Chapter Two: Frail Mother, Young Brother, a Household Hard to Uphold!

She looked at Jiang Yuan, hastily forcing a smile.

"Eldest Aunt is right. Mother, just listen to me!"

Only then did Mother Jiang nod hesitantly.

She looked at Lu Bai with guilt, but before she could speak, Lu Bai walked out, looking as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Thank you for understanding, Aunt."

Left standing there, Mother Jiang took Jiang Yuan's hand, unable to hide the deep worry on her face.

"Sister-in-law, don't be like that. We're all family. Are you afraid we're going to eat your niece and nephew?"

Seeing Lu Bai leave, Aunt Jiang's plump face lit up with a smile as she pulled a small piece of candy from her pocket.

She waved at Jiang Hu, tempting him, "Hu'er, are you hungry? Do you want some candy?"

With one hand held by Mother Jiang, Jiang Hu's eyes were already glued to the candy, staring unblinkingly.

But feeling the grip on his wrist tighten, he swallowed hard and shook his head.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Eldest Aunt's face.

Having finally resolved the broken engagement, Jiang Yuan felt a wave of relief, only to see her ill-intentioned aunt trying to entice Hu'er. She immediately pulled Jiang Hu to her side.

"Eldest Aunt, Uncle, surely you didn't make this trip just to give Hu'er a piece of candy?"

Her tone was dripping with sarcasm. Fortunately, the original Jiang Yuan had always been spoiled and arrogant, so no one noticed that a different soul now inhabited her body.

"Yuan'er, how can you say that? I'm your uncle. Can't I come visit you? Your father passed away, leaving the three of you behind. My heart truly aches for you."

Uncle Jiang was a thin, small man. A deeply fake sorrow appeared on his dark face. If Jiang Yuan actually believed him, she would be a fool!

Jiang Yuan said nothing, merely staring at him, waiting for his next move.

Instead, it was Mother Jiang beside her who spoke first.

Her voice was soft and gentle, carrying a hint of a southern accent, as she said hesitantly, "Brother, Sister-in-law, though Peng is gone, I will take good care of Yuan'er and Hu'er. As their mother, I may not have much ability, but even if I have to sell everything we own, I will raise them."

As she spoke, she grasped Jiang Yuan's cold wrist.

Jiang Yuan turned her head, seeing only her mother's slightly bowed head, revealing her slender neck.

"Sister-in-law, that's no way to talk."

Out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Yuan saw Aunt Jiang stepping closer, warmly trying to link arms, but Mother Jiang instinctively took a step back.

Another flash of displeasure crossed Eldest Aunt's face, but she instantly regained her smile.

"We're both women, and women understand women. Besides, Yuan'er has just broken her engagement. How can a household survive without a man? You're left with two children—life will only get harder from here on out."

"Then according to you, Aunt, what should we do? My father can't come back to life..."

Jiang Yuan looked genuinely distressed, her delicate brows knitted together, her eyes slightly red.

"Well, don't you still have your uncle and me? Although your father split from the main family and moved you out, we are still one family. Blood is thicker than water..."

Her words were overly solicitous, and she grew more animated as she spoke.

Looking at her "doing this for your own good" expression, Jiang Yuan felt her irritation grow.

Before crossing over, she had been an orphan, constantly harassed by idiotic relatives. She hadn't expected that in a new world, she would still encounter the same kind of persistent, blood-sucking leeches.

"Sister-in-law, I have some skills. Supporting Yuan'er and Hu'er shouldn't be..."

Mother Jiang murmured, only to be interrupted by Eldest Aunt. "Sister-in-law! How can you be so selfish? Yuan'er just broke her engagement. If she wants to marry into a good family in the future, shouldn't she have a decent dowry? Hu'er is still growing. Every time I see him going hungry and cold, my heart bleeds! Don't tell me you won't even be able to scrape together the money for him to marry a wife in the future?"

Her words instantly silenced the already weak-willed Mother Jiang.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Uncle Jiang chimed in immediately, "Sister-in-law, don't think your sister-in-law is speaking harshly; that is just the reality of the situation. If you move in with us along with Yuan'er and Hu'er, you might not live in luxury, but we won't let the two children go hungry or cold."

Helplessly, Mother Jiang looked at Jiang Yuan, but quickly averted her gaze.

She bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

What should she do? She was too useless to take care of her two children. Now, their relatives had come to their door, and the house left by her deceased husband was about to be snatched away...

"I don't agree."

The moment Jiang Yuan's cold voice rang out, the surrounding chatter died down instantly.

Everyone's eyes focused on her face, filled with displeasure, shock, and confusion.

"Yuan'er, don't throw a tantrum," Uncle Jiang said, recovering quickly. He scowled at her like an elder dealing with a rebellious junior.

Eldest Aunt also chimed in hastily, "Yuan'er, you're a big girl now. You need to be considerate of your mother. How exhausting must it be for her to raise the two of you all by herself?"

Jiang Yuan watched the two of them play off each other with a cold expression.

People have mouths to speak, but when dealing with beasts who refuse to listen to reason, words are useless.

She broke free from Mother Jiang's grasp, turned around, and resolutely walked back into the house.

The others were stunned once again.

But they soon smiled in relief.

"She's still just a child! It's normal for her to throw a tantrum."

"Sister-in-law, let's discuss this..."

Mother Jiang lowered her head in dejection, but in the next second, sharp screams erupted.

"Yuan'er! What are you doing?!"

Confused, Mother Jiang looked up, only for her pupils to dilate in shock as she saw Jiang Yuan walking toward them, holding a hammer the size of her own head high in the air.

Terrified, she let go of Jiang Hu and rushed forward. "Yuan'er! Put the hammer down! Don't hurt yourself!"

"Jiang Yuan! Put that hammer down right now!"

Clearly sensing that they were Jiang Yuan's targets, the couple—despite having traveled far and wide over the years—shrank back in fear at the sight of the heavy hammer, which still seemed to bear traces of fresh blood.

"Yuan'er, don't do anything rash. Your uncle and I only want what's best for... Ah!"

Eldest Aunt leaned back sharply as the hammer swept past her neck in a blur.

She stumbled back several steps, her face pale with sheer terror by the time she regained her footing.

Uncle Jiang's calm facade shattered into anger, and he raised his voice.

"Jiang Yuan! Are you trying to kill your aunt?!"

Mother Jiang's face was also pale with fright, but she quickly shielded Jiang Yuan.

"Yuan'er is just acting on impulse, don't blame her..."

"You're right," Jiang Yuan interrupted, pulling Mother Jiang aside. The massive iron hammer in her grip seemed like a mere toy as she swung it through the air.

"Don't think I can't see through you. You talk a good game, but you're just eyeing the house and the compensation money my father left behind, thinking my mother is an easy target! How hypocritical!"

With every step Jiang Yuan took, the two of them retreated a step.

By now, their expressions were incredibly unsightly, yet they still refused to back down.

"Jiang Yuan! I am still here! How dare you!" Uncle Jiang shifted his weight, seemingly preparing to snatch the hammer.

"Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! How dare you speak to your uncle and aunt like that!"

Eldest Aunt shrieked in fury, "Sister-in-law! How did you raise this child? She is utterly insolent!"

In the next instant, a sudden gust of wind whipped past.

*Slap!*

"Don't you dare insult my Yuan'er!"