The four Jiang siblings turned their eyes in unison towards Jiang Sheng. When they saw the chubby young girl hopping happily with two young men with very different temperaments behind her, all of their expressions changed slightly.
Jiang Chengyuan was surprised and incredulous. He couldn't believe that he and little Jiang Sheng actually had this layer of connection.
Jiang Chenghua turned pale with shock and confusion, feeling extremely nauseous with disgust.
Jiang Chengfeng was stunned as memories came back to him - this young girl seemed to be from the Jiuzhen Store.
Jiang Chengyu cared the least, but seeing everyone else's varied reactions, she didn't think it would be appropriate for her to remain so carefree. So she deliberately squeezed out a constipated look on her face.
No one noticed as the commoner who had directed their attention to Jiang Sheng earlier quietly slipped away, as if having accomplished his mission.
"It's her? Why is it her again?" Jiang Chenghua murmured. Her eyes were as if poisoned, "Is she a shadow that I can never get rid of no matter what?"
"In any case, she saved Grandmother, so we should be thankful to her," Jiang Chengyuan regained his senses, his eyes full of anticipation.
Jiang Chengfeng and Jiang Chengyu did not disagree.
Just as Jiang Chengyuan was about to step forward, his arm was grabbed tightly.
He looked back to see his sister Chenghua with a panicked and helpless look on her face. "Brother, can't we just send someone to give her money to thank her? There's no need to thank her in person, right?"
Jiang Chengyuan's leaping heart sank. His outstretched footsteps slowly retracted.
Jiang Chenghua heaved a long sigh of relief, a smile slowly appearing on her face.
"Why aren't you going?" Jiang Chengyu, who hated to see her sister feeling relieved, put her hands on her hips and jumped out, "Grandmother personally instructed this. Do you want to betray her trust?"
"You..." Jiang Chenghua's face cooled down again. "What does second brother think?"
When there were differing opinions, the only one who hadn't spoken yet became the important fulcrum.
Jiang Chengfeng looked at his cousin's expression, then at his sister's threatening gaze. He suddenly felt that his big brother didn't have it easy either.
"Why don't I go?" He decided to be the sacrificial lamb.
Jiang Chengyu scoffed sarcastically, "What's the point of you going? Are you the big brother? Can you represent the Jiang Family?"
Jiang Chengfeng: "..."
He silently looked at Jiang Chengyuan, indicating that he had tried his best as a younger brother.
Jiang Chenghua's face grew paler. As a well-educated young lady from a prestigious family, she knew that she should not obstruct further. But the panic in her heart almost devoured her - it felt as if the moment she let go, she would lose the brother who loved and doted on her.
However, the upbringing of a proper young lady from a prestigious family did not allow her to obstruct anymore or act spoiled.
Under everyone's gaze, Jiang Chenghua reluctantly released her brother's arm and softly said, "Since everyone is willing, how can Chenghua obstruct? I was just worried that big brother alone may not be enough. As siblings, we should personally go over to express our gratitude."
Very composed and graceful - as expected after over ten years of the Jiang Family's upbringing.
Jiang Chengyuan nodded in approval, and led his siblings over, stopping before Jiang Sheng and her siblings.
Some Jiang servants came forward and subtly acted as a human wall - both to protect the masters and prevent eavesdropping.
This startled Jiang Sheng and she thought someone was about to openly rob her in broad daylight.
Fortunately, Jiang Chengyuan promptly came forward and lowered his voice solemnly, "Miss Jiang, last time you saved my grandmother. On behalf of the Jiang Family, I have come to thank you."
As expected of someone from a prestigious family. No matter how mischievous they may act normally, in critical moments they can still be dignified and serious, while observing proper etiquette.
Jiang Sheng tilted her head in surprise - so the status of that old lady she saved last time was not ordinary. But she still didn't understand why the old lady had lied to her about two pounds of candied chestnuts.
How strange, but not important.
Jiang Senior Madame, or Jiang Madam, didn't have much connection with her either way.
Right now, Jiang Sheng was only concerned about when the tribute courtyard gates would open and when big brother would return. She was going to starve at this rate.
"Miss Jiang, thank you for helping our grandmother," Jiang Chengfeng followed up with a bow.
"Yes, thank you," said Jiang Chengyu.
Jiang Chenghua's turn came. Her expression pained as she softly said after much hesitation, "Thank you."
Jiang Sheng did not respond.
The two girls' friction was not just a day or two. Jiang Sheng knew that this miss from a prestigious family looked down on her. And she also didn't like the overly arrogant and noble Jiang Chenghua - they were a commoner girl and a young lady from a prestigious family. Their statuses were as different as mud and clouds and they should not cross paths.
Facing Jiang Chenghua's reluctant thanks, Jiang Sheng merely smiled perfunctorily and quickly turned away.
Jiang Chenghua heaved a sigh of relief, thinking she had finally fulfilled her duty.
But out of the blue, Jiang Chengyu whispered provocatively, "Third Sister's thanks really lacked sincerity. You were unwilling to let big brother come over to express thanks earlier. Could it be you have some dissatisfaction with this girl?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Sheng and her siblings immediately straightened up in attention, so did the Jiang siblings.
"Fourth Younger Sister, don't spout nonsense," Jiang Chenghua was still relatively calm. "I sincerely thanked Miss Jiang for helping grandmother that one time."
What Jiang Chengyu hated the most was Jiang Chenghua's fake and hypocritical pretense. She obviously didn't want to thank, yet she took the initiative to come over. She clearly disliked the chubby girl before her, yet dared to mention sincerity. Her status was fake yet she still refused to leave.
She was direct and hot-tempered. Unable to restrain herself, she blurted out, "You hypocrite, you talk about 'grandmother' this and 'grandmother' that. Who is your grandmother? Your grandmother is still squatting who knows where!"
After speaking she realized she was in a crowded place where everyone had eyes and ears. She quickly covered her mouth, regretting what she had just done.
Jiang Chengyuan and Jiang Chengfeng simultaneously changed expressions. After glancing around and seeing not too many people had heard, they heaved a sigh of relief.
Only Jiang Chenghua remained standing in place. The skin that she had concealed for so long was peeled open before the person she hated the most. At this moment, she felt as if she wasn't wearing a single thread, overtaken by shame and hatred simultaneously.
The label "hypocrite" that Jiang Chengyu could never take back, the stifled whispers around her, and grandmother's cold eyes - all made her feel increasingly oppressed. The things she had struggled to hold on tightly to seemed to slip through her fingers even faster instead.
She stared at Jiang Chengyu with trembling eyes, then looked at the clueless Jiang Sheng. The repressed pretense completely shattered.
"I am a fake, but I don't think I did anything wrong. When I was brought here I was only a baby without any freedom of choice. I've lived here for over ten years. The parents and brother I loved for over ten years, suddenly being told it was all fake - is it wrong for me to be unable to accept that?"
"In this world, I owe nothing to anyone. Because everything I have now is not of my own making. I am also an innocent victim. The only one I can be considered to owe to is the real young miss of the Jiang Family who lost her privileged life."
"But she isn't. Why should I have to endure her stealing my brother away? I don't like her. I just wanted her to stay away from brother, to stay away from us."
There were many eyes in front of the tribute courtyard gates. Even with family servants blocking the view, the exchange already slowly attracted the attention of many people.
Jiang Chenghua tried her best to maintain composure as she slowly said word for word, "She isn't the child who took my place. I owe nothing to her and it is reasonable for me to dislike her. I don't think I did anything wrong."
Silence descended upon the Jiang Family members as she finished speaking.
Jiang Chengyu actually felt what she said was quite reasonable, although she still disliked the cousin.
Just then, Jiang Senior Madam who had been hiding in a corner for some time now, strode out. She raised her voice without caring about the chaos it would create. "What if she is?"
