Chapter 737: Chapter 721: I Am Not a Slut 32
Xiao Hua meowed in Jiang Anpingâs arms.
Anning smiled and tugged his ear: "What, you have an opinion too?"
Xiao Hua glared at Anning.
"Sister, why are you pulling his ear?"
Jiang Anping began to feel sorry for Xiao Hua, and helped Xiao Hua criticize Anning: "Youâve made Xiao Huaâs ear sore."
Once most of the guests had finished eating, it was time for the bride to kowtow.
Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang were sitting in the courtyard, just waiting to collect red envelopes.
The bride and groom first kowtowed to Uncle Jiang and his wife, and then it was Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiangâs turn.
Mrs. Jiang handed over a red envelope, and the host announced a number out loud.
Anning saw Uncle Jiang visibly stunned.
Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang didnât bother with it anymore, since the money was given. Neither of them had other matters to take care of, but Mrs. Jiang, harboring some thoughts in her heart, kept urging Mr. Jiang to go home quickly.
Mr. Jiang initially wanted to inform Grandma Jiang, but encountered Grandpa Jiang, who just glowered at him disdainfully, expressing extreme contempt. Seeing this, Mr. Jiang said no more and directly took his wife and daughter home.
On the way back, Mrs. Jiangâs face was cold, and she ignored Jiang Anan even when she spoke to her.
Once home, Jiang Anan changed her clothes and said she wanted to check the bun shop, but Mrs. Jiang coldly said: "Eldest, donât go out yet, I have something to ask you."
She turned to Mr. Jiang: "You stay too, you need to know about this."
Seeing the atmosphere at home wasnât great, Jiang Anping quickly held Xiao Hua and said, "Iâm going to give Xiao Hua a bath."
Anning didnât leave, knowing about the situation already, and Mrs. Jiang didnât order her back to her room.
Mrs. Jiang sat on the couch, pulling Mr. Jiang beside her. Jiang Anan wanted to leave, but Mrs. Jiang slammed the table: "You stand right there."
Jiang Anan, not knowing why, stood there with a face full of grievance.
Mrs. Jiang, seeing her like this, grew even angrier: "Eldest, youâve really hidden things well from us. Do you know that today youâve put your mum in a terrible position? I was pointed at and scolded, called incapable of raising a daughter, accused of raising a slut who clings to someone elseâs son shamelessly, offering money and gifts regardless of whether they are appreciated or not."
With these words, Anning saw Jiang Ananâs face instantly turn pale as paper.
"Mom, what... whatâs going on?"
Mr. Jiang was also shocked: "Chuncao, what... what exactly happened?"
Mr. Jiang then turned to Jiang Anan and asked: "Eldest, tell me, have you been dating someone behind our backs?"
Jiang Anan lowered her head, slightly embarrassed: "I, yes, Iâve been seeing someone. His name is Zhou Chong, his father, you should know him too, the one who passed away..."
Mr. Jiangâs face also changed slightly: "How long has it been?"
Jiang Anan was somewhat scared: "Almost two years."
Mr. Jiang suddenly stood up, raising his hand as if to slap Jiang Anan, but he couldnât bring himself to do it.
He was fond of his children, he had never been willing to hit his three daughters from childhood to adulthood, even now in his anger, he still couldnât bring himself to hit.
Seeing this, Anning quickly intervened, "Dad, please sit down. Letâs talk about this slowly, donât panic."
She then motioned Jiang Anan with her eyes, "Eldest, please explain everything to mom and dad, what exactly happened?"
She sat between Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang, holding onto each: "Eldest, do you know how humiliated mom and I were today? Zhou Chongâs mom went to Uncle Jiangâs home, she didnât even let mom finish her meal before starting a commotion. You should be thankful she didnât make a scene at the dinner table, if she had said those words in Uncleâs courtyard, our familyâs reputation would have been entirely lost, we might never be able to return to the village again."
Jiang Ananâs complexion worsened, and even her lips lost their color.
Anning continued, "She pulled mom aside where there was no one around, nearly pointing at momâs nose to curse her, saying how shameless you are, clinging to Zhou Chong, also saying her son is a masterâs student, that he has a bright future, how could he possibly marry someone like you, a high school graduate, and saying wanting you to marry into their family was nothing but a daydream. Eldest, donât blame mom, even I was fuming when I heard this, let alone mom. Mom is not upset because itâs embarrassing, but because it hurts her to see you like this. For two years, you secretly supported Zhou Chong, but what have you gotten in return? The humiliation from his mother..."
Jiang Anan opened her mouth, she wanted to say that maybe Zhou Chong didnât know about this.
But she couldnât bring herself to say it.
Jiang Anan was not naĂŻve; having started as an apprentice after high school, then making her own money, she had seen a lot in the restaurant and had been through the trials of society. She knew that if Zhou Chong and his mom hadnât discussed these things, how would his mom have known?
If Zhou Chong really cared about her, he would definitely have tried his best to impress his mom on her behalf, and not blurt out things about her being just a high school graduate. He would have looked for ways to make his mom try to accept her, instead of making her feel like a slut who was eager to please him.
Jiang Ananâs heart was filled with bitterness, even her mouth tasted unbearably bitter.
Her two years of effort had just raised an ingrate.
The money she spent, the things she bought, even if she had raised a dog, that dog would still wag its tail at her. But to give all that to Zhou Chong, he just thought this lowly of her, feeling that she was desperate to fawn over him.
Seeing Jiang Anan silent, Mrs. Jiangâs anger grew, "Would you say something? How much money have you spent on that boy? Do you have any proof? And, how exactly has he been treating you? What kind of person is he?"
Jiang Anan lowered her head, stubbornly staying silent.
Mr. Jiang also got angrier, he pushed Jiang Anan, "Would you just say something? What are you thinking? Do you really want to keep supporting him? Do you want your parents to lose face completely, for others to point at our noses and curse?"
"I..."
As Jiang Anan began to speak, tears started rolling down her cheeks, each drop hitting the ground, paining Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiangâs hearts.
It also pained Jiang Anan internally; her chest filled with an indescribable suffocation and ache, as if her heart was being mercilessly stabbed, the blood dripping continuously, a painful spot making her want to curl up, yet her mind felt empty, her body numb, as if her entire being was gone, leaving only the heartache.
"I didnât know he thought that way, he said he liked me."
Jiang Anan bit her lip and finally spoke out, "He treats me well, never mentioning anything about educational degrees, and even said that once he graduated, he would earn money to support me, I really didnât expect..."
Mrs. Jiang shook her head and sighed, "Silly girl, he was just sweet-talking you, just to get money from you."