Seeing Mr. Du's anxious look, Xia Lan smiled.

"Old Du, we're back!!"

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!" Du Wenqing's joy was palpable when he saw Xia Lan and Qin Yu.

The two people standing next to Elder Du exchanged a glance, further confirming the importance of Qin Yu and Xia Lan in Elder Du's heart.

Qin Yu walked up to Elder Du and said softly.

"We're back."

"Do you want to starve this old man to death? I've had so much fun I don't even want to come back."

Du Wenqing patted Qin Yu with a smile, using her smile to hide the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Missed us? Hehe, come on, I'll tell you what we did today!"

Xia Lan took Du Wenqing's arm and led him inside. Du Wenqing obediently followed Xia Lan back to the grape trellis.

"Tell me, what did you do today?"

Du Wenqing was very eager to hear Xia Lan tell him what they had done that day...

Xia Lan told Old Du everything that had happened that day, which made Old Du smile broadly.

Qin Yu watched the two of them being so close and playful, like grandfather and grandson, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. Then he turned around and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner for them.

After a delicious dinner, Xia Lan and Du Wenqing were so satisfied that they slumped in their chairs and let out a burp without any regard for their image.

Qin Yu looked at them and smiled as he finished.

At another table, two people were also scrambling to cook rice.

"dad!"

A sudden, shrill cry came from outside the door, instantly turning Du Wenqing's smiling face cold.

Upon hearing the sound, the two people who were cooking immediately got up. One of them went outside, while the other locked the door.

Xia Lan was stunned. The moment that voice came out, the atmosphere became tense.

Qin Yu and Xia Lan exchanged a glance, only to hear a man's mournful voice coming from outside.

"This is my good son who reported me."

Du Wenqing's voice was melancholic, and his cold face was like an insurmountable chasm, making it impossible for anyone to approach him.

Xia Lan's expression changed. Was this the 'good' son who had publicly reported her father by name?

"If my two apprentices were the ones who didn't help me and even pushed me away, then this 'good' son is the one who personally pushed me down."

Du Wenqing said slowly.

"The first thing I did when I got back was to break off all ties with him and report it to the authorities."

"That's exactly how it should be done!"

Xia Lan strongly supports Du Wenqing's approach.

What's the point of having such a scumbag!

Du Wenqing looked at Xia Lan, and the coldness in his eyes immediately disappeared.

"Then what's the point of him coming here?"

Xia Lan asked curiously.

"Ha, he said he wanted to bring his child to 'recognize his ancestors and return to his roots'."

Du Wenqing found it laughable.

Just then, the sound of children calling from outside the door came through.

"Grandpa, please open the door! I'm your grandson!"

"Father-in-law, please open the door! We are your family! These are all your blood relatives! How can you bear to see us standing here like this...?"

Xia Lan suddenly felt an itch to do something. How could there be such a shameless person, resorting to moral blackmail?

"Is this how you do it every time they come?" Xia Lan looked at the two guarding the area, one inside and one outside, clearly very familiar with this routine.

"Mm." Du Wenqing nodded.

"They'll be coming today; Du Juan must have told them."

If it weren't for Zhang Qiu's sake, Du Wenqing wouldn't have wanted to acknowledge this daughter.

"..." Xia Lan was truly speechless. What kind of people was Du Wenqing?

How come they're all top-notch?

First, his own son reported his father by name; his daughter and son-in-law did nothing while their father was arrested; and his two apprentices even betrayed their master.

For the past ten years, these people haven't uttered a single word of concern, and have been comfortably enjoying their affluent lives in the capital.

Now that their faction has fallen, they're starting to 'suddenly realize' their mistakes and admit them?

How can there be such a shameless person?

"Girl, this is for you!"

Du Wenqing got up, went back to his room, and brought out a document, which he placed in front of Xia Lan.

Xia Lan curiously picked up the document, opened it, and looked at it. Her expression froze, and she quickly returned it to Du Wenqing.

"We can't accept it!"

Xia Lan refused outright, leaving no room for negotiation.

Qin Yu looked at Du Wenqing calmly, his face also showing rejection.

"In this world, you are the only people I can entrust my life to! Can you bear to see me being abused by them?"

When Du Wenqing saw that they wouldn't accept the money, his eyes dimmed, as if he had been abandoned by the world.

"Even without these things, Qin Yu and I wouldn't leave you alone! We said we'd take care of you!"

Xia Lan looked at Du Wenqing and said earnestly.

"Don't play the victim here. Keep these things to yourself. You earned them through your own hard work. Why give them to me and Qin Yu? We're not short of money."

Xia Lan frowned and threatened Du Wenqing.

Aren't you afraid that we'll take your things and then treat you harshly?

"You? No way!" Du Wenqing shook his head with a smile.

"But they definitely will."

Du Wenqing pointed outside the door; those people were after the honor, money, and power he could bring.

I never came here for him personally.

Only Qin Yu and Xia Lan came to see him because they valued him as a person.

"I've announced it to everyone today: you are my goddaughter, and Qin Yu is my apprentice."

Du Wenqing said to Xia Lan.

"Besides, you guys saved my life. If it weren't for you, I would have died long ago, and I wouldn't have been able to get these things back, right?"

"So these things are just right for you."

Du Wenqing then placed the document in front of Qin Yu.

Xia Lan narrowed her eyes and met Du Wenqing's gaze, not allowing him to back down.

"Speak up! Why are you turning everything over to us like you're entrusting us with a task?"

Xia Lan insisted that Du Wenqing reveal the reason.

Du Wenqing's lips curled into a smile.

"Girl, do I need to say this? Look, since you two came here, this is what I call life. You actually care about whether I'm doing well or not. Qin Yu cooks for me, and you make me laugh. I feel so comfortable!"

"This is the life I want!"

Du Wenqing's eyes were filled with tears when she said these words.

In front of Xia Lan and Qin Yu, he could relax and be himself. He was now just a helpless old man who needed someone to support him.

“I used to be that helpless old man, and I still am that helpless old man now. I beg you two to take me in. Have pity on this old man who has no one to care for him, and let me enjoy my old age in peace! I have nothing else to give you, just these material possessions. You don’t even want these. How can I accept your kindness with a clear conscience?”

Du Wenqing's words pierced Xia Lan and Qin Yu's hearts, as they looked at the tears and pleading in Du Wenqing's eyes.

Xia Lan turned to look at Qin Yu, and her heart softened when she saw such a helpless old man.

He was surrounded by wolves and tigers; he was too old to fight them.