As Jiang Jiahua spoke, he looked like a loving father who doted on his daughter, his eyes reddening as he wiped away tears.

The public's sympathy for him instantly reached a new level.

"Even with such an unfilial daughter, Director Jiang is still protecting her. It's truly heartbreaking to see parents like this all the time!"

Most of the people present were older and had children. Seeing Jiang Jiahua like this, they couldn't help but empathize with her and stopped throwing rotten vegetable leaves at Jiang Qiaoqiao.

Jiang Jiahua quickly walked over to Jiang Qiaoqiao with a worried expression, "Qiaoqiao, are you alright?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao glanced coldly at Jiang Jiahua.

Jiang Jiahua's eyes darted around, and he immediately knelt down with a "thump." "Qiaoqiao, Dad knows that your mom was biased before and made you suffer at home. Your parents are here today to apologize to you."

As he spoke, he pulled the rattan cane from his back and presented it to Jiang Qiaoqiao. His humble yet sincere appearance was so moving that it brought tears to the eyes of anyone who heard or saw it.

The crowd couldn't help but speak up.

“My cousin’s husband works in a food factory. My cousin told me about their family. Actually, when Jiang Qiaoqiao was at her parents’ home, she just cooked, washed clothes, cleaned the yard, and did some housework. She didn’t do any work at all, and the Jiang family never beat or scolded her.”

"Tell me, which girl didn't do these kinds of chores when she was young? How come she hates her parents so much over something like this?"

This statement stirred up emotions in some people, who then began to criticize Jiang Qiaoqiao.

Of course, some people also presumptuously advised Jiang Qiaoqiao, "Daughter, there are no parents who are wrong. Just let bygones be bygones for the sake of your parents arranging a good marriage for you. Be good to your parents and live a good life from now on."

"Yes, you're still in business. If you continue to be so stubborn and get a reputation for being unfilial, who will buy your products?"

...

Upon hearing those voices, a hint of smugness flashed in Jiang Jiahua's eyes.

He felt that his self-inflicted injury scheme today was a sure thing to deal with Jiang Qiaoqiao.

She refused to believe that Jiang Qiaoqiao would disregard her reputation and her business.

Jiang Qiaoqiao glanced down at Jiang Jiahua and Peng Cuiying kneeling on the ground; she had long expected this day to come.

She didn't argue with them.

She opened the bag she had picked up when she came out and took out a stack of newspapers from it.

As she distributed the food to everyone, her eyes reddened and she choked up as she said, "I know that everyone here is a good son or daughter to their parents, and a good parent to their children."

But I don't know how much of a failure I've been as a daughter that my own parents have abandoned me time and time again..."

As Jiang Qiaoqiao spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.

She said through grief, "The older sister who has relatives living in the food factory's staff quarters just said that when I was at the Jiang family's house, I did all the housework—washing clothes, cooking, cleaning—but my parents still don't want me anymore, sob sob sob..."

By this time, everyone had already seen the announcement of severing ties published in the far corner of the newspaper.

Everyone couldn't help but feel a little confused.

"What's going on? Wasn't it said that Jiang Qiaoqiao was unfilial, that she married into a good family and then disowned her parents? How come it's Factory Director Jiang publishing a notice in the newspaper saying she's severing ties?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao cried her heart out, and even glanced at Jiang Jiahua, whose face had turned pale, out of the corner of her eye.

It's just acting, right? Anyone can do that.

Although everyone was confused, the older woman who had spoken earlier said again, "Jiang Qiaoqiao, you can't say that. Although it was Factory Director Jiang who published the notice to sever ties, he must have done so in a fit of anger."

Just like us who raise sons and daughters, when our children are disappointing, who doesn't wish they'd never been born?

These words resonated with everyone once again.

"That's right. There's no such thing as a grudge that lasts overnight between a father and daughter. Let bygones be bygones. Your parents arranged such a good marriage for you. Now that you're living a good life, you should remember their kindness and be filial to them."

"You can't just cut ties with them in a fit of pique and then ignore them completely!"

...

Similar words of persuasion were heard incessantly.

Jiang Qiaoqiao wiped away her tears and looked at Jiang Jiahua and Peng Cuiying. "Factory Director Jiang, Factory Director's wife, I only have one question for you: Did you arrange my marriage?"

Upon hearing this, Peng Cuiying felt that Jiang Qiaoqiao was now enjoying what she had taken from Jiang Yiran.

She instantly lost her temper, stood up abruptly, glared at Jiang Qiaoqiao, and said righteously, "Your marriage wasn't arranged by us, was it arranged by you? If you arranged it yourself, that's called an unmarried marriage!"

Jiang Qiaoqiao smiled and said, "Factory Director's wife, let me remind you that free love is encouraged now, and there is no such thing as a marriage without a matchmaker."

As soon as Jiang Qiaoqiao said this, the people looked at her with even more disdain.

Although the current policy advocates free love, people's thinking has not changed.

The prevailing view is that free love is simply an unmarried affair, and that such an affair has no impact on a man's reputation, but is a devastating blow to a woman's reputation.

Huo Beixiao stood firmly beside Jiang Qiaoqiao with his tall and upright figure.

When he came out, Qiaoqiao had already told him not to get involved.

He also believed that with Qiao Qiao's name, the problem could be solved perfectly. His purpose in standing here was only to prevent Jiang Jiahua and Peng Cuiying from making a sudden move, so that he could protect Qiao Qiao.

The moment Peng Cuiying stood up, Jiang Jiahua subconsciously frowned, wanting to stop her.

But it was too late.

Hearing Peng Cuiying and Jiang Qiaoqiao's conversation, his furrowed brows relaxed a little.

That stupid woman has finally grown up a bit; she even knows how to set a trap for Jiang Qiaoqiao.

But he felt a little uneasy, as if jumping into such a simple trap was not something Jiang Qiaoqiao would do.

Just as he was wondering what Jiang Qiaoqiao was up to.

Then Jiang Qiaoqiao took out another stack of papers from the bag where she had taken the newspaper and said to everyone, "Although I didn't have a free-choice marriage, it was because someone else had a free-choice marriage that my marriage with Bei Xiao came about. This is a detailed account of why I married Bei Xiao. You can all take a look."

Gossip is human nature.

Who wouldn't be happy to watch the drama unfold?

Everyone immediately scrambled to grab the papers from Jiang Qiaoqiao's hands.

Jiang Jiahua's heart skipped a beat. He wanted to stop them, but Huo Beixiao stepped forward and stood between him and Jiang Qiaoqiao.

This prevented him from getting close to Jiang Qiaoqiao at all.

Just then, a piece of paper floated down to Jiang Jiahua's feet. He picked it up and took a look, and his face immediately turned green.