Chapter 13: It's Useless to Try and Sabotage Me

Lu Changzheng stopped in his tracks.

Jiang Tang also stopped, looking at the person who had approached them with a puzzled expression.

She did not know who this person was.

Lu Changzheng didn't have much of an impression of her either.

However, in the family quarters, it was customary to address any woman who looked older than oneself as "Sister-in-law."

"Sister-in-law, is there something you need?"

Lu Changzheng’s tone was calm, carrying a faint sense of detachment.

Xu Hongmei smiled and stepped forward. She glanced at Jiang Tang, who was standing to the side, as if there were things she wanted to say but couldn't say in front of her.

It was obvious that she intended to sow discord against Jiang Tang to Lu Changzheng.

Lu Changzheng’s brows furrowed slightly. "If there is nothing else, Sister-in-law, we will be heading back now."

As soon as his words fell, Jiang Tang lifted her feet, ready to leave.

Seeing this, Xu Hongmei realized that these two were not standing on ceremony at all. She stopped beating around the bush, afraid that if she continued to stall, she wouldn't get a word in.

Xu Hongmei thought for a moment and said tactfully, "Little Lu, is Comrade Jiang a city girl?"

Lu Changzheng did not answer her question directly, instead asking her back, "Is there something you need, Sister-in-law?"

"I don't really have anything, it's just... this Little Jiang, I don't know if it's because she's too young or if her family didn't teach her well, but she really doesn't like to acknowledge people in the family quarters. When other sisters-in-law call out to her, she doesn't even bother to respond."

Xu Hongmei spoke in an earnest, admonishing tone, as if she were truly looking out for them, like an elder educating a younger generation.

"Little Lu, Sister-in-law knows you're young. It's fine for young people to like pretty girls, but when it comes to choosing a marriage partner, you really need to consider it carefully, don't you think?"

Xu Hongmei’s words were a direct way of telling Lu Changzheng that Jiang Tang was not good enough for him.

She lowered her voice, speaking in a way that only she and Lu Changzheng could hear. "Sister-in-law has a younger sister. While her looks might not be as striking as Little Jiang's, she isn't far behind..."

As she spoke, Xu Hongmei winked at Lu Changzheng.

Lu Changzheng lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the innocent-looking Jiang Tang beside him.

Sensing his gaze, Jiang Tang tilted her head slightly to look at him, her eyes filled with confusion, as if asking, "Why are you looking at me?"

A faint arc appeared at the corners of Lu Changzheng’s lips. The displeasure he felt from Xu Hongmei’s words vanished completely the moment he met Jiang Tang’s clear, clean eyes.

He gently squeezed Jiang Tang’s hand before letting go.

"Thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law."

He raised his eyes, his gaze landing on Xu Hongmei.

It wasn't just Xu Hongmei’s imagination; she clearly felt that Lu Changzheng’s attitude was much colder than before, as was his gaze.

When those narrow eyes looked at someone, they seemed to be tempered with ice.

Did she say something wrong?

Xu Hongmei looked suspicious.

Lu Changzheng continued what he hadn't finished saying.

"Because of her family background, my wife might not be as well-versed in social graces as your relatives, but in my heart, she is always the best. No one can replace her."

The man was so protective of his wife; he had only just submitted his marriage application, and he was already calling her "wife."

Xu Hongmei was choked by his words. "Battalion Commander Lu, you have a bright future ahead of you. Having a virtuous helper would be..."

"A virtuous helper?"

Jiang Tang, who had been standing by Lu Changzheng’s side listening to Xu Hongmei speak ill of her as if she were talking about someone else, finally understood.

Jiang Tang explained with a serious expression.

"Auntie, do you think I can't be a virtuous helper?"

"If that's the case, you don't need to worry. I know what a virtuous helper is supposed to do."

She had read about the term "virtuous helper" in a book she read today; she knew it.

"To serve one's husband and raise children, to relieve one's husband of his worries, and to support the heavens together with one's husband—whether in good times or bad, to never abandon each other and to stay together until our hair turns white."

"I can do that, Auntie, you don't need to worry."

Jiang Tang truly had no malice toward anyone.

Even though Xu Hongmei was clearly bad-mouthing her, not only did she not hold a grudge, but she also earnestly explained her understanding of a "virtuous helper."

This left the onlookers amused, unsure if Jiang Tang was playing dumb or if she was truly naive.

Xu Hongmei was convinced Jiang Tang was playing dumb. Unable to contain her frustration, she decided to address Jiang Tang directly.

"Little Jiang, you are Little Lu’s partner. Little Lu calls me 'Sister-in-law,' so isn't it a generation gap for you to call me 'Auntie'? Do you not even know basic forms of address?"

"Basic forms of address?"

Jiang Tang blinked, looking completely bewildered and innocent. "Is this the legendary 'don't judge a book by its cover'?"

"Does it mean that even if someone looks very old, like a grandmother, you shouldn't address them based on their appearance?"

Jiang Tang nodded in sudden realization and turned to ask Lu Changzheng, "Is that right, Lu Changzheng? You shouldn't address people based on their appearance—that's the explanation for 'don't judge a book by its cover,' right?"

Lu Changzheng pursed his thin lips, suppressing the laughter that threatened to escape.

Zhang Hongying, standing nearby, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Little Jiang, your explanation is reasonable—very reasonable."

Hearing someone agree with her, the smile on Jiang Tang’s face became even sweeter. "Sister-in-law is a teacher who knows a lot. If Sister-in-law says so, then it must be true."

After saying this, she stood up straight and apologized to Xu Hongmei with great sincerity.

"I'm sorry, Sister-in-law. I shouldn't have called you 'Auntie' just because you looked old. I'm sorry, I hope you aren't angry with me."

Jiang Tang bowed with the utmost solemnity.

With Jiang Tang acting like this, let alone Xu Hongmei, even the others couldn't find it in themselves to be angry with her.

Trying to argue with Jiang Tang felt like punching a cotton ball.

Xu Hongmei was so angry she could barely breathe.

She pointed at Jiang Tang with trembling lips, unable to even get a word out.

Jiang Tang truly didn't understand why Xu Hongmei was so angry.

She had already apologized for her rudeness in judging by appearances, so why was the other party still so upset?

She furrowed her brows, feeling quite troubled.

Lu Changzheng didn't intend to waste any more time with Xu Hongmei and prepared to go home to cook.

Just as they were about to leave, a delicate voice interjected from the side, "Comrade Jiang Tang, my aunt hasn't had much schooling. There was really no need for you to deliberately embarrass her like this."

Jiang Tang let out an "ah" and looked up in the direction of the voice.

She saw a woman in a white floral dress walking over in a weak, fragile manner.

Why could Jiang Tang tell she was fragile?

Because the woman's posture reminded her of the willow trees at the foot of the mountain.

When the wind blew, the branches would sway.

The swaying of those branches was exactly the same as the woman walking toward them.

Jiang Tang turned her head, rubbed her empty stomach, and looked at Lu Changzheng. "Lu Changzheng, are we going home? I'm hungry."

She had completely ignored Xu Lihua.

Lu Changzheng revealed a smile. "Alright, let's go back now."

Xu Lihua, who had dressed up specifically for this, hadn't expected to be ignored by both of them.

She bit her lower lip and spoke with great unwillingness, "Comrade Jiang Tang, don't you want to know who I am?"