Under the watchful eyes of the three, Xu Zifan took out a file folder and handed it to them for them to look at.
"I've already found out about the incident where Yao Yao was switched at birth. Wang Yalin's birth mother fell while working and had a difficult childbirth. She was taken to the Linhe Town Hospital for treatment, and she happened to give birth on the same day as my mother. The old lady of the Wang family had a very strong preference for sons over daughters. As soon as she saw that she had given birth to a girl, she started cursing and saying that girls should be drowned or thrown into the mountains to be fed to wolves. Feng Donghui overheard this."
Feng Donghui resented your lack of help and felt that you were taking advantage of his misfortune and looking down on him. He secretly switched Yao Yao and Wang Yalin that night. I suspect he wanted the Wang family to kill Yao Yao.
Xu Zifan paused for a moment, letting them process the news that their in-laws had become enemies, and then said, "The Wang couple discovered that their daughter had been switched, and guessed from the jade gourd that she had been switched with a wealthy family. They knew that my mother had many servants, and they found Wang Yalin in the nursery."
Wang Yalin's birth mother was malnourished, and she was born thin and small, almost like a premature baby if you didn't look closely. The Wang couple thought it was a good thing for their daughter to go to a wealthy family and live a good life, and that they could bring her back to benefit from it later. Moreover, the jade gourd seemed quite valuable, so they went along with the mistake and immediately discharged her from the hospital and returned to the countryside.
Afterwards, my mother stayed there for two months of postpartum confinement, and Wang Yalin also stayed in the nursery for a full month. When she came out, she looked quite good. My mother felt that if her daughter didn't look good, she would definitely be blamed by the family. Wang Yalin looked so good, which was really heartwarming. She was a blessing, so she especially liked her.
Fearing discovery, the Wang couple didn't dare sell the jade gourd and buried it in their backyard. Unexpectedly, several years later, due to soil erosion, Yao Yao unearthed it while tending her vegetable garden.
When Old Mrs. Wang found out about this, she scolded them for being stupid. She then decided to sell the jade gourd to build a house, and promised that after Yao Yao finished high school in town, she would marry a lazy bum from the village, never letting her go to the big city. Naturally, no one would find out about this then.
In other words, Feng Donghui switched the children, and the Wang couple found out the next day, deliberately burying the truth. The old lady of the Wang family only learned of this when Xu Mengyao was eight years old, and devised a wicked plan to keep Xu Mengyao in the village for the rest of her life.
Even if the Xu family hadn't discovered the baby swap, they would have come looking for Wang Yalin after she graduated and joined the company. They would have just approached Wang Yalin alone, whether to appeal to family ties or to threaten her, they would have gotten something out of her.
Li Xiulan had just learned of this when she held the documents, her hands trembling with anger. "Feng Donghui! It was actually Feng Donghui! That bastard has used our family's influence to turn the Feng family into a third-rate family all these years. Our Xu family has treated him well! And yet, he's the one who harmed Yaoyao. How dare he?! He actually pretended to be something he'd never seen in front of us for seventeen years!"
Xu Mengyao was also shocked, unable to believe that she had been switched by her own uncle, and that her uncle even wanted her dead! However, under Xu Zifan's strict upbringing, she was no longer saddened by this matter. Seeing the old lady's emotional state, she quickly sat down beside her to soothe her.
"Grandma, I'm back safe and sound, aren't I? Their plans didn't work out. Don't be angry, Dad and my brother won't let them get away with it. It's not worth ruining your health over people like that."
Li Xiulan hugged her and choked up, saying, "My good child, you've suffered these past seventeen years. It's all the fault of the Feng family. Neither of them are good people!"
It was inappropriate for the old lady to speak of their mother in front of the two children, but Xu Zhenhua pursed his lips and did not stop her. If it weren't for Feng Xiangjun's stubbornness and willfulness, the children wouldn't have been born prematurely; if it weren't for Feng Donghui's malicious intentions, Yaoyao wouldn't have suffered so much.
They were also negligent; no one expected the babies to be switched in the nursery, and they didn't assign anyone to keep an eye on them. But the real culprits were the Feng family!
If Feng Xiangjun had shown some maternal compassion after Xu Mengyao returned home and hadn't acted this way, they might have been more understanding of her. However, Feng Xiangjun disliked Xu Mengyao for being unsophisticated and quiet, while treating Wang Yalin, whom she had raised, like a treasure. Considering the truth of what happened back then, they now completely loathe her!
Li Xiulan gritted her teeth and said, "No wonder Wang Yalin deliberately rolled downstairs to frame Zifan. Isn't this just the style of the Feng family? She was carefully raised by Feng Xiangjun, and every move she makes reflects the Feng family. Let her get out! Our Xu family will not keep any members of the Wang family!"
Xu Zhenhua crumpled the documents into a distorted shape, his voice icy cold, "Zifan, Mengyao, Feng Xiangjun is your mother. I won't do anything to her, but the Feng family cannot be allowed to live. This is a blood feud!"
"And the Wang family, there's a difference between unintentional mistreatment and intentional abuse." Xu Zifan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his tone calm yet sharp. "Leave this to me, and I guarantee they'll regret it. Besides, they've caused Yao Yao so much suffering; it's time for her to participate as well."
"You haven't done such a thing..." Xu Zhenhua stopped mid-sentence, realizing that Xu Zifan had investigated the events of more than ten years ago so quickly, demonstrating abilities far exceeding his expectations. He then changed his words, "Alright, be careful, don't be too aggressive. Feng Donghui is ruthless and insane; be careful he doesn't act rashly when cornered."
All for five dollars and fifty cents
Xu Zifan smiled slightly, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Xu Zhenhua glanced at Xu Mengyao and was taken aback to find that she hadn't shed a single tear. He then sighed with satisfaction and heartache and said softly, "Go watch the show with your brother. If you don't want to get involved, then ignore it. Focus on your studies. We won't let you suffer any more grievances."
Xu Mengyao took Li Xiulan's arm and nodded with a smile, "I understand, Dad. Don't be angry anymore. Let's eat something else. Today is to celebrate my good grades!"
Xu Zhenhua and Li Xiulan watched as she ordered food from the waiter, served them dishes, and reminisced about funny stories from school. She was like a completely different person from when she first came home.
That's it. The smile on her face was given to her by Xu Zifan. Thinking about how they hadn't been patient and caring towards her back then, their guilt almost overflowed, and they were determined to make it up to her in the future.
After dinner, Xu Zifan drove them to see the night view. He drove to a spot overlooking the entire city and took a group photo of the four of them against the backdrop of the dazzling city lights, which he then posted on his WeChat Moments.
Feng Xiangjun waited at home, first seeing photos of them eating, then photos of them going out at night; all four of them had smiles on their faces, like a loving family. But she was the only one missing from this family, which made her feel a tightness in her chest.
She called, but still no one answered. She slammed her phone against the wall. What did these people mean? Were they excluding her? Just because she doted on Wang Yalin? The child she raised—it would be heartless of her not to care for her! What right did they have to target her like this?!
At 10 p.m., the four who had gone out to celebrate returned home. Feng Xiangjun heard the noise and came out, sneering as she went downstairs, "Xu Zifan, are you not planning to acknowledge me as your mother anymore?"
Xu Zifan took off his coat and said casually with a smile, "I'm just being filial to you. I know you wouldn't be happy eating at the same table with us siblings, so how could I invite you? Besides, today is to celebrate Yao Yao's academic progress. Her grades might not be good enough for you, so I won't bother you."
Feng Xiangjun's face darkened. Who was she mocking? Xu Mengyao's grades were beneath her notice, so what about Wang Yalin, who was even slightly worse than Xu Mengyao?
She looked at Xu Zhenhua, her heart filled with endless grievances, "Zhenhua..."
Li Xiulan coldly rebuked, "What kind of person are you? Everyone at home is happy and cheerful, but you're acting like a complaining woman? Has our Xu family mistreated you? If you don't want to stay, go back to your Feng family!"
Feng Xiangjun's face turned pale instantly, her eyes widening in disbelief. She'd been married into the family for over twenty years; when had her mother-in-law ever said anything so serious? Even when she gave birth prematurely in Linhe Town, her mother-in-law had only been a little cold towards her at most. What was going on?
Hearing the noise, Wang Yalin came out and helped Feng Xiangjun up, whispering, "Mom, let's go back to your room first. We can talk about it there. It's not appropriate here."
Of the whole family, only Wang Yalin cared about her reputation. How could she not dote on such a thoughtful daughter? Feng Xiangjun took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked downstairs, her eyes sharply fixed on Xu Zifan and Xu Mengyao. "I'm naturally happy that Mengyao's grades have improved. What I'm unhappy about is that I just can't understand how her grades could improve so quickly. Did she hire some amazing expert tutor? Or would donating a gymnasium solve everything?"
"Feng Xiangjun! Do you know what you're saying?" Xu Zhenhua stepped forward and stood in front of her, his eyes colder than ever before. "What did your good daughter say to you again? Do you have to think so badly of your own son and daughter? Come with me to the study, I have something to say to you."
Xu Zhenhua pulled Feng Xiangjun upstairs, paused beside Wang Yalin, and said coldly, "Stop with your little schemes, or I won't hesitate to leave you with nothing!"
Wang Yalin's expression changed drastically. Xu Zhenhua had already pulled Feng Xiangjun into the study, carrying a file folder in his hand. A bad premonition arose in her heart, and she stared intently at the study door, her face gradually turning pale.
Li Xiulan snorted at her and went back to her room to rest.
Xu Zifan and Xu Mengyao walked past her without even glancing at her, completely ignoring her.
Wang Yalin was flustered and confused. Feeling the maids' scrutinizing gazes, she hurriedly ran back to her room.
In the study, Feng Xiangjun angrily questioned Xu Zhenhua, "What are you doing? What do you mean? Do you really believe that she can get into the elite class at number fifteen after only three months of living in a small town? Is there anything wrong with my suspicions?"
"You are her mother. When her teachers and classmates don't suspect her, you suspect her? Doesn't her homeroom teacher know her better than you? The homeroom teacher hasn't even come to you, so why are you so eager to pin some crime on your child? Do you think your son helped your daughter bribe the school to buy exam questions? Feng Xiangjun, you're really something. Go to their school and buy a set of exam questions for me. In your eyes, are the children of the Xu family never as good as the Wang family girl you raised?"
Xu Zhenhua laughed angrily, throwing the file folder at her. "Take a good look! You and your brother are the ones who owe Yao Yao the most! Only today have I realized that you have no right to be their mother. Get out, I don't want to see you right now!"
Feng Xiangjun was furious and didn't understand his accusations at all, but she wasn't going to stay and argue. She picked up the file folder, slammed the door, and left. When she returned to her bedroom, she saw the housekeeper directing the servants to move things, and immediately shouted angrily, "What are you doing?"
The butler said respectfully, "Madam, the master instructed us to move his belongings to another bedroom. We have finished moving them and will not disturb you any longer."
Feng Xiangjun finally realized that something terrible had happened!
She looked down at the file folder in her hand; the contents inside seemed like a man-eating beast!