Chapter 359: A Match in Mind

Chapter 359 -357: A Match in Mind

“What money?” Yang Guiying looked at Zhang Weimin’s outstretched hand, her expression full of scorn. “What are you asking me for? I don’t recall ever owing you any money.”

“Stop playing dumb. I’m talking about the money my mom gave you.” Zhang Weimin, flustered and angry, demanded, “Are you going to deny it?”

“You said it yourself—it’s money your mom gave *me*. What does that have to do with you?” Yang Guiying wasn’t the least bit afraid of him. Instead, she lifted her chin and shot him a provocative look, which only infuriated Zhang Weimin more. “Money my mom gave is my money! How does it have nothing to do with me?”

“Your money? What a joke.” Yang Guiying didn’t back down an inch. “If it was your money, why did she specifically instruct me that none of it—not a single cent—was to pass through your hands?”

“You… you’re talking nonsense.” Though he said that, Zhang Weimin actually believed her.

“If you don’t believe me, go back and ask her yourself,” Yang Guiying said with finality.

“We’re already in this vehicle. Who am I supposed to ask? You could just be making things up, how would I know?” Zhang Weimin still felt resentful. He had originally just wanted to trick Yang Guiying and see if he could swindle the money out of her, but he hadn’t expected this woman to be as formidable as the rumors said.

“Quiet! If you want to talk, get off the vehicle and do it. Don’t disturb us while we’re trying to save a life.” The doctor, his face ashen, glared fiercely at Zhang Weimin and warned, “Can’t you see we’re in the middle of a rescue here? If you insist on arguing, then get out and find your own way to the hospital.”

As he spoke, he muttered indignantly, “What is wrong with these people?”

Yang Guiying glanced at Zhang Weimin, first letting out a soft, disdainful “Hmph.” Then, a small, gloating smile appeared on her face as she lowered her head.

Zhang Weimin’s face turned livid. He shot a resentful look at the doctor, then stared daggers at Yang Guiying for a few moments. But she just glared back even more fiercely, causing him to shrink back and mutter “shrew” under his breath. In the end, he didn’t dare to stare at her again. Crestfallen, he didn’t dare to say another word.

‘Just a paper tiger.’

Yang Guiying scoffed inwardly and retracted her gaze, sitting quietly with her eyes fixed ahead. She recalled what Wen Xiu and Chen Shulan had said when they came to her house: “If you have the time, please help me by going to the hospital to look after that grandson of mine for a few days. I know he’s mischievous, spoiled, willful, and has a bad temper, so he probably won’t be easy to care for. But my requirements aren’t high. It’s enough to have someone there to make sure he eats and drinks. Even if he throws a tantrum and refuses to eat, it doesn’t matter. As long as you bring the food to him, you’ve done your duty. If he throws it or smashes it, then he deserves to go hungry. In short, as long as he doesn’t starve to death, no one will blame you. Also, this money is for you. Guard it well, and remember—don’t hand it over to my third son just because he says a few words to you. Once it’s in his hands, you probably won’t even be able to get the money for medical bills out of his pocket…”

Before this, Yang Guiying had been skeptical. She thought that no matter how shameless Zhang Weimin was, he couldn’t possibly try to get money from her. But to her surprise, they had just gotten in the vehicle, and with his son still unconscious, he was already scheming for the money.

She shook her head inwardly, a wave of sadness washing over her. ‘All men in this world are pretty much the same.’ Her late husband, who had died young, was just like that—he clutched his money so tightly, with nothing but the thought of it in his eyes and heart. When had he ever cared about their marital bond? Even just before he died from his illness, wasn’t he still scheming to empty her pockets and leave the money for his own parents?

‘It’s for the best. His actions broke my heart, but at the same time, my feelings for him had already faded. When he finally died, I actually felt liberated. The reason I haven’t remarried these past two years isn’t because I had deep feelings for him, but because I’ve been so disappointed in men after a few matchmaking attempts. But no matter how disappointed I am, I should still find someone to marry after a little more time. I can’t keep putting it off. While I’m still young… and not for any other reason than to have a child of my own blood, legitimately. Men can’t be trusted, but if I raise my child well, I refuse to believe he’ll be just as unreliable when he grows up…’

—

「Zhang Family Village.」

Watching the ambulance disappear, Wen Xiu and the others paid no mind to Guo Xiuying, who was still slumped on the ground. They went straight to Zhang Laodi’s room, packed her things, and brought her directly back to their home.

Since Zhang Dazhuang and his group would be eating lunch at the house before leaving, Wen Xiu didn’t let Chen Shulan and Zhang Da’an leave either. Instead, she had Zhang Su and Zhang Kai go call Zhang Weiquan, Xie Xuehua, and Zhang Damei to come eat with them.

So, Chen Shulan stayed and helped Wen Xiu get busy in the kitchen. The two of them chatted as they worked.

Chen Shulan said, “You know, this Yang Guiying actually fits your requirements quite well. She’s good-looking, and her personality… she’s not the type to be pushed around, weak and easily bullied. She’s a widow, and she doesn’t have any children yet.”

“I think she’s decent, too. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have specifically asked her to go help look after Zhang Tianci,” Wen Xiu sighed. “But we’ll have to see how it actually goes and whether she can handle Third. There are people who seem tough on the outside but are actually soft-hearted. If someone like that were really matched with Third, wouldn’t we just be ruining her life?”

“Sigh. It’s strange, you know,” Chen Shulan said, shaking her head, a little puzzled. “Guo Xiuying seemed so meek before, but how did she end up getting Wei Min so completely under her thumb?”

“Don’t be fooled by her appearance; she’s actually more scheming than Second’s wife. Before, she just felt she had no standing because she’d only given birth to a girl and was afraid of being looked down upon, so she deliberately acted weak. See how her back straightened the moment she had a son? It’s like she became a different person.”

Wen Xiu snorted coldly. “I didn’t understand it at first, either. But later, as I coldly observed her behavior and carefully thought back on the past, I realized something. Don’t be fooled by how she seemed to be led around by the nose by Second’s wife back then, like some long-suffering daughter-in-law. She made everyone think that any nasty thing she did could be blamed on Second’s wife, that she was just being used as a weapon.”

“But in reality? Heh. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. It wasn’t Second’s wife using her as a weapon—it was the exact opposite. She was using Second’s wife as a shield. The funny thing is, Second’s wife looked impressive on the surface, but she also took all the blame. And Guo Xiuying? A few years ago, what was the worst anyone could say about her? That she was too weak and easy to bully? But I refuse to believe she wasn’t the one pulling the strings behind the scenes on so many things.”

“Some people… It’s no wonder they say you can know a person’s face but not their heart. It’s too hard to see through someone completely,” Chen Shulan said, shaking her head.

“It’s not that hard, actually. You just need to see if a person’s overall conduct is proper. No one’s perfect; everyone has their own little schemes, and that’s fine. But as long as they’re decent on the whole and don’t spend all day plotting against others, that’s enough,” Wen Xiu lamented. “Man proposes, Heaven disposes.”