Widow Remarries in Sixties

Jiang Mingchuan took a deep breath, “Don’t use adopting me as leverage. Yes, you did adopt me, and I stayed in this house for seven years. During those seven years, I was abused and bullied for six of them. My brother liked to take my things and hit me, and I couldn’t fight back. Aunt said I was petty, and when she was unhappy, she beat me with thin bamboo sticks because it wouldn’t show. When Grandma was still alive, she tortured me even more, making me kneel to be ridden like a horse by my brother and forcing me to bark like a dog. In winter, I had to sleep in the corridor outside… There was so much. Every time I was bullied, you would only come out to say a few words afterward.”

At that time, he thought his adoptive father cared for him. Even when he realized the truth later, he didn’t want to think ill of him.

“Your job was arranged by First Uncle Zhang, and Mom’s job was taken care of by Grandma Liu. Even my brother’s job was thanks to my parents’ friends. When I was fifteen and got into the military academy but didn’t receive the admission letter, it was because of you, wasn’t it? I always thought I wasn’t good enough, so I applied to a southern military academy the next year.”

After saying this, Jiang Mingchuan calmly looked up at Pan Shenglin, “I will never call you dad again. You were never my father. A father is not someone as hypocritical and selfish as you. My father was brave, honest, intelligent, and kind. You are not worthy of being compared to him.”

He finally said what he had kept in his heart for a long time.

Pan Shenglin’s initially composed face instantly turned ugly. He glared at Jiang Mingchuan with hatred, as if looking at an enemy, without a trace of fatherly affection.

Zhong Xue, sitting opposite, secretly raised her head, looking at Jiang Mingchuan with disbelief. She never expected that her usually silent and submissive brother would one day say these words.

Beside them, Pan Jun also dropped his nonchalant expression. Jin Xiuzhu noticed that when he was silent, he looked almost identical to Pan Shenglin, with the same cunning in his eyes that couldn’t be hidden.

A thought emerged in her mind: could it be that Pan Jun wasn’t as simple as Jiang Mingchuan thought? His childhood bullying might have been a deliberate act, cooperating with his father to play the bad cop so his father could play the good cop, a tactic to suppress Jiang Mingchuan’s spirit and resistance.

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to think the worst of people. She had often seen this method used to ruin illegitimate children.

Just as the atmosphere reached its tensest point, Tao Qianyun came downstairs, holding a yellowed piece of paper.

She had hesitated for a long time in the room, guessing that her husband wanted her to take the blame. After all, she knew her husband well.

To him, his job and reputation were more important than the big house, even if he had initially asked her to keep the property deed safe.

Seeing everyone silent when she came down, she thought they were getting impatient from waiting. Feeling guilty, she quickly said, “Oh, my poor memory. It turns out it was really with me. It was placed in a corner to pad something. If I hadn’t looked carefully, I wouldn’t have found it.”

She handed it to Jiang Mingchuan, “Take a look and see if this is it. But the key is really lost.”

As she spoke, her eyes glanced at Pan Shenglin.

Pan Shenglin also turned his gaze to her, his eyes icy cold.

Pan Jun’s face was also grim.

Zhong Xue lowered her head and sneered. She had long known that her father-in-law was a selfish and hypocritical man. In reality, he was the worst in the family, while her mother-in-law was merely foolish. That property certificate could have been destroyed by her mother-in-law, but she misinterpreted father-in-law’s intentions.

Thinking of this, she secretly curved her lips into a smile, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Tao Qianyun stood there, a bit frightened, not knowing whether to advance or retreat.

Jin Xiuzhu gave her no chance to react. She directly took the paper from Tao Qianyun’s hand, opened it, and saw Jiang Mingchuan’s name clearly written as the owner of the property.

She raised her head to look at Pan Shenglin, then at Pan Jun, and let out a cold laugh.

She didn’t say anything, but the mocking intent was clearly evident.

Jiang Mingchuan suddenly spoke, “From now on, let’s go our separate ways. I’ve never owed you anything. In fact, you owe me and my parents a lot.”

He stood up, intending to leave with Jin Xiuzhu.

Tao Qianyun was momentarily stunned, looking up at her foster son, who was a head taller than her. She couldn’t help but curse, “You ungrateful wretch! What are you saying? It’s just a property deed, and now it’s found. We kept it for you out of good intentions. Without us, you would have starved to death long ago…”

She wanted to say more, but Pan Shenglin interrupted her coldly, “Shut up.”

Tao Qianyun paused, eventually closing her mouth, but her eyes were filled with fire as she looked at Jiang Mingchuan, as if she had suffered a great grievance.

Jiang Mingchuan paused for a moment. He tightly held Jin Xiuzhu’s hand and continued walking forward. The family of four went upstairs and found that all the things in their room had been packed.

He looked at Jin Xiuzhu, who gazed at him with heartache. “Let’s go. I’d rather sleep on the street than stay here tonight.”

Jiang Mingchuan smiled, “I won’t let you sleep on the street.”

As they were carrying their things downstairs, they saw Tao Qianyun harshly scolding Zhong Xue.

“Ever since we brought you into this family, nothing has gone right.”

“On such a festive day, why are you acting so lifeless?”

Pan Jun was sitting nearby, pretending not to hear anything.

Jiang Mingchuan suddenly stopped. He threw down his bag and, catching everyone off guard, rushed over and grabbed Pan Jun by the collar. He dragged him out and punched him in the face. In the blink of an eye, he had hit him seven or eight times, then targeted his stomach, hitting him repeatedly.

Pan Jun groaned in pain, initially trying to struggle, but Jiang Mingchuan’s punches left him no chance to fight back. He was like a rag doll being beaten.

Jiang Mingchuan’s eyes were burning with fury. Ignoring Tao Qianyun’s heart-wrenching screams, he spat out, “This is for myself and for Zhong Xue. You’re a cowardly loser. What did you promise Zhong Xue’s parents? You said you’d take care of her for life, and this is how you do it? She must have been blind to fall for a scumbag like you.”

“Zhong Xue’s parents may not be around, but she has me as her brother. If she ever gets bullied again, I’ll come over from the army to beat you up. Remember these punches. Next time, they’ll be even harder. If I can hit you once, I can hit you countless times.”

He wouldn’t hit Tao Qianyun, but he had no qualms about hitting Pan Jun.

By the end, Pan Jun couldn’t stand anymore. Jiang Mingchuan dropped him like trash. Pan Jun lay on the ground, spitting out blood and two teeth, eyes unfocused and unable to get up.

Tao Qianyun cried and ran over, “Xiao Jun, Xiao Jun—”

Pan Shenglin was also shocked by the scene. He had never imagined that his usually meek foster son would dare to beat his younger son like this in front of him. This wasn’t just a beating. It was a direct slap in his face.

His foster son harbored deep resentment toward him.

Jiang Mingchuan looked at Zhong Xue, who had witnessed everything. She suddenly lifted her head and met his gaze.

This was the first and only time in two years that she dared to look someone in the eye. Her once bright and clean eyes were now filled with exhaustion and grievances, tears brimming but not falling, completely different from the lively and cheerful girl she used to be.

Jiang Mingchuan said in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid. No matter what, I am always your brother. No one can bully you. If they dare to do it again, I’ll fight Pan Jun to the death.”

Zhong Xue’s nose tingled, and two years of fear seemed to find a refuge at this moment.

She had lost her parents, but she still had her brother.

Jiang Mingchuan turned to the family, “I mean what I say.”

Then he left.

Zhong Xue watched his departing figure and then looked at her husband, who was barely breathing on the floor, and her panicked mother-in-law. For the first time, she wasn’t so scared anymore.

As the family of four walked out, Jin Xiuzhu and the two children looked at Jiang Mingchuan with admiration.

Jiang Mingchuan felt a bit embarrassed under their gaze, “What’s up?”

He Yan couldn’t hold back, “Dad was so amazing just now, super amazing, the best in the world.”

Jin Xiuzhu looked at him with shining eyes and said, “You are the most amazing man I have ever seen. You make my heart flutter more than ever before.”

Jiang Mingchuan awkwardly replied, “I was just angry. I’ve always seen Zhong Xue as a younger sister.”

Jin Xiuzhu praised him, “See, you were too soft-hearted before. When you finally stood up for yourself, you realized it’s no big deal. If you have to break ties, then so be it. We’ll all stand by you. You did particularly well tonight, getting the property deed back and standing up for yourself. That’s very impressive.”

As for other matters, Jin Xiuzhu felt they could be dealt with gradually. Pushing too hard all at once could lead to problems, as even a cornered dog will jump over a wall. She didn’t like leaving loose ends, but since they were living in a society governed by law, her previous methods weren’t applicable.

However, she thought it might be possible to push Zhong Xue a bit.

Fu Yanyan thought more deeply, “When we go home, will Aunt Zhong Xue be bullied?”

Jiang Mingchuan’s face darkened. He naturally had this worry too, but if he did nothing, Zhong Xue wouldn’t be better off either. He knew the personalities of his adoptive mother and Pan Jun, they would only get worse.

Jin Xiuzhu said gently, “Don’t worry, we’ll visit her tomorrow and ask if she wants to come home with us. If things don’t work out, we can send her some money every month.”

Jiang Mingchuan looked at Jin Xiuzhu with gratitude, feeling he had truly found a treasure.

He Yan praised mindlessly, “Mom is the best.”

Only Fu Yanyan gave Jin Xiuzhu a more scrutinizing look, sensing that Jin Xiuzhu wasn’t the type to create trouble for herself.