Chapter 42 My Daughter is My Own (The End) A Guide to Pampering Your Wife and Daughter...

Song Rou's eighteenth birthday celebration was held in Xizi Bay, a new villa that Song Ce had purchased in her name.

The villa's garden was meticulously decorated, creating a dreamlike scene. Twinkling colored lights cast shadows, illuminating every carefully arranged corner. Layers of vibrant lilies bloomed, their rich fragrance filling the air.

Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor of the villa, Song Rou gazed at the lively scene below, her heart filled with excitement and anticipation. She looked stunning tonight, wearing a custom-made white evening gown, its skirt flowing like a cloud, the hand-embroidered patterns shimmering under the lights.

Song Ce and Liang Qiulan arrived together. Looking at their daughter, who had grown into a young woman, Song Ce was filled with emotion.

Sensing her husband's melancholy and complicated feelings, Liang Qiulan patted his hand, then stepped forward and personally tied up their only precious daughter's long, black, and shiny hair. A few strands of hair fell beside her fair neck, making her face even more delicate.

"Dad, Mom! You're here! Where are Grandpa and Grandma?" Song Rou called out sweetly.

"Grandpa and Grandma are downstairs! Rou Rou, this house was designed under Dad's personal supervision. From today onwards, it belongs to you." Song Ce took out an exquisite box and gestured for Song Rou to open it. Inside lay the property certificate for the Xiziwan Villa.

Over the past decade or so, Song Ce's business has grown bigger and bigger. Today, Song's Seasonings is one of the leading seasoning companies in China.

"Thank you, Dad!" Song Rou smiled and gave Song Ce a big hug. "Dad, I love you so much."

"Oh, so our Rou Rou only loves Daddy and not Mommy? Should we still bring out Mommy's gift?" Liang Qiulan teased.

"I love Mom the most too." Song Rou hugged Liang Qiulan's waist again, smiling and begging for mercy.

"Rou Rou, come here." Liang Qiulan gently held Song Rou's hand and led her to the balcony. She pointed to the mysterious object covered by a huge red silk in the courtyard and gently nudged Song Rou.

"This is a gift that your mother has been choosing for you for a long time, our little princess. Please do me the honor of coming to the courtyard and unveil the surprise your mother has prepared for you!" Song Ce said in a serious tone.

Overwhelmed with curiosity, Song Rou pulled her parents and ran quickly to the courtyard. Song Ce stood considerately to the side with Liang Qiulan in his arms. Song Rou reached out, carefully grabbed a corner of the red silk, took a deep breath, and then pulled hard.

In an instant, a brand-new imported Panamera coupe came into view, its smooth body lines gleaming with a captivating luster under the soft glow of the small colored lights.

"Wow! Thank you, Mom! I love it so much!" Song Rou excitedly hugged Liang Qiulan, her eyes wide with surprise.

"I'm glad Rou Rou likes it. You're turning eighteen now, so you can go take your driving test," Song Ce said with a smile.

"Um!"

“Since you were very little, your father and mother have been looking forward to this day. We want to give you a special gift that will accompany you wherever you want to go in the future.” Liang Qiulan stepped forward, gently put her arm around Song Rou’s shoulder, and her eyes sparkled with tenderness.

"Dad, Mom, these are the best gifts I've ever received!" Song Rou turned around and hugged Song Ce and Liang Qiulan tightly, her voice choked with emotion. "Sometimes I think, how many good deeds did I do in my past life to be able to be your daughter in this life?"

Song Ce smiled and patted his daughter's head. "Rou Rou, from today onwards you are an adult. You need to act independently from now on, so don't cry anymore."

Liang Qiulan also instructed, "After you get your driver's license, please be careful when driving, okay?"

"Dad, Mom, I definitely will!" Song Rou eagerly opened the car door and got into the driver's seat. Just as she was about to start the car, Song Ce snatched the car key from her hand.

Song Rou pouted and said coquettishly, "Daddy."

The refined-looking man remained unaffected, casually tossing the car keys in his hand: "Come back and exchange car keys with me when you get your driver's license. Until then, I'll keep the car."

“Yesir!” Song Rou knew that although her father seemed gentle and easy to talk to, he was a man of his word, and no matter what she said today, she would not change his mind.

"Let's go, little princess." Song Ce pointed to the huge custom-made cake in front of the French windows and smiled gently, "It's your turn to make your appearance."

Song Rou took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and walked gracefully toward the main hall.

The family of three arrived at the main hall, and the birthday banquet officially began.

"Happy birthday, my darling daughter!" Song Ce and Liang Qiulan stepped forward, and the couple gently embraced Song Rou. Then, together they placed the custom-made pink diamond crown in Song Rou's hair.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad." Song Rou's voice was slightly choked. She had been looking forward to this day for a long time, but when it finally arrived, she felt a little lost. All the prepared remarks she had made were forgotten at this moment. Song Rou took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and gracefully bowed to her parents: "Being Mom and Dad's daughter is the greatest luck of my life."

Seeing the confident, poised, and beautifully dressed protagonist, the guests gathered around, almost all of them with smiles on their faces. Her classmates, who were familiar with her, came forward one by one to offer their blessings. In addition to her classmates, there were also Song Ce's business partners, those industrial entrepreneurs who always appeared in newspaper headlines and financial channels, who offered their sincere blessings with great affection.

Not only that, Song Ce also invited all of Song Rou's teachers from school. In the crowd, Song Rou also saw her best friend Li Weiyao, who was struggling to squeeze through the crowd and waving a gift at her.

"Rou Rou, happy birthday!" Li Weiyao ran happily to Song Rou and handed her a beautifully wrapped box. "This is something I specially prepared for you. Open it and see!"

In front of her good friend, Song Rou naturally relaxed a lot. She smiled and took the package, carefully unpacking it. Inside was a beautiful photo album, which meticulously recorded every little detail of her and Li Weiyao's lives from elementary school to high school. Each photo carried their precious memories.

"Yaoyao, thank you!" Song Rou was deeply moved and hugged Li Weiyao tightly.

As the music began, the banquet officially commenced.

The dining table was laden with delicacies prepared by the top chefs that Song Ce had hired for his daughter. Guests raised their glasses in celebration, and laughter echoed throughout the villa.

After the banquet, Song Rou, the birthday girl, naturally had to go on stage to give a speech. The lights were focused on her, and Song Rou was slightly nervous, but more so, she felt confident and happy because of her family.

"Respected elders, dear friends: Hello everyone! Standing here today, my heart is filled with excitement and gratitude, because today is a very important moment in my life—my eighteenth birthday coming-of-age ceremony. Please allow me to express my deepest gratitude to the elders, family, teachers, and friends present here. Thank you for accompanying me as I grow and for witnessing this important moment in my life. On this significant day, I want to thank my parents for their endless love and support..." Song Rou's clear and melodious voice, when it reached Song Ce's ears below the stage, had a unique charm.

He looked at his radiant daughter on the stage, as if through her he could see the baby who had never had time to grow up smiling and fading away, all the painful memories of the past replaced by the girl in front of him.

A strange feeling suddenly welled up in Song Ce's heart. Sensing something, he deliberately took a few steps closer to Song Rou.

"See? I've raised my daughter very well," Song Ce said in a low voice.

That inexplicable emotion came and went quickly. By the time Song Ce realized what was happening, Liang Qiulan had already placed her hand on the back of his hand and said with a smile, "Yes, Brother Ce, you've raised your daughter very well."

The little girl I remember taking her first steps has now grown into a graceful young woman, about to embark on a happy future.

As night deepened, the guests gradually took their leave. Song Rou's grandparents, parents, and she stood together at the villa entrance, seeing them off one by one. After the last guest left, the family turned and went back into the villa.

"Rou Rou, did you have a good day?" Liang Qiulan walked over and gently patted her daughter's shoulder.

"Of course, Mom, thank you, and thank you Grandpa, Grandma and Dad too," Song Rou said sweetly, snuggling into Liang Qiulan's arms.

"Rou Rou, remember, you have a long road ahead of you. No matter what difficulties you encounter, your family will always be your strongest support," Song Ce said gently.

"Yes, Dad!"

The next morning, almost all financial and news channels in China were reporting on one thing: today was the day for the handover of the Song family's condiment business.

Many people were shocked by Song Ce's decision. Many of his business friends asked him why he was in such a hurry to hand over the huge Song's Seasonings to his daughter, who had just come of age. It should be noted that when Song's Seasonings was first established, its sales had already reached 300 million Chinese dollars. After more than ten years of expansion and development by Song Ce, the sales of Song's Seasonings have now exceeded more than ten times the initial amount. Last year, it even reached 9.8 billion Chinese dollars, making it a true leading seasoning enterprise in China.

Song Ce held a press conference specifically for the handover ceremony of Song's Condiments, stating gently yet firmly: "He has never been afraid that his daughter would not be able to support him. He will always be Song Rou's strongest support. Now he only has this one daughter, and the family business will naturally be inherited by her. If anyone wants to make trouble for this, he will definitely stand up to protect Song's Condiments, protect the people who work for Song's, and protect his daughter."

That same day, the press conference was reposted by Shanghai TV Channel 1 and China TV Channel C, clearly telling everyone that Song's Seasoning has the strong support of China TV and Shanghai TV.

After all, Song's Seasoning is a well-known leading enterprise in China. If they were to collapse, countless people would lose their jobs, which is definitely not the outcome the higher-ups want to see.

******

"Hey? What's wrong with you? Why don't you watch where you're going?" A glamorous urban office lady looked at her bag, which had been stained by the bump, and couldn't help but complain to the old woman in front of her.

But the old man seemed not to hear, staring blankly at the projection advertisement on the office building in Haishi, which was showing Song Ce's press conference.

The urban office lady couldn't very well criticize a down-on-his-luck old man in public, so she could only mutter a curse under her breath and clatter away in her high heels.

As Liang's mother watched the man, whose face could barely be considered handsome, speak confidently and eloquently, she couldn't help but clutch the snakeskin bag in her hand. She slumped down on the ground by the roadside trees, ignoring the surprised looks of passersby, and covered her face, bursting into tears.

When did things start to change?

Her daughter, whom she had always looked down upon, had now fallen into a blissful nest she never dared to dream of. Her husband loved her, her daughter was adorable, and her in-laws were honest and kind people. Why was she able to live such a good life now, while her own precious daughter ended up in such a state?

Her usually lovable eldest son was sentenced to eight years for hooliganism. After his release, he became mentally unstable, often muttering to himself against the wall. Sometimes, when he lost control, he would grab whatever was at hand and beat the couple severely.

Her husband was unlucky; her son had just been born when he got drunk and died. She cried and went to find the daughter they had once abused, but the house in their village looked like it hadn't been lived in for a long time.

She made many inquiries and learned that her daughter and son-in-law had moved to a big city long ago. But Shanghai was so big, she couldn't read a single word, her capable husband was dead, and her only son had mental problems. Where could an old woman like her find her daughter?

She could only return to the village unwillingly. Just then, she saw Song Ce's familiar face on the TV.

Right then and there, she decided to come to Haishi to seek medical treatment for her son, so that she could be closer to her daughter and son-in-law and find them more easily.

But her son's recurring illnesses almost exhausted her strength. She had to work two jobs every day just to make ends meet. She was originally working three jobs, until she collapsed at work and was hastily dismissed by her boss. Only then did she realize that her health was of utmost importance. If she died, their son would be completely finished.

Shanghai is so big! So big that she simply didn't have the energy to look for her daughter.

Until last week, her only son, Liang Xiaobao, got drunk just like his unfortunate father, and in the middle of the night, his mouth and nostrils were filled with vomit. It was the first time she realized that what he vomited could take the life of her beloved son.

Liang Xiaobao choked to death.

She handled Liang Xiaobao's funeral in a numb and perfunctory manner. The restaurant where she worked, deeming her unlucky, paid her wages in full and fired her. She clutched the neatly folded three thousand two hundred yuan in her worn-out backpack tightly, and on her way back, the scene at the beginning of this story unfolded.

If... if they hadn't shamelessly asked their daughter and son-in-law for the money to raise their daughter and the dowry for their child back then, would they be living a decent life in a big house now, just like Mr. and Mrs. Song, enjoying the support of their daughter and son-in-law, and living a happy life?

Yes or no?

But there are no "what ifs" in life.

******

Three years later, in the First District Prison of Shanghai.

The prison gates slowly opened, and a middle-aged man with a shaved head walked out with a limp, looking very cautious.

Song Xiaojie kept his head down, his steps slow, each one filled with fear of the future.

Prison guard Li Mingfu stood to one side, looking at the young man who had spent twenty-one years behind high walls, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

"Song Xiaojie!"

"arrive!"

Li Mingfu stepped forward, patted Song Xiaojie on the shoulder, and said in a gentle yet solemn voice, "The past is the past. From now on, turn over a new leaf and start anew. Go! Don't look back."

Song Xiaojie looked up, his eyes filled with confusion and unease. His lips moved, and he stammered, "Officer Li, can I go home now?"

“Yes,” Li Mingfu said.

Perhaps sensing Song Xiaojie's fear and nervousness, Li Mingfu comforted him, saying, "It's normal that you feel uncomfortable when you first go out, that you're scared or afraid to do anything. But as long as you walk the right path steadily, the people will eventually accept you. Don't care what others think, you have to respect yourself."

Song Xiaojie's eyes reddened slightly. "Yes, Brother Li, thank you for taking care of me all these years."

“Taking care of you is my duty. My hope is that you can leave here today and have a better life in the future.” After saying that, Li Mingfu took out a piece of paper from his pocket. “This is the phone number of the community assistance station in your town. If you have any difficulties, go to them.”

Upon hearing this, Song Xiaojie solemnly accepted the note and clutched it tightly in his hand.

"I'll remember that, Brother Li."

Song Xiaojie took his things from Li Mingfu and walked forward step by step, leaving the prison iron gate far behind him.

He was originally sentenced to twelve years for manufacturing and selling counterfeit goods, but during the trial, his creditors came to collect their debts. Where would he get the money to pay them back? The creditors directly revealed that he had been involved in gambling, and he was sentenced to a total of twenty-four years for multiple crimes.

Song Xiaojie thought he would be released from prison soon, but he was surprised to be sentenced to 24 years. Of course, he was not satisfied and continued to appeal, but the second instance upheld the original sentence. He had no choice but to serve his sentence in the First District Prison of Haishi City. Due to his good behavior, his sentence was reduced by three years.

Years of reform in prison made him look much older than his actual age. He took the two hundred yuan that Li Mingfu had stuffed into his pocket and hurriedly bought a bus ticket back to his hometown.

After a bumpy journey, Song Xiaojie finally returned to his long-awaited hometown. However, standing in front of the familiar courtyard gate, which was much more dilapidated than before, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive about returning home and was filled with many emotions. He didn't dare to take a step forward.

"Sir, who... are you looking for?"

A cheerful male voice came from behind him. Song Xiaojie turned around and saw a young man with an unfamiliar appearance looking at him with curiosity.

Song Xiaojie paused, then asked cautiously, "Young man, do you know how this family is doing now?"

"You're looking for this family?" The young man looked apologetic. "This is my uncle's family. My uncle passed away from illness a few years ago, and my aunt lived alone afterward. Then, last month, my aunt also passed away. They do have a son, but I heard he committed a crime and is currently in prison."

"Where is this family's...wife?" After hesitating for a while, Song Xiaojie finally asked.

"Well, I'm not too sure about that. I just heard that his wife divorced my uncle's son and went to work in a big city. She hasn't come back all these years," the young man said.

"Oh, I see... Then I'm sorry I came back too late and didn't get to see my... old man one last time." Song Xiaojie's eyes reddened, and he choked up as he spoke.

He is no longer worthy to be his parents' son; how can he possibly have the face to call them "father" and "mother"?

"Grandpa, don't cry! My aunt's funeral was a happy one. Our village boss, Mr. Song, organized everything, and the villagers all worked together to handle it. He covered all the expenses and even hired people to perform. It was quite a grand affair!"

"Boss Song...?"

"Grandpa, you don't know this yet! Boss Song is the most successful boss in the Song family in the village. Have you heard of Song's Seasoning? It's famous all over the country. That's the company founded by Boss Song from our village! And all the cement roads in the village were built with Boss Song's money! Because of these roads, the lives of the villagers have improved! Their living standards are completely different from before!" The young man said enthusiastically.

Hearing this series of news, Song Xiaojie couldn't help but turn away, wipe the hot tears that had slid from his eyes, and asked in a choked voice, "Where are those two old people buried? I want to go and pay my respects."

The young man looked suspiciously at the man who was only carrying a tattered cloth bag, but the grief on his face seemed genuine. He pointed to the road and said, "It's buried in the field below my old man's house. I have something to do, so you can go and see for yourself, old man."

Song Xiaojie stumbled and fell to his parents' graves, then knelt down with a thud. He thought about the foolish things he had done when he was young, which had caused his parents to pass away without him being able to stay by their side. He felt he was unworthy of being a son.

"Dad, Mom, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Song Xiaojie wailed, seemingly oblivious to the pain, repeatedly kowtowing on the ground. But no matter how many times he kowtowed, his parents passed away with resentment, unable to see their only son one last time before they died. They would never come back...

******

Song Ce lived to be eighty-two years old.

Liang Qiulan passed away three years ago, but he couldn't bear to leave Song Rou, so he endured the torment of his illness and lived on for another three years.

At the age of twenty-seven, Song Rou found her true love. Her husband was a gentle and considerate man, just like her. Although he was criticized for being a bookish scholar with no business acumen and ultimately living off his wife, he was not affected at all. He even stated at a press conference that it was his lifelong pursuit for his wife to allow him to live off her for the rest of his life.

When Song Rou turned thirty, their child was born and took Song Rou's surname. The young couple asked Song Ce to name the child. Just like when he named Song Rou, Song Ce carefully flipped through books all night and named the child Song Rongshao.

Song Rongshao was influenced by Song Ce and received elite education from Song Rou from a young age. At the age of fifteen, he was admitted to Tsinghua University, one of the top universities in China. He then continued his success, pursuing master's and doctoral degrees at ETH Zurich. After returning from his studies, he joined Song's Seasonings. At the age of thirty-one, he led Song's Seasonings out of China and into the world.

702: Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the mission. Please leave the world immediately.

As Song Ce watched his soul leave that aged body, he couldn't help but turn around. He saw his refined son-in-law shaking his head sadly, while his daughter, whom he had doted on all her life, burst into tears, like a wronged little girl, and lay by the bedside.

He couldn't help but gently stroke Song Rou's head with his transparent hand. "Daughter, you must live well from now on. Dad is going."

-----------------------

Author's Note: My daughter's story is finally over! I originally planned to split it into three chapters, but I got carried away and ended up with one long chapter! This grand finale is so satisfying!!! Thank you so much to all my lovely angels for your continued support! Please like, favorite, comment, and subscribe if you enjoyed it!

P.S.: Next story preview: Ancient setting~ I spent all day writing cultivation novels today, and I'm not satisfied with any of them. I'm practically spitting blood! Please don't hit me QAQ

PS2: The cultivation-themed writing is so difficult, the speed is reaching an astonishing 200 words per hour! I've deleted countless words back and forth, so I'll continue writing when I have more inspiration~ Thanks again to all the lovely angels, love you all~