Chapter 54.1

Only the parent knows their own child.

The nanny didn’t believe her daughter would be interested in a poor guy and asked, “What’s his name? Where is he from?”

“I don’t know his name yet,” Xie Yin blushed deeply, “Judging from the accent of the people around him, he should be from Hong Kong City.”

Qi Yangyan had already changed his identity, so he shouldn’t have an accent.

Her daughter had good taste, just like her!

Hong Kong was a big city, better than the capital.

But the nanny immediately frowned.

“You don’t even know his name… This is going to be difficult.”

It wasn’t that she wanted to discourage Xie Yin, but since the person was from Hong Kong, she had no connections there and couldn’t even get close.

“I…” Xie Yin tugged at her mother’s clothes, “I have a lead, I know how to find him.”

“You?”

The nanny looked at her skeptically.

“Yes,” Xie Yin insisted, “The new wife that my eldest brother married is his adopted sister.”

“What did you say?!”

The nanny jumped up, her face twisted with shock.

That kid Xie Yanzhao actually has such good luck!

She should not have allowed that brat to get married outside, and she should not have let her guard down when she heard that she was just a country girl.

“Is everything you said true?”

The stronger Xie Yanzhao’s wings become, the less good it will do her.

She wished she could keep Xie Yanzhao under her thumb for life, turning him into a useless person.

But unfortunately…

Thinking of the two old folks from the Bai family, the nanny’s eyes grew fiercer.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Yin, unlike her mother, was not as alarmed. “Mom, why are you so nervous? Don’t let it scare you so much. The new sister-in-law is just his adopted sister.”

“Once I’m married to him, he’ll naturally be on our side.”

What kind of feelings can he have for a sister he just recognized?

The nanny furrowed her brow, a sense of unease lingering in her mind. But thinking of Xie Yin’s words, she felt a bit more at ease.

That’s right, how can a younger sister be as close to you as a wife with whom one shares a daily life.

“Then you need to act quickly.”

The nanny was very clear about this.

If the person was as outstanding as Xie Yin described, many would be eyeing him. Delays could mean he would become someone else’s prize.

The nanny had managed to win over Commander Xie by being swift and decisive.

“Mom~”

Xie Yin shook her arm.

The nanny’s brow furrowed tightly. “What do you mean? You’re not asking me to help you make connections, are you?”

Xie Yin nodded vigorously.

“Mom, just help me out,” she leaned towards her mother, “Besides, my brother has been married for so long, and you haven’t even met his new wife yet. Don’t you want to establish your authority and let his new wife know how powerful you are?”

Remembering how Ruan Mingfu had coldly rejected her, Xie Yin felt a pang of frustration.

If she weren’t Qi Yangyan’s sister, she would have made Ruan Mingfu face some consequences.

“Mom~”

“Ugh, so annoying,” the nanny slapped her hand away. “Fine, I’ll go on your behalf.”

Xie Yin’s face lit up with joy. “Mom, you’re the best.”

“Don’t flatter me.”

Though the nanny complained, she was pleased with her daughter’s affectionate and flattering behavior. She was about to say something else when she heard noises from downstairs.

She gave Xie Yin a warning look. “Remember what I told you before.”

Xie Yin nodded earnestly.

As long as her mother handled this matter well, she was willing to play the dutiful daughter in front of Commander Xie, or even act as his subordinate if necessary.

Commander Xie, in his fifties, had a stern face and was as tall as Xie Yanzhao.

He had just returned, still in his neat military uniform, holding a newspaper.

Xie Yin fluttered over like a butterfly and hooked her arm around Commander Xie’s. “Dad, you’re back~”

“Old Xie, why are you back so early today?”

The nanny came down from upstairs gracefully, her face smiling. Her eyes never left Commander Xie, as if he were the only one in her world.

Commander Xie put down the newspaper.

“I knew Xiao Yin was coming back today, so I left work early.”

“Dad, you’re so kind.”

Hearing that he had returned specifically for her, Xie Yin displayed a look of surprise and delight.

The nanny sat down on the sofa next to Commander Xie and, with a hint of helplessness, said, “Old Xie, don’t spoil her too much. You’ve indulged her too much.”

“Oh?”

“You don’t know how much trouble she caused at the trade fair.”

The nanny’s face showed anger when she talked about it.

Commander Xie didn’t seem to notice, “Did you scold her?”

“Dad,” Xie Yin whined, “You don’t know, as soon as I came back, Mom scolded me and didn’t say a single word of concern.”

She became increasingly aggrieved, clinging to Commander Xie’s arm and shaking it.

“You’re too strict. She is still a child, there is no need to rush, just teach her slowly. The daughter of our Xie family should live a carefree life. Even if we leave, don’t we still have that brat Xie Yanzhao to protect her?”

Xie Yin pouted, “How could my brother be nice to me? He doesn’t even pay attention to me.”

“He dares!” Anger flashed in Commander Xie’s eyes. “If he dares to treat you badly, I’ll break his legs!”

No matter what Xie Yin thought in her heart, she acted very obediently on the surface.

“Dad, you’re the best. Thank you~”

The nanny watched from the side, feeling somewhat speechless. “…Just keep spoiling her.”

Commander Xie took the tea the nanny had prepared and took a sip.

“You’re just too strict. The future is something men should face. If I can’t even protect my daughter, how pathetic would that be?”

“Fine, however you two father and daughter handle it, I’m just an outsider.”

The nanny shot a disapproving glance at them.

Then, she bit her lip and looked at him with hesitation. Commander Xie noticed, “What do you want to say?”

She showed a troubled expression.

“You know, Yanzhao’s been married for a long time and hasn’t brought his new wife home,” Seeing Commander Xie’s expression darken, the nanny spoke cautiously, “Shouldn’t we go visit them?”

“Yanzhao has a deep prejudice against me, I…”

Commander Xie’s face darkened further. “I should have broken his legs back then, but you insisted on stopping me. Now look what happened, he ran away to Wancheng!”

“Does he really think that because the sky is high and the emperor is far, I can’t do anything about him?”

Mentioning Xie Yanzhao made Commander Xie’s expression worsen and his face grow darker.

He married without permission, and now he doesn’t even regard me, his father!

Regardless of her own thoughts, the nanny appeared very worried.

“The Wancheng military district has just been established, so Yanzhao might be busy…” Seeing Commander Xie’s expression soften a bit, the nanny continued, “It’s my fault for making things so awkward between you two. This is a good opportunity to mend your relationship, and I can also feel at ease.”

“Back then, he was still young…” the nanny showed a sad expression, “I don’t blame him. This is a good time. I can rest assured that you and your son have put aside your past grudges.”

Commander Xie’s anger was even more intense upon seeing the nanny’s expression.

“Does he, as a son, expect his father to bow down to him first? Who does he think he is—”

“Old Xie!”

The nanny gave a disapproving look.

Yet, inwardly, she was highly sarcastic.

After sleeping with him for over ten years, she could easily tell if Commander Xie was genuinely angry or just pretending.

Though Commander Xie appeared furious, there was no real anger in his eyes.

The nanny knew well that Commander Xie had been thinking about his son over the years, but he was held back by pride.

Ultimately, one still needs a child of their own…

The nanny couldn’t help but place her hand on her belly, a flash of malevolence crossing her eyes, but she spoke kindly.

“Father and son should not hold grudges forever. In a few years, when Yanzhao becomes a father himself, he will understand your struggles…” She smiled sweetly, “Old Xie, let me go with you.”

“…Is that really a good idea…”

“But I don’t want to be separated from you,” the nanny said softly, looking at Commander Xie’s disapproving expression, “We’ve been together for over ten years, and I’ve never left you. I just want to be with you, no matter how far we have to go.”

Aunt Zhang in the kitchen: …yue!

She was rolling her eyes to the heavens.

Commander Xie looked deeply moved.

He grasped the nanny’s well-maintained hand, “I’m so grateful to have you by my side all these years.”

The nanny smiled.

“However… you know Yanzhao’s temperament. I’m afraid you might be wronged.”

“As long as I can be with you, I’m willing to endure any hardship.”

Commander Xie was even more touched.

Xie Yin, standing by, was completely stunned.

Her mother’s ability to handle men was impressive. She needed to learn it too!

“It just so happens that the organization has recently sent me to Wancheng to handle official business,” Commander Xie said with a smile, “When the time comes, you can go with me.”

The nanny: “…”

What official business? It’s probably because he’s eager to see his son, and he applied to the organization for it.

She felt a chill in her heart.

Fortunately, she acted swiftly. If Commander Xie went alone and got swayed by Xie Yanzhao, their lives would no longer be as good.

Thinking this, the nanny couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

“Dad, I want to go too. Don’t think you and Mom can leave me behind.”

Xie Yin pouted, playfully shaking Commander Xie’s hand.

Commander Xie felt like he was about to faint.

“Alright, alright, we’ll take you. Stop shaking me, my little ancestor.”

“I knew it, Dad is the best.”

Xie Yin happily leaned against Commander Xie, exchanging a look with the nanny.

…

“Where are the mushrooms, where are the mushrooms?”

Gu Yilin bent over, using a stick to search through the fallen leaves in the forest, but she couldn’t find a single one. After half an hour, her basket was still empty.

“Repeating it won’t make the mushrooms appear.”

Hu Wanning, carrying her basket, watched her with amusement.

Gu Yilin peered over at Hu Wanning’s basket.

She saw that Hu Wanning’s small basket was half-full of mushrooms, some as big as her entire palm. They looked nice, with some even being bright red.

She was deeply envious.

Why could others find mushrooms, but she couldn’t?

Was it because of bad luck?