The Fu Haiyang family, after being escorted out by security, did not head home. They didn't even stray far from the residential compound. Instead, they found a nearby park and stopped, sitting down to begin their internal discussion.
"This darn girl's heart is completely wild now. Our previous plan probably won't work. How about we change the plan and just tie her up and drag her back?" Fu Haiyang said impatiently as soon as they sat down. He was used to being the final say at home. Discovering that his previously disobedient daughter, who had run away, dared to speak to him and treat him this way had infuriated him. His explosive temper was understandable.
"Dad, I don't think that's a good idea. The security guards in this compound seem quite diligent, and Fifth Sister doesn't look like she'll willingly be tied up and taken back. She'll probably make a scene, and it wouldn't be good if we alert the police," Fu Daya argued. She wasn't ignorant of the law and certainly had her own opinions. While she was willing to help, she certainly didn't want to get herself into trouble. Thus, she could only try to persuade him.
"Alright, alright. I called you sisters here not to pour cold water on our ideas, but to help brainstorm. So, what do you think we should do now? How did this darn girl become like this? It's all the fault of that compulsory education they insisted on implementing. Before compulsory education, when girls couldn't even recognize a single character, which of them dared to be so bold, run away from home, refuse to return, and even lay hands on or use weapons against their parents! It's truly outrageous, damnable!" Miao Cuihua waved her hand impatiently, complaining. Her mood was terrible. What she thought would be a simple task had suddenly encountered so many obstacles, which was difficult for her to accept.
However, the family didn't dwell on mutual recriminations or self-pity for long. After a brief murmuring session, they quickly began discussing their next steps: how to get Ding Yun married off and how to secure her house before the wedding. They didn't expect any filial support from such a girl in their old age. Their priority was to secure what they could now to facilitate a decent wedding for their son. They could worry about other things later.
To ensure their objectives were met, they devised three plans. The first plan was to cause a scene. If successful, that would be best; if not, it would at least tarnish her reputation. The second plan was coercion, using self-harm as parents to pressure her into compliance. If the first two plans failed, they would reluctantly move to the third, which involved finding an opportunity to abduct Ding Yun when she was alone. Once at home, she would be at their mercy. They could simply claim it was a family matter to outsiders.
Meanwhile, on Ding Yun's side, less than an hour after she had finished giving instructions to the junior AI, she successfully received all the information it had gathered online. The AI had also organized it chronologically. Ding Yun then proceeded to examine it carefully. She had always assumed her birth parents had only recently found her. However, after reviewing the information collected by the junior AI, she realized she had underestimated her birth parents' malice and cunning.
There was a record from eight years ago:
Fu Erniu: [Mom, haven't we found Fifth Sister's specific whereabouts? Why haven't you made any moves yet? Do you need us to help or what?]
Miao Cuihua: [What's the rush? I just found out she used all her money to buy a house and is now so poor she can't even afford renovation. If I go to her now, should I ask her for money or support her! Let's leave it for now. She won't spend money anyway, and she's saving it all. As long as she doesn't get married, there's no need to hurry. Jinghong is still young!]
Fu Erniu: [Mom, Fifth Sister has a house now. Why would a girl need a house? You should go over quickly and find a way to get that house and put it under Junior Brother Jinghong's name. That way, when Junior Brother is older and gets married, he'll have a place. I say, some things should be secured. Don't end up with nothing.]
Miao Cuihua: [What do you know? That darn girl didn't buy the house outright. She bought it with a mortgage, and it costs five to six thousand yuan to repay each month. Are you going to pay the mortgage if I take the house? You all have no ambition. If each of you sisters could earn eight to nine thousand, or even ten thousand yuan a month, I wouldn't have to worry about your brother. If each of you contributed a house for him, he wouldn't have to worry about his life. Let's wait for now; no need to rush. Let that darn girl pay off the mortgage for a few more years.]
Fu Erniu: [Mom, don't be so confident. Fifth Sister earns a lot, but she hasn't given you a penny. I give you five hundred yuan every month. If you say that, it's really disheartening.]
Miao Cuihua: [She hasn't given me her money, but can that girl escape my grasp? And you, you only give me five hundred yuan a month and you have the nerve to say that? Five hundred yuan is enough for what?]
Fu Erniu: [No matter what, I've given it. Besides, I don't work. I'm at home taking care of the child now. This five hundred yuan is what I've squeezed from the household expenses. If you think it's too little, you don't have to take it!]
Miao Cuihua: [Hmph, refuse? You wish! When I married you and your eldest sister off, I felt like I was losing money. If I had married you off a few years later, the betrothal gifts would have at least increased by fifty to eighty thousand. For seventy to eighty thousand yuan, you took away my two virgins. They really got off cheap. Let me tell you, you'll have to rely entirely on your brother for support in the future. If you don't treat him well now, do you think he'll care about you later? If you don't have a maternal family, no matter how much you're wronged, you'll have nowhere to cry!]
This was one conversation.
Another conversation took place two to three months ago:
Fu Sannian: [Mom, Big Sister asked me to tell you something a while ago, but I forgot. Big Sister said the factory where Fifth Sister works went bankrupt a while ago, and Fifth Sister is now unemployed. She might not even be able to afford her mortgage. She asked you to prepare early. I forgot about this. What should we do about this matter?]
Miao Cuihua: [What? You can forget something this important? Why don't you forget your brain? Da Ya is also... Why didn't she tell me such an important matter herself? Tell me carefully. Never mind, if I ask you, you probably won't know much. I'd better ask Da Ya directly.]
Miao Cuihua: [Da Ya, what's going on with Lai Di? What's the current situation?]
Fu Daya: [Didn't Third Sister tell you?]
[Lai Di has been busy looking for a job since she became unemployed a while ago. She's also been busy with blind dates and such. I don't know if she wants someone to share the mortgage or what, but she hasn't succeeded. She's been staying at home recently, and I don't know what she's up to. However, I feel like she doesn't have much money and won't be able to hold on for much longer. So, if you want that house, you should act soon. It will be difficult to handle if Fifth Sister defaults.]
Miao Cuihua: [What a failure, unable to even pay her mortgage. I originally planned to look for her after your brother found a fiancée and was getting married, but I didn't expect her to give up so soon. Keep an eye on her for me first. If there's any slightest movement, notify me in advance. Let's drag it out as long as possible. Every extra month can save five to six thousand yuan!]
Fu Daya: [Understood!]
About half a month later, Fu Daya informed her mother that Fifth Sister seemed to have resolved the situation. However, more than a month later, their only treasure, their healthy son Fu Jinghong, suddenly returned with his girlfriend, announcing their impending marriage and demanding fifty thousand yuan for the betrothal gifts, as well as a new house and a wedding car. Fu Jinghong also stated he would marry no one but her.
It was precisely for this reason that Miao Cuihua rushed to find Ding Yun, intending to acquire Ding Yun's house. Although she had bought the house with a mortgage, she had already paid it for many years. Coupled with the fact that the house Ding Yun had bought in recent years had appreciated threefold, the money left after selling it and paying off the loan would easily be enough to buy a house in their hometown, perhaps with some surplus to cover a significant portion of the betrothal gifts. Combined with their family's savings, it would be more than enough. Furthermore, if they married off Ding Yun, they could accumulate more money for their old age.
Therefore, their visit was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but a premeditated plan. They had delayed their arrival only to let Ding Yun pay off her mortgage for a few more years, thus saving them some money. If Ding Yun hadn't bought a house and only had savings, they would likely have come much earlier to find a way to take her savings and marry her off as well.