This question left Xu Zhongyi speechless.
Xu Changle couldn’t help defending his father:
“Zhang Jiadong’s influence was too great. If we didn’t succeed in one strike, we’d face his mad retaliation. I’ve suspected Zhang Jiadong for years too, but still had to carefully maintain my disguise—”
Grandmother Yu was gentler with her grandson:
“Good child, grandmother knows you’ve suffered, having to deceive that Zhang fellow while protecting your sister. This matter isn’t about you. I’m asking your father, let him speak for himself.”
Xu Zhongyi knelt on the ground.
With his elderly mother pointing the cane at him, he couldn’t utter a word.
He was a figure of some importance in Hong Kong. Though Du Zhaohui called him just an antique dealer, how could a mere antique dealer gather enough evidence against Zhang Jiadong to ultimately force his death?
Zhang Jiadong was killed by Cui Yiru.
But Zhang Jiadong could have killed everyone and lived on with Cui Yiru. It was just that in that situation, Zhang Jiadong lost the confrontation and lost his ability to retaliate… Xu Zhongyi had united all possible forces for his revenge.
Knowing Zhang Jiadong’s connection to Du Chengrong, he used Du Zhaohui’s concern for Xia Xiaolan to draw Du Zhaohui to his side, making Du Chengrong more cautious in his actions.
Knowing Zhou Cheng’s feelings for Xia Xiaolan, he didn’t need to ask for help—Zhou Cheng and Pan Bohua would help of their own accord.
Xu Zhongyi couldn’t speak. He had indeed used Xia Xiaolan—
This wasn’t his plan from three years ago. Back then, he had only watched his elderly mother living alone, in poor health, and wanted to find some honest people to care for her.
Even just having someone to talk to, having a human presence, would comfort the old lady.
Xu Zhongyi had chosen Xia Xiaolan after carefully observing her character.
Reputations were nonsense, empty, and false.
Never abandoning her mother wherever she went—Xia Xiaolan’s filial piety had reassured Xu Zhongyi.
The later plans changed step by step. Xia Xiaolan had been willing to spend effort searching for relatives in America for the old lady…
“Mother, my methods were dishonorable. I was eager to lure Zhang Jiadong out. When Xiaolan went to America to search for relatives, it attracted Zhang Jiadong’s attention, so I didn’t stop her. But I truly did arrange people to protect her secretly—”
Xu Zhongyi spoke softly in his defense.
Grandmother Yu wouldn’t hear it. She raised the cane and began beating Xu Zhongyi mercilessly.
“You were stupid not to notice your wife’s affair!”
“You were weak to fall for others’ schemes!”
“Those two I could forgive—I’ll chalk it up to bad luck. Arranging for you to go abroad was my and your father’s oversight, our mistake!”
“Whether you were hiding all these years to avoid assassination or were controlled by your desire for revenge, you know in your heart.”
“None of that matters… How could you bear to use Xiaolan, a young girl, as bait to lure out the snake? Did you feel proud watching her deal with Zhang Jiadong’s people in America? Your father and I didn’t raise you this way. If your father knew of your despicable acts, he couldn’t rest in peace. I’ll beat you to death, you scoundrel! After being harmed by evil people, your own heart turned evil!”
She berated him while striking.
Though Xu Zhongyi was a person of status in Hong Kong, though “Master Qiu” had done well these past years, he dared neither dodge nor talk back, breaking into a cold sweat as his elderly mother’s cane struck him.
Liu Fen was stunned.
Xu Changle wanted to react first, to stop her, but Xu Zhongyi rebuked him:
“Changle, your grandmother’s words are right, her beating is justified! I was wrong in this matter!”
The old lady showed no mercy.
Though they said her health was poor, she used to sweep the entire street clean by herself.
Before liberation she was a wealthy family’s daughter; after liberation she gradually became skilled at physical work, with great strength, showing no hesitation in beating her son.
Xu Zhongyi could barely maintain his kneeling position.
One of Grandmother Yu’s strikes went astray, breaking the skin at Xu Zhongyi’s temple. Blood ran down his face. Liu Fen, weak-kneed, tried to stop her while calling for Xiaolan. Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng ran in, and the three of them finally restrained Grandmother Yu.
Xia Xiaolan had heard Grandmother Yu cursing and beating him earlier. Zhou Cheng had stopped her from intervening, saying Xu Zhongyi’s dishonorable actions deserved this beating.
Except for Grandmother Yu disciplining her son, it wouldn’t be appropriate for anyone else to beat Xu Zhongyi, as he was also a victim.
In Zhou Cheng’s opinion, Grandmother Yu’s beating thrilled him from the tips of his hair to his toenails—it was so satisfying!
Restrained by Zhou Cheng, Xia Xiaolan hadn’t forced her way in.
Until Liu Fen repeatedly called for her help, Xia Xiaolan gently pinched Zhou Cheng, and they ran one after another.
Seeing Xu Zhongyi beaten bloody, Zhou Cheng suppressed his joy and joined Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen in restraining Grandmother Yu.
Though Grandmother Yu’s hands couldn’t reach him anymore, she threw the cane, hitting Xu Zhongyi one last time.
The cane struck Xu Zhongyi’s shoulder before falling heavily to the ground.
Grandmother Yu, panting heavily, remained furious:
“Don’t stop me! Today I’ll beat this scoundrel to death. This black-hearted thing doesn’t deserve to be a Xu family descendant!”
Xu Zhongyi was a figure of importance outside.
Now beaten, he not only dared not dodge but worried about angering Grandmother Yu. He crawled forward on his knees and handed the cane back to her.
Xia Xiaolan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she held down the cane:
“Grandmother Yu, why are you doing this? When we couldn’t find Uncle Xu, you wanted to find him so badly. Now that he’s finally returned home, what if you hurt him badly… Never mind, don’t be angry. I know why you’re beating Uncle Xu, but I don’t mind.”
Mind what?
Xia Xiaolan would only mind if people she cared about hurt her feelings.
To Xia Xiaolan, Xu Zhongyi was just Grandmother Yu’s son, the target of her search, nothing more.
If she had any feelings, it was probably pity. After all, while there were many men whose wives cheated on them, few suffered as badly as Xu Zhongyi—he must have quite a headache now. Though Zhang Jiadong was dead, cleaning up the mess he left behind would take who knows how long.
Not to mention, how would Xu Zhongyi handle his father-daughter relationship with Tina?
Tina was only eighteen, barely older than a middle school girl. If she could accept all this, she would have appeared in Shangdu today with Xu Zhongyi and his son.
With a man who had suffered so much, Xia Xiaolan felt it would be like bullying him to hold a grudge.
Xu Zhongyi remained kneeling, wiping blood from his face:
“Xiao Xia, the old lady’s beating is justified. She’s not wrong. I was solely focused on seizing the chance for revenge before. I didn’t consider everything thoroughly. I apologize to you. If you have any needs, I can—”
Grandmother Yu, who had been restrained in her chair catching her breath, spat heavily at these words:
“Who do you take Xiaolan for? Are you thinking of paying her off? Let me tell you, she’s plenty capable herself, she doesn’t need your antique-dealing money! Ptui! Unfilial son, disgracing our family name!”
Even Zhou Cheng wanted to laugh at this.
Grandmother Yu’s tone showed such disdain for Xu Zhongyi’s antique business while taking such pride in Xiaolan’s career—Old lady, have you forgotten that you’re Xu Zhongyi’s birth mother?