Plunder-Chapter 206: Protect Her Together

That morning, Auntie Jiang had finished packing her things, ready to leave with Xu Cong, when a knocking sounded from the courtyard gate.

"Mom, I’ll go open the door."

Xu Cong ran out to open the door.

Inside the room, Auntie Jiang was covering the sofa with a sheet.

"Who are you looking for?"

Xu Cong opened the courtyard door and was surprised to see an elderly woman with graying hair standing outside.

The woman was not tall, her face full of worry as she looked at him.

"Child, I’m looking for your mother, she knows me."

The person standing outside the courtyard door was Qiao En’s mother.

Without waiting for Xu Cong to react, she pushed the courtyard door and rushed inside.

Xu Cong didn’t recognize her and didn’t try to stop her.

Qiao En’s mother moved quickly, nearly taking two steps at a time, and soon entered the living room.

"Caiyun."

Qiao En’s mother called out and then knelt before Auntie Jiang with a thud. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Auntie Jiang had just finished covering the sofa. When she turned around, she saw Qiao En’s mother kneeling on the ground.

"Caiyun."

Qiao En’s mother, kneeling, moved toward Auntie Jiang, her face bathed in tears.

"I’m sorry, I never properly apologized to you for what happened back then, it was my selfishness, my lack of conscience. I shouldn’t have taken your child, causing you and your daughter to be separated for so many years."

She sobbed uncontrollably.

Auntie Jiang stood there dumbfounded.

Those wounds that had healed, at this moment, were torn open again by Qiao En’s mother’s words.

Blood seemed to gush painfully inside her heart; she leaned on the sofa, standing numbly, saying nothing.

She had not only taken her child, but also half of her life’s happiness.

If not for Heaven’s pity, she might never have had the chance to reunite with her own daughter in this lifetime.

"You leave."

Auntie Jiang said coldly.

She turned her back and quickened her pace towards the bedroom, locking the door behind her.

She might let go of the past, but she couldn’t bring herself to forgive.

Hurt had existed; forgiveness was impossible.

"Caiyun, it’s my fault, hate me, hit me, scold me, go report me to the police station; I accept it all. I’m worthless, worthless."

Qiao En’s mother, still kneeling, made her way to Auntie Jiang’s bedroom door, crying hoarsely as she clung to the door frame.

Inside the room, Auntie Jiang sat on the edge of the bed, clenching the corner of her clothes, desperately holding back the overwhelming pain.

She had found Qiao En, but she hadn’t located her other child yet.

Twenty-five years of separation between mother and daughter, no compensation could heal such a wound.

"I’ve taken care of En girl, never mistreated her for a day, let her study, ensured her a good future. I don’t expect her to repay me; I’ve already returned her to you. Caiyun, I am also her mother, I can’t bear it either."

"Caiyun, please, say a word for me, right? You have En girl now, and all I have left is Ah De. He’s a disappointment, but he’s my only child. The court’s verdict has come down, he has to go to prison. He’s hardly twenty, he can’t go to prison; if he does, it will ruin his life!"

"Caiyun, you’re a mother too, I’m begging you on my knees, not asking for your forgiveness, but on the account that I’ve taken good care of En girl, please save my son, will you?"

Inside, Auntie Jiang closed her eyes in agony.

All along, she hadn’t heard a single sincere apology; all these so-called apologies had some purpose behind them.

Suddenly, anger flared up within her heart.

She stood up, pulled open the bedroom door, and looked furiously at Qiao En’s mother.

"Sorry, I can’t help."

She uttered just eight words.

"Caiyun, you can do something, Zhou Jin’an now favors you, just by your word, Director Zhou could ensure Ah De remains unharmed."

"Hmph."

Auntie Jiang let out a cold snort.

Qiao En had never told her about the life she had experienced, but Auntie Jiang could imagine how the Qiao family had exploited her daughter.

"Congcong, what are you standing there for? Show the guest out."

Auntie Jiang gave the order.

Xu Cong, who had been standing dazedly at the door, upon hearing this from Auntie Jiang, stepped forward and grabbed Qiao En’s mother by the arm.

"Auntie, please leave quickly, and stop bothering my mom."

Qiao En’s mother clung to the table leg, refusing to leave no matter what was said.

Auntie Jiang now felt no sadness in her heart, only disgust.

Her daughter was bullied, and she absolutely would not collude with outsiders to exploit her daughter.

"If you won’t leave, then we will."

Auntie Jiang stepped over Qiao En’s mother, picked up a bag from the ground, and strode out.

Seeing her leave, Xu Cong also abandoned Qiao En’s mother and followed.

"Mom, are we really not going to bother with her?"

He didn’t understand and was filled with doubt; Auntie Jiang glanced at Xu Cong, "Remember, this person is a villain. If anyone dares bully your sister in the future, you mustn’t tolerate it, understand?"

"I understand."

"Also, don’t let your sister know about today’s events, got it?"

Auntie Jiang instructed again.

Xu Cong was even more confused.

"Why though? Isn’t that woman my older sister’s foster mother? Why can’t we let my sister know?"

Auntie Jiang, without any hesitation, slapped Xu Cong hard on the head.

"I say you’re foolish and you won’t admit it. If your sister knows about this, wouldn’t it distress her? She’s already had a tough enough life over the past twenty-odd years. We’re her family; we must protect her, shield her, and never let her get hurt again. Got it?"

"Got it."

That afternoon, Auntie Jiang arrived in Rong City with Xu Cong.

When Qiao En met Xu Cong, who was about the same age as Qiao De, he was slim and tall, with clear eyes that showed a flash of nervousness upon seeing her.

"Big sister."

Xu Cong took the initiative to call Qiao En.

For an instant, the shadow of Qiao De flashed through Qiao En’s mind.

In the past, he would call her with the same affection.

He was the brother she grew up with, yet as he grew, he seemed to become a completely different person.

"Hello, Congcong," she said.

Qiao En patted Xu Cong’s shoulder with her hand.

When Auntie Jiang arrived, she brought some local products from Gu Yuan, which were quite heavy in two large bags. Qiao En, feeling sorry, took them from her.

"Big sister, let me take care of these things. You’re a girl, and from now on, I will protect you and Mom."

Xu Cong said naturally.

As he spoke, he took the items from Auntie Jiang and Qiao En’s hands, carrying them all like a strongman.

Qiao En’s heart felt warm. Although she only shared half the same blood with Xu Cong, blood was thicker than water, and many things couldn’t be changed.

At dinnertime, Zhou Jin’an came home.

The family gathered around the dinner table, and Xu Cong was quite shy.

Zhou Jin’an actively served him food and inquired about his studies.

"Next semester you’ll be in your third year, do you want to intern at the company for a while?" Zhou Jin’an asked proactively.

Xu Cong immediately stood up, nervous, but spoke with conviction.

"Brother-in-law, thank you for your kindness, but I want to try on my own. I’m a man now and should make my own way in the world with my own efforts, not rely on my family’s protection. Brother-in-law, thank you for taking care of my mom and big sister. When I grow up, I want to be someone capable like you."

He had a youthful innocence similar to Qiao De’s, but Qiao En realized they were quite different.

Qiao De’s actions did not match his words; he said one thing and did another.

In the past, she would never have thought this way, as everyone treated Qiao De as a child and naturally indulged him.

Xu Cong, however, was not big on talking, but when he said something, he would try hard to do it.

"Well done," Zhou Jin’an praised, clearly liking Xu Cong.

After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

After washing up, Qiao En sat idly in the balcony lounge chair.

She had actually seen Qiao De’s court judgment already.

For intentional injury and assaulting police, he was sentenced to eight months.

"What’s wrong?" Zhou Jin’an, after showering, saw that Qiao En seemed a bit down, so he approached and embraced her.

"It’s nothing," Qiao En concealed.

But Zhou Jin’an had already seen through it all, "Are you thinking about Qiao De?"

Qiao En nodded.

Zhou Jin’an sighed with relief, "He played his good hand poorly, with greed that backfired massively in the end."

Then something occurred to him, and he asked, "His mom hasn’t come to see you, has she?"

Qiao En shook her head, "No."

Zhou Jin’an immediately became suspicious and sent a message to Cheng Lu.

A quick response came from the other end.

"She just got back from Gu Yuan."

Hearing this, Zhou Jin’an’s gaze darkened.

Qiao En’s mother’s trip to Gu Yuan had only one obvious purpose: she must have gone to see Auntie Jiang.

But since they’d returned, Auntie Jiang had not mentioned a thing.

If not mentioned, there was surely something fishy.

He was protective of Qiao En and wouldn’t allow any harmful elements to disturb her.

"I’m going downstairs for a glass of water." Zhou Jin’an made up an excuse to leave the bedroom.

In the guest room area, Xu Cong was still reading on the sofa.

Zhou Jin’an approached and patted Xu Cong on the shoulder.

"I need to ask you something."

"Brother-in-law, go ahead," Xu Cong responded, putting down his book.

"Did your big sister’s foster mother come to see you guys?"

"How did you know?" Xu Cong counterasked.

"Is it true?" Zhou Jin’an’s voice lowered, but his tone was serious.

Xu Cong nodded, "Brother-in-law, my mom said we cannot let big sister know about this. She’s already troubled enough and shouldn’t have to go through those terrible experiences. Don’t worry, I’ll protect big sister together with Mom."

In that moment, Zhou Jin’an’s heart, which had been lifted to his throat, dropped back into place.

A relieved smile appeared on his face.

"Great, in the future, such matters don’t need to be known by your big sister. But you can let me know. The three of us will form a united front to protect your big sister."

On the second-floor hallway, Qiao En stood there.

She had heard everything from downstairs.

Leaning against the wall, her heart was full of warmth.