Of course, it wasn’t good news – he was foolishly being used as Du Zhaohui’s pawn.
Xia Xiaolan didn’t care much about public pressure. Whatever Xia Dajun said or did, she could ignore it.
She was also grateful that she’d been honest with the Zhou family early on, never hiding her past. If she could talk about her bad reputation in the village, why couldn’t she discuss her poor relationship with Xia Dajun?
Honesty was a good trait – one lie requires countless more to maintain it.
Xia Xiaolan had no such worries now. She didn’t need to fear a perfect facade being shattered in front of Zhou Cheng or Guan Huie. They already knew exactly what kind of person she was.
“He came looking for me, bringing money, wanting to repair our father-daughter relationship.”
“Pah!”
Guan Huie couldn’t help but spit in disgust.
Using money to repair relationships?
A leopard can’t change its spots. Xia Dajun was over forty – how could his character easily change? Before, he was foolishly filial and made stupid decisions. While other traits weren’t apparent now, he was certainly still just as stupid!
If he were truly sincere, he wouldn’t have tried to make Xia Xiaolan forgive him in front of so many people. Under such public pressure, what could Xia Xiaolan do?
Disgusted by Xia Dajun, after confirming the news with Xia Xiaolan, Guan Huie turned to leave. When Xia Xiaolan tried to follow, Zhou Cheng held her back. Zhou Cheng had a smile on his face, “Haven’t you noticed? My mother cares about you now. She wants to stand up for you, so let her go.”
“Comrade Zhou Cheng, forgetting your mother before even getting married isn’t right, is it?”
Xia Xiaolan had also guessed what Guan Huie was going to do. Zhou Cheng wouldn’t let her appear – did he think Guan Huie could handle it alone?
…
Guan Huie adjusted her clothes.
When she found Xia Dajun, she resumed her role as the dignified Mrs. Zhou.
Xia Dajun didn’t know who this woman was, so Guan Huie directly introduced herself:
“Xiaolan is dating my son.”
Xia Dajun was stunned.
Guan Huie wasn’t an ordinary person. Her son must be that young man by Xia Xiaolan’s side, the one with no manners. Xia Dajun’s first impression of Zhou Cheng wasn’t good – though a man didn’t need to be too handsome.
Guan Huie was intimidating, and Xia Dajun wasn’t eloquent – “emotional intelligence” wasn’t in his vocabulary.
He directly expressed his dislike of Zhou Cheng: “I haven’t agreed!”
Guan Huie acted as if she’d heard a great joke. “I’m sorry, you seem to misunderstand. I didn’t come to seek your approval. What right do you have to manage Xiaolan’s affairs? Xiaolan is an adult now. Who she dates is her freedom.”
Xia Dajun’s dark face instantly turned red:
“If she doesn’t listen to me, she’s unfilial!”
“That’s your true thinking, isn’t it? With your education level, you might not understand the principle of ‘kind father, filial child.’ Never mind, I’ll charitably explain it to you. I know everything you’ve done before, and I support Xiaolan being unfilial… Being filial to you is pointless. I’ve also met your niece Xia Ziyu – she has the same evil heart as you. Xiaolan is a good bamboo shoot from a bad stalk, different from all of you.”
Not waiting for Xia Dajun’s rebuttal, Guan Huie continued disdainfully: “If Xiaolan hadn’t gotten into Huaqing University, would you be so eager to repair your relationship? Don’t be ridiculous. I know exactly what someone like you is thinking.”
Poverty doesn’t always equal simplicity.
Poverty breeds schemes, while wealth nurtures conscience. There are truly simple and kind working people, but also cunning villains from poor and treacherous places. Xia Dajun wanted to repair his relationship with Xia Xiaolan because she was successful now, which could give him a face!
But what did Xia Xiaolan’s success have to do with him?
Xia Dajun hadn’t provided her with educational resources or love. If anyone wanted to claim Xiaolan was raised on the Xia family’s grain, it was more accurate to say her mother’s labor had earned food for both mother and daughter over the years.
Without watering, fertilizing, or weeding, waiting until the fruit ripens to pick it – Guan Huie thought Xia Dajun had some nerve! Was he relying solely on that blood relationship? And traditional “filial piety” – Xia Dajun wanted to use these to make Xiaolan submit.
Seeing Xia Dajun speechless, Guan Huie felt somewhat satisfied.
“Xiaolan doesn’t need your money. Whatever you can give her, our family can provide. What you can’t give, our family won’t be stingy with either. Now you’re standing with that Du fellow, both making things difficult for Xiaolan. I don’t know if you have any shame… Does she need to beat drums and gongs? Does she need to publish a newspaper announcement severing your father-daughter relationship before you’ll stop harassing her?”
“I-“
“You what! Just answer me, isn’t what I said true? You Xia family members won’t rest until you’ve pushed her to the edge, right? Xia Dajun, you’re not fit to be a father. You’re not honest either – you’re deceiving people under a facade of simplicity. Do you not understand how much your past actions affected Xiaolan, how disgusting your current actions are?”
Xia Dajun was speechless.
He hadn’t cared much about Xiaolan before.
He’d even resented Liu Fen for bearing a daughter, ending his line, making him unable to hold his head up in the village.
He knew Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen were mistreated at home, but he was clear about his position in the Xia family, knowing Old Mrs. Xia didn’t respect him, nor did his brothers – he couldn’t even change his situation, let alone improve Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen’s circumstances!
But now he had money, and money could solve conflicts. Xiaolan was also promising, getting into a better university than Ziyu.
Surely no one would say he had “no heir” anymore. He could stand tall – why couldn’t they live harmoniously as a family?
Xia Dajun was simple-minded, but Guan Huie wouldn’t let him deceive himself, determined to burst his self-righteous bubble.
Xia Xiaolan didn’t need him and despised him, and money couldn’t compensate for that… Xia Dajun looked bewildered, unable to understand what he’d done wrong.
This was a difference in perspectives. Xia Dajun’s limited experience restricted his viewpoint – some ideas were too deeply rooted to change quickly.
Guan Huie wasn’t here to teach Xia Dajun how to be a father; she was here to teach him how to be a decent human being.
Kind words wouldn’t work with Xia Dajun – it was time for unconventional methods!
“I don’t like threatening people, and I’ve never threatened anyone before. I deeply respect working people, but now I really can’t help but threaten you… If you keep bothering Xiaolan, I’ll show you how even a little authority can do whatever it wants. Xia Dajun, you snuck into Hong Kong illegally, didn’t you? And the Xia family is still in their village home? Before you do anything, you should consider whether you can handle the consequences. Don’t just think about your satisfaction!”
Guan Huie watched with pleasure as Xia Dajun clenched his fists but dared not act.
Threatening a good person would trouble her conscience.
But threatening scum? Guan Huie found it extremely satisfying!