Chapter 49 Different from What She Expected

"You're Qianqian?" Lin Shulan stared at Xia Qianqian without blinking, tears streaming down her face.

The man beside her wiped away her tears with his rough palms, his own eyes reddening: "It's a joyous occasion that the child is back, you should wipe away your tears quickly."

Xia Qianqian's gaze fell on him, and although his clothes were worn and tattered, his handsome features could not be concealed.

Seeing him standing side by side with his mother, their tacit and well-matched appearance convinced Xia Qianqian that this was indeed her biological father.

At this moment, Xia Qingshan turned to his son and instructed, "Damin, quickly clean the yard and let your sister come inside."

Upon hearing his father's words, Xia Damin grinned at Xia Qianqian, revealing a set of white teeth, then responded and quickly picked up a broom to sweep the floor clean.

Seeing that Xia Qianqian remained silent, Xia Qingshan looked a little flustered and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Let's go inside first, let's talk inside first."

The tone was both ingratiating and cautious.

When the neighbors heard that Old Xia's daughter had returned, they all gathered around curiously.

Xia Qianqian overheard the villagers whispering among themselves.

A woman pursed her lips and said, "I hope this one isn't like that Xia Wenwen, who's an ingrate. Sister-in-law Xia has only just recovered; she can't take any more stress."

The man whispered, "I think this girl has a clear and honest look in her eyes. She doesn't seem like someone who doesn't know any better. Old Xia has always been a helpful person. God should treat them better."

Hearing these comments, Xia Qianqian frowned, her heart filled with doubt and confusion.

Why is the Xia family completely different from what she imagined?

In Xia Wenwen's description, her adoptive father was a villain who drank all day long and often beat and scolded his family, while her adoptive mother was a miser who was obsessed with money and only wanted to sell her to get money to marry off her mentally challenged son.

However, what she saw before her was a loving couple in the Xia family, and his elder brother did not seem to be mentally challenged. All of this was completely different from the description Xia Wenwen had given her.

Lin Shulan saw Xia Qianqian standing motionless, her lips bitten until they turned white, her eyes filled with humility and trepidation.

Her voice trembled, clearly pleading, as she said, "Child, we know we've wronged you and are ashamed to ask you to acknowledge us. But could you come inside for a cup of tea and say a few words to us? We promise we'll never bother you again."

Blood ties are like an invisible yet resilient thread. Even though Xia Qianqian had made up her mind to remain calm and observe whatever the other person said during their first meeting, when she saw the tears glistening in Lin Shulan's eyes, she felt a surge of warmth well up in her eyes, and her own eyes involuntarily became moist.

Her voice trembled slightly as she softly asked the question that had been buried deep in her heart: "Mom, why haven't you come to see me for so long?"

Upon hearing the word "Mom," Lin Shulan trembled violently, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

She seemed unable to believe her ears; her lips trembled, and it took her a long time before she finally uttered a sound.

"Child, you call me Mom, don't you mind that I'm just an ugly old woman from the countryside?"

Xia Qianqian caught the key words in her words and asked, "Mom, you are my biological mother. You carried me for ten months and gave birth to me. This blood bond is as heavy as a thousand pounds. How could I despise you? Could it be that you have not come to see me because you think you are a country bumpkin and are afraid of losing face for me?"

Hearing Xia Qianqian say this, Xia Qingshan asked in disbelief, "You...you really don't look down on us because we're from the countryside, and you don't think we're a disgrace to you?"

At this moment, Lu Zheng spoke up: "Qianqian, let's not stand here talking. Let's go inside and talk about it slowly."

Xia Qianqian then remembered that Lu Zheng was carrying two loads of things, and quickly introduced him to her parents with a smile: "This is my fiancé, Lu Zheng. We are getting married soon, and I came here specifically to visit you two."

Upon hearing this, Xia Qingshan and Lin Shulan's expressions changed instantly. Lin Shulan's lips moved as if she was about to speak, but Xia Qingshan quickly reached out to stop her: "Let's go inside and talk."

After closing the courtyard gate, Xia Qingshan gestured for Xia Qianqian and Lu Zheng to sit down.

After the two were seated, he looked at Lu Zheng and said, "Brother Lu, I know in my heart that our Xia family has wronged you. We accepted your family's betrothal gifts, but we couldn't marry our daughter off to you. But this is not a minor mistake, and she shouldn't have to bear these consequences."

Xia Damin clenched his fists and impulsively said to Lu Zheng, "I absolutely will not allow my sister to become someone's stepmother! I will definitely find a way to return the bride price to you!"

Xia Qianqian glanced at the group and, seeing that their expressions seemed genuine, felt a little touched. She smiled and asked, "Would you like to hear my opinion?"

Seeing Lu Zheng's tall and strong appearance, Lin Shulan was a little scared, but when she thought of her daughter, she stood in front of Xia Qianqian without hesitation.

"Qianqian, don't be afraid. Although Mom isn't very capable, I'd risk my life for you. This engagement is off today! You can move back here, and we'll live a good life together as a family."

Xia Damin was also somewhat agitated. He clenched his fists and said loudly, "Little sister, I may not have any other skills, but I can still support you. Come back with me, and Mom and Dad will find you a good young man. It's better than being a stepmother!"

As Lu Zheng listened to everyone's words, his heart was in turmoil, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

He looked at Xia Qianqian nervously, thinking: Could she really not want me anymore?

Compared to the unmarried young men in the village, he was indeed a few years older and had two children to support, so he didn't have any advantages.

But the thought of letting Xia Qianqian leave made his heart clench as if something was tightly gripping it, causing him intense pain.

He knew that once he missed Xia Qianqian, he would probably never meet a woman who could move his heart like that again in his life.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and gazed intently at Xia Qianqian: "Qianqian, if you choose me, I will spend my whole life proving that your choice is absolutely right. And I won't spend my whole life in the countryside—"

Lu Zheng almost blurted out what had happened in the provincial capital, but he swallowed the words back.

Now that he has been demoted to the countryside and his future is uncertain, all those past experiences are nothing but illusions. Talking about them would only give Xia Qianqian a vague hope, so he might as well make the most of his current situation.

Seeing Lu Zheng's anxious expression, Xia Qianqian felt a surge of tenderness in her heart.

She grasped his hand and said firmly, "Lu Zheng, I've already decided on you in my heart. Why won't you believe my feelings? Besides, Daya and Erya are so well-behaved and sensible. I don't think they'll be a burden to us at all."

From now on, let's raise these two children together. When they grow up to be beautiful young women, I'll have two sweet little girls to cherish!

After saying that, she looked at the Xia family with a smile.

“Dad, Mom, Big Brother, I know you all love me and care about me. But in my eyes, Lu Zheng is the best man in the world. He loves me, respects me, and cherishes me. I really don’t want to miss him. Besides, his two children are so adorable. I am willing to be their mother from the bottom of my heart. Please believe me, I will definitely be happy.”