She was present when they clashed.
Su He, however, had remained upstairs and hadn't come down.
This Tang Sese was too annoying, she couldn't be bothered to meet her.
Before the Tang family fell, Tang Sese had spread a lot of rumors about Tang Jiaojiao within their circle. Things like being uneducated, always associating with unsavory people, holding grudges against her elders for decades after being reprimanded, and being extremely unfilial. Or that she was promiscuous, got pregnant in college, and didn't even know who the father was, forcing her to have an abortion.
There were even more outrageous claims, like her being a homewrecker who interfered in others' relationships, leading the original wife to commit suicide. Some even whispered that Tang Jiaojiao practiced sorcery, otherwise, how could any man be so devoted to her given her history of misdeeds.
Tang Jiaojiao might have let other things slide and not taken them to heart, but the last accusation was a stab to the heart.
She and Su Dazhi were clearly deeply in love!
They had trusted each other completely from start to finish. The child Tang Jiaojiao lost years ago was actually lost while saving Su Dazhi. Su Dazhi felt immense guilt then, but he also knew his feelings for Tang Jiaojiao were more than just guilt; it was love at first sight.
Su Dazhi hadn't attended university and was a simple man.
Back then, he worked several jobs a day and even did temporary work at Tang Jiaojiao's university cafeteria. According to his later recollection, they first met in that cafeteria.
At that time, Tang Jiaojiao, having just finished her physical education class, went to the cafeteria to eat, sweating profusely. Despite looking a bit disheveled, to him, she was indescribably beautiful.
It was a healthy youthful vitality, and the vibrancy she exuded captivated him.
However, the thought of his own status made him hesitate.
She was a student at a prestigious university, fair-skinned, beautiful, and the daughter of a wealthy family. He, on the other hand, had dropped out of high school and worked odd jobs to survive, a poor boy with dark skin and no significant talents.
They were worlds apart, like heaven and earth, a chasm of difference.
In Su Dazhi's eyes, Tang Jiaojiao was like a star in the sky, out of reach.
Yet, this very goddess, in his eyes, rejected many wealthy suitors and ultimately chose him, an unknown and unremarkable man. When she held his hand and called him a fool, he thought he was dreaming.
After getting together with Tang Jiaojiao, Su Dazhi truly doted on her. He prepared delicious meals for her every day and used his hard-earned money to buy her clothes and jewelry. To outsiders, Tang Jiaojiao was merely using him as an ATM, just playing around. But he could feel her sincerity.
"Don't mind what others say. Whatever they say isn't true," Tang Jiaojiao, despite growing up in a wealthy family, had never felt any warmth. It was Su Dazhi's sincerity that gradually thawed her cold heart.
Compared to the glib young masters, Tang Jiaojiao preferred to be with the honest and hardworking Su Dazhi.
With him, she felt secure.
She could overlook many things, but questioning her relationship with Su Dazhi was unacceptable.
Tang Jiaojiao was so angry at the time that she wanted to grab a pair of scissors and fight Tang Sese. It was Su Dazhi who held her back. "She's just a lunatic, deliberately trying to provoke you. If you actually went, that would be falling into their trap!"
"Let's not be angry, okay! Wife, I believe your love for me is genuine! Likewise, I love you, until death do us part!" Su Dazhi rarely spoke such emotional words, and this sudden declaration was quite effective.
After hearing his unexpected declaration of love, Tang Jiaojiao's anger dissipated by half. "Does she think I'm easy to bully? Hmph! How dare she spread rumors about me!"
"The Tang family is already at the end of its rope. Let them be arrogant for a while longer. Soon, they won't be able to be so嚣张 anymore!" Su Dazhi soothed her with gentle words.
"Do you know something?" Tang Jiaojiao looked at him suspiciously.
Su Dazhi cleared his throat twice and said, "Nothing! People who do too many bad things will surely face retribution."
After speaking, Su Dazhi subtly gave Su He a meaningful glance. "Su Su, am I right?"
Su He understood immediately and, helping her adoptive father, diverted Tang Jiaojiao's attention. "Yes! As the saying goes, those who do evil will perish! They've done so many wicked things, they'll eventually face the consequences!"
"Cause and effect, retribution is inevitable!"
Now, Su He's words were indeed proving true.
Tang Jiaojiao called the security guards and had Tang Sese dragged out. "Don't let any Tom, Dick, or Harry in anymore. I find it dirty!"
The security guards, realizing their negligence, repeatedly apologized. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Su. It was an oversight on our part. We guarantee it won't happen again!"
It turned out that Tang Sese, in her attempt to see Tang Jiaojiao, had deliberately mimicked her attire. As sisters, their facial features were about seventy to eighty percent similar. With careful disguise, she could indeed pass for the real person.
The security guards, momentarily inattentive, had let her slip in.
As Tang Sese was being escorted away, she continued to curse. "Tang Jiaojiao, you heartless wretch! You haven't been able to have children all these years, it must be because you've done too much evil, hahahaha..."
Mentioning children, Tang Jiaojiao's expression indeed darkened.
However, she was no longer young and had long since passed that stage and come to terms with it. If fate decreed she couldn't have her own children, then she would accept reality. After all, she had four filial adopted children who were no different from her own.
"Mom, don't listen to her nonsense!" Su He, afraid she would be upset, cursed Tang Sese silently in her heart while trying to comfort her. "People like her want to trample everyone underfoot and will say anything. You can't believe her words!"
Tang Jiaojiao gently patted her hand, her expression serene. "Don't worry, it's been so many years. I've long since moved on. Moreover, I have all of you. You are my children!"
Su He's nose stung, and she threw herself into her arms. "Mom~"
"How old are you, still acting like a baby!" Tang Jiaojiao chided, but her body was honest as she stroked her head. "You're pregnant now, so pay attention to prenatal education! If you have a spoiled child in the future, you'll have only yourself to blame!"
"With doting grandparents, what's wrong with being a little spoiled!" Su He declared domineeringly.
"You..." Tang Jiaojiao was amused by her, a rare smile appearing on her face.
*
Lu Yanbei's efficiency was remarkable. In just half a month, he had acquired the Tang Corporation. Of course, he had no intention of appearing publicly; the ultimate corporate legal representative was Su Dazhi.
After consulting his wife, Su Dazhi renamed the Tang Corporation to Su.
This was another heavy blow to the Tang family.
The poor son-in-law they had once looked down upon had suddenly become the new owner of the company. This not only slapped the Tang family in the face but also meant that the efforts of several generations of their family had fallen into the hands of someone they had never favored.
Thinking about it, it was truly infuriating!