After hearing this, Mr. Liang also felt melancholy. "What else can we do? Now Xinzhou and Xinhe are on the same side. They won't even come to the company, and we can't contact them. What can I do?! Even Wanwan, who has such a good temper, hit her. Do you think she has no problems? Maybe Xinzhou was right back then. They are from different circles, and there is no need to force them to integrate. Let's just give her some money. It's a token of our goodwill."
"No way!" Qiu Zimin refused resolutely. "They're all my children. It's one thing for Liang Xinzhou to favor that outsider, but I don't know who's influencing Xinhe and Wanwan."
"It must be that brat!"
Qiu Zimin spoke with a mixture of anger and resentment, tears streaming down her face. "If you want to send Xinran away, then send me away too. Why do you have to find fault with the victims? It was our responsibility that Xinran was abandoned. If you had taken better care of her, would she have been stolen by human traffickers? If you hadn't made so many enemies in the business world, wouldn't our Xinran have grown up peacefully and happily by our side?!"
“She has suffered so much for so many years and been hurt so much, how can you bear to hurt her a second time?! Liang Zu, this is the sin you committed back then, you have to pay for it!” Qiu Zimin righteously condemned Liang’s father. After she finished speaking, she was so angry that she started coughing wildly. She cried and made a scene in front of Liang’s father all night, forcing him to say, “Fine, fine, I won’t mention it anymore.”
After saying that, he was puzzled. "I don't know what's wrong with these kids. They used to be very well-behaved and never had any conflicts with the family, especially Xinzhou. But... sigh, it's all our fault for not paying enough attention to Liang Shi and leaving her with Xinzhou all along."
“Liang Shi is a menace! Master Yunyin said that keeping her around would inevitably lead to disaster, so let’s sever ties with her.” Qiu Zimin said, “Have you forgotten? Master Yunyin said that after the change of destiny, she is useless, and her destiny will also affect Dongheng. We must sever ties with her!”
“How else can we sever ties?” Liang Zu frowned. “Should we just transfer her household registration out? That’s ridiculous. Besides, she’s married now and has her own household registration.”
In wealthy families, it's easier to acknowledge relatives than to reject them.
To acknowledge the relationship, hold a banquet, introduce your biological daughter to your friends in the circle, and make your stance clear.
But what if you refuse a marriage proposal?
They are mostly dealt with by ignoring the issue.
People generally assume that when a biological daughter returns to a family, the original daughter belongs to someone else. If the original daughter has biological parents, she will definitely be sent away. If she is not sent away, she will face discrimination and contempt in the community. No one cares about such things.
But Liang Shi isn't involved in their circle anymore.
I won't attend banquets, and I won't hang out with my old cronies.
Losing the Liang family's protection had no effect on her at all.
Qiu Zimin became angrier the more she thought about it, and she couldn't sleep a wink last night because of it.
She woke up early in the morning feeling a tightness and pain in her chest. Her father had already left home for the company. She asked the maid to call the family doctor and get an IV drip.
Liang Xinran got up in the morning and stayed by her side, bringing her water and medicine, and helping her to the bathroom, showing her exceptional care.
Only at times like these does Chiu Tzu-min feel that she has done the right thing.
A daughter is definitely the best off her own.
After all, they are flesh and blood that fell from my own body.
But the red mark on his face from being slapped by Liang Wanwan hadn't faded even after a night, which was quite heartbreaking.
In fact, Qiu Zimin's first reaction upon hearing this was to scold Liang Xinran, "Why did you touch her clothes?"
As a result, she only said this one sentence, and Liang Xinran stood there with tears in her eyes.
Liang Xinran had an exceptionally innocent face, and no one could bear to condemn her.
Moreover, she said, "I...I just saw that my sister's clothes were dirty and thought I'd wash them for her. And last time we went shopping, we bought a pretty dress, right? I wanted her to wear that...I didn't expect...that there were...her things in it."
Liang Xinran spoke in fits and starts, sobbing uncontrollably, yet she still managed to hold back her tears.
She waited until the tears fell before raising her hand to wipe them away.
Qiu Zimin was at a loss for words; all that remained was heartache.
To appease her, Qiu Zimin also helped to scold Liang Wanwan, saying, "It's just a picture book, why is she making such a fuss? When she comes back next time, Mom will help you teach her a lesson."
After much coaxing, Liang Xinran finally stopped crying, but her eyes were still red, and her voice was choked and hoarse when she spoke.
With Liang Xinran by her side during the day, Qiu Zimin's mood had improved a bit. However, as evening approached, after she finished her afternoon IV drip, Liang Xinran suggested that she put on a thick coat so they could take a walk in the back garden. She had just put on her coat and hadn't even stepped out the door when her two sons arrived in a huff, looking like they were there to settle scores with her.
Upon seeing her two sons, Qiu Zimin's mood plummeted, and the emotions she had finally managed to compose herself vanished.
She put on a cold face and said sarcastically, "So the two young masters are finally willing to come back?"
Liang Xinzhou didn't look at her, but looked directly at Liang Xinran, "I came back to talk to you about something."
They spoke in a businesslike tone, showing absolutely no respect.
Qiu Zimin immediately became furious. "Liang Xinzhou, why are you looking at her? All you know is bullying the weak and fearing the strong. If you have a problem, come at me."
“Okay.” Liang Xinzhou readily agreed, then looked at her and said, “Then I’ll tell you.”
Qiu Zimin: "..."
She never expected Liang Xinzhou to agree so readily, or rather, she never expected that Liang Xinzhou was really there to settle accounts.
What accounts need to be settled?
Aside from Liang Wanwan and Lingdang, Qiu Zimin couldn't think of anything else.
She frowned and sat back on the sofa, forcing herself to remain composed for a while before she grew tired. Her body felt like a machine running at overspeed, and she was now utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
For many years, she has always felt that her children were very well-educated, obedient, filial, and had harmonious relationships with their brothers.
She had also fantasized countless times that other people's daughters, like Liang Xinzhou, treated her extremely well.
If she were their own younger sister, wouldn't Liang Xinzhou and Liang Xinhe spoil her rotten?
But reality was completely different from what she had imagined.
Qiu Zimin had no idea why things had turned out this way.
After thinking it over, only Liang Shi could do such a thing.
Because she treated Liang Shi badly, Liang Shi retaliated against her fiercely, taking advantage of her sons' kindness to betray her.
She's really good at playing palace intrigue.
No wonder they hardly ever spoke to each other before, and she even shielded Liang Xinzhou from a knife attack a few days ago.
It was all premeditated!
The more Qiu Zimin thought about it, the more likely this was to be true, and the more she resented Liang Shi.
She found even her two sons less agreeable and cut to the chase, asking them bluntly, "Did Liang Shi instigate you to come here? Let me tell you, there's no way you'll let Liang Shi into this family. She's not my daughter, and I, Qiu Zimin, don't have such an unfilial daughter! Don't even think about it. Are you really going to drive me to my death for someone who's not related to me by blood?!"
"You need to get this straight!" Qiu Zimin said earnestly, "Xinran is your own sister. She's been living away from home since she was little and has suffered so much. Your father and I just want to make it up to her, so what? Is her coming back an obstacle for any of you? None of you like her!"
“I’m not here to talk about that today,” Liang Xinzhou said coldly. “I’m here about Lingdang. That day at the supermarket, Lingdang said she didn’t push anyone. Why did you apologize on her behalf without her consent?”
Qiu Zimin paused.
The first thing that angered her was Liang Xinzhou's tone: "Liang Xinzhou, I'm still your mother, how can you talk to me like this?!"
“We will handle this matter officially,” Liang Xinzhou said. “After we’ve finished discussing these matters, we can discuss other issues.”
Liang Xinzhou's tone was cold enough, which did hurt Qiu Zimin quite a bit.
She had always thought Liang Xinzhou was the most outstanding among her children, but...
It's all Liang Shi's fault!
Unable to hold on any longer, Qiu Zimin leaned against the sofa and asked him, "What do you want to say?"
Seeing Qiu Zimin's sickly appearance, Liang Xinhe quietly tugged at Liang Xinzhou's clothes and whispered to him, "Take it easy."
Liang Xinzhou glanced at him sideways.
Liang Xinhe was so frightened that he dared not speak.
Liang Xinzhou paused, then fell silent.
He asked, “Why was your first reaction when Lingdang said she didn’t do it not to verify it, but to assume she did it and even apologize on her behalf?”
His first words were a question.
Qiu Zimin retorted, "Just because she's a child doesn't mean she didn't do it. The surveillance cameras caught it all. What? Do you have to make her go to court before she apologizes?"
“You watched Lingdang grow up, don’t you know if she’s capable of lying?” Liang Xinzhou retorted. “Don’t you know what kind of child she is? Are we afraid she’ll sue us? Dongheng employs so many lawyers, and even if things don’t work out, your daughter-in-law is a graduate of a prestigious law school. Do you think you can’t afford a lawyer to represent Lingdang?”
“It’s not impossible for a child to lie in a moment of panic,” Qiu Zimin said. “She’s only five years old, what does she know? She’ll forget it in two days.”
"How could that be?" Liang Xinhe couldn't help but speak up. "Lingdang cried for a whole day and night because of this. And why did you scold Meirou? She hasn't been working so she could stay with Lingdang. And you're saying she didn't teach Lingdang well? Isn't that like stabbing her in the heart?"
"Is it because I don't let her go out to work?" Qiu Zimin asked casually, glancing sideways at her second son, who was always a fence-sitter. "Liang Xinhe, are you here today to stand up for your wife and kids? You think I'm no good as their mother anymore? Don't forget, you're the one who made her stay home as a full-time housewife."
“I made her a full-time housewife, and I didn’t say she didn’t raise Lingdang well.” Liang Xinhe said, “My Lingdang is well-behaved, obedient, cute and kind. She said she didn’t do it, so she didn’t do it. You wronged her without distinguishing right from wrong, and the damage to her young mind is too great.”
Both brothers are used to the way things are done in the business world and don't know how to speak softly at home.
They took turns giving Qiu Zimin a lecture.
Qiu Zimin looked at them, and the more she looked, the more heartbroken she became.
I really can't understand how my excellent son, whom I've taught for so many years, has turned out like this.
Just as they were taking turns trying to reason with Qiu Zimin, Qiu Zimin, who was lying on the sofa, almost couldn't catch her breath.
Standing to the side, Liang Xinran immediately patted her on the back and said to Liang Xinzhou and Liang Xinhe, "Big brother, second brother, I'm sorry. I took Lingdang out that day. I didn't expect her to do such a thing. I'm nearsighted and can't see clearly, but Lingdang did reach out. Nobody expected that the child was sick. I'm really sorry. I will never do it again. Don't... don't talk to Mom. Come to me. I'll go apologize to Lingdang."
Her innocent face, her eyes reddening as soon as she opened her mouth to speak, her voice choked with emotion, made her instantly endearing.
Hearing her say that, Qiu Zimin felt heartbroken and immediately grabbed her hand, "Xinran, it's not your fault, you don't need to do this."
"These people have all been blinded and misled by that Liang Shi. They can't tell who their real family is!" After comforting Liang Xinran, Qiu Zimin angrily said to the two of them, "Are you crazy? When did I ever teach you to point a knife at your own people? Can't you use your brains?"
Qiu Zimin said, "Xinran took Lingdang out with good intentions. When she saw that Lingdang had done something wrong, she apologized to the family as much as possible, for fear that the adults would do something to Lingdang. You all care about Lingdang, but does anyone care about Xinran?"
Liang Xinhe scoffed lightly, "Isn't that because you care about me?"
Qiu Zimin was speechless for a moment.
After a moment, Liang Xinran stood up and said, "Big brother, second brother, don't be angry. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have done that. I can apologize to Lingdang, and I can apologize to second sister-in-law."
As Liang Xinran spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. If others saw this, they would really think that the two brothers had teamed up to bully a sister they had just recognized.
Liang Xinzhou was calmer than Liang Xinhe, and the situation did not elicit much of a reaction from him.
Liang Xinhe had softened and began to reflect on whether he had gone too far and bullied a girl like this.
Liang Xinzhou watched Liang Xinran cry with a cold eye, and after a moment he spoke up: "What we want is not your apology, but the truth."
Liang Xinran hurriedly nodded: "Big brother, you're right. This matter started because of me, so let me end it. I really can apologize to Lingdang, and to all of you. I'm so sorry... I've caused you all trouble these past few days since I came back. I've lived in the countryside for so many years, and I'm really not used to life here. I... I've always longed for family, and I wanted to be good to you... but... but I used the wrong method... I'm so sorry..."
She started crying as she spoke, and every word she said hit Qiu Zimin's sore spot.
The thought of the suffering her biological daughter had endured in that impoverished and remote place over the years made her feel as if her heart was being torn apart.
And look at these sons raised by my side, they're all more inclined to side with outsiders than I am!
He doesn't care about his own sister at all!
They all seemed to be blind.