Chapter 571 - 492: Effort
Chapter 571: Chapter 492: Effort
Before today, Wu Qin had resented Tang Qingyun for abandoning her and withdrawing his affection. Yet, deep down, she still harbored a child-like devotion for him, revering him as if he were her birth father. She couldn’t believe he could truly cast her aside. She always felt the day would soon come when he would welcome the daughter he had doted on since childhood back into the Tang family.
But today—just a moment ago—she learned that Tang Qingyun himself had changed her surname and even forbade her from using her old name. Her heart instantly plummeted into an icy abyss. The deep loathing and disgust in his eyes was a mirror image of Old Mrs. Tang’s and Tang Haocheng’s. In that moment, she was brutally awakened to the truth. ’There’s no hope of ever returning to the Tang family!’
Monstrous hatred surged within her. In her heart, she cursed them endlessly. ’The whole Tang Family can just drop dead!’
’Wu Qin? Hah! I’d rather be Mo Xiaoman.’
’That name was originally mine. The good fortune and opportunities Mo Xiaoman was destined for were all mine! Now, that wretched girl with the Tang surname has stolen it all!’
’I was kicked out of the Tang family with nothing to my name, so why should Tang Manman get to enjoy so many benefits with the Mo family?’
’Since Tang Qingyun won’t let me use the name Tang Yaxuan, then Tang Manman should have to give back everything that belongs to Mo Xiaoman—including the name!’
When Wu Qin was in Wancheng a while ago, Liu Fengying had told her that Xiao Man now had a great deal of wealth to her name. The money from Grandpa Mo’s herb garden was like leaves on a tree—shake it, and they’d cover the ground, more than you could ever pick up! The income, after all expenses, was split into three shares. Xiao Man did nothing and still took one whole share for herself, while the other two went to Mo Jiabao and Grandpa. On top of that, Grandpa had contracted the mountain by the deep reservoir, and any future profits from it would also be shared with Xiao Man. And even though Mo Xiaoman had run off to Beijing, the village still held her share of the farmland for her. Every year, when the village distributed tea oil and dividends, Mo Xiaoman always got her cut.
This meant that in all of Huaxia Country, Tang Manman was enjoying the portions meant for two people! ’And that share from Gongdao Village should have been mine!’
Wu Qin clenched her fists, her nails digging so deep they almost broke the skin of her palms. ’If I had the power, I would kill Tang Manman this very instant!’
’It’s because I was too careless back then—I didn’t kill her or cripple her. That’s why I’ve been backed into this corner today!’
’Otherwise, I’d still be that beautiful, noble princess from my dream. I wouldn’t have to worry about a thing, no need to struggle or scramble. I could have slipped into a gorgeous, expensive, snow-white wedding gown and effortlessly become Brother Junfan’s bride!’
Now, just to see Brother Junfan or even speak to him on the phone, she had to pay a price.
Thinking of those fearful and anxious days in Wancheng, Wu Qin felt an indescribable bitterness well up inside her.
She had been taken to Wancheng, where the two soldiers assigned to her tried to drive her all the way to Gongdao Village. Terrified, she absolutely refused to go to the countryside, but she couldn’t get in touch with Brother Junfan. The two men were as cold and emotionless as robots; her tears and desperate cries were useless. They told her that only after she procured the herbs would they put her on a plane back to Beijing. Otherwise, she would be stuck there forever. No one would care even if she became a beggar.
Fear finally forced her to use her wits. Fortunately, the two soldiers were at her disposal and followed her commands. She had them bring Liu Fengying to her, and aside from her love of money, Liu Fengying proved to be very cooperative. The herbs were finally secured, allowing her to return to Beijing.
After the herbs were shipped off, she received a call from Brother Junfan. He praised her, telling her that he would need her to procure more herbs in the future. As long as she performed well, he said, she could see him often—they could share meals, talk, and spend time together!
Wu Qin understood perfectly. If she were still a Tang Family Girl, marrying Brother Junfan would have been a simple matter. But now, as merely the adopted daughter of Wu Xiaowen, if she wanted to see him—let alone become his bride—she would have to work for it. If ten times the effort wasn’t enough, she would give a hundred!
She would never admit defeat. She would not let go of that dream. ’Brother Junfan can only be mine!’
’So what if I’m not a Tang Family Girl? One day, when I become Young Madam Bai, I’ll be a noble lady, looking down from on high. All those short-sighted people who despised and abandoned me can go to hell!’
The dozen or so burlap sacks of herbs from Gongdao Village that Wu Qin acquired for the Bai Family had been purchased at a high price by Liu Fengying. She had gotten Second Aunt Mo to buy them from her relatives. Their quality and potency were excellent—the best in all of Huaxia. This was hardly surprising, as the village’s original herb seedlings had come from Grandpa Mo.
Three and a half of those sacks were picked directly from Grandpa Mo’s herb garden. Because time was short and the three of them—led by Liu Fengying—were acting with the panicked haste of thieves, they didn’t dare run all over the garden to gather a wider variety. Instead, each person ducked into a single row of herbs and harvested as much as they could. In doing so, they managed to get three different kinds of herbs. The varieties themselves weren’t rare, but every stalk was brimming with Spiritual Energy. They were precisely what Gongsun Ruxue had called "Spirit Plants."
Gongsun Li and Mr. Bai each took a stalk, sniffing it deeply. They then snapped the herbs, breaking them open and chewing on the pieces. They exchanged a look of mutual surprise and delight.
As previously agreed, the Gongsun Clan selected only a few dozen of the very best Spirit Plants to take back for cultivation. The remainder were all refined into Nourishing Yuan Pills and Qi Gathering Pills for the Bai Family—a supply that would be enough to last them for nearly half a year.
Thus, Wu Qin had rendered a great service to the Bai Family. On Mr. Bai’s orders, Bai Qingyue invited Wu Xiaowen and her daughter to a world-class feast at the International Hotel. She also generously bought Wu Qin many new clothes and other things a girl would like, and she sincerely invited the mother-daughter duo to visit their home often. Finally, she gave Wu Xiaowen an admission ticket to an upcoming orchid appreciation exhibition. Such tickets were incredibly hard to come by. The attendees were mostly high-society figures, the rich and the powerful. Noble ladies considered it an honor just to be seen at such an event. In short, simply being able to set foot inside meant one’s status was anything but low.
If Wu Xiaowen were still the young madam of the Tang family, tickets like this would have been delivered to her door without her even asking. But times were different now; obtaining one was like finding a priceless treasure. Wu Xiaowen was delighted. She and Bai Qingyue chatted away, becoming as close as sisters who had been separated for years.
Wu Qin stood quietly by, a leather backpack—a new gift from Bai Qingyue—slung over her shoulder. She cradled newly purchased dresses and shoes in her arms, with yet another bag full of accessories and trinkets hanging from her elbow. In truth, she hated it. She felt like a common street beggar being casually paid off. A beggar would have been overjoyed to receive a simple bun, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel happy.
Noticing this, Bai Qingyue glanced at her a couple of times and asked with a smile, "Is there anything else you’d like to buy? Your Aunt Bai will get it all for you now. It’ll save your mother the trouble of coming out again."
Wu Xiaowen offered some polite refusals at the offer, but Wu Qin simply smiled sweetly, appearing all the more obedient, gentle, and well-bred. This again won her Bai Qingyue’s praise and affection. As Bai Qingyue saw them home, whether in the car or on the short walk to their door, she kept a warm, affectionate arm wrapped around Wu Qin’s side.
Wu Qin was inwardly quite satisfied. She even felt a small flicker of accomplishment.
Previously, Gongsun Ruxue had taken a strange liking to her and had introduced her to the women of the Bai Family. Bai Qingyue had smiled at her back then, too, but it was a smile that felt like a mask. She certainly never would have touched her, let alone held her hand. ’And why would she? After all, I was just the fake Tang Family Girl.’
’But now, I’m not even the fake Tang Family Girl anymore. My name has been changed to Wu Qin, yet Bai Qingyue is treating me even better!’
’It’s because I’ve worked hard enough. I’ve earned the Bai family’s attention with my own abilities!’