Plunder-Chapter 183: Confrontation
"Don’t worry, everything will come to light eventually."
Zhou Jin’an consoled.
At this moment, Qiao En regretted her impulsive decision to let Chen Yin go.
Blood is thicker than water, and no matter how deep the hatred, it fades in front of family ties.
Just like with Chen Yin, because they shared the same blood, she could let go of past resentments.
"Hmm."
Qiao En nodded.
She tried to control her emotions, hoping not to overthink, but her thoughts were flurrying uncontrollably.
She had finally found her birth mother and sister, but now, one was missing, and the other was out of touch.
Could it really be that fate was so harsh on her?
By dawn, Qiao En had finally fallen asleep.
Zhou Jin’an suddenly received a call; Auntie Jiang had been found.
She had fainted in front of the Qiao Family’s Tube Building, and someone had taken her to the hospital.
Not wanting to worry Qiao En, he lied, saying that there was a situation at the company, and left early.
In the hospital, Auntie Jiang remained unconscious.
"What happened?"
Zhou Jin’an asked with a puzzled look on his face.
Cheng Lu had already investigated the situation.
"Her head sustained a heavy blow, but there is no surveillance footage of the area, so we don’t know what happened to her at that time."
"What did the doctor say?"
"The doctor said that the location of her injury is quite unique and she might face mobility restrictions after waking up."
Zhou Jin’an furrowed his brows even more deeply.
When it rains it pours; misfortunes never come singly.
"What does that mean?"
Cheng Lu let out a long sigh, "She might face paralysis."
For a long time, Zhou Jin’an was silent.
The incident had happened so suddenly, he didn’t know how to tell Qiao En.
"Director Zhou, should we inform Secretary Qiao to come over? The doctor mentioned she might need cranial surgery soon, and since Secretary Qiao is her daughter, it’s best she knows about it."
Cheng Lu tentatively suggested.
Zhou Jin’an pondered for a moment and responded, "I’ll give her a call."
When Qiao En received the call from Zhou Jin’an, she was busy.
"Get to the hospital right now."
"What’s the matter?"
Qiao En was focused on her tasks and was not distracted.
"Your mother has been found."
"Okay, I’ll be there immediately."
After hanging up the phone, Qiao En rushed to the hospital as fast as she could.
On the way, her heart was far from calm.
Many bad thoughts rushed into her mind.
By the time she arrived, Zhou Jin’an was there, and so was Cheng Lu.
"She’s injured, you should go in first and see her."
As the door pushed open, Auntie Jiang was lying on the ICU bed.
This was the first time Qiao En saw her with white bandages wrapped around her head, looking like a mummy.
"How is she?"
She tried to steady her emotions, but her voice still choked up.
"When someone found her, she was lying in front of the Qiao Family’s Tube Building. She had been struck hard on the back of the head."
Cheng Lu revealed the truth to Qiao En.
Qiao En stood beside Auntie Jiang’s bed with her eyes reddened.
Her frail, slender figure curled up on the narrow hospital bed, just a small bundle.
"Why would she be there?"
Qiao En asked with a nasal voice.
She chose to disappear on that deep night and came to Rong City alone.
Why did she appear in front of the Qiao Family’s Tube Building?
And why was she struck?
A series of question marks spun in Qiao En’s mind.
In that moment, she instinctively thought of the Qiao mother.
"I’m going to ask them for an explanation."
"Qiao En, calm down, if you go there without a clear investigation, you won’t get the answers you want."
As Qiao En took her first step, Zhou Jin’an grabbed her arm.
"If I don’t get it, should I just remain silent?"
Qiao En shook off Zhou Jin’an’s hand and quickly walked out.
Zhou Jin’an, worried, followed her out.
"I’ll go with you."
He drove the car, taking Qiao En directly to the Qiao family.
When they arrived, Qiao’s mother was gathering with Auntie Jin and others, chatting about family matters.
Qiao’s father and several white-haired elders were playing chess under a large tree.
Zhou Jin’an’s ride was quite distinctive, and as soon as his car stopped in the courtyard, everyone’s attention was drawn over.
"Director Zhou, Yayun, you’re here?"
Qiao’s mother left her group of gossiping sisters and immediately came to greet them.
Qiao’s father also halted his movements.
"I have something to ask you."
Qiao En had just started speaking when Zhou Jin’an pulled her aside, interrupting her.
"What is it? Since you’re here, come inside and sit for a while," Qiao’s mother warmly invited them.
From not too far away, neighbors were stretching their necks to look in their direction.
Qiao’s mother was vain, and Zhou Jin’an’s visits in his luxury car provided her with some consolation in spite of her children’s unsatisfactory situations.
"No, get in the car and we’ll go to the hospital," said Zhou Jin’an, motioning for Qiao’s mother to get in. His expression was grim, and Qiao’s mother instantly became anxious.
"What’s the matter? Why are we going to the hospital?"
Zhou Jin’an didn’t reply, instead escorting Qiao En towards the Maybach.
Qiao’s father, concerned, was already approaching in his wheelchair.
"Where are you heading?"
His face was tense, clearly worried.
"Could it be that something has happened to Ah De?"
Before Zhou Jin’an could reply, Qiao’s mother began to cry, "Ah De is my only child now, nothing can happen to him; if something happens to him, how are we supposed to go on?"
"He’s fine," Qiao En reassured her.
Qiao’s mother immediately stopped crying, her aged hand continuously wiping the tears from her face.
"Then why am I going to the hospital?"
"You’ll know once we get there," Zhou Jin’an answered without elaboration.
Qiao’s mother followed Zhou Jin’an into the car with suspicion, and the car headed straight for Rong City.
Along the way, she was very nervous, always looking for an opportunity to inquire about Qiao De’s situation from Zhou Jin’an.
However, the somber look on Zhou Jin’an’s face was intimidating, and she was too frightened to speak.
Later, she placed her hopes on Qiao En, but Qiao En, leaning back in her seat, also looked deep in worry.
Noticing the unusual expressions of both of them, she forcibly repressed her multitude of doubts.
Upon reaching the hospital, Qiao En led her directly into Auntie Jiang’s ward.
"Do you recognize her?" Qiao En asked.
One was her biological mother, the other her foster mother.
One gave her life, the other raised her.
Qiao En wasn’t ungrateful; she didn’t completely deny her mother’s merits just because of her inconsiderate actions.
Qiao’s mother leaned in; it had been twenty-five years since she last saw Auntie Jiang, who now, after brain surgery, had a swollen face that obscured her original appearance.
"I don’t recognize her, who is this person?" Qiao’s mother shook her head, still filled with suspicion.
"She is the Jiang Caiyun you mentioned," Zhou Jin’an clarified her confusion.
Qiao’s mother was shocked; she couldn’t believe that the person from twenty-five years ago could still be found.
"Impossible, this person is definitely not Jiang Caiyun," she denied adamantly.
Seeing that Qiao’s mother wouldn’t admit it, Cheng Lu passed over the relevant investigation documents.
"Twenty-five years ago, her name was Jiang Caiyun. To avoid a forced marriage arranged by her family, she ran away to Rong City with her boyfriend while pregnant, and once rented the room you live in now."
"Later, they left Rong City and went back to Gu Yuan. She went to the police station to correct her name; her name is now Jiang Lan."
"We have evidence that proves Jiang Lan is Jiang Caiyun," Cheng Lu stated, settling the matter.
Following Cheng Lu’s words, Qiao’s mother stood there, stunned.
Her complexion was terrible, as pale as a sheet of paper.
"Why did you injure her?" Qiao En demanded.
Qiao’s mother shook her head vehemently, "No, it wasn’t me; I didn’t; I haven’t seen her in twenty-five years, how could I have injured her?"
"But she was injured right below your Tube Building, how do you explain that?" Zhou Jin’an pressed.
Qiao’s mother trembled with fright, "I swear, I swear I haven’t seen her."
She raised her right hand and began to swear earnestly.
"What exactly happened with the twins twenty-five years ago?" Zhou Jin’an pressed further.
At this, Qiao’s mother’s face turned ashen.
She trembled her lips, hesitant to speak.
