Chapter 123 Exposing the Fake: You All Discriminate Against Me

"What happened?" Seeing this, You Yun didn't stand in front of Qin Li'an. A woman like her was no match for a man, and she didn't intend to shield him. You Yun simply noticed the girl was alright, except her hair was a little messy. "What happened to her?"

Although You Yun didn't like Qin Li'an, she felt that after serving three years in prison, he probably wouldn't dare to lay a hand on girls anymore.

"Let her say it herself." Qin Li'an wiped the blood from his nose and looked down at his hand.

"Dad, someone was following me, that's why I hid here. He helped me." The girl's name was Zhu Meng, and she was in her early twenties.

Zhu Meng was stunned when her father suddenly gave Qin Li'an a thorough dressing-down.

Zhu's father glanced at Qin Li'an, then looked at his daughter. He pulled her towards the door, saying, "It's so late, let's go home."

Father Zhu did not thank Qin Li'an. He thought that since Qin Li'an had been able to force himself on other girls in the past, he might still have bad intentions. However, there were still some people outside who Qin Li'an dared not do anything about it.

"Hurry up," said Father Zhu.

Zhu Meng glanced back; her father was urging her on the other end.

You Yun wasn't surprised to see this. Everyone thought Qin Li'an was a bad person, and she thought so too. However, Qin Li'an had done the right thing by saving people this time. Even if others had prejudices against him, it was Qin Li'an's own fault.

Qin Li'an made the mistake first, and even though he has already paid the price, others cannot discriminate against him.

Some people commit a crime once and then do it again. It's normal for others to worry that Qin Li'an will commit another crime.

"Let's pack up and go back," You Yun said. "It is indeed quite late."

You Yun still disliked Qin Li'an; she always remembered him abandoning her child. If it weren't for the police witnessing it, her child might have been taken away. Five- or six-year-old children may forget their memories over the years, making them vulnerable to kidnappers. Five- or six-year-old children are also in danger; if kidnappers think they have good memories and can't sell the child, they might kill them.

Therefore, You Yun had harbored resentment towards Qin Li'an for years, and when Qin Li'an went to jail, she said he deserved it. Even after Qin Li'an's release, You Yun's attitude towards him remained poor.

A bad person is a bad person, regardless of whether they are punished or not.

What's the point of a prodigal son returning home? You Yun thought no one had the right to forgive Qin Li'an on her behalf or for her child's sake.

Qin Li'an packed his things, closed the supermarket, and walked behind You Yun.

Qin Li'an has come to understand the many mistakes he made in his youth, and now he only wants to avoid committing any illegal or criminal acts. However, Qin Li'an cannot truly give up everything; he still has his eyes on the family's assets, though he is not considering fighting for Qin Yizhou's share.

Aunt Song's second son, Tang Shaohua, divorced his wife a few years ago and remarried another woman in the city in order to stay in the city. Tang Shaohua's ex-wife took their child to Aunt Song, saying she wanted the child to stay in the city to study. Aunt Song refused to let them stay at her home, so Tang Shaohua's wife left the child at the door, and Aunt Song sent the child to the Tang family.

Aunt Song was disgusted by these people abandoning their children at her doorstep. Those children were mostly in middle or high school, not particularly young. Don't think Aunt Song didn't know what these people were up to; they just wanted her to pity the children and take care of them.

Tang Shaotao looked at the two children, and his head ached. They were Tang Shaohua's children, not his. Tang Shaohua's marriage to that woman was practically like a son-in-law living with his wife's family. Although they didn't have children of their own, the woman had a child with another man. The woman wouldn't allow Tang Shaohua to bring the child with him, so Tang Shaohua couldn't bring the child.

Tang Shaohua was summoned to Tang Shaotao's home, and Tang Shaotao was very dissatisfied, saying, "Take your child away."

“No, my wife won’t let them come.” Tang Shaohua looked at the two children, teenagers, not yet fifteen. Tang Shaohua had already told his ex-wife that the children would come to the city later. The older child hadn’t arrived yet; Tang Shaohua and his ex-wife married later, so the child was relatively young.

Tang Shaohua couldn't arrange for so many people at once. Even if he wanted to, he had to be careful and not have them all come to his side at once.

"Brother, let them stay here with you for a while," Tang Shaohua said. "If it doesn't work, send them to Mom's."

"Mom didn't want them, so she sent them to me," Tang Shaotao said.

“Dad lives here too.” Tang Shaohua didn’t think that this house was just Tang Shaotao’s house. This house originally belonged to Tang’s father, so it should be a part of Tang Shaohua’s life.

Tang Shaotao couldn't really kick the two children out, so they had no choice but to stay at the Tang family home for the time being.

Aunt Song is not a foolish person. If she takes in those two children, she will have to take in even more children in the future.

Tang Lu is still single and unmarried. She's not young anymore, almost thirty. While serving in the military, she hasn't dated or considered finding a partner.

Meanwhile, Tang Lu's colleague, Jian Lili, got a boyfriend and got married.

Jian Lili was going on maternity leave and came to say goodbye to Tang Lu. Jian Lili was going to switch careers and wasn't thinking of continuing to fly fighter jets.

"Are you really going to change careers?" Tang Lu asked.

As the two walked through the base, Tang Lu was surprised that Jian Lili had left so soon.

"Hmm." Jian Lili looked down at her belly. "I'm pregnant, and I don't have as much energy anymore. I'll have to take care of the baby more in the future. I was a pilot, I've been to the sky, I'm satisfied."

Jian Lili was dissatisfied but helpless. Over the years, she had come to realize the significant differences between men and women. Not every woman is better than a man; in certain subjects, men are indeed stronger. Jian Lili had tried very hard to bridge this gap, but she hadn't done as well as Tang Lu.

Instead of continuing down this path, it would be better to get married, have children, and do something else.

“New students have arrived,” Jian Lili said. “There are female students, just like we used to be. I wonder how many of them will stick with it. Tang Lu, I’ve tried my best.”

"..." Tang Lu looked at Jian Lili, her eyes filled with complex emotions. Yes, she had tried, but...

Of that group of female trainees, some changed careers, while others quit altogether.

Suddenly, Tang Lu realized that of the female trainees she had studied with to become a pilot, she was now the only one left. There weren't many people in their batch to begin with; some went to other bases, and some stayed. Of the women who stayed, more and more left one after another.

“Keep striving with our share of effort,” Jian Lili said. “Shouldn’t you… also find someone?”

"What if I say I'm not looking for a partner?" Tang Lu asked.

"Why?" Jian Lili didn't understand.

"I just feel that finding a partner is meaningless," Tang Lu said. "Not all couples can support each other to the end. Couples are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately."

Tang Lu thought her father was the best example. During that special period, her father divorced her mother directly and even kicked her mother hard.

“Don’t be too pessimistic. There are still many good men in this world,” Jian Lili said. “Not all men are bad. Don’t let your family influence you. You should still…”

“I am an adult, and I have my own choices,” Tang Lu said. “I know what I am doing.”

“I haven’t been dating or married before, and my parents have been constantly urging me to stay single. They say I’ll definitely regret it later,” Jian Lili said. “If I don’t have children, who will take care of me in my old age? My nieces and nephews are unreliable; they can’t support me in my old age. They have to support their own parents. Tang Lu, you also need to think carefully about your brothers and nephews. Will they help you in the future?”

Jian Lili felt that those people were unlikely to help Tang Lu too much; it was already good enough that they hadn't made Tang Lu put in any extra effort.

“Even if you think men are no good, having children is fine,” Jian Lili said.

“You know what? After my mom’s accident, all of us cut ties with her,” Tang Lu said. “We don’t treat her like our own mother anymore. We all say we don’t have a mother like that. Children, even if they’re our own, so what? If something really happens, the children will run away. The children will say that it wasn’t them who asked their parents to give birth to them, and that their parents didn’t even tell them in advance.”

Tang Lu understood all too well. Having been through so much, how could she not understand the intricacies of the situation? Tang Lu didn't want to become a sacrifice, didn't want to always sacrifice herself for the so-called family.

“You…you are really too pessimistic,” Jian Lili said.

"Is not getting married a sign of pessimism?" Tang Lu asked.

"this……"

"Marriage is meant to make your life better, not worse," Tang Lu said. "As long as we can live a good life, what's the point of getting married?"

“Life may be good now, but what about later?” Jian Lili said. “We always have to think about the future.”

"We'll talk about the future later. Right now, we need to focus on living our lives well," Tang Lu said.

“Alright,” Jian Lili said. “Maybe you’ll change your mind after a while. Think it through sooner rather than later; we’re not getting any younger.”

Tang Lu didn't want to say much. Jian Lili was married, so naturally Jian Lili would say these things. Tang Lu wasn't really thinking about getting married. If she hadn't met the right person, why would she marry and ruin herself?

Aunt Song didn't pay attention to Tang Lu's marriage; it didn't matter whether Tang Lu got married or not. Aunt Song's idea was simple: to live life to the fullest in the present.

Two days ago, Aunt Song met Mr. Tang outside. Mr. Tang talked about Tang Lu's situation, but Aunt Song didn't care.

So, when Aunt Song San visited Song Fenglan's house, she mentioned that Tang Lu was still single.

"It's not like I'm preventing Tang Lu from getting married, what good are they coming to me for?" Aunt Song rolled her eyes. "Why Tang Lu turned out this way is their own question. They still have the nerve to say those things in front of me, making it seem like I'm the one preventing Tang Lu from getting married."

"She doesn't have a boyfriend yet?" Song Fenglan asked.

"No," said Aunt Song. "When I contacted her before, I asked casually, and she said no. I guess the Tang family has contacted her many times. Those people have been trying to introduce her to potential partners and use her as a stepping stone for them."

“They’re not in the same place,” Song Fenglan said. “You can’t control that.”

“Even if I could manage it, I wouldn’t,” Aunt Song said. “How good can those men be? It’s not as reassuring as having your own money and reliable relatives and friends. That’s how you live a more comfortable life. Tang Lu’s current state is largely due to the Tang family. I haven’t done anything wrong; it’s the Tang family who set a bad example. Do they want me to reflect on my actions? Do they want me to bring those Tang family members to my house? Dream on.”

“Indeed, we don’t need to bow down, we don’t need to give them this opportunity,” Song Fenglan said. “Aunt, please don’t be angry.”

“A few days ago, Tang Shaohua’s ex-wife even left the child with me,” Aunt Song said. “They all acted first and asked for permission later, thinking I could handle those things.”

"You didn't keep them, did you?" Song Fenglan asked.

“How could I possibly keep them?” Aunt Song said. “I’m not stupid. Those people deliberately left the children with me, thinking I would soften my heart. I’ll send them all to the Tang family. If they do it again in the future, I’ll send them to the Tang family. Those people can forget about ever entering my house.”

“Hmm.” Song Fenglan nodded. “That’s fine too. They were originally from the Tang family, so let them take care of themselves.”

“These people are all plotting against me,” Aunt Song said. “They’re just changing the name but not the substance. Do they really think I don’t know anything? As I get older, I’ll think about those children even more. How could that be? I’ve known what kind of people they are for a long time. They’re not good people. Getting close to them will only make my life harder.”

"Yes, you're right," Song Fenglan said. "Aunt, would you like to stay here for a couple of days?"

"No, I have things to do," Aunt Song said. "We have to film tomorrow. As you know, our show is still very popular. We're planning to film a new one, continuing the previous ones, one after another. We'll film as we go along with the script."

"Don't we need to get the project approved first?" Song Fenglan asked.

"We need to get the project approved first, and that's just a general outline," Aunt Song said. "When we're filming, we still need to revise the script and see what content is interesting. Anything uninteresting or outdated has to be cut."

Aunt Song and others discussed the script together; it was a collaborative effort, not something she did alone. The sitcom series produced by Aunt Song and others was very successful on Beijing TV, achieving high ratings and attracting a large audience, with some episodes even being rebroadcast.

Now, Aunt Song is a fairly well-known director, and her life is much more fulfilling.

“Last time, I asked your mother if she wanted to make a cameo appearance, to act as a relative and perform in a couple of plays,” Aunt Song said. “Your mother said no, she doesn’t like acting, saying her acting skills are bad, so I didn’t force her.”

In the old days, being an actor meant being a performer, and people would easily laugh at you. But now, being an actor is a respectable profession, and there's nothing to be ashamed of.

Song's mother didn't look down on the actress; she just thought she really couldn't act. So Song's mother didn't bother with it; she just watched.

"Have some mung bean cake," Song Fenglan said. "I made this mung bean cake myself, please try it."

Song's mother often sent over pastries, so Song Fenglan didn't have to cook them. Even when Song Fenglan cooked occasionally, she felt her culinary skills had deteriorated.

"Not bad, not bad, the taste is still very good," said Aunt Song.

exist

After Qin Li'an rescued Zhu Meng, some people, unaware of the full story, assumed that Qin Li'an had tried to rape Zhu Meng and that her father had discovered it. Zhu's family didn't explain, but when Zhu Meng tried to, her family dragged her home.

Qin Li'an heard people speaking ill of him, and business at the shop became a little quieter. He didn't go outside to explain. Explaining was useless; no one would believe him, especially since he had made a big mistake before.

At this moment, Qin Li'an felt very frustrated. Even if he explained to acquaintances, they might not believe him, let alone strangers.

After such an incident, Brother Qin naturally had to inquire about it to prevent Qin Li'an from going astray.

"You laid your hands on that girl?" Brother Qin asked with a cold face.

When Qin Li'an returned home, he heard what his father said and was in a bad mood. He really didn't.

That evening, Qin Li'an returned home a little earlier, but didn't see any other members of the Qin family. Qin Li'an thought the matter was over, but he didn't expect there to be a follow-up.

"I didn't. She rushed into my shop and said someone was following her. I helped her chase the person away," Qin Lian said.

"Did you really do that?" Brother Qin frowned. "People are saying you were touching the girl inappropriately, and some even saw it."

"I didn't!" Qin Li'an emphasized. "I really didn't."

“If you don’t, will others say that?” Brother Qin said.

“He really didn’t.” You Yun walked over. “Zhu Meng was indeed being followed. She mentioned it in the store. It wasn’t Qin Li’an’s fault.”

In this matter, You Yun knew that she hadn't allowed others to continue slandering Qin Li'an. When asked, You Yun told the truth. Qin Li'an was, after all, the older brother of You Yun's biological son, and You Yun didn't want Qin Li'an's situation to affect her own son. It was best for Qin Li'an to prove himself on his own, rather than waiting for his younger brother's help.

"Really?" Brother Qin asked. "But outside..."

“Those people don’t know the truth, they’re just talking nonsense,” You Yun said. “The Zhu family isn’t explaining, and if they don’t speak up, won’t others just talk even more nonsense?”

"If something like that really happens, we still have to help. Whether they're neighbors or not, we have to help," Brother Qin said.

"I helped," Qin Li'an said, feeling wronged. He had helped someone, but this was how it turned out. Qin Li'an hadn't expected You Yun to speak up for him; his stepmother clearly disliked him.

You Yun was simply stating the facts; she wasn't so bad as to frame her stepson with baseless accusations.

"Since it's not your fault, then forget about it," Brother Qin said. "How's business at the shop?"

"Business has been a bit slow these past few days," Qin Li'an said.

It's not a big supermarket, but a small one, and Qin Li'an basically manages it himself. If business is good, Qin Li'an would like to hire more people to help, but if business is bad, he doesn't dare to ask for help.

"Take it slow. In time, people will know you've changed, and business will still be good," Brother Qin said. "You have to rely on your own hands to get rich through hard work. Back then, I told you to study hard, but you refused. Now look what's happened. You've been to jail and don't have a diploma. A junior high school education isn't enough; you can't even find a good job. You're just waiting for the day your house is demolished and you become rich overnight. But even if you did become rich overnight, you wouldn't be able to hold onto that money."

Brother Qin thought about how Qin Li'an used to hang out with those thugs. Qin Li'an hasn't had much contact with them lately, but who can guarantee they won't come after him? Some young people always like to talk about brotherhood, but they don't realize that others are just saying it; they don't really care about you at all.

At this time, Duan Yue was working in another city. He saw someone recommending a person named Song Fenglan, who was a graduate of Nancheng University, which made Duan Yue very suspicious.

"Are you really a graduate of Nancheng University?" Duan Yue asked.

“Yes, I graduated from Nancheng University,” said 'Song Fenglan,' who was the one who picked up Song Fenglan’s graduation certificate and degree certificate.

After obtaining Song Fenglan's degree and graduation certificate, she thrived in the private company. Even though she didn't have high technical skills, she knew how to pay people to help her and was good at deceiving people. Now she was the department head of the private company, with a lot of power. She didn't have to do many things herself; she spent more time dealing with people outside.

People say that Song Fenglan is knowledgeable in professional fields, eloquent, a good drinker, and has smooth skills. She doesn't know much, but those big bosses know even less. She can easily fool them by just using a few professional terms. Song Fenglan also knows how to dress herself up and make herself look good. Her husband is also a high-ranking official in a private company.

After finding her degree certificate and graduation certificate, Song Fenglan got married and had children.

“You didn’t graduate from our Nancheng University, did you? You can come and visit Nancheng sometime. Our school is very nice.” Song Fenglan said with a smile. “Our school has a lake with dense woods around it. Many couples like to go there to play. The lake is located a little behind the mountain, in a secluded spot.”

To avoid arousing suspicion, 'Song Fenglan' even visited Nancheng University herself, exploring every nook and cranny and inquiring about various aspects of the university. 'Song Fenglan' even fabricated stories about her university days, telling them to others until she almost believed them to be true.

Because 'Song Fenglan' had changed her name, and given the somewhat chaotic state of her household registration in the past, she was easily fooled. Everyone assumed she was the real Song Fenglan, not a fake.

'Song Fenglan' had met people who graduated from Nancheng University, even those from the same year, and none of them recognized her as the real Song Fenglan, which made her even bolder.

"The class of '77, or before?" Duan Yue asked. "I went to university before the college entrance examination was reinstated, and then I took the postgraduate entrance examination."

“Yes, I was in the class of '77, the first batch of college students after the college entrance examination was reinstated.” Song Fenglan said with a smile, “I also wanted to take the postgraduate entrance examination, but then I thought about it and realized that I’m already this old, what’s the point of continuing to study? I might as well find a job and be more settled.”

“It’s more reassuring,” Duan Yue nodded.

Duan Yue was certain that there was something wrong with the person in front of him. Song Fenglan from Nancheng University in 1977. Even if there were people with the same name, could there really be two people with the exact same name in the same major? The probability should be very small. If that were the case, no, no, it's still unlikely.

Duan Yue and Ding Wenbo shared a dorm room, and he almost became Song Fenglan's student as well. Song Fenglan was such an outstanding person; she often spent her time in the research institute during her university years, so it's normal that many people hadn't seen her.

“A woman’s future is only secure when she has a family, a husband, and children,” Duan Yue said. He didn’t say anything more that might arouse suspicion. “It’s good for students who take the college entrance exam to go to university, unlike us who were recommended to go. If we were to take the college entrance exam, we wouldn’t know which school we would get into. The reason I’m going to take the postgraduate entrance exam is because those who were recommended to go to university before might have a negative impact at work and be less successful than those who take the college entrance exam later. That’s why I’m taking the postgraduate entrance exam; it’s my own decision, so it counts.”

"It's good enough if I can go to university," said Song Fenglan. "Why be so particular?"

After dinner, Duan Yue didn't tell anyone around him about his suspicions, fearing they might tip him off. As for the local police station, he figured that wouldn't work either, for fear of being implicated.

So Duan Yue called Ding Wenbo, who was still at Capital University. It would be best to have the relevant departments investigate to determine the truth. Song Fenglan's identity was unusual; if this 'Song Fenglan' was also real, Duan Yue was willing to bear the consequences.

Upon learning this, Ding Wenbo suddenly remembered something: "The teacher had lost her graduation certificate and degree certificate. Wasn't she in the capital? She didn't go to Nancheng, so Nancheng University sent her the graduation certificate and degree certificate. The teacher didn't receive them for a long time. After asking, she found out that Nancheng University had sent them to her a long time ago, so she thought they were lost on the way. Nancheng University sent them to her again."

Very few people know about this. Ding Wenbo only learned about it from Song Fenglan's assistant, who was in frequent contact with him.

“That makes sense,” Duan Yue said. “Then the problem is very likely here.”

"Did you call the police?" Ding Wenbo asked.

“I’m going to call the police here, and you should also inform the relevant departments,” Duan Yue said. “I just don’t know if this is simply a matter of someone finding my graduation certificate and degree certificate, or if there’s something else going on.”

Duan Yue also just met with that 'Song' today.

Feng Lan, the one who knows Song Feng Lan, knows quite a few people, including government officials. Duan Yue was worried that calling the police would be useless and might even alert the suspect.

"It's best to call your local police." Duan Yue thought for a moment. "She knows too many people. She's been here for many years, and her network of relationships is complicated. She works in a private company, and she may have given people a lot of benefits."

"Alright." Ding Wenbo nodded. "If... if you do something good..."

"Consider it a favor you owe me," Duan Yue said. "Then I won't ask your teacher for that favor."

Duan Yue was too embarrassed to ask Song Fenglan for a favor; he felt he didn't have the face to ask.

“Okay, sure,” Ding Wenbo said.

The next morning, Ding Wenbo went to see Song Fenglan. After learning of his plan, Song Fenglan agreed to his actions. Ding Wenbo then contacted the relevant departments, who immediately took action. They inquired with Nancheng University and found that there was only one person named Song Fenglan from the class of '77; there were no two. There were others with similar pronunciations, but they were not female; they were male.

To avoid alerting her, officials from relevant central departments went directly to the city and even contacted the military. They stormed into Song Fenglan's office and arrested her.

When Song Fenglan was arrested, she was a little dazed, but then she realized that this day had finally come. Clinging to a sliver of hope, Song Fenglan thought that with her graduation certificate and degree from Nancheng University, she could have a better future, earn more money, marry a more successful man, and provide a better path for her children.

'Song Fenglan' had a child out of wedlock in her early years and was abandoned. Later, she found Song Fenglan's graduation certificate and degree certificate, and a series of bold ideas began to sprout in her mind. Her parents knew when she changed her name, but they had no objections and kept it a secret from everyone. 'Song Fenglan' did not live in her original city, but in another city. She deliberately avoided the southern part of the city. It wasn't that she hadn't considered going to the capital, but she was afraid that the real Song Fenglan would go there. She had inquired and some people said that Song Fenglan was from the north.

Under such circumstances, Song Fenglan should not choose a northern city or a southern city. It would be best to choose a central city and avoid coastal cities.

When she was looking for a job, employers weren't constantly scrutinizing her graduation certificate and degree certificate; they'd glance at them a few times and return them to her. 'Song Fenglan' successfully found a good job and managed to stay afloat.

'Song Fenglan' thought she was hiding well, that she was doing very well in this city, and that no one knew she was a fake. Even if she went to other cities on business trips, people wouldn't know she was a fake; not everyone would still talk about her graduating from university.

Many successful people didn't originally have high academic qualifications, and few people would specifically mention it.

The reason others introduced Song Fenglan that way to Duan Yue was because Duan Yue was a researcher, and they felt that this was a better way to introduce Song Fenglan, as it directly showed Duan Yue her abilities. So they just said it that way without telling Song Fenglan beforehand. Even if they had told her beforehand, Song Fenglan didn't think anything of it. This city was her territory; she had even joined the alumni association of Nancheng University and successfully blended in.

"Is there a mistake?" The other employees in the company were all surprised when they learned that 'Song Fenglan' had impersonated someone else.

How could that be?

Song Fenglan knows many people who graduated from Nancheng University, and she even attends alumni associations and has connections with them.

So many people are still coming to arrest 'Song Fenglan,' and the company is surrounded layer by layer.

"Could it be a mistake? She hasn't said anything." An employee tugged at the person who was speaking, telling them to stop talking.

With such a major incident, the company will inevitably be affected. You see, the boss values ​​Song Fenglan highly; she has been with the company for many years and has accomplished a great deal.

Song Fenglan's husband soon learned that she had been arrested, and he couldn't believe it.

"How could that be? Isn't her name Song Fenglan?" her husband exclaimed in astonishment.

Song Fenglan did take her husband home to meet her parents, but the visit was relatively short. When people called her by her old name, she said it was her nickname. Her husband didn't suspect anything, and since they only visited a few times, he was even less likely to suspect anything.

Although 'Song Fenglan' is fake, the two of them really got married and had a child.

After this incident, many people found it unbelievable. How could it be? How could 'Song Fenglan' be fake? Shouldn't she be real?

Some of the graduates from Nancheng University who had settled in the city were even good friends with Song Fenglan. Now that Song Fenglan was in trouble, everyone was afraid they would be implicated.

Song Fenglan was an outstanding student at Nancheng University, but she kept her position confidential, so her photo wasn't posted. Also, it was only those pursuing master's or doctoral degrees, or those going to Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who likely inquired further and learned that Song Fenglan was a professor there. The average person, without investigation, remained unaware.

Besides, there are countless people in the world with the same name, making it even harder for them to discover that this 'Song Fenglan' is a fake.

When Song Fenglan learned that the fake "Song Fenglan" had found her graduation certificate and degree certificate and was impersonating her, she felt she hadn't done anything seriously wrong. She had only used the degree and graduation certificate; she was capable, and if she weren't, she wouldn't have become the department head.

Song Fenglan inquired a little, and she was utterly speechless.

“So many people think they are very capable, but they just lack a diploma, so they forge it.” When Song Fenglan told Qin Yizhou about this, she shook her head several times. “This time, if Duan Yue hadn’t happened to be working there and the two of them hadn’t been in contact, she really could have kept it a secret. She is very good at using connections and getting people to help her. Several times, she has managed to fool people on important matters. She does have some ability.”

“If she’s capable, then she should rely on herself. The people she contacted certainly had the prestige of being graduates of Nancheng University,” Qin Yizhou said. “She probably also contacted alumni, didn’t she?”

“Yes.” Song Fenglan nodded. “She’s really bold. How dare she, an imposter, go to alumni’s places? Isn’t she afraid of being discovered?”

"You haven't been in school long enough for people in your major to remember what you look like, let alone people from other majors," Qin Yizhou said. "Even if many of your classmates from the same year know you, students from other years won't. When you're out in the world, people from the same hometown or alumni tend to stick together. If you can bring benefits to others, they can also bring benefits to you; it's a mutual exploitation."

Qin Yizhou didn't work for a private company, but he knew quite a lot.

Brother Qin now works for a private company, and he still goes to see people he used to work with, sometimes asking Qin Yizhou for information. Qin Yizhou naturally can't help Brother Qin with much information gathering. Some simple, non-violation-restricted matters are fine, but sometimes Qin Yizhou isn't sure if something is against the rules, so he doesn't say much.

Qin Yizhou works in the military, not in a government department, so he's not very familiar with many policies. Qin Yizhou directly refused his older brother's offer to help him find out, telling him to find out for himself.

It's not that Qin Yizhou is heartless; sometimes, what is said unintentionally can be taken to heart by others. They might think that Qin Yizhou is implying something, suggesting that they should help Brother Qin.

"If I were any ordinary person, and I went up to her, she'd probably beat me up like a fake," Song Fenglan couldn't help but say.

“What’s real is real, and what’s fake is fake,” Qin Yizhou said. “So many people know you.”

"I was just giving an example," Song Fenglan said. "I never imagined someone could use my graduation certificate and degree certificate to get a job. Luckily, it wasn't my identity card or household registration book that was lost. If it had been lost, would she have used my household registration book to marry someone?"

“We are on the same household registration,” Qin Yizhou said.

"..." Song Fenglan looked at Qin Yizhou, who was really serious.

An investigation by relevant departments revealed that "Song Fenglan" had found Song Fenglan's graduation certificate and degree certificate by chance. She did not know the real Song Fenglan and had no idea what the real Song Fenglan was doing. Even so, the matter was still extremely serious, and she was prosecuted by the court.

Song Fenglan's real name was Ji Ying. Her biological mother's surname was Song. After changing her name, she later got together with her husband and told him that she had taken her biological mother's surname. Her husband didn't suspect anything; it's not a big deal for a daughter to take her biological mother's surname.

When Ji Ying's husband visited her, his tone was very unpleasant; he felt that Ji Ying had wronged him.

Oh no, their child is also being ridiculed.

“I lied to you, but is a diploma really that important?” Ji Ying said. “Do you think I don’t want this diploma? Look, with this diploma, I can easily make so much money, right? And you were the one who pursued me first and got together with me.”

Ji Ying found it laughable. Now that the truth had come out, everyone acted as if she owed them something. Ji Ying didn't feel she owed them anything. These people were also using her; it was a mutual exploitation, and no one owed anyone anything.

"If I didn't have a diploma, would you have pursued me?" Ji Ying said. "But did I really get to my management position because of my diploma? I got it through my own abilities. I just lack a diploma."

Ji Ying's eyes were bloodshot. "It's you all. All of you are discriminating against me."

"You've used so many people..."

“I told them I was from Nancheng University, and they believed me. They treated me like their junior sister or senior sister.” Ji Ying sneered. “Men are all the same. I just beckon them, and they come to help.”

Song Fenglan was unaware of this. What she knew was that Ji Ying's name had been changed back, and Ji Ying was no longer called Song Fenglan. Even though Ji Ying had the right to change her name, she had infringed upon Song Fenglan's rights, so Ji Ying naturally could no longer use the name Song Fenglan.

At the supermarket, Zhu Meng brought dumplings to see Qin Li'an. She had overheard rumors about Qin Li'an outside, and she was surprised that so many people would spread such rumors without knowing the truth.

"Would you like dumplings? They're freshly cooked and piping hot." Zhu Meng took out a lunchbox, opened it, and found it filled with dumplings. "There's no one else in the shop right now, you can have dumplings first."