The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 569 - 540: Asylum, Name Change

Chapter 569: Chapter 540: Asylum, Name Change

Huo Yingqi covered her face, weeping bitterly. She truly regretted her actions.

When she saw her grandparents and parents being taken away, she felt regret.

Later, she discovered that the materials Zhou Yuanyuan gave her were not evidence of the Zhou Family’s downfall, but a trap leading to the Huo Family’s ruin. How foolish she had been to help Zhou Yuanyuan and harm her own family.

"Mom, I was wrong, I really was wrong," Huo Yingqi knelt on the ground, continuously repenting.

However, her repentance couldn’t even obtain her mother Song Chunli’s forgiveness, let alone anyone else’s.

Old Master Huo looked sternly at Huo Yingqi and said, "Yingqi, I’ve told you so many times before, but you wouldn’t listen, warning you not to be willful, not to be foolish. But what did you do? You acted recklessly, and the Huo Family almost came to complete ruin because of you. Do you think you still have the right to be a descendant of the Huo Family?"

"I..." Huo Yingqi had no response, for indeed she lacked the qualifications.

"Now you have two choices," Old Master Huo said icily. "First, enter the asylum and never leave for the rest of your life."

Huo Yingqi trembled with fear, shivering uncontrollably.

Such a place could turn even sane people mad.

Although the punishment Old Master Huo proposed was severe, no one spoke up, not even Song Chunli, who had a brush with death and harbored deep resentment toward her daughter Yingqi.

If she defended Huo Yingqi now, she suspected that the old master would immediately cast her out as well.

Moreover, she had no desire whatsoever to defend her foolish daughter.

"Second, I will send you to the south, never to return," Old Master Huo continued. "From now on, do not claim to be a member of the Huo Family, because as of today, I hereby declare Huo Yingqi to be dead."

Huo Yingqi was greatly shocked, deeply realizing that her family would never forgive her.

Having been through such an upheaval, Huo Yingqi came to understand some things and knew that the second option was, in fact, the best outcome for her.

"Thank you, Grandfather, for giving me a way to live," Huo Yingqi kowtowed, then kowtowed to the others. "From now on, Yingqi will no longer be able to fulfill her filial duties before her grandparents, father, and mother."

Old Master Huo instructed someone nearby, "Change her name and send her away!"

"Yes!" A Huo Family confidant approached Huo Yingqi and said, "Let’s go!"

Huo Yingqi stood up, repeatedly looking back at her father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law, but not a single one tried to keep her.

As for her second uncle’s family, they outright ignored her, not giving her so much as a glance.

She might as well leave; staying would only bring the disdain of others. Better to live a proper life in an unknown place than to be sent to an asylum.

Once Huo Yingqi had vanished from the doorway, Song Chunli could no longer hold back her emotions and turned to go upstairs. Although she was disgusted with Huo Yingqi, after all, she was the child she had carried for ten months.

Song Chunli went upstairs, and nobody followed her.

Huo Zheqian only seemed a bit sad, without much grief. He had given up on this daughter and had lost all hope for her.

Old Master Huo and Old Madam Huo were feeling down and dispirited, and once again, Huo Yingqi had stirred them up.

The nanny served everyone tea, and Jiang Lifang helped Zhao Huanhuan to sit down, speaking softly, "Dad, Mom, this time the Huo Family has faced a great disaster, but it’s not without gains. For one, we’ve seen who our true friends are; and secondly, you are about to welcome a great-granddaughter and a great-grandson."

Old Master Huo and Old Madam Huo were taken aback, then turned to look at the pale-faced Zhao Huanhuan and asked, "Huanhuan, is that so?"

Zhao Huanhuan nodded, "I didn’t get a chance to say anything before because it was too early, and then the family ran into trouble. Fortunately, the child has been very good, and it’s already been three months."

"Good, good!" Old Master Huo said repeatedly, "In the future, regardless of whether the child is a boy or a girl, we must raise them well and not spoil them too much."

Old Madam Huo wiped away her tears and said, "I’ll call the doctor right away to check on you, and let’s prepare some good food to nourish you. You’ve had a hard time these past days."

"It’s not been hard, and thankfully everything has passed," Zhao Huanhuan said with a light laugh, feeling the warmth from her husband Huo Yingjun’s palm beside her.

Because Zhao Huanhuan was pregnant, the somber atmosphere of the Huo Family was alleviated with a hint of laughter.

Old Madam Huo and Jiang Lifang kept Zhao Huanhuan company with conversation.

Old Master Huo took his two sons and grandson to the study to discuss the recent events.

Because he was worried He Tiantian was anxious, Huo Yingjie sent a telegram with just six words to her, "Danger passed, do not worry."

In the study, Old Master Huo scanned his sons and grandson for a while before sighing, "Ah, finally, everyone’s back. Tell me, Zhekun, Yingjie, how did you manage this situation?"

The father and son had already agreed on their story beforehand, hiding the fact that Huo Yingjie had a person skilled in witchcraft at his disposal; they communicated everything else. The three generations of the family were moved, sighing heavily as they listened.

"They say adversity reveals true friends, and this time we truly saw them," Huo Zheqian said with a wry smile. "Fortunately, most were just looking on, and only a few kicked us while we were down."

"Indeed!" Old Master Huo nodded, "It’s not a grudge if they don’t help us; after all, the Huo Family’s affairs are too sensitive. If it was someone else in a similar situation, even if we usually had a good relationship, I wouldn’t help either."

It is normal for people to undermine each other and kick someone when they’re down.

There are few who render aid in a crisis, and many who seek to share in the glory.

"The Zheng Family is going to suffer this time," Old Master Huo said. "We can’t add fuel to the fire ourselves, but all of you remember, once there’s a chance, take the Zheng Family down without mercy."

Old Master Huo saw clearly that as long as those people stood, the Zheng Family would always be their lapdogs.

Even when beating a dog, one must watch the owner!

"Yes, Father," Huo Zheqian replied. "This time, they initiated a conspiracy against us, which the Huo Family smashed. Even if the Zheng Family doesn’t fall this time, they will surely be dealt a heavy blow and never recover. In the future, dealing with them will not be difficult."

"As for those who’ve kicked us when we were down... hmph, remember them as well. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," Old Master Huo said. "Anyone who owes the Huo Family must pay us back."

"Yes!" the four men responded in unison.

"This time, we owe much to Zhekun and Yingjie," Old Master Huo said, turning to Huo Zheqian and Huo Yingjun. "At a time when everyone distanced themselves from us, only your second uncle, second brother, and second aunt were running around on our behalf. This proves that family ties are unbreakable, even if bones may snap. I’m old and won’t live much longer; I only hope that you can all stand together and support each other."

"Father, I understand. If it weren’t for second brother, Yingjie, and my little sister-in-law, we would truly have been in a desperate situation," said Huo Zheqian, whose wife’s family, the Song Family, and his son’s in-laws, the Zhao Family, did not step forward to help.