“Honestly, Jinhui didn’t grow up with us; she’s not really one of us. But Lanqiao has always cared about us. We can’t really let the outsider Jinhui chill the hearts of these two kids,” Liu Meihua tried to reason.
If she really had to choose between the children, she wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
Su Desheng nodded noncommittally. “You have a point. We’ve never lost anything before, and now Jinhui’s things are gone… Most likely, she really did it. She needs a lesson, or who knows how she’ll embarrass herself in the future!”
After weighing the pros and cons, the two silently understood each other.
The family’s balance mattered more to them than Su Jinhui.
Su Lanqiao stayed in her room all night, too nervous to come out. She simply didn’t know whether her parents would believe her lies.
At breakfast, there was no escaping; she had to face them.
At the table, Su Desheng, as usual, read the Haicheng Daily while eating. Liu Meihua got up to help serve him porridge, but as she stepped forward, Su Jin subtly gestured to her, clearly signaling her to test the elder couple’s attitude.
“Mom, sit and eat. I’ll serve the porridge,” Su Lanqiao said with a smile, taking the bowl.
She was about to find a chance to probe further, but Liu Meihua spoke first. “Our Lanqiao really is sensible. If only the outsider were half as thoughtful! Always scheming for herself!”
Su Lanqiao felt a weight lift from her chest. She set the porridge in front of Su Desheng and, in the same motion, picked up Liu Meihua’s bowl. “Big sister has probably just gotten stubborn… given time, she’ll understand.”
Liu Meihua snorted. “If she understood, she’d have returned the stuff already! The Su family doesn’t raise ungrateful brats—she took things without permission? Dream on!”
Su Lanqiao smirked. Looks like someone’s in for trouble.
After a hurried breakfast, Liu Meihua folded the newspaper, tucked it into her bag, and strode out.
Following the address in the paper, she reached the editorial office of Haicheng Daily.
Upon entering, she slapped the severance-of-ties statement onto the table, instructing the staff to publish it prominently in the newspaper.
The statement detailed Su Jinhui’s theft of family property, denounced her as morally corrupt and scheming, and officially disowned her from the Su family to uphold family rules.
The Su family, being a capitalist household, was already a notable name.
Such a commotion naturally drew attention, and the public opinion was overwhelmingly one-sided.
“That girl didn’t grow up with the Sus. They only brought her back later—typical ungrateful brat!”
“The Sus are too lenient. If my daughter did this, I’d break her leg! Stealing from her father? Outrageous!”
“Now we live in a society governed by law; hitting your own daughter is illegal! If you ask me, they should report it to the police. Cutting ties alone won’t get the stuff back.”
…
Even though it was a private family matter, it caused quite a stir.
Someone heard that Su Jinhui had gone to the island and wrote to children stationed elsewhere, warning them about theft!
Su Jinhui herself kept sneezing, feeling like people were cursing her from behind her back, yet she had no evidence.
After two days with the young nurse, she learned her name was Ah Hua. Orphaned since childhood, she had trained as a nurse after many hardships and worked at a military family hospital.
Ah Hua was enthusiastic and diligent, often asking about medical theory. Her biggest dream was to become a female military doctor and save lives.
Being the same age, Su Jinhui felt a kinship with her and happily taught her more. The two got along well.
At this moment, however, Ah Hua had gone out to get food and hadn’t returned.
Su Jinhui got up to check, just as she reached the door, she overheard soft voices.
“Ah Hua, you’re too young! That’s a thief inside. Why are you still being so nice to her? You better stay away, or you’ll end up helping her count the money while she sells you out!”
Ah Hua pouted, protesting. “That’s not true! Jinhui’s a good person. I help her get food, and she always gives me a little extra as a reward. She couldn’t possibly be a thief!”
The other nurse shoved a newspaper into her arms. “Here, see for yourself! My mom just sent it! It’s fresh! Her family published a statement disowning her—could it be fake?”
Ah Hua glanced at the paper. Indeed, it was true. Yet she stubbornly maintained her belief: “I only trust what I see with my own eyes! There’s clearly a misunderstanding! Besides, a family that’d put their own daughter in the paper—how could they be good people?”
“Never mind. Keep the paper and think carefully next time,” the nurse said, lightly tapping her forehead and walking off.
Ah Hua carefully folded the paper and put it in her pocket, then returned to the ward.
As she entered, she bumped straight into Su Jinhui.
“Jinhui… you heard everything…” Ah Hua lowered her head, feeling guilty.
Su Jinhui smiled calmly. “Ah Hua, thank you. Can I see the newspaper?”
She took the paper and immediately saw the severance-of-ties statement, occupying half the page.
Hah, the Su family really didn’t skimp on expenses!
She read the statement carefully, word by word. It basically said she was cold-hearted, an ungrateful brat, and the rest emphasized the strictness of the Su family’s household rules. Truly, the Su family had orchestrated this move perfectly.
“Jinhui… don’t be sad. I believe you,” Ah Hua whispered comfortingly.
Su Jinhui shook her head, unusually carefree. “No need to be sad. I actually feel relieved. Can I keep the paper?”
She had long seen through the Su family’s hypocritical faces.
She never had any expectations of them.
Rather than maintain a hollow family relationship and pretend to be polite, it was better to sever ties early. The Su family had accidentally done what she wanted anyway.
Keeping the paper served as a brief record of family ties and as evidence. It was black and white—if the Su family wanted to go back on it, she wouldn’t recognize it.
Ah Hua pursed her lips. “Of course you can. But they slandered you like this—aren’t you angry?”
Su Jinhui nervously touched the jade pendant on her body. Actually, she wasn’t wronged at all. Those boxes of treasures were still safely in her space.
“Not angry, not angry. What did you get me to eat? I’m starving!” She quickly changed the subject.
The two of them then got back to arranging the food on the table.
After just a few bites, Ah Hua put down her chopsticks and earnestly said, “Jinhui, thank you.”