Chapter 198 - 197: Severing Ties

"And another thing." Wen Ci’s eyes were red-rimmed, her mind flooded with memories of her youth. Her childhood had been truly miserable; she had even considered jumping into a river to end it all.

"She knew she was switched at birth back in middle school, but she kept it a secret. Every month, she took money to support her biological parents.

They took that money to eat at restaurants in town, while I was at home gnawing on tree bark!"

In the sixties and seventies, every household needed ration tickets to buy anything. Whenever the Wen Family had money, they would take Wen Yaozu out to eat at restaurants.

She survived by growing snake gourds.

Snake gourds grow quickly, but they have little flavor or nutritional value.

Wen Ci subsisted on snake gourds throughout her entire adolescence. At home, only a young Wen Yaozu pitied her. He would secretly hide some meat for her behind the Wen parents’ backs so she could satisfy her cravings.

Jiang Ye retorted, "That’s not true! I didn’t! I didn’t know!"

"Your biological parents have a ledger. It clearly records the exact amounts you gave them, and even the money they managed to save!"

Jiang Ye grew flustered. She had only just managed to return to the Jiang Family and enjoy a couple of days as the young miss. Her eyes reddened, and she shook her head, completely at a loss.

"No, no, I was threatened too."

"’Threatened?’" Wen Ci sneered, her gaze as cold and piercing as ice. "Threatened that if you didn’t give them money, they’d expose your identity as the fake young miss."

"No..."

Jiang Ye’s mind was a complete mess. She was terrified that she’d say the wrong thing in her panic and would never be able to return to the Jiang Family. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the surrounding onlookers.

As Minister Jiang, her father was constantly under scrutiny. Whenever a crowd gathered, Mrs. Jiang would get stage fright and leave.

Hearing her daughter’s grievances, Su Guilan’s tears fell instantly. She pounded her chest in remorse. She knew her daughter had suffered a great deal in the countryside.

But she had no idea she had suffered *this* much.

The Wen Family had deliberately isolated her and refused to feed her.

"Ah Ci..."

Wen Ci looked at the tears on the woman’s face and felt nothing. Seeing the crowd of onlookers growing, she said indifferently, "I’m leaving now. Don’t let this affect your husband’s military career."

Huo Jingyuan’s childhood friend’s nephew was counting on Minister Jiang for something.

’Cutting ties is one thing, but I have to remember favors.’

-

On the way home, Wen Ci’s mood lightened considerably.

She had already said her piece, and she didn’t care how Mrs. Jiang felt. Ultimately, her own peace of mind was what mattered most.

In the courtyard, Wen Yaozu was practicing kicking a shuttlecock. With his chubby body, he was already getting disoriented after just a couple of kicks.

Just as Wen Ci reached the gate, Wen Yaozu’s voice rang out, "Sis, you’re finally back! I missed you guys."

Wen Yaozu ran to the gate. Seeing his sister had returned alone, he asked in confusion, "Sis, how come you’re back by yourself? Where’s my brother-in-law?"

Wen Ci looked at the shuttlecock in his hand. "What are you doing?"

"Training my Spiritual Power."

Wen Yaozu winked at her, rubbed his hands together, and asked, "Where’s my brother-in-law? Didn’t he come back with you?"

"He didn’t. I told him to stay in Hangzhou for a couple more days to spend time with the elders."

"Oh." Wen Yaozu wasn’t disappointed. He suddenly noticed his sister was only carrying a bag, and his eyes widened. "Then, Sis, you didn’t bring the computer back?"

"I didn’t."

"I already told all my friends at school that I was going to learn how to use a computer and be the first elementary schooler in our county to ever touch one."

Wen Ci was speechless.

’Wait a second.’

Wen Ci tilted her head, a look of confusion on her face. "How did you get in touch with your friends from school?"

Wen Yaozu was an elementary schooler; he normally wasn’t allowed to ride the bus back to the county by himself. And she had just been in touch with Wen Yaozu yesterday.

"On the phone, of course."

"Your school has a landline?"