The words of Village Chief Wang and Clan Elder Zhao made Zhao Yongqiang’s heart tighten—he absolutely didn’t want any last-minute surprises with the adoption plan.

He hurriedly interrupted, “Village Chief Wang, our family has already agreed on everything. We invited you two elders here tonight just to be witnesses.”

As he spoke, Zhao Yongqiang handed over the adoption document, which Zhao Yongcai had just finished writing, to Qian Chunhua.

“Sister-in-law, take a look. If there’s no problem, just sign it in front of the village chief and Second Grandpa.”

Qian Chunhua took the adoption document without even glancing at it, and with a swift motion, tore it to shreds.

“Y-You…” Zhao Yongqiang stammered.

Qian Chunhua replied firmly, “Village Chief Wang, Second Grandpa, I do not agree to this adoption.”

“You bitch! You agreed before, and now you’re going back on your word? What, are you going to eat your own shit now?” Li Cuihong exploded in anger, jumped up, and began cursing viciously.

Qian Chunhua looked at her calmly, treating her like a mad dog—not worth a response.

The rest of the Zhao family glared at Qian Chunhua in fury, as if she had tricked and humiliated them.

Qian Chunhua stood up, turned to the two elderly men seated at the head, bowed, and said:

“Please, Village Chief Wang and Second Grandpa, I ask for your support and justice.”

Then she straightened up, pointed at Zhao Yongqiang and his wife, and declared:

“I wish to accuse Zhao Yongqiang and his wife of swapping my child eight years ago.”

Her words struck like thunder—the whole hall, and the onlookers outside, were stunned.

Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong looked at each other in shock.

How could Qian Chunhua know about this?

The rest of the Zhao family thought she must’ve gone mad and was talking nonsense.

But Zhao Qingyun, their son, lowered his head in shame.

Qian Chunhua took note of everyone’s reactions.

Now she was sure—Zhao Qingyun knew about the switch, but Zhao Daqing, his wife, and Zhao Laosan were completely in the dark.

After the initial shock, Zhao Yongqiang and his wife quickly recovered and denied everything.

“Qian Chunhua, you’re spouting nonsense! There’s no such thing!”

“Nonsense?” Qian Chunhua sneered. “Why don’t we ask your son Qingyun? I heard it from his own mouth.”

Zhao Qingyun panicked. “N-No! I didn’t say anything—I don’t remember saying that!”

Li Cuihong was furious.

She smacked Zhao Qingyun on the back and yelled, “You idiot! Didn’t I tell you to keep it to yourself when I told you? How could you spill it?!”

The moment she said that, Zhao Yongqiang’s heart sank—this stupid woman had just confessed in front of everyone.

A loud uproar broke out among the onlookers.

“It’s true?! Li Cuihong actually admitted it herself!”

“My god, that woman is so wicked—you’d never guess just by looking at her!”

“No wonder—she knew Zhao Yongcai would make money, so she swapped the kids ahead of time to get her own son into private school!”

“Poor Zhao Yongqiang, married to such a black-hearted wife…”

…

Qian Chunhua’s heart finally relaxed—her first goal for the night was accomplished: proving the child swap.

She knew that if only the Zhao family were present, they would have denied it outright and swept it under the rug.

But now—with the village chief, clan elder, and so many villagers present, there was no way they could deny it anymore.

When Village Chief Wang and Clan Elder Zhao first heard her accusation, they were still skeptical—until Li Cuihong admitted it herself.

Unforgivable!

To think they’d do something so wicked.

Village Chief Wang was even angrier—how could such shameless behavior happen in his village?

The two elderly men were too furious to speak at first.

But Qian Chunhua wasn’t finished—now it was time for Zhao Qingsong to appear.

She went to the west wing and opened the door.

Zhao Qingsong was already dressed in the thin clothes he’d worn that afternoon, with a thick coat draped over him.

He was sitting quietly, waiting.

Earlier that afternoon, Qian Chunhua had told him: if he wanted justice, the only way was to reveal everything publicly.

She took Zhao Qingsong’s hand and led him into the hall.

He was skin and bones, dressed in rags—a stark contrast to the plump and well-dressed Zhao Qingyun.

With tears in her eyes, Qian Chunhua brought him forward.

“Fellow villagers, look at what the eldest family has done. They swapped my own son and abused him to this state.”

As she spoke, she pulled aside Zhao Qingsong’s thin shirt, revealing his body covered in bruises.

“Oh my god—did Li Cuihong do all this?”

“That woman is heartless! Swapped her own son over to the rich side, let him eat well and go to school, then tortured someone else’s child!”

“She’s pure evil! All that sweet talk to Zhao Qingyun… turns out she knew he was her real son all along!”

“…”

The villagers’ gossip made Zhao Yongqiang and Li Cuihong’s faces turn ghostly pale.

They couldn’t salvage it now.

The truth was exposed for all to see.

Zhao Qingsong stood there, trembling, eyes full of tears, not daring to believe what he had just heard.

Qian Chunhua, also tearful, gave him a reassuring smile and said:

“It’s true. You are my son—my own flesh and blood, stolen by the eldest family.”

Then she embraced him tightly.

Zhao Qingsong burst into tears, unable to hold back anymore.

His sobs stirred the crowd—so many villagers felt deeply for him.

“This poor child… thank heavens Yongcai’s wife found the truth. At least now he can have a better life,” Old Granny Xu at the village gate said, wiping her tears.

Child-swapping was something they only saw in opera plays—who would have thought it would happen right under their noses?

The villagers were both sympathetic and excited—this was going to be the talk of the village for a long time.

Qian Chunhua was glad to make a big scene—the bigger it got, the more it would work in her favor.

“Qingsong, hurry, go back and change into warm clothes. Don’t catch a cold. Lock the door. Mom still has things to do.”

She whispered to him, concerned about how thinly he was dressed.

Qingsong wiped his tears, noticed her collar soaked from his crying, and gave her a shy smile.

“Second Aunt…”

Qian Chunhua ruffled his hair. “Silly child. Don’t call me that. Call me Mom.”

“…Mom.” Qingsong whispered, afraid it might be a dream that would vanish once he left.

“Go on now. Watch over your brother and sister.”

When Qingsong hesitated, she gave him a little push, and he finally turned and left, remembering the his brother and sister were still in the west wing.

Village Chief Wang and Clan Elder Zhao finally snapped out of their shock.

The child swap and abuse had clearly been committed by the eldest couple.

But the two elders didn’t want things to escalate any further.

Clan Elder Zhao cleared his throat and asked, “Yongcai’s wife, how do you want this matter handled?”

Village Chief Wang added, “Don’t worry. We will ensure you get justice.”