Old Master Meng interrupted her calmly, and Lin Hanqiao immediately fell silent, pressing her lips together in resentment.
He then turned to Meng Liyang. “Liyang, you speak.”
Meng Liyang sighed and briefly explained the situation.
After hearing this, the old master frowned deeply and looked at Meng Jiao. “Jiaojiao, are you leaving the Meng family?”
Meng Jiao stood up, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant.
“Yes, Aunt Lin is right. Since I’m not a member of the Meng family, I should leave. However, I must take with me what Grandma gave me before she passed away.”
When Meng Jiao’s grandmother was ill, only Meng Jiao had been there to care for her tirelessly.
Lin Hanqiao and her aunt had despised the grandmother for being bedridden and unable to care for herself, refusing to even glance her way.
So, before closing her eyes for the last time, the grandmother had repeatedly emphasized that her belongings must not fall into the hands of those two ungrateful daughters-in-law.
Grandpa, being chauvinistic, had always looked down on the grandmother for her bound feet.
Because of this, even Meng Jiao’s uncle and Meng Liyang showed no respect toward the grandmother.
Even the children in the family were not close to her—only Meng Jiao had shared a deep bond with the old lady since childhood.
Among all the children, the grandmother had cherished Meng Jiao the most.
She had known clearly who treated her well and who did not.
Now that Meng Jiao was leaving, she intended to take those belongings with her, unwilling to let her grandmother rest uneasily even in the afterlife.
Hearing this, Old Master Meng shot a glare at Lin Hanqiao. This second daughter-in-law was becoming increasingly unreasonable.
Though she was foolish, she shouldn’t have stirred up trouble over a few pieces of jewelry. It seemed she was regressing with age.
His gaze shifted to Meng Feifei standing behind Lin Hanqiao. This biological daughter of hers was likely even more foolish—neither of them was easy to deal with.
“You’re being utterly absurd! The Meng family is a respected household in Haicheng. How would it look if word got out that we’re driving away a girl we’ve raised for thirteen years?”
“Would they call us ungrateful? Harsh and unfeeling? Liyang holds a leadership position at the factory—do we want to ruin his reputation?!”
He took a deep breath and turned to Meng Jiao, softening his tone.
“Jiaojiao, stay. As long as Grandpa is here, there will always be a place for you in this family. Your Aunt Lin spoke in anger—don’t take it seriously.”
Though his words seemed protective, they felt icy cold to Meng Jiao.
What Grandpa cared about was never her, Meng Jiao, as a person, but the Meng family’s reputation and Meng Liyang’s career prospects.
Seeing this, Meng Feifei grew anxious, fearing that Meng Jiao might actually stay.
In her previous life, the old master hadn’t cared about Meng Jiao at all—why was it different this time?
No, Meng Jiao absolutely could not remain here.
If she stayed, who knew what troubles might arise?
The mere thought of Meng Jiao possibly turning her life around in the future made Meng Feifei quickly speak up in a gentle tone.
“Grandpa, please don’t be angry. Mom only said those things because she pities me. It’s fine if Sister stays in the Meng family—I’ll have a sister to keep me company. I’ve just returned and don’t understand many things. Having Sister here would put me at ease.”
Feigning retreat to advance, she even tried to take Meng Jiao’s hand, attempting to play the role of a loving sister.
But Meng Feifei knew that by showing weakness, she would only make Lin Hanqiao resent Meng Jiao even more.
She would never allow Meng Jiao to remain in the Meng family.
“No! Feifei has suffered enough all these years—I won’t allow any of you to hurt her again!”
Sure enough, Lin Hanqiao bristled like a provoked cat and immediately objected, her gaze toward Meng Jiao filled with venom.
The eldest son of the Meng family, Meng Pengtao, who had been silent all along, also expressed his disapproval.
“Dad, my sister-in-law is right. Feifei has been found, and keeping Jiaojiao here will only upset Feifei.”
“Why don’t we give her some money, find her a place to live, and let her move out? That way, no one can say anything, and to outsiders, she’ll still be considered a child of the Meng family.”
Meng Jiao sneered inwardly as she listened to Meng Pengtao’s hypocritical words.
How high-sounding. No wonder Lin Hanqiao enjoyed spending so much time with him.
She turned her head and looked at the figure in the corner, seemingly isolated from the surrounding commotion. That was her nominal third uncle, Meng Jianhua.
While everyone was still arguing about whether Meng Jiao should stay or go, she took a deep breath and walked step by step toward Meng Jianhua.
She remembered that in a few days, Meng Jianhua would be going to the countryside. By following him, she could leave the Meng family.
Meng Jianhua was holding a half-empty liquor bottle, his eyes somewhat dazed. He was clearly drunk and indifferent to the family drama unfolding before him.
Meng Jiao stopped in front of him and called out, “Third Uncle.”
Meng Jianhua looked up with bleary eyes, seemingly surprised that someone was speaking to him.
After all, for so many years, the Meng family had treated Meng Jianhua as if he were invisible.
Actually, Meng Jianhua had once been successful, rising swiftly through the ranks in the military and being the most accomplished person in the Meng family.
But later, it was said that he injured his leg and his foundation while saving a comrade, forcing him to retire from the military.
Not only was no one willing to marry him, but he also began to abandon himself to despair, drinking heavily every day.
Eventually, the Meng family started bullying him in various ways.
He never got angry, though. He would drink, sleep for a day, and carry on as usual the next day.
When their grandmother was still alive, she would try to reason with him occasionally. Unfortunately, after she passed away from illness, no one could control Meng Jianhua anymore.
In her previous life, it was Meng Jianhua who, limping, had carefully arranged her burial after her death.
Meng Jiao remembered this kindness.
Thinking of the things in her dimension, Meng Jiao secretly made a decision.
She would ask Meng Jianhua to help her leave the Meng family. In return, she would use the items in her dimension to cure his leg.
The man remained silent, so Meng Jiao continued, her words exploding like thunder in the ears of everyone in the living room.
“Aren’t you going to the countryside in a few days? Take me with you.”
Before anyone could react, she followed up with even more shocking words.
“From today onward, you are no longer my third uncle.”
With a thud, she knelt directly in front of Meng Jianhua, lifting her head with unwavering determination in her eyes.
“You are my real father! I, Meng Jiao, acknowledge you as my father! Wherever you go, I will go. I will care for you in your old age and see to your funeral!”
In an instant, the entire Meng family living room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Meng Liyang was stunned.
Lin Hanqiao and Meng Feifei could not hide their astonishment and disbelief.
Old Master Meng’s hand gripping his cane tightened abruptly, his face turning ashen.
He never expected that Meng Jiao would acknowledge a marginalized good-for-nothing as her father.
This was even more humiliating for the Meng family than if she had been kicked out!
And Meng Jiao wanted them to know that she could live well even without the Meng family.
If Old Master Meng hadn’t insisted on keeping her, she wouldn’t have thought of this plan to acknowledge Meng Jianhua as her father and go to the countryside with him.
Meng Jianhua’s dazed eyes lifted slightly upon hearing the words “care for you in your old age and see to your funeral.”
He looked down at the young girl kneeling before him, her eyes clear and resolute.
He shook the wine bottle, his voice hoarse as he spoke with a hint of self-mockery.
“Girl, do you know what you’re saying? Coming with me means enduring hardship.”
Meng Jiao knelt upright, her tone resolute:
“I know. But I’m not afraid. As long as I can leave this place and follow you, I’ll gladly accept even the hardest life!”
“Rather than staying here to be humiliated, I’d rather go to the countryside. At least it’s peaceful there.”
The word “Dad” rolled off her tongue naturally, completely severing all ties with the Second Branch of the Meng family.
“Sister, have you… have you really thought this through? Third Uncle’s leg is…”
“Grandfather, Third Uncle has no children. I’ll be his daughter, care for him in his old age, and arrange his funeral. I’ll still be part of the Meng family and won’t bring shame upon you.”
After saying this to Old Master Meng, Meng Jiao turned to Lin Hanqiao and Meng Feifei, enunciating each word clearly: “But according to Grandma’s will, all her belongings were left to me.”
“Now, Aunt Lin and Sister Feifei, could you return those items?”