WRS – Chapter 38

Jiang Mingchuan felt a sting in his heart upon hearing these words. His own life didn’t matter much to him, but he couldn’t bear to see his sister being mistreated and wronged.

“Since you’re so eager to keep accounts, then the house and money my mother gave you back then must be counted too. You can’t just say something doesn’t count because you want it not to—these were things recognized by the law. My mother didn’t give them to you out of charity; she gave you the house and money in exchange for taking care of my sister and raising her properly. You can say you managed to do that reluctantly. Fine, since she already gave the money, then the money I’ve sent over all these years must be returned.”

As soon as he said this, Song Youfu at the door lost his temper. “Why would we have to give it back?”

Two police officers stepped forward and said, “What about the house and money Ms. Bai gave back then?”

Liu Qin and Song Xiaoru remained silent. Even Song Youfu and his wife, standing at the door, shrank back, no longer radiating the arrogance they had moments before.

Liu Aihua’s voice faltered. “What house and money? How would we know?”

Director Lin stepped forward. “It’s normal that you didn’t know at your age, but we all know what happened back then. Your uncle ran someone over, and your family compensated with a two-story house and a sum of money. That family can still be contacted, and if the police investigate, we can cooperate.”

Upon hearing this, Song Youfu and his wife’s faces changed.

Liu Aihua closed her mouth and looked at her mother, her gaze filled with resentment.

Song Xiaoru’s chest tightened. She quietly called out, “Aihua…”

Liu Aihua ignored her.

Liu Qin hesitated, then spoke, “That house was at No. 13 Qingfeng Road. Back then, Miss Bai gave us 100 silver dollars and 2,000 in cash. We used the 100 silver dollars. The 2,000 in cash we later exchanged for gold, which, along with the house, was returned to that family.”

Everyone present was shocked. 100 silver dollars and 2,000 in cash—even if this family had done nothing for twenty years, they could have lived comfortably every day.

Liu Aihua didn’t expect her father to admit it so readily. She shouted angrily, “Dad!”

Liu Qin lowered his head, feeling heartbroken—not because of his youngest daughter shouting, but because he didn’t understand how their lives had turned out this way. When Miss Bai handed the child to him, he had promised to care for her properly. He had vowed, following his father’s advice, to treat her as his own daughter.

But now, looking back, all he felt was regret—regret for listening to his wife and bringing in his brother-in-law’s family, regret for not keeping his promise, and regret for failing to manage his wife and children.

After a moment of silence, he said, “We don’t want anything. I will gradually return the money to you in the future. It is we who have wronged Jingzhi and the Bai family.”

Jiang Mingchuan pressed his lips together.

Song Xiaoru looked at her husband with a troubled expression, not understanding why he was opposing her. He should consider not only himself but also their youngest daughter.

At the door, Yu Xiali sensed things were going badly and anxiously said, “Sister, say something!”

Song Xiaoru looked toward the doorway and happened to see their eldest daughter in the hallway. Her eldest daughter’s eyes were red, filled with anger and disappointment.

Her mouth suddenly felt blocked—she wasn’t without any feelings for her eldest daughter.

Jiang Mingchuan looked at the couple’s weak and helpless demeanor, suppressed his soft spot, and continued in a steady voice: “I don’t care what you were thinking or planning. Now that we’ve reached this point, what should be settled must be settled clearly. Don’t come back later and make trouble for my sister. My sister owes you nothing, and our family owes you nothing. You can settle your accounts later; today we’ll settle ours first.”

He then took a notebook and pen from his pocket, quickly writing down the details of the property his mother had given the couple to raise his sister, as well as the money he had sent over the years. At the end, he wrote:

From now on, Bai Jingzhi will have no ties with Liu Qin, Song Xiaoru, and Liu Aihua.

1. In the future, the Liu family shall not disturb Bai Jingzhi or Jiang Mingchuan for any reason.
2. Liu Qin and his wife must return all the wages Jiang Mingchuan has sent over the years. Jiang Mingchuan will provide the total amount.

He then looked at Jin Xiuzhu outside. Understanding, she came in and knelt by his side, then took his pen and added two lines:

The Liu couple failed to treat their adopted daughter well, showing favoritism toward their biological daughter, acting unjustly. The younger daughter disrespected and bullied her elder sister. Moreover, the Liu family intended to marry the adopted daughter to their nephew, whose behavior was inappropriate and not a suitable match.

Therefore, Bai Jingzhi and her brother-in-law intend to reclaim the younger daughter and sever ties with the Liu family.

With this addition, they no longer needed to fear others’ remarks; they could simply show this paper.

After the couple finished writing, Director Lin behind Jiang Mingchuan offered the red clay she usually carried for official matters.

Jiang Mingchuan acknowledged her and handed the paper to Liu Qin. Liu Qin took it but, unable to read, held it upside down. Jiang Mingchuan took it back, read it aloud once, and asked, “If there’s no objection, press your handprint.”

Liu Aihua shouted angrily, “Why should we give you money?”

“Because your parents took my mother-in-law’s money and house back then but didn’t properly raise my sister. That money was for raising my sister. My husband’s money also went to her. You only came along incidentally; it wasn’t for you to spend freely.”

Ignoring his daughter, Liu Qin pressed his handprint with the red clay, then added his own handprint below.

Liu Aihua’s eyes turned red. “Liu Qin!”

Liu Qin stubbornly said, “You don’t need to return it. I’ll do it myself.”

Liu Aihua glared at her father with hatred. Of course he would return it—was she supposed to do it? Yet in her eyes, the money he earned should have been hers.

She looked at Song Xiaoru and threatened, “Dare to press it, try it.”

Song Xiaoru glanced at her husband, then at her daughter. Hearing her younger brother and sister-in-law anxiously telling her not to press it, she was at a loss for what to do.

The police said to her, “You don’t need to press it yourself. Your husband pressing his fingerprint is already legally binding. After all, he was the one who accepted the Bai family’s favor back then. Today, it should be him signing this agreement.”

Hearing this, Song Xiaoru felt a mix of disappointment and relief.

Liu Aihua, however, went pale.

She watched the two police officers and the middle-aged woman all sign and press their fingerprints, and then saw Jiang Mingchuan carefully fold the paper and put it into his pocket. She was completely stunned. Weren’t they supposed to get money from this fake uncle’s family? How did it turn into their family having to pay them?

Suddenly, she remembered something and hurriedly said, “All our money was cheated away by my uncle’s family. Officer, I want to report this! My uncle’s family are scammers; they’ve taken all of our money.”

Song Xiaoru quickly said, “Aihua, don’t do this.”

Liu Aihua, dragged by Song Xiaoru by her sleeve and frustrated, slapped her in the face. Her expression was fierce, looking at Song Xiaoru like she was an enemy, then pointed at the couple at the door, saying, “It’s them! They didn’t just cheat our family out of money—they even killed someone with their car. They should go to jail!”

Song Xiaoru hadn’t expected her youngest daughter to turn so quickly. Weren’t they sitting together and talking nicely just a moment ago? She cried and pleaded, “Aihua, that’s your uncle.”

Song Youfu was also scared. “Officer, I didn’t do it on purpose. That family already isn’t pursuing it. We’ve compensated them.”

“That’s our money! What right do you have to use it for compensation?”

“Liu Aihua, I am your uncle! Your aunt and her husband agreed to this.”

Liu Aihua quickly turned to Liu Qin. “Dad, aren’t you going to divorce Mom? Hurry and do it—we can take back the house and the money…”

Liu Qin hung his head in dejection.

Since the matter was resolved, Jiang Mingchuan didn’t want to stay any longer. Before leaving, he said to Liu Qin and his wife, “From now on, we only want a peaceful life. Don’t disturb us again. If you do, it won’t just be about returning my wages—we’ll also claim the house and other things.”

For a moment, Liu Qin seemed to age several years. He silently nodded.

Jiang Mingchuan greeted the police and Director Lin who accompanied them, then left with his family.

Even after they walked away, the sound of the Liu family’s arguing could still be heard. Song Youfu seemed to want to run, but after a few steps, he was held back by the two officers. One of them shouted with an ear-piercing voice, “Why run? Any issues can be addressed at the station.”

“Officer, I’m really innocent…”

It wasn’t until they had gone down the stairs and walked some distance that Liu Jingzhi couldn’t help but look back.

She saw the familiar home and her foster parents at the door. She knew that after leaving this time, she would probably never see them again.

But inside, she felt completely calm. She didn’t know if she was being too cold, but deep down, she felt a strange sense of relief, as if she had finally escaped a cage.

While walking down the road, He Yan suddenly said, “Grandpa Liu isn’t actually a bad person. If it weren’t for him, we might not have been able to take little aunt away.”

“That’s not it at all.”

Fu Yanyan said calmly, “Maybe he just didn’t want to lose too much.”

If he were truly a good person, he wouldn’t have allowed little aunt to suffer all these years. “Now that little aunt has parents backing her up, only then does he think about being a good person. That doesn’t make him a good person; he’s just choosing the option that benefits him the most.”

Children’s insights sometimes surpass adults. Even Jiang Mingchuan felt inwardly that Liu Qin was fairly perceptive after leaving the Liu family.

Jin Xiuzhu glanced at her daughter with admiration, thinking she had a good eye for people.

Liu Jingzhi, who had been slightly moved, felt a sudden pang in her heart hearing her niece’s words. Perhaps her niece wasn’t wrong.

Indeed, if her foster father truly cared for her, he wouldn’t have agreed to let her foster mother consider marrying her off to her nephew.

Love that comes too late isn’t truly love.

After arriving at the guesthouse, Jiang Mingchuan discussed with Jin Xiuzhu and decided to return to the military base immediately.

They had originally planned to buy tickets that afternoon, but now buying them directly home worked too.

The five of them carried their luggage to the train station and bought seats for the 4:00 PM train. There was a direct train to the provincial capital. Jiang Mingchuan bought three sleeper tickets. It was just after the New Year, so the station was crowded with students and young workers; it took a long time to get on the train. Jin Xiuzhu and Liu Jingzhi decided to share one compartment, while Jiang Mingchuan took the upper bunk in the next compartment.

It wasn’t until 8:00 AM the next day that the train arrived at the provincial capital. After getting off, they bought tickets to the city. Same-day tickets were sold out, so they could only buy bus tickets. Jiang Mingchuan bought tickets for 9:30 AM, and after that, the family went to eat first.

By around 6:00 PM, the family finally returned to the base.

It was Liu Jingzhi’s first time visiting the base. She looked around curiously, while Jin Xiuzhu explained the layout—the cafeteria, the supply store. “The supply store doesn’t have much. You can buy some vegetables and seasonings there. For everything else, you’ll need to go to the county or city.”

Liu Jingzhi nodded.

Once home, she looked at the spacious, bright house with curiosity. She had never seen such a beautiful house. She liked every corner, especially the embroidered paintings on the wall—they were so vivid, breathtaking.

Jiang Mingchuan told them to rest for a bit. “I’ll go to the cafeteria to get some food and dishes.”

Jin Xiuzhu asked He Yan to go with him. “Get two more dishes.”

“Okay.”

He Yan put down his bag and followed his father eagerly.

Jin Xiuzhu and Liu Jingzhi tidied the house. “Tonight, you’ll sleep with Yanyan. Her room is bigger. Later, I’ll have your brother switch you to bunk beds. When holidays come, you can sleep at home.”

After speaking, Jin Xiuzhu looked at her daughter. “You’ll share a room with your aunt, alright? Later, when I earn enough for a bigger house, everyone will have their own room.”

Fu Yanyan nodded, but also cheekily said, “Then I’ll choose first.”

Jin Xiuzhu tapped her little head. “You little rascal.”

Liu Jingzhi felt moved, looking at the mother and daughter. They weren’t angry with her; she felt envy and happiness too. In the past, Song Xiaoru would never ask for her opinion—only giving her guilt-inducing looks to make her back down.

Fu Yanyan took Liu Jingzhi’s hand to the room, introducing the items inside like a little peacock showing off. She explained what her mother made, what her father made, and carefully placed the gifts from He Yan, even if she seemed a bit picky.

Seeing the warmly decorated room, Liu Jingzhi’s heart swelled with envy and joy. She admired her niece for having such loving parents, without needing to plead or compromise in her childhood. She was happy to be part of this beautiful family. Living in such a home seemed to make her a better person too.

Hearing some noise, Fang Min from next door brought over two dishes. “I heard you were back and thought you might not have eaten, so I brought two dishes for you. The commissar just finished cooking them.”

“Do you want some rice too?”

She had initially wanted them to eat together, but the commissar overheard and noted there were others at their place, so she just brought the dishes.

Jin Xiuzhu politely declined. “Thanks! Distant relatives are no match for close neighbors. No rice needed, Mingchuan is already getting some from the cafeteria. If it’s not enough, I’ll come by your place.”

Fang Min laughed. “Then you go ahead. I’ll eat first.”

“Alright, alright. Tomorrow we’ll come over to play. I’ll also tidy the house.”

At home, Fang Min’s smile hadn’t faded. The commissar asked, “What good news? You look so happy.”

Fang Min instinctively touched her face. She couldn’t explain—it was just seeing Jin Xiuzhu return that lifted her mood.