The next morning, Tang Nannan and Hu Jiasheng decided to continue their search for Father He.
The others held too high a status; only Father He, whose family had just gone bankrupt due to Zhan Beijue, was an old man, alone, and thus easier to approach.
In Tang Nannan’s memory, Father He had been driving for her father since she was little, following them from city to city. They treated him like family.
Father He came from a rural background, with little education. Besides driving, he had no other special skills.
His wife had passed away long ago. He had one daughter and two sons.
When his eldest daughter was in college, unable to afford tuition, it was Tang Nannan’s father who sponsored her education.
Fortunately, she was diligent and, after graduating, was accepted into a postgraduate program at a university in Beicheng.
Later, during her postgraduate studies, she went to Northern Europe as an exchange student and stayed to work there after graduation.
Before the third son, He Laosan, achieved anything, his eldest daughter had always been his pride.
The second son was more ordinary, perhaps overlooked due to being in the middle. He suffered from malnutrition since childhood, standing only about 1.6 meters tall.
He had dark skin, ordinary looks, a dull personality, and didn’t do well in school. He always stayed in their hometown.
Later, after He Laosan became successful, he opened a supermarket for him in their hometown. Tang Nannan didn't interact with him much.
He Laosan’s personality was most similar to Father He’s. When not speaking, he appeared silent and honest, but he was full of ideas and very adaptable to achieve his goals.
As the youngest and often sickly child, Father He had kept He Laosan with him throughout his working years.
He Laosan had practically grown up with Tang Nannan.
When Tang Nannan was in her first year of high school, Father He met a wealthy middle-aged woman somewhere.
To manage the woman’s business and to show his status as a man, he used the connections he had accumulated while working for Tang Nannan’s father. Under the guise of Tang Nannan’s father’s name, he helped the woman with many matters.
Later, the scheme was exposed. Although Tang Nannan’s father fired him, he still treated him with dignity and did not hold him responsible for anything.
He Laosan then parted ways with Tang Nannan, and it was from that time that he began to resent her.
Father He married the wealthy woman, and their living standards rose. He Laosan dropped out of school early and also started his own business.
Generally, people with a conscience, when reflecting on their lives, would identify a benefactor.
Tang Nannan’s father was undoubtedly Father He’s benefactor in life.
Yet, unexpectedly, this very person later caused him the most harm.
All his assets were seized, leaving only a small apartment inherited from the wealthy woman’s ancestors before her death.
When the two knocked on the door, Father He was reeking of alcohol.
Drinking so much so early in the morning, but upon seeing Tang Nannan, Father He still recognized her.
“Tang Nannan? How did you find me here?”
Tang Nannan said calmly, “Uncle He, I didn’t expect you to still remember me. Can I come in and sit for a moment?”
Father He, being so shrewd, knew why Tang Nannan was there.
He sneered, “Your father and mother’s matters happened so many years ago. It’s useless to look for me. Besides, I have no power or influence, and even if I said something, no one would believe me. Why waste your breath?”
“I’m not here to talk about that, Uncle He. I’m here to give you money.”
He Laosan knew Tang Nannan’s situation best after the Tang family’s decline, and Father He naturally knew too.
Hearing that she could barely support herself, seeing her today, she didn’t seem that way.
Still as beautiful as before, ethereal, and coming to give him money?
Tang Nannan feigned weakness, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you. Just let me come in and sit for two minutes.”
Father He let her in. As he was closing the door, Hu Jiasheng flashed out from the side.
He forcefully pushed Father He’s hand away and barged in.
Father He knew he had been tricked but was helpless, grinning shamelessly.
“I knew it, I thought this man looked strange yesterday. So, you invited him.”
“It’s good to be a woman. Whether you have money or not, as long as you’re beautiful, you can always latch onto someone powerful.”
Tang Nannan ignored his remark and analyzed the current situation.
“You are not someone who settles for mediocrity. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have married a woman ten years your senior back then. After working hard for so many years, your businesses vanished overnight, and your most proud son was imprisoned. I don’t believe you are truly resigned to this.”
Of course, he was not resigned; otherwise, he wouldn’t have drunk all night in anger yesterday.
Tang Nannan rubbed salt into his wounds, and his expression darkened.
“Are you here just to tell me this?”
Tang Nannan continued, “Given your temperament, you must have sought help. But people are creatures that seek advantage and avoid harm, especially that group. Knowing you offended Zhan Beijue, no one was willing to help you, right?”
Father He sneered, “Little girl, you don’t need to say so much. You’re not a good person either, and you’re definitely not here to help me.”
“Anyway, your parents’ incident back then had nothing to do with me. Talking nonsense in front of me is useless. My old heart isn’t good. If you stimulate me to death face-to-face, it won’t do you any good.”
Tang Nannan looked at him calmly.
“That’s right, your death would indeed do me no good, so I need you to live well.”
“Cooperate with me, Uncle He. Although I can’t guarantee you a comeback, I can at least ensure you a peaceful old age. I only hope that if you know anything about my parents’ incident back then, or have any evidence, you will tell me truthfully.”
Father He would not be moved by her few words and said with a cold laugh.
“After all this talk, you’re still here for that matter. I’ve already told you, you can’t turn things around…”
Tang Nannan interrupted him, “Whether I can turn things around is my business. Whether you hand it over is your business. I never came to you before because I wasn’t sure you would agree. But since I’m here today, I must have made thorough preparations.”
“What? If I don’t agree, what else are you going to do to me?”
Tang Nannan said, “In the past two years, I haven’t learned much, except for one thing from you all: interest exchange.”
“Although Third Brother is in prison, you still have Second Brother and Eldest Sister. Like you, I’m living like an ant now, a disposable life, not worth cherishing.”
“If I, the barefoot one, am not afraid of the one wearing shoes, and force myself to drag them down with me, Uncle He…”
Father He became a little scared, “What do you want to do?”
“If you give me the evidence, I promise I won’t do anything and will send you abroad to reunite with your eldest sister. But if you do nothing, then I can’t suffer alone, can I?”
Father He knew his situation was dire. These people already looked down on his driver background and his status as a rich woman’s husband. They would never help him, and he couldn’t make waves in Sucheng.
He was old, alone here, and had no one to rely on. Going to Northern Europe to find his daughter was only a matter of time. He understood the situation well.