Chapter 1: The Fake Daughter

Summer, 1975.

On the wall of the Capital Military District compound, the Chairman's quote was written: "There are no difficult things in the world, as long as one is willing to climb."

In the family housing area, on the second floor of the Su family's small building, the fair-skinned and beautiful Su Qingyue lay in a coma, her brows tightly furrowed.

Su Qianqian sat by the bed, making no attempt to hide the jealousy in her eyes. She gritted her teeth at the stunning face on the bed, "Su Qingyue, how will you pay back the seventeen years you owe me!"

She pinched Su Qingyue's chin hard, and with her other hand, she reached under the quilt to viciously pinch Su Qingyue's thigh, using all her strength.

"Ah!"

Su Qingyue arched her body in pain, waking up with a start, her brows still furrowed.

Su Qianqian was startled, but immediately adjusted her expression into a gentle and kind look, "Qingyue, you're finally awake. Hurry and take your pain medication."

Su Qingyue rubbed her head. The moment she thought of how she had fallen and gotten injured, her face immediately turned cold, "Leave the medicine there, and please get out!"

Su Qianqian sneered and slammed the water cup down with a *bang*.

"Su Qingyue, you fell at my homecoming banquet and made the Su family lose all face. I haven't even settled the score with you, and you're giving me attitude?!"

After saying this, she turned and left immediately, the sound of her small leather shoes on the wooden floor sharp and hurried.

In Su Qianqian's eyes, so what if this fake daughter was as beautiful as a fairy? She was still as stupid as a pig and easy to manipulate.

She, Su Qianqian, was the true daughter of the Su family, and sooner or later, she would take back everything that belonged to her!

Tomorrow, when she went out, she would ruin Su Qingyue's reputation.

Once she lost her purity, let's see how she could still marry into the Shen family!

A month ago, the Su family had recognized their true daughter, Su Qianqian, and the whole family had wept with joy, doting on her to the extreme.

Because Su Qingyue felt a huge sense of guilt for "occupying the magpie's nest," she had intended to return to the countryside, but her departure was blocked by a flash flood.

Su Weixin and Song Qingyan, along with their two sons, all persuaded her to wait until the roads to the countryside were clear. The whole family still treated her as they always had, so Su Qingyue settled down with peace of mind.

Su Qingyue knew Su Qianqian had suffered a lot, so she tried her best to let Su Qianqian have the best in food and clothing, taught her dining etiquette, bought her various skincare products, and taught her how to ride a bicycle, doing everything she could to make it up to Su Qianqian.

At first, Su Qianqian was easy to get along with, but she didn't know when that had changed.

Su Qingyue had clearly given her a brand-new dress, but the one Su Qianqian opened in public was a tattered rag.

Su Qingyue gave her snow cream, but Su Qianqian broke out in pimples after using it.

Su Qingyue brought books and asked if Su Qianqian wanted to study cultural subjects, but rumors spread throughout the military compound that she was mocking Su Qianqian for being uneducated.

Last weekend was Su Qianqian's homecoming banquet. Su Qingyue intended to keep a low profile and had prepared a white shirt and black trousers in advance.

But Su Qianqian had taken the initiative to find her, "Those outsiders are just jealous of our family's harmony. Don't listen to those rumors, sister."

"For the homecoming banquet, I want us to wear the same clothes so they can all see how harmonious we are, and those rumors will fall apart on their own."

As she spoke, she handed over an exquisite and beautiful red dress, looking at Su Qingyue with pleading eyes.

The elders of the Su family had always demanded that the Su children have upright character. Listening to Su Qianqian's sweet words, Su Qingyue finally agreed, hoping to dispel the rumors of discord between the sisters.

But when she appeared in the dress, she saw Su Qianqian wearing a simple white dress. Su Qingyue, like all the guests, widened her eyes, her mind full of confusion.

The next second, a great force came from behind, and Su Qingyue fell down the stairs, looking a mess.

The guests were in an uproar. Su Weixin and Song Qingyan's faces sank on the spot, and the household was in chaos.

This incident further solidified the rumors that the Staff Officer's fake daughter was jealous of the true daughter.

And so, Su Qingyue lay in bed for a week. Su Weixin held a grudge against her and never came to visit once.

Even if Su Qingyue was slow to react, she realized that all of this was Su Qianqian's doing.

Su Qingyue was not as ignorant and innocent as she appeared to the outside world. She had grown up in the capital, after all, and had seen plenty of the twists and turns of the upper-class circles; she just couldn't be bothered to participate.

Su Qingyue was worldly-wise but not cynical. She was about to return to the countryside, but she hadn't expected Su Qianqian to be so excessive, framing her time and time again!

Looking at the bruises on the inside of her arms and thighs, her apologies and guilt toward Su Qianqian vanished completely.

Su Qingyue angrily applied ointment. She had never admitted to the previous incidents, but Su Qianqian always played the victim.

The family just assumed it was Su Qingyue's doing, and even her two brothers, who had doted on her since she was small, began to look at her with unkind eyes.

*Hmph*, if that's the case, then she might as well play along. Did they really think she was a cat just because the tiger hadn't bared its claws?!

Su Qingyue finished tidying up and stood at the top of the stairs, looking at the extremely harmonious scene of the family of five downstairs, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

In the large living room, Su Qianqian was talking about her recent studies, and Su Weixin wore a rare, loving expression, "Qianqian is intelligent; she learns things so quickly."

Song Qingyan also held Su Qianqian's hand, "Tomorrow, Mom will take you to buy a few more outfits and hire a dance teacher for you. How about that?"

Su Qianqian nodded obediently, "Thank you, Mom."

Su Chen handed over a stack of money and coupons, "Qianqian, these are Phoenix-brand bicycle coupons and ten 'Great Unity' bills. When you have time, Big Brother will take you to buy a bicycle."

Su Yuan also scrambled to speak, "Qianqian, these are the pastry coupons and popsicle coupons Second Brother has saved up. Buy whatever you like!"

Su Qianqian used a cloyingly sweet voice to feign reproach, "Big Brother, Second Brother, you already gave me a watch and a radio, why are you giving me gifts again~"

Su Chen laughed heartily, "Who else would I give them to if not my sister?"

Su Qianqian's eyes curved into crescents. Suddenly, she saw Su Qingyue coming downstairs, her eyes full of triumph, "Qingyue, you're awake! Are you feeling better? We were all so worried about you."

She stood up to take Su Qingyue's hand, "Come and have some fruit. Let's go shopping tomorrow."

Su Qingyue pulled her hand away unobtrusively. She faced the living room and bowed deeply to everyone, her voice trembling: "Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother, I have brought shame to the Su family, I am sorry!"

"During this time, I was so scared. I was scared that now that Sister is back, you wouldn't like me anymore. So, I... I did a lot of stupid things. I am sorry for the upbringing you gave me."

The air went quiet, and everyone looked at each other.

After Su Qingyue finished speaking, she knelt down. Her delicate nose was red, and her peach-blossom eyes were filled with tears. Having been bedridden for days, the bruises from her fall had not yet faded. She looked like a jasmine flower in a storm—broken and beautiful.

Su Yuan loved this sister the most, "We don't blame you. Don't be so willful in the future."

Su Chen also smiled, "That's right, you are still our sister." After saying this, he realized something and quickly added, "Qianqian and Qingyue are both our sisters."

Song Qingyan loved both equally; one was her biological daughter, and the other was a foster daughter she had raised for seventeen years. She tried her best to be fair, "Silly girl, get up quickly. Your brother is right; you and Qianqian are both Mom and Dad's good daughters. You sisters must live in harmony from now on."

Su Qingyue stood up and broke into a tearful smile, her eyes dark and bright. She turned to face Su Qianqian.

"Finally, I must apologize to Sister. Qianqian, I'm sorry. The previous times, it was my ignorance that caused you embarrassment."

"This is a dress Mom bought for me before; I haven't worn it once. It will fit Sister's figure perfectly. I'm giving it to you."

"I hope you can forgive me."

She bowed again, bending her waist to ninety degrees, holding the clothes in both hands as she offered them to Su Qianqian.

Su Qianqian felt like she was going to claw her own palms raw. Why should she forgive this fake? She had stolen seventeen years of her life, and she thought she could dismiss her with an apology and a dress?

But no matter how much she hated Su Qingyue in her heart, she would always put on a sensible and obedient act on the surface.

Su Qianqian hurriedly took the dress and helped Su Qingyue up, a perfectly timed smile on her face.

"Sister, I have never blamed you. If I have to blame anyone, I only blame my own bad luck."

"When I was little, I actually had a very happy time at my foster father's house in the countryside. The whole family treated me very well."

"Every time we weeded, Father would give me the flattest land, and during the autumn harvest, my brothers would help me cut the wheat."

"The family often didn't have enough to eat. One winter, my little sister and I were so hungry that we secretly roasted sweet potatoes in the field, but Father found us. He didn't even hit me!"

"When we got home, he even cooked egg custard for me. That was the first time I had ever eaten egg custard."

"It was really so fragrant..."

Before Su Qianqian could finish speaking, Song Qingyan pulled her into her arms, "Qianqian, it is Mom and Dad who have failed you. Child, you have suffered!"

Song Qingyan's voice was choked with sobs, and tears streamed down her face. Su Qianqian gently patted her mother's back, feigning strength with a tearful voice, "Mom, I really feel very happy. I don't feel wronged at all."

As she spoke, two lines of tears flowed down like a broken dam.

Both brothers had red eyes. Su Chen sat on the left, handing over tissues, while Su Yuan on the right told jokes to make them laugh.

Su Weixin immediately instructed the nanny in front of everyone, "Chen Yi, from now on, make a separate bowl of egg custard for Su Qianqian at every meal, and make it in different ways."

"And Qingyue, it is good that you know your mistakes and can correct them. Your mother is right; you are both daughters of the Su family."

He glanced at his two daughters, his tone shifting, "But Su Qianqian is the Su family's biological daughter, and I will not allow anyone to bully her!"

Su Qingyue felt a chill in her heart and nodded obediently.

Her eyes met Su Qianqian's, and the other girl curled the corners of her lips, her eyes full of mockery. ===== CHAPTER 2 =====