The Abandoned Daughter's Second Chance

Chapter 392: Chapter 340: No One Can Understand

Jun Ran had been walking down that alley since she was a child, and the people who sat chatting under the large pagoda tree couldn’t have been more familiar to her. She even knew every family’s situation. She started by targeting two middle-aged women, giving them some perks and promising them spots for their children to get jobs at a factory. Then, she told them about the Tang family’s affairs and instructed them to bring up the topic while chatting with others. They were to exaggerate and sensationalize how Tang Manman, after returning to the Tang family, had forced her own parents to leave and driven her sister away, and how she was a jinx to anyone she got close to. Most of these ordinary city women were somewhat superstitious. As they chattered, they immediately came up with countless negative labels. Words like "bane," "harbinger of disaster," and "cursed star" rolled right off their tongues. The group would sit around, satisfying their craving for gossip, without a single thought for how these rumors might affect others once they spread.

Besides letting the rumors spread, Jun Ran’s goal was to ensure the Gu family heard them. But members of the Gu family wouldn’t just casually stroll into a small alley. Jun Ran had a plan. She was close with Gu Shaoling and Tian Sisi, so she frequently led them through that alley. Meanwhile, the two women who had taken her bribes were given a signal. The moment they saw Gu Shaoling and Tian Sisi approach, they would intentionally start discussing the "harbinger of disaster" in loud voices. As expected, the pair was hooked. They listened intently, taking in every word. Thus, just as Jun Ran had anticipated, they fell right into the trap she had dug. They tried to use the rumors to viciously attack Tang Manman, but little did they know, not only would they fail, but they would also end up being punished themselves.

Xiao Man sneered. ’Jun Ran really went to great lengths, playing both director and procurer. She even had to time everything perfectly. A wonder she didn’t work herself to death!’

Grandpa Tang patted his granddaughter’s head. "I’ve already spoken with Elder Jun," he said. "I expect your Grandpa Gu will also make his stance clear soon. Elder Jun has apologized on his granddaughter’s behalf. He will deal with the negative consequences caused by the rumors and also provide compensation for emotional distress. Manman, what are your thoughts...?"

Sitting on the other side, Grandma Tang snorted, pushing Grandpa Tang’s hand away to pull her granddaughter into her own embrace. "Manman," she said to Xiao Man, "don’t listen to your grandfather. These old men spend all day mulling over this and that, their minds full of twists and turns no one can decipher! We’re not going to bother with all that. That Jun family girl may be young, but her heart is thoroughly wicked! We have all the evidence. Whatever you want to do, Grandma will back you up!"

"Is that any way for a grandmother to act?" Grandpa Tang tutted. "Our granddaughter has such a good temperament. Don’t let your influence turn her into a firecracker like you."

"And I’d like to ask what kind of grandfather you’re being!" she shot back. "Our own granddaughter has been terribly wronged, and you want to just wrap things up like this? Forget Manman—I’m the first one to disagree. I won’t allow it!"

Xiao Man said to her grandfather, "Frankly, I’m not satisfied with this result. Jun Ran painstakingly plotted such a vicious, underhanded scheme, and she doesn’t even have to show her face to apologize, let alone admit her mistake in public! Compensation? Reparations? If that can wipe the slate clean, then I can do that too. I could beat Jun Ran half to death, until she’s in so much pain she wishes she were dead, and then heal her. Afterward, I could give the Jun Family some rare medicines and tonics. I wonder if Elder Jun would be happy with that arrangement?"

Grandpa Tang was speechless. Grandma Tang, however, said, "Do whatever you think is right. She initiated this to harm someone, so she must face the retaliation. You go right ahead. If you need to pay compensation afterward, Grandma will cover it!"

Tang Haocheng leaned back from the front passenger seat. "Sis, I support you!"

Grandpa Tang gave a dry chuckle. "Jun Ran isn’t a child anymore. She’s entering society to build her career and must also consider marriage. Her reputation and image are especially important right now. The Jun Family only has two grandchildren, so it’s understandable that Elder Jun treasures his granddaughter. Manman, you’ve heard of the so-called Four Great Families of Beijing, correct? Well, two generations ago, the Jun Family was ranked number one. Their network of connections is incredibly deep. Both the Tang and Gu Families could only hope to follow in their shadow, and we’ve received their support in the past. Nowadays, all our families are more or less on equal footing, but we can’t completely disregard our past ties. So, I was thinking... what if our Manman just lets it go this one time? We’ve given them a warning. If it happens again, we will show absolutely no mercy. What do you say?"

Grandma Tang shot her husband a look but didn’t say another word.

Xiao Man was silent for a moment before nodding. "I’ll listen to you, Grandpa. But let’s be clear: there will not be a next time!"

"I’ve already said as much to Elder Jun. He understands," Grandpa Tang replied. "Jun Ran will be going abroad soon and won’t be back for some time."

Xiao Man couldn’t help but be rendered speechless. ’The Jun Family is clever, sending Jun Ran away so quickly. If she were still in the country and we happened to run into each other, I might not be able to stop myself from teaching her a lesson—even if she didn’t try any of her usual vile tricks. That woman is simply detestable.’

Back at home, a staff member informed Grandpa and Grandma Tang that Dad Tang had just called. Grandma Tang immediately called Dad Tang and Ai Wenli. The four of them—grandparents and grandchildren—took turns on the phone, talking for nearly an hour before finally hanging up. Afterward, Tang Haocheng dragged Xiao Man to the kitchen. That brother of hers could forget everything else when absorbed in his studies, eating whatever was available at school, but it was a different story when his sister was around. He insisted she cook a dish or two to satisfy his cravings.

It wasn’t just Tang Haocheng who craved Xiao Man’s cooking; Grandpa Tang did too. Every time Xiao Man came home, he would give the cook the day off. This was for two reasons: first, because his granddaughter had her secrets, and second, because if the household staff were present and his granddaughter didn’t want to cook, there was nothing he could do to persuade her.

With Grandma Tang’s help, Xiao Man looked at the ingredients on hand and whipped up five or six dishes, plus a pot of fresh fish soup. The grandparents and grandchildren then sat down and enjoyed a wonderful dinner together.

After dinner, Tang Qingyun called from G Province, and Grandma Tang settled in for a long chat with her younger son. Grandpa Tang led his grandson and granddaughter upstairs to the second floor, but instead of heading to his own study, he went to the one in the part of the house belonging to Dad Tang and Xiao Man.

Pushing the door open, the first thing Xiao Man saw were two large, old-fashioned leather trunks on the floor. "Whose are these?" she asked, puzzled. "They don’t look like they belong to Brother Shaojin."

Tang Haocheng chimed in, "They’re definitely not Brother Shaojin’s. They’re so old-fashioned, they look like they could be yours, Grandpa."

Grandpa Tang chuckled. "I do have a few trunks like these that I used for traveling when I was young. But these two aren’t ours. They were sent over from the Jun Family."

"Oh, so this is the so-called compensation? What’s inside?"

"Why not open them and see?" Grandpa Tang then pointed to a curio cabinet against the south wall and said to Xiao Man, "Elder Jun has an extensive collection. He heard you like jade and wanted to give you a couple of his finest pieces. I couldn’t refuse, so I accepted one on your behalf. Take a look, what do you think?"

Xiao Man and Tang Haocheng walked closer and gasped in admiration. Before them was a three-decked, ocean-going ship, about two feet long and a foot and a half tall. The entire vessel was carved from a single piece of Nephrite Jade. The combination of the superb quality of the jade and the exquisite craftsmanship made it glitter magnificently; it was an object of unparalleled beauty.

Xiao Man reached out to gently stroke the jade ship and could feel the dense Spiritual Energy it contained. She couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement. "An exquisite work of art like this must be worth a fortune, right? It’d be a shame to destroy it. This must have been a painful sacrifice for Elder Jun. He really treasures Jun Ran."

Grandpa Tang smiled and nodded. "Who doesn’t treasure their own granddaughter? If he wanted to reconcile, he had to show sufficient sincerity. Along with this jade ship, he also offered a three-foot-tall treasure tree carved from top-grade Xiu jade. Both are Elder Jun’s favorite pieces, worth millions. I figured you just need the Spiritual Energy inside, and this ship looked quite solid, so it likely contains more. That’s why I chose it for you."

"This is wonderful," Xiao Man said. "Now, what’s in those trunks?"