After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety
Chapter 727 - 717: Maternal Family

Chapter 727: Chapter 717: Maternal Family

Facing the gaze from her daughter and son-in-law, Jiang Wenhu’s face showed a trace of embarrassment.

"It’s... it’s from my maternal family."

"Maternal family? You have a maternal family?"

Jiang Wenhu’s lips trembled.

Jiang Runcheng patted the back of his wife’s hand and couldn’t help but snort when he heard the continuous knocking at the door, "The whole family is full of opportunists. Isn’t it because they see you getting popular in the entertainment circle that they went through great lengths to find us here. If we knew they were coming today, we would have left as soon as you two arrived."

"No need, no need to open," Jiang Wenhu also waved her hand, "Just let them think there’s no one home."

As soon as she finished speaking, a voice rang from outside the door.

"Sister, sister, are you home? I saw a red luxury car parked at the base of the building when I came up. Has our Xixi arrived too? I saw her driving this car in that car commercial she did."

Seeing her daughter look over with confusion, Jiang Wenhu whispered, "It’s Jiang Wenjia. By generation, you should call her aunt."

"I haven’t seen this so-called aunt since I was a child."

To be precise, from the original owner’s memories she inherited, there was absolutely no impression of anyone from Jiang Wenhu’s maternal family. She thought they were completely gone, but it turns out they are still alive.

"Yunqing, go open the door and let them in. If they keep knocking, the neighbors will accuse us of disturbing the peace."

"Hey, you child, they have such thick skins. Last time they asked for your contact info, and they almost snatched my phone away."

Now that they’re here, these people will go crazy when they see her.

"I don’t have the habit of sitting at home while people block me outside." Jiang Lingxi said, squeezing Jiang Wenhu’s hand, "Since they’re here for my fame, shouldn’t they be trying to curry favor with me?"

Jiang Wenhu was stunned.

She only ever found dealing with that family troublesome, wishing to avoid them, and hadn’t thought of it like this.

Shen Yunqing had already reached the entrance, reached out to grip the door handle, and gently twisted it. The heavy security door opened in response.

Jiang Wenjia raised her hand impatiently, about to knock again, when she realized the door was opening. She quickly withdrew her hand and, upon looking up to see who opened the door, almost thought she’d seen a deity come to visit during the New Year.

The eloquent mouth that had been calling at the door now hung open, utterly speechless.

Behind her, Jiang Wenjia’s husband and daughter were equally dumbfounded.

Shen Yunqing glanced coldly at the family of three standing outside, "Come in."

Given that they weren’t welcome guests, he had no need to utter a polite invitation.

Jiang Wenjia finally came to her senses, "Yes, yes, yes, alright."

Once Jiang Wenhu had mentally prepared herself, she stood up and looked at her uninvited half-sister, who was now timidly following behind her son-in-law like a quail.

Where was the nerve she had when knocking on the door just now?

Coldly, she asked, "Why have you come?"

On her face was an unmistakable expression: Don’t you know you’re not welcome here?

Jiang Wenjia quickly put on a flattering smile, but upon seeing the perfect couple standing together opposite her and meeting their eyes filled with indifference, she momentarily felt like she was standing on a trial stand. When she spoke again, her voice faltered, "Just, just passing by, happened to be passing by. There’s a big New Year’s sale, and we accidentally bought too much, so we thought we’d bring some over to you. Didn’t, didn’t expect Xixi and... to actually be here, I was just saying that outside the door."

Beside her, Jiang Wenjia’s husband hurriedly handed over the two boxes of wine and a box of tea he was holding.

Yet none of the four people opposite extended their hands to accept it.

Forced to awkwardly set the items down, he chuckled and said, "Sister and brother-in-law also bought a lot of New Year’s goods."

The atmosphere was unbearably stiff, so Jiang Wenjia forcibly brought her daughter, who was still acting like a quail, to the front, "You child, why don’t you greet people? You’re still a fan of your cousin Xixi, yet now that you see her in person, you don’t dare to say anything?"

The young girl blushed deeply and couldn’t look up, mumbling quietly, "Hello, aunt, uncle, cousin Xixi, cousin’s husband, Happy... Happy New Year."

The voice wasn’t much louder than a mosquito’s, but the room was quiet, and the four people being addressed all heard it clearly.

Though Jiang Wenhu was very disgusted by the maternal family who only cozied up when there were benefits, she didn’t hold much animosity towards the niece, who was younger than her son and whom she’d only met once. Seeing Jiang Wenjia forcefully drag her over, and her head dropping as low as it could go after greeting them, she couldn’t help but respond softly.

Before Jiang Wenjia could show any joy and continue her efforts, Jiang Wenhu’s demeanor cooled again, "As you can see, we don’t lack these few things you brought. If there’s nothing else, take your stuff and leave. We’re about to head out soon and don’t have time to entertain you."

"Sister, what are you saying!" Jiang Wenjia chuckled dryly and carefully glanced at Jiang Lingxi, "Just happened to find Xixi here, so I wanted to exchange contact info with Xixi."

"What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

Before seeing them, Jiang Lingxi thought Jiang Wenhu’s family came to freeload.

But now seeing them, she knew she was wrong.

The fur coat Jiang Wenjia wore was obviously real and would go for almost ten thousand at current market prices.

The clothing on her husband and daughter were all branded.

The bag she carried, though not particularly expensive, was a recognized brand, one she’d seen Tong Yue use before.

Even the wine and tea they brought were high-end.

Clearly not lacking money, their eagerness to curry favor likely meant they sought much more substantial benefits from her.

Jiang Wenjia was about to speak when Jiang Wenhu interrupted, "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re after. On behalf of Xixi, my answer is no. Leave, leave quickly. You haven’t been here in over twenty years, so don’t come anymore. Anyway, this is just a rented place. If you come again, I’ll move!"

With that, she stuffed the items back into Jiang Wenjia’s hands and started pushing them out.

Jiang Wenjia nearly twisted her ankle and, facing Jiang Lingxi, dared not fight back. She could only back away and shout, "Xixi, we’re family, after all. Even if we’re broken, the bones are still connected. Your aunt just needs a little favor from you. With your current fame, it’s just as easy as waving your hand. Your mom has my contact info... Ouch, sister, you stepped on my foot!"

"Serves you right!" Jiang Wenhu pushed them out the door and shut it heavily.

Jiang Lingxi watched her return, fuming, "What do they want from me?"

"Your grandf— Jiang Peng owns a small cosmetics factory he’s run for most of his life. It was quite successful in its early years but has stagnated, with no innovation in products. Now, with countless cosmetics like a sea of trifles, they’re surviving on past gains. They happened to see your fame on TV and those car, jewelry ads you did..."

"They want me to advertise their cosmetics?"

"No way they’re dreaming!" Jiang Wenhu said angrily, "If they approach you again, don’t consent out of pity. When I wanted to marry your father, Jiang Peng was against it because your father was just a poor boy starting his business. They even conspired with Jiang Wenjia’s mom to marry me off to a twice-married elder. I refused and severed ties. Ever since then, I’ve considered my maternal family dead. You should consider your grandfather dead too."

Jiang Lingxi nodded, "Rest assured."

Not many people can make her soften!