Chapter 653: Chapter 562: Part 2

After some analysis, Tang Qingshan hypothesized that Ai Baoguo had likely been instigated by someone to come and act as their trailblazer.

In itself, it wasn’t a malicious incident. After all, every family hosts celebratory banquets. People who showed up uninvited for a drink were usually just hoping to build a connection with the Tang family for future favors. But if Ai Baoguo had really been incited to act as someone else’s weapon and cause such a commotion, then that was completely out of line.

Even if he intended to come, he should have given them a heads-up. As he himself knew, even if Ai Wenli disowned him, he was still her biological father. The Tang family would have shown him proper respect on such a joyous occasion. But instead, he acted unpredictably, catching the Tang family completely off guard and nearly ruining the wonderful banquet.

Ai Wenli was so furious she could have spit blood. The babies’ maternal grandmother fainted from rage, and Ai Wenli’s aunts and cousins rolled up their sleeves, ready to go have it out with that so-called "grandfather." It took a great deal of effort for Tang Qingshan to calm everyone down and mediate.

Xiao Man had been unable to attend her two little brothers’ full moon banquet, so she eagerly asked about it when she returned, wanting to hear about the festivities. She quickly discovered that Ai Wenli didn’t want to talk about it. Only Grandma Tang and Grandma would prattle on, and from them, Xiao Man pieced together the general events. She understood then that the banquet had left a dark shadow on Ai Wenli’s heart.

It was no wonder Ai Wenli was against holding a large hundred-day celebration for the babies. Anyone who went through something like that would find it repulsive and would never want a repeat performance.

Ai Wenli had privately told Xiao Man some things about her side of the family. Her mother, Hao Hueling, was also very fond of Xiao Man and they always found things to talk about. However, mother and daughter were alike in one respect: they mostly discussed matters of the Hao Family and rarely mentioned Ai Baoguo. When they absolutely had to, they would just refer to him as "that old man" and leave it at that.

Perhaps they felt the trauma Xiao Man had endured in her childhood was already profound enough; there was no need to burden her further with the Ai Family’s sordid affairs.

Xiao Man only learned the truth of Ai Baoguo’s actions from Ai Wenli’s cousins. Shocked, she couldn’t help but quietly ask Mr. Tang about it, who confirmed that Ai Baoguo, the veteran cadre, was indeed a scumbag of the highest order—even worse than the Tang Qingyun and Wu Xiaowen from her past life.

In the old days, the Hao Family were wealthy, major landowners around Jianglu. Their land holdings were said to be immeasurably vast. Hao Hueling’s father, Old Mr. Hao, was a modern thinker. After returning from studying abroad, he was determined to revitalize Huaxia’s industry. As he knew nothing about agriculture, he sold off or gave away the family’s farmland to relatives and friends after his father and grandfather passed away. He then focused entirely on developing his enterprises in major cities like Sea City and Beijing. Before long, he had established numerous new industries, and his wealth continued to accumulate. Old Mr. Hao and his wife struggled to have children, managing to have only two daughters. The younger of the two was frail and sickly from a young age, and even had a near-death experience. Terrified of losing her, Old Mr. Hao cast aside his skepticism and heeded the advice of a fortune-teller, entrusting the girl to an ordinary farming family to be raised. Strangely, she eventually grew up strong and healthy. Having been adopted by a farming family, she spent her childhood in a remote village.

As the apple of her parents’ eye, enjoying their undivided affection, Hao Hueling’s early life was undoubtedly blissful. But that bliss came to an abrupt end when she was eighteen. The new China and new society had arrived—a joyous occasion worth celebrating. As a university student, Hao Hueling eagerly participated in all sorts of activities. She sang and danced with her classmates to welcome the People’s Army into the city. At eighteen, she was vibrant, beautiful, and dazzling. As the endless, orderly ranks of soldiers marched by, they received her smiles and well-wishes, leaving only admiring glances behind as they moved on without a second thought. But one man was different. Ai Baoguo, claiming it was love at first sight, locked her image deep in his heart. He pursued her relentlessly and, in the end, won the fair lady’s hand.

At the time, very few people knew that Ai Baoguo was the last person who should have had his sights set on an unmarried young woman.

When they married, Ai Baoguo was already thirty. His explanation to his new wife and parents-in-law was, "For the past ten years, I’ve been completely devoted to my work and career, so I haven’t had time to consider my personal life!"

After their wedding, the couple’s life was sweet and harmonious. They had two lovely children, a son and a daughter. Ai Wenli originally had an older brother who was said to have been diligent and studious. In fact, it was his influence that turned Ai Wenli into a top student. Unfortunately, he passed away prematurely.

Hao Hueling was too young and overlooked many crucial details, which is how she ended up being deceived.

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