They still ended up running into each other. Qin Fang closed her eyes.
Zhao Xiaoyu fell silent for a moment before shouting, her neck straining, “So that’s why you sent me away! She’s back!”
Zhao Xiaoyu had had enough.
She knew this girl who had taken over her home had lived with her biological parents for twelve years, so at first, she tried to be understanding, getting along peacefully with her parents, hoping that with enough time, they would grow closer before she brought it up.
But she had had enough.
She had lived her entire life in Sheng Qianyu’s shadow! Her entire life!
Zhao Xiaoyu turned to leave, tears streaming down her face, wanting to escape this mess.
Qin Fang panicked and tried to grab her but missed, stumbling and falling herself. Her knees and elbows were scraped raw. Immediately, Zhao Daxiong and Sheng Qianyu’s expressions changed, and Zhao Xiaoyu stopped in her tracks, her tear-stained face frozen in shock.
As Zhao Daxiong helped Qin Fang up, he angrily said, “Why did you push your mother? If you really don’t want to stay in this family, then get out! We’ll act as if we never had a daughter like you! If I had known earlier…” He nearly lost his temper and blurted out something he shouldn’t have.
Zhao Xiaoyu bit her lower lip, looking as if she had suffered the greatest injustice. She glanced disbelievingly at her biological father, then at her injured mother and Sheng Qianyu, who was silently watching everything unfold.
She didn’t dare run away anymore.
Because she knew Zhao Daxiong was truly angry.
Last time was the same—when she hinted that Zhao Daxiong and Qin Fang should divorce, he had scolded her harshly.
In her biological father’s heart, the first priority wasn’t her or the adopted daughter who had taken her place, but Qin Fang.
Zhao Xiaoyu pouted resentfully, “Why are you yelling at me? I didn’t mean to…” As she spoke, she wanted to bring up her greatest contribution to the family. “If it weren’t for me reminding you, our family would have been sent down long ago to suffer. I’m not completely useless—I just can’t stand how you treat her…”
Sheng Qianyu paused slightly as she crouched down.
She glanced at Zhao Xiaoyu, suppressing her doubts, and examined Qin Fang’s wounds before saying, “It’s not too serious—just superficial injuries. Let’s go to the clinic to have them checked.”
Over the past three years, she had rarely crossed paths with Zhao Xiaoyu. As for her childhood playmates, unless they reached out first, she didn’t contact them. Those who did call had already learned the ways of the world and wouldn’t say anything about Zhao Xiaoyu in front of her.
So, she seldom heard about Zhao Xiaoyu’s recent situation.
The other girl mentioned reminding her adoptive father about the political situation to avoid being sent down…
Sheng Qianyu glanced at Zhao Xiaoyu again, recalling the scene when her adoptive mother first met Zhao Xiaoyu… It didn’t hold up under scrutiny.
This Zhao Xiaoyu was too suspicious.
If even she could see it, how could Zhao Daxiong not notice?
She looked at Zhao Daxiong again with confusion, only to see him scoop Qin Fang into his arms and stride out of the courtyard. Noticing Sheng Qianyu’s gaze, he wore an apologetic expression.
Sheng Qianyu seemed to understand.
She and Zhao Xiaoyu followed the couple in silence, with Zhao Xiaoyu deliberately keeping her distance.
After the clinic treated Qin Fang’s wounds, Zhao Daxiong carried his beloved wife back to the compound.
Only when Qin Fang was exhausted and resting in bed did Zhao Daxiong have time to observe his two daughters. Out of consideration for Qin Fang, he said sternly, “Come to the study.”
Sheng Qianyu and Zhao Xiaoyu entered the study one after the other.
Zhao Daxiong remained silent for a long time, holding a fountain pen, lost in thought.
After a while, Sheng Qianyu smiled faintly and said, “I’m the one who disturbed you all.”Hearing this, the familiarity and understanding of his adopted daughter over twelve years, apart from blood ties, began to gradually crumble. Zhao Daxiong wanted to speak but thought of his beloved lying in bed and ultimately chose silence.
“Dad, you will always be my dad.” After saying this, she bowed deeply and turned to leave without a hint of hesitation.
The debt of gratitude for raising her had been repaid.
It was time to walk the path she yearned for—
To prove her worth, achieve something remarkable, and reclaim the accomplishments that rightfully belonged to her!
Watching Sheng Qianyu’s departing figure, Zhao Xiaoyu snorted coldly, “What a show.”
“Shut up!” he said, throwing three sheets of paper from his side. Before they could hit Zhao Xiaoyu’s face, the white papers fluttered gently to the ground.
Zhao Xiaoyu looked at the person before her in disbelief, pouting in grievance. Just as she was about to say something, Zhao Daxiong snapped, “Shut up! I don’t want to hear you speak right now! Don’t act all innocent after taking advantage! Get out!”
Zhao Xiaoyu thought it over.
Judging by the exchange of glances between those two earlier, it really seemed like they were cutting ties for good. No longer stirring trouble, Zhao Xiaoyu ran out in tears, not going far before taking some money and coupons to celebrate at a state-run restaurant.
In 1967, the situation grew even more tense.
Starting in 1968, large-scale mobilization of educated youth to the countryside began.
The academic achievement from the Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, which doubled sweet potato yields, allowed the nation, previously only able to eat to three-tenths fullness, to now eat to six-tenths fullness. Some even suffered heartburn from overeating, yet they were satisfied—it was still better than going hungry. Everyone was grateful to the researcher behind this scientific breakthrough until it was revealed nationwide that this researcher had taken credit for someone else’s work. Stripped of their achievements by the state and sent to a farm, with the true researcher unable to be publicly named, the matter finally came to an end.
…
Before entering the fighter jet research institute, Sheng Qianyu had actually relied on Chen Zhou’s connections to investigate the entire institute. She found that no one rose to positions based on background alone—everyone earned their place through ability. Only then did she feel at ease to fully commit to her work.
Indeed, fighter jets belonged to the battlefield, and the battlefield was the foundation of the nation, especially in the early years of the country’s establishment. Military equipment researchers were of utmost importance. Such a critical research institute could not allow individuals with only connections and no technical skills to rise to power.
For Chen Zhou’s help, she sent all the money and coupons she had saved over the years to him. Half a month later, she received the money and coupons returned untouched.
Looking at these items, Sheng Qianyu made her second proactive phone call to Chen Zhou since voluntarily leaving the Zhao family.
Chen Zhou had calculated the time it would take for the money and coupons to reach Beijing and arrive in her hands. He swapped training rooms with a comrade and found a spot close to the telephone room. Hearing the telephone operator call out, “Battalion Commander Chen! Someone’s looking for you!”
Chen Zhou strode over swiftly.
In just three seconds, Sheng Qianyu heard Chen Zhou’s voice: “Qianyu, you’re looking for me?”
Sheng Qianyu couldn’t help but smile.
She hadn’t even spoken, and he already guessed it was her? Clearly, he had been waiting by the phone.
Sheng Qianyu: “Yes.”
“Is it about the money and coupons?”
“Right.”
“Actually, there’s no need for such formality between us.” Chen Zhou lowered his gaze, speaking somewhat cautiously, leaving the nearby staff member watching in astonishment.
This Chen Zhou, though he had risen to the position of battalion commander, was also famously a troublemaker in the battalion, often clashing with superiors. He insisted on going to dangerous places, taking on complex missions, and imposed even harsher training on the soldiers under him, much to their dismay.Initially, everyone thought the only son of Political Commissar Chen from the capital was just here to go through the motions, but he managed to climb to the position of battalion commander without relying on his family background, earning high regard from the brigade commander above.
Now, at his age, how many unmarried girls in the battalion had their eyes on him!
But Battalion Commander Chen was cold and distant toward everyone, especially the soldiers under his command and these girls.
Once, someone even saw a clueless country girl pretend to trip and throw herself at Battalion Commander Chen! He executed a difficult 360-degree turn on the spot and retreated back to base, slipping away lightning-fast. His desperate attempt to avoid getting entangled made everyone shake their heads, mistakenly thinking Battalion Commander Chen was too rigid and destined to be a lifelong bachelor.