novelraw Chapter 1286: 1285: Evidence
Chapter 1286: 1285: Evidence
Chapter 1286: Chapter 1285: Evidence
The family treated that child like a treasure; aside from her sister and parents, no one was allowed to touch her. If she occasionally touched the child, she would be scolded.
At first, the child was kept at home, but as she grew older, she couldn’t be confined anymore and liked to run around outside.
There was no choice but for her sister to follow the child, but one time after they went out to play and returned, her sister was dead and the child was missing.
She was still young, only remembering her parents’ expressions at the time, as if the sky had fallen.
Later, not long after, her parents somehow found the child and brought her back, but she felt something was off, claiming it wasn’t her sister’s child. This led to her being beaten by her parents and locked up, without food or water, and they warned if she spoke nonsense again, they’d beat her to death.
She only remembered that when the child was found and brought back, one night, the child cried loudly and desperately in the middle of the night. Normally her parents would comfort her, but that night, no matter how much the child cried, her parents did not.
Later, the child cried and made a fuss for several days, being mentally disturbed, and took a long time to recover.
Every year, someone came to see the child. Later, she was hastily married off to a distant family by her parents, and when she finally managed to return home, she found her parents were gone.
People around said that years ago, someone came and took her parents and the child away, never to return.
Afterwards, she never heard anything about her parents again.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yongzhu felt a chill on his back, fearing the girl’s parents may have been dealt with by the Grand Elder of the Gu Family from those years ago.
Everyone present understood. Fearfully, the death of that girl’s sister and the disappearance of the child might be connected to Yang Zongbao.
And the child supposedly found and brought back later was actually Gu Changyin.
Yang Zongbao calmly said, “What does this have to do with me? My surname is Yang, and I’m from Yang Family Village. This is known far and wide. My parents only gave birth to me—how could I be a child of the Gu Family?”
Gu Changqing knew this wasn’t enough, so he dropped a second piece of evidence.
He sent people to Yang Family Village to ask the elders there, who revealed that Yang Zongbao’s parents had been doing small business in Qi City County, and when they returned to the village, Yang Zongbao was already about three or four years old.
Yang Zongbao’s parents claimed he was their biological child, so naturally, no one suspected otherwise.
Then his people went to Qi City County, made inquiries for a long time, finally learning from an elderly person that Yang Zongbao’s parents originally had a son who died shortly after birth.
After the death of her son, Yang Zongbao’s mother became somewhat unhinged, each day going out and snatching people’s children, claiming them as her own.
Then one day, she really did bring a child back home; the child seemed traumatized, standing there dumbfounded.
A couple of days later, the Yang Zongbao family packed up and said they were returning home.
Presented with this evidence, Yang Zongbao gritted his teeth and said, “This can only prove I’m not a child of the Yang Family, but it doesn’t prove I’m a child of the Gu Family.”
Gu Changqing sighed deeply, “Indeed, the evidence I’ve gathered only proves you’re not of Yang Family descent, and Laosan isn’t of Gu Family either. But there’s no such coincidence in the world; I had people investigate. The day you were taken back to the Yang family coincides roughly with the day the child disappeared from that girl’s sister’s home. It’s been years, and it’s hard to remember, but the approximate date can certainly be determined.”
“Moreover, blood kin are bound. From the moment I first saw you, you just seemed familiar to me. Not only does your silhouette resemble our father’s, but you also have a birthmark on your foot, and your blood can blend with mine. Aren’t these pieces of evidence enough?”
“Did the Third Elder of the Gu Family not have a birthmark on his foot? Did you not perform a blood test to confirm family ties back then?” Yang Zongbao said coldly.
Gu Changqing clenched his teeth, thinking his own kin brother was too hardheaded. Aren’t these undeniable pieces of evidence? Why not admit it? Is acknowledging the Gu Family such a disgrace?
But looking at Yang Zongbao’s expression, he couldn’t get angry, and only said in frustration, “Laosan’s foot birthmark is fake!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the room was in uproar, all eyes turned to Gu Changqing.
Gu Changqing faced the crowd with a stern expression: “I already had Laosan drugged, and people checked him. His foot’s birthmark was artificially created using a special herb, embedded into the flesh. After half a month, it grows into something resembling a mole. It doesn’t wash off with water, only with special chemicals. Laosan’s foot mole washed off as soon as it was touched by those chemicals.”
Wang Yongzhu couldn’t help but mentally applaud Gu Changqing!
My uncle is indeed impressive! What a clever move!
Yang Zongbao was silent.
Everyone in the room dared not speak, just watched Yang Zongbao.
Finally, Old Lady Gu couldn’t hold it anymore, crying out: “Son, I am your mother! Since your birth, I never got to see you before you were taken! Now after more than forty years, I can finally see you! Let your mother have a good look at you, will you?”
Yang Zongbao, overwhelmed by emotion, felt his eyes redden but tried to control it and said: “Fine, assuming I am of Gu Family blood, what are you planning to do? Recognize me back? What then of the original Third Elder of the Gu Family? Continue residing in the family or cast him out? How will outsiders view the Gu Family?”
Gu Changqing, sensing there was a willingness in Yang Zongbao’s words, quickly said: “Rest assured; you’re of Gu Family blood. There’s no chance of leaving you outside. Certainly, we’ll open the ancestral hall, inform the ancestors, and bring you back to the family.”
“As for Laosan, he was never of Gu Family blood. Although he’s innocent, he enjoyed decades of wealth in the Gu Family in your place. That’s compensation enough! Just cast him out from the Gu Family; henceforth, he and Gu Family will have no ties!”
“Moreover, what outsiders think of the Gu Family is irrelevant. If Gu Family fears outsiders’ opinions to the extent of not recognizing its own bloodline, how can it stand firm?”
Gu Changqing’s determination showed he’d considered it all.
Yang Zongbao’s tightly held stance eased as he turned to look at Old Lady Gu.
The old lady was already a weeping figure, not daring to disturb the conversation between the two, biting her kerchief, crying breathlessly.
Seeing Yang Zongbao look over, joy beamed in her eyes as she tentatively reached out towards him.
Yang Zongbao took a deep breath, kneeled with a thud, and crawled before Old Lady Gu, “Son greets his mother!”
With these words, Old Lady Gu was heartbroken, hugging Yang Zongbao, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word.
Everyone in the room shed a silent tear or two.
Even someone as composed as Gu Changqing couldn’t help but feel his eyes moistening.