Chapter 219 - 203: Punishment
Chapter 219: Chapter 203: Punishment
"I’ve only said a few words and you can’t take it. So how exactly did you treat Manman? Just how old was she? Hmm? And how old were you? Swapping the children was clearly your and your wife’s mistake, yet you made Manman suffer the consequences, letting her be starved and abused since she was a child. And on top of that, you, her own biological parents, abandoned her..." Tears welled in Grandma Tang’s eyes, her gaze filled with grief and indignation. "You’ve done the same thing twice—for the sake of the women you supposedly love, you don’t hesitate to viciously hurt your own flesh and blood! You’re so heartless and disloyal, turning your back on your own family. I truly can’t believe that I, Fang Qinglan, could have raised such an ungrateful wretch!"
Sweat beaded on Tang Qingyun’s forehead. If Zheng Shaolian hadn’t been there, he would have dropped to his knees to beg for forgiveness. "Mother! It’s my fault. At the time, I was just..."
"Don’t make any more excuses. This matter has been investigated thoroughly. The file your father has is exhaustive, detailed, and the evidence is irrefutable. It was you and Wu Xiaowen who abandoned Manman at the first possible moment. And for such a ridiculous reason: because you couldn’t bear to part with the Mo family’s daughter, afraid she would get sick, afraid she would be sad and upset! Excellent, Qingyun. Your wife is important, and your adopted daughter is just as important. So why don’t you just abandon all of us who are related to you by blood? From now on, you can go live your happy life with Wu Xiaowen, be a good son to the Wu Family, and just forget about us!"
The more Grandma Tang spoke, the more incensed she became. She stood up and said to Tang Qingshan, "Go to the room and call Xiao Zhang out. We’re leaving! I can’t stay in this place. My chest feels so tight, I’m afraid I’m going to have another episode!"
Zheng Shaolian immediately said, "Grandma, you and Mr. Tang are with me. I can get you a room at the military district guesthouse!"
"Good. Today, I’ll follow all of Shaolian’s arrangements!"
Tang Qingyun gripped Grandma Tang’s hand, his face pale with panic. "Mother! I know I was wrong. I’m begging you, please give me a chance to make amends. I... From now on, I’ll never dare to go against your wishes again!"
"Go against my wishes?" Grandma Tang sneered. "And you still have the nerve to call me ’Mother.’ One might think I was some vicious, unpardonable despot, exploiting and oppressing you, is that right?"
Tang Qingyun was speechless, his eyes bloodshot. He hugged Grandma Tang and simply refused to let go.
Although Tang Qingshan also wanted to take Grandma Tang away, his rational side told him that his mother was elderly and still recovering from a serious illness. After spending the better part of the day traveling by car and plane, she was already exhausted. She couldn’t handle any more turmoil and needed to rest as soon as possible.
He then tried to placate her. "Mother, let’s not trouble ourselves with him. Let’s rest for now. If we get our strength back, we can set off at first light tomorrow. Shaolian says it’ll only take a little over an hour to see Manman and Hao Hao!"
The thought of her grandson and granddaughter improved Grandma Tang’s mood. She went to rest, letting Tang Qingyun off the hook for the time being.
Tang Qingshan saw Zheng Shaolian out, reminding him to drive carefully. When he returned to the house, Tang Qingyun spoke to him with a mixture of gratitude and shame. "Brother, thank you! I was... young and ignorant back then, and I really went too far. Thankfully, Father and Mother still have you with them!"
Tang Qingshan replied coolly, "There’s no need for thanks between us. But regarding Manman, I really wanted to give you a beating. For Hao Hao’s sake, I’ll let it go. Hao Hao is a very sensible, good kid. My Manman has already accepted her little brother. The two of them, as cousins, get along harmoniously—better than we did as real brothers when we were children!"
Tang Qingyun stared blankly at Tang Qingshan, suddenly feeling like his brain wasn’t working today. "Brother, Manman is my daughter. She and Hao Hao are full-blooded siblings!"
Tang Qingshan tossed Tang Qingyun a pack of cigarettes. "Smoke? Your favorite, a hot commodity. This pack is for you."
"No, I was talking about Manman and Hao Hao..."
Tang Qingshan smiled. "Qingyun, you’d have to face it sooner or later, so I might as well tell you now: In Beijing, everyone knows that Manman is my, Tang Qingshan’s, biological daughter! After discussing it, Father and Mother have unanimously agreed! So, Manman has nothing to do with you anymore. You don’t need to trouble yourself over her. She calls me Dad now!"
"I don’t agree!"
Tang Qingyun threw the cigarettes back at Tang Qingshan and started for the room where Grandma Tang was resting. Tang Qingshan blocked him. "On what grounds do you disagree?"
"Brother, you can’t do this! Manman is my and Xiao Wen’s biological daughter, and they are the only two children we have! She and Hao Hao are your niece and nephew. They can respect you as their uncle, but they can’t call you Dad!"
Tang Qingyun was overwrought. ’Haven’t I been trying so hard lately to win my daughter’s forgiveness? Even though Manman is always cold and dismissive whenever I visit them in Ping County, I’m getting used to her. Blood is thicker than water. If she can accept Hao Hao, she’ll eventually accept her parents. It’s only a matter of time!’
Tang Qingshan’s smile vanished, and his face grew somber. "You still have the gall to keep saying ’biological daughter.’ I’m embarrassed for you! For Xuanxuan’s sake, you and your wife refused to take Manman back. You had already abandoned and rejected her! But from the first moment I saw her, I felt like she was meant to be my daughter!"
"You wouldn’t even get married because of Gu Qi Yue. You don’t have a wife, so how could you have a daughter?"
"That is none of your concern! Besides, this is Father and Mother’s decision, and it cannot be changed!"
"I’m going to Mother to have her settle this! I didn’t abandon Manman, I was just thinking I’d wait for a little while and then go get her!"
"Is that so? What did Mother just say? All your talk is nothing but excuses and quibbles! I’ll remind you one more time: stop deceiving yourself! Qingyun, a mistake is a mistake. You’ve been clever since you were a child, with an excellent memory. You had the family rules memorized by the time you were six. You shouldn’t have forgotten that when we were boys and made mistakes, Father never once showed mercy or spared us from punishment out of pity for his sons!"
Tang Qingyun felt helpless, but he refused to compromise. "I’ll accept any punishment, but stealing my daughter is out of the question! It’s too inhumane. I refuse!"
"Inhumane? Are you talking about you and your wife?"
Tang Qingshan snorted. "This is an order from Father and Mother. It’s not up to you!"
With that, Tang Qingshan walked into his room and unceremoniously shut the door, leaving Tang Qingyun, who had followed closely behind, outside.
The next day, Zheng Shaolian came over early to pick up Grandma Tang and Tang Qingshan.
Tang Qingyun hadn’t slept all night. He rushed to handle his work, gave instructions to the relevant people, secured his leave, and then got in his own car, hurriedly following Zheng Shaolian to Ping County.
Upon arriving at Xiao Man’s home in Gongdao Village, Grandma Tang and Mr. Tang received a warm welcome. At first, Grandpa and Grandma mistook Tang Qingshan for Tang Qingyun. Only after Xiao Man introduced them did the two realize their mistake and immediately change their attitude—following Xiao Man’s cues, the elderly couple had always been polite but distant toward Tang Qingyun.
Grandma Tang had initially assumed the village where her granddaughter lived would be harsh and poor. Zheng Shaolian had told them on the way that Xiao Man’s home was actually quite nice, which had put her somewhat at ease—not because she looked down on the countryside, but because she would feel at peace knowing her grandson and granddaughter had a good living environment. When she saw with her own eyes that Grandma kept the courtyard and house looking wonderfully fresh, clean, and tidy, Grandma Tang was even more delighted. She took Grandma’s hand, and the two chatted like dear sisters for a good while, until Tang Qingyun also hurried over.