go home
Tao Chu drove to her old home. In recent years, Jianglin City has developed rapidly, and there are construction sites everywhere along the roadside. If it weren't for the navigation, she probably wouldn't have been able to find her way.
This house was originally a welfare house provided by Xu Weirong's work unit. It was purchased at a price slightly lower than the market price, so even after Xu Weirong was falsely accused and lost her job, it was not taken back.
After the divorce, Xu Weirong took her daughter to Wanghu City, leaving the house to her ex-husband Tao Guohua.
Thirty years ago, Xu Weirong and Tao Guohua met through an introduction.
One was a high-achieving student brought in from elsewhere, and the other was the only son of a local scholarly family. They were a perfect match in appearance and hit it off immediately.
The two married after dating for a year. After marriage, due to Xu Weirong's busy work schedule, they spent little time together, and it wasn't until three years later that she became pregnant with Tao Chu.
Tao Guohua has a handsome appearance but no talent or willingness to work hard. Unlike his parents who have many students, he is not as capable or hardworking as his wife. Yet he is arrogant and often complains that he is not appreciated.
While Xu Weirong was achieving success and rising through the ranks, Tao Guohua could only stay at Jianglin University as a lecturer through his parents' connections. He taught for more than ten years before finally being promoted to associate professor after much pleading.
As time went on, the two realized they weren't on the same path, and their relationship gradually became superficial.
Later, Xu Weirong's old classmate Zou Ming was transferred back to Beibin District of Jianglin City. The two had close contact, and rumors began to circulate.
Tao Guohua dared not question it—seeing no hope of becoming a full professor, he set his sights on an administrative position, hoping to use his wife's connections to pave the way for himself, but his wife had always refused.
Soon after, photos of Xu Weirong and Zou Ming seemingly kissing in a private setting were widely circulated in online articles, magazines, and tabloids.
Xu Weirong insisted that she was being slandered, saying that it was her birthday that day, and that her husband Tao Guohua and another friend, Wen Tao, who works in Hengwan District of Jianglin City, were also present.
However, the two-month investigation "confirmed" the rumors, with both Wen Tao and Tao Guohua denying that they were present.
Tao Guohua chose to give false testimony because he had overheard his wife and Zou Ming conducting a secret investigation into the background of Li Pengcheng's gambling and debt collection gang, a powerful figure that his family could not afford to offend.
Furthermore, with Wen Tao threatening and enticing him with promises of career advancement and money, Tao Guohua ultimately chose to give false testimony.
Soon after, Wen Tao was transferred from Hengwan District, the poorest and most remote area of Jianglin City, to the city center and was quickly promoted.
The following year, Tao Guohua was promoted to deputy secretary of the college, but he remained in that position for several years afterward, and Wen Tao did not respond to his requests several times.
He felt he was implicated by his ex-wife's investigation, and Zhou Bingcheng and Wen Tao doubted his credibility.
So he inquired and schemed extensively, eventually getting in touch with Sui Liyong, Zhou Bingcheng's rival.
During that period, Zhou Bingcheng and Sui Liyong were both trying to get into the provincial government. They saw each other as obstacles and thorns in each other's side. However, two years ago, Zhou Bingcheng was promoted to the provincial government first.
How could Tao Guohua, a person who couldn't even teach well at school, possibly help Sui Liyong uncover Zhou Bingcheng's dark secrets?
Lacking connections, Tao Guohua remained on the periphery of Sui Liyong's circle, unable to get promoted.
He didn't sleep a wink until last night when he received a call from his daughter.
He speculated that Xu Weirong's accident was most likely because she was silenced after finding crucial evidence, which is why someone broke into her home to search for things.
Tao Guohua was indeed worried about his daughter's safety. No one could be sure whether she knew the clues Xu Weirong had found before her death. He was worried that the mastermind behind the scenes would kill her as well, just to be on the safe side.
Although the father and daughter are now estranged, when Tao Chu was in elementary school, because Xu Weirong was busy with work, Tao Guohua was the only one who could pick up and drop off little Tao Chu every day.
That was the companionship and waiting through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, day and night; the father and daughter were once incredibly close.
Tao Guohua didn't want to see his daughter die a tragic death like Xu Weirong, but besides that, he also hoped that his daughter really had leverage over Zhou Bingcheng's faction.
When the time comes, Tao Guohua will present the evidence he found to Sui Liyong. It's not impossible that he could become the head of not just the college, but the head of the entire Jianglin University!
But Tao Guohua also had concerns—he knew that Tao Chu had been studying abroad for the past few years and might not know what Xu Weirong was investigating.
If Tao Chuzhen is truly unaware of the situation, and he rashly takes her back to Jianglin City, it might bring danger to himself and his family. His current wife, Xu Jing, might not be able to accept living with her stepdaughter.
Tao Guohua hesitated and struggled all night, smoked two packs of cigarettes, and was ordered by Xu Jing to brush his teeth twice early in the morning.
He was absentmindedly scrolling through his phone when he heard someone knocking on the door.
Tao Guohua thought it was a milkman or a courier, but when he heard the noise, he realized that Xu Jing had gone to open the door, so he just rinsed his mouth.
Tao Guohua!
Suddenly, Xu Jing called his name loudly. He keenly sensed her anger, quickly put down his toothbrush and cup, and went over to see what was going on.
He didn't expect Tao Chu to drive to Jianglin City overnight and show up at his doorstep.
Tao Chu stared at Tao Guohua, who stood with his mouth slightly open, toothpaste foam dripping out and smearing half of his chin, looking both shocked and bewildered.
With her eyes lowered and a look of grievance on her face, she called out softly, "Daddy—"
Tao Guohua first glanced awkwardly at Xu Jing, who was pouting and frowning, and then realized that he and Xu Jing had blocked Tao Chu at the door. Looking at his thin and haggard daughter, Tao Guohua felt a little sorry for her.
"Come in, come in first—" Tao Guohua stepped aside.
Tao Chu ignored Xu Jing, "obediently" squeezed through the doorway, and politely asked, "Do you need to change your shoes?"
"It's alright, no need, no need. Sit down and rest for a while. You've been driving all night, haven't you slept?"
Tao Chu nodded silently.
She glanced around her old home. Several plates of fruits and snacks were crammed together on the coffee table, a pot of New Year's flowers was placed on each side of the TV cabinet, red paper-cut window decorations were pasted on the glass, and a cheerful family photo was hanging on the wall behind the sofa.
She slowly walked over and looked at the family in the photo.
Tao Guohua, dressed in a dark purple Tang suit with gold auspicious patterns, sat in a round-backed chair. Xu Jing, dressed in a bright red cheongsam, sat next to him, her arm linked with his.
Xu Jing's daughter, Xu Lingling, was wearing a bright red Hanfu with gold thread, a shiny wig with a few plastic hairpins, and her hands were on Tao Guohua and Xu Jing's shoulders respectively. She leaned slightly closer to them.
With their three faces so close together, they really do look like a family of three, perhaps because they've lived together for so long.
What an intimate, tacky, and jarring family portrait.
"Chuchu, come on, have some water."
Tao Chu turned around, took the cup handed to her by Tao Guohua, and smiled sadly: "This family photo is really well taken. My mother originally said she would take me to take one during the Spring Festival this year."
Upon hearing this, Tao Guohua, who had just been leaning back on the sofa, straightened up slightly, looking somewhat uneasy.
He rubbed his hands together: "Sigh, Chuchu, this happened so suddenly. We all need to take it easy. Your mother certainly wouldn't want you to be too sad."
Xu Jing felt annoyed when she saw Tao Chu. Just then, her daughter Xu Lingling came out of the room in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes and asking, "Mom, what's wrong with Dad again? Why is he yelling at him first thing in the morning?"
"Tsk—how rude! You didn't even say hello. Coming out like this so early in the morning, go back and change your clothes! We have guests!" Xu Jing deliberately raised her voice.
Tao Chu realized that she was being sarcastic, so he lowered his head, took a sip of water, and pretended not to hear.
Xu Lingling was bewildered after being scolded by her mother.
She turned her head and saw a long-haired girl sitting on the living room sofa. She guessed it was Tao Chu and immediately understood why her mother was so angry.
She was still grumpy from waking up, and with a belly full of anger, she slammed the door shut as she went back to change her clothes.
Tao Guohua was caught in the middle, and his face was starting to crumble.
He had some questions for Tao Chu, so he stood up and said, "Chu Chu, come to the study with me and let's talk."
This small room, less than ten square meters, used to be Xu Weirong's study, but now it is filled with clutter, with only a small space by the window for a desk.
From the moment Tao Chu stepped into this house, she felt that the spacious and bright house she remembered had become crowded and cluttered.
There was only one chair in the storage room. Tao Guohua plopped down on it first, while Tao Chu had to stand. To the left was a dangling plush rabbit toy, and to the right was a cardboard box covered in dust.
Having just been humiliated by Xu Jing and her daughter, Tao Guohua felt uneasy. He cleared his throat and said, "Didn't I tell you to find a hotel to stay in first? Why didn't you tell me beforehand and just came over?"
Hearing him blame himself, Tao Chu said in a muffled voice, "I ran away from home in such a hurry that I didn't bring my ID card, and I didn't dare to go back to get it..."
"Oh—" Tao Guohua felt a pang of sympathy when he heard Tao Chu's voice trembling with tears. He immediately explained, "Dad just thought it was too dangerous for you to drive all night, especially since it's such a long way!"
“Dad, I have no choice, I don’t know where to go—” Tao Chu stepped forward and put her arm around his shoulder, sobbing, “Grandma is old and has high blood pressure, I’m afraid to go to her, afraid she’ll find out about Mom’s car accident…”
Tao Guohua was also somewhat moved and gently patted her head.
From her words, it seemed she wanted to stay here, but Tao Guohua hesitated, thinking of Xu Jing and her daughter.
He tentatively asked, "What exactly happened in your mother's car accident?"
"I don't really know either. I rushed back to Wanghu after receiving the news and kept signing all sorts of documents. I finished all the funeral arrangements in a daze. When I got home, I found the place ransacked..."
Tao Guohua pressed further: "Do you think there's any connection between the fact that your house was ransacked and your mother's car accident?"
Tao Chu was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know."
Tao Guohua understood; Tao Chu's reaction showed that she had definitely thought about this issue.
Otherwise, upon hearing her make this conjecture, she should have been shocked and angry—learning that her mother might have been murdered rather than died accidentally would not have been Tao Chu's reaction.
She's just avoiding the main point and is temporarily unwilling to reveal her true thoughts.
However, it's understandable that they lack a sense of security after just experiencing such a major change.
Tao Guohua decided to keep her here until she was willing to open up before asking her the real questions.
"Please sit down for a while," Tao Guohua decided to try and persuade Xu Jing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
