Chapter 3: Discovering the Truth About My Family

“Guoqing, why did you buy so much stuff again? Honestly, child, I’ve told you before—when you come home, there’s no need to bring anything. You’re about to have a baby, you should be saving money, not spending it recklessly. I’m telling you, it’s really not good not having your parents around to help. Just look at how expensive all this yellow croaker is.”

Back in her youth, Zhou’s mother was the factory beauty—famous for her quick wit and social skills. She married Zhou’s father, the promising factory accountant, with nothing but her looks and her status as a poor country girl. Now, her mind was always calculating how to get her daughters’ money to benefit her own family.

“Er Ya, why are you so quiet? How about this: apart from your living expenses, let me save the rest of your salary for you every month. When your child grows up, you’ll need it for a house. I just worry about you young couples, you have no plan. I’m telling you, without parents around, things just don’t work.”

Zhou’s mother’s hands were full, but she was still muttering to herself: This girl, with all this money spent, she might as well have just given me cash.

“Heh, are you sure I even have any money left? I’ve given you half my salary every month for two years, and the bride price wiped out all our savings. We just bought a car last year and only managed the down payment.” Zhou Jiao replied to her mother, her tone ambiguous.

“Alright, old woman, why are you worrying about the kids again? Didn’t we agree that we wouldn’t interfere? Xiao Zhang, don’t listen to your mother-in-law, come in.” Zhou’s father, Zhou Liming, interjected.

He was shrewder than his wife. He knew their son-in-law only showed them respect for his daughter’s sake—otherwise, who would bother with them? His daughter was heavily pregnant, and they still wouldn’t let her rest, always thinking about money. But money matters could wait; with everyone gathering tomorrow, the two sons-in-law wouldn’t be able to refuse in front of so many people.

The night passed uneventfully. Yesterday, the younger brother’s wife had gone back to her parents’ house. The younger brother himself was nowhere to be seen—God knows where he’d gone. If he wasn’t short on cash, you wouldn’t even see his shadow.

Maybe it was the pregnancy, but Zhou Jiao woke up at 9 a.m. Her husband Zhang Guoqing was already gone—he’d probably gone downstairs early to help out.

She opened the door and went downstairs. The place was a mess—women chatting loudly, kids running around and crying, her brother-in-law and Zhang Guoqing greeting guests at the door. People were coming and going, and Zhou Jiao was afraid of being bumped into. Luckily, Zhang Guoqing spotted her and led her to the small living room for breakfast.

“Did you sleep well? Eat something first. I’ll see if there are any snacks for you. Don’t go out today—there are too many people and kids running around. If someone bumps into your belly, it’d be bad. Just stay here and relax, I’ll have big sis and Xiao Kang keep you company and you can watch TV.” Zhang Guoqing spoke softly, helpless—he’d been busy since dawn. Her younger brother was useless, so he had no choice but to help out. There weren’t enough tables for all the guests, but the family had only planned for two. He and his brother-in-law had been out all morning shopping and running errands. Next time, he’d insist on just booking a restaurant.

“Alright, I’ll stay here. You should take a break too. Look, apart from you and my brother-in-law, everyone else is just sitting around waiting to eat. It’s like sons-in-law are just servants, not guests. Next time my dad has a big birthday, let’s see if I come this early.” Zhou Jiao pulled Zhang Guoqing down to sit, poured him a glass of water, feeling both angry and sorry for him. How could things be like this? He was too soft—always giving money and effort.

She added, “When you go out later, take my brother-in-law with you for a walk. Otherwise, you two will just be bossed around. And you’re not made of steel—you still have to drive later, and you didn’t sleep well last night.”

Soon, the birthday banquet began at noon, with three full tables. As usual, there were gifts and blessings. The two sisters followed tradition and bought a gold necklace for their mother, spending over 5,000 yuan.

The atmosphere was lively, everyone eating and drinking. The grandparents and uncles sat at the main table. Suddenly, someone started praising the two sons-in-law, and Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged a look—they knew something was up. After years of dealing with the Zhou family, Zhang Guoqing had them figured out.

He’d always had to rely on himself. Who was Zhang Guoqing? No background, yet a scholarship winner every year, student council president and external relations director in college, and landed a job at a top 300 company right after graduation. In just two years, he’d been promoted to manager. He could read people with a glance.

Then Zhou’s mother started talking about how hard it had been raising her two daughters, and how proud she was of them. Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing everyone look her way, she waved her hand awkwardly, “Mom, go on. It’s your birthday—you’re the star today. Say whatever you want.”

The relatives nearby felt embarrassed—everyone knew the Zhou family’s situation, so they stayed silent. Only the kids kept eating and drinking; the adults all put down their chopsticks. The meal had barely started, and now the mood was ruined.

Zhou’s mother, interrupted by Zhou Jiao, was about to smack her, but seeing her younger son-in-law watching, she quickly patted her own thigh instead.

Zhou’s father hurried to smooth things over: “Everyone, eat, don’t put down your chopsticks. As parents, we just worry about our kids. We want to be fair, but it’s impossible. Our little son will still need help from his two brothers-in-law. When we’re gone, we’ll only feel at ease if you two help him out. Blood is thicker than water—siblings are closer than anyone else in this world. You two daughters are just as capable as any son, but your little brother will still need your help in the future.”

Zhou Jiao wanted to snap at him, but with everyone watching, she didn’t want to embarrass her father. She just wanted to ask—wasn’t she already supporting them? If he really wanted to be fair, why did her family have to give up even their own bowls? Her dad was something else—half pitiful, half manipulative. Outsiders who didn’t know the truth would probably blame the daughters for not being considerate enough.

Zhang Guoqing saw Zhou Jiao’s face change with anger and quickly squeezed her hand to comfort her. She was pregnant—she couldn’t get too upset. He was starting to resent the Zhou family. Every time he tried to smooth things over, they just pushed for more. He didn’t even notice what Zhou’s mother said next.

Zhou’s mother continued, “That’s right. When you were little, you said your brother would be your support. Now, seeing you all getting along, we’re relieved. I went to the city recently to look at houses—they’re really nice. But your dad and I are old, we can’t afford one. Both of you live in the city now. If your brother lived nearby, it’d be easier for you to look after each other. If something comes up, isn’t it better to call family than outsiders? Your brother doesn’t have a job now, but it’ll be easier to find one in the city. When he has kids, they can go to school there. You wouldn’t refuse to help with that, would you?”

For a moment, only the eldest sister, her husband, and Zhou Jiao’s family stayed silent. The younger brother and his wife just kept eating, not saying a word—as if it was only natural for the sisters to pay. Why not just ask for an IOU?

Once again, the old topic of buying a house came up—this time, in front of all the relatives and guests, asking for 300,000 yuan. Obviously, everyone could see this wasn’t right. The younger brother and his wife didn’t even say how they’d repay the money. In families, borrowing and repaying is normal, but the couple just kept quiet and ate. No one wanted to be the bad guy.

People took the opportunity to leave. Well, there’d be more gossip about the Zhou family tomorrow—nothing like a little rural drama for entertainment.

The two sons-in-law just kept their heads down, not responding, making things awkward. Zhou’s parents realized they weren’t going to agree. Zhou’s mother sulked, and even the younger brother’s wife didn’t help clean up, just went back to her room. Some nerve—who spoils her like this?

Zhou Jiao and her sister Zhou Hui quickly packed up their things and dragged their husbands away. If they stayed any longer, they’d be stuck cleaning up. What was the point of giving money and effort?

“Er Ya, don’t give them any more money. Xiao Juan’s family says we sisters should buy a house for our brother. Look at us—we’re all living in small places. If we had money, we’d buy our own! Mom and Dad just finished building their house and now want one in the city. Why don’t they just ask for the moon? I can’t keep supporting them—my mother-in-law’s already unhappy. You should be careful too—don’t let this ruin your marriage. I want to save up to move to the city myself.” Zhou Hui whispered in Zhou Jiao’s ear.

From the moment they got in the car, Zhang Guoqing had been watching his wife’s expression. He knew she’d be upset for days after dealing with her family. They’d have to visit less often. Family affection couldn’t be bought with money. As long as the two of them loved each other, there was no need to suffer.

Sometimes, he thought it was easier being an orphan. He could just visit the orphanage and help the kids there. Dealing with difficult relatives and biased parents was even more exhausting. Blood ties couldn’t just be cut off, though. No matter how angry his wife was, they still had to be filial. But buying a house for them? Forget it. Even the house they lived in now was given by his own mother. But who was Zhang Guoqing?

He’d never transferred the house to his name—he planned to donate it to the orphanage in his mother’s name once they bought a new place, so more kids could have a secure home. He wasn’t worried about himself. After his upcoming promotion, he’d likely be head of a branch office. With his salary and their savings from college, buying a new home and raising a child would be no problem at all."

"**Chapter 4: Inheriting the Legacy**

“Hello, is this Mr. Zhang Guoqing? The one who grew up in the L Welfare Home?”

A phone call interrupted Zhang Guoqing’s thoughts, a stranger’s voice coming through his Bluetooth headset.

“Yes, this is he. What’s the matter? I’m driving right now—if it’s convenient, could you contact me tomorrow?”

“Oh, it’s like this: I’m a lawyer from XG Law Firm, entrusted by your grandfather to handle some personal assets and inheritance matters for you. The inheritance you’re entitled to is quite substantial. We need to meet in person to discuss the details. If you have any questions, I’ll explain everything then. Could we meet as soon as possible? You and your wife should also come to see the elder together.”

If there were no unknowns in life, what would tomorrow be for?

Zhang Guoqing used to love this saying. Now, after twenty years of locking his heart away, it was about to be opened, and he felt at a loss. He didn’t know what he was waiting for next, just as he didn’t know what was waiting for him.

No matter how strong a person is, there are moments of desolation. Since childhood, he’d wanted to know who his parents were, and why a perfectly healthy boy like him had been abandoned. Back then, there were plenty of families willing to adopt boys—there was no need to leave him at the orphanage’s doorstep.

So, when he grew up and people came wanting to adopt him, he always firmly refused. He thought, if his family truly didn’t want him, they would have sent him to someone else, not left him at the orphanage. At that time, giving a boy to another family could even bring in some money. He believed his parents must have encountered difficulties, and would eventually come looking for him—so he had to stay put and wait.

But as he grew older, hope after hope faded. He realized he could never wait for his parents to come. By the time he turned twenty, he no longer had any expectations. No matter the reason, abandonment was abandonment. If he ever had a child, no matter the circumstances, he would never abandon them—not even his wife.

He and his wife were looking forward to the arrival of their new baby, filled with joy and anticipation. Now, suddenly, someone was telling him his grandfather was looking for him, and was on his deathbed. What about his parents, then?

With a heart full of questions, Zhang Guoqing said, “Let’s meet in three hours at my neighborhood. We can talk then—driving isn’t convenient right now.”

Zhou Jiao looked at her husband in concern, noticing his tense expression and the veins bulging on his hands gripping the steering wheel. “Are you okay, honey? Maybe we should pull over and let me drive for a bit?”

Zhang Guoqing took a deep breath. He couldn’t let his pregnant wife worry. He had a lifelong partner by his side, and soon, a child of his own blood. Even now, having found his family, he was still himself. When the truth came out, there was no need to rush—safety was what mattered.

“Don’t be silly, how could you drive with your big belly? I’m fine. It’s just a lawyer saying he’s found my family. We’ll talk to him in three hours—don’t worry, everything’s okay.”

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao said no more. She understood the pain in this man’s heart. For now, all she could do was quietly stay by his side. As for the in-laws she’d never met, she didn’t care much—anyone who could abandon such an outstanding man as her husband was either out of their mind or forced by circumstances. For them to come looking after so many years, there must have been hardships.

It was sunset. The last rays of the sun painted the sky red, and for some reason, the scene seemed tinged with melancholy, adding a touch of sadness to the air.

When they got home, they managed to contact Lawyer Zhou—a chubby, kindly-looking man in his forties, whose eyes occasionally flashed with shrewdness. Zhou Jiao thought to herself, “He’s the type who plays dumb to catch the smart ones.”

After verifying his credentials, Lawyer Zhou got straight to the point, introducing himself and explaining why he’d come. The story, in short, was the kind of melodrama you’d find all over the internet. If it weren’t about her future in-laws, Zhou Jiao’s imagination would’ve run wild.

The dashing young master of a wealthy family, Zhang’s father, fell in love with Zhang’s mother, a poor woman with no family. They faced opposition, and the woman became pregnant out of wedlock. Out of fear, she went alone to work in a distant city, staying with a distant cousin. Heartbroken and impoverished, she died in childbirth, leaving a note with contact information, asking her cousin to send the child to his father.

The cousin, overwhelmed and acting out a TV drama in her mind, made a rash decision. After all, she was only twenty and had just finished elementary school—she both resented and pitied the newborn. Afraid of gossip in her hometown and unwilling to raise the child herself, she hid her whereabouts, secretly left the baby at the L Welfare Home, and made a quick call to the father with the address and birth time before hanging up and rushing home with Zhang’s mother’s ashes.

Zhang’s father, thousands of miles away, rushed to L City upon receiving the call, but died in an accident before he could see his child. Fortunately, before leaving, he’d written a detailed letter to his own father, Zhang’s grandfather, explaining everything, as a way to show he refused the marriage his family had arranged.

When Zhang’s grandfather learned that his most beloved son had died unexpectedly, he collapsed from a stroke. It was only later, reading the letter, that he learned the child was in an orphanage—at the time, he didn’t know the mother had passed away, only that the child had been abandoned.

After more than two years of treatment, the grandfather recovered and discovered the child was still at the welfare home. For reasons unknown, he never tried to bring him home. Perhaps because the boy was the legitimate first grandson of the family, bringing him back would make him a target, while leaving him in the orphanage with his father’s surname and not entering him into the family registry kept him safe.

Later, he arranged for someone to adopt the boy, but Zhang Guoqing refused. With no other options, the grandfather could only make anonymous donations and keep a secret watch over him.

In recent years, the grandfather began to regain control of the family business and made a will. He’d planned to bring the child home once he started a family of his own, but unfortunately, years of overwork had left him with little time, and now he was desperate to see his grandson one last time.

“Mr. Zhang, your biological father’s surname was also Zhang. Your grandfather, Mr. Zhang, entered your name in the family registry as Zhang Guoqing, but with an extra character, following the family tradition—Zhang Yiqing. As for the current situation of the Zhang family, I’ll explain everything in detail. For now, you need to sign the documents to transfer the assets to your name—this was your grandfather’s special arrangement. Also, your parents have been buried together at the XL Xilong Cemetery since you were five. You can visit their grave whenever you wish—the headstone was erected in your name.”

Zhang Guoqing took a deep breath. Hearing the truth about his origins—his parents’ love, their untimely deaths, his grandfather watching over him from the shadows—left him at a loss.

He didn’t know what changes would come with accepting the identity of the Zhang family’s eldest grandson. Thinking back on his life, with his usual caution and shrewdness, he quickly realized that his rapid promotions at work over the past two years were likely his grandfather’s doing. He also began to suspect that his father’s car accident might not have been an accident after all. Perhaps his grandfather had no evidence, or perhaps it involved family blood.

Reflecting further, he wondered if the accidents he’d narrowly avoided during the college entrance exam and at university were really just luck, or if his grandfather had been protecting him all along. Now, was it really necessary to step into the Zhang family’s world?

Accepting the inheritance meant little to him—he and his wife were already living comfortably on their own abilities. But if anything were to happen to his wife or child because of this, he would never forgive himself.

Life is like tea—face it calmly. Right or wrong, innocent or not, the reasons lie in the past. Forget it, let it go. Tomorrow, he’d meet his grandfather. Whatever happened with the Zhang family, he would still be Zhang Guoqing, the orphan."