Chapter 807: Uncle Gong Also Thinks So

Han Huaiming's shout startled his wife, who jerked her hand holding the thermos, spilling hot water directly onto the hand supporting the teacup.

She hissed sharply, drawing everyone's attention.

The eldest daughter-in-law immediately stood up: "Mom, are you okay?"

Tian Sui Nian waved his hand quickly: "I'm fine, I'm fine—just a little burn. I'll soak my hand in cold water. You take the tea to your father."

Han Hongtao, shocked that his actions had injured his mother, dared not speak further: "Mom, you..."

Tian Sui Nian waved again: "I'm fine. Stay there and listen to your father. My hand's fine—I'll be right over."

Han Huaiming now had no interest in his wife's burn; he took the teacup, sipped, and used it to mask his inner agitation.

He set down the cup, and Tian Sui Nian walked over at the same time.

Seeing everyone gathered, Han Huaiming had finally prepared himself mentally: "You all know I went to Beijing again a few days ago—my true origins have been exposed. I'm not Xiao's son, nor am I Han's grandson."

The people in the room were all stunned: "What?"

The youngest son, Han Hongtao, couldn't hold back: "Dad, did you get it wrong? Even if you're not Xiao's son, how can you not be Han's grandson either?"

Han Huaiming didn't hide it—Liu's side had already approached him; the truth couldn't be concealed, so he laid it all out.

After he finished recounting the events, not even the younger generation, but even his wife Tian Sui Nian, was left speechless.

After a long silence, Tian Sui Nian finally spoke: "What did your uncle say?"

Han Huaiming said gravely: "Return what must be returned. Compensate what must be compensated."

At that moment, the family's only daughter, Han Hongshan, cried out shrilly: "Dad, you were just a child back then—what does this have to do with you?"

Han Huaiming replied coldly: "The Xiao family isn't ordinary. If I try to play games, one phone call from them can strip me of everything—and you don't want this exposed, do you?"

The eldest son, level-headed, asked: "How much are we supposed to pay? Has it already been settled?"

Han Huaiming nodded and recited the compensation terms proposed by the Xiao family; the room fell into icy silence.

The eldest son, Han Hongwei, spoke with difficulty: "Did Uncle Gong also say this?"

Han Huaiming sighed softly: "What could he say? Even if he doesn't hate me, he probably doesn't want to see me—after all, his own nephew was swapped by your grandparents. I understand."

The eldest daughter-in-law, Bai Siqin, looked grim: "If we have to return this house, where will we live?"

Han Huaiming sighed: "I've already submitted a housing application to my unit, but housing is tight—there may be no news for a while. I'm thinking of renting this place for now."

Han Hongshan, growing frantic, spoke again: "Dad, if we pay according to their terms, won't our family be ruined? How will I get married?"

She was already engaged, waiting only for her wedding in two months; if this upheaval left her without a dowry, how could she ever hold her head high after marrying in?

Han Huaiming heard his daughter's words: "You've been working for nearly two years and haven't contributed a single cent to this household—surely you can afford to prepare your own respectable dowry?"

Han Hongshan's first instinct was to glance at her sister-in-law, Bai Siqin—she knew her brother and sister-in-law had been paying household expenses.

Sure enough, Bai Siqin's face turned grim.