Chapter 557: Chapter 531: Tricks and Probes

Xiao Qian found this logic a bit strange.

Generally speaking, if someone were to argue and curse, they would say that both children were not biological, or that the second child was not biological. Why would Da Long accuse himself?

Jia Xiufang has an extremely conservative personality and certainly couldn’t have an affair. Second Aunt’s words were a bit strange.

Xiao Qian pondered for a few seconds and dismissed her conjecture.

Although she hardly wanted anything to do with Chen Lin, considering her mother’s conservative personality and her own birth, Trash Dad was her biological father.

It was the shrew who spoke nonsense during an argument, and it was hateful that the shrew caused her mother to be so angry after the surgery. Xiao Qian felt there was no problem with her decision to drive away the Second Aunt’s family.

Xiao Qian accompanied Jia Xiufang for a while and conducted a psychotherapy session to help her mother divert her emotions. Under Xiao Qian’s skilled guidance, Jia Xiufang’s anger dissipated, and she soon fell asleep.

Xiao Qian tucked her mother in, and when Father Liao returned, his shoulder was wrapped in a sling.

“Xiao Qian, can I have a chat with you alone?” Father Liao asked gently.

Xiao Qian glanced at his injured shoulder and then at her sleeping mother before nodding.

“Let’s talk outside.”

There was a coffee shop near the hospital, and five minutes later, Xiao Qian and Father Liao were sitting face to face.

Xiao Qian was not in a hurry, as Mother Yu was helping to take care of her mother.

“What do you want to drink?” Father Liao handed the drink menu to Xiao Qian.

“ConPanna.”

“A ConPanna and an ice water, thank you.” Father Liao said to the waiter.

In Xiao Qian’s eyes, he was a low-key, well-mannered man with a conservative charm and the dignified air of a senior judge. She could sense his approachable demeanor from his slightly ingratiating gaze while facing her.

This was the outcome Xiao Qian had hoped for, but she still needed to hear what Father Liao would say before making a decision.

Objectively judging Father Liao, he indeed possessed the five virtues a judge should have: loyalty, morality, ability, truthfulness, and integrity.

A man who would spare nothing to take care of his sick wife indeed had the foundation of a successful life. However, even the best conditions wouldn’t matter if he didn’t care for her mother. Although his attentive care for Jia Xiufang moved Xiao Qian, she wanted to listen to what the old man had to say before making a judgment.

“I carefully thought about it after that night, and I felt that I should have a chat with you alone,” Father Liao said gently to Xiao Qian.

“What about? Are you going to talk about Director Liao’s fascination with my mom?”

Not expecting such a direct question from Xiao Qian, Father Liao was momentarily stunned before he replied,

“Yes, about your mother and me. I can see that you don’t approve of our relationship.”

“My mom is just an ordinary housewife with little education and not much skill in scheming. She can’t even lie. She’s like ninety percent of the housewives you see on the streets; her virtues and flaws reflect the common middle-aged woman. I wonder what Director Liao sees in my mom.”

“Would you not love her because she is ordinary?” Father Liao’s question hit Xiao Qian.

Xiao Qian mentally scoffed. People who study law are adept at precisely detecting the crux of a problem. Although Father Liao seemed gentle, he was very principled.

“I’m her daughter; my feelings for her are, of course, unconditional. Her outstanding or not doesn’t matter, which is different from romantic relationships where two people need to have common ground to attract each other. I don’t think my mom and you would have that common ground.”

“Your mother likes to go to the third stall in the wet market west of the city. At least twice a week, she fries fish for your little brother, but she doesn’t like it herself. She always hesitates about what to do with the oil used for frying fish. Your brother doesn’t like dishes cooked with fish-fried oil, so she prepares two portions – the good one for him and the fishy one for herself. She can’t bear to throw it away. She recently signed up for driving school and computer training classes—”

“My mom signed up for driving school?! And computer classes?!”

Xiao Qian didn’t know about these things, as Jia Xiufang was usually very talkative and didn’t hide anything from her.

Xiao Qian thought she knew everything about her family, but she never expected her mom to keep so much from her.

“She’s been learning for almost a month now. People our age take time to accept new things, so I accompany her to class every day. I asked her why she wanted to learn, and she said she’d heard it would let her chat face-to-face with you. She was afraid that if she couldn’t learn it, you would laugh at her, so she secretly learned.”

Hearing about her mother’s secret activities from someone else, Xiao Qian felt a complicated mix of emotions.

“She has always been hard-working, afraid she won’t be able to keep up with your pace. To her, you and your brother are the best children, especially you. She gets excited every time she talks about you. She once told me that you’re so independent that she doesn’t know what to give you, and she feels a little guilty. Now she’s raising you and your brother all by herself and is afraid she won’t be able to take good care of you. So I suggested she learn computers so she can see you whenever she wants, no matter how far away you are. You know, it’s particularly challenging for our age group to learn these things, but she persisted.”

If it weren’t for the waiter bringing the coffee, Xiao Qian felt she might have been reduced to tears by someone she hardly knew. She had to calm her emotions; she was here to deal with Father Liao, not the other way around.

She bowed her head to control her emotions and stared at the two hearts drawn in whipped cream on her coffee.

“Are you trying to say that I’m not a good daughter and that I haven’t paid enough attention to my mother, and you want to remind me to visit her more often?”

Instead of being angry at Xiao Qian’s sharp question, Father Liao just smiled slightly.

“Not at all, you’re a good child. Just as your mother described you, you’re tough on the outside but soft on the inside and care deeply for your family. Your opposition to the relationship between your mother and me is because you care about her too much. But it’s not your fault; I haven’t spent enough time with you. I believe in sincerity and hope you can give me more chances to understand each other.”

Xiao Qian adjusted her glasses, feeling that she had underestimated Father Liao. It was no wonder he was the president of the court, his logic and reasoning were impeccable.

The fact that a president of a court made such a request showed that he was sincere. Xiao Qian felt that she could let this matter go, but she didn’t want to make it too easy for the old man before doing so.

Making it too easy would mean taking it for granted.

“Thank you, Director Liao, for your reminder. It’s true that my attention to my mother has been insufficient. I will pay more attention to her in the future. I won’t interfere with her freedom of friendship; you can talk directly to her about anything.” Xiao Qian stood up, ready to leave.

“Do you care that my job is insecure? The things you just said were all just pleasantries. In your heart, your mother is the best mother in the world. She deserves better men, and I’m obviously not qualified enough. Is that what you mean?”