The beloved but ungrateful girl is reborn: This time she has truly changed.

"Little Li"... no, now we should call him Ling Heping.

Ling Heping burst into laughter, his voice hearty and smug, as if he had successfully pulled off a prank.

He turned to look at Qi Weiwei, a mischievous glint in his eyes:

"We're even now, Weiwei. You hit me when we were kids, so I'm just joking with you now. You don't mind, do you?"

So, he was Ling Heping!

The young man who ran out covered in sweat was the real Xiao Li!

Qi Weiwei paused for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.

Since her rebirth, from the despair of learning the truth to the ruthlessness of revenge, to the reluctance to leave home, and the anxiety along the way... this is the first time she has truly laughed heartily.

The laughter was crisp and clear, tinged with a hint of helplessness, but mostly with a sense of relief.

Grandpa Ling realized what was happening, immediately put on a stern face, and scolded:

"You little rascal! You secretly drove the car away without saying a word!"

Little Li was sweating profusely with anxiety!

I was so worried. If we didn't get back together, how could Weiwei walk all that way?

You have absolutely no sense of propriety!

Ling Heping scratched his head and bowed deeply to Qi Weiwei: "I'm so sorry, Weiwei. I just wanted to see you sooner; it's been so many years!"

His apology was sincere, his eyes were clear, and there was not a trace of mockery in them.

Qi Weiwei stopped laughing and became serious, bowing deeply to Ling Heping: "It's alright, Brother Heping. I should be the one apologizing. I was too willful and immature when I was little."

She looked up at Ling Heping: "Thank you for saving Douzi back then, preventing me from causing a major disaster. And... thank you for not holding a grudge."

The atmosphere became somewhat heavy for a moment.

Ling Heping looked at Qi Weiwei, at this "little sister" who was fierce when she was young but is now apologizing earnestly, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

He smiled, breaking the silence:

"Okay, okay, we're even. If you say anything more, you'll start crying, won't you?"

He reached out, intending to ruffle her hair like he did when they were little, but halfway up, he hesitated, then withdrew his hand, simply smiling and saying, "Come inside quickly, Grandpa has prepared a delicious meal for you, let's eat!"

Qi Weiwei nodded and followed Grandpa Ling into the courtyard.

The yard wasn't big, but it was very tidy.

The main house has three rooms, and there are two rooms each in the east and west wing rooms.

A cotton curtain hangs at the entrance to the main house. Lifting the curtain and stepping inside, a wave of warmth washes over you.

The stove was burning inside, making it very warm.

The square table in the living room was already full of dishes, steaming hot and smelling delicious.

It is indeed a specialty dish of Shandong Province.

Braised sea cucumber with scallions, glossy and reddish-brown;

Nine-turn large intestine, with a reddish-brown color;

Sweet and sour carp, with its tail curled up, its aroma wafts straight into your nostrils;

There was also a large bowl of mutton soup, with a milky white broth and chopped cilantro sprinkled on top.

There were also a few side dishes on the side: cold jellyfish salad, stir-fried shredded potatoes, cucumber with minced garlic, and a dish of pickles.

That's a feast!

"Come, come, sit down!" Grandpa Ling invited everyone to sit down. "Weiwei, Zhuangzhuang, don't be shy, make yourselves at home!"

Qi Weiwei never expected to receive such a warm welcome.

Grandpa Ling sat in the main seat, Ling Heping sat next to him, Qi Zhuangzhuang sat on the other side, and Qi Weiwei sat opposite Ling Heping.

At Grandpa Ling's invitation, Xiao Li sat down and smiled somewhat shyly, "I guess I benefited from this."

Grandpa Ling first placed a piece of sea cucumber on Qi Weiwei's plate: "Weiwei, try this, it's a specialty of Shandong Province."

Ling Heping also picked up a piece of meat from the belly of the carp, removed all the bones, and put it in her bowl: "This is delicious, not fishy at all."

Qi Zhuangzhuang then served her a bowl of mutton soup: "Drink the soup first, it will warm you up."

Her rice bowl was soon piled high with rice.

She had already eaten dumplings in the car and couldn't eat much more, but this meal was just too delicious!

The sea cucumber is soft and chewy, the large intestine is fatty but not greasy, the carp is fresh and sweet and sour, and the mutton soup is delicious and warming...

She ate in small bites, feeling a warm glow inside.

After finishing their meal, Xiao Li and the nanny, Sister Chen, cleaned up the dishes.

Grandpa Ling stood up: "Weiwei, Zhuangzhuang, come to the study and have a cup of tea."

The study is in the east room of the main house.

Very elegant.

Along the wall is a row of bookshelves, filled with books.

There is a desk in front of the window, covered with a felt mat, and with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones laid out.

There was also a small kang (heated brick bed) against the wall, with a mat on it and a small table on it.

Grandpa Ling sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed), and Sister Chen brought over the tea set and brewed a pot of tea.

The tea is jasmine tea, with a wonderfully fragrant aroma.

Ling Heping poured tea for everyone, then sat down next to his grandfather.

With a cup of tea in hand, the aroma of tea wafts through the air.

The room was quiet, with only the occasional crackling sound of coal burning in the stove.

Grandpa Ling picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, took a sip, and then looked at Qi Weiwei with gentle but concerned eyes:

"Weiwei, your dad was in a hurry on the phone, and I didn't quite understand. What exactly is the purpose of your trip to Shandong Province? If you need Grandpa Ling's help, just say so."

Qi Weiwei put down her teacup and sat up straight.

She took a deep breath, looked at Grandpa Ling, then at Ling Heping, and finally her gaze fell on the tea leaves floating in the teacup.

"Grandpa Ling, Brother Heping," she said, her voice soft but clear, "I came to Shandong Province this time to find my two daughters."

As soon as he finished speaking, the study fell silent.

The fire crackled and popped.

Grandpa Ling and Ling Heping were both stunned, and Qi Zhuangzhuang also put down his teacup.

"A daughter?" Grandpa Ling frowned slightly. "Weiwei, you...you didn't...you had two sons, did you? I'm not mistaken, am I? Old Qi mentioned it several times in his letters, I can't be wrong!!"

Qi Weiwei raised her head and looked at Grandpa Ling. Her eyes held pain and hatred, but even more so, determination.

"Grandpa Ling," she said, emphasizing each word, "I did give birth to two daughters. But they were switched."

She began to tell her story.

She started by talking about how Tang Tiantian, her "cousin," moved into her house six years ago, how she targeted her in every way, and how they "coincidentally" became pregnant and gave birth at the same time twice.

She talked about how Tang Aijun was cold to her and how he always sided with Tang Tiantian.

She talked about how she discovered the "guarantee" and how she overheard Tang Aijun and Tang Tiantian talking about the two children being switched.

Speaking of her two daughters being sent to the countryside in Shandong Province, Tang Tiantian's hometown.

She talked about her decision to divorce and to find her daughter.

She spoke slowly and calmly, but every word was like a knife, cutting into the hearts of the listeners.

Grandpa Ling's face grew increasingly grim, and he slammed the teacup on the kang table with a "bang," splashing tea everywhere.

Ling Heping clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

Qi Zhuangzhuang lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"...So, Grandpa Ling," Qi Weiwei said finally, her voice a little hoarse, "I need your help."