Chapter 495 - 262: Jiang Sifan Publicly Speaks for Lu Fan for the First Time

Chapter 495: Chapter 262: Jiang Sifan Publicly Speaks for Lu Fan for the First Time

The next morning, Pan Lanfang’s voice echoed from the courtyard.

"Sis, what are you doing here? You didn’t even say you were coming."

Jiang Silu peeked out her window and saw an old woman with graying hair standing in the courtyard. She was wearing a dark gray cotton-padded jacket and holding a cloth bag, talking with Pan Lanfang.

The old woman’s face was deeply wrinkled, but she was in high spirits and spoke in a loud voice.

"I came to see you. I heard you took a fall, but I’ve been too busy to visit. I finally had some free time today." The old woman placed the cloth bag on the stone table and dusted off her hands.

Pan Lanfang took her hand, then turned and shouted toward the house, "Silu, Sifan, your great-aunt is here!"

Jiang Silu hurried downstairs, and Jiang Sifan came out of his room.

Wen Wan followed behind him, looking a little reserved.

"Great-Aunt." Jiang Silu walked over and greeted her with a smile.

Jiang Mei took her hand and looked her up and down, her eyes suddenly turning red. "Silu, you’re so grown up! The last time I saw you, you still had two little pigtails and were chasing chickens in the yard."

Jiang Silu laughed. "Great-Aunt, that was so many years ago."

Jiang Mei then turned to Jiang Sifan, walking over and tilting her head back to look up at him. "Sifan, you’ve gotten so tall."

Pan Lanfang smiled. "Sis, come inside and sit down. It’s cold out here."

Jiang Mei didn’t move. She held Jiang Sifan’s hand, looked at his face, and sighed. "That father of yours... he’s a real piece of work. He abandoned you for so many years without a single word. You’re grown up now. Remember your great-aunt’s words: when you start making money, don’t you dare acknowledge him. A man like that doesn’t deserve to be a father."

Jiang Sifan’s expression stiffened, but he said nothing.

Jiang Silu’s smile faded.

Pan Lanfang grew anxious and tugged on Jiang Mei’s sleeve. "Sis, why are you bringing this up? The kids just got back for a rare visit."

"Was I wrong?" Jiang Mei’s voice grew louder. "If it weren’t for that bastard, would Yixia have suffered so much? Raising two children all by herself, not knowing where her next meal was coming from... Have you forgotten what the villagers used to say?"

"Great-Aunt," Jiang Silu spoke up. Her voice was quiet but serious. "The man you’re talking about... we’ve found him."

Jiang Mei froze and turned to look at her. "Found him? What do you mean?"

"He came looking for us," Jiang Silu explained. "For the past six months, he’s been with my brother and me, and he’s been very good to us."

Disbelief was written all over Jiang Mei’s face. She looked at Pan Lanfang.

Pan Lanfang nodded but said nothing.

Then she looked toward Jiang Guoqiang.

Jiang Guoqiang was sitting at the entrance to the main hall, smoking his long-stemmed pipe. He didn’t nod or shake his head, but he didn’t refute it either.

"He’s good to you?" Jiang Mei asked, her face full of doubt. "What right does he have to be good to you? He abandoned you for nineteen years. Now he suddenly shows up, says a few nice things, buys you a few gifts, and you just accept him?"

"Great-Aunt, it wasn’t just a few nice words." Jiang Silu’s tone was still calm, but her eyes were red. "He helped me find a tutor and get into competitions. When I was being bullied, he was the first one to rush to the school. When my brother’s business ran into trouble, he helped a lot from behind the scenes. When Mom was in the hospital, he stayed by her side all night."

Jiang Mei opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

"You’re just too young, too quick to trust." Jiang Mei shook her head, still trying to persuade them. "He abandoned you once, and he can do it a second time. How can you still acknowledge a man like that? Does that do right by all the suffering your mother went through over the years?"

Jiang Sifan finally spoke, his voice tinged with anger. "Great-Aunt, you haven’t met him. You don’t know what he’s done. He solved huge problems for me when I was starting my business. When I was getting pushed around, he was the one who sent people to help. During my sister’s competition, he was there from start to finish, more invested than anyone."

"That’s what he owes you!" Jiang Mei’s voice hardened. "He *should* be doing those things! You think he’s genuinely being good to you? He’s probably just had a fit of conscience, putting on a show to make himself look better."

"Great-Aunt!" Jiang Sifan’s voice rose.

Pan Lanfang quickly grabbed Jiang Mei’s arm and pulled her further into the courtyard. "Sis, come with me. I need to talk to you."

Jiang Mei was dragged a few steps, and she glanced back at Jiang Sifan, looking like she wanted to say more, but Pan Lanfang had already pulled her to a corner of the yard.

Jiang Silu tugged on Jiang Sifan’s sleeve and whispered, "Don’t be angry, Brother."

Jiang Sifan took a deep breath, said nothing, and turned to go back inside.

Wen Wan followed him and gently closed the door.

In the courtyard, Pan Lanfang pulled Jiang Mei under the osmanthus tree, let go of her arm, and sighed.

"Sis, don’t say those things in front of the children."

"Was I wrong?" Jiang Mei was still unconvinced, but her voice was much quieter.

Pan Lanfang glanced toward the main hall and lowered her voice. "That Lu Fan... he’s Silu and Sifan’s biological father."

Jiang Mei’s eyes widened. "Lu Fan? You mean that... that Xiaolu you were talking about?"

Pan Lanfang nodded.

Jiang Mei was stunned for a long moment, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly. "The Xiaolu who fixed your water channel, caught fish for you, and ran all over the hospital helping out?"

"That’s him."

"He... He’s the bastard from all those years ago?" Jiang Mei’s voice had changed completely.

Pan Lanfang nodded again.

Jiang Mei leaned against the osmanthus tree, speechless for a long time.

After a good while, she finally spoke, her voice low. "Is he really good to Yixia?"

Pan Lanfang sighed. "For the past few months, I’ve just been watching from the sidelines. He’s genuinely been good. Good to Yixia, good to the kids, and good to me and the old man, too. When I was hospitalized last time, he came every single day. He even arranged for the hospital director to check on me personally."