The Jiang family was in high spirits, chatting joyfully, when Jiang Lan walked into the room with a somber expression, a stark contrast to their merriment.
She glanced around, not saying a word, and quietly returned to her own room.
Jiang Anzhi said irritably, "Hey, this child has no manners at all, not even greeting people when she sees them? For so many years, she's never truly fit into this family! Many times I even doubt if Jiang Lan is even a descendant of our Jiang family!"
Hearing this, Jiang Xueyi and Xu Qin's faces suddenly turned grim.
Cao Chunhui also frowned slightly.
She coughed and reprimanded, "Eldest son, how can you speak like that?"
Jiang Anzhi scratched his head awkwardly. "I was just speaking casually, don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously."
At this moment.
Cheng Hai suddenly proposed, "Grandmother, and all uncles and elder brothers, to celebrate that Mengxin and I are finally together, I'd like to treat everyone to a meal."
"That's great," Xu Qin nodded repeatedly. "Let's consider it an engagement banquet!"
Cheng Hai said, "Tomorrow noon, I will host five tables of banquet at Yuanyang Tower, and I invite all of the Jiang family's friends and relatives to attend."
Upon hearing the words 'Yuanyang Tower', everyone was extremely surprised.
Yuanyang Tower was one of the premier restaurants in Jinling. Their Huaiyang cuisine was very authentic, and their chefs were all state banquet chefs!
Those who could dine at Yuanyang Tower were either rich or noble.
Yuanyang Tower was notoriously difficult to book; even with money, one couldn't secure a table. It required many procedures and much networking to dine there.
It could be said that only the most esteemed guests had the privilege of eating at Yuanyang Tower.
Cao Chunhui admired, "Xiao Hai, I didn't realize you had such capabilities to book a banquet at Yuanyang Tower?"
Cheng Hai smiled faintly. "It just so happens I have a friend working there, it's nothing."
"And that's nothing?" Xu Qin said. "There are very few people in all of Jinling who can achieve that! Good son-in-law, you truly bring honor to your mother. Unlike some poor gravekeeper, who can only brag and has no skills at all."
Before even marrying into the family, Xu Qin already treated Cheng Hai as her son, demonstrating how much she favored him.
In her eyes, Cheng Hai was a thousand times better than Lu Ming.
No, ten thousand times better!
Everyone happily agreed on the time for tomorrow's meal. Jiang Lan, still silent, walked out of her room and headed straight for the main entrance.
Jiang Mengxin called out to her, "Mengxin, where are you going?"
Jiang Lan stopped, her voice choked with emotion. "Brother-in-law... Lu Ming is about to leave Jinling. I'm going to the train station to see him off."
Uh...
Xu Qin frowned. "Why are you seeing off that penniless guy? You've got too much time on your hands."
Jiang Anzhi also said, "That scoundrel is like a sticky plaster, once he sticks to you, he's impossible to shake off. Xiao Lan, be careful. Don't be good-hearted and do a bad deed, and get entangled with him again, bringing disaster to the Jiang family!"
Jiang Lan couldn't listen anymore.
She turned around and retorted angrily, "For the past month, Lu Ming has silently contributed to the Jiang family and helped us overcome difficulties several times. Can't you see any of that? Just because he comes from humble origins, you despise him?"
She paused, then dropped a bombshell, "I'll tell you now, Lu Ming's background is not humble at all. His identity is extremely distinguished! The car Lu Ming drives is a Lamborghini worth over five million, and he lives on Heavenly God Island!"
As soon as she said this, instead of garnering any attention, it erupted into laughter.
"No, Jiang Lan, did you take the wrong medicine? Or is your brain burnt out? What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Heavenly God Island? That's a place only super big shots are qualified to live on. Even Grandpa couldn't get in when he was alive. What right does Lu Ming, a gravekeeper, have to enter?"
"Xiao Lan, do you really need to fabricate such an outlandish lie to protect a useless gravekeeper?"
Even Jiang Xueyi shook his head repeatedly. "It seems driving Lu Ming away was the right decision. Look, it hasn't been long, and Xiao Lan has been misled by Lu Ming, starting to talk nonsense all day."
In the entire Jiang family, no one else was willing to speak up for Lu Ming.
At this moment, Jiang Lan began to understand Lu Ming's situation. Living in such an environment every day, she wondered how Lu Ming had endured it for over a month.
Suddenly.
Jiang Mengxin sighed and said, "If you want to go see him off, then go. After all, I'm the one who wronged him this time. Xiao Lan, go and apologize to him for me. Also, the 160,000 card I lent him, tell him he doesn't need to return it. Consider it a small compensation from me."
Jiang Anzhi gave a thumbs-up. "160,000, that's worth two or three years' salary for that rotten gravekeeper. Mengxin, you're truly good to him."
Jiang Lan didn't want to listen any longer and turned to leave.
Honestly.
She didn't want to stay in this family anymore either.
...
Jinling South Station.
Jiang Lan found Lu Ming in the waiting hall. He looked calm, not particularly sad.
Jiang Lan walked over and called out, "Lu Ming."
Lu Ming looked up and smiled, "Why are you here?"
"I came to see you off."
"Haha, thank you."
For a moment, the air seemed to stand still. Jiang Lan had thought of many words before coming, various farewells, but now she couldn't utter a single one.
After a long while.
She slowly said, "Are you really leaving?"
Lu Ming nodded. "I have no ties to the Jiang family anymore, there's no reason to stay."
"Then..." Jiang Lan looked into Lu Ming's eyes, hesitated for a long time, and finally said, "Before you leave, can you row a boat with me one more time?"
Lu Ming was also stunned.
He hadn't expected Jiang Lan to make such a request at this moment.
It was a bit awkward.
Jiang Lan bit her lip. "Perhaps not, it's a bit too much to ask."
Lu Ming smiled. "What's the big deal? I'm free anyway, spending another day with you is fine."
"Really?"
"Mmm."
Jiang Lan was so happy she almost cried. Being able to create a beautiful memory with Lu Ming before he left was enough.
And so.
Just like on Jiang Lan's birthday, the two of them came to the Qinhuai River again, rented a small boat, and slowly drifted on the river, just the two of them.
On either side of the river, long corridors stretched out, birds sang, and insects chirped.
Jiang Lan was extremely happy.
At one moment, she even wanted to throw herself into Lu Ming's arms, but she restrained herself. Reason told her she couldn't do that.
Their statuses were not suitable.
Looking at Lu Ming rowing, Jiang Lan silently thought: This is good enough.
Gradually, the sky began to cloud over.
The two of them got ashore and found a restaurant to feast.
That night, Jiang Lan did not go home. She was with the person she liked the most, filled with laughter, happiness, and a touch of sadness.
While she was laughing, unbeknownst to her, a massacre aimed at annihilating the entire Jiang family had quietly begun.
Yuanyang Tower, in peril.