The next day, the police came again and arrested both Dong Lihua and Lei Hongyun for selling their biological children.
With evidence provided by Niuniu's adoptive mother and Dong Lihua’s signature, there was no denying the charges against her. They just needed Xu Meixuan to file a lawsuit. While in the police station, Dong Lihua took all the blame, saying she had forced her son to give a false testimony.
With Dong Lihua's confession, the police could not arrest Lei Hongyun, as the signatures on the evidence were not hers.
Xu Meixuan insisted on suing Dong Lihua.
This matter eventually alarmed Meixuan's mother. In the past two days, Meixuan had been staying at her cousin's house. When her mother arrived, she hugged her and cried, scolding her, "I am your family. When something like this happens, you should have told me."
Meixuan started crying too.
Her cousin sighed and comforted them, "Aunt, sister, stop crying. Tomorrow, Niuniu will be returned. This is good news. We should be happy."
Thinking about Niuniu being returned the next day, Meixuan wiped away her tears. "I won't cry anymore. Tomorrow, I'll see Niuniu. I want to be happy."
Meixuan's mother was also very happy. Finally, she asked the most practical question, "Meixuan, what do you plan to do after Niuniu comes back?"
Meixuan had no hesitation. "I will divorce him. The marriage home was bought with money from both families. If he gives me the money, I can take Niuniu and live separately."
Meixuan's mother sighed, "I agree with the divorce. After the divorce, move back in with me. We can raise Niuniu together."
"Mom, thank you." Meixuan hugged her mother.
Finally, Meixuan's mother asked about the details of the case. How did she find out that Dong Lihua sold Niuniu only after two years? Meixuan explained everything, and her mother was stunned. She sighed, "There are still such strange people in the world. I heard that there's a fortune teller who's quite accurate in our hometown, but surely not as amazing as this master. Meixuan, have you contacted the master? How do you plan to thank her? I have a few thousand yuan left. Should we give it all to the master?"
Meixuan's cousin chimed in, "I'll contribute ten thousand. Let's gather a hundred thousand yuan. Such masters have real skills, and we shouldn't offend them. Giving more money means we can ask for help in the future."
Meixuan nodded, "I have a few thousand yuan too."
That night, Meixuan messaged Gu Qin, thanking her for helping find Niuniu and offering to pay. Gu Qin didn't refuse and gave her an account number, "Just give some, don't worry about it. Do more good deeds in the future; it benefits both of us."
Although Gu Qin said that, Meixuan couldn't just give a small amount. Finally, she gathered one hundred thousand yuan and transferred it to Gu Qin's account. Gu Qin didn't care about the amount. She knew this was likely all Meixuan could afford and planned to use it entirely for charity. She recently saw a news story about a remote mountainous area where children had difficulty going to school due to a large river with only ropes to cross. So, she wanted to donate to build a bridge there to make it easier for the children to go to school.
This matter had already passed several days, and by the time Niuniu returned to Meixuan, it was the fourteenth day of the month. Tomorrow would be the Lantern Festival, the first festival after the New Year.
Meixuan was shocked when she received Niuniu from the police station. Two-year-old Niuniu had been chubby and bright-eyed, calling her "Mom" sweetly. But now, she seemed to have grown little, was very thin, with yellow hair, wearing ill-fitting clothes, and had a dull expression.
Meixuan couldn't hold back and hugged Niuniu, crying. Niuniu didn't remember her biological mother and started crying when Meixuan hugged her, though she didn't cry for her mom.
The police officers felt sad. "This old woman is really hateful, selling her own granddaughter and causing the child to be separated from her mother for two years. If she had a decent family, things would be better, but according to the girl, the woman often beat her. We didn't dare to tell Meixuan for fear she might get upset."
Meixuan's mother felt something was wrong, pulled her away, and comforted Niuniu, "Niuniu, don't cry. I'm your grandma. You got lost before, but now we're together. Don't be afraid, we won't separate again. Do you want to come home with us?"
The little girl continued to cry, saying, "I hurt, I hurt."
Meixuan's mother changed color. "Where does it hurt?"
A female officer couldn't hold back and told Meixuan's mother, "This girl's adoptive mother treated her badly. At first, she was okay, but after having her own child, she started beating and abusing her. There are still injuries on her body. Handle her gently."
Meixuan looked like she was about to collapse, almost fainting. Meixuan's mother took the child into a room, undressed her, and saw bruises and marks from a belt or something similar. Meixuan's mother fainted immediately.
Finally, the police called an ambulance to take the three of them to the hospital. Many of the female officers couldn't help but cry.
After the examination, Niuniu had external injuries but severe malnutrition. The doctor watched the young woman cry and didn't understand the situation, so he didn't speak much, just prescribed some ointment for the injuries and advised Meixuan to give Niuniu more milk. Since the child was young, it would be easy to recover, and it wouldn't affect her future.
Finally, Meixuan brought Niuniu back to her mother's house. Her path ahead was long, and even now, she had many things to do. She needed to divorce Lei Hongyun, sue Dong Lihua for selling Niuniu, sue Niuniu's adoptive mother for abuse, and give Niuniu the greatest care and love to help her accept her again and forget the painful past.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Meixuan would be very busy.
Gu Qin was also quite busy these days. She donated twenty thousand yuan to a poor mountainous area, hoping to help them. This donation was transparent, with actual amounts displayed in the news, so there was no room for deception. This was why Gu Qin dared to donate.
Cheng Yinxiang had returned from Liangping City. Lu Qingrong sent her back and left, saying he had some business to attend to and was planning to move his business to Daishan City. Thus, he would be busy for the next one or two months.
The baby that Gu Qin had saved on the car a few days ago came to visit her during the New Year. The family brought many gifts, making Gu Qin feel a bit overwhelmed. The father said, "Thank you so much, Gu Student. Our family had some matters, so we came to visit you today. We really appreciate what you did for our baby."
Gu Qin replied, "You're too kind. You traveled so far just to visit me. It wasn’t necessary."
"Of course, of course." The parents insisted, thanking her repeatedly and eventually giving Gu Qin a large red envelope containing fifty thousand yuan. Part of this was from the twenty thousand Gu Qin had donated earlier. They even made the baby bow to Gu Qin, which made her laugh and cry.
On the Lantern Festival, Gu Qin was almost ready to return to school. She spent the holiday at home and would leave for school tomorrow. Cheng Yinxiang made tangyuan for breakfast. When Gu Qin opened the door and saw who was outside, she blinked twice, thinking she had seen wrong.
Outside stood a tall, handsome man wearing a black coat, his hair slightly messy, looking somewhat weary. His eyes were bright and gentle. When he saw Gu Qin open the door, he smiled.
"Why are you here?" Gu Qin laughed. "I thought I was seeing things. Didn't you say you had a mission?"
Standing outside was Qin Xiansheng, whom Gu Qin hadn't heard from in nearly half a month. His sudden appearance surprised her.
Qin Xiansheng wore a pair of wool gloves, which he removed and stuffed into his pocket. He gently touched Gu Qin's hair and smiled, "You've grown taller."
Gu Qin nodded, smiling. "I grew two centimeters. I hope I can grow even taller."
The original body was very petite. She remembered that when she became Gu Qin, she might have been around 155 cm. Now she was 160 cm, and with proper nutrition, she might grow another five centimeters. However, since she was already fifteen or sixteen, growing much taller was unlikely, and by eighteen, she might reach 165 cm at best.
Qin Xiansheng's dark, bright eyes gazed at her. Gu Qin felt odd under his gaze and touched her cheek, asking, "Do you want to come in for a while?"
Qin Xiansheng smiled. "Sure."
It was still early, around eight in the morning. Gu Qin had just returned from the mountain and had cooked some tangyuan. Seeing Qin Xiansheng looking weary, she asked, "Would you like to eat some?"
Qin Xiansheng nodded. "Bother Gu Qin."
Gu Qin cooked another dozen tangyuan. Tangyuan was sweet and could be cloying, so she didn't cook too many. She also cut some bread, fried it with a little oil and salt, and brought it out along with some pickles and stir-fried carrot strips.
Gu Qin finished eating and left a few tangyuan, feeling too sweet to finish. Qin Xiansheng didn't hesitate and ate them all. He ate quickly but politely, chewing without making noise. Gu Qin sat opposite him, admiring how attractive he looked even while eating.
She didn't have any other thoughts; she simply found him handsome and appreciated his appearance.
Qin Xiansheng was genuinely hungry. He finished the tangyuan, the fried bread slices, and even the leftover tangyuan in Gu Qin's bowl. Only later did Gu Qin realize he had eaten everything.
After finishing his meal, Qin Xiansheng cleaned the table and washed the dishes in the kitchen. Despite the narrow space, he didn't seem uncomfortable. After coming out of the kitchen, he sat down next to Gu Qin. "You look thinner after the New Year."
Gu Qin didn't think she had lost weight, but she had been busy with things at her grandmother's house, which might have caused her to lose weight. She ate a lot but exercised and practiced cultivation, so she hardly gained weight and found it difficult to gain weight.
"Why did you come now?" Gu Qin smiled. "It's still the Lantern Festival. Aren't you supposed to be with your family?"
Qin Xiansheng smiled. "No need. I thought I should visit you here in Daishan. Are your parents at home?"
Gu Qin nodded. "My mom wants to start a business and went to the market to investigate. She might come back tonight."
Qin Xiansheng hummed, looking somewhat tired. Gu Qin sensed he was exhausted and suggested, "Why don't you rest for a bit?"
Qin Xiansheng had completed his mission and rushed straight to Daishan to see her. Now that he had seen her, he felt tired. "Can I use your room for a while? I want to rest."
Gu Qin generously offered her room. Qin Xiansheng fell asleep almost immediately. Gu Qin didn't disturb him and left the room, closing the door behind her. She didn't harbor any special feelings for Qin Xiansheng; she just felt it was rare to meet a fellow professional and appreciated his help. Given their familiarity, letting him rest at her place was fine. She considered him a friend.
Qin Xiansheng woke up four hours later. He woke up when he heard cooking sounds in the kitchen. Opening the door, he saw Gu Qin in an apron cooking, with a pot of thick-smelling soup simmering on the stove.
Gu Qin turned and smiled, "Wash your hands; dinner is ready."
Since Qin Xiansheng had come, Gu Qin couldn't just prepare a simple meal. She had gone out and bought many ingredients, including braised ribs, boiled shrimp, stir-fried vegetables, potato shreds, cucumber slices, and stir-fried pork. Her cooking skills were average, but the food was edible.
Qin Xiansheng leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Gu Qin. His heart raced, something that hadn't happened in years, if ever. He held back a sigh, reminding himself that the little girl he liked was still too young. He needed to wait, slowly progressing, not to scare her. Their current relationship was perfect, and he shouldn't push it further.
Gu Qin noticed Qin Xiansheng standing still and urged him to wash his hands. He walked over and washed them before helping her bring the dishes to the table. It was just the two of them for lunch. After washing her hands, Gu Qin joined Qin Xiansheng at the table and said, "Let's eat."
Qin Xiansheng's heart raced, but he tried to appear composed, moving his gaze from Gu Qin to the food. He had tasted many exquisite dishes prepared by renowned chefs, but none compared to the food Gu Qin made. He could cook well himself, but rarely did so.
Qin Xiansheng ate slowly but steadily, and the dishes gradually diminished. Gu Qin felt embarrassed. "You came all this way, and I served such ordinary food. I apologize."
Qin Xiansheng looked up, serious. "No, the food is delicious. Nothing compares to this."
Gu Qin assumed he was being polite and didn't press the issue, smiling at him. "Eat up."
By the end, Qin Xiansheng had finished all the dishes and a bowl of braised ribs. Gu Qin was surprised; he really did find her cooking delicious.
Qin Xiansheng volunteered to clean up and tidy the kitchen. By then, it was past one in the afternoon. He told Gu Qin, "I came in a hurry and didn't bring clothes. Would you mind going shopping with me?"
Gu Qin had nothing else planned for the afternoon and agreed to accompany Qin Xiansheng. Spring was approaching, but it was still chilly. Qin Xiansheng bought new clothes for Gu Qin inside and out, and they returned home. They spent the evening chatting and watching TV.
As evening approached, Qin Xiansheng stood up to leave. "I'll go now. I'll visit properly the day after tomorrow and give Aunt my regards."
Gu Qin asked, "Do you have somewhere to stay?"
Qin Xiansheng smiled. "Don't worry, I have a place. Goodbye."
Gu Qin escorted him downstairs and said, "Goodbye, Mr. Qin."
The difference between "Mr. Qin" and "Qin Xiansheng" was merely one character, but Qin Xiansheng heard her call him "Mr." every time and said warmly, "We're pretty close friends. How about you call me Xiansheng instead of Mr.? It feels too formal."
Gu Qin nodded. "Xiansheng, goodbye."
After Qin Xiansheng left, he went to a nearby hotel and made a call. His voice was gentle. "Arrange a house for me in Daishan City as soon as possible, preferably ready to move into within a few days. Also, buy me a car for commuting."
A man's respectful voice answered, "Yes, Boss."
The tasks Qin Xiansheng assigned were completed quickly. The next day, a bespectacled, refined man handed him the keys to the house and car. He informed Qin Xiansheng, "Boss, the car is brand new, and the house is a second-hand one, recently renovated. It belonged to a young couple who haven't moved in yet. It's practically a new house. They divorced, and I bought it."
Qin Xiansheng nodded and went to inspect the house. It was indeed well-renovated and appeared to have been cleaned. He scanned the room and said, "Replace everything inside. Remove all the paintings on the walls. Keep the rooms simple and clean. Buy some clothes for me. From now on, whenever I have free time, I'll stay here."
The refined man, Wang Lin, was Qin Xiansheng's personal assistant. He rarely used Wang Lin, who knew that Qin Xiansheng had a company and often helped with its affairs. Besides, Qin Xiansheng had a mysterious identity. Wang Lin didn't ask questions. As Qin Xiansheng's personal assistant, he didn't fully understand why Qin Xiansheng would come to Daishan, a small city, or even...
The long-term residence.
He couldn't ask the reason, only following Mr. Qin's instructions.
The house couldn't be lived in now, and Qin Xiansheng returned to the hotel, planning to stay for a few days first.
On the seventeenth day, Qin Xiansheng indeed came very early in the morning as expected. Gu Qin had been waiting at home all along today, knowing he would come early in the morning, and Cheng Yinxiang also didn't leave until around eight o'clock. So they were definitely going to meet. When Cheng Yinxiang opened the door and saw the tall and handsome Mr. Qin standing outside with gifts, she was somewhat stunned.
She asked, "Sir, who are you looking for?"
Qin Xiansheng replied gently, "Auntie, hello. I'm a friend of Ahqin. There were things to handle during the New Year, so I didn't come to visit until now. Please forgive me."
"Oh, oh, Ahqin's friend." Cheng Yinxiang regained her senses and hurriedly stepped aside. "Come in and sit down quickly." She felt a bit strange; her daughter was still a high school student, but this man looked like he was in his twenties. When did her daughter know him? But since her daughter was a feng shui master, perhaps he was one of her clients.