502 Time Passes

Qiao An begged sincerely, “Uncle Xiao, Joey is already so old. The most demanding period for raising the children has passed. It’s within my ability to take care of the three of them now. So you don’t have to consider my situation and feelings.”

“I think we should respect the child’s well-being more and choose a way forward that the child can accept. We can’t traumatize the child.”

Grandma Xiao said, “An’an is right. There’s no hurry to acknowledge this child. Let my Xiao Ming and Joey cultivate their relationship first. When their relationship is strong, the child will naturally get closer.”

Qiao An looked at Grandma Xiao. “Joey overheard your conversation with Brother Xiao Ming yesterday. She already knows that she’s not my biological daughter. She cried for a long time last night and is extremely insecure when she sleeps at night. She has to sleep next to me.”

“I’m afraid she won’t get close to you for the time being. I hope you can be extremely patient and fight a long battle with her.”

When Grandma Xiao heard this, she felt very guilty. “Sigh, it’s all my fault. I didn’t keep my mouth shut and allowed the child to hear it.”

Qiao An said to Xiao Ming again, “Brother Xiao Ming, I have something to tell you.”

“An’an, tell me.”

Qiao An was silent for a moment. “Brother Xiao Ming, I think you’re still young. You’ll definitely remarry in the future. You’ll have your own children in the future. Can your new wife accept Joey openly?”

These words really touched the hearts of the elders of the Xiao family.

Grandma Xiao said, “That’s right. Ming’er is not old and will get married.” Her focus was on urging him to get married.

Xiao Ming said, “An’an, I have no intention of remarrying at the moment.”

Qiao An said anxiously, “I mean, if you remarry in the future, you’ll have other children. If the stepmother can’t treat Joey equally with her own children, why don’t you… leave Joey to me?”

“I’ll raise her. I’ll tell her you’re her biological father. I’ll let her get close to you.”

Xiao Ming was stunned.

Xiao Ming was touched by Qiao An’s intentions.

He could tell. Qian An loved Joey very much.

Xiao Ming was moved. “Qiao An, decide what to do with Joey. Whether you wish to let her acknowledge her family or let her return to the Xiao family is up to you.”

Grandma Xiao was a little melancholic. “Are you sure?”

Uncle Xiao made the final decision. “I support Xiao Ming’s point. I’m relieved that Joey is with Qiao An and will be nurtured by her. Anyway, Xiao Ming will definitely get married again and have children. It’s not good for Joey’s mental health to have a stepmother and stepsiblings.”

Xiao Ming didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Who said I was getting married?”

Qiao An interrupted. “Then it’s decided.”

After Qiao An bade farewell to the Xiao family, the elders of the Xiao family attacked Xiao Ming together. “Xiao Ming, you’re not young anymore. You should consider your marriage. Marriage is not a tradition of the Xiao family.”

Xiao Ming looked gloomily in the direction Qiao An had left.

Grandma Xiao looked at Xiao Ming as if she had an epiphany. She whispered to Xiao Ming, “Xiao Ming, do you have someone you like?”

Xiao Ming was stunned. After a long time, he shook his head.

However, it dawned on Grandma Xiao that Qiao An was beautiful, courageous, and loyal and Xiao Ming had always liked such girls. He and Qiao An would make a good couple. And they were the best choice for Joey.

However, Qiao An had yet to recover from the grief of losing Xiaoran. It was really inappropriate to mention this now. Grandma Xiao decided to wait for a while before mentioning it.

Who would have thought that as time went by, Qiao An still couldn’t walk out of the shadow of Xiaoran’s departure, four years after the fact?

However, Qiao An was no longer the person who could do whatever she wanted with her husband’s love. Instead, she was forced to pivot to the business world and take over Huo Xiaoran’s Angel Group as the CEO. As for the reason, it was complicated and difficult to elaborate on.

During this period, an extremely serious epidemic appeared in the northwest. As the successor of the medical group at the reins, Qiao An followed Huo Xiaoran’s philosophy of serving the public and urged the staff to move the medicine and supplies into the car. She wanted to personally send them there.

After her brother, Qiao He, and sister-in-law, Xiao Yue, found out about Qiao An’s actions, they strongly requested to follow her because of their sincerity.

Qiao An refused at first. “Qiao He, Xiao Yue, you can’t fool around with me. My children are under Brother Xiao Ming’s care and Ki Ki and Angel are already able to live independently. But your baby is still so young. If both of you leave her side, wouldn’t the child miss you?”

Xiao Yue pouted and complained to Qiao An, “Sister, it’s not like you don’t know. Someone has a throne at home and makes a fuss about giving birth to a son every day. He doesn’t care about his daughter at all.”

Qiao He looked aggrieved. “Honey, how can you say that about me? Yes, I admit that I want a son, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like my daughter. Look, when you were pregnant and in confinement. I took care of you and my daughter personally, right? Before my daughter was a year old, I changed her diapers. You don’t even know how to do that.”

Qiao He wanted a son and never hid his thoughts. However, Qiao He was also a good husband and father. This was an undeniable fact. It was because Qiao He could dote on his wife and daughter that his preference for boys was not criticized. In fact, everyone at home was speaking up for Qiao He, in getting Xiao Yue to fulfill Qiao He’s wish.

Only Qiao An condemned Qiao He. “Qiao He, you have to remove your preference for boys. Have you forgotten? The Lu family was ruined because the old lady favored boys over girls. Aren’t you going to learn your lesson?”

Qiao He said, “Sister, how can you compare me to that old woman? She only loves her son. I will love my daughter and my son. I just want a son and a daughter to get along. Besides, it would be so lively at home, right?”

Qiao An said, “Your Xiaoqiao is also three years old. She’s a petty person and can understand human language. If you want a son in the future, she’ll think you despise her. So just think about it and don’t say it.”

In the end, Qiao An couldn’t dissuade Qiao He and Xiao Yue and agreed to let them follow her to the desolate place.

The car drove on the highway for three days and three nights before turning onto the mountain road that spiraled up.

When it was dark, they stopped in front of a mud house.

A dim light hung under the eaves of the mud house. There was a good flat area ahead. Many volunteers were handing out supplies.

Qiao An looked at the rugged mountain road and secretly guessed that not many brave men would drive in since the volunteers were not familiar with the mountain road. The villagers in the mountain must be even more scarce. She said, “Qiao He, let’s drive in.”

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