Seeing Yuan Huiniang's heartbroken state, Yan Qingqing knew that a short, sharp pain was better than a long, drawn-out one. So she said, "Huiniang, I know you're sad, but everything has a reason."
Yuan Huiniang nodded and replied, "I know, it's because my younger brother is a son, and he can continue the family line and inherit the family business. They've always favored him."
I'm used to my mother treating us all the same. Even though I only have one daughter, Jinxiu, my mother never said anything. In fact, she treats her granddaughter Jinxiu better than her grandson, so I feel that boys and girls are the same.
Moreover, every time I went back to my parents' home this past year, they treated me better than ever before, which made me start to have illusions about them.
Seeing that Yuan Huiniang didn't understand what she meant at all, Yan Qingqing had no choice but to continue, saying, "Men and women are equal. Without women, there would be no men."
Furthermore, childbirth is inherently more arduous for women than for men. This is a point we women must always firmly believe.
The reason she treats you badly is because she's not your biological mother.
Yan Qingqing's words stunned not only Yuan Huiniang, but also Yuan's parents.
It's been so long, and they even moved house specifically to cover it up. How could Yan Qingqing know? Could she be guessing, trying to trick them into revealing anything?
After realizing what was happening, Yuan Huiniang excitedly stood up from the stool and looked at Yan Qingqing, asking, "Mother, do you mean they aren't my biological father and mother? Am I an adopted child of the Yuan family?"
Yan Qingqing shook her head and replied, "No, you are Yuan's biological child. Strictly speaking, your father is your biological father, but your mother, oh, or you should call her aunt, is your mother's biological sister."
Yuan Huiniang was stunned when she heard this. Her mother was not her mother at all. No wonder her mother had always been strange to her since she was a child.
When she was little, every time she went to her maternal grandparents' house with her mother, her maternal grandparents would tell her mother to treat her well.
At first, her mother was fine, but after Yuan Huicong was born, her mother stopped taking her back to her maternal grandparents' house.
Yuan Huiniang quickly composed herself, and breathed a sigh of relief after learning that she was not born to Yuan's mother.
Then, looking at Mr. and Mrs. Yuan, he said, "No matter what, you raised me from childhood, and I will always remember this kindness."
I will not skimp on the gifts I should give you during holidays and festivals in the future.
But it's impossible for you to get more out of me.
Now that my mother-in-law and husband are both officials, their every word and action will definitely attract a lot of attention in the future.
I can't help them, and I definitely won't hold them back.
"Alright, you can go back now."
Looking at Yuan Huiniang's resolute expression, Yuan Dahai felt sad and guilty, but he still explained, "Your mother passed away after giving birth to you."
Before she died, she told me to take good care of you, raise you to adulthood, and then find you a good family.
But you were really too young back then, and I was a grown man who didn't know how to raise a child.
They have no choice but to gossip and beg for a little help from you.
Your maternal grandmother took pity on you and arranged for your aunt to marry me.
She was very nice to you at first, which put my mind at ease, and I was able to go out to work and supplement the family income.
Then your younger brother was born. Actually, Dad knew you weren't her biological son, so she was somewhat biased towards you.
But every time I mention her, she always starts arguing with me, saying that it was already extremely difficult for her, a young woman in her prime, to marry me despite everyone's strange looks.
She's your aunt, how could she treat you badly?
Girls shouldn't be too spoiled, otherwise they won't be able to serve their in-laws when they get married.
I think that as long as she doesn't go too far, I'll turn a blind eye.
I know I've let you down all these years.
You are fortunate to have the life you have today. Your father can also give your mother some peace of mind now.
Don't worry, Dad won't let them bother you anymore.
After saying that, he pulled Yuan's mother away.
Yuan Huiniang watched them leave without trying to stop them.
Then, looking at Yan Qingqing, he asked, "Mother, am I too heartless? Even if she's not my biological mother, she only married my father because of me. Will I have no family left to rely on from now on?"
Yan Qingqing shook her head and comforted him, "I can tell that your father still cares about you."
Actually, I was being lenient with them just now. Your aunt didn't marry your father because you had no one to take care of you. It was because she ignored advice and fell for a hoodlum.
Without a matchmaker, she was an unsuitable woman, and no decent family would want her. Later, that hoodlum was beaten to death.
It just so happened that your mother passed away, which is why she hastily married your father.
However, after marrying your father, she behaved herself and didn't do anything outrageous again.
"I didn't expose the truth in front of your father because she raised you, which is a way of preserving the bond between you and your mother."
Yuan Huiniang felt that what she learned that day was too shocking for her.
By the end, I was almost numb, and surprisingly, my mood wasn't so bad anymore. It was kind of like I'd given up entirely.
Yan Qingqing looked at her and said, "I told you all this so that you wouldn't overthink things."
You can't know how a mother feels; the baby in her womb is the one who can feel it most.
If you're in a good mood, he'll be happy too, and the child you have will be lively and cheerful.
If you're always frowning when you give birth, your child will cry all the time too.
Yuan Huiniang was terrified when she heard this, and quickly said through gritted teeth, "Mother, do you think I'm okay? I don't want a little crybaby."
Yan Qingqing could tell from her silly antics that she wasn't in a bad mood, so she smiled and said, "Okay, a good mood makes for a good-looking baby."
Don't refuse what you want to do; let the boss accompany you.
Yuan Huiniang nodded. Although her mother was not her biological mother, her mother-in-law was her biological mother-in-law.
Seeing that there was nothing else to do, Li Xiangping accompanied Yuan Huiniang back to her own courtyard, while Yan Qingqing looked at the account books.
These accounts were all done according to the method she taught, so Yan Qingqing seemed to have no trouble at all.
Meanwhile, Li Kaishan, the village head of Canghe Village, was also busy. He convened another collective meeting.
All the villagers from Canghe Village who could attend were present, and even Yan Qingqing's family sent Ada over.
The village chief, dressed in brand-new clothes and beaming with joy, stood before the crowd and forcefully struck his newly purchased gong.
He started with a few grand and impressive opening remarks before getting to the point.
Li Kaishan shouted loudly, "Our Canghe Village has been celebrating a lot lately. First, Qingqing and Xiangping were appointed as officials. One is a fifth-rank official, and the other is a seventh-rank agricultural official."
I've already spoken with Qingqing, and she's willing to have the imperial edict enshrined in our village's ancestral hall for two days.
Firstly, it lets our ancestors know that their descendants have achieved great things. Secondly, it's an imperial edict, so our ancestors can also benefit from the dragon's aura and have more energy to protect us.
As soon as Li Kaishan finished speaking, the villagers became excited and started discussing the matter.
People in ancient times were quite superstitious, and this was indeed a momentous occasion to bring honor to their ancestors. Although they weren't officials, they were still people from Canghe Village.
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