PWE – Chapter 109 She really wasn’t their daughter.

The old woman’s pupils shrank, disbelief flashing across her face.

She stared at Xiao Wange in shock, fear evident in her eyes.

What did this wretched girl mean? Was she implying… that she knew about what happened thirty years ago?

But how was that possible?

She had kept what happened thirty years ago hidden perfectly. Apart from herself, no one knew.

So how did this wretched girl find out?

She must be talking nonsense. She must just be trying to scare her, making things up on the spot.

Clenching her hand secretly, the old woman forced herself to calm down and glared coldly at Xiao Wange.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! You wretched girl, you harmed me today, I—”

“Still stubborn as a dead duck,” Xiao Wange straightened up, her tone dripping with mockery. “I hope you can keep up this attitude when the truth is exposed.”

With that, no longer bothering with the vicious old woman, Xiao Wange turned around and left the police station with Zhaozhao.

That remark made the old woman uneasy again.

Logically speaking, that wretched girl should have had no way of knowing about what happened back then. Yet judging by her expression, it was as if she knew everything.

Suddenly, the old woman remembered that the wretched girl could catch ghosts and demons.

She had heard that the girl’s methods were formidable, that she was extremely skilled at subduing ghosts and monsters. Just earlier on the street, she had even said she could see ghosts.

Could it be that a ghost from those years ago had seen what she did and told this wretched girl, which was why she knew?

The moment that possibility crossed her mind, the old woman felt utterly unwell.

Her face turned slightly pale, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

…

After leaving the police station with Zhaozhao, Zhaozhao suddenly tilted up his little face and said to Xiao Wange,
“Mom, is that grandma going to have bad luck? Because I saw black energy on her forehead.”

Xiao Wange raised an eyebrow.

She lowered her head to look at Zhaozhao. “Our Zhaozhao can actually see that her yin-tang is darkened?”

Zhaozhao bit his little lip. “Is that called a darkened yin-tang? Anyway, I saw black energy on her forehead. That black energy was really scary.”

Xiao Wange patted his little head. “Yes. The professional term is ‘darkened yin-tang. She did very, very bad things in the past. In a few days, those bad deeds will be exposed. When that happens, that’ll be when her real misfortune begins. Ordinary people can’t see a darkened yin-tang, though. So the fact that our Zhaozhao can see it means our Zhaozhao is very impressive.”

Hearing this, Zhaozhao immediately smiled. “Really, Mom? In the future I want to be as awesome as you, to catch demons and drive away ghosts just like you.”

Xiao Wange picked him up and kissed his chubby little cheek.

This child’s power was truly terrifying. If his seal were lifted, if he were to embark on the path of cultivation… he would probably surpass her.

She suddenly frowned. To give birth to such a powerful child—what kind of person was his mother, really?

At that moment, she desperately wanted to get to the bottom of this.

But only Zhan Zeyan knew the truth, and he wasn’t around. Even if she wanted to ask, she couldn’t.

She could find out through other means, but those methods weren’t exactly proper. So for now, she could only suppress her curiosity and wait until she met Zhan Zeyan again to ask him in detail.

…

That old woman was Fang Ma, the nanny working for the Zhu family.

Fang Ma told the police station that her employer was Zhu Jianbin, saying that Zhu Jianbin was a high-ranking leader in the provincial capital.

The station chief was worried that the leader might later hold him accountable, so even though he disliked someone like Fang Ma, he still called the Zhu household.

However, Zhu Jianbin happened to be in trouble at the time. In the past, he had used quite a bit of special authority to cover up some dirty matters for Zhu Qiaoyu.

Now those matters were being investigated by higher authorities. They said he had abused his power and oppressed the people for the sake of his daughter.

As a result, he was disciplined and demoted several ranks at once.

At the moment, he was overwhelmed just dealing with his own problems. How could he have the time to care about Fang Ma?

So as soon as the station chief called, Zhu Jianbin hung up the phone. Before hanging up, he said one sentence:
“Handle it however it should be handled. If she broke the law, let her face legal punishment!”

Having just been demoted, how would he dare abuse his authority again to bail out Fang Ma? Abusing his power for a nanny and getting investigated again could land him in even more trouble!

When the station chief heard this, he laughed immediately.

It was good that this leader wasn’t intervening. That old woman was far too arrogant, acting as if someone in her family were a supreme authority in the capital.

Such an old woman needed to be taught a proper lesson. Otherwise, she’d only commit even greater crimes in the future.

After hanging up, the station chief went to inform Fang Ma.

Upon hearing this, Fang Ma kept shouting that it was impossible.

She had worked as a nanny in the Zhu household for nearly thirty years. Back when her daughter first entered the Zhu family, she had followed shortly after.

She thought that after thirty years of loyalty, the Zhu family would rescue her no matter what.

So why were they now being so cold?

Fang Ma said she wanted to personally call the Zhu family, but the station chief refused.

“You really think this police station is your home?” the chief said. “Do you think you can do whatever you want? This is exactly how the Zhu family replied—telling me to handle you however I see fit! So, old comrade, you’d better stay put and reflect properly!”

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I don’t believe the sir would ignore me like this! I don’t believe he would act this way!” Fang Ma roared, madness written all over her face.

But the station chief couldn’t be bothered with her. He gave her an impatient glance and turned back to his office.

Fang Ma collapsed onto the ground, her face turning ashen. The chief must be lying to her. He must not have called the Zhu family at all. Otherwise, how could they possibly abandon her?

That chief was despicable, actually lying to people! Someone like him should be removed from office immediately—how was he fit to be a station chief?!

…

Fang Ma stayed at the police station for a full week before being released. A week might sound short, but to her it felt like an entire century.

When she finally walked out, she was utterly disheveled—her clothes dirty, her hair messy, her face gray and dull, as if she had just crawled out of a pile of beggars.

As she stepped out the door, she spat inside and shrieked,
“You treat me like this—just wait until I get back, you’ll all regret it! I’m telling you, there are big leaders in my family! Just wait to be punished by them!”

Everyone inside the police station: “…”

They already knew she was just a nanny working for a leader’s family in the provincial capital.

Clearly a nanny, yet judging by her attitude, one would think she was the master of the household.

Had she lived in that house for so long that she no longer knew her own place?

Moreover, they’d heard in the past couple of days that a leader in the provincial capital had gotten into trouble—and that leader seemed to be her employer.

She still wanted to rely on that leader to punish them? How delusional could she be?

Everyone sneered at Fang Ma and couldn’t be bothered to pay her any attention.

…

Fang Ma was eager to return to the Zhu household and have Zhu Jianbin and Mao Wanxiu stand up for her.

So after leaving the police station, she went to catch a ride.

The vehicle rocked and jolted all the way to the provincial capital.

After getting off, she initially wanted to find a restaurant for a meal—she was starving.

But thinking of those hateful people at the police station, she lost her appetite. All she wanted was to hurry home and have Zhu Jianbin severely punish them.

When she returned to the Zhu household, there happened to be guests.

It was a dignified, elegant woman who had come with her daughter to visit Zhu Jianbin and Mao Wanxiu.

Seeing that woman, Fang Ma froze. Why did this woman look so familiar?

When Mao Wanxiu saw Fang Ma return, she frowned and asked,
“I heard you caused trouble in some town? Fang Ma, what’s going on? Why did you go to that town? I remember your hometown isn’t there. I remember it’s in Tanggu Town.”

A week earlier, Fang Ma had told Mao Wanxiu she was returning to her hometown to visit relatives. Mao Wanxiu believed her and gave her three days off.

But then the police station from that town called, saying Fang Ma had caused trouble there. Only then did Mao Wanxiu realize Fang Ma hadn’t gone back to her hometown at all.

“Madam, I…” Fang Ma grew nervous, curling her fingers as she tried to explain. “It was because—”

“Enough, no need to explain,” Mao Wanxiu interrupted unhappily. “If you still want to work in my household, then stop going out and causing trouble. This time you even used Jianbin’s name to pressure the police station into releasing you. If people didn’t know better, they’d think Jianbin liked abusing his power. Fang Ma, let me make this clear—this must never happen again!”

The police had said Fang Ma was extremely arrogant inside the station, repeatedly claiming she had powerful officials backing her.

Mao Wanxiu never imagined Fang Ma was like this behind her back. At home, Fang Ma was gentle and humble, always appearing calm and peaceable. How could she become like that outside the Zhu household?

“I—I understand,” Fang Ma lowered her head and said respectfully. “I won’t ever do that again. Please rest assured, Madam.”

She still wanted to continue working for the Zhu family, still wanted to keep seeing her daughter. So no matter what the madam said, she would comply.

“Go change your clothes and freshen up,” Mao Wanxiu said, giving her a glance. “After that, come out and attend to the guests.”

Fang Ma nodded. “Alright, I’ll go right away.”

She turned and headed toward her room. After all these years working for the Zhu family, she had her own room.

Though it couldn’t compare to the master’s bedroom, it was far better than rural rooms—clean, bright, and comfortable to live in.

The woman, however, watched Fang Ma’s retreating figure and frowned slightly. The Zhu family’s nanny looked strangely familiar.

After Fang Ma went into her room, the people in the living room resumed their serious discussion.

Zhu Jianbin said to the woman,
“Doctor Qiao, you were the one who delivered my wife’s child back then. I want to ask you about my daughter. Even though it’s been many years and you may not remember clearly, I have no other choice but to ask you. To be honest, I’ve always felt that my eldest daughter doesn’t seem like our biological child. I have a feeling that our real child was taken away by someone else.”

The living room was not far from Fang Ma’s room.

Hearing this, Fang Ma’s breath tightened, and her face turned pale uncontrollably.

She rushed out of the room. “Sir, what did you say? You’re saying the eldest miss isn’t your biological daughter? How is that possible? She looks so much like you—how could she not be your child? You—”

“Fang Ma!” Zhu Jianbin snapped, glaring at her coldly. “What are you doing? I’m discussing matters with guests. Who told you to interrupt? Get back in there—get back in there now!”

His face darkened. Fang Ma was far too ill-mannered! He was discussing something extremely important with a guest, and she dared to barge in and interrupt—completely unbecoming of a nanny!

Fang Ma was frantic, frowning and trying to speak again, but Doctor Qiao spoke gently instead:
“Comrade Zhu, I actually still remember your daughter’s case. When she was born, she was different from the other babies. Most newborns are wrinkled, but she wasn’t wrinkled at all. She was exceptionally beautiful. The moment I saw her, I knew she’d grow up to be a beauty.”

Hearing this, Fang Ma panicked even more, her entire face turning white.

Zhu Jianbin hurriedly asked, “Really? She was very beautiful?”

Doctor Qiao nodded. “Yes, very beautiful. I even thought at the time—such a pretty child, what kind of stunning beauty would she become when she grew up?”

Zhu Jianbin suddenly became extremely excited.

He quickly handed over a photograph. “Doctor Qiao, please take a look. This is the eldest daughter who grew up in our household. See if she resembles the child you delivered back then.”

Fang Ma desperately wanted to snatch the photo away, but she had no standing to do so.

She could only watch anxiously, standing there with her hands clenched tightly.

Doctor Qiao took the photo, glanced at it, and shook her head, saying with certainty,
“This is not the child I delivered. I’m sure of it. Her face shape is completely different. She doesn’t resemble that child at all.”

Mao Wanxiu and Zhu Jianbin exchanged looks. They hadn’t expected things to really turn out as they suspected—the child truly had been switched.

If Zhu Qiaoyu wasn’t their daughter, then where was their real eldest daughter?

Seeing their expressions change, Fang Ma was so anxious she couldn’t control herself and stepped forward.
“Sir, Madam, many children look one way when they’re young and another when they grow up. The eldest miss was pretty as a child, but her appearance changed as she grew up, so she—”

“But she was ugly from the moment she was brought back! Ugly from childhood to adulthood!” Zhu Jianbin shouted angrily, his emotions surging.

After that, he glared at Fang Ma. “Why are you speaking up for Zhu Qiaoyu like this? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were her real mother!”