Chapter 651: Four Older Cousins Dominated By Their Younger Cousin (5)
Qiao Yuying was dumbfounded for a long while and did not return to her senses. In that case, whatever happened back then was just a misunderstanding?
She looked towards Gu Qingyao.
Gu Qingyao's lips twitched. She never expected the truth to be like this.
"Back then, my father happened to be outside the ward and he heard... both of you saying that I am a bastard child and wanted to send me away. He even heard them saying they were going overseas, so he secretly carried me away when the both of you left. After settling me down, he returned to look for you, but you were brought away!"
Qiao Yuying: ...
Qiao elders: ...
Qiao Yuying's whole mind was fuzzy.
Everything was a misunderstanding?
After organizing everything mentally, Qiao Yuying was about to break down.
No one betrayed her, but the past eighteen years was wasted on a misunderstanding for nothing.
If she knew that her daughter did not die and her husband did not betray him, she definitely wouldn't have gone abroad back then. No matter how tough the circumstances were in the country, she still wanted to be with her husband and daughter.
Qiao Yuying hugged Gu Qingyao in her arms and bawled. "Sorry, it's my fault. It's my fault. I misunderstood. I misunderstood..."
This matter was too impactful on Qiao Yuying. The daughter, whom she had missed for eighteen years and thought to no longer be around in the world, suddenly appeared before her. For a moment, eighteen years of grievance and distress surged within her as she cried her eyes out while hugging Gu Qingyao.
As she cried, she could not control her feelings and suddenly passed out.
Gu Qingyao was shocked. "Mother! Mother..."
The Qiao elders were frightened. "Daughter... daughter..."
They hurriedly sent Qiao Yuying back to her room to rest. Proficient in medicine, Gu Qingyao took her pulse and told the Qiao seniors, "She is all right. She's just experienced a great fluctuation of emotions and was agitated, so she passed out temporarily.
"She has been too exhausted for the past few years. Let her rest for a while, and she will be all right!"
Old Madam Qiao was a famous doctor as well and obviously knew her daughter's condition. After knowing that there was nothing serious, they were much relieved.
The seniors were rather awkward to face Gu Qingyao!
Gu Qingyao did not know how to face her grandparents either, so she simply sat beside Qiao Yuying's bed to look after her. Qiao Yuying's hand still held onto Gu Qingyao's tightly.
Gu Qingyao let out a sigh and sat by her side obediently.
Old Madam Qiao saw Gu Qingyao taking Qiao Yuying's pulse and asked, "Do you... study medicine?"
Gu Qingyao looked up at her. This elderly woman looked very compassionate and seemed different from those rich elderly women who were mean and looked down on others.
Rather, she looked compassionate and had a studious air like those very cultured elderly women.
Sigh...
Gu Qingyao nodded and said, "Yes, I study medicine. I can go overseas this time because I am specially permitted to study abroad."
Old Madam Qiao's eyes lit up. She liked kids who studied medicine.
She studied medicine since young, but unexpectedly, all her kids were unwilling to study medicine. This infuriated her.
This caused her to have no one to impart her skills to.
Forget it if her children did not study medicine, but her grandchildren were the same – they were clearly all extremely intelligent and understood everything they learnt, but their heads ached once they looked at medical books. She even wanted to chase these kids out of the house out of anger.
Now, she met such a beautiful young lady like Gu Qingyao who was willing to study medicine. Moreover, she was specially permitted to study abroad. This must be an opportunity given only because she excelled, right?
Chapter 652: Four Older Cousins Dominated By Their Younger Cousin (6)
The old lady smiled at Gu Qingyao ingratiatingly.
"This... darling! I didn't mean to. I thought your father bullied your mother. I was so angry! Your mother is the apple of my eye! Do you know how I felt when I suddenly discovered that she was about to give birth? I almost... wanted to kill your father!"
Gu Qingyao: "..."
"I've regretted it all these years! I was desperately sorry when I saw how heartbroken your mother was, but I could not go back to look for you. I was also worried that your mother would never leave the past behind, so... I kept the truth from her.
"Fortunately, you were fine, and you're all grown up now. That's wonderful. I promise I will make it up to you, all right?"
The old woman smiled at her pleadingly. She even remembered to tug at the old man by her side.
Old Master Qiao suddenly snapped out of his trance. An identical pleading smile appeared on his face. "Right, right, right! It was all our fault. We were mistaken. We will make it up to you. You can do whatever you like. Darling! Can you address me as Grandfather?"
Gu Qingyao: "..."
Before she entered the Qiao home, she thought that her grandparents would be very difficult and would dislike her intensely!
But after a short while.
They were both trying to ingratiate themselves with her. The contrast was too great. She could not accept it!
...
Qiao Yuying had been very busy with work lately and was exhausted. Coupled with the recent shock, she slept without waking up.
Meanwhile, the two old folks informed the entire family. Gu Qingyao's uncles were working overseas, but they were hurrying back. Her aunts remained overseas.
Her four older cousins were the first to return. They were in the country, and when they heard the news, they immediately came home.
At the moment, Gu Qingyao was sitting on the sofa, looking at her four extremely handsome cousins. Then there were her kindly-looking grandparents, still with pleading expressions on their faces. When she thought of her uncles hurrying home at the moment, she felt... deep concern for her father.
Once the misunderstanding had been cleared up, she realized that the Qiao family was actually a very close-knit one. Her uncles were all very capable, and they each managed their own businesses. Her aunts also had their own careers. Her older cousins were all outstanding and had their own life plans.
None of them were interested in fighting over the family fortune.
Scions of illustrious families usually fought viciously over their inheritance, but such a thing did not exist in the Qiao family. Instead, the two old folks were worried that there was no one to take over the family business.
Grandmother was a physician and her businesses were all medically related. Later on, she married Grandfather, and none of her children were interested in this line of work. This infuriated her.
She had no choice but to set her hopes on her grandchildren.
As one grandson after another was born, the old lady used all ways and means to demonstrate the glories of Chinese medicine to them, but these brats had all inherited their fathers' business sense. They were all excellent businessmen, but their heads ached at the sight of a medical book.
They fled in fright the moment they heard that the two old folks wanted them to take over the family business.
The old lady was heartbroken.
The Old Master felt that he had let his wife down. His genes were too powerful, so none of their children pleased his wife. At his age, he had no choice but to help his wife manage her business.
Her mother, Qiao Yuying, was their youngest daughter and the apple of their eye.
Chapter 653: Chapter 0652:Four Older Cousins Dominated By Their Younger Cousin (7)
Her uncles all danced to their younger sister's tune. When her older cousins were born, they were taught that their Young Aunt was their family's darling, to be respected and protected.
This family was very biased!
The other members of the Qiao family did not know that her mother had married her father and gotten pregnant. When the two old folks had hurried to the hospital and seen her mother, her mother had been heavily injured. She had just given birth in that shabby little place and was all alone and unconscious.
The two old folks could not accept it.
To them, their darling daughter was intelligent, innocent, naive and adorable. Some bastard must have bullied her, which was why she did not dare to tell her parents but had the child secretly.
They had been enraged and prejudiced against her child.
From the two old folks' perspective, it was understandable.
Gu Qingyao thought that if she did not tell her father but suddenly gave birth to a child away from home and was found lying alone in a hospital covered with wounds, her father would flip too.
Thus, the misunderstanding was cleared up!
She looked at her four older cousins. There were still her uncles, who were hurrying back. Gu Qingyao thought that when rules become relaxed in a few years, and the entire family could return to China, Father would probably be... severely beaten up!
The Qiao family's four grandsons sat in a row, staring at this incredibly pretty little cousin.
The Qiao family was composed entirely of males, the only exception being Young Aunt in the second generation. Their grandparents and fathers had always adored her and cherished her.
In their generation, the entire family longed for a girl but only had one boy after another. All the elders were infuriated!
Now, they finally had a girl cousin?
And she was Young Aunt's daughter?
The cousins all whistled at the thought. Young Aunt was the most capable!
She had managed to have a girl!
They looked in front of them, at the adorable, submissive little cousin who looked as pretty as a princess. Eldest Cousin beamed. "Younger Cousin! I'm your Eldest Cousin!"
Second Cousin beamed even more widely. "I'm your Second Cousin, the most handsome of all!"
Third Cousin immediately spoke, "I'm your Third Cousin! In the future, I will certainly dote on you the most!"
Fourth Cousin immediately tried to curry favor. "I'm Fourth Cousin. I'm the most adorable, cute, kind, and nice Fourth Cousin!"
Gu Qingyao: "..."
They were so comical!
"How do you do, Older Cousins. My name is Gu Qingyao!"
Eldest Cousin: "Gu Qingyao! Wow, what a nice name!"
Second Cousin: "Right! Right! Right! I can tell from the name that she's a beauty!"
Third Cousin: "Gu Qingyao! Yao Yao, of all the girls' names that I've heard, yours is the nicest!"
Fourth Cousin: "Wu wu wu, Younger Cousin, why does your name sound so nice? I also want a name that sounds as nice!"
Gu Qingyao: "..."
She suddenly recalled her five older cousins at home who doted on her. They had also treasured her since she was young. They were also at her beck and call!
Now, these four older cousins were no less dominated by her than her five older cousins at home. In fact, they seemed a little more under her sway!
For some reason, Mo Beihan's face suddenly appeared in her mind. She thought that Father only had to face her mother's three brothers when he married her mother.
As for Mo Beihan...
He had nine older cousins to deal with!
Gu Qingyao rolled her eyes. Brother Beihan was so skilled; surely he could beat them?
Chapter 654: The Unfortunate Bai Youran (1)
The Qiao family was not as difficult as Gu Qingyao had imagined. In fact, they were one happy family!
Although the past eighteen years had been cruel to her parents, they had already passed. They did not have much time to lose.
Gu Qingyao hoped that the situation would change quickly, so she could bring her mother back to see her father.
So during this time, she did not want to quibble over who was right or wrong. She wanted to build good relationships with her mother's family so that when she brought her mother back, it would reduce the obstacles to her parents reuniting.
The two old folks in the Qiao family felt very guilty towards their daughter, and they treated Gu Qingyao in the same way. If circumstances had not prevented them from returning to China for so many years, they would certainly have looked for the child.
Now that the girl was still alive and had come to look for them, they focused on how to make it up to Gu Qingyao.
Gu Qingyao instantly became the Qiao family's little princess.
Qiao Yuying slept for two hours before she awoke. During that time, Gu Qingyao kept her company in the Qiao house and made a call to Qin Zhiyuan to tell him what had happened.
Qin Zhiyuan was somewhat surprised by the Qiao family's reaction, but he sighed with relief!
"I can stop worrying then. But, Yao Yao, I must mention something. I feel that that Huo Lin is a hypocrite. He is determined to have your mother, and for years, he has maintained an image of being devoted to her. This has given his companies a good reputation.
"But he has had two wives, many mistresses, and several illegitimate sons. Although the women all look like your mother and others say that his actions show how deeply he loves your mother, the fact is that he has many women.
"Your existence affects his family. His children covet Qiao Jewelry's assets. They're waiting for their father to marry your mother so that they can divide up Qiao's Jewelry! Now that you have emerged, they may attack you. Be careful!
Gu Qingyao's heart warmed at his words!
In high society, being a busybody was taboo!
Right now, from Qin Zhiyuan's point of view, not mentioning Huo Lin's relationship with her mother was the best course of action to take. That way he could avoid being involved.
He was clearly thinking about her when he reminded her.
Gu Qingyao smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Qin, I will be careful. Don't worry, I've already made my preparations before I decided to approach the Qiao family. I will be careful!"
When Qin Zhiyuan heard the child's self-assured tone, he did not know whether she was really capable or entirely ignorant.
But he thought that since this girl's medical skills had already surpassed that of his parents and that she could produce such a superior piece of raw jade, then she must be no ordinary girl.
The girl had just arrived and did not know anyone. She could not possibly have bought the raw jade after she came overseas. In that case, had she brought the raw jade with her from China?
How had she brought it along?
Qin Zhiyuan could not figure it out. But he did not bother to quibble over it. It was good that the girl was so resourceful. His mother would not think so highly of her if she did not have some ability.
Besides, how could her medical skills surpass his mother, who was a famous Jiangnan physician? Since Qin Zhiyuan could not figure it out, he did not bother to think about it.
"All right, as long as you're aware of this. If you need anything, you can always let me know. Don't forget, you are not just the Qiao family's granddaughter, but also my family's little granddaughter! Your teacher is not here now, so I will take care of you!"
Chapter 655: The Unfortunate Bai Youran (2)
Gu Qingyao was filled with gratitude towards Qin Zhiyuan!
It was her great fortune to have met her teacher in this lifetime.
Qin Zhiyuan said, "You left in such a hurry that the raw jade is still with me! I've sent someone to bring it to you."
Gu Qingyao thanked him and hung up.
Qiao Yuying clutched Gu Qingyao's hand. She had eyes only for her daughter. She gazed at her continually, afraid that she would vanish in the next second!
Gu Qingyao consoled her. "Mother, don't worry, I won't vanish. I especially came to look for you. Father is waiting for us to go home to have a reunion!"
Gu Qingyao had never enjoyed a mother's love in her previous life. Now that she had met her mother, she felt a deep sense of kinship, even without interacting much with her. Blood truly was a mysterious thing.
Qiao Yuying's heart softened at the thought of Gu Yunshen. She knew the person she had chosen would never betray her.
There were still some misunderstandings regarding Zhang Xiaohui, but Qiao Yuying did not want to dwell on them.
The situation had been so precarious back then. Even an illustrious family like theirs had found it hard to survive. She was well aware of how difficult it had been for the Gu family to survive peacefully in those circumstances.
He had brought up their daughter well. As a husband, he had not betrayed her. That was enough!
Qiao Yuying smiled. "All right, I will wait until we can go back and our family can be reunited."
But Qiao Yuying grieved at the thought of the current circumstances.
She sighed. "But considering what things are like, even though you have found me, your father doesn't know about it, and there is no way of getting the news to him. I don't know when we'll ever be able to go back!"
Gu Qingyao smiled. She wrapped her arm around Qiao Yuying's shoulders and leaned against her. "Mother, don't worry. I think that we can be reunited in a few years. At most... three to five years. Then we can go back!"
Qiao Yuying was taken aback. "Really?"
Gu Qingyao nodded. "Really. I grew up among many professors and scholars and learnt many things from them! They stay near me and have analyzed the situation."
Qiao Yuying was delighted. They were far from home and did not know how things were like back home. Any news they obtained was vague.
But Gu Qingyao was different. She had come from China, and since that was their analysis, it was very likely to happen!
"Great! Great! Then we can go back soon!"
Although they had lived comfortably overseas for so many years, it was still a foreign land.
It was one thing to be in a foreign land because you were too busy to go home, but to be unable to go home was a completely different matter.
Both the Qiao family and the Qin family hoped to go home one day.
With Gu Yunshen still in China, Qiao Yuying was even more eager to go back.
Gu Qingyao smiled. "That's right. We've already waited for so many years that a few more years doesn't matter. Mother, meanwhile we must take good care of ourselves. In the future, we can return and be reunited with Father."
Qiao Yuying could barely suppress the joy in her heart at the thought of Gu Yunshen. After all, she had missed him for eighteen years. Now that there was a hope of a reunion, she almost instinctively touched her face!
"Have... I grown old?"
Gu Qingyao was surprised, then burst out laughing!
"You're not old! You look like you're in your thirties. Other people will think we are sisters. But Father has suffered a lot all these years in our hometown. Mother, you mustn't despise him, all right?"