Chapter 190: Disownment

"Make sure to call me when you get home."

Wen Ci reached out and gave him a hug. "I will."

-

Wen Ci slept exceptionally well on the plane. Huo Jingyuan had given her an eye mask, and she leaned against the window right after boarding. She didn’t wake up until a flight attendant called out to her.

The plane was nearly empty.

Wen Ci hailed a taxi after leaving the airport. The fare to the Beijing Military District Family Courtyard was eight yuan. She clicked her tongue; in the past, she definitely wouldn’t have been willing to spend that much.

Eight yuan.

That was a whole month’s worth of groceries for a single-income family.

The driver asked, "Is your husband in the military?"

Wen Ci gave a friendly nod. "He is."

"In that case, I’ll only charge you seven yuan for the ride. Soldiers protect our country, so their families deserve to enjoy a few perks."

"Huh?"

Wen Ci blinked.

’Military families get perks like this already?!’

"Is this a company policy?"

In the 1980s, the screening process for taxi drivers was incredibly strict. It required multiple layers of approval from the higher-ups, and both one’s family background and driving skills were essential. Many retired soldiers who had been drivers in the military ended up driving taxis.

"No." The driver shook his head and explained, "My son’s a soldier, too. He’s stationed up in the Northeast. It’s a tough, exhausting life."

Wen Ci nodded.

-

「Two hours later.」 The taxi arrived at the Beijing Military Region.

Just as Wen Ci got out of the car, she ran into Su Guilan and Jiang Ye. They were arm in arm, talking and laughing, looking for all the world like a real mother and daughter.

Jiang Ye, with her sharp eyes, was the first to greet her. "Sister."

Wen Ci pretended not to hear.

Jiang Ye pulled Su Guilan over to Wen Ci. With a wide smile, she asked, "Sister, where are you just getting back from?"

Wen Ci remained silent.

She didn’t even spare Jiang Ye a glance.

Su Guilan frowned. "Your sister is talking to you."

At that, Wen Ci’s gaze shifted to Su Guilan. She gave a faint, wry smile and shrugged. "Since when did you have two daughters?"

Her words left Su Guilan speechless.

She knew Wen Ci resented her for still acknowledging Jiang Ye.

But back then, Jiang Ye was just a baby in swaddling clothes. She knew nothing about being switched; she was an innocent victim, too.

Wen Ci’s tone was cold and distant. "Anything else?"

"Come home for dinner tonight."

"I don’t want to."

Jiang Ye slowly lowered her head, her voice full of self-blame. "Sister, do you not want to come home for dinner because of me? I can go to my brother’s place."

With those words, she cemented her image as the thoughtful and understanding one.

"Ah Ci, can you please not be like this..."

"Like what?" Wen Ci’s eyes lowered as she spoke, enunciating every word. "Weren’t you the one who made me marry in her place? I’m your biological daughter. But you?"

Jiang Ye cut in. "Aren’t you perfectly happy with Huo Jingyuan?"

"Hah!"

At first, the Jiang Family had assumed Huo Jingyuan was just some grunt stationed in the Northwest. And although he was related to Old Commander Huo, they figured connections to a dead man weren’t worth much.

It was Wen Ci who had admitted she was satisfied.

That was just her good luck.

Wen Ci took a long, deep breath, slowly releasing the bitterness in her heart. She said bluntly, "Since we’re laying it all out on the table, I want to cut all ties with the Jiang Family. Let’s just act like strangers. No need to say hello if we happen to meet."

Before Su Guilan could react, Jiang Ye covered her mouth, feigning concern while actually fanning the flames. "Sister... how could you be so heartless as to say something like that?"

"Ah Ci, you..."

But Wen Ci had to get it off her chest. She continued, "Do you have any idea what my life was like when I was five? At five years old, there was no one to cook for me. I had to climb onto the stove myself to find something to eat. The aunty next door took pity on me and would help me out sometimes."