Father 03

"What are you trying to do!" Old Man Fang finally couldn't hold back anymore and demanded sharply.

Fang Zhiyi said lazily, "That matter you all proposed before, I think it's actually doable."

"Huh?" This out-of-the-blue statement left the group a bit bewildered. The first to react was Liu Wenxia: "Brother-in-law, do you mean the matter of adopting this wret... adopting Zhaodi to provide for you in your old age?"

Her eyes gleamed as she spoke.

Fang Zhiyi nodded. "No problem. Just state your conditions."

Liu Wenxia's expression instantly brightened. "What are you saying? We are family. You are Mingshan's biological older brother, Xiaoqi has to call you uncle, and this, this Zhaodi also calls you uncle. Hehe, you..."

Fang Zhiyi frowned. "How much money."

Liu Wenxia glanced at her parents-in-law, pulled Fang Zhiyi outside, and shot a meaningful look at Fang Mingshan along the way.

"What's all this about money? She is my biological daughter, a piece of flesh fallen from my own body..."

"I get it, you need me to add more money, right?"

Liu Wenxia was stunned by his bluntness. She fidgeted for a long time before saying, "Look, she is willing to work and is obedient. When she marries in the future, she can bring in a lot of bride price. It has to be at least this amount..."

Fang Zhiyi looked at the gesture she made. "Ten bucks?"

"Brother-in-law sure knows how to joke. A hundred thousand."

Fang Zhiyi nodded. "Easy."

In that instant, Liu Wenxia felt she had asked for too little. She immediately changed her tune, "Since we aren't outsiders, I'll just say what's on my mind. We raised this child to be this big... Brother-in-law, where are you going?"

"If the deal can't be made, I'm leaving."

Liu Wenxia stomped her foot. "Fine!"

Fang Zhiyi stopped and slowly turned around. "We will go handle the procedures this afternoon. Notarization, transferring the household registration, not a single thing can be missing."

"Look at you, we are all family. A word spoken is a nail driven. Why must we... Don't go! We'll do it!"

Fang Zhaodi never expected that she wouldn't be beaten today. Instead, her mother's face was full of smiles. It wasn't until her mother told her to pack her things and leave with her uncle that Fang Zhaodi felt a bit afraid. She rarely saw her uncle. She heard from others that her uncle was just a drunkard who locked himself in his room all day.

But faced with her mother's threats and urging, she could only shed tears while packing her meager belongings.

However, it seemed she was the only one who was sad, because everyone else in the family was very happy, even wishing she would get lost as soon as possible.

Just like that, Fang Zhaodi followed behind Fang Zhiyi back to his home. The moment the door was pushed open, she was a bit surprised. Her uncle lived alone in a small courtyard, yet the environment here was even worse than her own woodshed.

"Uh... well, I am your uncle, you know that. But starting today, I am your dad. I will take you to handle the procedures this afternoon. For now, help me clean up a bit." Fang Zhiyi was not polite at all.

You must be joking, he spent money on this!

Fang Zhaodi silently lowered her head, her eyes turning red again. She still tightly clutched that painting in her hand. Was it just because she hit her younger brother that her mom and dad didn't want her anymore?

Fang Zhiyi originally thought he would have to put in effort to coax her, but he didn't expect her to be so obedient. Even while shedding tears, she started cleaning up. Seeing this, Little Hei couldn't bear it: "I say, you're going a bit too far. She's already so miserable, and you're still making her work?"

"What the hell do you know," Fang Zhiyi replied briefly.

Little Hei felt a bit indignant and decided to ignore Fang Zhiyi.

In the afternoon, Fang Zhiyi took Fang Zhaodi and Fang Mingshan's family to the town to handle the household registration. On the way, Fang Mingshan and his wife were still trying to persuade him that there was no need to transfer the registration, even offering to let their parents act as guarantors.

"Them acting as guarantors? Those two are so biased their hearts have shifted to their asses. Do you think I'd trust their guarantee?" Fang Zhiyi's words were venomous, immediately shutting the couple up.

If it weren't for the sake of the money, Fang Mingshan would have definitely retorted with a few words against Fang Zhiyi.

After the household registration matter was settled, Fang Zhiyi directly slapped a stack of cash into Liu Wenxia's hands. Then, looking around, he pulled out an envelope and stuffed it to Liu Wenxia: "Sister-in-law, this is a red envelope. I know this matter must have been your idea. I have to thank you for still thinking of me."

Liu Wenxia was a bit surprised, but her face quickly filled with joy. "What are you saying? We are close..."

Fang Zhiyi shushed her with a mysterious expression. "Sister-in-law, you married into the Fang family from an outside surname. I also know you've suffered quite a bit these past few years. I know my parents and my brother very well. You just keep this money for yourself. At critical moments, you still need to have your own money in hand."

Liu Wenxia widened her eyes, then nodded repeatedly.

Little Hei kept wanting to ask questions, but remembering that he was currently sulking with Fang Zhiyi, he forcibly held it in.

Watching her parents walk away without looking at her once the entire time, Fang Zhaodi felt a sense of emptiness in her heart. But as soon as she turned her head, she saw a smiling Fang Zhiyi.

"Uncle..."

"What did you call me?"

"Dad..."

"Hey, that's right. We still have a little matter to handle." Fang Zhiyi led her toward another window.

Fang Zhaodi felt a bit uneasy.

"Hello, I want to change a name."

Fang Zhaodi froze. Change a name?

She watched as her uncle furrowed his brows tightly: "Fang Xiulian? Fang Qiuju? Fang Qiaozhen?"

Little Hei wanted to speak up and stop Fang Zhiyi's name proposals several times, but he held back every time.

Finally, Fang Zhiyi gave a wicked smile and glanced at the little dark figure with its back to him. "How about Fang Qingci."

Fang Zhaodi's eyes lit up slightly. Although she didn't know which two characters made up Qingci, it sounded much better than Zhaodi. She was always laughed at by her classmates because of her name, though she hadn't attended classes for a long time now, so they couldn't laugh at her anyway.

Staff member: "Fang Qingci Ba, is that four characters?"

Fang Zhiyi, who was initially smiling, hastily explained, "Three characters, three characters. Fang Qingci."

Little Hei was holding back his laughter so hard it was uncomfortable, his whole body trembling.

Looking at her new name, it seemed as if something was gradually swelling within Fang Qingci's heart. It felt like a peculiar emotion was being infinitely magnified. She also took a serious look at her uncle.

"Let's go. It's rare to come to town, I'll take you to eat something good." Fang Zhiyi said this, but in reality, he was just craving some snacks.

That day, Fang Qingci shook off the name Zhaodi and also ate quite a few snacks in town with her uncle. They were all things she had seen others eat before. She used to imagine what those snacks tasted like, but having eaten them today, she felt they were nothing too special.

Fang Zhiyi then took her to buy a few sets of clothes, followed by buying her bedsheets and quilts.

Seeing her uncle spend so much money, Fang Qingci became a bit nervous. "Uncle, there's no need. I have clothes, and I can just use my old quilt..."

Fang Zhiyi turned his head to look at her, and Fang Qingci realized she had used the wrong address.