Aunt Xie, go see Grandpa and Grandma.
The Jiang family lived in a two-story standalone house with a yard. The garden was planted with flowers, a stone table, and stone stools. Nearby, similar buildings with courtyards dotted the area, some with elderly residents tending vegetable plots.
“Jiang’s second son is back.”
“And he brought several people with him.”
“Is that Jiang Yantang?”
“Did they bring back his biological son? That tall, lean young man? Haven’t seen him before—what a striking appearance!”
“He takes after his mother, Xie Yanzhi. That must be her son. I heard he grew up in the countryside, yet he’s so handsome. And he’s already married, to a rural girl.”
“Is it that woman next to him? She’s quite beautiful!”
Jiang Leiyan had informed his father, Jiang Liming, that they would arrive today. At the Jiang residence, a crowd had gathered—not just Jiang Liming and Xie Yanzhi, but also her close friend Qin Heng and some nosy onlookers, including Wang Yiping, who observed the commotion from across the courtyard.
Wang Yiping scrutinized the tall, lean man and couldn’t hide her astonishment. “Wow, Xie Yanzhi’s biological son is striking.”
“People used to say Jiang Yantang was handsome, but just look at him standing next to Jiang Leiyan and this new arrival—he doesn’t hold a candle to them. It’s obvious he isn’t one of the Jiang family.” Wang Yiping’s expression stiffened as she caught herself mid-sentence.
She had come to see the Jiang family humiliated, assuming their biological son, who grew up in the countryside, would be a source of embarrassment. Yet before anything could unfold, she found herself involuntarily praising them.
Wang Yiping felt a pang of jealousy and resentment. Why did Xie Yanzhi’s children all turn out so good-looking? The younger they were, the more striking their features.
“He’s tall, handsome, and obviously from the Jiang family. Even though he was raised in the countryside, look at him—his demeanour is different from ordinary folks. And his rural wife? Also stunning.”
Frustrated, Wang Yiping decided to leave. She was practically seething.
Xie Yanzhi had managed to give birth to such a handsome son—better looking than Jiang Yantang by several degrees, and taller too! She dreaded their next encounter, fearing Xie Yanzhi would boast endlessly.
Wang Yiping’s two sons, though respectable-looking with their square jaws and strong brows, took after their father. People often complimented their upright and honest demeanour, but deep down, Wang Yiping envied Xie Yanzhi’s sons, especially the eldest and second. And now this youngest son was even more extraordinary, with stunningly refined features.
“Too much to bear,” Wang Yiping muttered as she stormed off, determined not to stay for more drama.
Back at the Jiang household, Xie Yanzhi was fully aware of the spectators and had deliberately spread the word that they intended to formally adopt Jiang Yantang as a godson, treating him as their own. She reasoned that with four children in the family, everything would appear harmonious, shielding the Jiang family from ridicule.
Her plans seemed perfect. Jiang Yantang would remain part of the Jiang family, while her biological son and his rural wife would be given jobs in the city.
Xie Yanzhi greeted her guests with a composed smile, waiting alongside her husband. “Yantang has been a sent-down youth for months. I wonder how much weight he’s lost or if he’s tanned?”
Jiang Liming, sitting upright beside her, remained silent.
He wasn’t fully on board with adopting Jiang Yantang, but he had conceded to his wife’s insistence.
“Aren’t you curious to meet Mingtu?” Jiang Liming asked.
“We’ll see him when he arrives,” Xie Yanzhi replied, her smile faltering. Secretly, she was relieved that Jiang Yantang would accompany the rural son back to the estate. She couldn’t help but worry that her biological son, raised in the countryside, would embarrass her among her peers.
She imagined the jeers and mockery: “Karma for Xie Yanzhi—her biological son turned out to be a country bumpkin.”
Xie Yanzhi’s imagination ran wild, envisioning a crude, unsophisticated couple—her biological son and his wife—clinging to them, demanding jobs, and shamelessly taking advantage of their newfound family ties.
She stood up abruptly as the group arrived. At first, her gaze went straight to Jiang Yantang, her cherished youngest son. “Yantang, you’ve finally returned!”
“Second son, bring your brother and his wife—” Xie Yanzhi’s voice faltered as her eyes landed on Xie Mingtu and Su Xiaoman.
Xie Mingtu’s height and striking features caught her off guard. Was this her biological son?
With sharp, chiselled features, a tall, lean frame, and a rebellious air, he looked nothing like the country-raised child she had imagined. He bore an uncanny resemblance to her late second brother, though his temperament was far more defiant—a blade compared to her brother’s genteel sword.
And Su Xiaoman, her rural daughter-in-law, was stunning in her own right.
“Come in,” Xie Yanzhi said, her gaze lingering on Su Xiaoman. Could this beautiful young woman really be her son’s wife?
Her skin was smooth and flawless, her face alluring and radiant, like a lotus just emerging from water. She was even more beautiful than the girls from the compound, surpassing them by several degrees. Even Mo Xuanyi, who frequently visited this household, couldn’t compare to her.
It was surprising to see such a stunning young woman from the countryside. However, there was a lingering doubt—what if she was merely a pretty vase? Beautiful on the outside but hollow within, a façade that would crumble once she opened her mouth.
Su Xiaoman stood beside Xie Mingtu. Upon meeting Jiang Liming and Xie Yanzhi, she found their appearances aligned with her expectations. Jiang Liming was a stern and upright military man, exuding an aura of integrity and reliability. Standing next to Jiang Leiyan, the two of them made an intimidating father-son duo.
Xie Yanzhi, despite her age, was still well-maintained. It was evident that in her youth, she had been a striking beauty. Born into a once-affluent but now bankrupt bourgeois family, she had grown up in luxury, surrounded by Western influences, and developed a taste for refined and poetic aesthetics.
Xie Mingtu’s features bore a faint resemblance to his biological mother’s. While Jiang Leiyan looked more like their father, Jiang Liming, Xie Mingtu was unmistakably his mother’s son.
Su Xiaoman turned to Xie Mingtu, observing his reaction to meeting his biological parents. His face remained calm and indifferent, as though he were merely encountering two strangers.
Meanwhile, Xie Yanzhi’s gaze had already settled on Jiang Yantang. There was no need for explanations.
From her brief interactions with Jiang Leiyan over the past couple of days, coupled with Xie Yanzhi’s current behaviour, Su Xiaoman could easily deduce the situation: Xie Yanzhi was another biased parent, much like Sun Mei.
While Sun Mei favoured her biological son, Xie Weiqiang, Xie Yanzhi’s affections were clearly centred on her “youngest son,” Jiang Yantang.
Even now, knowing Jiang Yantang wasn’t her biological child, her heart still clung to him.
Before they even stepped inside, Su Xiaoman had a premonition that this trip to the Jiang family would not yield any positive outcomes.
Her suspicions were confirmed as soon as they entered. Xie Yanzhi, with a soft voice, began speaking to Xie Mingtu:
“Child, I know you’ve suffered all these years. Now that you’re home, your father and I will make it up to you.
“Your brother, Yantang, was still young at the time and unaware of what Sun Mei had done. Don’t blame him for it. Your father and I plan to officially adopt him as our godson.
“Looking at your ages, you’re slightly younger than Yantang. In this family, you’ll be the fifth among your siblings. Your elder brothers, sister, and even Yantang as your younger brother will all treat you well.”
Right from the start, Xie Yanzhi announced her intention to adopt Jiang Yantang as a godson, making it clear that he would remain part of the Jiang family.
Jiang Yantang’s eyes brightened, and he called her, “Mom,” his voice steady yet emotional.
Hearing this, Xie Yanzhi’s eyes welled up with tears. “Hearing you call me Mom again brings tears to my eyes. Have you suffered much these past months in the village? I told you not to go down there, but you insisted. Look at you now, all tanned and thinner…”
“If you hadn’t gone, you wouldn’t have suffered so much.”
“Thank you, Mom, for your concern. I’m fine.”
Mother and son chatted warmly in front of everyone, as if no one else was present.
Su Xiaoman’s expression darkened. She could now fully understand why, in the original story, Xie Mingtu’s character turned dark.
His biological mother, the woman who was supposed to love and protect him, treated the child who had been switched as her precious treasure.
And what did her words imply?
“If you hadn’t gone to the countryside, you wouldn’t have suffered so much.”
Was she blaming Jiang Yantang for volunteering to go to the countryside, which ultimately exposed the truth about the baby swap? Was she implying that because of him, the Jiang family was now forced to take back their biological son?
Even Su Xiaoman felt the urge to laugh coldly. She glanced around and noticed that Jiang Liming’s expression was grim, Jiang Leiyan’s face had turned ashen, but Xie Mingtu appeared remarkably composed.
Perhaps he had grown accustomed to such biased treatment and stinging words.
Su Xiaoman took his hand, but Xie Mingtu gave her a reassuring glance before turning to Jiang Liming and saying, “Uncle Jiang, Aunt Xie.”
Hearing this, Su Xiaoman’s tense heart relaxed slightly. She understood Xie Mingtu’s stance.
Jiang Liming frowned. “You’re still calling us uncle and aunt? You should call us Mom and Dad.”
Xie Mingtu cast a fleeting glance at Jiang Yantang and firmly said, “I don’t have such a brother, and I never will.”
The implication was clear: if Jiang Yantang stayed as their godson, Xie Mingtu would not recognize the Jiang couple as his parents.
“Child, what do you mean by this?” Xie Yanzhi, now visibly displeased, raised her voice. “You don’t want a brother like him? Does that mean you don’t want to acknowledge us as your parents either?”
“Aunt Xie, I believe I’ve made myself quite clear,” Xie Mingtu replied calmly. His posture was upright, his tall frame exuding an air of confidence as he looked down at the elegant woman before him.
“How dare you speak to your biological parents like this? Where’s your upbringing?” Xie Yanzhi’s voice sharpened. As someone who had always been in control of her household, she was unaccustomed to such defiance.
Jiang Yantang interjected, “Mom, don’t blame him. He has his reasons for not accepting me as his brother…”
Xie Mingtu’s tone remained indifferent. “I lack such upbringing, indeed.”
Jiang Liming’s expression grew increasingly stern. He had warned his wife against taking such actions, knowing their biological son wouldn’t accept it. Now, witnessing the scene, he found himself both frustrated with his wife’s stubbornness and resentful of his son’s bluntness.
“You’re part of the Jiang family now. You need to abide by its rules and listen to your mother’s guidance.”
Su Xiaoman gripped Xie Mingtu’s hand tightly and took a deep breath. She thought to herself, This Jiang family isn’t worth recognizing. Who needs to endure this blatant favouritism? Xie Yanzhi’s condescending demeanour is even more infuriating than Sun Mei’s.
She gripped Xie Mingtu’s hand tightly and sneered, “What rules could your Jiang family possibly have? Cherishing a stolen son like a treasure while your real son grows up being beaten and worked to the bone in another household…’’
“Are you thinking of thanking Sun Mei for swapping such a ‘precious’ son into your family? Even a donkey’s brain wouldn’t be as stupid as yours.’’
“Did you even hear what Sun Mei said? ‘I raised someone else’s son for nothing? When I swapped the children, I wanted to strangle him.’ ”
“She wanted to kill your biological son, and you still treated her son like a beloved gem.”
“Your Jiang family is an absolute joke. Even the vile Sun Mei knows how to protect her biological son—ha! She even fought for him to have a ‘status.’ But you two? You’re unfit to be parents. Absolutely disgusting!”
Xie Yanzhi’s eyes widened in shock, trembling with rage. “You—you—you…”
“How dare you speak to your elders like that?” Jiang Liming roared, striding over to Su Xiaoman with his hand raised, ready to slap her.
“I’ll discipline you on behalf of your parents!”
But before the slap could land, his wrist was firmly caught by another hand. His arm, which had never known weakness, was now completely immobilized.
Jiang Liming was stunned. Despite his age, his physical training had never faltered, yet here he was, overpowered by an eighteen-year-old boy.
Xie Mingtu’s sharp eyes glared at him like a lone wolf staring down its prey.
“I won’t let you touch Xiaoman.”
Xie Mingtu released his grip, tossing Jiang Liming’s hand aside. “This is the last time I’ll address you as Uncle Jiang and Aunt Xie. Xiaoman and I only came to meet you out of courtesy. Now that we’ve met, we won’t bother you any further.”
“I hope we never meet again.”
“Xiaoman, let’s go.”
Su Xiaoman nodded, turning with Xie Mingtu to leave. As they opened the door to the Jiang family’s home, they found a group of onlookers outside.
Judging by the loud voices from inside earlier, it was clear the entire scene had been overheard.
Su Xiaoman was at a loss for words.
This situation was eerily similar to when they had walked out of the Xie family’s house—notable only for the crowd eagerly watching the drama unfold.
It seemed that regardless of social status, city or countryside, people universally loved gossip.
Seeing the pair leaving, Jiang Leiyan rushed after them. Looking at his parents, he suddenly felt empty. Reflecting on his childhood, as the often-ignored second son who was valued less than an outsider like Jiang Yantang, he was struck by a bitter realization.
Recalling the villagers’ words and hearing about his younger brother’s hardships, this hardened man had shed tears in private. Yet his mother had shown no empathy, quickly prioritizing Jiang Yantang as an adopted son upon their return.
Jiang Leiyan sneered coldly three times. “I should call you Uncle Jiang and Aunt Xie too. You don’t deserve us as children. It’s chilling.”
Xie Yanzhi’s fury exploded. “Jiang Leiyan, are you rebelling too?”
Jiang Leiyan cast her a frosty glance. “Don’t call me again. I have no brothers to care for, and I’m busy with my work.”
“As soon as my leave ends, I’m heading back. Don’t expect me to stick around for your little family reunion.”
He waved dismissively and strode after Xie Mingtu and Su Xiaoman, paying no mind to the chaos brewing behind him.
Catching up with the couple, Jiang Leiyan asked, “Why are you both leaving?”
Xie Mingtu and Su Xiaoman looked at him curiously. “Second Brother, why did you come?”
Jiang Leiyan shook his head. “That house isn’t worth staying in. I’ll take you to see Grandpa and Grandma.”
“You don’t have to recognize ‘Uncle Jiang’ or ‘Aunt Xie,’ but you should meet your grandparents. They’ve been asking about you constantly.”
Xie Mingtu and Su Xiaoman nodded. Jiang Leiyan smiled. “This way, it’s not far. They live in the retirement compound.”
With the second son, youngest son, and daughter-in-law all gone, the once-bustling Jiang household now felt eerily empty. Left behind were only Jiang Liming, Xie Yanzhi, and Jiang Yantang. The spacious house felt desolate, yet not as lifeless as when it was just the couple alone.
Xie Yanzhi, still fuming, turned to Jiang Yantang. “Go rest in your room.”
As Jiang Yantang left, Xie Yanzhi urged Jiang Liming, “Send someone to bring the others back.”
Jiang Liming, resting with his eyes closed, replied indifferently, “And where exactly should I go to find them?”
“They can’t have gone far. That youngest son and his wife are quite audacious, daring to talk back to me right after arriving.”
Xie Yanzhi scoffed, changing into her sleepwear. She was confident her biological son wouldn’t truly disown them. The Jiang family was prestigious—what son would dare sever ties?
Surely, he’d come crawling back to apologize in the future.
“And that Su Xiaoman—yes, she’s pretty, but her temperament is far too brash. She’s nothing like the well-educated girls from good families.
“If she can’t respect me as her mother-in-law, they should divorce. I won’t accept such a daughter-in-law…”
Jiang Liming turned over. “Enough already. What’s the point of all your talking?”
“How is it pointless? I’m still furious! They dared to disrespect me. Even Jiang Leiyan is acting up now—has he grown wings too?” Xie Yanzhi crossed her arms, her chest heaving with anger.
Recalling the earlier confrontation, she felt another wave of bitterness.
“These brats—ruining everything the moment they came back!”
“If you’re set on adopting Yantang as your son, don’t expect that younger son and his wife to come around. Focus on your precious Yantang instead.” Jiang Liming opened his eyes, seeing things more clearly.
“The boy probably doesn’t intend to recognize us as parents anymore.”
Jiang Liming sighed, recalling Su Xiaoman’s biting words:
“She wanted to kill your biological son, and you still treated her son like a beloved gem.”
“Your Jiang family is an absolute joke. Even the vile Sun Mei knows how to protect her biological son—ha! She even fought for him to have a ‘status.’ But you two? You’re unfit to be parents. Absolutely disgusting!”
If Xie Yanzhi hadn’t been his wife, Jiang Liming might have agreed. She didn’t deserve to be their mother.
“What do you mean by that, Jiang Liming? What are you implying?”
Jiang Liming closed his eyes again. “Think about what Jiang Leiyan and Su Xiaoman said. Reflect on it yourself.”
If all their children distanced themselves… so be it. She had brought this upon herself.
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