“Make Meng Jiao leave tomorrow. Feifei has returned, and I don’t want her to see this eyesore anymore.”
1969, inside the Meng family’s western-style villa in downtown Haicheng.
Lin Hanqiao sat on the plush velvet sofa, tightly embracing her newly reunited biological daughter Meng Feifei, her tone resolute and leaving no room for negotiation.
Her tone suggested that Meng Jiao, the daughter she had raised for thirteen years, was some kind of filth she couldn’t wait to discard.
Meng Liyang, the second son of the Meng family, who was an authoritative leader at the factory, sat nearby looking utterly exhausted.
Since Meng Feifei’s return over a month ago, the house had been filled with constant arguments from morning till night.
The quarrels made his head buzz with pain.
He raised his hand to rub his forehead before speaking.
“Hanqiao, Jiaojiao is also the daughter you personally raised for thirteen years. We can compensate Feifei now that she’s back, but can thirteen years of mother-daughter affection just be wiped away? She’s our daughter too.”
“Daughter?”
Lin Hanqiao looked as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, a sarcastic smile tugging at her lips.
Her former gentle facade had completely vanished, replaced by pure bitterness and malice.
“If it weren’t for her, my Feifei wouldn’t have suffered all those years. That bastard of unknown origins should get as far away as possible and never show her face again!”
She grew increasingly agitated, forgetting that the brand-new dacron shirt she was wearing…
Was a birthday gift Meng Jiao had painstakingly made for her last month, using saved-up cloth coupons and wages, working through the night to finish it.
Back then, she had called Meng Jiao her precious darling, speaking of their deep mother-daughter bond, but now she had forgotten all about it.
Meng Liyang’s chest heaved violently, barely recognizing the woman before him as his wife.
Yet she continued to utter heartless words.
“I don’t care if you pity her or genuinely see her as your daughter. I won’t allow her to stay in the Meng family no matter what. I only have one daughter, and that’s Feifei!”
“You! How can you be so cruel? Jiaojiao is still just a child. Now you want to discard her like she’s nothing more than a used rag?!”
Lin Hanqiao, stung by his words, sounded defensive.
“Meng Liyang! How dare you take that bastard’s side! Could it be that you…”
Before Lin Hanqiao could finish her suspicious accusation, Meng Feifei in her arms appropriately shrank back.
Then she lifted her pitiful little face.
The girl’s eyes instantly reddened as she gently tugged at Lin Hanqiao’s sleeve, her voice trembling with tears.
“Mom, please don’t argue with Dad because of me… It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have come back… If my presence brings unrest to this family, I… I’d rather return to the countryside…”
Tears fell like broken pearls, breaking Lin Hanqiao’s heart. She immediately hugged her tighter, comforting her dear treasure.
“Nonsense! This is your home. You’re not going anywhere!”
She glared fiercely at Meng Liyang, playing her trump card: “Listen to me, Meng Liyang—in this house, it’s either her or me! We can’t both stay!”
Meng Liyang looked at his wife, feeling bitter inside. This matter had nothing to do with Meng Jiao.
She was innocent, and moreover, she had always been obedient and sensible throughout these thirteen years—a good daughter.
Before Meng Liyang could respond, a calm, emotionless voice came from the staircase.
“Second Uncle.”
All three people in the living room froze, turning toward the sound.
There stood Meng Jiao, who had been watching them for who knows how long.
She wore clean, light-colored clothing, her jet-black hair neatly combed.
The young woman’s eyes were clear and bright, without a trace of the haggard fear they had anticipated—no signs of having cried at all.
In her hand, she held a cup of tea, its wispy steam already growing thin.
Under the varied gazes of the three, she walked steadily toward Meng Liyang, whose expression was grim.
She changed her address, and that distant “Second Uncle” made Meng Liyang’s chest feel as if it were blocked, causing him discomfort.
“Have a cup of tea to soothe your throat. Don’t let my matters harm your health.”
Meng Jiao’s tone was polite, devoid of the intimacy and reliance she had shown in the past.
Then, she turned and looked at the pair of true mother and daughter clinging tightly to each other.
“Aunt Lin, you are right.”
“I have occupied the identity of a Meng daughter for thirteen years, enjoying blessings I should not have. I should leave, but those jade earrings were specifically left to me by Grandmother before she passed away. I hope you can return them to me, so I may keep them as a memento.”
“From now on, I sever all ties with the Meng family. We owe each other nothing.”
She gave a slight nod, her demeanor elegant and composed.
Lin Hanqiao looked at her, a flicker of complexity in her eyes. Meng Jiao had been raised with such grace and poise that she seemed more like a daughter of the Meng family than Meng Feifei did.
“Mom…”
Just as Lin Hanqiao was lost in thought, Meng Feifei’s voice pulled her back to reality.
If Meng Jiao hadn’t taken Feifei’s place, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.
All of this should have been Feifei’s from the start.
Lin Hanqiao said coldly, “Is it settled then? From now on, you are not to claim any connection to the Meng family.”
“Naturally.”
Meng Jiao replied softly, “I only ask to take what Grandmother left for me.”
Those items had always been meant for her, but later, Lin Hanqiao, claiming she was too young and needed them safeguarded, had temporarily taken them away.
Meng Jiao knew Lin Hanqiao had always coveted Grandmother’s jewelry.
After all, Grandmother came from a prestigious family, and those jade pieces were incredibly valuable.
Meng Liyang watched the mother and daughter before him, who now seemed like strangers, and a bitter taste rose in his heart. How had their once-harmonious family come to this?
Just as Lin Hanqiao was about to agree to give Meng Jiao the jewelry to hasten her departure, Meng Feifei quickly broke free from her mother’s embrace and spoke up.
“If Sister is no longer part of the Meng family, how can she take anything that belongs to the Mengs?”
Meng Feifei didn’t care about the jade earrings; what she cared about was the mutton fat jade bracelet that came with them.
In her previous life, it was only upon her death that Meng Feifei learned the bracelet contained a natural dimension.
Inside, there was not only land but also an all-powerful spiritual spring, and most importantly, the dimension held countless treasures.
Though Meng Jiao had been driven to a remote place, she had thrived effortlessly thanks to that bracelet.
In this life, she would never allow Meng Jiao to take the bracelet away.
She was the true young lady of the Meng family, and all these things rightfully belonged to her.
Sure enough, upon hearing Meng Feifei’s words, Lin Hanqiao frowned slightly.
“Feifei is right. You are no longer part of the Meng family—what right do you have to take anything? Since it was the old lady’s possession, it should go to the true daughter of the Meng family.”
Listening to their shameless words, Meng Jiao almost laughed in disbelief.
Lin Hanqiao truly had the audacity to lay claim to Grandmother’s belongings.
“What is going on? I could hear the commotion from the end of the alley! What kind of behavior is this?”
Old Master Meng’s cane tapped lightly on the floor, and the living room fell into immediate silence.
The gate of the Meng family courtyard was pushed open, and Old Master Meng entered the living room, supported by his eldest son Meng Pengtao.
After sweeping his gaze around the room, his eyes settled on Meng Liyang.
Lin Hanqiao, as if she had found her anchor or was eager to defend herself, spoke up first: “Father! You’ve returned just in time! Meng Jiao, she—”
“Did I ask you?”