Lucky Golden Dragon in the 80s: My Dad? I Switched Him for a Better One novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: A Debt Must Be Repaid Sooner or Later

As he stared, Shanshan seemed to sense it, raising her head in a daze and blinking.

In that instant, Cao Daqiang’s heart clenched painfully.

’Before that girl showed up, everything was fine. The position was practically mine.’

He gritted his teeth, the words practically squeezed from the depths of his throat.

That had been the smoothest period of his life.

Everyone said Cao Daqiang was reliable, hardworking, and handled matters with a steady hand—the most suitable candidate for the position.

’And now look. Yang Dapeng is all recovered and even earned some merit. Who the position will go to is anyone’s guess now.’

"What?"

Liu Yingzi’s anxiety flared.

Her eyes flew wide, and her hand involuntarily clenched the hem of her clothes.

This position meant a higher salary, greater power, and the chance to be promoted to a cadre position in the future.

She and her husband had been planning this for years, scrimping and saving to curry favor with their superiors, always putting on a show of enthusiasm. After all their hard work to get to this point, how could they let someone snatch it away out of nowhere?

At the thought, the color drained from her face, and her lips began to tremble.

"That girl can’t stay. We have to find a way to get rid of her, and fast!"

As she spoke, she unconsciously took a step back.

The more she thought, the more nervous she became, pulling Cao Daqiang back a few steps.

The pair kept their voices hushed.

Onlookers only saw them huddled together, murmuring, but couldn’t make out the words.

But seeing them back away, people assumed they were tacitly agreeing with what Yang Dapeng had said.

A few neighbors they were friendly with gathered around, their faces wreathed in sincere smiles as they offered words of congratulations.

"You two never had children. This is wonderful! Dapeng is healthy again, and having a child in the house will liven things up."

Old Guo patted Yang Dapeng’s shoulder and said in a gentle tone.

"You’ll have someone to bring you your bowl at mealtimes, someone to call you ’Dad’ when you leave the house, and the home will feel warmer. That’s what a family is all about."

"That’s right, isn’t it, Yun Hua? Weren’t you always envious of my daughter? Now you’re a mother, too. You can finally stop just wistfully watching other people’s kids."

Aunt Wu chimed in, taking Zhang Yunhua’s hand and sighing emotionally.

"You’re so right! I have my own daughter now!"

Zhang Yunhua was grinning from ear to ear, the flesh on her cheeks quivering with joy.

She swept Shanshan into her arms and gave her two big kisses.

Shanshan was naturally thin and hadn’t been eating well, so her face was gaunt.

Having lived under someone else’s roof for years, she was often short on food and clothing. Poor nutrition had left her a head shorter than other children her age.

But as she was hugged and kissed, her cheeks were squeezed into chubby curves, making her look all the more endearing.

Seeing the warm atmosphere, Cao Daqiang only grew more panicked.

"This is bad, Yingzi. We absolutely cannot let this child stay. We have to send her back!"

Liu Yingzi had never seen her husband lose his composure like this. A shiver of fear ran down her spine, but she nodded anyway.

"Okay, Daqiang, don’t panic. We’ll figure something out together. We can’t let her ruin things for us!"

She would go along with it, no matter what it took.

Their family’s future could not afford a single misstep.

"Yang Dapeng! That child isn’t yours!"

"Captain Cao, that’s completely unreasonable! You said it yourself back then—that this child had nothing to do with you. Now you come running back? Yun Hua and Yang Dapeng are adopting a poor, helpless child. How is that any of your business?"

"Exactly, Captain Cao. You have to have a conscience. It’s not like you don’t know that Yang Dapeng’s always been frail. He coughs all year and struggles just to work. And Yun Hua, there’s been no... news... for years. What’s wrong with them adopting a child to have someone to rely on in the future? Do you want them to be lonely their whole lives?"

"I know. Auntie loves me the most, more than anyone! I’m not going anywhere. I just want to stay with Auntie and Uncle."

A woman watching from the side saw the atmosphere ease a little, and she chimed in with a smile.

"Well now, little Shanshan, tell us the truth. Do you want to go back with... you-know-who?"

Shanshan shook her head so hard it looked like a blur.

"I don’t want to! He’s a bad daddy! He’s the one who didn’t want me first! I don’t accept him! Mama, Grandpa, and Grandma said I’m a good baby, not a jinx!"

"I want Auntie and Uncle! I don’t want the bad daddy!"

Cao Daqiang’s expression turned grim.

"What does a child like you understand?"

He put on a stern face, trying to project the authority of a family patriarch.

"We adults are run off our feet—working, supporting the family, paying for a house, raising children. None of it is easy. But since you’re family, I can’t just ignore you. I’ll make arrangements to have you sent back and properly settled in!"

Shanshan didn’t speak again.

’She had heard every single word that Cao Daqiang and Liu Yingzi had said earlier.’

’Since you’re afraid I’ll affect your luck, afraid I’ll bring you trouble, then I’ll just grant your wish.’

’Why should my mom, grandpa, and grandma have to suffer?’

’And look at him. Not only is he living comfortably, but he gets to start a new family, marry a new wife, and have new children.’

’This is too unfair!’

’Even Heaven is unfair, always making honest people suffer.’

’A debt owed must be repaid sooner or later.’

Shanshan quietly clenched her small fists, her fingertips turning slightly cold.

’I haven’t used today’s Spell yet. I might as well use it on him.’