Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Meeting, Arriving at Xujiatun

The two of them brought food for Xu Huaian, which Liang Zhiqiu had prepared herself. The three of them found a pavilion to sit down, eating and chatting as they went.

Mainly, it was Xu Huaian eating while the other two talked.

“Huaian, do you like the food?” Liang Zhiqiu asked nervously.

“Auntie, thank you, it’s delicious,” Xu Huaian replied politely, though he thought to himself it was still a bit worse than his wife’s cooking—but of course, he’d never say that out loud.

Xu Huaian ate quickly, but not in a rushed or sloppy way—he was efficient and composed.

The couple’s eyes never left him.

“Is your schoolwork stressful? Are you able to keep up? If you need help, just let us know—we know some professors,” Liang Zhiqiu said, putting more food on his plate as she spoke.

“Thank you for your kindness, but I can keep up. It’s just that time is tight and there’s a lot to learn.”

Xu Huaian didn’t know why these two were suddenly being so warm and eager to help, so he politely declined. He really didn’t need any help.

“There’s no need to be so reserved. Qinghuan’s uncle and I have been old friends and partners for years.

If you round it up, we’re basically family.

As for the Zhong family’s situation, I’ve already asked around. There are several people working behind the scenes, and the investigation is underway. It’s almost certain—they’ll be cleared soon.”

Yun Runtong could sense his distance and wariness, so he deliberately brought up a topic Xu Huaian would care about.

“Really? That’s wonderful! Qinghuan has been hoping for this day for so long.” When Xu Huaian heard that the Zhong family would be exonerated, a genuine, unguarded smile finally appeared on his face.

Xu Huaian quickly finished his meal and packed up the lunchboxes.

“Uncle, Auntie, thank you for the trouble. I’m done eating, and I have class soon, so I’ll be heading off.”

Liang Zhiqiu’s gaze lingered on Xu Huaian, making him feel a bit uneasy—he couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“Huaian, can Auntie come see you again next time?” At this moment, Liang Zhiqiu shed all her usual airs and was just a mother, wanting to see her child a little more.

Yun Runtong squeezed his wife’s hand, feeling her pain.

Over the years, at least he could use work to numb himself and forget. But as a mother, Liang Zhiqiu was like someone trapped in a walled city, suffering over and over.

Hope after hope, disappointment after disappointment—now that they’d finally found their child, she didn’t want to wait even a single day.

Although Xu Huaian felt it was a bit abrupt, when he saw the gentle look in Liang Zhiqiu’s eyes, he instinctively couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

“Auntie, of course you can.”

Hearing Xu Huaian agree, Liang Zhiqiu’s eyes lit up instantly, and she couldn’t help but smile.

After the couple returned, they arranged their affairs and immediately flew to the northeast, making their way to Xujiatun.

They were going to seek the truth from back then.

Before that, they wanted to visit Gu Qinghuan and the Zhong family to thank them for their selfless help.

When their jeep drove into Xujiatun, the backward little mountain village instantly came alive.

The last time it was this lively was when Ji Linhaiping was exonerated.

“Little one, do you know where Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huaian’s house is?”

Er Dan was handed a fistful of candy, and was stunned for a few seconds before nodding quickly, “I know, I’ll show you the way.”

Little Er Dan ran ahead of the car at full speed.

It was Sunday, and Gu Qinghuan was at home studying when she suddenly heard someone calling at the door: “Auntie, someone’s here for you!”

She got up and opened the courtyard gate, puzzled.

“Oh, it’s Er Dan! Who’s looking for me?”

Er Dan, panting, gestured excitedly, “Some really important people! They came in a big car. I ran fast, but they’re right behind me.”

“Thank you! Go inside and play with Dabao and the others.”

Gu Qinghuan looked up and saw a few people approaching.

At this critical moment, who could it be?

As they got closer, Gu Qinghuan was even more confused.

How could it be the Yun couple? What were they doing here?

Although her uncle and their family had some ties years ago, after Yun Nianzhou broke off the engagement, their families had long stopped interacting.

Before she could think further, Liang Zhiqiu suddenly pulled her into a bear hug, startling her.

“A-Auntie, what are you—?”

“You’ve worked so hard, child.”

The sudden words left Gu Qinghuan at a loss for how to respond.

“Uh, it’s not hard, not at all.”

Liang Zhiqiu finally let go, just as Yun Runtong directed two guards to carry in large bags and boxes.

Gu Qinghuan hurried to stop them.

“Uncle Yun, this isn’t right—we can’t accept gifts for nothing. We don’t lack anything.”

“Don’t worry about them. Can you show me around?” Liang Zhiqiu took her arm.

Gu Qinghuan was completely bewildered, not knowing what was going on, but could only invite them in first.

Dabao and Beibei saw guests at home and happily ran over to greet them. Liang Zhiqiu seemed to really like children, giving them treats and pulling them into her arms to chat.

Children are the best judges of kindness and malice, and they couldn’t resist Liang Zhiqiu’s warmth. Soon, they were chattering away with her.

Gu Qinghuan could only go make tea for the guests. Luckily, she still had a few boxes of good tea in her space.

When she came back with the tea, she saw Liang Zhiqiu and Yun Runtong each holding a child, chatting and smiling.

The two guards stood like pine trees at the gate.

“Uncle Yun, Auntie Liang, please have some tea.”

“Qinghuan, don’t trouble yourself,” Liang Zhiqiu said, pulling her to sit, liking her more and more.

She’d liked this girl back then, and now even more so.

She’d grown up, become even more beautiful and poised, and was stronger and braver than before.

If not for her persistence, they might never have found their son.

A good family legacy really does get passed down—even in dire circumstances, hope can still blossom.

“Auntie, may I ask why you’re here this time…?”

Liang Zhiqiu hesitated over how to tell her daughter-in-law about Xu Huaian, but finally decided to be direct.

“Qinghuan, your husband Xu Huaian—he’s our son who went missing over twenty years ago!”

Gu Qinghuan’s mind exploded—she had no idea how to react.

How could something so dramatic happen to Xu Huaian?

“Back then, only a few close friends knew the truth.

It was our negligence—we were too busy with work, leaving the child with his grandmother and the family nanny.

We never expected the nanny to secretly take him away. We’ve been searching for over twenty years.

By chance, half a month ago, your uncle ran into Huaian on a plane and noticed the birthmark on his arm. That’s how we finally found him.

This time, we came to see you all, and also to bring the culprit to justice—to find that nanny and ask her why she did it!” By the end, Liang Zhiqiu’s tone had grown much heavier.

“Auntie Liang, are you sure? This isn’t a joke! Does Huaian know? What did he say?”

Gu Qinghuan didn’t care about anything else—she was just afraid that if it turned out to be a mistake, Xu Huaian would be hurt all over again.

She knew very well that Xu Huaian was deeply insecure, longing for family warmth, for his parents’ love and approval.

Liang Zhiqiu was warmed to see that her first thought was for Xu Huaian’s feelings. No wonder her son loved her so much—she deserved it.

Yun Runtong added, “Huaian’s adoptive mother’s aunt was our nanny back then. Plus, there’s the identical crescent-shaped birthmark. We’re certain Huaian is our lost son.

But we still have doubts—why did the nanny take him away? She was treated well in our home. Why do something like this?

We want to get to the bottom of it before telling Huaian, to give everyone an explanation.

Also, to be honest, we’re worried he might not be able to accept it all at once, so we want to take it slow and let him gradually accept us.”

Liang Zhiqiu nodded in agreement.

Gu Qinghuan never expected Xu Huaian to be the Yun family’s child.

She remembered how, when they were in Beijing for treatment, he’d been jealous and self-abasing, envying others’ backgrounds and saying he had nothing.

That humble look had once pierced her heart.

But he was supposed to be a favored child of destiny.

With the Yun family’s status, any card he played would be a trump card.

With his drive and ambition, if he hadn’t been stolen away, he wouldn’t have lost to any of those second-generation heirs in Beijing—he’d be even better.

He should have been the brightest star. Damn fate, what have you done!

Even though he’d now, through his own efforts, reached a level few could ever dream of, he should have had all this from birth—it was cruelly stolen from him.

Gu Qinghuan knew his past, understood his struggles, had seen him tied up on the kang like a mummy, had seen all his vulnerabilities. She truly felt both heartache and anger.

“That wretch is still alive? Why hasn’t lightning struck her dead!

And that vicious Liu Guifang—I’m not done with her!”

Thinking of all Liu Guifang had done to Xu Huaian made her furious. If Xu Huaian had been her own son, fine—she could treat him however she wanted, and outsiders had no right to interfere.

But he was adopted, yet she used him to support the whole family, drained him dry, and when he was no longer useful, tossed him aside to die.

It was disgusting, despicable.

No wonder she treated the eldest, third, and fourth sons so well, but never liked the most promising second son—turns out he wasn’t hers, so she didn’t care.

She thought of how, over the past two years, she’d tried so hard to help Xu Huaian, sometimes even sending things to that family, and now felt it would have been better to feed it to a dog.

At least a dog would wag its tail.

Xu Huaian had once said that no matter how hard he tried as a child, no matter how much he tried to please them, all he ever got was, “Get lost.”

All three other children in the family got to go to school, but he alone had to earn his own tuition, was always hungry, had to fend for himself, and wore only hand-me-downs.

Even after he started working, all the money he risked his life to earn was taken by the family. Xu Huaiyu lazed around, gambling and drinking, all on Xu Huaian’s wages.

How could Liu Guifang be so shameless!

At this point, Gu Qinghuan lost all reason—her mind was filled with rage, and she had to do something to vent it.

She didn’t even care that there were two guests in the house. She stormed into the kitchen, looked around, originally wanting to grab a kitchen knife, but worried she might do something irreversible, so she grabbed a fire poker and marched out.

She walked so fast that Yun Runtong and his wife had to jog to keep up, leaving the two guards at the house to watch the kids.

They more or less guessed what Gu Qinghuan wanted to do, but didn’t stop her—this was something they’d wanted to do for a long time.

Seeing what Xu Huaian had suffered in Xujiatun, Liang Zhiqiu had wanted to do the same. She didn’t care about manners or reputation anymore—she just wanted to stand up for her son.

But after all, it was the Xu family who’d taken Xu Huaian in, so she couldn’t really beat them up.

But Gu Qinghuan had no such scruples. She was young and hot-blooded—doing something impulsive was normal.

Liang Zhiqiu even felt a little excited, secretly thinking that if Gu Qinghuan couldn’t win, she’d jump in to help.

Gu Qinghuan, looking murderous, followed by two well-dressed people, immediately drew everyone’s attention.

The gossipy villagers hurried to follow—there was going to be a show!

Gu Qinghuan kicked open the Xu family’s big front door and shouted, “Where are you?!”

Everyone was stunned by that kick—who knew Gu Qinghuan was so strong? She’d never shown it before.

Yun Runtong nodded to himself—this daughter-in-law was no ordinary person.

Liu Guifang, hearing the commotion, scrambled out of bed.

“Who is it? Are you trying to summon ghosts?” She came out and saw Gu Qinghuan charging over, and was startled.

“You, second daughter-in-law, have you lost your mind? What do you think you’re doing?!”

Gu Qinghuan couldn’t be bothered to argue—she just swung the fire poker at her and started the fight. No need for words.

What followed was a cacophony of Liu Guifang’s shrieks and chaos throughout the courtyard.

Gu Qinghuan was unstoppable, anticipating Liu Guifang’s every move, pinning her down and beating her, the fire poker swinging with vigor.

It was a pity Xu Mingshan, that hypocrite, wasn’t home—otherwise, she’d have beaten him too."

"Chapter 304: Pinning Down Liu Guifang