“What is it? Can’t Mother see it? Why are you so nervous?”
Xia Mingyu looked suspiciously at Tuantuan.
“Nothing…”
Tuantuan chuckled, crinkling his eyes at Xia Mingyu as he tried to brush it off with an innocent expression.
Seeing Tuantuan’s nervousness, Yuanyuan suddenly remembered—oh right! Earlier, Brother went to ask that new father for money, and he probably got it!
Suddenly understanding, Yuanyuan quickly hugged Xia Mingyu’s arm to cover for Tuantuan.
“Mom, I need to pee…”
“Pee? Are you sure? I remember Tuantuan just said he needed to use the outhouse.”
“Tell me the truth. What have you been doing behind my back?”
“Tuantuan, let go of your hand. I want to see what’s in your pocket.”
No one knows a son better than his mother. Having raised the two children herself, how could Xia Mingyu not understand her boys?
If Tuantuan managed to fool Xia Mingyu once, Yuanyuan trying to fool her again was simply impossible.
Xia Mingyu looked sternly at the brothers, determined to get to the bottom of this.
The team members who hadn’t left were still nearby, and everyone was watching.
If Xia Mingyu took out the money, everyone would know they had so much cash.
Wealth shouldn’t be flaunted—Tuantuan had understood this since he was little. He could only pout pitifully, pleading with Xia Mingyu.
“Mom, let’s talk outside…”
Xia Mingyu quietly watched Tuantuan, her pretty face serious.
“I promise I’ll tell the truth!”
Tuantuan imitated giving a military salute to Xia Mingyu. His chubby little hand looked so adorable, his round head and body deliberately copying an adult’s posture, making him even more endearing.
“I’ll tell the truth too!”
Yuanyuan, the little copycat, immediately raised his hand as well, promising to Xia Mingyu in his childish voice.
Xia Mingyu felt like she might melt from her sons’ cuteness.
She struggled to keep her lips straight, barely managing not to laugh.
“I’ll take them to the restroom.”
Xia Mingyu explained to everyone, then carried both boys outside. Walking further away and making sure no one was around, she put them down.
Not daring to wait for Xia Mingyu to question him again, Tuantuan obediently took out the money and confessed.
“Mom, this is money.”
Two thousand yuan filled all four pockets on Tuantuan’s clothes, stuffed to the brim.
When Xia Mingyu saw Tuantuan pull out so much money, she was stunned speechless.
Back when they fled to the countryside, they had only managed to bring two thousand yuan with them…
“This money was given to me by Uncle! I didn’t ask for it—he insisted on stuffing it into my hands. He said if I didn’t take it, he’d be unhappy.”
“Mom, he saved me—he’s our benefactor. I can’t make Uncle unhappy, right?”
Tuantuan looked at Xia Mingyu with wide, innocent eyes, pretending to be naive as he shifted all the blame onto Si Konghuai.
After all, that father wasn’t any good anyway—what did it matter if he got one more strike against him? Tuantuan thought guiltily.
“He forced it on you? When?”
“Was it when you ran out from the team leader’s house? Hadn’t he already left by then? Did you chase after him?”
Hearing this, Xia Mingyu carefully recalled—at least when Si Konghuai left, she remembered Tuantuan’s pockets were still flat, with nothing inside.
Then it must have been Tuantuan who ran after him, and only then did Si Konghuai give the money—whether Si Konghuai offered it voluntarily or Tuantuan asked for it himself.
At the very least, Tuantuan had chased after him. Xia Mingyu quickly pieced it all together.
She knew both Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were clever boys, and judging by what everyone had been saying, the brothers must have overheard everything.
Xia Mingyu didn’t blame Tuantuan. Instead, she gently stroked his soft, fair cheek.
“Do you two know something?”
“Um…”
Tuantuan and Yuanyuan exchanged glances, hesitating and mumbling, before finally nodding.
“Is he our real dad?”
Tuantuan poked his little hands together and asked bluntly.
“Mom, don’t be afraid of the bad dad! We’ll protect you. Brother and I tricked him out of his money for you to spend!”
Yuanyuan, on the other hand, looked excited.
Seeing so much money, his eyes lit up, round and sparkling with delight, almost turning into the shape of copper coins.
Xia Mingyu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“So you already know. Yes, he is your biological father.”
“Don’t you have any other thoughts? Just spending his money?”
The children had often clamored for a father before. Xia Mingyu had thought that, upon learning Si Konghuai was their real dad, they would be overjoyed and eager to go with him.
After all, Si Konghuai was handsome, seemed reliable, and lived comfortably. If the children went with him, they certainly wouldn’t suffer.
But no matter what, Xia Mingyu would never let her sons go with Si Konghuai. They were her children.
As for money?
Xia Mingyu had experienced wealth before, and now she regarded it lightly.
Rich today—but what about tomorrow?
Life was unpredictable.
Happiness and health in the present were what truly mattered.
“Yes, Mom. He gave us money so you won’t have to work so hard anymore, earning work points and trading for food to raise us.”
Tuantuan and Yuanyuan nodded emphatically. All they wanted was someone to share Xia Mingyu’s burdens.
As for having a father, the children surely yearned for paternal affection to some extent, but in their hearts, Xia Mingyu came first. Everything else could wait.
“I’m sorry for making you worry about me.”
Deeply moved, Xia Mingyu hugged Tuantuan and Yuanyuan tightly.
The children cared so much about money because their past had been so difficult. She might not mind, but they couldn’t afford not to.
And then there was Jing Shi…
Thirteen years had passed. Was their family’s house still there?
What about her parents and brother? Would she ever hear from them again…?
Xia Mingyu lowered her gaze, her eyes reddening slightly.
Memories she had deliberately suppressed now resurfaced.
Her heart was tormented.
Meanwhile, in the interrogation room.
Qiao Hongye stared incredulously at Si Konghuai’s face.
It was identical to Tuantuan and Yuanyuan’s. Anyone with eyes could see it—there was no point in pointless denial.
Li Zhaodi was also immediately intimidated by Si Konghuai. Now that she had been dragged to the Public Security Bureau, she trembled, not daring to say a word.
But Qiao Hongye still wanted to struggle desperately.
“Xia Mingyu is my wife! You had relations with her and fathered children—you cuckolded me! Even if you’re a Head, you’re the one who wronged me!”
“You can’t handle me! If we’re going to nitpick, it’s you who should face disciplinary action!”
Despite his words, Qiao Hongye’s confidence was clearly lacking.
Because the status of Head had already reached a height that made him look up in awe.
As long as Si Konghuai wasn’t engaged in treasonous acts like colluding with the enemy or betraying the country, there was basically nothing that could shake his position.
Si Konghuai curled his lips mockingly and tossed the documents in front of Qiao Hongye.
“You have no right to question me.”
“As for the matter between Comrade Xia and me, I will explain it to her personally. Who do you think you are?”
“You say Xia Mingyu is your wife, but according to my investigation, the military unit never received your marriage report. Your marital status is blank in the military records.”
“You and Xia Mingyu are not truly husband and wife!”
Si Konghuai sneered coldly as he stared at Qiao Hongye.
Qiao Hongye had deceived Xia Mingyu so thoroughly.
However, not filing a marriage report actually made things easier—it saved them the step of divorce.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Hongye’s expression shifted slightly.
Si Konghuai had uncovered the truth so quickly…
What about the matter five years ago when he sought out that bachelor…
Before he could dwell on it further, Si Konghuai directly shattered his illusions.
“You know Liu Mazi from Dongpo Production Brigade, don’t you?”
Si Konghuai scrutinized Qiao Hongye with a cold, disdainful gaze.
Qiao Hongye’s heart instantly tightened.