Aunt Xia snorted coldly, "Of course, I know Chengzong is a good kid!"
She wasn’t dissatisfied with Xia Chengzong; it was Mother Xia she resented!
As for the public, they’d likely think that he was adopted into the second house because he was utterly disappointed in the main house, coupled with the potential benefits the second house offered.
But they all knew that Xia Chengzong had actually done it to solve Xia Chuyi’s dilemma. Otherwise, he could have simply walked away, distancing himself from Ling County.
Because, in the end, that would also mean leaving the main house.
Yet, he chose adoption and even turned down the chance to join the military, planning to stay local.
"Chengzong is a good kid, but to that woman Zhao Chunxiao, what she values is merely that he can carry on the family line," Aunt Xia said indignantly.
One thing after another, incident after incident, had driven her discontent with Mother Xia to the brink.
Some people aren’t bad, but the things they do can make you feel worse than a stab wound!
"Chuyi, haven’t you moved your household registration? Why don’t you just change your surname and not follow your uncle’s?" Aunt Xia sneered at Uncle Xia, adding, "Just take my surname. Once you take my surname, you’ll be my daughter alone, and I’ll be the only one who cherishes you!"
This included her growing grievances against Uncle Xia, who had defended Mother Xia for many years.
After Aunt Xia spoke furiously, Zhao Xiaogui, lying in the sickbed, chimed in, "That’s right, sister. Take our mom’s surname, and then you’ll be completely disconnected from the Xia family!"
Uncle Xia rubbed his head, looking embarrassed.
Xia Chuyi smiled and shook her head without agreeing.
She knew Aunt Xia meant well, but she had her own considerations.
Xia Chuyi spoke, "Aunt, I understand your feelings, but I am always going to be my dad’s only daughter."
"I won’t change the Xia surname, not even for my dad."
As soon as the conversation turned to her late father, Daddy Xia, Aunt Xia realized she’d been rash and sighed. "Alright, I wasn’t considerate enough."
"Eh, Aunt’s main worry is that—so long as the Xia family can tie themselves to you in any way, they’ll try to extort something from you."
Hearing this, Xia Chuyi laughed, "Extort me? Don’t worry, they won’t."
Then, she retold the conversation she had with the village chief and others to everyone.
"So, in the future, the Xia family in Heshan Village will only be preoccupied with their own problems."
At this point, Huo Shiqian, who had been silent by her side until then, also spoke up lightly, "With Old Chang at the Ling County Public Security Bureau, if there’s any trouble in He Mountain, he will look out for us."
The implication was that he had made arrangements a long time ago.
Xia Chuyi smiled at her Uncle Liberation Army and nodded, continuing his line of thought. She told Uncle Xia and Aunt Xia, "Xia Chengzu is still detained, the Xia family, they wouldn’t dare to come for me."
"Unless they no longer value Xia Chengzu’s life."
As she spoke, her eyes were filled with a cold glint.
After pausing, she said, "Uncle, Aunt, you don’t think I’m too heartless, do you?"
"Heartless? I think you’re too kind!" Seeing the worry in her eyes, Aunt Xia hastily spoke out in support, "You’re doing the right thing. With people like the Xia family, you have to use iron-fisted measures."
"Otherwise, trying to reason with animals? Does that even work?"
Aunt Xia truly despised the Xia family to her very bones. Now that Xia Chuyi was completely separated from the Xia family, she held nothing back.