43: Chapter 43: Jiang Yuyan's Hatred Upon Learning of Her Origins!

"This is acceptable!"

After hearing Meng Li's honeymoon plans, Tie Xinlan readily agreed.

Although her father, Tie Ruyun, was quite famous in the Jianghu and even became the Wulin Alliance Leader, she herself had not ventured out much.

Because traveling at that time, especially long distances, was not an easy or simple matter. Even traveling by carriage all the way was very tiring, not to mention having to find places to eat and stay along the way, and guarding against bandits, or even tigers, wolves, snakes, and insects.

Moreover, women were not only physically weaker but also had their monthly period.

Therefore, Tie Xinlan had only left home a few times since childhood, let alone traveled for pleasure.

But she had only recently come of age, and even though she was already married to Meng Li, she couldn't help but be curious about the outside world and wanted to go see it, even more urgently.

Because once she had children, it would be difficult for her to travel far again.

At this moment, Meng Li's suggestion, in a sense, was exactly what Tie Xinlan wanted.

Jiang Yuyan was equally joyful and excited.

She had wandered outside before, but that was a life of displacement, forced by circumstances, where survival itself was a problem, so she had no mind or energy for sightseeing. Now, with Meng Li as her support, she had no worries about food and clothing, and traveling again would be a completely different experience, allowing her to see scenery she had never noticed before.

Seeing the two women like this, Meng Li smiled, "Then it's settled."

...

Soon after, the three of them—Meng Li, Tie Xinlan, and Jiang Yuyan—told the necessary people about their honeymoon.

Tie Ruyun did not object after learning about it.

He thought it was good for his daughter to go sightseeing and wasn't worried about safety because Meng Li would be with her. Meng Li had not only traveled far and gained rich experience, but his Martial Arts were also high, ensuring maximum safety.

Then, he took out his Alliance Leader token and asked Meng Li to help transfer it to the Sect Heads of various factions, while also agreeing to help look after Meng Family Village.

Xiao Baiyan was somewhat conflicted when she heard that her daughter and son-in-law were going on a long journey.

It wasn't that she was reluctant or unwilling for Jiang Yuyan to leave, but rather she was struggling with whether to tell Jiang Yuyan the identity of her biological father and then let her go recognize him.

In fact, at first, just like in the original story, whether it was due to helplessness or deep affection, she had planned to tell Jiang Yuyan about her background only when she was about to die.

However, Jiang Yuyan met Meng Li, and she was saved because of it, and her life gradually improved.

Later, Jiang Yuyan married Meng Li as a concubine, and her future was completely settled.

But precisely because of this, Xiao Baiyan sometimes couldn't help but overthink, especially after learning that Tie Xinlan was the daughter of the Wulin Alliance Leader.

The daughter of the Wulin Alliance Leader—this background was excellent.

Then, she thought of Jiang Biehe: unmatched in benevolence and righteousness; this title didn't seem bad either.

If her daughter could recognize her father, she would undoubtedly have an extra source of support.

She thought this not because she wanted Jiang Yuyan to compete with Tie Xinlan for anything, but because she thought of the next generation.

In other words, Xiao Baiyan pondered too much, thinking about her grandchildren's generation: her illegitimate grandsons and granddaughters, and Tie Xinlan's children.

In case they, as siblings, didn't get along, and her side had no background, they would certainly be at a disadvantage. If there was an external grandfather like Jiang Biehe to rely on, it might not allow them to contend, but at least their situation would be better.

By common sense, there was nothing wrong with this.

After all, as the ancients said, the love of parents for their children leads them to plan far ahead.

Furthermore, since her daughter was married, even if only as a concubine, Jiang Biehe, as her father, should rightfully know.

Even more so, Xiao Baiyan had a glimmer of hope that Jiang Biehe would seek her out after recognizing their daughter.

After much deliberation, Xiao Baiyan chose to come clean with her daughter.

"Yu Yan, actually..."

After about half an incense stick's time, Xiao Baiyan finished recounting her past with Jiang Biehe.

Jiang Yuyan was completely stunned after hearing it!

She had asked Xiao Baiyan about her biological father's situation not just once, but many times before.

After all, it was an instinct for a child to seek out their parents when they encountered difficulties or were wronged.

She asked when she was beaten.

She asked when she was scolded.

She asked when she was hungry.

She asked when she was cold.

When she was sick, besides calling for her mother, she also called for her father.

Occasionally, seeing other children with both parents, a family in harmony, she felt envious and also asked.

But no matter how she asked, Xiao Baiyan just wouldn't say.

Gradually, she thought her biological father had died, and her mother didn't want to touch upon a painful memory.

So, she stopped asking and gradually got used to life without a father.

But now...

Xiao Baiyan suddenly told her that her father was alive!

And he was living very well, having made a resounding name for himself, called "unmatched in benevolence and righteousness"!

Then, he had never cared for them, mother and daughter, all these years, not because he didn't know, nor because he couldn't support them, but because he had already married, and his wife was strong and wouldn't allow him to take concubines.

So, he let them fend for themselves outside, uncaring and unconcerned.

This...

Jiang Yuyan was at a loss for words.

Subsequently, beatings, scoldings, hunger, being disliked by everyone, sickness, sadness, helplessness, a dark world...

All sorts of unwilling memories flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.

It took a good while for Jiang Yuyan to recover.

Afterward, a fiery rage erupted in her heart, hatred spread, resentment intertwined, and her eyes became cold and chilling, as if poisoned.

Xiao Baiyan was startled by Jiang Yuyan's cold and sinister eyes.

Because at that instant, she vaguely felt that the person standing before her was not her daughter, but a venomous snake ready to devour someone.

"Yu Yan, you..." she called out to Jiang Yuyan uneasily.

Hearing the familiar call, Jiang Yuyan snapped back to reality, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed all her negative emotions.

Immediately, she opened her eyes, returning to her usual smiling gaze, and looked at Xiao Baiyan gently, saying softly, "Mother, I'm fine. What you told me was very unexpected, so I was a bit lost in thought for a moment."

After speaking, she added, "You're telling me about my father now because you want me to recognize him as my father while I'm traveling with my husband, aren't you?"

Xiao Baiyan nodded, then explained her thoughts about the next generation.

Jiang Yuyan was stunned after hearing it, then felt a sourness in her nose and couldn't help but rush over and hug her. "Mother~"

Actually, she had some resentment towards Xiao Baiyan just now, blaming her for hiding it all these years. But then she thought, if she had known her biological father's identity earlier, she might have been unable to resist seeking him out and recognizing him as her father, for no other reason than to escape those bitter days.

But from her mother's account, if she had actually gone to his door, she would most likely have brought humiliation upon herself.

At that time, she would only have hope followed by disappointment, and might even invite greater disaster.

She and her mother had worked as servants in wealthy households to make a living, and had heard many scandalous stories. A fierce wife killing a concubine was not uncommon, let alone her mother who wasn't even considered a concubine; as for herself, to put it nicely, she was an "illegitimate daughter," but in harsh terms, people would directly call her a "bastard."

Jiang Biehe's main wife wouldn't even allow him to take concubines, which showed how domineering and jealous her personality was.

If they were to go to his door, the other party would certainly not tolerate them, and it would be normal for them to harbor murderous intent.

And her so-called biological father, Jiang Biehe...

How could someone who could heartlessly abandon them back then have improved much over the years?

At that point, the mother and daughter would surely face more ill fortune than good.

Considering these points, Jiang Yuyan's resentment towards Xiao Baiyan for hiding the truth diminished slightly.

Then, she thought of Meng Li.

If her mother had told her her biological father's identity earlier, she might not have met Meng Li, nor would she have her current good life.

At this, Jiang Yuyan's resentment completely vanished.

Later, hearing Xiao Baiyan's considerations, she couldn't help but feel touched.

No matter what, her mother genuinely cared for her, but...

She chose to refuse!

Compared to that heartless, selfish father she had never met, she was more willing to trust her husband, Meng Li, and her elder sister, Tie Xinlan.

Even if the former had a blood relationship with her.

Therefore, she resolutely said, "Mother, I don't need my father as support. I don't need him now, and I won't need him after I have children."

"I believe in my husband; he is not someone who favors one over the other."

"I also believe in Sister Xinlan; she is kind-hearted and magnanimous."

"So, you don't have to worry that your grandchildren will suffer any grievances later because of their humble origins."

"This..." Xiao Baiyan hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

Seeing this, Jiang Yuyan narrowed her eyes: "Mother, there must be another reason why you want me to recognize my father, right?"

...