"Now you know why the Huo family can't tolerate you and your daughter, right? Only Lao Yang and I know about this. I don't even dare to tell your brother and sister-in-law. If they knew that their own daughter had been living away from home for more than 20 years and had suffered so much because of the good daughter you gave birth to, they would hate you to death!"
Old Master Huo took a breath and continued, "Moreover, Aiyun, if this matter is investigated thoroughly, you cannot escape responsibility. How could a three-year-old child understand that her younger sister is here to steal her grandfather's property? Only adults could teach her such things. Besides you and your husband, would anyone else in the Huo family teach her such things?"
Huo Aiyun's face was pale. "It wasn't me... Dad, you have to believe me, it really wasn't me..."
“I may be old, but I’m not blind. You’ve always felt that I value your brother’s family more, and that the Huo family has been inherited by Shi Qian. You’re probably a little resentful about that. You’re polite to your sister-in-law on the surface, but you secretly dislike her. Do you think you can escape my notice?”
"It's just that since your daughter went missing, you and your husband haven't been able to have any children, so you can't inherit any of the Huo family's assets. That's why you can only treat her with utmost courtesy."
“Aiyun, I never thought of favoring your brother. On the contrary, I feel more sorry for you. I always felt that building a career is what men should do, and girls should stay at home and live a life of luxury. I think this way about you and Momo.”
"Dad, I..." Huo Aiyun couldn't speak, and could only continue to deny it, "I don't believe that my daughter switched the baby. You can't just believe what some nurse says and not believe me!"
Old Master Huo gave a wry smile. "In my opinion, the words of strangers are far more trustworthy than those of some people around me. At least, a stranger wouldn't poison me..."
Huo Aiyun's legs went weak, and she slumped back onto the sofa. "Dad, you came to see me today just to tell me that the fact that your granddaughter was switched with someone else was all my fault. You want me to die knowing why, right?"
“Even tigers don’t eat their cubs. I never intended for you to die. It’s just that you no longer deserve to stay in the Huo family. Otherwise, it would be unfair to your brother’s family.” Old Master Huo sighed. “Aiyun, stop now. I haven’t taken back your property. I’m only letting you leave the Huo family. I’m already giving you a way out so you can live a peaceful life.”
"You guys should try to build a business and wait for Ruan Tang to come out of prison. Then the family of three will have a chance to reunite. Don't do anything reckless."
Huo Aiyun remained silent, tears streaming down her face...
Grandpa Huo stopped there, stood up, and said, "Wanwan, let's go."
Qiao Wanwan got up and followed him away.
After getting on the bus, neither of them spoke.
Grandpa Huo turned to look at the girl beside him, "Wanwan, I'm sorry, it's only now that Grandpa has let you know the truth."
Qiao Wanwan gently shook her head. "Although I was a little shocked, it doesn't really matter whether I found out sooner or later. More than twenty years have passed, and nothing can be changed, right?"
"Yes, Grandpa often laments how cruel fate can be. Who would have thought that Ruan Tang was responsible for your being switched? Now that I think about it, her accidental disappearance can be seen as a kind of retribution," Grandpa Huo said with emotion. "But what I didn't expect was that you would cross paths again after you grew up, and that so many things would happen."
“I knew it. I disliked Ruan Tang from the first moment I saw her. It turns out the feud started when I was born.” Qiao Wanwan smiled faintly. “Grandpa, let’s leave it at that. Don’t tell my parents. Like you said, they will only be more miserable if they find out.”
"Wanwan, you are a sensible child. Thank you, Grandpa."
"I wouldn't call myself sensible, I just feel that it's better to avoid trouble than to cause trouble. If it's something that would make everyone unhappy, it's better to keep it to myself."
"Okay, let's keep this a family secret, a secret only the two of us know."
"Um."
......
Although Qiao Wanwan said that, she was still very uncomfortable. She had no appetite for dinner and no mood to do anything else, so she went back to her room early.
She didn't show it obvious, but Zhan Jingting still noticed. He quickly came to the master bedroom and asked, "What's wrong? Are you a little unhappy today?"
Qiao Wanwan picked up a cushion and threw it at him, "What a fine daughter the Ruan family has raised!"
Zhan Jingting: "......"
He caught the cushion, but looked completely bewildered. "You mean... Ruan Tang?"
"Who else could it be but her!" Qiao Wanwan said angrily. "Do you know that even the fact that I was switched at birth was all caused by Ruan Tang? She was only three years old, but she already knew that I was here to compete for her maternal grandfather!"
Zhan Jingting: "......"
He understood the gist of it: "Did your grandfather find out?"
"Yes, we met Huo Aiyun today. Grandpa told us himself."
"Wanwan, there's nothing either you or I can do to change this."
“I know, but I still feel a tightness in my chest.” Qiao Wanwan said sadly, “It’s not that I necessarily wanted to grow up in the Huo family. If I hadn’t been switched at birth, I wouldn’t have met my master and learned medicine. I have a good attitude and I keep comforting myself with the idea that every loss has its gains, but in fact, who would want to lose anything? What I care about is not how good the Huo family’s conditions are, but a complete family and a happy childhood.”
"I know." Zhan Jingting hugged her. "I know you're upset. You can vent to me about anything that's bothering you, okay?"
Qiao Wanwan said sullenly, "What's the point of venting to you? You're not Ruan Tang's accomplice..."
The man chuckled softly, "But I am your husband. Aren't husbands usually the ones who take the fall?"
"Tch..." Qiao Wanwan scoffed, "You talk as if this isn't your first time being a husband."
"I would like to, but there is only one Qiao Wanwan in the world. If there were two, I would marry them both."
Qiao Wanwan laughed out loud, "Wrong. In China, there are definitely more than one people with the same name as me. You can marry them all."
"I have no problem with it, but I'm afraid Madam Zhan will get jealous and start a bloodbath, which would be terrible if Wutong Bay were to become a river of blood."
Qiao Wanwan laughed so hard she almost fell over. "Zhan Jingting, you're so narcissistic! I would never break the law for you!"
"Really?" The man kissed the corner of her lips. "You're willing to die for me, but you're not willing to break the law for me?"
Qiao Wanwan burst into laughter, "Yes, a law-abiding citizen like me would rather die than break the law."
Are you sure?
"Of course I'm sure."
Zhan Jingting pressed her down onto the sofa, lowered his head and kissed her neck, "I'll give you one more chance, are you sure?"
"Aaaaaah, Zhan Jingting, you're cheating! It tickles! Let go of me, aaaaah..."
While the two were playing around, Qiao Wanwan's pent-up frustration had long since dissipated.
......
Two days later, an uninvited guest arrived at Wutong Bay!
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