After Jiang Xintong came out of the bathhouse, Jiang Qiao took her to buy some clothes to change into.

Jiang Xintong wouldn't allow it, but Jiang Qiao spoke the truth: "Look, you're going to see your own mother. She's living with Niu Guihua and the others now. You should understand some things better than I do. Take it. This is all I can do for you."

You probably don't know about my relationship with your mother...

Jiang Qiao briefly recounted her story with Wang Dahua and the events that had unfolded before and after.

Jiang Xintong's eyes widened, her expression one of utter disbelief. "My mother could do something like this?"

Jiang Qiao smiled calmly, "You might think it's a joke, but it really happened to me, which is why I spent money to buy my freedom. That's your mother. Whether she is or not, you'll understand as you experience it later. Let's go, let's go back to my house and have something to eat first, and then I'll take you there."

Jiang Xintong was preoccupied with her own thoughts. She hadn't expected that Jiang Qiao had such a connection with her mother, and that her mother had actually pushed such a good child away. She even thought her mother was getting senile, but she couldn't say anything in front of Jiang Qiao.

Jiang Qiao bought a gift for Jiang Xintong to take with her, and then took her to the post office to make a phone call to her man.

Although Jiang Xintong had the leverage over them, Jiang Qiao could still hear the man's scolding voice on the other end of the phone, even from the side.

"Wait for me, I'll come get you—"

Then Jiang Xintong asked Jiang Qiao for her address, and Jiang Qiao took the phone and told the man her address.

"Young comrade, thank you so much. I really don't know how to thank you enough. Let's talk about it when we meet."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Xintong felt regretful. She had rushed here out of maternal love, never expecting such an outcome. If it weren't for Jiang Qiao's help, she probably would have died here, and she wouldn't have been able to visit her child. The man was right; only if she lived could she properly watch her child grow up.

"Auntie, don't regret it. It's not all bad. We know about your mother now, so let's go."

The closer Jiang Xintong got to Wang Dahua's place, the more nervous she became. She missed her mother and hated her brother and sister-in-law. If it weren't for them, she wouldn't have suffered so much.

No one knows what she suffered in the brothel. It was only because her husband didn't mind that she married him; otherwise, she would be living a miserable life now.

"I... I want to go straight there."

Jiang Qiao grabbed Jiang Xintong, who was acting impulsively, shook her head, and said calmly, "I understand how you feel. Although she is your mother, don't forget that you also have your heartless brother and sister-in-law by your side. Auntie, you should know better than me which is more important, your daughter or your son. Eat your fill first, so you have the energy to go back and argue."

Entering Jiang Qiao's home, Jiang Xintong felt a bit conflicted. Looking at the clean and tidy house, she thought that her mother was truly blind and incompetent. How could she not have raised such a good child to adulthood?

“My grandfather went to the countryside to treat patients. The two of us are currently living off his consultation fees. Please sit down and don’t be shy. I’ll cook for you right away.”

After giving Jiang Xintong some medicine, Jiang Qiao went into the kitchen and quickly made a pot of dumpling soup.

"Just eat this for now. I know you're worried. Your mother lives in the same courtyard as us, so she can't run away. Just eat slowly with the pickled vegetables."

In Jiang Xintong's eyes, Jiang Qiao had already treated her to a very good meal with white noodle soup. She couldn't bring herself to say thank you, as it felt too inadequate. She would remember the girl's kindness in her heart.

After Jiang Xintong finished eating and drinking, Jiang Qiao gave her thirty yuan, saying, "Take this first. No matter when your uncle comes, you can use it to get by."

Jiang Xintong's eyes reddened, and her voice choked with emotion, "Jiang Qiao, I, I—"

Jiang Qiao smiled and patted her hand. "Auntie, finding you is a way for me to give my grandma some peace of mind. As for how my grandma will be in the future, with you as her daughter, she'll be better off than an outsider like me. Alright, stop being so touching, let's go."

When Jiang Qiao led Jiang Xintong to Da Wanghua's house, they encountered several neighbors along the way, and everyone was puzzled.

"Jiang Qiao, who are you leading? They look unfamiliar."

Jiang Qiao didn't hide anything, "She's my grandma's biological daughter. I just happened to run into her, so I brought her here to meet my family."

Everyone was stunned. "What? Wang Dahua has a biological daughter? How come we've never heard of that?"

Jiang Qiao smiled and said, "I heard about it now. It's true, her biological child. We lost contact before, but I ran into her. It's a relief that my grandma was thinking of her. You guys go ahead and do your work. I'll take some people over there."

The news that Wang Dahua's biological daughter had arrived spread throughout the courtyard in no time.

Jiang Qiao led Jiang Xintong to the courtyard where Wang Dahua lived. "Hey, this is Grandma. Is she home?"

Wang Dahua and the others were busy pasting cardboard boxes inside the house. Although they didn't earn much money, the family was short of cash, and so many people were waiting to be fed.

Jiang Qiao shouted outside, but Wang Dahua and the others ignored her. Jiang Qiao shrugged helplessly at Jiang Xintong.

“There are people at home, but they don’t like me. Auntie, you go in by yourself. Take your things with you. No matter what, your own mother is inside. It wouldn’t be right not to bring anything.”

The people inside didn't make a sound, but Jiang Xintong's pent-up anger flared up. "Jiang Ping, Niu Guihua, you two bastards, come out here! Your grandma is back!"

After saying that, he ran straight into the courtyard. Jiang Qiao looked at what he was holding, sighed helplessly, and could only follow him in.

Hearing the voice, Wang Dahua, who was inside the house, was immediately taken aback. "Who is this, so arrogant?"

Niu Guihua was so startled that her hand trembled, and the half-stitched cardboard box fell to the ground. The old lady looked at her with a puzzled expression, then got up and walked out.

As soon as she reached the door, a woman rushed in. Wang Dahua said irritably, "Who are you? How can you be so rude? What kind of upbringing did your mother give you? Don't you know how to behave when visiting someone's home?"

Jiang Xintong looked at her white-haired mother and rushed over, bursting into tears, "Mother, it's me, Erni! Mother, I've finally found you! Your daughter's life has been so hard—"

Wang Dahua was stunned by Jiang Xintong's words, unsure of what to do with her hands.

"Comrade, please calm down—"

He then pulled away from the person in his arms and looked them over carefully. "You, you're really my Erni?"

"Mother, it's me, it's Erni."

Although the child was very young when she died, you could still vaguely tell that the girl looked like her. At this moment, Wang Dahua let out a scream, hugged her daughter, and cried while patting her.

"You brat, where have you been? Weren't you dead? What happened?"

The mother and daughter embraced and wept bitterly. Niu Guihua, who was inside the house, didn't dare to show her face. She kept praying in her heart, hoping that this Erni wasn't real and that she had lost her memory.