Chapter 103: Would You Not Want to Go Home with Your Mother?

The family of three cried for a long time before Xiang Taifu finally managed to calm himself.

He took his beloved daughter’s hand and walked over to introduce her to his three sons and adopted daughter. “Yao’er, this is your eldest brother, Xiang Yanzhuo; your second brother, Xiang Yanlin; and your third brother, Xiang Yancheng. She is the daughter I adopted, Xiang Xinyu. She’s two years older than you.”

Xiang Xinyao imagined all sorts of scenarios involving the fake daughter trying to replace the real one, filled with sarcasm and scheming—just thinking about it made her skin crawl.

She had no interest in wasting time battling with a fake daughter. All she wanted was to make money happily.

Xiang Xinyao obediently greeted them, “Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, and Sister.”

The three brothers answered enthusiastically.

Xiang Xinyu, however, was crying and laughing at the same time. “Sister, I’ve finally found you! You’re so beautiful, you look just like Father!”

Xiang Xinyao smiled and nodded.

The next moment, Xiang Xinyu grabbed Xiang Xinyao’s hand.

Suddenly, Xiang Xinyu froze. She lowered her head and carefully examined Xiang Xinyao’s hand, rubbing it gently. Her tears started flowing again.

Xinyao’s hands were rough from frequent work, with calluses that made them feel coarse.

“Sister, you must have suffered a lot these years. From now on, I’ll take good care of you. Whatever you need, I’ll do it. I’ll help heal your hands.”

Huh?

What was going on here?

The fake daughter was crying so hard. Could she be faking it?

But her eyes were clear and bright, which didn’t seem like she was pretending.

Damn it, she couldn’t tell if it was real or fake!

Xiang Xinyao decided to stay calm and watch the situation unfold to see what she would do next.

She smiled faintly. “It’s fine. The hardships are all behind me now.”

Xiang Xinyu released her hand, then rushed to one of the carriages and struggled to take down two large bundles.

Under the confused gazes of everyone, Xiang Xinyu brought the two bundles to Xiang Xinyao. “Sister, these are the clothes I made for you.”

“Since I didn’t know your measurements, I just made them based on what I imagined.”

“Some are a bit big, some a bit small. Try them on, and I’ll alter them if they don’t fit.”

“Huh?” Xiang Xinyao was stunned. “You made these for me?”

Xiang Xinyu smiled awkwardly. “Yes. Every day, I saw Mother that she miss you so much, she’s not eating or resting properly, and I couldn’t do anything to help. So I imagined how you might look and made some clothes for you. You should try them on.”

Xiang Xinyao was taken aback by Xiang Xinyu’s actions. Even the rest of the Xiang family was shocked. They had no idea that Xiang Xinyu had secretly made so many clothes for her.

No wonder she brought so many things when she boarded the carriage, but over the past month, they hadn’t seen her change much—turns out, it was all for Xiang Xinyao.

Xiang Xinyao took the two bundles. “I’ll try them later,” she said, heading into the room with them.

Xiang Xinyu nodded, and there was a strange look in her eyes as she watched Xiang Xinyao.

If someone could hear her thoughts at that moment, they would hear her inner voice shouting with excitement: Wow! My sister is so beautiful, so obedient! I really like her!

But… what if she doesn’t like me?

Never mind, I’ll treat my sister even better from now on. I’ll take good care of her to repay Father and Mother’s kindness!

The Ji family, standing nearby, was already in shock, frozen in place as they forgot to prepare the meal.

If the girl’s biological parents had come to find her, would she leave Dawai Village with them?

If she left, what would happen to the house she was planning to build?

The large plot of land in the small pine forest had all been bought with her hard-earned money.

No, her parents came from a wealthy family, and the girl should return with them to avoid continuing to suffer.

She should go back with her biological parents, not be trapped in the poor little village of Dawai.

Xinyao… Xiang Xinyao, what a beautiful name.

Uncle Ji was the first to snap out of his daze. “What are you still standing there for? Go prepare the meal!”

“Oh, right, right, I’ll go make it,” she replied.

“We’ll help,” Ji Chunhua and her sister quickly regained their senses and rushed into the kitchen with Mrs. Ji

Uncle Ji looked at Xiang Xinyao, his face full of relief. “Girl, you’ve finally made it! Congratulations on reuniting with your real parents. You don’t have to stay in this little mountain village and suffer anymore.”

Hu Zhaodi, her eyes red, stepped in front of Uncle Ji, her expression firm. “Uncle, I won’t leave…”

Before Xiang Xinyao could finish her sentence, the Xiang Taifu wife’s face turned ashen. “Yao’er, don’t you want to go home with your mother?”

Xiang Xinyao smiled sweetly, and after a long pause, she awkwardly spoke. “Mother, please don’t be upset. Let me explain.

I won’t leave Dawai Village for long; this place is also my home, and I really like it here.

Even if I go back with you, I will come back here every year to stay for a while.

I promised the villagers that I would help them prosper and escape poverty.

Father, Mother, there are family members here I can’t bear to leave. I hope you understand.”

The Xiang Taifu smiled and nodded. “Good child, we won’t interfere with your decision. Do whatever you want; if things don’t go well, your father, mother, and three brothers will always back you up.

If you want to come back here every year, we certainly won’t object. If the conditions allow, we’ll come with you.”

Xiang Xinyu spoke sincerely, “Sister, I’m the least busy at home. If you come back here, please take me with you.”

Xiang Xinyao smiled and nodded. “Alright, thank you, Father.”

Xiang Xinyu inwardly screamed: Ahhh! My sister is so pretty and cute! I wish I could always be with her!

Uncle Ji, hearing this, had tears welling up in his eyes.

The Xiang Taifu walked toward Uncle Ji, about to bow in gratitude.

Uncle Ji was startled and quickly caught him. “What are you doing, sir?”

The Xiang Taifu, his face full of gratitude, spoke, “Big Brother, thank you for adopting Yao’er and taking care of her all these years.”

Uncle Ji’s face darkened. “Don’t say that. To be honest, the girl has only been with us for half a year.

She was bought by the Hu family for a few silver coins, but she had a miserable life there.

It wasn’t until six months ago that she severed ties with the Hu family and came to us.”

The Xiang family and Mo Jinnan couldn’t help but feel their hearts clench.

Mo Jinnan asked, “How exactly did she suffer in the Hu family?”

“Sigh…” Uncle Ji sighed heavily. “The Hu family never saw her as a person…”

Uncle Ji briefly recounted the suffering Xiang Xinyao had endured during her eleven years in the Hu family. The Xiang family and Mo Jinnan clenched their fists tightly.

Meanwhile, Xiang Xinyu was crying uncontrollably.

So, for the eleven years she was lost, her sister had lived a life worse than that of animals.

How could the Hu family treat such a young girl like that?

Xiang Yanlin clenched his fists so tightly that they made cracking sounds. “Where is the Hu family? I’ll go and ruin them!”

Xiang Xinyao quickly intervened. “Second Brother, don’t act rashly. The Hu family has already gotten their comeuppance. And I don’t want them to die too quickly; slow torture is more painful. I want to take revenge, step by step.”