Volume 1, Chapter 39: The Illegitimate Daughter of a Certain Big Shot

"This looks like someone pulling strings to get in through the back door," another man with a messy, bird’s-nest hairstyle said with a look of disdain. "Must be some powerful connections in the family."

"How could a student from a small county have such a powerful background?" someone nearby added, fanning himself with a straw hat.

"Could it be the illegitimate daughter of some big shot, born to a village woman while he was working in the countryside?"

Su Wan listened to their speculation. A small county, single-digit test scores, and the same name as her own—it all felt a bit strange, so she stepped forward to take a look.

There, in the "Lost and Found" column of the newspaper, it was printed in tiny font: *A transfer file belonging to student Su Wan, from the second year of high school in Wei County, Nanling Province, was found in the park. Below this, her subject test scores were listed in detail.*

Su Wan read it several times before she could confirm that the lost property notice published in the paper was indeed about her. Even if her transfer documents had been lost, there was no reason to include her test scores. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, specifically targeting her.

Moreover, the scope of this attack was quite broad; it seemed they truly hated her. They didn't just want to prevent her from attending school in Beiping; they wanted to ruin her reputation entirely, turning her into a social pariah so she would have no way to stay in the city.

Su Wan decided to return to the Huo residence that evening. She had seen the newspaper, and the people at the Huo house surely had as well. As for what others said about her grades, she didn't really care; she was confident that if she could just get into the school, she would achieve excellent results to silence the gossip.

The main issue was that this "Lost and Found" notice was also causing trouble for the Huo family. Given their current status, it would be easy for malicious people to stir up unnecessary rumors and trouble for them. Just a moment ago, the man at the park had already suspected she was Uncle Huo’s illegitimate daughter.

After buying the *PLA Daily* and the *People’s Daily* that Uncle Song usually read, Su Wan headed toward the family compound. As soon as she entered, the wives of several faculty members, who were chatting in the shade while watching their children, turned their gazes toward her.

Su Wan had been working as a nanny for the Song family for over two weeks, and she went out to buy groceries every day, especially when she had been helping Secretary Yang with the wedding preparations for Wenbo. Most people in the compound knew her by now. Firstly, her cooking was excellent, and Secretary Yang praised her to everyone he met. Secondly, Su Wan was attractive and had a sweet way of speaking, always smiling at everyone she saw. News spread quickly, and even those who hadn't met her knew that the girl with the gentle, pretty face and simple rural attire was the summer nanny for Principal Song’s family.

Ignoring their suspicious and scrutinizing gazes, Su Wan carried her basket straight to the leadership residential building. She told Principal Song she was going back to the military district compound for the night and would return early the next morning to make breakfast.

Principal Song, who was busy practicing calligraphy, looked up without asking too many questions. Assuming Su Wan’s sister was in trouble again and required her attention, he simply advised, "Su Wan, just cook a few simple dishes tonight. It’s getting hotter, and there's not much appetite anyway."

Su Wan was grateful for his understanding, but she said lightly, "Uncle Song, it’s no trouble at all. I’m just going back to pick up some books."

At 5:00 PM, Huo Jianguo walked into the living room in his uniform and handed his cap to Auntie Wu. Before he could even have a drink of water, Old Madam Huo, sitting in her rattan chair, turned around and said in a cold, indifferent tone, "Do you know about this?"

"About what, Mother?" Huo Jianguo unbuttoned his collar, and seeing the grave expression on her face, he stepped forward to ask. He glanced at Su Xiaohui, who was standing beside the old woman.

Su Xiaohui pursed her lips, pretending to find it difficult to speak. "Uncle Huo," she murmured, then lowered her head and avoided his gaze, as if she had done something wrong. In reality, she was feeling a surge of uncontrollable joy.

She had been waiting for days, circling outside the family compound every morning to see when Fang Yu would take revenge on Su Wan. Finally, that afternoon, she had seen the notice in the Beiping newspaper. She had immediately brought it to Grandma Huo, pretending to be worried and confused as she asked if her sister had lost her transfer documents.

Upon seeing the notice, Grandma Huo’s face had darkened, and she had sat on the sofa, clutching her chest and gasping for air. It was just as she expected—that mother-daughter duo, Fang Yu and her daughter, were ruthless. They had actually published Su Wan’s grades under the guise of a lost property notice.

Now, Su Wan’s reputation was ruined. Anyone who saw that notice would surely remember the girl who scored in the single digits. Forget about school; she wouldn't even be able to stay in Beiping.

The Huo family would likely want to send her back to her hometown immediately to distance themselves. If others in the compound found out that Su Wan had once been a prospective match for the eldest Huo son, the high-ranking Huo family would lose face and become the laughingstock of the compound.

Grandma Huo had been a proud woman all her life; she valued the honor and dignity of the Huo family above all else. She would never allow such a thing to happen. The mother-daughter duo had hit the Huo family’s weak spot perfectly. Why hadn't she thought of this earlier? She had only focused on trying to make Su Wan make a mistake in front of the family so she would be sent away. In truth, she should have made Su Wan cause trouble outside, so the Huo family would have no reason to be lenient.

"See for yourself." Grandma Huo pointed her chin toward the copy of the *Beiping Morning News* on the table. Her tone was calm, but the atmosphere around her was heavy and stifling, making it hard for Su Xiaohui to even breathe.

Huo Jianguo, confused, picked up the paper and scanned it with sharp, piercing eyes. He quickly found the "Lost and Found" column. Bringing it closer, his brows furrowed as he realized what was happening.

A few days ago, Huo Hong had told him that the school had agreed to let Su Wan take the entrance placement exam. There were over three hundred students in the third year, and as long as she ranked in the top two hundred, she could attend as a transfer student. He hadn't expected that just two days later, her grades would be plastered in the newspaper. It was clearly an attempt to pressure both the school and himself, forcing Su Wan to give up on her enrollment. After all, there were so many students vying for spots at the prestigious high school; why should an outsider from the countryside be admitted?

Huo Jianguo immediately suspected that this was born out of jealousy. However, since everything he did was by the book and school policy allowed for transfer students, there was no legitimate reason to report him. Thus, they had resorted to these underhanded tactics.

"Mother, I have not abused my power to pull strings for her," Huo Jianguo said, sitting down to explain calmly. "I only requested that if Su Wan can place in the top two hundred in the placement exam, she be admitted. If she doesn't pass, I will arrange a job for her in Beiping."

"This is clearly a malicious scheme by people with no morals."

"Jianguo, it’s not about whether she can pass or not. Do you know how the people in the compound are gossiping about this notice this afternoon?" Old Madam Huo’s expression was solemn, her aged eyes exceptionally sharp. "They are all wondering how a rural girl with such grades could get into a school in the capital, and whether she’s actually your illegitimate daughter from your time in the countryside."

"That is absolute nonsense!" Huo Jianguo frowned, a hint of anger flashing across his face. If she were his illegitimate daughter, how could he have possibly allowed Xiaohan to consider her as a potential match?

The reason people were suspicious was that during the early days of the youth reclamation movement, there had indeed been many male educated youths who married local village girls only to abandon their wives and children later to return to the city.

"If you don't want people to gossip and say you have an illegitimate daughter, or that you forced the principal to pull strings, then send Su Wan back to the countryside before anyone else in the compound realizes the connection between our family and her."

Grandma Huo didn't mention the other suspicions about Su Wan having connections; after all, everyone pulled strings and asked for favors sometimes. What she cared about more than the Huo family being accused of favoritism was the fact that Su Wan had once been a candidate for Huo Xiaohan. Her grandson, an outstanding man who had earned a first-class merit, being linked to a failing student who had nearly been a murderer? The impact on Xiaohan would be immense; it would be a stain on his life.

"If she can't go back to the village, send her somewhere else—school or work, it doesn't matter. But she cannot stay in Beiping. If you are too embarrassed to speak to the Su family, I will do it. Don't forget, Xiaohan and Su Wan were once matched! Do you want Xiaohan to be a laughingstock at his unit?" Seeing Huo Jianguo’s reluctance, Grandma Huo raised her voice, her authority heavy and oppressive.

"Grandma, Uncle, I don't want to make things difficult for you," Su Xiaohui interjected, seizing the moment to appear sensible and reasonable, offering another sincere apology for her past "mistake." "Uncle, I think my sister and I aren't suited for city life. Let us go back to the village. You’ve helped our family so much over the years; if it weren't for you, we would have starved during the drought years. It’s our family that owes you."

Su Xiaohui was using a strategy of "advancing by retreating." She knew that if anyone were to be sent back, it would certainly be Su Wan. The mother-daughter duo’s plan was truly brilliant. By spending a little money to publish Su Wan’s grades, they had made it impossible for her to gain a foothold in Beiping. They had made the entire Huo family see her as a ticking time bomb, someone who would only bring shame. As long as she was in Beiping, everyone would remember her as the failure from the newspaper. Her paths—education, work, and marriage—were all blocked.

Having poor grades wasn't a crime, but having them published for all of Beiping to see made her a joke. No workplace or suitor would want someone so disgraced.

Huo Jianguo’s brows were locked in a deep frown, his face grim. Seeing Su Xiaohui’s sincere appearance, his resolve wavered.

"Mother, what does this have to do with Xiaohan? As long as Su Wan places in the top two hundred, she earns her spot," Huo Jianguo said, his voice sharp. "It’s just a high school midterm score; everyone has off days. If I back down just because of a transcript, that wouldn't be my style. Tomorrow, I will have someone investigate the newspaper office to see who authorized this notice."

"Huo Jianguo, are you determined to let the whole world know about the connection between Su Wan and Huo Xiaohan? Are you going to wait until it affects his promotion to stop?" Old Madam Huo was clearly enraged, calling him by his full name. "Su Wan came to Beiping specifically to climb the social ladder. Now, everyone who has seen this paper knows who she is. She had a bad reputation in the village for her conduct; if she causes even the slightest trouble here, it will cause irreparable damage to the Huo family."

"Mother, you are just too prejudiced against her. She has been here for nearly half a month—when has she ever caused trouble for us?" Huo Jianguo had already contacted his former subordinates in Nanling Province to investigate, and he believed there would be results soon.

"Can you guarantee she will always behave? That she won't use the Huo family’s name to flirt and pick up men at school or work? That she won't broadcast that she was once a match for Huo Xiaohan?" Grandma Huo interrogated him, one question after another.

Standing outside the door, Su Wan heard the argument within and hesitated to enter. She had to admit that the person behind this was truly malicious. Coupled with the original owner’s past scandals, Grandma Huo viewed her as a monster, and she was currently hated by everyone.

Originally, she had wanted to return and tell Uncle Huo that she didn't have to go to school, but she hoped to remain in Beiping until May, when she could return to her hometown for the college entrance exams. But now, she changed her mind.

She straightened her back, standing as tall and graceful as a blooming hosta lily, and knocked on the door.

Auntie Wu, who had been hiding in the kitchen, opened the door. Seeing Su Wan, she was startled, a look of worry crossing her face. She turned toward the living room and said, "Madam, Chief, Su Wan is here."

"Let her in," Huo Jianguo said after a moment of silence.

Old Madam Huo sat back in her rattan chair and turned her head away. The atmosphere in the living room was suffocating.

"Sister, you're here?" Su Xiaohui ran up to her, feigning concern, though the swelling on her face had not yet fully faded. "You saw the lost property notice in the paper, didn't you?" She appeared worried, but her eyes were full of schadenfreude.

Su Wan glanced at Su Xiaohui. Her intuition told her that even if she hadn't done it herself, she was definitely involved.

"Grandma Huo, Uncle Huo, I saw the notice this morning. Please rest assured, no one currently knows that I am staying at the Huo residence—not even Principal Song and his family."