Chapter 34
Heeding her request, Jiang Yeqian asked where the stationery was. Madam Wu scanned Qi Qingyao’s straw hut, finding nothing. She had Qi Yuancheng borrow a set from the village chief, who got the materials back in fewer than ten minutes. Jiang Yeqian wrote quickly. The agreement was finished within a matter of minutes. As he wrote, Madam Wu chittered beside him, urging him to do a better job.
1
After Jiang Yeqian was finished, Old Man Qi stuck his head in. “Are you done?”
Jiang Yeqian handed it to Old Man Qi for a look. Old Man Qi did not know many words, so he tossed the sheet of paper to Madam Wu. Madam Wu did not know many words either, so she handed it to Qi Yuancheng. Qi Yuancheng had gone to school for a few days, so he knew a handful of words. He stammered through the agreement for a while. The brothers taught one another how to pronounce some of the more difficult words before they could read out the whole agreement in one go.
“From today onward, Qi Boli and Qi Qingyao are formally no longer father and daughter. It is hoped that all grudges are cleared and all hatred is forgotten.”
Qi Qingyao examined his handwriting. It was neat, but at the same time had a style of his own. It was indeed the handwriting of an educated man. In her perspective, she felt his writing could be exhibited in museums and perhaps even sold for millions.
2
The agreement was done, but that was far from enough to seal the deal.
There were no signatures yet.
Qi Qingyao could not ask Old Man Qi for his signature if she wanted to keep up her ruse. She reacted quickly, cradling the agreement in her arms and sobbing, “Daddy, no! I’m still your daughter! I will never sign this agreement, never! Please don’t sign it either!”
She hugged the sheet of paper tightly, as if she did not want anyone to take it from her.
Seeing that, Madam Wu seized the agreement from her arms immediately and flung it toward Old Man Qi.
“Old man, quickly sign it!”
1
Despite being mostly illiterate, Old Man Qi still knew how to write his own name. He wrote it down in crooked handwriting, leaving a thumbprint by it as well.
Satisfied, Madam Wu handed the agreement to Qi Qingyao.
She pressured Qi Qingyao, worried she would not sign it, “It’s your turn. Draw a cross now.”
She knew the girl did not know how to write, so she asked her to draw a cross instead of signing her name.
Qi Qingyao clutched the sheet of paper tightly and refused to draw anything.
“I won’t. I won’t! I was born as a member of the Qi family, and I will die as one too!”
She appeared to be so faithful and loyal, as if she really wanted to be tied to the Qi family for all her life.
Old Man Qi was so furious he roared, “You won’t be my daughter anymore after this! You won’t even have the right to be buried in the family graveyard with the rest of us!”
Qi Qingyao sat on the ground, looking hurt. She asked, through tears, “Dad… why are you so heartless? I’m your blood daughter! A few days before you went to pray to the gods for me, and last night you sent my brothers to see if I was harmed by those evil thieves. Now, you want to break off all relations with me? Why is my life so hard? Why!”
Qi Qingyao had a pretty face, so her crying was a sight that inspired pity in others. For one second, Old Man Qi felt sympathetic.
Qi Qingyao observed the hint of sympathy in his eyes, and with that knew that she had overdone it.
If that was so, she better deliver the final blow, and make it a fatal one at that.
Determined, she clambered forward and latched herself onto Old Man Qi’s leg, sobbing for mercy, “Dad, I’m hugging your leg so you can’t leave! You will be my dad for my entire life! I only want you, Dad! Daaaaaaadddd…”
2
Madam Wu was so furious, she urged Qi Yuancheng and Qi Yuanxiu forward. They seized Qi Qingyao’s hand and forced her to draw a cross on the agreement. Madam Wu bellowed without mercy, “As we’ve broken off all relations, we’ll leave now!”