Chapter 144: Meddling in Other People's Business

Upon hearing Li Dong’s words, everyone present turned their gazes toward Su Qingli, Jiang Jingru included. They were all curious about why Su Qingli had severed ties with the Su family.

After all, Su Qingli was a daughter of the Su family—a woman from a prominent, wealthy background far beyond that of an average household. While ordinary people dreamed of living in such luxury, Su Qingli, the eldest daughter of the Su family, had taken the initiative to cut ties; it simply did not make sense. Furthermore, they had all heard that after Jiang Hao married into the Su family, his life had been miserable. Not only did outsiders look down on him, but even the members of the Su family treated him with disdain, regarding him as little more than an animal. Therefore, in their eyes, Su Qingli’s decision to break away from the family was almost certainly for the sake of Jiang Hao.

Su Qingli, however, shook her head slowly with a faint smile. "My decision to sever ties with the Su family was not because of Jiang Hao, but for my own sake."

"How could that be!" Li Dong burst into laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. The others followed suit, and not a single person believed her.

Li Dong continued, "Qingli, there’s no need to hide it. We’ve all heard that Jiang Hao’s life in the Su family was miserable and that he endured endless mockery and ridicule from your relatives. You broke away from the family to stand on your own two feet specifically to shelter Jiang Hao. It has to be that!"

The gathered old classmates began to chime in.

"It’s definitely that."
"If it weren't for Jiang Hao, why would you leave the Su family?"
"Sigh, Qingli, is it really worth it?"
"Jiang Hao is such a burden to you!"

Such remarks made Jiang Hao feel deeply uncomfortable, and Su Qingli was equally displeased. She frowned unhappily and said, "Regardless, this is my business, not yours. You don’t need to worry about me."

At these words, the expressions of those around them soured. Li Dong felt a moment of awkwardness, but he immediately laughed it off. "Fine, if you don’t want us to worry, we won’t. Since Jiang Jingru already told us about you running a restaurant, and you’ve grown the business and are living well, we old classmates certainly have no reason to be concerned."

Hearing this, Jiang Hao immediately looked at Jiang Jingru. Sensing his gaze, she hurriedly explained, "I only mentioned that Qingli opened a restaurant; I didn't say much else." She meant that she hadn't revealed that Jiang Hao had given Su Qingli twenty million to help her register the company. Because even if she had, she doubted Li Dong, Chen Wei, and the others would have believed it.

Jiang Hao gave her a cold look. "You’ve already said quite enough."

His words left Jiang Jingru feeling incredibly awkward. She lowered her head like a child caught doing something wrong, not daring to meet his eyes. After all, she would have to rely on Jiang Hao and Su Qingli in the future, so regardless of how much she had looked down on him before, she now dared not cross him.

Jiang Hao’s reprimand, however, stirred the resentment of the others. Huang Qian sneered, "Oh, Jiang Hao, you’ve grown quite a temper in the years we haven't seen you! But what right do you have to snap at Jingru? What, are you afraid she’s going to tell us about your disgraceful past?"

"My conscience is clear; there is nothing disgraceful about me," Jiang Hao retorted flatly.

Chen Wei immediately chimed in with a sarcastic, biting tone: "You married into the Su family, where you were treated worse than a dog, enduring constant ridicule and humiliation. You call that nothing disgraceful? Jiang Hao, you truly have no shame!"

"Jiang Hao, are you even a man?"
"If I were you, I would have fought back long ago."
"Don't blame him, he’s just that cowardly. What else can you expect?"

The people present mocked him one after another, each remark more vicious than the last. Jiang Hao’s complexion grew increasingly grim. He had never wanted to attend this class reunion because he knew these so-called old classmates held him in absolute contempt. If not for Su Qingli, he never would have come. And now, they were indeed mocking him just as he had expected.

*Heh, so these are my "old classmates."*

Jiang Hao had seen through them completely. Just as he was about to speak, Li Dong asked, "Jiang Hao, what kind of work do you do now?"

Jiang Hao frowned slightly. "I don't have a job."

"No job? A grown man without even a job? You aren't expecting Qingli to support you, are you?" Li Dong said exaggeratedly, bursting into laughter. The others followed suit, staring at Jiang Hao with looks of contempt and disdain, as if they were watching a living clown.

Jiang Jingru’s expression shifted repeatedly, and she quickly interjected, "Don't say that. Jiang Hao is actually quite capable..."

Huang Qian snorted with laughter. "Jingru, why are you speaking up for him? You’re not his wife, why are you being so proactive?"

"Exactly! Qingli hasn't even said anything yet, what are you rushing for?" Chen Wei added with a cold sneer.

Jiang Jingru was flustered for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Su Qingli said with displeasure, "Regardless, Jiang Hao is my husband. Whether he has a job or not is none of your concern."

The surroundings went quiet. Su Qingli was right—Jiang Hao was her husband, and it had nothing to do with them. What right did they have to question his employment? It was like the saying: the emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuchs are. Or, in more common parlance, a dog catching mice—meddling in others' business.

Li Dong, however, tried to persuade her with a grave tone. "Qingli, we are only thinking of you. Even though you are excellent and capable of supporting Jiang Hao, a man relying on his wife—what kind of situation is that?"

"Indeed, the class monitor is right," Huang Qian agreed immediately.

Chen Wei looked at Su Qingli, speaking with great pride. "Qingli, do you know what the monitor does for a living? He is the general manager of the Meile Cosmetics Co., Ltd. in Donglin City, with a monthly salary of fifty thousand! And that’s just his base salary; if you include his other benefits and perks, he earns nearly one hundred thousand a month!"

One hundred thousand a month! Even in landlocked, smaller cities like Maple Leaf City or Donglin, that was a very substantial income. Li Dong certainly had the right to be proud—if compared to ninety-nine percent of the population. But that all depended on who he was being compared to. If placed in front of Jiang Hao, his accomplishments were insignificant. After all, Jiang Hao had over one hundred million yuan in savings—a sum he had accumulated in just two months.