Zhang Hua stood for a long time in front of his mother Lu Meishu’s gravestone.
Snow covered the young man’s shoulders thickly. Even his heavy winter clothes could not conceal his thinness. The world was nothing but a blanket of white, and Zhang Hua was a single point of black in this vast whiteness.
If the snow fell a bit heavier, a bit thicker, it might even swallow that lone speck of black.
“Xiao Hua.”
A figure approached from that direction. Difficulty with his legs made walking through the deep snow laborious for this person.
Zhang Hua turned to help him, but the figure pushed him away firmly. “I can walk by myself!”
A military-green padded coat, a dogs skin hat, a face full of the weathered hardship carved by border winds and snow. This man looked no different from any ordinary townsfolk. It was hard to believe that just over ten years ago, he had been one of the top figures in this area.
Elder Lu had lost one leg. In everyday life, what he feared most was others treating him as a disabled person.
While Zhang Hua contemplated life before Lu Meishu’s grave, Elder Lu stood firmly in front of the monument, roughly brushing away the accumulated snow with his palm.
“You idiot. I told you that man couldn’t be trusted. Could your uncle possibly harm you? You insisted on following him, and then he caused your death.”
Elder Lu gnashed his teeth.
Zhang Hua’s eyes burned. “Uncle, how should I choose?”
Elder Lu smiled, but the smile lingered only on the surface of his skin. “You can pretend to know nothing and go back to being the young master of the Zhang family. If Zhang Zhijun hasn’t fathered more children outside, then you’re his only son. His business will eventually go to you. You carry half the Lu family’s blood. If you take Zhang Zhijun’s money, I can accept it.”
How could one pretend not to know something already known?
Zhang Hua shook his head. “Uncle, I can’t do it. Every night when I close my eyes, I see my mum speaking to me in her last moments. I can’t forget her.”
Even if Lu Meishu had truly taken her own life, Zhang Hua could never forgive Zhang Zhijun.
Moreover, Lu Meishu’s suicide was shrouded in conspiracy. The police called it suicide, and now Zhang Hua believed it was.
But suicide has reasons. Was it merely betrayal in love?
Zhang Hua had previously suspected that woman Sara Zhuo had provoked Lu Meishu, and he had kept urging the police to check call records.
Now Zhang Hua thought that if anyone had truly provoked his mother, it must have been his father, Zhang Zhijun!
Zhang Zhijun was right there in the house.
Zhang Zhijun didn’t need to make calls. There would be no call records left.
And Zhang Zhijun had plenty of explosive material sufficient to drive Lu Meishu to suicide.
Zhang Hua’s bewildered gaze gradually turned resolute. “Uncle, I will never forgive him for the evil he did to my mum and for what he did to the Lu family.”
Smuggling was, of course, wrong.
If Zhang Zhijun had righteously reported the Lu family back then, Zhang Hua would have admired him.
But Zhang Zhijun hadn’t reported the Lu family. Instead, he chose to smuggle alongside them, and in the end seized the Lu family’s smuggling routes!
Even from a villain’s perspective, Zhang Zhijun’s actions lacked any trace of honour.
Elder Lu stared at Zhang Hua for a long while, then slapped the gravestone heavily with his palm. “You said these words in front of your mother’s grave. She can hear every single one. I want you to remember firmly what you said today. Then pack your bags right now and get back to the Zhang family!”
“Uncle…”
Elder Lu softened his expression. “If you don’t return to the Zhang family, Zhang Zhijun will know you’ve completely turned against him as his son. He could even harm your mother. It’s hard to say what he might do to you. He’s still young. Without you as a son, he can have another and raise it in time. Go back to the Zhang family. Be his good son. Make him trust you. Only then can you completely bring him down.”
Elder Lu told Zhang Hua that the Lu family held evidence of Zhang Zhijun’s smuggling.
But Elder Lu only mentioned it verbally. He had no intention of handing the evidence to Zhang Hua.
Zhang Hua was still very young and lacked the ability to handle this matter. If things went wrong, Zhang Zhijun might escape while the Lu family suffered instead.
Moreover, Zhang Hua carried half Lu blood and half Zhang blood.
Deep down, Elder Lu still doubted Zhang Hua’s loyalty.
Even if every word Zhang Hua said now was true, when the crucial moment arrived, could Zhang Hua truly deliver a fatal blow to Zhang Zhijun?
Zhang Zhijun was cunning and ruthless. If the first strike missed, finding another chance would be far from easy!
Zhang Hua swore an oath before Lu Meishu’s grave. Elder Lu’s expression grew ever gentler.
The two trudged back through the snow.
The Lu family still lived in the old house in town. It had once been the grandest house around, but its splendour had long faded.
Zhang Hua packed his luggage and bought a plane ticket.
If the flight wasn’t delayed, Zhang Hua could still arrive in time for the court session of Xie Jinghu’s lawsuit against the Zhuo mother and daughter and Zhang Zhijun.
Elder Lu arranged for someone to drive Zhang Hua to the airport. As Zhang Hua carried his suitcase to the door, he suddenly turned back. “Uncle, are you still involved in smuggling now?”
Elder Lu paused, then pointed to the outdated interior of the house.
“Look at how I’m living. Does it seem like someone making big money from smuggling?”
Zhang Hua nodded. “…That’s good.”
Watching Zhang Hua’s departing figure, Elder Lu felt troubled.
Though Elder Lu did not fully trust Zhang Hua, he had to admit that this nephew greatly resembled his sister Lu Meishu.
…
Modu.
Today was the day Xie Jinghu’s lawsuit against Sara Zhuo went to court.
After the Zhuo family encountered trouble, Sara Zhuo had gone abroad with the old overseas Chinese merchant. She obtained a green card but did not take foreign citizenship. Her household registration was later transferred from the capital to Modu. Xie Jinghu had helped with this. At that time, he and Sara Zhuo had rekindled their old romance, and Sara Zhuo was pregnant with Zhuo Yue.
Back then, Xie Jinghu was not yet so wealthy. Professor Zou was still alive, and Xie Jinghu dared not openly keep a mistress. His idea was to settle his mistress and wife in separate cities, one south and one north, ensuring the two women never met or crossed paths. Thus, he moved Sara Zhuo’s registration to Modu.
Zhuo Yue was born domestically and took her mother’s surname on the household register, making her nominally a “Modu person.”
This was one reason the lawyers were confident of winning. Besides Xie Jinghu’s willingness to provide evidence of the gifted property, hearing the case in Modu was optimal.
Xie Jinghu had arrived in Modu two days earlier.
In those two days, Xie Jinghu met He Zhinian and Zhao Dong, and even circled outside Jiaxin.
But Xie Jinghu did not go upstairs.
Today, the case was finally opening. From the moment he woke, Xie Jinghu’s face was grim.
Assistant Qi was extremely cautious, afraid of any misstep that might provoke Xie Jinghu.
Today’s Boss Xie was about to endure the humiliation of the cuckold’s hat again. Winning the lawsuit might recover some financial losses, but it could not restore his lost dignity.
Thinking this way, Boss Xie was truly pitiful!
Xie Jinghu was in a foul mood.
Sara Zhuo was also in a bad mood.
The person most anticipating this lawsuit was Zhuo Yue.
Zhuo Yue could finally meet her biological father, Zhang Zhijun!
Early in the morning, Zhuo Yue rose and carefully prepared herself. She wanted to leave a good impression on her daddy.
Rifling through her wardrobe, Zhuo Yue skipped the ostentatiously luxurious dresses. She chose a simple white dress, so plain that the brand was indistinguishable.
Checking herself in the mirror, the dress was pure and understated, giving her a very innocent, girlish look.
Innocence alone was not enough. Zhuo Yue skipped eyebrow pencil and lipstick. She dabbed foundation on her lips several times, draining them of colour. Her whole appearance looked wan and weary. Daddy would feel sorry for her, right?
She was still so young, yet facing such life upheavals.
Daddy had no reason not to pity her.
Full of expectation, Zhuo Yue went out. Seeing her mummy and brother both sombre-faced, Zhuo Yue struggled to suppress her joy.
Sara Zhuo had properly groomed herself today, clearly unwilling to be mocked by Xie Jinghu.
Zhuo Chen remained silent, lost in his thoughts.
The Zhuo mother and her three children arrived at the court, each with their own concerns. When Xie Jinghu saw them, flames nearly burst from his eyes.
The lawyers repeatedly urged Xie Jinghu to stay calm. Xie Jinghu kept a distance from the Zhuo mother and children. No one acknowledged the others.
The one who broke the silence was Zhang Zhijun.
As soon as Zhang Zhijun appeared, light exploded in Zhuo Yue’s eyes.
But how could Zhang Zhijun spare a glance for Zhuo Yue?
With a guilty expression, Zhang Zhijun approached Xie Jinghu. “This is my fault towards you. I failed to restrain myself for a moment. The money you spent on that one, I’m willing to repay you. Our families have been associated for many years. For everyone’s dignity, there’s really no need to go this far.”
This was not the first time Zhang Zhijun had offered to pay Xie Jinghu.
The “that one” in Zhang Zhijun’s words referred to Zhuo Yue.
Xie Jinghu sneered. “Why should I accept money sent privately? You can repay me for raising that little bastard, but you’ll also cover the money for that slut? Zhijun, I underestimated you. You’re far more devoted than I am!”
At this point, Xie Jinghu still loathed Sara Zhuo intensely, calling her a slut repeatedly.
Even if Zhang Zhijun was willing to help Sara Zhuo repay, Xie Jinghu would insist on the lawsuit.
Recovering the money legally was more cumbersome, but it would create enough uproar.
Xie Jinghu had already lost massive face in their circles. He wanted Zhang Zhijun and Sara Zhuo to lose face alongside him.
Especially Sara Zhuo, who always posed as the Zhuo family princess, forever aloof. Even as a mistress, she carried arrogance.
Xie Jinghu wanted to publicly strip Sara Zhuo of her dignity, toss it to the ground, and trample it ruthlessly to vent his rage!
Rebuked by Xie Jinghu, Zhang Zhijun fell silent.
Zhang Zhijun could cover Zhuo Yue’s support costs because she was indeed his daughter.
If he were to repay all Sara Zhuo’s gifts to Xie Jinghu, not to mention the financial strain, the moment he did, he would instantly be shunned by all!
Seeing Zhang Zhijun shut his mouth, Xie Jinghu felt a touch of satisfaction.
Zhuo Yue was nearly moved to tears.
Though daddy hadn’t glanced at her once, he was willing to repay those support costs to Xie Jinghu. Daddy truly cared for her deep down!
