Chapter 20

Except for Song Jin, everyone else followed Song Ci to Songjiawan. Because of the jeep, they still attracted a lot of attention after arriving at Songjiawan. Fortunately, at this time, the adults had gone to work, and the only people who followed to watch the fun were the elderly and children. The old Song family was no exception. Besides Mrs. Zhang, there were only a few children left at home. Seeing a group of people getting off the car, she was stunned for a moment. However, she quickly recognized Erya and hurriedly called a slightly older child to call for help, and then led everyone into the yard.

When Song Zhen came back yesterday, they heard from her that Song Renyou was coming, but they didn’t expect it to happen so soon. Seeing Erya’s face had turned a lot whiter, she was wearing a yellow blouse and small leather shoes. She secretly gritted her teeth. This damn girl had been lying all along. She had so much money to buy clothes and shoes, why didn’t she send more money back?

Song Ling didn’t dare look at Old Lady Zhang. Of course she didn’t want to come back, but if she didn’t come back, Cui Yanfen would think she was unfilial.

Mrs. Zhang knew that now was not the time to pursue these things, but because the matter of their child exchange was known to others and they came to the door. After entering the yard, she first glanced at Cui Yanfen, then at Song Renyou, and finally walked quickly to Song Renyou, and knelt down in front of him with a thud, “You are Song Zhen’s parents, right? It’s all my fault. I was blinded by greed and thought of exchanging Erya for Zhenzhen. I wanted her to go to the city to live a good life for a few days. It has nothing to do with the child. She can’t bear to leave home. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I kowtow to you, please forgive us.” After that, she kowtowed to Song Renyou several times.

Song Renyou and Cui Yanfen were so stunned by her kneeling that no one stopped her from kowtowing. Luckily, they reacted quickly and helped Mrs. Zhang up. Kowtowing wasn’t a custom these days. Didn’t you see the onlookers pointing and joking around? This old lady looked older than the old lady in their family.

Song Ci was also shocked by Zhang Po’s move, and thought that this old lady was extraordinary.

Song Renyou and Cui Yanfen were still talking to Mrs. Zhang when a group of people rushed in from outside the yard. They were none other than the Song family.

The leader rushed in, holding a hoe, and asked, “Who dares to bully my mother?”

When Zhang Zhong saw this, he immediately stood in front of him with his hands on his waist.

“Boss, put down the hoe, what are you talking about?” Old man Song who came in later shouted loudly.

“Dad, people are bullying our family now.” Boss Song said with his neck stiff.

Before Old Man Song could say anything, Mrs. Zhang rushed up with an “Ah” and slapped him on the back twice: “Who bullied me? I knelt down on my own initiative. It’s all because of you little beasts. You wanted her to go to the city to live a good life for a few days, and she didn’t have to suffer with us in the countryside. That’s why Zhenzhen suffered. I told you to be nice to her, but you didn’t listen. This is all our fault. What’s the point of kowtowing to someone? Do we have to put you in jail?” After saying that, she slapped him twice more, as if she was still not satisfied.

“Why? Our Song family also raised a daughter for them. So what if they raised my daughter for a few years?” Boss Song said unconvinced.

Song Youren thought about what he had promised Song Zhen when he came here. He coughed twice, attracting everyone’s attention before he said in a deep voice, “I gave money when I sent Zhenzhen to your house. If you treat her well, I can let it go even if you replace my daughter with your own daughter. But how did you treat her? Let’s not talk about when Zhenzhen came. I gave her 200 yuan in one go. Later, when you sent Song Ling there, I also sent you money every month. This money is enough to support your whole family, let alone a child.”

As soon as he said this, those watching outside took several breaths.

When Song Lao Da’s wife Jinhua saw this, she wanted to close the gate of the courtyard, but was stopped by several old women and refused to leave.

Boss Song was about to speak, but Old Man Song spoke first, “We are the ones who wronged Zhenzhen. We can compensate her. But we raised her after all. We don’t admit that we abused her. Isn’t that how children from farming families are raised? How can we sever ties? As the old saying goes, the grace of raising a child is greater than the grace of giving birth to a child.”

“That’s right, that’s right. We raised her and now that she has a good life, she wants to break up with us. That’s wishful thinking!” Boss Song responded from behind.

The rest of the Song family remained silent, some even showing a hint of guilt. Song Ci watched from the side, thinking that these were the smart ones.

Song Youren snorted coldly, “According to what you said, our family has raised your daughter for several years. Your daughter has been well fed and well cared for by us, and she has also sent money back to you every month for all these years. Where do you think all that money came from? Have you ever given us a penny? Why don’t you ask your team leader to come over so we can settle the accounts thoroughly?”

Song Ling looked at Song Youren in surprise. She had always thought her father didn’t know about this. She then looked at Cui Yanfen, and from the look on her face, she must have known about it too.

When Cui Yanfen saw her looking over, she patted her hands and said, “Your father and I can understand.”

“Mom.” Cui Yanfen fell into her arms with emotion.

Jinhua twitched her lips. She was her biological mother. This damn girl, after only being away for a few years, really thought she was a child of the Song family. But she knew the importance of things. Only if Erya stayed in the capital could they get more benefits.

Old Man Song said, “Youren, that’s not how you calculate the account. If we hadn’t taken Song Zhen in back then, we don’t know if she would still be here. Adults can endure it, but children may not be able to!”

“Grandpa, that’s why I’m speaking to you in a nice voice here now. As long as you are willing to sign a letter of severance with Zhenzhen, we won’t pursue any further matters. After all, all the mistakes are the fault of us elders. Zhenzhen is not at all wrong, she is the one who is most wronged.” Song Youren said in a deep voice.

The eldest brother Song was about to speak again, but was glared back at by Old Man Song. Just as Old Man Song was about to speak, Mrs. Zhang cried out in a sobbing voice: “Forget it, forget it, old man, just agree to him. Zhenzhen has long been alienated from us, and now it’s no different from breaking off the relationship.”

Old Man Song nodded, looked at Song Renyou and said, “What about Erya?”

Song Ling couldn’t help but said, “Grandpa, my name is Song Ling now.”

Before Song Youren could say anything, Cui Yanfen said, “We’ve raised Erya for a few years and have developed feelings for her. She’s a good child. She’s willing to follow us, and we can’t bear to let her go. If you agree, let her continue to live with us.”

Jinhua suddenly said, “That won’t do. If your daughter wants to go back, you have to return my daughter to us.”

“Mom!” Song Ling held Cui Yanfen’s hand tightly upon hearing this.

Song Youren said, “As long as Erya is willing, we won’t stop her.”

“Dad, I don’t want to leave you.” Song Ling said in a tearful voice.

Jinhua: “…” You damn girl, who wants you to come back? Can’t you see we want money?

Song Youren: “We’ll talk about this later. Let’s sign the severance agreement first, shall we? Zhang Zhong, go call their team leader over and ask him to bring the team’s seal as well.”

Zhang Zhong agreed, and the old Song family, seeing that Erya could continue to stay in the Song family, stopped making trouble. After all, Song Zhen had already torn their relationship, and her husband was a powerful man, so even if they wanted to get involved, they couldn’t. Fortunately, they still had Erya, so they didn’t suffer any loss.

After a recent argument, there was nothing much to talk about when they sat down. Instead, Jinhua dragged Song Ling to her room. Song Ling was reluctant, but she was afraid she would yell something unspeakable, so she had to go with her.