I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel-Chapter 248 - 245: Guests Drawn by the News

"Yueyue, it’s too valuable! I can’t accept it!" She hadn’t given Yueyue anything of value, how could she accept such an expensive watch?

Jiang Mingyue didn’t expect Xia Xiaosi to be so stubborn. In the end, the watch was considered bought by her elder brother, with deductions from his monthly salary. Once the deductions were complete, Jiang Jian Country would take ten yuan from his salary each month to give to his wife, with the rest handed over.

Fine!

Today’s ingredients were abundant, with a lot of wild chickens and rabbits, as well as the previously cured bacon and sausages. Jiang Mingyue was responsible for dishes like braised flavors, roast chicken, and spicy rabbit cubes, adjusting them according to the number of people.

However, the originally planned two tables of guests seemed to grow into four tables.

Xu Modun brought his three brothers to celebrate. His elder cousin brought Xie Yunhai, Manager Zhuang, and Mr. Gao. The two groups added another table, so Mrs. Jiang quickly sent someone to borrow a steamer, and steamed another big batch of rice.

Dishes were also increased by a table... but, it still seemed not enough.

Besides Qiao Mingtang and Yan Jinzhi coming, the Jiang Family welcomed another wave of new guests.

Seeing Jiang Kangsheng, Jiang Mingyue was surprised: You’re joining in on the fun too?

Jiang Kangsheng certainly had other purposes. He had long wanted to see his daughter, see what her living place was like, and see how her new family treated her, but there hadn’t been a suitable opportunity. Now was perfect.

Besides Jiang Kangsheng, Jian Qian also came, which equally puzzled Jiang Mingyue.

To speak of the troublesome son-in-law affair, she did help him, helping him reveal Jiang Beihua’s facade early so his daughter wouldn’t blindly jump into a pit. But in helping him, he also helped her, so they owed each other nothing.

However, guests are guests, regardless of the reason they’re willing to come.

The appearance of Gan Fengzhe and An Jian at the end was the most surprising.

Wang Guihua gleefully spread rumors because of this: "Do you know? Shen Fanghua is in trouble. I saw those two go to her house... regarding that Jiang Beihua affair, weren’t those police officers in the village asking questions? The two leading ones are among them."

This was overheard by Aunt Jiao, who was home fetching a teapot. Her face darkened: "Wang Guihua, you really forget your lessons, spreading such nonsense rumors. They’re here to eat and drink, but if you keep causing trouble, they’ll be just right to report and have you taken away."

Wang Guihua shrank her neck, quickly changing her tone out of fear: "Just kidding! Just kidding! I have things to do at home, gotta go." She squeezed through the crowd to leave, prompting laughter from the villagers behind. They weren’t fools; even if they liked gossip, they knew who was talking. Wang Guihua’s character was such that not a single one of her ten sentences was true. Even if Jiao Yun didn’t come out to scold her, they would’ve said the same about Wang Guihua.

Meanwhile, at the Jiang Family’s old house, Wu Cuilan and Jiang Zhenghui were reportedly out. Only the grandparent and the grandson were left at home, along with a staying educated youth, Zheng Honglian.

Touching the still visible handprint on her face, Zheng Honglian’s expression was gloomy. If it weren’t for being with Xue Zongsheng, she wouldn’t have known how Jiang Zhenzhu mistreated Xue Zongsheng. Being married, she still made excuses to avoid him. Hah! Dreaming of something so unattainable!

Cui Mingshi once didn’t want her, and he certainly wouldn’t want her now. Who was she guarding her virtue for, especially when she had none left, and she was aware of all her sordid affairs with Ning Yan.

If that woman hadn’t grasped her by the handle, always ready to report her, she would’ve exposed all her misdeeds long ago.

Zheng Honglian was now both angry and hateful, angry at being stuck in the countryside, hateful at Jiang Zhenzhu’s sudden ruthlessness. Anyway, these two former best friends were now exemplifying what plastic friendships meant in a short time.

"Zheng Honglian, don’t be so shameless, move out of my house quickly," Jiang Beishan appeared behind her.

The sudden voice startled Zheng Honglian.

"Jiang Beishan, are you a ghost? Walking without making a sound?"

"It’s my house; you shouldn’t care where I walk. But, I advise you, with the face you have now, even with three layers of cold cream, you can’t hide the handprint. Better not go and embarrass yourself."

If it weren’t for her being the granddaughter of the old lady, Zheng Honglian would’ve scratched her face a long time ago.

Endure!

"Jiang Beishan, what are you afraid of? I’m just accompanying grandma to the third house to congratulate, why stop me repeatedly? It’s not like they didn’t invite you."

"You must be mistaken; I am part of the Jiang Family, I don’t need your invitation. I can go by myself."

"Heh! Caught red-handed stealing, would the third house welcome someone as dishonest as you?"

"You..." Jiang Beishan wanted to retort but found herself unable to argue. "Anyway, you’re not allowed to go."

"A granddaughter controlling her grandmother, aren’t you afraid of making a laughingstock with outsiders?"

Jiang Beishan no longer wanted to talk with Zheng Honglian. It made no sense. No matter how she tried to stop them, they were determined to go.

Were they going to congratulate? More likely to create trouble!

No, she couldn’t give up; she had to stop them. They had wronged the third house enough already without ruining their joyful day.

Jiang Beishan thought and suddenly saw Zheng Honglian kicking off her shoes. Was that... She saw Zheng Honglian about to change her pants.

Got it!

Three minutes later, there were noises from the old lady’s room.

"Where are my shoes, Honglian?"

Hearing the noise, Zheng Honglian quickly went to put on her shoes, realizing the pair of shoes she had just taken off was also missing.

"Jiang Beishan, did you take my shoes?"

Jiang Beishan hid herself, watching the fake grandmother and granddaughter anxiously search for shoes, temporarily preventing them.

Meanwhile, at the third house, the meal was served.

Braised pork, four-jewel meatballs, mushroom stew chicken, pine needle roast chicken, spicy rabbit cubes, Sichuan pepper chicken, braised fish, sausage frying corn, and bacon stewed with bamboo shoots, along with three vegetarian dishes, making twelve dishes per table, truly sumptuous. Even a state-run restaurant couldn’t quickly match such abundance.

Not only did the third house manage it, but the taste was also exceptionally good. Some initially intended to chat over the meal, but after sipping the clear and mellow plum wine, they couldn’t bother. Sipping wine and eating meat, how delightful!

Moreover, both men and women could enjoy this wine. It was Aunt Jiao’s first time drinking this wine from the third house, and just one sip captured her. She thought she would later ask Fanghua where they bought the wine, so their family might procure some. Life had become hopeful, making buying wine worthwhile.

At the old house, the old lady and Zheng Honglian still couldn’t find the shoes. In the end, they wore shoes for work, covered with dirt, mud, and grime. Although it bothered them inside, wearing longer pants to cover most of it made it less noticeable.

Jiang Beishan saw the pair remained unyielding. She had just secretly passed by the third house, seeing the ajar courtyard revealed people dining in the main hall under the eaves. Her grandmother’s timing wasn’t suitable now.

The next moment, Jiang Beishan unsheathed her determination and went to the kitchen.

"Oh no, fire!" A sudden scream not only blocked Old Mrs. Jiang and Zheng Honglian again but also alerted the neighboring villagers.