Xia Jianguo waved his hand to stop her from continuing: "Alright, since you've gone to find your biological parents, then keep your distance from us, so as not to upset them. I'm tired, Qiao Zhiqing, you can go now."

A look of disgust flashed in Xia Jianguo's eyes. For some reason, he felt no emotion when he saw this girl again.

I wasn't as angry or sad as I had imagined.

"No, Father, even if we're not biologically related, we've had such a long-standing bond. How can the debt of giving birth be greater than the debt of raising us!" Qiao Qiao said, increasingly annoyed, her voice full of pleading.

She absolutely had to soften Xia Jianguo's heart, otherwise she would end up living the same life as those country girls in the village, which was unacceptable!

"Then why did you abandon your father who was so kind to you? Was there some unspeakable reason? Why don't you tell me?" Xia Wan's lips curled into a faint smile as she looked at Qiao Qiao with a mocking gaze, as if she were enjoying a farce.

Qiao Qiao felt a little uneasy under Xia Wan's gaze, but she still gritted her teeth and continued acting.

She said with a wronged expression, "Xia Wan, you've misunderstood me. I had no choice but to leave home back then; I had my reasons!"

Xia Wan raised an eyebrow and asked in a concerned manner, "Oh? Is that so? Then tell me what your predicament is? I'll try to persuade Lao Xia for you."

Qiao Qiao looked at Xia Wan in surprise: "You... since you have already acknowledged the Xia family, why don't you acknowledge your father?"

"What?" Xia Wan looked at her with a face full of questions, as if she were saying something ridiculous: "What do you mean I don't acknowledge my father?"

"You...you just called our father 'Old Xia,' that's wrong of you, Xia Wan!" Qiao Qiao frowned at her, as if she had done something heinous.

Seeing her fierce and aggressive demeanor, Xia Wan couldn't help but laugh: "Who's talking to you or us? Can't you get rid of this habit of randomly claiming fathers? Isn't your father Qiao Chunsheng? By the way, have your father and stepmother come out yet?"

Qiao Qiao bit her lip, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes. She glared at Xia Wan fiercely, then feigned a pitiful expression and said, "Xia Wan, my dad has returned to normal work. Why are you always so aggressive?"

She pointed at Xia Jianguo, who was sitting on the bed, and said with a heartbroken expression, "This is the father I've called 'Dad' for over ten years! Even if I come back, it won't affect your position in my father's heart! Why are you stopping me from recognizing my father?"

"Tch..." Xia Wan let out a disdainful sneer, looking at Qiao Qiao with cold eyes, "If you're not the eldest sister, where do you get your confidence from?"

"What makes you think you can affect my position in my father's heart? Just because you said the debt of giving birth is not as great as the debt of raising?" Her voice was full of sarcasm and contempt.

Qiao Qiao's face turned extremely ugly. She gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing with anger: "Xia Wan, don't talk to me like that!"

Her voice was somewhat shrill, but it couldn't hide her inner unease.

"I'm just stating the facts," Xia Wan shrugged, looking completely innocent. "And am I wrong? You wouldn't really try to ruin the relationship between us, my biological father and daughter, with just a few words, would you?"

Qiao Qiao's face grew increasingly grim. She clenched her fists, trying hard to control her emotions. "Xia Wan, don't go too far! I want to talk to Dad alone. Can you leave first?"

Xia Wan refused her without hesitation, "That won't do. I'm worried you might hurt my father because you're so emotionally unstable. How about we talk about it after you've calmed down?"

She sighed, "Oh... my weak and helpless father was beaten up by Xia Yuanbao a few days ago and had to be hospitalized. He's just recovered and can't afford to be upset again!"

Xia Wan sat directly on the stool, leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed), looking lazy and nonchalant, as if she didn't care about Qiao Qiao at all.

When Xia Qiao heard that Xia Jianguo had been beaten by Xia Yuanbao, she was stunned for a moment. Did this prove that the incident had already happened?

Why is the outcome different now compared to the previous life?

Qiao Qiao turned to look at Xia Jianguo, her eyes full of doubt, but unfortunately, he didn't even give her a glance.

She knew that Xia Jianguo was still angry and that was why he didn't want to talk to her, and then she saw Xia Wan's expression, as if she didn't want her to have an easy time.

There's nothing I can do but leave for now. I'll come back to talk to Xia Jianguo when Xia Wan isn't around.

"Dad, then...then I won't upset Xia Wan here. I'll come see you again next time."

Seeing that Xia Jianguo still had no intention of paying attention to her, she left dejectedly.

Her departure did not affect the two people in the room. The father and daughter chatted for a while longer, and then they heard someone calling them to eat from outside.

Then came the sound of Old Mrs. Xia cursing: "He's ruined all that good flour, what a spendthrift... Bah..."

Xia Wan strolled into the courtyard, glancing sideways at Old Madam Xia with a mocking smile. She retorted without hesitation, "We're all family, yet you differentiate between different classes at meals? You're even more extravagant than the old landlord! Pah!"

Although Grandma Xia was sharp-tongued, she seemed somewhat timid in the face of Xia Wan's rebuttal and dared not continue speaking.

After all, her husband and son weren't around, so she didn't dare to provoke Xia Wan.

Xia Wan stared at the food on the table, her gaze landing on a plate of stir-fried bok choy with eggs.

Without hesitation, she reached out, picked up the plate, and left, not leaving a single bite for anyone else.

Since there are different levels, she must be at the highest level.

"What are you doing? This food is for our whole family!" Li Cao hurriedly reached out to stop her, but Xia Wan easily dodged her move.

Xia Wan pointed to the pickled vegetables on the table and said firmly, "Aren't there other dishes too? My dad needs to nourish his body."

After saying that, she ignored everyone, turned around and left the table, leaving the Xia family members looking shocked and angry.

Qiao Qiao watched the interaction between the two in surprise. Xia Wan had become so arrogant?

She quickly stood in front of Xia Wan, putting on a righteous and indignant look, and loudly rebuked, "Xia Wan, Grandma is old and not in good health. She can't just eat pickled vegetables. How could you take away this plate of eggs?"

"I'm willing! Get out of my way, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Xia Wan pushed her away without any politeness, then suddenly remembered something, turned around and picked up a few more pancakes before turning around and going into her father's room.

Qiao Qiao wanted to say something more, but Li Cao forcefully pushed her away.

Li Cao said impatiently, "Don't get in my way, there's no food for you here, and you haven't paid your rations yet!"

She muttered to herself, wondering what her mother-in-law was thinking, actually expecting Qiao Qiao to deal with Xia Wan.

Isn't this just asking for trouble? With Xia Wan's crazy personality, once she starts fighting, who can stop her?

With Xia Qiao's small frame, wouldn't she be able to take him down with a single punch?