In 1976, Sheng Qianyu achieved remarkable results, propelling China to the pinnacle of military mechanization, silencing foreign arrogance and deterring any designs they might have had. Similarly, China advocated for peace, refusing to become an aggressor that plundered others’ resources to compensate for its own shortages. They aimed to grow stronger through their own capabilities and the talents nurtured by the nation itself, not by relying on others!
In the Zhao family, Zhao Daxiong regained his actual authority and began reconnecting with his former social circle. Everyone was friendly and even envious, remarking, “Old Zhao, your family raised a fine daughter!”
Who? Zhao Xiaoyu?
He hadn’t thought of Sheng Qianyu, as the incident where Qin Fang was injured stemmed from a conflict between the two children, and the Zhao family hadn’t been in contact with her for nearly a decade.
Initially, Qin Fang would take out photos of Qianyu and cry in the middle of the night, and he could only get up to comfort her. During the day, with Zhao Xiaoyu as the family’s little ray of sunshine, Qin Fang gradually let go of her twelve-year attachment and shifted her focus to Xiao Yu.
However, Zhao Xiaoyu was now 25 years old, had experienced a failed marriage, and was still living with her parents without accomplishing anything.
Yes, at the age of eighteen, Zhao Xiaoyu had defied Zhao Daxiong and Qin Fang’s objections and married a senior from her school who was seven years older.
After marriage, Zhao Xiaoyu frequently returned to her parents’ home to seek financial support, coaxing Qin Fang into spending money and coupons to support that sponger man and his family. If it weren’t for Qin Fang’s fragile health and worsening condition, could he have turned a blind eye?
That sponger man, who came from the countryside, had a family full of troublesome relatives. If it weren’t for the fact that his and Qin Fang’s salaries remained unaffected during the turbulent years, the sponger man would have long since divorced Xiao Yu. Later, relying on money and coupons and frequent visits to the Zhao family, the sponger man easily charmed the older, unmarried Song Jianü and promptly dumped Xiao Yu.
Who didn’t know the Song family’s intentions?
When Sheng Qianyu was still with the Zhao family, the Song family had harbored resentment toward both families because of Sheng Qianyu’s excellence and Chen Zhou’s choice of her. When the Zhao family’s son-in-law chose the older Song Jianü, the Song family couldn’t wait to shout it from the rooftops, boasting everywhere about their daughter while belittling Zhao Xiaoyu as nothing special. However, after being warned by higher-ups, the Song family quieted down.
Putting aside other matters, Zhao Xiaoyu was indeed nothing special.
Thought to be a prodigy with exceptional academic abilities, it was only in university that her mediocre talents were revealed. Not only did she frequently fail courses, but she also failed to obtain her diploma before the college entrance exams were canceled.
With only a high school education, Zhao Xiaoyu found it difficult to secure a job because the Zhao family was already under scrutiny from higher-ups. She had to take exams on her own and couldn’t rely on Zhao Daxiong’s connections.
The only silver lining: Zhao Xiaoyu was an only child.
The educated youth sent to the countryside would never include her, and with two high-ranking positions in the family ensuring no shortage of money and coupons, she idled her time away, drifting aimlessly.
She would take factory recruitment exams but didn’t put much effort into them. Later, after being seduced by her ex-husband and losing her virginity, she returned to the Zhao family to make a scene.
After ten years, no matter how much she was his biological daughter, Zhao Daxiong’s patience had worn thin.
Zhao Xiaoyu seemed to realize this and didn’t dare approach her father directly. Instead, she boasted to Qin Fang, “Mom, look, Dad has restored his old connections, and it proves you were innocent. Our family will only get better from now on, all thanks to my efforts back then…”
Even her own father, Zhao Daxiong, couldn’t help but roll his eyes before turning and walking into his study.Now that the surveillance of the Zhao family had been taken over by security personnel, and household chores no longer required Qin Fang’s attention, things were indeed moving in a positive direction. However, he was not blind—he could see Zhao Xiaoyu’s capabilities. She was the one who could hold up the sky for the Zhao family…
Zhao Daxiong finally thought of Sheng Qianyu.
He called Sheng Qianyu.
It had been nearly ten years.
Zhao Daxiong hadn’t heard his adopted daughter’s voice in a long time, nor did he know what she looked like now. She must be tall and slender.
When Zhao Xiaoyu first arrived at the Zhao family, she was called fat by the children in the neighborhood, so she started eating less in an attempt to lose weight. At that time, the famine had just ended, and the entire nation was struggling to find enough to eat, doing everything they could to fill their stomachs. Yet, this biological daughter of his behaved in such a way that even dogs would find her annoying.
The doctor advised her that at her age, she should eat properly, and being plump was normal. Only because he was present did the doctor refrain from sarcastically pointing out that while the entire nation was starving, she was trying to eat less to lose weight.
Later, Zhao Xiaoyu developed health issues from eating too little and ended up quite short. Both he and Qin Fang were tall, but Zhao Xiaoyu only reached about 155 cm.
The last time he saw his adopted daughter, he estimated she was around 161 cm. He wondered how tall she was now.
Sheng Qianyu had just stepped out of the laboratory when she heard someone was looking for her. She thought it might be Chen Zhou.
“Hello?”
“Qianyu.”
Sheng Qianyu frowned slightly. “Dad?”
“Was it you behind everything that happened to the Zhao family over the past ten years?”
“…Yes.” She wasn’t good at lying. When asked, she simply answered.
“Good, good. I understand now.”
Over the past decade, Zhao Xiaoyu, relying on her blood ties, had often slandered Sheng Qianyu in front of Qin Fang, saying things like, “After all the years of raising her, she hasn’t visited even once since the Zhao family fell into trouble. She’s clearly avoiding us now that we’re down.”
She almost outright called Sheng Qianyu an ungrateful, opportunistic villain.
Qin Fang had also shown signs of wavering; otherwise, she wouldn’t have focused her attention on Zhao Xiaoyu over the past five years, forgetting about her adopted daughter.
Zhao Daxiong knew his adopted daughter too well.
Back then, upon learning about her true origins without prior knowledge, she had chosen to go to the unfamiliar Sheng family without hesitation, just so he and Qin Fang wouldn’t be put in a difficult position. Was the Zhao family in trouble at that time? No.
His adopted daughter could see through the underlying interests and resources, but she didn’t need to rely on them to climb up. What she cared about was her family’s attitude.
After nearly a decade without contact, he feared that in his adopted daughter’s heart, her family was now the Sheng family—just as he and Qin Fang had once chosen Zhao Xiaoyu.
A few days later, the widespread reports about Sheng Qianyu confirmed his suspicions.
His adopted daughter had finally reached the highest heights, bringing the Zhao family under her protection and repaying more than a decade of upbringing.
Originally, after regaining his authority, he had struggled to command respect due to his long absence from practical affairs. But once Sheng Qianyu’s achievements appeared in national newspapers and even gained popularity overseas, visitors to the Zhao family came in an endless stream—some of them his former superiors.
Only after seeing off wave after wave of visitors did Zhao Daxiong finally have the time to read the report.
The first part exposed Sheng Qianyu’s accomplishments, covering areas such as China’s military equipment and the stolen research on sweet potato yield. She had truly contributed to building a strong nation, giving China enough confidence!
The middle part was an interview with Sheng Qianyu.
Reporter: Your first involvement was with the Agricultural Academy. Did you have any special plans originally?
Sheng Qianyu: No. I just wanted everyone in the country to have enough to eat.As for the actions of the vice dean and Song Jincheng, she did not mention a single word. Those two had already received their due punishment. The network of connections behind the vice dean had collapsed, and even after enduring until the restoration of the college entrance examination, he was still sent to a remote small county that would not be developed for decades to come. It was likely he would never have a chance to turn his life around.
The Song family also suffered a heavy blow and moved out of the military compound. Those harmed by the Song family’s schemes were not limited to Sheng Qianyu; the top scorer in the college entrance examination before her had also worked under the Song family.
The sponger man who married Song Jianü, seeing the Song family fall from grace and the Zhao family rise, wanted to return to his former life. However, Zhao Xiaoyu had targeted Sheng Qianyu in many matters. Having suffered once at the hands of a man, there was no reason to suffer a second time. So, the sponger man brought up the child…
The Zhao family, because of Zhao Xiaoyu’s ex-husband, was left with a mess of trivial matters.