancel Jiang You’s monthly subsidy of one hundred taels of silver due to misconduct, but upon hearing the full story, they ultimately did not reclaim the money.

***

Under the cover of night, Jiang You sat alone in his pitch-dark room. Voices from the side chamber—Grandpa and Grandma Jiang—carried on, but he paid them no mind. Clutching the pouch containing the hundred taels of silver, his eyes were deep and contemplative.

Hua Niang’s sudden appearance was undeniably strange.

Reflecting now, he recalled how Hua Niang had spoken endlessly about Jiang Chengyan and boasted about raising such a son...

In other words, Hua Niang had mistaken him for his father.

At that thought, Jiang You clenched his fists tightly.

Before dawn the next day, he set out for the county town with the hundred taels of silver.

“As long as I can find Hua Niang, this hundred taels will be the reward,” he thought.

He wanted to uncover the truth.