I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 289: Father and Daughter Recognition

Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Father and Daughter Recognition

In the North of 1981, the countryside was still undoubtedly poor and backward.

Especially the rural children, they were raised freely and were very resilient.

These kids, bareheaded, wore old cotton-padded jackets on the outside, and homemade shoes on their feet.

Some wore their older brothers’ hand-me-downs.

One little boy was even wearing a floral cotton-padded jacket, which belonged to his sister.

Of course, they recognized Qiao Qingyu, some calling her "Auntie", others "Aunt".

Qiao Qingyu glanced at Wu Xiucai, who stood there lost in thought, and opened her backpack to distribute candy to the children before she said to him, "Grandpa, let’s go, our home is just ahead."

Wu Xiucai, as if he heard nothing, had a somewhat stern expression on his face.

Qiao Qingyu knew that it was the living environment of her home that made him emotional.

But that was the reality, nothing could be done.

Even by the old man’s standards, he might not be satisfied living in the provincial city.

He knew that, but even with mental preparation, when he actually faced it, he couldn’t accept it.

Qiao Qingyu didn’t rush him, and fell silent along with him.

Qiao Genbao and Qiao Mubao caught up from behind; they were originally waiting at the village entrance, but after all, it was October, and the North’s October had already entered winter.

The north wind howled, with a light snow having fallen just yesterday, so the wind carrying the snow particles was especially cold.

Especially standing at the village entrance.

Both of them had runny noses from the cold.

So they had no choice but to warm up at Uncle Five’s house nearby, and then were held up by the people there inquiring this and that, all of them wildly envious.

A rich tycoon from America, in their eyes, was no less astonishing than modern people learning about aliens coming to Earth.

Naturally, in just a few moments’ conversation, Wu Xiucai and the others had entered the village, so they missed out.

By the time they realized, the car had already arrived in the village.

They saw Qiao Qingyu standing behind a thin old man, saw that the old man was standing motionless, and after exchanging glances, Qiao Genbao felt hesitant, while Qiao Mubao wanted to go forward but was pulled back by his older brother.

"Big brother, why are you pulling me?"

"Mu Bao, wait, we’ll go over in a bit." Qiao Genbao, being older, was not timid, but felt it was not the right time to approach.

So Qiao Mubao stood still.

At that moment, Han Xianglan couldn’t wait any longer; if this man truly was her biological father, she couldn’t just stand here waiting, everyone in the yard was looking at her.

Han Xianglan seemed to be oblivious to everyone’s stares.

Putting on a scarf and the thick woolen coat her daughter had bought her, she quickly left the yard.

From a distance, towards the direction of the village entrance, she saw several cars parked, and then instantly her eyes landed on her daughter; her heart started thumping wildly.

Standing beside her daughter was a tall, gaunt old man.

She couldn’t make out his features clearly, but she felt a great discomfort in her heart. She walked toward him, followed by Qiao Zhicai, Qiao Zhiyuan, and others.

Then Han Xianglan walked faster and faster, eventually almost breaking into a jog.

Wu Xiucai naturally saw the crowd running toward him.

He also saw the middle-aged woman at the front.

She was a stranger, truly a stranger, a stranger who made his heart palpitate.

But when Han Xianglan stood before him, perhaps it was the innate bond between father and daughter, that tears involuntarily began to flow from both their eyes.

Over forty years had passed, nearly half a century!

At this moment, the surroundings fell silent, everyone remained speechless, quietly watching the father-daughter reunion.

Wu Tai could no longer find a trace of his little cousin in Han Xianglan’s face; to him, she was just a rural woman weathered by hard life.

But in her, he saw a temperament that mirrored his little aunt’s.

Especially those eyes; they were so alike.

Wu Tai himself didn’t realize that tears were streaming down his face.

Wu Xiucai’s trembling hands took out a knotted bracelet from his pocket, his voice trembling and choked, he said, "This bracelet is called the ’Longevity and Peace Knot.’ It was made by an old goldsmith in the west of the city, who spent a whole month crafting it."

"This golden silk is difficult to work with, it took thirty gold bars to perfect it."

"The old goldsmith said he’s been making jewelry his entire life, and it took so much effort to make something that looks like an ordinary silk cord, but he said he was pleased."

He handed the knot to Han Xianglan, and her trembling hands took it. It was something she had worn her entire life, never knowing it was anything but ordinary thread.

She was somewhat bewildered, even a little at a loss. She didn’t understand, and neither did those around her; no one could see it for what it was. She herself hadn’t noticed either, thinking it was just regular silk.

Her tears fell drop by drop, and she finally believed that, before she was separated from her parents, her father and mother had loved her, very, very much.

"You should also have had a Jade Pendant, a longevity lock, a warm jade bracelet, but those must have been stolen by thieves."

Finally, Han Xianglan spoke, her voice hoarse and strained, "Since I can remember, I’ve always worn this string on my wrist. It can be adjusted for size, and I’ve never taken it off."

Meanwhile, Qiao Family’s second son and Second Aunt hung their guilty heads low; they didn’t dare look at the distinguished-looking old man not far from them.

Especially Second Aunt Qiao, who had been envious of Han Xianglan in the past, sometimes even disdainful and contemptuous. After all, Han Xianglan didn’t have a decent family of her own and had been bought and sold like property, which in the past would have made her nothing more than a servant.

Which is just not how people are referred to anymore.

But for some reason, standing behind her, looking at Han Xianglan’s back, she still seemed like her sister-in-law, and they had lived together for over thirty years. Yet, suddenly, Han Xianglan seemed very far away from her, so much so, that in her eyes, Han Xianglan seemed to rise up, unapproachably high.

When a person close to you suddenly becomes so empowered in background and status that it’s beyond your imagination, you won’t even have the heart to envy them.

All you can do is look up.

No one cared for Qiao Erniang’s thoughts.

All eyes were on Wu Xiucai and Han Xianglan, with Qiao Zhicai standing behind her, feeling both anxious and helpless.

His mind was in a complete mess.

It felt like everything happening in front of him was so unreal, like a dream.

Wu Xiucai said to Wu Tai behind him, "Tai, bring out the family register..."

Wu Tai hastily grabbed the family register from his briefcase and Secretary Chang passed it to Wu Xiucai.

It was still somewhat cold outside, but these people seemed not to notice, and no one suggested they go inside to talk, including Qiao Qingyu, who stood just as silent, watching everything unraveling before her eyes.

Qiao Qingyu’s eyes were also moist.

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