Chapter 25

Song Wanyue was pulling up rapeseed seedlings when she heard a commotion.

Cui Hehua was talking animatedly:
“You don’t know yet, do you? The police came to the Jiang family, said they’re going to arrest Jiang Wenqiang and Wang Zhaodi. Turns out Jiang Ze was secretly swapped at birth. That’s it—everyone, stop working. Let’s go to the Jiangs’. Oh wait, no, it’s that the police are taking statements. Everyone’s supposed to go. Didn’t you hear the loudspeaker? The team leader already announced it. Go on, Wanyue, too. Put the seedlings down, you can get back to them later.”

With this mess, their production team could forget about being named an “advanced unit” this year.

Song Wanyue followed the crowd.

From a distance, she could already hear Wang Zhaodi’s wailing.

“Son, son, call me mom! Gone dumb, have you?” She shook Jiang Chaoyang desperately.

From the moment he learned he wasn’t a Jiang, Jiang Chaoyang had been dazed. Now, staring at Wang Zhaodi and Jiang Wenqiang’s faces, he felt dread. It was true—he wasn’t their child, and his “parents” were human traffickers.

He flung away her rough hand and roared, “You’re not my mom. My mom is Li Rong, a high school Chinese teacher. My dad is Jiang Shangwu, a division commander!”

After shouting, he slumped to the ground in a stupor.

The Jiang family had come—Grandpa Jiang, Father Jiang, Mother Jiang, and the two older sons, Jiang Feng and Jiang Ye.

Grandma Jiang had already been in poor health. When she heard the news, she fainted, so the rest of the family had stayed in the capital to care for her and the younger children.

Song Wanyue crouched by a wall. Quite a few Jiangs had shown up. Judging from their looks, they clearly weren’t going to accept this imposter.

Grandpa Jiang and Father Jiang were both in military uniforms, radiating authority. She noticed no villagers were stepping forward to defend the old Jiang household.

After questioning the locals, the Jiangs were gnashing their teeth with fury.

When Li Rong heard that her younger son had nearly died of fever, she stormed up, grabbed Wang Zhaodi’s face, and started slapping.

“Wang Zhaodi, you venomous woman! You harmed my son. Why couldn’t you treat him well? A child doesn’t get to choose his parents, but you, bitch, gave your son a better set. You’re vicious to the core!”

Smack, smack! The sound of the slaps made Song Wanyue draw in a sharp breath.

Li Rong clawed at Wang Zhaodi’s face, spitting, “Pah! You think you can give your son a good identity? I’ll never let you. Look at your boy—useless, just like you. Don’t dream of rising above your station. I’ll keep my eye on you all my life.”

Eighteen years of affection—wasted on someone else’s child. And her true son had suffered under his foster mother’s hand. She would never forgive.

Father Jiang stripped off his uniform jacket and punched Jiang Wenqiang. “You bastard! You dared to swap my son while I was away. Let’s see how prison suits you. As for your precious boy—we’re giving him back. You thought raising him eighteen years would make us reluctant? A rat’s son is still a rat.”

Everyone watched as Jiang Wenqiang and Wang Zhaodi were beaten black and blue.

The crowd erupted:

“Serves them right!”

“Unbelievable. They really dared switch a sparrow’s egg for a phoenix’s!”

“Exactly! Thought they could be parents of a golden egg. And now? Straight to prison.”

“Not worth it. Look at the real Jiang son—stunned senseless, probably scared out of his wits.”

“He looks like a fool. But now our brigade’s reputation is ruined again.”

…

After the Jiangs had vented their fury, the police began the formal questioning.

Letting the victims’ family blow off steam first—standard procedure. The officers were used to it.

In fiercer villages, child traffickers would be beaten to death and dumped in a river, and no one would interfere.

The saying went: If the people don’t press charges, the authorities won’t pursue them.

Once her anger had ebbed, Li Rong held Jiang Ze, sobbing.

“Xiao Ze, do you like this name? Who gave it to you? If you want to change it, we’ll respect your wishes.”

Jiang Ze was a little overwhelmed; he had never been this close to his mother. “No need. My teacher gave me this name. The old Jiangs always called me Ergouzi. I only got my official name when I was ten. I’ll stick with this one.”

The name, so unlike the Jiangs’, sounded refined.

Li Rong relaxed a little, then asked, “Xiao Ze, once this is settled, will you come home with us? Your grandma, your sisters, nieces, nephews—they’re all waiting for you.”

“Yes, I’ll go with you.” Jiang Ze nodded without hesitation.

Back in the capital, he would study hard and aim to sit next year’s college exam.

“Then… can you call me ‘mom’? It’s fine if you’re not ready. You can take your time. When we get home, I’ll introduce you to the whole family—it’s lively.”

Slowly, Jiang Ze said, “Okay… Mom. But please, don’t let Jiang Chaoyang come back, alright?”

If Jiang Chaoyang returned to the Jiang family, Jiang Ze knew he’d lose control.

He also didn’t want Wanyue to marry into such awkwardness.

Scanning the crowd, Jiang Ze found Song Wanyue squatting down, watching.

Their eyes met. Song Wanyue raised her brows and smiled faintly. Li Rong followed her son’s gaze and thought the girl looked familiar.

So—the boy had gotten what he wanted.

“Alright, I promise you. Jiang Chaoyang has already been cast out. He won’t come back. Xiao Ze, that girl—is she an educated youth? From the capital? I think I’ve seen her near the furniture factory.”

Jiang Ze explained quietly, “Her name’s Song Wanyue. Her father works at the Hongxing Furniture Factory. She’s the one who first said you might be my family from the capital. But please don’t mention it—she’s still down here, and I’m afraid the old Jiangs will cause her trouble. We can talk more once we’re home.”

“Alright, Xiao Ze, don’t worry. But she’s your benefactor, isn’t she? Shouldn’t we show some gratitude?”

With so many of the old Jiangs around, Li Rong worried about drawing trouble to the girl. Still, favors should be repaid.

Jiang Ze said, “No need. I already gave her money. When we’re back in the capital, I’ll treat her to a meal. She’s preparing for the exams now. Her grades are excellent.”

Li Rong caught the undertone but stayed quiet. Young people’s matters—they’d handle them. After all, she’d once married for love too.

“Fine. Once we’re back, invite her to our home for dinner.”

When the police finished the statements, Jiang Ze walked up to Wang Zhaodi.

“Ahem… there’s something I’ve held in for a long time. I’ve thought it over and I should tell you. I don’t want you kept in the dark.”

Originally, with the medicine Wanyue had given him, he’d planned to set up Zhou Lanhua and Jiang Wenqiang for a tryst in the wild. He worried they’d quarrel and then reconcile, so exposing them today—when the police were already hauling them off—was more effective.

This way, the villagers wouldn’t suspect anything.

After all, accidents between secret lovers were too common and would look suspicious.

But once they were in custody, they’d tear each other down with accusations, no time left for quarrels and reconciliations.

Wang Zhaodi felt a chill. “You… what are you going to say?”

The wolf cub was ready for revenge—she understood.