Seven days later.
After numerous twists and turns, Qiao Qingqing finally arrived with Lu Heng at the Lu family home in Beijing.
During the journey, Lu Heng had already called home to inform his family that Qiao Qingqing would be coming to visit.
This news had thrown Mother Lu into a flurry of excitement. Her son was well into his twenties; at his age, people of the same generation already had children old enough to run errands, yet her Lu Heng was still unmarried!
Whenever the family urged Lu Heng to fulfill his engagement, he would come up with all sorts of excuses.
This year, the Qiao family girl turned eighteen; it would be completely unreasonable not to marry her off now, which was why Elder Lu had finally laid down a strict order for him to marry as soon as possible.
Mother Lu had wanted to ask her son about the future daughter-in-law's preferences and tastes, but her dim-witted son had been completely clueless about everything.
Therefore, when Qiao Qingqing arrived at the Lu family home, she found that they had prepared a massive spread of dishes.
Although Qiao Qingqing had seen a lot in her past life and had eaten all kinds of delicacies from land and sea, the fact that the Lu family could host her to such a standard under the current circumstances clearly demonstrated how much importance they attached to her.
Of course, Qiao Qingqing was not foolish enough to think they liked her.
It would have been exactly the same even if Shi Lanlan had come instead.
At the dining table, Mother Lu watched Qiao Qingqing, who showed not a trace of self-consciousness. A flash of appreciation first crossed Mother Lu's eyes, but then, seeing the girl's sallow and emaciated face, she immediately felt a pang of pity.
Mother Lu didn't overthink it; she simply felt that since the girl before her was the Qiao family's daughter and was destined to become her daughter-in-law, she ought to treat her well.
"Qingqing, I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I prepared a little bit of everything. Don't stand on ceremony; just treat this place like your own home."
As she spoke, Mother Lu kept piling food into Qiao Qingqing's bowl.
Qiao Qingqing did not refuse Mother Lu's kindness. Although mentally she was older than Mother Lu, the other woman was her elder in terms of current status.
"Thank you, Auntie. No matter what the food is like, Auntie's thoughtfulness is the most precious thing."
Qiao Qingqing's poised and graceful reply instantly delighted Mother Lu, making her gaze toward her prospective daughter-in-law grow much more affectionate.
Elder Lu had been feeling a bit unwell lately, but upon learning that the Qiao family girl had arrived, he still insisted on coming downstairs to join them for dinner.
At that moment, Elder Lu looked at Qiao Qingqing with a face full of emotion.
"Has life at home been very difficult? Are you usually able to eat your fill?"
Qiao Qingqing's hand paused, and she looked up at Lu Heng.
The moment they arrived home, they had only had time to exchange greetings before being rushed straight to the dining table.
Lu Heng hadn't explained many things to his family yet.
Catching Qiao Qingqing's gaze, Lu Heng put down his chopsticks and said with a serious expression, "Grandpa, Dad, Mom, although Comrade Qiao Qingqing is Uncle Qiao's biological daughter, she has been raised as the Shi family's daughter for the past eighteen years."
Adhering to the principle of not speaking while eating and not talking while in bed, Lu Zhenfeng hadn't uttered a single word since sitting down at the table.
Coupled with his lifelong habit of keeping a stern face, he naturally looked rather difficult to approach.
Now, hearing his son's words, Lu Zhenfeng frowned directly. "What is going on?"
Lu Heng then recounted how the two families had swapped their children.
He had inquired into the matter: back then, the child born to the Shi family indeed had a congenital heart condition, and the doctor had informed Comrade Wang Meifang about it.
Based on his interactions with Comrade Qiao Qingqing over the past few days, he believed that Comrade Qiao Qingqing would not lie about such a matter.
Therefore, the phrasing Lu Heng chose was that "the Shi family took the initiative to swap daughters."
"The Shi family's daughter was raised in the Qiao family for eighteen years, but that day at the hospital, I heard that female comrade state with her own mouth that she wanted to acknowledge her biological parents and proactively proposed to swap the engagement back."
Lu Heng calmly narrated the whole story from beginning to end.
"So I stepped forward to state that the object of this engagement is the Qiao family's daughter, and with Comrade Qiao Qingqing's consent, we came back together."
Shi Meiyun's face turned furious. "How can there be such people in this world? Resenting that a daughter was a burden, they swapped her for someone else's child to raise, and then deliberately mistreated the other person's child!"
Originally, she had only thought her prospective daughter-in-law was a bit too tanned and thin, but now she felt a deep ache in her heart.
Qiao Qingqing's hand was suddenly grabbed by Mother Lu. While she was still startled, Mother Lu said softly, "Good child, they say that after bitterness comes sweetness. You've suffered so much in the past, so your future will definitely be smooth sailing. Don't worry, Lu Heng may have his flaws, but his character is absolutely without fault. Once you two get married, he will treat you well."
This unprovoked care caught Qiao Qingqing completely off guard; she froze for a long time, not knowing how to react.
Lu Zhenfeng looked at the young girl opposite him and said in a deep voice, "Eat first. Go upstairs to rest after dinner, and once you've had a good sleep, have Lu Heng take you out for a walk."
After the meal, Mother Lu led Qiao Qingqing upstairs.
"This is the guest room. Hearing that you two were coming back, I cleaned both Lu Heng's room and the guest room. The bedsheets and quilts are newly replaced, and I've also added some items that a girl might need in this room. Take a look and see what else is missing."
Mother Lu spoke to her gently, while Qiao Qingqing bit her lip and shook her head.
Adding both her lives together, Qiao Qingqing had never experienced such warmth, which left her feeling completely lost.
If the other party had looked down on her or treated her badly, she would have known how to cope.
Yet who would have thought that a rigid, aloof man like Lu Heng on the outside would have a mother as gentle as water and as approachable as this?
Sensing that Qiao Qingqing had suddenly grown reserved, Shi Meiyun felt an even deeper ache in her heart.
The child must be worried that since they all knew she wasn't raised by the Qiao family, they might mind.
At this thought, Shi Meiyun patted her hand soothingly.
With that pat, she felt something hard and bony.
Looking down, why was the hand so thin it was all skin and bones?
A flicker of anger surfaced in Shi Meiyun's eyes.
Fearing that she might frighten the child, Shi Meiyun forcefully suppressed this nameless fire.
She spoke softly, "Qingqing, you don't need to worry. Since Lu Heng brought you home, it means you share a bond with our Lu family. No matter whether the Qiao family is willing or not, from now on we recognize only you as our daughter-in-law."
Qiao Qingqing looked at Mother Lu with a complex gaze.
Why on earth was she able to radiate such kindness toward her?
The Qiao family despised her, the Shi family enslaved her, and as for the Lu family...
Wasn't this the very first time they were meeting today?
Having never received love, Qiao Qingqing did not know that certain things depend entirely on personal character and individual morality.
The Qiao family valued sentiment over blood ties, which was why they couldn't bear to part with Shi Lanlan, whom they had raised and cherished for eighteen years.
The Shi family valued profit above all else, which was why they could enslave her with a clear conscience...
The Lu family was upright, righteous, and responsible; what was rare was that they were also compassionate, which allowed them to accept her at the very first moment and feel deep pity for her upon learning of her ordeal.
Because in the eyes of the Lu family, Qiao Qingqing was already a member of their household.
How could their own family member suffer such grievances without their hearts aching?
Afterward, fearing that she was unfamiliar with the house, Shi Meiyun even took her for a tour around the place, showing her where the restroom was and where the kitchen was located.
"If you get hungry in the middle of the night, just come downstairs and call me, and I'll cook noodles for you."
After Mother Lu left, Qiao Qingqing lay on the bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
Why is the difference between people so vast?