Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  But who would have expected that he would only have the chance to visit Father Miao’s grave instead of Father Miao himself?

  Before meeting Second Uncle Miao’s family, Old Zhai had already heard news of how Father Miao and his wife had passed away, and how the couple had treated Miao Jing afterward.

  He had pretended to be unaware of the situation and visited Second Uncle Miao’s family just to have a sense of their attitudes.

  Twenty years ago, Old Zhai had already felt that Father Miao still had feelings for his family no matter how badly they treated him.

  If the Miao family had a conscience and treated Miao Jing well after Father Miao’s death, Old Zhai didn’t mind giving Second Uncle Miao’s family some benefits on Father Miao’s account.

  After all, after the Miao couple passed away, Second Uncle Miao’s family had taken Miao Jing in and had raised his daughter-in-law.

  After giving Second Uncle Miao some money, Miao Jing would have nothing to do with Second Uncle Miao’s family ever again. That sum of money would be like buying out the connection between Second Uncle Miao’s family and Miao Jing.

  But now…

  He eyed the trembling Miao Lanlan. He knew that he could save himself that sum of money.

  Thinking about Miao Jing whom Second Auntie Miao had just chased away, Old Zhai stood up, not willing to waste any more time in this house. “Alright. I understand. It’s late and I should get going. You don’t have to send me off. I’ll take my own leave.”

  Second Auntie Miao was stunned. What? He was leaving just like that?

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  They hadn’t even spoken much, much less talked about her daughter, yet he was already leaving?

  Her husband’s brother had saved the chief twice and the chief had merely asked about him and was going to leave without doing anything? What would happen to her Lanlan? Wasn’t the chief going to help Lanlan find a good family to marry into?

  “Chief, there’s no hurry. Our house might be a little small, but we can offer you a room to stay. Lan—no, Jingjing grew up without parents and doesn’t even know how her parents were like. Since you were so close with my elder brother, why don’t you chat with Jingjing and tell her more about my elder brother? Jingjing is so pitiful. I can’t even answer her whenever she asks me about her parents because I married into the family too late. My heart always aches whenever I see that other children have parents while my niece doesn’t.”

  Did he hear that? Their child was so pitiful. Since the chief was here to visit his benefactor, and he was no longer around, shouldn’t he stay behind to take care of his benefactor’s only daughter?

  Otherwise, why did he even return? She would rather never have known that her brother had saved such a remarkable figure.

  Old Zhai stopped in his tracks and eyed Miao Lanlan, giving a sinister smile just like Second Uncle Miao’s. “I think it isn’t too difficult for this little comrade to find out about her parents. Little comrade, can you tell whether your parents are really dead?”

  “…”

  “…”

  “…”

  Second Uncle Miao’s family of three remained silent. Miao Lanlan didn’t know how she should answer the question.

  She hoped that her mother was right and that she would lead a comfortable and blissful life if she were to take Miao Jing’s place and marry into a good family. But she was timid and didn’t dare to do so.

  When the chief asked her if her parents were dead, she didn’t know how to answer him.

  Obviously, both answers seemed unsuitable.

  It was then that Second Uncle Miao and Second Auntie Miao regained their senses. If their daughter admitted that her parents were dead, it would be cursing them.

  Second Auntie Miao was superstitious and thought that such words were too inauspicious. She was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to hide her anger if her daughter were to admit to it.

  Only Second Uncle Miao’s face was ghostly pale. “Chief, if you miss my brother, you can visit him anytime.”

  “Okay.”

  Old Zhai felt that Father Miao’s younger brother was quite a cunning person. Throughout his whole visit, he had not said a word and had allowed his wife to go on with her monologue. By not participating and watching on from the sidelines, he proved that he was willing to do so too.

  As expected… He was just like that heartless creature he had known back then.

  Second Auntie Miao wanted to stop Old Zhai, but she dared not go against Second Uncle Miao.

  Only after he had left did Second Auntie Miao shout at Second Uncle Miao. “Look at what you did! How useless you are! It’s so rare that an important figure visited us, yet you let him leave just like that? Is Lanlan even your daughter? Are your sons really your sons? Do you know that we could have become in-laws with the chief if we let Lanlan marry the chief’s son? We wouldn’t even have to worry about our lives in the future.”

  Her husband had ruined the whole family’s happiness!

  Second Uncle Miao shoved Second Auntie Miao. “What else do you know apart from picking a fight with me? That guy is a chief! Do you think he can’t see through your lies? I think the chief already knows the truth regarding Lanlan and Miao Jing!”

  “What? That’s impossible!” Second Auntie Miao was in disbelief. “The chief doesn’t even know Miao Jing. Besides, I didn’t even let the chief see Miao Jing. How could he possibly know that Lanlan is our daughter and that the one who left is the real Miao Jing?”

  Second Uncle Miao sneered. “Otherwise, why would he be a chief while we’re still farmers? Besides, do you think only our family knows who my elder brother’s daughter is? Do you think everyone in the production division is blind?”

  Before coming to their house, the chief would have been able to understand their family’s situation just by asking anyone in the production division.

  “Dad, what shall we do? Will I still be able to follow the chief into the city and live a comfortable life?”

  Miao Lanlan was disappointed. She had thought that this would be her chance of improving her life.

  “If you want to live in the city and marry into a good family, it’ll all depend on Miao Jing’s conscience.” Frustrated, Second Uncle Miao took a puff of his cigarette. “That chief will surely bring Miao Jing away and treat her well. If Miao Jing still treats me as her uncle, and you guys as her relatives, we might still be able to reap some benefits. Even just a little help from a chief would mean that our entire family will live well.”

  Second Auntie Miao was not happy. “Why? Why can Miao Jing marry the chief’s son but my daughter can’t? What rights does she have? My daughter is much prettier than Miao Jing! It’s so obvious that my daughter belongs in the city!”