"that's all..."
Shen Huaichuan's voice carried a hint of pride and heartache.
"She wasn't crushed; instead, she forged her own path and made her career thrive."
Shen Zhenbang and Qin Peilan couldn't help but look at Zhou Qiqi as they listened to their son's words.
Qin Peilan asked, "Qiqi, are all of these... true?"
Zhou Qiqi bit her lip. This Shen Huaichuan was exaggerating a bit too much.
She wasn't unwilling, okay? From the very beginning, she coveted Shen Huaichuan's body, accepted his identity, and happily came to join the army.
As for the rest, she wasn't really wronged, since she didn't suffer any loss at all.
On the contrary, those who schemed against her and bullied her all met with bad ends.
However, since things were mostly as they were, she couldn't really refute Shen Huaichuan, so she could only nod slightly, feeling a little embarrassed.
Seeing her admit it, the elderly couple felt a deep sense of guilt.
From the very beginning, they were misled by people with ulterior motives. As soon as they entered the door, they gave her a hard time and questioned her for wasting money and being immature.
She is the biggest victim.
She was tricked into a marriage of convenience, forced to leave her hometown, and now she's being targeted by Lin Yao, and is being harassed by these two senile old women.
Even so, she had quietly prepared a hot water bottle, showing thoughtfulness and consideration, without uttering a single complaint.
Qin Peilan struggled to sit up and apologize to Zhou Qiqi, but Zhou Qiqi, knowing that she was not feeling well, quickly stepped forward.
Shen Huaichuan tacitly made way for her and gently pushed Zhou Qiqi to her mother's bedside.
Qin Peilan grasped Zhou Qiqi's hand tightly. Those hands were warm and soft, but they only made Qin Peilan's tears fall more fiercely. She unconsciously tightened her grip, choking back sobs as she said:
"Qiqi, my dear child, I'm so sorry! I... I misunderstood you just now!"
Shen Zhenbang also cleared his throat, his voice much gentler than usual, carrying a clear sense of apology:
"Qiqi, your uncle has misunderstood you and made you suffer."
He has three sons and has always wanted a sweet and caring daughter. He is naturally more patient and tolerant towards girls. Looking at Zhou Qiqi now, his guilt is mixed with heartache.
The little knot in Zhou Qiqi's heart had completely disappeared at this moment.
She hadn't expected that the elderly couple, despite their high status, would so readily set aside their pride to admit their mistakes and apologize so readily and sincerely. This was far better than she had anticipated.
She grasped Qin Peilan's hand in return, her attitude sincere and gentle, and said:
"Uncle, Aunt, please don't say that. I completely understand you, really! If it were me, I would be even more anxious and upset than you if I heard about what happened to my son, and I might not have handled it as well as you. You are both reasonable elders, more so than many young people."
Her words were sincere, giving the elderly couple a way out while also praising them, making her appear exceptionally generous and sensible.
The elderly couple felt both warmed and ashamed upon hearing this.
When Shen Zhenbang and Qin Peilan looked at Zhou Qiqi again, their expressions had completely changed.
Combined with the military newspaper report they had just seen, and the exquisite and practical handicrafts in the room, Zhou Qiqi's image in their hearts instantly rose significantly, becoming brighter and more radiant.
Shen Zhenbang and Qin Peilan exchanged a glance, the same thought popping into their minds:
Huai Chuan, that kid, didn't marry a troublemaker at all, he clearly picked up a treasure and brought it home!
This daughter-in-law not only didn't hold us back, but she also worked hard and made Old Shen proud!
She's smart, resilient, kind, and so skillful with her hands—she's a thousand times better than Lin Yao, who was betrothed to her since childhood!
This made Qin Peilan sigh:
"This marriage exchange is wonderful, absolutely wonderful! Qiqi is such a good girl, she should be our Shen family's daughter-in-law!"
These words were tantamount to a complete acknowledgment of Zhou Qiqi's identity.
Shen Huaichuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, and quietly took Zhou Qiqi's hand beside him.
The two held hands tightly, glanced at each other, their eyes filled with affection for one another.
Qin Peilan felt increasingly gratified as she looked at the young couple, and couldn't help but start chattering away:
“Before, your father and I were most worried about Huaichuan’s marriage. It was almost a heartache for us. But good things come to those who wait! Seeing how well you two get along, I’m much more at ease. In the future, if you two work harder and give our Shen family a few more healthy babies, your father and I will have no regrets in this life.”
They were talking about happy things, but Qin Peilan suddenly burst into tears as she spoke.
Shen Huaichuan and Zhou Qiqi were both stunned, a little taken aback.
Shen Zhenbang understood his wife's feelings best. He immediately knew why she was crying, so he quickly sat down next to her, put his arm around her shoulder, and comforted her:
"This is a joyous occasion, why are you crying? Stop crying, or the children will laugh at you."
But the more he tried to comfort her, the harder Qin Peilan cried.
Shen Zhenbang tried to coax and persuade him, but to no avail, and for a moment he was at a loss.
However, his eyes suddenly widened, as if he had suddenly remembered something, and he said loudly:
"Oh! Right! Zhouzhou!"
"Perrin, haven't you been talking about Zhouzhou all the time? It's been more than half a year since you last saw him! You must be missing him terribly! Stop crying, let's go see Zhouzhou right now!"
"Yes, yes, Zhouzhou... my little Zhouzhou..."
Upon hearing Zhouzhou's name, Qin Peilan's sobs subsided. She quickly wiped her tears with Shen Zhenbang's sleeve, looked up at Shen Huaichuan and Zhou Qiqi, and asked with a smile,
"It's Saturday today. Zhouzhou went to that old Chinese medicine doctor for acupuncture treatment, right? Shouldn't it be almost over by now? Come on, let's hurry and pick up the child, so Zhouzhou doesn't have to wait."
"this…"
Shen Huaichuan's Adam's apple bobbed, as if to say that Zhouzhou would soon stop needing acupuncture.
But this is not something that can be explained in a sentence or two. It will probably take a while to explain, and it may also cause misunderstandings.
Let's bring Zhouzhou back first.
So he quickly replied:
"Dad, Mom, you've been traveling all day and gone through all this trouble. Take a break and catch your breath. Qiqi and I will go pick them up and bring the child back soon."
After saying that, he gently squeezed Zhou Qiqi's hand as a gesture, then got up and quickly went to open the door.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com