Chapter 569 - 490: Wu Qin
Chapter 569: Chapter 490: Wu Qin
Tang Qingyun went to Wu Yu Xuan’s hospital room. Only Wu Xiaofeng was inside, keeping the patient company.
Although their father-in-law and son-in-law relationship was over, Wu Yu Xuan was still grateful to Tang Qingyun. Anyone could forget and erase the many things Tang Qingyun had done for the Wu Family, but Wu Yu Xuan could not. Besides, he had always truly liked and admired his son-in-law.
After hearing Tang Qingyun’s request, Wu Yu Xuan didn’t hesitate to choose a new name for Tang Yaxuan. Since she was Wu Xiaowen’s adopted daughter, her surname could only be Wu. He gave her the single name Qin. Wu Qin. Only Wu Yu Xuan himself knew the meaning behind it.
Tang Qingyun made a call and arranged for someone to go to the police station in the district where Wu Xiaowen and her daughter were registered. He had their old household registration booklet voided and then returned to the hospital with the new one reflecting the name change. He had planned to just give it to his former father-in-law and be done with it, but he found Lin Aizhen, Wu Xiaowen, and Tang Yaxuan had all arrived. So, he handed the booklet directly to Wu Xiaowen.
Wu Xiaowen didn’t know what was going on. "What’s this?" she mumbled as she opened the booklet. The moment she saw it, her expression changed drastically.
Before, she had put on a brave face, saying she didn’t care—it was just a name, so let it be changed. But in her heart, she didn’t truly feel that way. After all, Tang Yaxuan had been their daughter, raised with all their love and affection. She couldn’t believe Tang Qingyun could actually be so heartless. ’After more than a decade of being a family... He doted on this daughter more than anyone. How could he just let her go?’
The current situation was just as her mother, Lin Aizhen, had analyzed: Old Mrs. Tang was causing trouble from the sidelines, and Manman’s pettiness was also a factor, forcing Tang Qingyun to give them the cold shoulder. But once some time had passed, in two or three years at most, ’wouldn’t Tang Qingyun want to take Xuanxuan back?’ With Xuanxuan and Hao Hao connecting them, their feelings for each other as a couple wouldn’t just disappear. ’There would surely come a day when they would reconcile.’
But she never expected Tang Qingyun to be this ruthless. He had gone and changed Xuanxuan’s name without a word, not even giving her a heads-up beforehand.
With trembling hands, her face streaked with tears, Wu Xiaowen looked utterly pitiful. Unfortunately, this delicate, fragile act no longer moved Tang Qingyun. He didn’t spare her another glance, merely nodding at Wu Yu Xuan, who was propped up in bed, and turned to leave.
Seeing her daughter’s pitiful crying naturally broke her mother’s heart. Lin Aizhen hurried forward and grabbed her former son-in-law’s sleeve, her face full of earnestness. "Qingyun, you’re not a heartless man. You were once a local official; you know how to distinguish right from wrong and think for yourself. You can’t just throw away a marriage of more than ten years to appease your mother. That’s not like you! You’ll regret this! Listen to Mom’s advice: from time immemorial, a man’s first wife has always been the most precious, the best. She can endure hardship with you, she knows you inside and out, and because you have children together, she is absolutely loyal to the family. If you find a new one, you’ll never find someone so completely devoted... I won’t say more than I have to. Please, consider this carefully. For the children, and for the rest of your lives, this little family cannot fall apart!"
Tang Yaxuan also came over and tried to grab Tang Qingyun’s hand, but he avoided her. Wringing her hands, her eyes welled up with aggrieved tears.
"Dad... If the Tang family has no room for Xuanxuan, then so be it. I don’t mind changing my name. I’ll always remember clearly in my heart—Dad is the best dad in the world, and Xuanxuan will always be your daughter! You don’t have to take care of me anymore, but you must take care of Mom. She suffered so much with you in the countryside back then, but she never once complained, because she loves you, Dad! Now that your life has improved, now that you’ve been promoted, you can’t let Mom down!"
Hearing this, Wu Xiaowen covered her face and began to sob.
At the bedside, Wu Xiaofeng’s face turned red for some reason, and he quickly lowered his head. Lying in the bed, Wu Yu Xuan sighed and closed his eyes.
Tang Qingyun let out a cold laugh. "Remember your name," he said to Tang Yaxuan. "You are Wu Qin, not Xuanxuan. You are just Wu Xiaowen’s adopted daughter and have nothing to do with me. If we meet on the street in the future, don’t call out to me."
While speaking, he pulled his sleeve from Lin Aizhen’s grasp. "Ms. Lin, you are only Wu Xiaowen’s mother, nobody else’s. Please mind your etiquette when you speak. As for ’loyalty’—I suggest you ask your daughter if she dares to even speak that word."
Lin Aizhen’s expression froze. Ultimately, she didn’t dare to pester him any further.
Wu Xiaowen, however, would not let it go. Her high heels went CLICK-CLACK-CLICK as she rushed forward, her tear-stained face flushed red. She shrieked at Tang Qingyun, "Tang Qingyun, you make yourself clear! Why wouldn’t I dare speak of loyalty? If your vicious mother hadn’t driven me out, would I be in this situation? Who wants to ruin their reputation by getting a divorce? Who wants to abandon their own flesh and blood? It was your Tang family that used its power to bully me, forcing me into this with your scheming!"
Tang Qingyun had taken two steps back as she rushed at him. He watched her coolly, waiting until she finished her tirade before saying calmly, "Who was right and who was wrong is no longer important. For Hao Hao’s sake, I’ve chosen to remain silent. I’ve already been very low-key and restrained. You should calm down. That would be the wise thing to do."
"I..." Wu Xiaowen wanted to continue shouting, but Wu Yu Xuan, on the bed, opened his eyes. He barked, his breath coming in ragged gasps, "Shut up! Haven’t you embarrassed us enough?"
Wu Yu Xuan had been the one to personally burn those scandalous photos of Wu Xiaowen and Bai Lihua. He knew then that the relationship between the Wu Family and the Tang family was over and that there was no longer any hope for the marriage.
Lin Aizhen and Wu Xiaowen refused to give up, willing to pester and wail. Wu Yu Xuan turned a blind eye and let the mother-daughter duo do as they pleased. It didn’t cost him any energy, after all, and he harbored a sliver of hope: ’What if it actually worked?’ Besides, if they frequently went to the Tang residence, it would also remind Hao Hao and Manman that they had Wu family blood in them. Through that connection, they might be able to enjoy some benefits from Hao Hao and Manman in the future—even a little would be enough!
But he couldn’t stand them quarreling like this right in front of him. After all, the Wu Family was considered an aristocratic family; he still had some face to save.
Wu Xiaowen was spoiled and arrogant with her mother, but she was wary of her father. After being reprimanded, she didn’t dare pester Tang Qingyun anymore and just covered her face, crying bitterly.
Lin Aizhen’s gaze flickered toward Tang Qingyun. She hesitated for a moment before sighing and retreating to Wu Yu Xuan’s bedside.
Wu Yu Xuan said to Wu Xiaofeng, who was standing by the bed with his head lowered, "Go see your... Sigh. See Qingyun out."
Tang Qingyun reached the door, then seemed to remember something and turned back to Wu Yu Xuan. "I went home last night and passed on your message to Manman," he said. "This was her reply: The medicine she prescribed for you all came in thirty packets per person. Each packet can be brewed three times, which should be enough to last until June. This secret recipe doesn’t just prevent illness and nourish the body; it promotes longevity, keeps you healthy, and leaves you feeling light and energetic. The benefits of finishing this batch would have been immense. Those herbs were gathered from deep within the mountains, at great risk. It was a token of Manman’s filial piety. But you didn’t cherish it. Instead of taking it yourselves, you gave it away! From now on, there will be no more!"