Chapter 226: What’s Really Going On?

When Yao Chengxuan finished the call, many curious people gathered around and asked, “Chengxuan, what’s really going on?”

Yao Chengxuan didn’t mention that the father and son hadn’t told the whole truth and had downplayed the main issue—his daughter being harmed out of jealousy. He almost got deceived by them.

So, he shared what he had just learned with everyone, saying, “These two might come back, so please help out if needed. I’m worried about Peiling.”

Everyone nodded in agreement and, since they had to work in the afternoon, everyone dispersed.

Yao Chengxuan went home to tidy up and told Wu Peiling, “Let’s wait a bit longer. Luo Qiao might have some business in the city and come over later. If she hasn’t arrived by the time I get off work tonight, we’ll discuss it again. I’m heading to work now.”

Wu Peiling replied, “Okay, you go ahead. I’ll stay home and wait for her this afternoon.”

Luo Qiao returned to her home in the city around noon, aired out the bedding in the yard, and, during the afternoon break, she took out a ginkgo tree from her space and planted it in the yard.

She imagined that once the tree grew, she could have a carpenter make a rocking chair, and it would be nice to read under the tree. The thought made her feel content.

While she was dreaming about the future, she didn’t know that Zhang Dezhen and his son had been thoroughly beaten by Yao Chengxuan, leaving them in an embarrassed state.

At this moment, Luo Qiao was eating the food she saved from her space. She’s planning to visit the Yao family in the afternoon. She intended to head south the next day, so she was on a tight schedule.

She had already counted the money in her hand. She had over 600 yuan before, and with the remaining 2,100 yuan from selling ginseng and buying a house, plus the money from the city, county, and commune rewards, she now had around 3,300 yuan.

By selling the fish tonight, she’d have about 3,500 yuan, which was a huge amount in this era, but still not enough for Luo Qiao.

She needed to prepare startup funds before the policy was fully liberalized. She didn’t necessarily have to be directly involved but wanted to find good investment opportunities. The south was likely undergoing significant changes.

She wanted to experience it firsthand, so her schedule was quite tight. After eating and tidying up, she took the aired bedding, rested a bit, then planned to buy a train ticket and visit the Yao family.

After selling the goods in the evening, she could head south the next day without worry. When she returned, she planned to visit Beijing to handle matters related to the original owner, at least to let the Zhao family’s daughter know who her real parents were.

As for whether she would stay in the capital or return to Qingshan Village, that was not her concern. Perhaps the foster parents loved her dearly and wanted things to continue this way. All she could do was expose the truth and leave the rest to fate. She had moved past the age of longing for parental love and no longer expected it since her previous life.

She lay on the bed with a sunlit scent and fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, Zhang Dezhen and his son, having been beaten and driven away by Yao Chengxuan, sat dejectedly at a street corner. Zhang Dongze said, “Dad, what do we do now? Not only did we get beaten, but we also didn’t even see Luo Qiao.”

Zhang Dezhen, looking despondent, rolled a cigarette and replied, “Maybe Luo Qiao wasn’t even at the Yao family’s place?”

Zhang Dongze looked at his father in puzzled, and listened as Zhang Dezhen continued, “With such a commotion, she would have had to come out. Luo Qiao’s nature doesn’t suggest she’d hide and let others stand up for her.”

Zhang Dongze then realized, “So we were misled by that Yao guy? He actually never saw Luo Qiao?”

Zhang Dezhen nodded and lit his cigarette.

Zhang Dongze asked, “Where could she have gone?”

Zhang Dezhen looked at the busy street and said, “Let’s find somewhere to eat first, then look for a spot to wait. I believe Luo Qiao will come to the Yao family’s place. Given how protective the Yao couple is for her, Luo Qiao will likely visit here once she’s in the city.”