The director continued, “These matters were unknown to others, but the Song family, who were once close to you, knew everything clearly and had obtained concrete evidence. That evidence may seem insignificant now, but for your Zhao family back then, it was a fatal blow.
To protect you, Qianyu, as soon as she transferred to the fighter aircraft design research institute, went without food or drink for five days, immersed in her research. How old was she then? Fifteen. While other children were still growing, thinking about food and drink, and attending school carefree, she nearly died from exhaustion just to protect your Zhao family.”
What were they doing when Sheng Qianyu was fifteen?
The couple had just abandoned their adopted daughter and were doting on their biological daughter, granting her every wish. Even though they knew Zhao Xiaoyu had taken credit for the Zhao family not being sent down, Zhao Daxiong never exposed her. And all of this was built on the condition that another fifteen-year-old girl had nearly died from exhaustion…
Upon hearing this, Qin Fang felt her heart wrenching. She kept wiping away tears but dared not make a sound, afraid of interrupting the director’s next words.
Seeing the couple in such a state, the director sighed again. “Later, Political Commissar Chen arranged for someone to take good care of her, at least ensuring she had sufficient sleep and three meals a day. Otherwise, at such a young age, if her health deteriorated, how many years could she have lived?”
The director added, “Afterward, I went to that child and asked if she wanted to tell you all this. She shook her head and said she didn’t want to put you in a difficult position.
Even if she told you that she had protected the Zhao family, what difference would it make?
Would Zhao Xiaoyu no longer be your biological daughter? Since you chose her over that girl, don’t go disturbing her anymore. If she got involved with your Zhao family, most of her energy would be diverted. How much would be left for her research?
Besides, could you guarantee that you would always favor your adopted daughter over your biological one?
Since the debt of upbringing has been repaid, it’s time to sever this familial bond. After all, in the past ten years, you never actively contacted her, and you’ve been doing just fine, haven’t you? She now has a family who truly loves her, and she doesn’t lack the affection you two could offer.”
There was something even harsher that the director didn’t say. Who caused this situation? Wasn’t it your biological daughter, who couldn’t let the two families coexist peacefully? Initially, it was the nurse’s mistake that led to the mix-up, and both families were victims. How did it end up that the greatest burden fell on a girl barely in her teens?
These words were harsh.
Qin Fang could no longer hold back and covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably.
Ten years.
For ten years, she thought her emotional pillar was her biological daughter, never realizing that this peace and comfort were built on the silence and struggles of her adopted daughter! She had even resented her adopted daughter for being heartless and believed Zhao Xiaoyu’s words.
How could she… how could she…
“Daxiong! Daxiong, we were wrong… sob…”
Zhao Daxiong, a middle-aged man, couldn’t bear such a truth either. His nose tingled with emotion as he held his wife’s shoulder, comforting her repeatedly.
Only after the two had cried their fill did they leave the agricultural research institute and return to the military compound.
That night, Zhao Daxiong discussed with his wife, “We’ve spoiled Xiaoyu rotten. She’s twenty-five now and has accomplished nothing. Tomorrow, we’ll pack her things, steel our hearts, and send her out to fend for herself.”
Qin Fang did not object and nodded. “Alright.”
They should have realized this after their daughter got married, but they kept delaying until now.Qin Fang thought of her adopted daughter and couldn’t help crying again. “Daxiong, do you think Qianyu will blame us for not contacting her for ten years?”
“No, that girl knows right from wrong. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have left without looking back the moment she learned the truth about being switched at birth.”
Qin Fang seemed to recall it too.
Her heart ached again—how could she have believed Zhao Xiaoyu’s one-sided words! Her adopted daughter had been raised so well, so sensible, never coveting the Zhao family’s resources. Back then, she left without hesitation, returning the Zhao family’s position to Zhao Xiaoyu, and through her own efforts climbed to a high position. How could she possibly distance herself from them just because the Zhao family had fallen from power?
Clearly, it was they who had actively given up on this adopted daughter back then!
Qin Fang couldn’t help crying again, and Zhao Daxiong sighed. “Alright, from now on, let’s not disturb her. Keeping her out of our Zhao family affairs is the best thing for her. Qianyu managed to carve out her own path with her own hands. Doesn’t Zhao Xiaoyu always want to compete with everything? Aside from being my flesh and blood, I wonder how capable she really is out there!”
Qin Fang nodded and said, “Daxiong, have someone stop Xiaoyu from entering the military compound. I’m afraid if I see her, I’ll soften again. Xiaoyu has been spoiled by us.”
“…I’m not so sure about that.”
At first, the couple had indulged Zhao Xiaoyu out of guilt, but over time, they fostered her arrogance, overconfidence, and incompetence. Was it really just them spoiling her?
It was plain foolishness.
…
Zhao Xiaoyu was driven out of the military compound without even seeing her parents.
She said to the guards beside her father, “You can’t do this! I’m their only daughter!”
The guards pretended not to hear. “The chief and his wife have purchased a courtyard house for you and had your belongings moved there. They’ve also given you five hundred yuan as a foundation. The chief asked me to tell you that you’ve already been married once, and at twenty-five, it’s time to stand on your own two feet. Parents aren’t responsible for supporting you for life.”
A courtyard house and five hundred yuan as a foundation were enough for an ordinary person to live comfortably for a lifetime, but could Zhao Xiaoyu be satisfied?
She glared at the guard and tried to force her way into the military compound. After causing a scene for a long time, she was finally frightened into silence when a gun was pointed at her head and ran off.
As for the five hundred yuan the Zhao family had provided, it was money Zhao Daxiong had saved after discovering that Qin Fang was endlessly filling the bottomless pit of the sponger man and putting a stop to it.
After driving out his biological daughter, Zhao Daxiong began plotting his revenge against the Song family.
Since the Song family dared to target the Zhao family during such a critical time, they had to be prepared to face the Zhao family’s retaliation.
The Song family had already been driven out of the military compound. With the towering presence of Sheng Qianyu looming over them, their lives were already difficult. Now, with the Zhao family taking action, their suffering only intensified.
Their once-doted-on eldest granddaughter, Song Jianü, became their target for venting their frustrations.
“It’s all your fault for insisting on opposing the Zhao family! First, you competed with Sheng Qianyu and left us with lasting grudges, turning the Zhao and Chen families against us. Then, you took a fancy to that useless, spineless man of Zhao Xiaoyu’s! Why didn’t you drown in that river back then! Your uncle is still suffering somewhere, and here you are, living comfortably at home, eating well and drinking fine…”
The Song family matriarch pinched and hit her, while her once-doting parents and brothers turned a blind eye. Only then did she begin to reflect on her actions.The Song family was only interested in profit—how could they treat her differently just because she was the only daughter in the family? It was more likely that she was merely a facade, and the Song family wanted to use her to stand on the moral high ground and control both families.
She was nothing more than a convenient pawn.
And yet, she had resented those two families because of it…
Little did she know that the ones who had brought her to this fate were her own family. Their kindness toward her was nothing but compensation after the pawn had served its purpose.
So, was the drowning back then an accident or intentional?
She remembered a sudden sharp pain in her foot at the time…
She couldn’t dwell on it any further.
Song Jianü had always been in poor health, and after seeing her family’s true nature, she couldn’t bear the weight of it all. In the end, she died with resentment in her heart.
The sponger man, using their child as an excuse, frequently sought out Zhao Xiaoyu, who had been driven out of the military compound. Unable to resist his exceptional skills, she gave in.
The two of them became entangled once again…