Ch 28: After My Mother Returned to the Rich Family

The crate from Wei Jiao’s hometown, bearing the “Three Slackers” logo, had always been ignored by the Song family’s associates, yet here the Yang family was, delivering an invitation directly to Ruan Cha?

Liang Qianling frowned deeply, unable to comprehend.

The Yang family’s skincare brands held a dominant position in foreign markets, and the Song family had long aspired to expand overseas. Since the Liang family’s investments hadn’t materialized, Liang Qianling had shifted her focus to the industry leader—the Yang family.

However, while the Yang family maintained polite smiles at business banquets, they privately held a low opinion of the Song family’s brand. After two failed meetings, even arranging another one became impossible.

And now, Three Slackers.

The supplier of cabbages to Seven Rays, a fact Liang Qianling had just bragged about to other parents at the arts festival. She’d boasted that from now on, the Song family would procure fruits and vegetables exclusively from Three Slackers for their banquets.

Not only was it good for appearances, but Liang Qianling was particularly intrigued by the rumored beauty-enhancing properties of their cabbage. Even if those claims turned out false, the prestige would still be worth it.

Suppressing her temper for the moment, Liang Qianling stared intently at Wei Jiao. “Why do the fruits and vegetables from your hometown have the Three Slackers logo?”

Hearing the name Three Slackers, Ruan Cha silently covered her face, her ears turning red.

Her family’s cabbages originally had a straightforward name—Ruan Family Cabbages. But when they started collaborating with Seven Rays, her dad decided Seven Rays sounded more official. Inspired by that, he came up with Three Slackers.

Three Slackers—a name so baffling that people often mistook their business for selling dried salted fish.

Wei Jiao, wiping the water droplets from her palms, looked puzzled. “What’s it to you whether my cabbages are branded as Three Slackers or Four Slackers? For all I care, we could slap on a logo for the Four Heavenly Kings or the Eight Immortals, and it still wouldn’t concern you.”

“Your cabbages—wait.” Liang Qianling’s voice trailed off as a realization struck her. Her husband had once mentioned that all Seven Rays cabbages came from a single town, meaning the town was likely managing the production collectively.

Having convinced herself of this theory, Liang Qianling composed herself, adopting an air of elegant superiority. Her tone was somewhere between mocking and patronizing. “So, when you said you were growing cabbages, you meant your town was hired to cultivate for Three Slackers?”

“Sure, Three Slackers’ produce is top-tier, but at the end of the day, it’s still just cabbage. What’s the big deal—your town has a collective farming contract?”

The idea that Wei Jiao personally grew the cabbages? Impossible. Someone who couldn’t compare to her in any way could never produce cabbages worthy of Three Slackers.

Sometimes, excessive pride and self-importance could truly blind a person.

After finishing her remarks, Liang Qianling smoothed her dress and continued, in a tone dripping with condescension. “Of course, if you speak to the person in charge from your town and have them meet me, I could put in a good word for you in my circles. After all, my network—”

She paused briefly, her smile growing smug. “You must have noticed at the arts festival—nearly everyone in the socialite circle knows me.”

As for the Yang family’s sudden interest, Liang Qianling figured it was probably because Mr. Yang Ruogu had been a judge at the arts festival and was impressed—no, shocked—by Ruan Cha’s suona performance. After returning home, he likely connected the dots to the Liang family and decided to send an invitation.

Wei Jiao glanced at Ruan Zhengfei, then at Ruan Cha, feeling a bit lost. Person in charge? The person in charge of inspecting their cabbages was just one of their hired workers. Did this mean she, herself, was considered the “person in charge”?

She was about to accept the title, but Liang Qianling didn’t give her the chance, cutting her off coldly. “Let me say this one more time—”

“Get lost!”

The sudden roar, accompanied by a cane striking down, abruptly cut off Liang Qianling’s words, leaving them lodged in her throat. She stared at the cane that had nearly hit her, disbelief written all over her face as she turned to Liang Senior. “Dad, what are you doing?!”

Old Master Liang had once relied on a cane to walk, but ever since the Ruan family of three had joined the household, his cheerful demeanor and improved mood had made him healthier, and he no longer needed it.

Now, he stomped down the stairs, his furious gaze fixed on Liang Qianling. Pointing a trembling, withered finger at her, he bellowed, “Our Liang family raised a thankless wretch! What exactly do you have against Jiao Jiao and her family? Weren’t you the one spreading all those nasty rumors in the circle?! Families with true dignity don’t gossip behind people’s backs!”

“Jiao Jiao’s family hasn’t eaten your food or taken your money. Even the shares they hold were given by the eldest!” Old Master Liang pointed at Liang Cunjin next. “Even Cunjin hasn’t said a word, yet you’re jumping around like this! Do you really think the rest of the Liang family will die out and leave everything to you?!”

Liang Qianling bit her lip hard. Even if the Liang family’s assets weren’t entirely hers, why had the eldest been given the company? She admitted she didn’t have the capability to manage it, but her husband did!

Now, while it looked like Wei Jiao’s family had taken shares from the eldest, who was to say they weren’t actually taking her future shares?

Seeing the hatred flash in Liang Qianling’s eyes, Old Master Liang’s disappointment deepened.

When she was young, although Liang Qianling was spoiled and selfish, she was also sharp and lively. Who would have thought that after meeting that scoundrel from the Song family in high school, all she could talk or think about was the Song family? Her grades plummeted, and after graduating from university, she rushed into marriage as if afraid someone might snatch him away.

After marriage, it only got worse. She became rash and impulsive, her judgment so narrow it couldn’t even compare to their cook, who only had a middle school education! Decades of schooling—completely wasted.

Shaking with anger, Old Master Liang raised his hand to point at the front door. “Liang Qianling, get out of the Liang house immediately! I don’t want to see you around here for the foreseeable future!”

Humiliated by Old Master Liang’s words, Liang Qianling couldn’t help but recall the day she embarrassed herself in the garden. She had swallowed her pride and acted as if nothing had happened, yet here was Old Master Liang making her lose face again and again in front of others.

Her husband had been right—no one in the Liang family wanted her to live a happy life!

Clutching her handbag tightly, her voice seething with resentment and indignation, she spat, “Fine, you don’t want to see me! But don’t come crawling to the Song family if the Liang family ever needs help!”

With that, she stormed out, her expression cold and dark, not even sparing her daughter, Song Mengyu, a glance. She left her sitting awkwardly on the sofa.

Song Mengyu, who had been humiliated repeatedly by Ruan Cha at school, had learned to be cautious. She couldn’t understand why her mother hadn’t learned the same lesson. Why couldn’t she target the Ruan family quietly instead of confronting them head-on?

Lowering her gaze, Song Mengyu thought about her mother’s worsening temper over the past two years. Whenever she encountered the Ruan family, her rage seemed to multiply, becoming unbearable to watch.

After Liang Qianling had been gone for a while, Old Master Liang slumped on the sofa, his breathing labored as Wei Jiao patted his back to calm him. It took him a long time before he could even utter a word.

He couldn’t understand how his family had raised someone with a personality like his second daughter’s.

Seeing Song Mengyu looking restless on the sofa, Liang Cunjin spoke up. “Mengyu, just stay here for now. I’ll have your old room cleaned by the housekeeper. The cameras are only in the common areas and front yard, so you don’t have to worry about privacy in your bedroom.”

“Alright,” Song Mengyu replied quietly.

Interrupted by Liang Qianling, Wei Jiao completely forgot about her earlier plan to claim the title of “person in charge.”

Both Old Master Liang and Liang Cunjin, noticing that Wei Jiao hadn’t refuted Liang Qianling’s claim about the town organizing unified cabbage cultivation, reluctantly concluded that the town must have indeed organized the villagers to grow produce collectively—and that the Ruan family of three were simply among those villagers.

**#How One Person Can Mislead a Whole Family#

Old Master Liang, believing that his daughter had once been involved in farming for the town, felt a mix of heartache and guilt. When he first reunited with Wei Jiao, she had reassured him that her life was great, filled with simple joys like eating, drinking, gardening, and raising fish.

At the time, seeing her well-kept, spacious courtyard and her radiant complexion, unmarred by the hardships of life, he assumed that Ruan Zhengfei was working outside to support Wei Jiao. But now, it seemed his daughter had been toiling in the fields!

In truth, after reuniting with Wei Jiao as their rightful daughter, the Liang family should have thoroughly investigated her past life, including the challenges the Ruan family had faced and their everyday preferences.

However, the storyline had its way. When Wei Jiao reunited with Old Master Liang, the Ruan family was temporarily living in a suburban courtyard in Nan City because Ruan Zhengfei had gone out to collect rent.

The Liang family never made it to the small town where the Ruan family actually lived, and any attempts to investigate hit a dead end after Wei Jiao’s time at the orphanage. The orphanage itself had closed a decade ago, leaving no traceable records.

Old Master Liang didn’t dwell on it much. The orphanage had been too remote, and even finding basic documentation was challenging.

As a result, during the first few days after the Ruan family returned, the Liang family quietly observed their habits and preferences regarding decor, food, and other matters.

Wiping at his reddened eyes, Old Master Liang looked at Wei Jiao with deep regret. “Jiao Jiao, I’ve failed you. I let you suffer out there. After I’m gone, the things I planned to donate—I’ll leave most of them to you. From now on, the three of you should spend as you like. Don’t bother with farming anymore. Even if you want to be slackers for the rest of your lives, I’ll take care of you!”

The Ruan family of three: “!!!”

Ahhhhhhh, someone is openly encouraging us to be slackers!

We love you!

Wei Jiao was so touched she nearly cried, nodding repeatedly. “Dad, you’re the best! You really are my dad! We’re not struggling, really.” Okay, maybe a little—checking the rental properties and farming isn’t as comfortable as lounging at home, after all.

After a moment, Wei Jiao added, “But there’s no need to keep those things. Let’s donate them all as planned to people who truly need them so they can live better lives.” After all, the dividends they received from the company were more than enough, and they rarely had time to spend them.

When she finished, Ruan Zhengfei and Ruan Cha chimed in, firmly agreeing that they couldn’t accept Liang Senior’s possessions. They were already happily enjoying their lives as dignified slackers; taking what was meant for donation would only make them feel ashamed!

Seeing this, Old Master Liang and Liang Cunjin were visibly moved. Their daughter and her family were truly kind-hearted—despite all the hardships they had endured, they were still thinking of others and hoping to improve their lives.

The only one who frowned in silence was Song Mengyu. If farming is so hard, wouldn’t their hands be rough and calloused from working under the sun? Yet her Third Aunt’s hands were smoother and fairer than her own mother’s.

On TV, farmers’ hands are always coarse and weathered!

Glancing at the harmonious scene in the living room, Song Mengyu pressed her lips together, refraining from speaking.