Chapter 30

When Jiang Ruan returned, the Jiang family and Han’s mother felt a deep sense of guilt and shame. They had planned for Han’s uncle to adopt Han Qingqing as a “perfect solution” without informing Jiang Ruan in advance. Even before coming to the Jiang family, they hadn’t let Jiang Ruan know. Therefore, when she arrived, the previously cheerful Qian Suwen and Liu Jinyun suddenly felt uneasy upon seeing her.

Jiang Ruan didn’t care much and was about to leave for Grandma Huang’s house without greeting anyone.

Han’s mother quickly called out, “Ruan Ruan, come over here, we have some good news for you.”

“You mean the good news about Han Qingqing being adopted by Uncle Han?”

How did she guess? Han’s mother smiled, “Yes, with your uncle adopting Qingqing, you two would be like cousins, and there wouldn’t be any conflict.”

Jiang Ruan simply replied, “Oh.” She then added, “Aunt Qian, I don’t need to be informed about who is adopting your foster daughter. It doesn’t concern me.”

“Ruan Ruan, how could you say that? We did all of this to spare your feelings.”

“No, you did it to spare your own feelings. Don’t make it sound like you did it for me.”

Jiang Ruan continued firmly, “Aunt Qian, if you can’t let go of Han Qingqing, then keep her yourself. I already made things clear to you that night. You chose Han Qingqing as your daughter, which means I am no longer your daughter. You don’t need to feel guilty. I don’t consider you my mother and I won’t be taking care of you in your old age. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about my feelings.”

Before Jiang Ruan’s return, Grandma Huang had been furious after listening to Han’s mother and Liu Jinyun’s discussions. Now, she felt Jiang Ruan’s decision was a relief. Such a good child, and neither her biological mother nor foster mother wanted her. They would regret this one day.

Liu Jinyun sneered, “Ruan Ruan, if you refuse to acknowledge your foster mother and biological mother, why did you come back to this courtyard?”

Jiang Ruan linked arms with Grandma Huang and said, “My biological grandmother lives here. It’s only natural for me to come back. I promised to take care of her in her old age, and I will keep that promise.”

Jiang Ruan then took out over 120 yuan, half of what she had earned recently, and handed it to Grandma Huang. “Grandma, please keep this for me. This is the money I’ve earned for your retirement.”

Grandma Huang was the first person to offer Jiang Ruan food and a place to stay when she returned to the city, so Jiang Ruan felt it was only right to look after her in her old age.

Tearing up, Grandma Huang accepted the money. She wouldn’t spend it but would save it for Jiang Ruan. She wasn’t worried about having no one to arrange her burial after she passed. She trusted this sincere child would find a place to lay her to rest and visit her grave every year. She would live well, showing those who had abandoned Jiang Ruan just how grateful and loyal the girl was.

Jiang Jianchun was furious. In the past, she had concealed Han Qingqing’s true identity and feared her scandal would be exposed. Now that everything had come to light, she had nothing left to hide.

She scoffed, “Grandma Huang, do you really believe the nonsense a fool tells you? I heard she tricked her employer into giving her eggs, rice, and malted milk powder to sell. Be careful, or she’ll sell your two houses one day.”

Grandma Huang, who had seen all kinds of people throughout her life, could easily tell who was genuine and who was pretending.

“I don’t mind being tricked by her,” Grandma Huang said. “You and your mother are quite capable, aren’t you? Together with your biological sister, you’ve deceived Ruan Ruan’s mother into the palm of your hands. You made her abandon her own daughter and hurt Ruan Ruan’s feelings just to favor your sister. You’ve really mastered the art of deception.”

Jiang Jianchun mumbled under her breath, “Old hag, she just has two houses. Otherwise, who would care about her?”

Liu Jinyun quickly scolded, “Don’t be so disrespectful.”

Although Grandma Huang was hard of hearing, Jiang Ruan wasn’t. Before Jiang Jianchun could react, Jiang Ruan rushed forward and slapped her twice. “If you insult my grandmother again, I will hit you. Just try saying one more word!”

“Jiang Ruan, I’ll sue you!” Jiang Jianchun was furious. Who gets physical during an argument? Jiang Ruan was strong, and her face burned with pain, already feeling swollen.

“We still have unsettled matters between us.”

Jiang Ruan said fiercely, “To ensure Han Qingqing could stay in the Han family and enjoy a good life, you colluded with your lover to find human traffickers to kidnap me. There may be no direct evidence, but I will not let it go. I will make sure you pay for it.”

Jiang Jianchun, feeling threatened, desperately cried, “Mom, Aunt Qian, Qingqing, you all heard it. Jiang Ruan threatened me. If anything happens to me, it’s definitely her doing.”

Jiang Ruan wasn’t foolish enough to strike her again. Brother Qin Yan had said that there were ways to make someone miserable without breaking the law.

Fearing that Han’s mother might change her mind, Liu Jinyun quickly said, “Jiang Ruan, whether you agree or not, Uncle Han will adopt Qingqing.”

“Whatever.” Jiang Ruan replied, “I’m not a part of your family anymore, and I’m not part of the Han family either. It has nothing to do with me.”

Han’s mother felt a deep ache in her heart. If Jiang Ruan refused to acknowledge her, then having Uncle Han adopt Han Qingqing was meaningless. She wanted to keep both daughters; she had never said she didn’t want Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan was her biological daughter. How could she abandon her?

Han’s mother hesitated, using the excuse, “Let’s wait until the men come back to discuss this. Where are Ruan Ruan’s father and brother?”

Jiang Baomin, angry over his eldest daughter’s scandal, was still staying at the factory. As for her eldest son and daughter-in-law, despite being asked to come home early to discuss important matters, they had not returned. They would be scolded for sure when they arrived.

Liu Jinyun, avoiding the truth, said, “Old Jiang is now the chief engineer, busy as can be, eating and living at the factory. Her brother and sister-in-law have taken the children back to their in-laws’ place.”

Just then, Jiang Wangshan and Yang Xinyi arrived, both looking grim. Especially Yang Xinyi, who seemed to be seething with anger when she saw Jiang Jianchun.

Unaware of her son and daughter-in-law’s unusual behavior, Liu Jinyun said unhappily, “We were just discussing adopting Qingqing. Why did you come back so late?”

She didn’t care about old Jiang anymore; as long as her son represented the Jiang family, the adoption of Qingqing would be settled.

Suddenly, Yang Xinyi, like an angry little lioness, charged at her mother-in-law. “It’s all your fault! You knew seven or eight years ago that Ruan Ruan wasn’t your biological child and helped Dachun keep it a secret. You ruined everything!”

Seven or eight years ago, when she had just started dating Jiang Wangshan, and before Xiaozhu was born, if Ruan Ruan’s identity had been revealed back then, her child would not have been switched.

Seeing her sister-in-law dare to charge at her mother, Jiang Jianchun ignored the pain in her face and rushed to grab Yang Xinyi’s hair.

“You shrew! Attacking your mother-in-law! Brother, make her divorce you! Are you just going to stand there while your mother gets attacked? What kind of son are you?”

Jiang Wangshan’s eyes reddened with rage, and he pushed Jiang Jianchun away from his wife.

He was equally furious, “You troublemaker! You’ve brought nothing but misery to the Jiang family. Xiaozhu isn’t my child or my sister-in-law’s. Liao Chunxing swapped my child at birth. Now, the bitter consequences have finally come back to bite us. This is karma!”

Han Qingqing, amidst the chaotic shouting and fighting, understood that she and Jiang Ruan had been switched at birth by her eldest sister. Seven or eight years ago, her nephew had been swapped by Liao Chunxing. With such a big scandal exposed, could her adoption by Uncle Han still go through?

…

Jiang Ruan watched the commotion all night. Han’s mother had left long ago, and Officer Han had come by, ignoring the noisy quarrels at the Jiang family’s house. He asked Jiang Ruan at Grandma Huang’s, “Ruan Ruan, would you be willing to be adopted along with your brother into Uncle Han’s family? That way, only the two of us would be related by blood, and none of the people you dislike could get close to you.”

“But… wasn’t Han Qingqing going to be adopted?” Jiang Ruan was surprised.

Han Changfeng smiled, “I convinced our father, and Uncle Han is also very willing. Now, we just need your consent.”

Grandma Huang heard this proposal and thought it was a solution that wouldn’t wrong Jiang Ruan. She said, “Ruan Ruan, a girl needs her family for support. If you recognize me as your grandma, then listen to my advice and agree with your brother.”

“But will Aunt Qian agree?” Jiang Ruan asked. “Officer Han, you’ve been her son for over twenty years. Will she accept you being adopted by another family? If you insist on going through with it, won’t she end up resenting me?”

Han Changfeng sighed. “Ruan Ruan, I’ve considered all your concerns. You’ve suffered for over a decade, and no one thought about making it up to you. Instead, they expect you to keep compromising. True justice shouldn’t be like this. I’m prepared to accept the consequences of my choice. You don’t need to worry.”

Jiang Ruan scratched her head and said, “Alright then, I’m willing. But I’d like to hear what Brother Qin Yan has to say first.”

Han Changfeng was silent for a moment. That boy in the wheelchair again. It seemed that from now on, he would be his biggest rival for his sister’s affection.

Han Changfeng smiled and said, “Fine, then. I’ll pick you up after work tomorrow.”

The next morning, Jiang Ruan went to Qin Yan’s house and told him about the two major events from the previous night.

First, her sister-in-law wanted to sell the two rooms they got after the family split, and Liu Jinyun disagreed, leading to arguments that lasted late into the night. Jiang Ruan even heard Han Qingqing crying.

Second, Officer Han wanted both Jiang Ruan and himself to be adopted by his uncle’s family. Jiang Ruan felt that Officer Han was sacrificing too much.

“Brother Qin Yan, what do you think I should do? Officer Han is a good person, and I don’t want to make him sad.”

Han Changfeng had at least some principles and a sense of responsibility. If both Jiang Ruan and Han Changfeng were adopted, Han Qingqing would have no family to rely on in the future. Let’s see how she continues to play the innocent victim then.

With Han Huaiye and Han Changfeng as Jiang Ruan’s supporters, it would only bring her advantages.

Qin Yan made the most rational choice. “You saved Han Huaiye from human traffickers. That’s fate; you should go through with the adoption.”

“Alright, then let’s proceed.”

After Qin Zhengqing finished his vacation, he had to return to work. After lunch, Jiang Ruan, Qin Yan, and Miao Shufang went together to send him off at the train station.

Jiang Ruan reluctantly said goodbye to Qin Zhengqing. “Uncle Qin, when Brother Qin Yan goes to university, Aunt Miao should join you at the research institute. She could open a small canteen outside, and that way, you can eat Aunt Miao’s cooking and still make money, and you two won’t have to be apart. Isn’t that great?”

“Can Qin Yan even get into university?” Qin Zhengqing was both hopeful and anxious. “Alright then, I hope your words come true. I look forward to that day.”

…

Once Jiang Ruan agreed, Han Huaiye and his wife went to discuss adopting Jiang Ruan and Han Changfeng with his brother’s family.

Even though Han Changfeng had already convinced his father and Liu Ping had persuaded Han’s mother, Han’s mother was still resistant.

“Just adopt Ruan Ruan. Why do you have to adopt Changfeng as well?”

Liu Ping had his own reasons. He had a significant age gap with his older brother and sister-in-law, who had practically raised him, so their relationship was naturally strong. Even if Han Changfeng was adopted by his uncle, he wouldn’t stop being his son.

Moreover, his wife’s self-serving decisions had already hurt Jiang Ruan. If he didn’t take some action, both their son and daughter would end up estranged from their birth parents, and that would be a terrible loss.

Reluctantly, Han’s mother agreed, but she requested that Han Qingqing be brought back to live with them.

Han Huaishan, who had just adopted Han Changfeng and Jiang Ruan, had no intention of getting involved in his sister-in-law’s muddled decisions. However, as they were still family, he couldn’t let her continue down the wrong path.

“If Qingqing were a decent, upright child, I wouldn’t object. But she knew she wasn’t your biological daughter from the beginning and even tricked Yunqing into helping her steal. Insisting on taking her back might not be a wise choice.”