Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2421 - 2357: The Air of a Mistress of the House

Previously on Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s...

Lu Shuangshuang comforted the tearful Jiang Yuncun and Jiang Yunqing, leading them inside while insisting they call her Aunt Shuang to avoid tension with Uncle Six's newly acknowledged daughter, Jiang Xiao. Tensions rose as Yuncun angrily dismissed Jiang Xiao as an illegitimate village girl unfit for the Jiang family, prompting Shuangshuang to remind him of her confirmed status and Uncle Six's affection for her. Amid concerns over whether Shuangshuang and Uncle Six would marry—potentially sidelining Yuncun's adoption—the group shared light-hearted banter, though underlying family uncertainties lingered. Meanwhile, Jiang Xiao finished her bath and prepared tea just as a call from Ah Liu arrived.

"How's it going?"

The moment Chiang Xiao caught him answering the call with that query, she hesitated, puzzled over his exact intention.

Ah Liu let out a light laugh and clarified, "When you were chatting with Lu Shuangshuang on the line, I stepped aside on purpose for a bit. That probably made her feel more at ease in the conversation. Did you notice anything unusual?"

"Dad, you left the room deliberately?"

"That's right."

"I figured as much. She was acting all superior like a stepmother in my presence. Why didn't you stop her from carrying on?"

"Hmm?"

Acting superior like a stepmother?

Chiang Xiao went on to explain, "She mentioned she'd handle the setup for the Jiang Family’s courtyard and inquired about my preferred style, asking if I'd rather plant the flowers myself or have her select some blooms and greenery to place there. She also suggested we could chat more frequently over the phone going forward, and that if I needed anything, I should simply tell her, perhaps even getting a gift from her."

Anyone could manage her courtyard, but she had no desire for Lu Shuangshuang to take charge of it.

Ah Liu replied, "I get it. Still, she's not completely off base with that."

Chiang Xiao felt surprised. "What are you getting at?"

"Your great-grandfather pointed out she's a lady with a keen eye for details and care. To get your courtyard fixed up nicely and attractively, it could indeed benefit from a woman's perspective. He fretted that I might not manage it well or lack the time, so during tonight's meal, he assigned the job to her."

A wave of unease washed over Chiang Xiao all at once.

"So, she was just carrying out instructions?"

Had she gotten the wrong idea about Lu Shuangshuang?

She wasn't deliberately playing the role of the lady of the house; she was merely fulfilling Old Master Jiang’s directive?

Hearing this, Ah Liu couldn't suppress a chuckle.

"I intended to discuss this with your great-grandfather come morning. Obviously, your courtyard ought to be handled by me personally, not by an outsider. Rest easy; your dad isn't that clueless."

At last, Chiang Xiao broke into a grin.

"I was sure Dad would take care of it himself. I even mentioned to her that my father surely understands what I like."

"Exactly, the kind of setup my dear daughter favors should come from Dad's own thoughtful planning, isn't that so?"

"Spot on!"

In the end, the shades or varieties of flowers held little importance. The key was that if her father put his heart into arranging it, she'd adore the result.

Moreover, she had full faith in Ah Liu’s sense of style.

"You little rascal."

"Dad, judging by your words, you never truly planned to wed her, right?"

Chiang Xiao hadn't posed this query earlier, yet with Lu Shuangshuang now residing in the Jiang Family home, she believed it was time to clear the air.

Ah Liu answered instantly, without a second thought, "Naturally not. Marrying her never crossed my mind. I simply sensed there was some unresolved matter from our past that I'd overlooked, something elusive that kept me from speaking up."

"Dad, have you pieced it together now?"

In Chiang Xiao's company, Ah Liu found he could share freely without any discomfort.

"Yeah, it's all come back to me. It happened that prior to that event from years past, I'd penned a missive to send to Pingzhou, containing a formal notice to end the engagement. Back then, I'd already decided to break things off with Lu Shuangshuang. The messenger came back and assured me the letter reached her hands directly, meaning the engagement was surely terminated."

Chiang Xiao stood there, dumbfounded.

Could something like that truly have occurred?

"Dad, is ending an engagement really that straightforward? Just send a letter and call it quits?"

"Things weren't so tangled up in those days. Alongside the engagement cancellation letter, we of course returned the betrothal gifts we'd exchanged. Should the other side consent, they'd send back my token, and that settled everything."