Chapter 141: The Child Who Took the Fall for the Master (Arc End)

Xie Hui had just taken a sip of tea to calm his nerves when he heard Xie Hong’s words, causing him to choke and cough.

After he finished coughing, he looked down at Xie Hong’s worried expression and asked seriously, “What happened to that girl afterward?”

“Ah, Dad, be careful when you’re drinking tea,” Xie Hong replied, thinking back on the situation before answering, “Well, I was just following the Young Master around and had a couple of meals. I only saw that girl twice, both times at banquets. Whenever I glanced at her out of boredom, her eyes were twitching. It seems her condition is quite severe.”

If Xie Hong had any extra money of his own, he would definitely hire a doctor for her. However, the money he had was given by his father, and he couldn’t bring himself to spend it frivolously.

“Ah, Dad, you say the girl has that condition, why doesn’t her family get her checked out?”

Xie Hong sighed helplessly, grabbing another pastry to munch on. Since it had snowed heavily on his way back, and he was worried about not making it home before the New Year, he had been surviving on dry rations. Now, his mouth felt bland.

Seeing his son like this, Xie Hui felt a sense of helplessness too. It seemed the boy hadn’t yet matured, so there was no rush to discuss these matters with him.

If he truly had a girl he liked, Xie Hui wouldn’t stand in the way. He had already prepared the betrothal gifts for his son’s future marriage. But seeing how Xie Hong interpreted the girl’s possible interest as her having an untreated condition, it was better to let him focus on his studies for now.

Before the next Imperial Examination, Xie Hong locked himself in the study every day. If it weren’t for Xie Hui reminding him, the boy might have forgotten to eat altogether.

Heaven did not disappoint the diligent scholar. This time, with thorough preparation, Xie Hong successfully became a Juren. As he continued to climb the ranks, he didn’t hold out much hope for the palace exams, so he wasn’t disappointed by the results.

He didn’t stay in the Capital City but was assigned as a County Magistrate in a remote area.

After the official appointment came through, Xie Hui personally visited Nanny Song to explain his resignation as steward, packed his things, and accompanied his son to the new location.

On the journey, sitting in the carriage, Xie Hong couldn’t help but speak up, “Dad, that remote place can’t compare to the bustling Capital City. You’re not young anymore, why not stay in the Capital City?”

“Compared to family, prosperity is secondary.”

Reflecting on his father’s words, Xie Hong realized the truth in them. If he had to choose, nothing was more important than having family by his side.

Xie Hui understood clearly that in this world, their family was of ordinary status. They had no significant background, and his son wasn’t exceptionally gifted. Being a County Magistrate was a stable position, but advancing further would be difficult.

Moreover, in such places, if there were truly many troublesome people, he could help his son deal with them.

Upon arrival, on his first day in office, Xie Hong donned his official robes and discovered that the reality was not as rumored. The local customs were simple, and there were rarely any incidents requiring the County Magistrate’s intervention.

At twenty-one, Xie Hong finally met a woman he admired, a daughter from an ordinary family. After marrying her, they soon had a child. Living in this small county, with his wife, child, and father by his side, life felt complete.

Xie Hong had no grand ambitions. The repetitive daily life might seem dull to others, but he found it peaceful.

Xie Hui, this time, lived peacefully in this picturesque small county until the end of his days.

Upon returning to the system space, the Entruster was still there, eagerly approaching Xie Hui.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known that the children of the Xie family were so capable, achieving scholarly honors and becoming a County Magistrate. It’s like a blessing for the Xie family!”

In the eyes of ordinary people, becoming a County Magistrate was a significant achievement.

The elderly man felt that witnessing his son don the County Magistrate’s robes was more satisfying than seeing the white-eyed wolf who starved him in his past life beheaded.

After sending off the Entruster, the system exchanged the mission rewards for merit and casually mentioned to the Host, “Host, the next mission’s target might be a bit complex. Would you like to meet the mission requester first?”

Xie Hui was in a good state now. Perhaps due to the societal environment, Xie Hong was quite close to him when he was young, but as he grew older, the distance widened, and respect took precedence. There wasn’t much reluctance when leaving.

He didn’t need the time with the mission requester to adjust his state, but after hearing the system’s words, he nodded.

“Let’s meet.”

The man who walked in was dressed in a suit, wearing a watch on his wrist, and even his cufflinks were exquisite. Clearly, he was someone who valued quality of life, and his family conditions seemed quite good. However, there was a hint of worry and weariness on his face.

“I heard this mission is somewhat complicated?”

Before coming here, the man had already familiarized himself with the rules, nodded lightly, and began to explain in detail.

“Yes, I hope you can help save my child.”

A clichéd case of switched-at-birth, but not melodramatic, purely due to a staff mistake at the time.

Two girls were switched, one growing up in a poor, male-preference family, the other treated like a little princess.

There were no incidents of fighting over a man, nor any forbidden love with a brother.

However, it had caused the Entruster enough concern to turn his hair half-white by forty.

“My biological daughter grew up in that family, which was male-preference and had poor living conditions. Initially, she had her mother to protect her, but later, her mother was pushed down the stairs and died due to domestic violence by her father.”

“The father went to prison, and she was sent to live with her grandmother, who disliked her, blaming my daughter’s mother for her son’s imprisonment…”

A child growing up in such a family barely completed compulsory education before working for two years, only to discover the truth about being switched at birth.

When he brought the child home, she was like a little hedgehog covered in spikes, viewing everyone with hostility. Her temperament was extremely bad, finding pleasure in seeing those who cared about her suffer.

“I felt really guilty at the time, and it was indeed my negligence that led to her unfortunate life. Others said she had a bad temper and character, but I never thought so. In my heart, she was my precious daughter…”

Hearing this, Xie Hui already had a rough guess. It was probably about helping him raise his daughter, to start over and avoid the tragedy of being switched.

It seemed similar to the previous Entruster’s wish.

However, what was so complicated about it? Xie Hui suspected the system was pulling his leg.

The Entruster in front of him began to lose his composure. Xie Hui patiently waited for him to calm down, acting as a quiet listener.

“And my adopted daughter… I know my thoughts are wrong, but I raised her for over ten years. The feelings from those years make it hard to let go.”

“After discovering the switch, I sent her abroad with her consent, ensuring they wouldn’t meet.”

“I know that for my biological daughter, the existence of that child is like a thorn in her heart. No one can remain indifferent to the ‘thief’ who stole over ten years of their peaceful life.”

Xie Hui rarely encountered someone with such a clear understanding of this point. Most people hoped the two sisters could coexist harmoniously, even thinking that anyone who couldn’t accept it was not magnanimous enough.

“My adopted daughter never appeared in front of her, yet she still felt tormented by the traces my adopted daughter left at home.”

“The swing in the backyard, the paintings on the walls, the toys stored in the room, and the flowers my adopted daughter loved. Each one would cause her to break down emotionally when she saw them.”

“After I moved, she seemed to worsen and refused to see a psychologist. Every day, her first question to me was whether I moved to prevent her from destroying my adopted daughter’s traces.”

“No, I just wanted her to be a little happier.”

By this point, the man’s eyes were red. He truly had no solution for the situation, feeling that no matter what he did, it was wrong in the eyes of that child.

He wanted desperately to make amends, but no matter what he did, the child would always sarcastically ask if he had treated his other daughter the same way.

“I’m very sad. I don’t know how to change things. She grew up in such a repressive environment, and I think it has affected her mentally.”

“Back then, I wanted to spoil my daughter and make her the happiest little princess in the world. I broke my promise; it’s my fault for not following through.”

“But I really don’t want her to turn out like this. This isn’t her way of punishing me. In fact, just seeing her is punishment enough.”

“She’s punishing me by reopening her own wounds. It hurts me, but she’s the one who suffers more.”

Xie Hui didn’t know how to comfort him. It was clear that the man in front of him was on the verge of an emotional breakdown.

“Please help me. I don’t want to see her become like this. I don’t care how I’m punished.”

“I heard you can go back to a time when none of this happened. If that’s possible…”

“I hope my adopted daughter can be well too.”

Both sides of the hand are flesh; it hurts him no matter which is injured. His adopted daughter had passed away abroad at the age of twenty-one due to an accident.

Xie Hui looked up and met his tearful gaze, nodding gently.

“Alright.”

(Arc End)