Chapter 39: The Bad Dad Is Here?
Ling Zhiyu was stunned, then gave a dry laugh.
"Heh heh, y-yes... you’re right. This little girl, she’s really a treasure."
He scratched his head, a newfound admiration in his eyes.
The two families had been getting along quite warmly lately.
Even the neighbors would greet each other with smiles when they met.
The atmosphere in the entire courtyard was much more pleasant than before.
But Cao Daqiang’s home was the sole exception, its doors and windows shut tight all day, suffocatingly stuffy.
Ever since he heard Ling Anxun had moved in, Cao Daqiang had been on pins and needles, unable to sit still.
He was constantly afraid that Yang Dapeng would use his powerful connections to secretly trip him up.
But after waiting for so long, the other side hadn’t made a peep.
Cao Daqiang sneered inwardly.
’That Yang Dapeng is such a blockhead.’
’He’s holding a great hand but doesn’t even know how to play it. A complete waste.’
’I didn’t want to start trouble, but you’re just not capable of seizing opportunities. Since you don’t dare to make a move, don’t blame me for striking first.’
The more he thought about it, the more smug he felt, thinking Yang Dapeng was a total pushover.
So he immediately began to work behind the scenes.
He pulled strings and called in favors, plotting to get his hands on the deputy battalion commander position.
His wife, Liu Yingzi, also played her part.
With sweet talk and tireless legs, she went from one leader’s home to the next, carrying gifts of cigarettes and liquor.
The two were determined to seize this opportunity and turn the tables.
But their efforts weren’t smooth, and a few sharp-eyed people noticed.
Soon after, whispers and discussions began to spread quietly through the family residential area.
This kind of scheming was the biggest taboo in the family compound.
One person told ten, and ten told a hundred. In less than two days, everyone in the entire area knew.
When Ding Qin heard about it, she mentioned it casually to Ling Anxun.
She was organizing the groceries she had just bought at the time.
"I just heard from Aunt Zhou next door that Cao Daqiang was wandering around our front door again, and he was even carrying something."
After speaking, she glanced up at Ling Anxun.
Seeing his brow furrow slightly, she didn’t say anything more.
After all, that was Shanshan’s biological father, so Ling Anxun still had some impression of him.
But recalling how he had tried to pass off his other daughter as Shanshan last time, Ling Anxun had absolutely no favorable impression of the man.
Later, when Cao Daqiang showed up at the door with a gift box, the guard blocked his way without a second word.
"Mr. Ling said he is not seeing visitors. Please leave."
He also sent him away with a message.
"Captain Cao, instead of wasting your energy on these crooked schemes, you’d be better off going back and running a few more laps to work on your physical fitness."
"Win against your comrades in the next competition, then we can talk."
These words made Cao Daqiang extremely embarrassed, but he still had to force a smile.
"Yes, yes, you’re right."
He scurried away in disgrace, only to run right into Yang Dapeng, who was just about to leave his house.
Cao Daqiang’s eyes darkened, anger and resentment churning inside him.
"What? Your family is acting so high and mighty? Tripping people up behind their backs while pretending to be magnanimous?"
He was sure this couple was the one who had spread the news about his gift-giving.
Even the guard had a ready retort for him; it was obvious someone had tipped him off beforehand.
And in the family compound, who else would dare to disrespect him so openly besides Yang Dapeng’s family?
"Everyone says you, Yang Dapeng, are an upright man who never plays dirty."
He sneered.
"From what I see, some people hide their true nature very well, acting like good people to your face while stabbing you in the back."
Before Yang Dapeng could even speak, Zhang Yunhua, who was behind him, exploded.
Her eyes widened, and her voice shot up an octave.
"Who are you talking about? Watch your mouth!"
This woman, normally gentle and kind, was anything but a coward when trouble arose.
Especially when someone bullied her man, she was ready to raise the roof.
"Who the hell do you think you are, Cao Daqiang? You can’t win over the Ling family, so you come to bite us? If you’ve got the guts, go take it up with Mr. Ling!"
She advanced on him, smacking a spatula against her palm with a sharp "WHACK, WHACK."
"My Dapeng has always been an honest man. Who are you to stand here and point fingers?"
Cao Daqiang had intended to intimidate Yang Dapeng, using the situation as a pretext to vent his frustrations.
But he never expected Zhang Yunhua to completely ignore the usual rules of engagement and start cursing him out immediately.
Inside, Shanshan, who had been waiting for her meal, heard the commotion outside and dashed out on her little short legs.
’Is Bad Daddy here?’
’No way!’
But Shanshan didn’t understand yet that while Zhang Yunhua was gentle with her own family, she was the kind of person who could curse out an enemy so badly they wouldn’t sleep for three days.
Cao Daqiang already had a guilty conscience, and now Zhang Yunhua had him cornered, interrogating him with one question after another.
He tried to explain, but the moment he opened his mouth, Zhang Yunhua cut him off.
"What’s there to explain? Feeling guilty, are we?"
After just a few sentences, he panicked and quickly waved his hands in dismissal.
"Enough, enough! A real man doesn’t argue with a woman!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he turned to slip away.
But he had only taken one step when a thunderous shout erupted from behind him.
"Hey, hey, hey, Captain Cao, don’t you go anywhere!"
How could Zhang Yunhua let him get away so easily?
She grabbed her husband and shoved him directly in front of Cao Daqiang.
"You won’t argue with me? Fine, let’s have you explain it clearly to my husband, Dapeng!"
"Who exactly were you insulting with those veiled remarks?"
She was determined to get an explanation today.
Who could stand being subjected to these passive-aggressive comments day after day?
They were implying, both openly and secretly, that Shanshan was a burden to the family, but what had Shanshan ever done wrong?
Didn’t they scrimp and save on her food and clothes?
She was so sensible that she would even hide under the covers to cry.
How could a child like that become someone else’s punching bag?
"I can’t afford to offend you, but can’t I at least avoid you? You two have a powerful backer now, so you can stand up nice and straight. It’s all our fault, is that it?"
Cao Daqiang’s tone was sharp, a cold sneer playing on his lips.
After saying his piece, he tried to turn and leave.
At these words, even the usually good-tempered Yang Dapeng couldn’t hold back anymore.
He lunged forward and grabbed Cao Daqiang’s arm, refusing to let him go.
Shanshan happened to run over at that very moment and saw the scene.
Cao Daqiang tried to shake off Yang Dapeng’s hand, and she thought he was about to hit him.
She tensed her small body and rushed forward.
"Bad Daddy! Don’t you hit Uncle!"
She was tiny, but her strength was shocking.
With a powerful slam, she sent Cao Daqiang stumbling back until his back hit the courtyard wall with a THUD.
"You little brat! You’re not even grown up, and you’re already siding with outsiders!"
He glared at his own daughter standing before him.
She was staring at him furiously, her small hand tightly gripping the corner of Yang Dapeng’s shirt.
Her eyes were crystal clear, yet filled with stubbornness and defensiveness.
That look made his heart sink.
’I’m her biological father, and she calls me ’Bad Daddy’ every day. How could I not know what she thinks?’
He knew she resented him, but this attitude right now...
’It’s just too much!’
A jumble of thoughts flashed through his mind, but he didn’t want to stay a moment longer.
Because he knew that once *that* person appeared, he wouldn’t be able to maintain his tough facade.
From the neighboring yard, the CREAK of a wheelchair could already be heard.
Every sound grated on his nerves, making his scalp tingle.
He had met Ling Anxun.
The man could tell something was off with a single glance.
Even sitting in a wheelchair, his sharp, imposing aura was suffocating.
He just wanted to get away quickly.
But Zhang Yunhua didn’t give him the slightest chance.
She stood behind Yang Dapeng, her chest heaving violently.
Years of grievance and resentment erupted completely at this moment.
"Cao Daqiang, you have the nerve to say Shanshan has no conscience? Your own conscience was eaten by a dog long ago, wasn’t it?"
"Where was your conscience when you abandoned your wife and daughter? And now you turn around and blame the child? Are you even worthy!"