He Xuewen left Hong Kong the very next day. He had to hurry back to meet up with Yang Wenbin, but Sisi stayed behind. Mu Xiulan really couldn’t bear to let her go and pleaded with her to stay a few more days for some mother-daughter bonding.
He Xuewen didn’t object either. After giving Sisi a few words of caution, he left, but not before leaving her with enough money to spend without holding back, telling her to buy whatever she liked!
However, there was hardly any chance to spend that money. It seemed like Mu Xiulan, trying to make up for the years of absence, bought piles upon piles of clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, and more for Sisi until Sisi was almost dazzled by it all.
Mu Xiulan saw her regained daughter Sisi in a very precious light, treading cautiously in every word and action. This sentiment was also shared by Qiao Ziqiang, who doted on Sisi as his own. It can all be summed up in one sentence:
Buy whatever you want, do whatever you want, we’ve got the money and the manpower, nothing to fear!
Totally cool and impressive!
If it wasn’t for the fact that in her heart she was somewhat disgusted by the thought of him taking Daddy’s wife, Sisi would have actually thought this Boss Qiao was quite considerate.
But now that she thought about it, it wasn’t entirely Mu Xiulan and Boss Qiao’s fault. At that time, with He Xuewen’s life hanging in the balance, Mu Xiulan was a beautiful and delicate lone woman who encountered a heroic gangster boss in her most vulnerable moment—the rest of the story was predictable even to a mentally deficient person.
Besides, looking at it now, Boss Qiao treated step-mama Xiulian quite well. He gave Mu Xiulan a legitimate status and even set up a garment factory for her. He was usually very compliant, a perfect image of a good man. If it weren’t for the fierce aura he exuded, no one would think a man who was so afraid of his wife could be a ruthless gangster leader.
"Mama, is it really impossible for you and Daddy to get back together?" Sisi still wanted to ask this question on behalf of He Xuewen.
Mu Xiulan’s hands, which were combing Sisi’s hair, paused for a moment. She smiled bitterly and said, "Ah Nan, I’m already your Uncle Qiao’s wife. He saved my life, and he’s always been very good to me. I can’t let him down."
"Oh, if you are determined to live peacefully with Uncle Qiao, why don’t you have another child?"
That was also something Sisi found strange. Given the great relationship between Mu Xiulan and Qiao Ziqiang, it was unlikely that they wouldn’t want children for more than a decade. Though Qiao Ziqiang already had two sons, with Xiulian’s intelligence, how could she not realize that depending purely on charm wouldn’t last long?
"Your Uncle Qiao’s health isn’t very good!"
Discussing such matters in front of her daughter made Mu Xiulan somewhat embarrassed, but having finally reunited with Ah Nan, she wouldn’t hide anything from her, no matter what she asked.
Of course, she wanted to have another child, but Qiao Ziqiang had suffered severe injuries in his early years and lost his reproductive capabilities. It was also because of this that Qiao Ziqiang felt he owed her a lot, and would therefore grant her any request.
Sisi didn’t ask further, yet she was genuinely concerned about Mu Xiulan’s future. Alone in Hong Kong without a son by her side, the watchful eyes of her former two sons, and Qiao Ziqiang’s life spent on the knife-edge, licking blood — to put it bluntly, no one would know when his time was up. While Qiao Ziqiang was still around, he could protect her, but if something happened to him, Mu Xiulan’s fate...
Maybe in the previous life when the original host had an accident, Mu Xiulan was absent — could she have met with some misfortune? Otherwise, given Mu Xiulan’s care for her daughter, it wouldn’t make sense for her to stand by and watch her daughter get bullied without stepping in. The most likely scenario is that Mu Xiulan was in trouble or had an accident herself?
Sisi’s guess was not wrong; when the original host had her mishap in the previous life, Qiao Ziqiang’s old injuries acted up, leading to his death in the hospital where resuscitation efforts failed. He left no will, and his two sons naturally took over all of Qiao Ziqiang’s inheritance, even usurping Mu Xiulan’s assets. Mu Xiulan ended up destitute, just like her daughter, and if not for the intervention of old-time figures like Fei, even her life might not have been spared.
Sisi sighed. Although she didn’t feel as deeply for Mu Xiulan as He Xuewen did, she was, after all, the biological mother of this body and Mu Xiulan had always been truly good to her. She couldn’t bear to see her fall into misfortune, so it was best to prepare early! The best solution now was to either have Mu Xiulan bear a child or to keep Qiao Ziqiang alive for a few more years!
"Mama, how’s Uncle Qiao’s health?"
Mu Xiulan found her daughter’s question odd but answered truthfully, "Not very good. Your Uncle Qiao pushed himself too hard in his early years, suffered many injuries, and feels terrible whenever the weather changes!"
Seeing him in pain made her heart ache. Speaking of which, although she was with Qiao Ziqiang initially out of no choice, hearts are made of flesh, and Qiao Ziqiang, a menacing figure, always tread carefully with her and indulged her in every way. Over the years, she had developed feelings for Qiao Ziqiang.
Sisi got up, took her carry-on bag, and pretended to rummage through it. She took out two bottles of Qiong Wine and handed them to Mu Xiulan.
"This is the medicinal wine Daddy brewed. It’s the best cure for old injuries. Daddy himself recovered his health by relying on this medicinal wine. Take these bottles and give them to Uncle Qiao to drink; one ounce a day, not more!"
Once Mu Xiulan had been part of He Family, she certainly knew the miraculous effects of He Family Wine and was deeply moved, hugging Sisi and planting a kiss on her, "Ah Nan, thank you!"
"No need, I simply don’t want to see you end up a widow, that’s all!"
Sisi touched her face, feeling awkward, not accustomed to Mu Xiulan’s warmth.
Mu Xiulan was in high spirits, not dwelling on why Sisi would bring two bottles of medicinal wine in her bag and cheerfully put them away.
In the evening, Mu Xiulan was taking Sisi to a dinner party — it was the eighteenth birthday and coming of age celebration for He Family’s youngest daughter, He Shishi. He Family had become influential through shipping and held significant sway in Hong Kong. The current head of He Family was He Shishi’s father, He Mingli, and He Shishi, born to his most favored fourth wife, was naturally cherished among her siblings.
Thus, He Mingli went all out, throwing a lavish coming-of-age party for his youngest daughter and widely distributing invitations. That day, the He Family ancestral home on The Peak gathered nearly half of Hong Kong’s high society — truly a grand gesture.
Mu Xiulan also received an invitation, undoubtedly given for Qiao Ziqiang’s sake. The relationship between Hong Kong’s tycoons and the gangster world was very delicate, much like fish and water, inseparable and mutually beneficial — nobody could do without the other!
Qiao Ziqiang never attended these banquets. Firstly, his identity was sensitive; secondly, he didn’t like social gatherings. He always adhered to the belief that might is right, which coincided splendidly with that of a certain historical figure.
Actually, there was another reason Qiao Ziqiang never revealed: he thought as a big brother he had to maintain a sense of mystery, to command respect from outsiders!