Chapter 87.1

Everyone turned to look at the person at the door.

The newcomer was young, dressed in a neat Zhongshan suit. She had her hair neatly styled and was accompanied by another middle-aged man.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Xie Donglou frowned so deeply he could squash a fly.

He looked at Xie Xiaogu with dissatisfaction on his face.

“Second brother, I’m telling the truth…”

An Yuzhu: “…”

Xie Yin, however, got up from the ground and called out sweetly.

“Aunt~”

“Are you okay?” Xie Xiaogu gently stroked Xie Yin’s head, still blaming Commander Xie. “Big brother is really something. No matter how angry he gets, he shouldn’t take it out on his own daughter.”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Xie Donglou shot a glare at Xie Xiaogu.

The entire compound knew that Xie Yin was the daughter born to Bai Qianzhu before she entered the Xie family, and until now, the two had never met.

“Second brother, it’s true!”

Xie Xiaogu said as she pulled out a few letters from her pocket and handed them over.

After Xie Donglou read them, his expression turned grim.

For the first time, he felt resentment towards Commander Xie, who was both like an elder brother and a father to him.

“Take a look, too.”

He passed the letters to Xie Xilou.

An Yuzhu was dying of curiosity.

Seeing Xie Donglou’s expression, she also took a letter to read. After finishing, she displayed an expression that was hard to describe.

It turns out that Commander Xie had been having an affair with Bai Qianzhu for a long time. The letter in his hand was the evidence.

Xie Xilou: “…”

“Second brother, third brother,” Xie Xiaogu glared at them. “Xiaoyin is truly the child of big brother.”

“This…”

Xie Donglou glanced at Xie Yanzhao, who hadn’t said a word, and with a quick thought, he swiftly grabbed all the letters and threw them into the nearby fireplace.

“Second Brother!”

Xie Xiaogu rushed over, but the fire was too fierce and quickly consumed the letters.

“Second Brother!” Xie Xiaogu turned around in distress, “What do you mean by this?”

Xie Yin was stunned.

She never expected her confirmed identity could be so easily destroyed…

She screamed and was about to rush at Xie Donglou, but was slapped far away by An Yuzhu.

An Yuzhu lifted her chin and glared at Xie Yin, who was covering her face.

Her husband could only be bullied by her!

“Second sister-in-law!”

Xie Xiaogu was anxious and hurriedly helped Xie Yin up from the ground.

“Stop shouting! Who does this illegitimate child think she is?” Xie Donglou was furious with his sister. “She wants to acknowledge our ancestors? Dream on!”

“Second Brother, you know very well…”

“Shut up!”

Xie Donglou glared at her, making Xie Xiaogu shiver.

“What happened today… I’ll come back to settle the score with you in a few days!”

Xie Yin pushed Xie Xiaogu aside and declared, “I am Dad’s daughter! You can’t force me out, you can’t!”

She clung to a pillar in the hall, glaring at everyone.

Xie Xiaogu felt heartbroken. “Second Brother, Xie Yin is still a child of the Xie family, you can’t do this!”

“What Xie family child?” Xie Donglou was resolute in his refusal to acknowledge her. “Do you have any proof? Third brother, what are you going to do about this?”

Xie Xiaogu was furious but felt helpless against her unreasonable second brother.

She had no choice but to look at her third brother. This brother was the kindest, so he should agree to let Xie Yin stay, right?

“I’ll listen to Second Brother.”

“Third Brother, how can you…”

“Shut up!” Xie Donglou’s face was grim. “You think a few letters can prove she’s the eldest brother’s daughter? Have you lost your mind?”

An Yuzhu seized the opportunity to insult her.

“That’s right, the eldest brother-in-law was a soldier who protected the family and country. He can’t be involved in this kind of scandal. Sister-in-law, are you really that clueless?”

“You!”

Xie Xiaogu’s face turned red with anger.

Xie Donglou waved his hand impatiently. “You were supposed to come to see the eldest brother off, yet you came later than the guests. Enough, hurry up and leave.”

“What about Xie Yin…”

“Not my problem! That wretched woman Bai Qianzhu killed the eldest brother. It’s a miracle I haven’t skinned her alive already. Get lost!”

Xie Xiaogu still didn’t want to give up. “We have to take care of Xie Yin.”

“Are you saying my previous words didn’t mean anything to you?”

So, it seemed she didn’t care about her life at all.

Hearing this, Xie Yin became anxious.

“Aunt…”

“Brother… she—”

“Keep talking and you can get lost too!”

Xie Xiaogu, deflated, turned her gaze to Xie Yanzhao and Ruan Mingfu, who were watching the drama unfold.

Ruan Mingfu, still eating pea cakes: …

Oh no… could it be what she was thinking?

Sure enough, Xie Xiaogu spoke up: “Yanzhao, Xie Yin is your biological—”

“Smack!”

Xie Xiaogu covered her face in disbelief, staring at Xie Donglou.

An Yuzhu quietly pulled her leg back, enjoying Xie Xiaogu’s misery.

God knows how long she’s had to put up with this sister-in-law.

Xie Donglou clutched his chest, nearly driven to death by his stupid sister!

Didn’t Xie Xiaogu know about his complicated relationship with Bai Qianzhu?

Even now, she had the audacity to try and push Xie Yin onto Xie Yanzhao. Did she think her life was too good, or was she afraid that Xie Yanzhao wouldn’t get angry? He was embarrassed to mention those two in front of Xie Yanzhao. Xie Xiaogu really had a thick face.

If they drove Xie Yanzhao away and broke all ties with him, Xie Donglou might just stew Xie Xiaogu for soup!

“Get lost!”

“Second Brother…”

Xie Donglou pointed to the door. “Get out!”

The middle-aged man who had come with Xie Xiaogu tugged at her sleeve.

Xie Xiaogu looked reluctantly at Xie Yanzhao but didn’t say anything in the end. She turned to leave, but Xie Yin clung to her leg like a drowning person grasping a lifeline.

“Aunt, you can’t leave… They are prejudiced against my mother and have long disliked me… Aunt!”

Xie Yin seemed to realize the outcome she was facing, fear written across her face.

Xie Donglou hated that Bai Qianzhu had killed Commander Xie and would never accept her. An Yuzhu, needless to say, bore a grudge against Bai Qianzhu. Even if Xie Donglou agreed, this shrew would definitely oppose it.

As for Xie Xilou… his family was too poor. Xie Yin hadn’t even considered him.

After thinking it over, Xie Xiaogu was the only one who could take her in.

But…

“I’m Dad’s biological daughter, there’s no denying that,” Xie Yin lifted her tear-streaked face, “Give me… ten thousand. Otherwise, I’ll expose our father-daughter relationship to the press.”

She looked at Xie Yanzhao, her eyes filled with threat.

“Even though Dad is dead, you’re still in the army—”

Before she could finish, she received another hard slap.

Xie Donglou glared at her, infuriated to the point of laughing.

“You’re just like your wretched mother!”

The strength of the man’s hand left a red mark on Xie Yin’s face. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her teeth felt loose.

“Second Brother!”

Xie Xiaogu protected Xie Yin in her arms, her eyes filled with concern.

“Have you thought this through?”

“Delusional,” Ruan Mingfu stepped forward, sneering at her, “Don’t even think about getting a dime. If you want to report us, go ahead. I’m curious how you plan to win.”

Commander Xie died completely, with even his remains burned to ashes. Even if there were letters proving Xie Yin’s identity, who could guarantee they were real? And even if they were real, how could anyone be sure that this child was indeed Xie Yin?

“You!”

Seeing Ruan Mingfu made Xie Yin’s old grievances resurface. She wanted to rush forward and scratch her face, but having just recovered from a serious illness, she couldn’t even get up.

“You’re Xie Yanzhao’s wife, how can you say such things?” Xie Xiaogu said, her brows tightly knitted. “Yanzhao, can’t you control your wife? This is not a place for her to speak!”

“What she said is exactly what I think,” Xie Yanzhao replied calmly as he approached, looking directly at her.

Under his oppressive gaze, Xie Xiaogu lowered her head.

“Enough! Just get out!” Xie Donglou waved his hand dismissively, like shooing away flies. “Before you leave, take this garbage with you. Oh, and tomorrow I’ll send people from the army to collect the house. Don’t even think about staying here.”

Xie Yin was speechless.

Even though she knew this would be the outcome, hearing it in person was still unbearable.

Compared to Xie Yanzhao, her feelings for this place were much stronger.

“No… no, how can they take the house?”

Xie Yin tried to argue, but Xie Xiaogu, intimidated by Xie Donglou’s threatening glare, dragged her away.

As they walked away, Xie Donglou snorted coldly.

“What a nuisance!”

When he saw Ruan Mingfu, his face broke into a smile again. “My dear niece-in-law, you weren’t scared, were you? Your aunt has been spoiled by my brother since she was young and does things without thinking. Don’t take her seriously.”

“Uncle, I didn’t mind…”

After leaving the courtyard, Xie Xiaogu supported Xie Yin as they walked down the road.

She looked at her with deep concern, and her resentment toward her two brothers grew even stronger.

“Your second and third uncles are truly heartless. It’s a shame you called them uncles before. Don’t worry, from now on, you can live with me. I will definitely take care of you.”

Xie Yin lifted her red eyes. “Thank you, Aunt.”

Seeing her like this made Xie Xiaogu feel even more pain. She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away Xie Yin’s tears.

“Don’t worry, your aunt will protect you.”

“Hmph!”

A cold snort came from the side as the middle-aged man shot a disapproving look at Xie Xiaogu.

“I disagree.”

“What?” Xie Xiaogu’s voice became sharp and piercing as she looked at him in disbelief. “Zhang Qiang, what do you mean by that?”

Zhang Qiang glanced at Xie Yin.

“I mean, I don’t agree with her living in our house.”

Having been married to Xie Xiaogu for over a decade, he was well aware of the Xie family’s troubles. He had no respect for this mother-and-daughter pair, and after seeing Xie Yin’s behavior earlier, he feared she might negatively influence his own child.

“No way…”

This foolish woman didn’t realize she should cultivate a good relationship with her promising nephew after Commander Xie’s death. Today’s incident had completely offended him. Zhang Qiang wasn’t disappointed; he simply didn’t have a good relationship with Xie Yanzhao as a mere uncle.

Moreover, Xie Xiaogu had always been close to Bai Qianzhu…

It was a difficult situation!

Now that Commander Xie was gone, he didn’t need to give Xie Xiaogu any face.

“If you bring her back, you can both leave!”

Zhang Qiang declared firmly before turning to leave.

“You… you…”

Xie Xiaogu, who had lived a smooth life for most of her years, never expected her husband would treat her this way.

Watching Zhang Qiang walk away without hesitation, she felt a sudden wave of panic.

Xie Yin pressed her lips together.

Staring daggers at Zhang Qiang’s retreating figure…

Deep down, she vowed that once she became successful, she would make those who looked down on her pay!

“Xiaoyin.”

Seeing Xie Xiaogu look over, Xie Yin quickly changed her expression to one of vulnerability.

“Aunt~”

“Xiaoyin, your uncle doesn’t agree,” Aunt Xie said bitterly. “I’ll see if there are any rental houses nearby, you can live there…”

The rest of her words faded away.

What a pretty sentiment…

One man’s objection was enough for her to be tossed aside like a forgotten relative!

She dug her nails into her palms, her drooping eyelids hiding her fierce and vindictive eyes.

At that moment, Xie Yin found herself resenting Xie Xiaogu as well.