Chapter 89: Unveiling the Past

Zhong Xiao’s words rang with authority; though her tone was gentle, it carried an unmistakable dignity. Her gaze, alluring and delicate, was tinged with a chilling undertone. The cold brilliance in her eyes stared straight at Yuan Tianqing, making Yuan feel an involuntary shiver along her scalp.

Inside Commissar Liu’s office, everyone exchanged glances. If earlier some had harbored doubts about Zhong Xiao, now those suspicions had vanished entirely, replaced with a sense of shame at their own narrow-mindedness. In these times, material goods were scarce—ration tickets, gold, even one’s own home. Even officers and soldiers who served the people could not always achieve what Zhong Xiao had accomplished.

While many capitalists sought to transfer assets and flee at the first sign of trouble, Zhong Xiao had not only stayed, but faced the situation head-on, even severing ties with her own father for the cause. Such integrity was truly admirable.

But the revelations were not over. As Zhong Xiao finished speaking, Qin Dezheng stepped forward, his voice deep and resonant.

“Xiao Xiao’s grandfather was a renowned Red Capitalist in Yuecheng. That medal was personally awarded to him from above, and to this day, he keeps the plaque as a treasured possession in my keeping!”

“During those years, her grandfather provided countless funds, weapons, supplies, and grain—describing it as tons would not be an exaggeration! When the public-private partnership was struggling, it was Xiao Xiao’s grandfather who, leveraging his reputation, was first to support the initiative, handing over his factories to the nation and the people!”

“And you, comrade, what right do you have to question our Xiao Xiao’s family background now?”

Yuan Tianqing recoiled half a step at Qin Dezheng’s booming rebuke. Yet, faced with everyone’s gaze, she quickly rallied, took a deep breath, and addressed Zhong Xiao:

“Zhong Xiao’s grandfather is her grandfather. Comrade Zhong Qingyang has been dead for so many years—it’s been two generations already. Who knows if the family line has gone astray? And her father is a notorious scoundrel, sly and untrustworthy. Who’s to say Zhong Xiao hasn’t been led astray herself? Who can be certain...”

Yuan Tianqing argued stubbornly, but this time it was Song Qingfeng who spoke up in rebuttal.

“That rascal Du Huacheng could never have produced such a clever and beautiful daughter as Xiao Xiao. Her father is my sworn brother, a comrade who fought and lived alongside me for years!”

“His name is known throughout the military district—he is Nie Yunfeng!”

The revelation stunned everyone present. Not just Yuan Tianqing and Hou Manling, but all the officers’ eyes widened, their gaze converging on Zhong Xiao.

She was... she was Nie Yunfeng’s descendant?!

Every gaze converged on Zhong Xiao like sunlight. Her eyes flickered, her heart pounding in shock.

Her father was a warrior.

It felt as if a sudden wind had filled her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Song Qingfeng’s voice rang out again—

“Back then, Yunfeng, in the final moments, strapped explosives to his body and used himself to block the enemy tanks, buying us enough time to retreat and regroup for the next assault.”

“If not for his heroic sacrifice, how many brothers would have died under the enemy’s merciless tanks! I can say that half the officers in the Taizhou Island military district were saved by Yunfeng, including everyone present—how many of you owe your lives to Yunfeng!”

“All of us here owe Yunfeng a life. If he were alive, would you have any say at all? You’re all living well now, with families and warm homes, thanks to Yunfeng—yet now you gather together to question his daughter!”

As Song Qingfeng finished, the officers’ faces showed shock and shame. Their gazes toward Zhong Xiao were filled not with suspicion, but with warmth and kindness.

Who could have known that Yunfeng had a daughter?

When Yunfeng died in battle, he was unmarried—only rumors of a fiancée in Yuecheng, with plans to wed at the end of the year. But that mission took him away, never to return.

Later, it was said a woman came to the military district to pay respects, taking a handful of soil from his grave. After that, no one saw her again.

Who would have guessed that woman was the eldest daughter of the Zhong family?

“...Back then, Yunfeng and Xiao Xiao’s mother, A Rui, met in Yuecheng. A Rui was being harassed by some hooligans, and Yunfeng heroically rescued her. A Rui fell for him at first sight. The families arranged an engagement, planning to marry at year’s end, but then Yunfeng’s accident happened,” Zuo Lan said softly, eyes downcast. “We didn’t know A Rui was pregnant at first. Half a year later, we heard she was getting married—she wrote to say she only wanted to find a father for the child in her womb, so the child wouldn’t be judged by others.”

“That’s when we realized A Rui was carrying Yunfeng’s posthumous child.”

“Before she died, A Rui wrote to me: she never betrayed Yunfeng. In her lifetime, she loved only Yunfeng. Du Huacheng always had women outside, but A Rui never cared, because in her heart, only Yunfeng was her husband.”

“Xiao Xiao,” Zuo Lan looked at Zhong Xiao, “Don’t blame your mother. Life was hard for women—she only wanted you not to be looked down upon.”

Zhong Xiao’s eyes were rimmed with red, her voice dry.

“How could I ever blame her?”

Song Qingfeng gazed at her tenderly. “So Xiao Xiao is not the daughter of some criminal capitalist Du Huacheng, but the granddaughter of a Red Capitalist and the true daughter of First-Class Hero Nie Yunfeng!”

“Does anyone still doubt Comrade Zhong Xiao’s origins now?”

The office fell silent. After a long pause, faint sobs could be heard.

The one crying was the commander of the Third Flying Regiment.

Nie Yunfeng had been his benefactor—if not for Yunfeng’s protection, he would have been beaten to death.

Yuan Yiwei, Nie Yunfeng’s solitary friend, believed nothing of Yunfeng remained in this world. Who could have imagined, in his lifetime, seeing the child of a departed comrade?

“Wang Erhu, back then you were just a lowly artilleryman, hot-tempered and always in trouble. If Yunfeng hadn't vouched for you, saying you were capable and courageous—a promising seedling—would you be regiment commander now?”

“You were cursing just now—who were you cursing?! Huh?! Is Xiao Xiao someone you can insult?!”

Wang Erhu trembled, glancing quickly at Zhong Xiao, eyes filled with guilt, lips pressed tightly, wishing he could slap himself.

Song Qingfeng then turned to Yuan Tianqing and Hou Manling.

Even Hou Manling’s face was filled with fear. She never expected that the supposed capitalist heiress had such a pure, revolutionary lineage.

Who in Taizhou Island’s military district didn’t know Nie Yunfeng? Without his sacrifice, the whole island might have fallen to the enemy.

He was Taizhou Island’s great benefactor.

Only Yuan Tianqing remained defiant, fists clenched, eyes reddening.

“Even if you prove Zhong Xiao is Nie Yunfeng’s daughter, that doesn’t mean she’s not disloyal! She didn’t even know her own origins—who knows where her loyalties lie after all these years!”

“Well said.”

Zhong Xiao caught Yuan Tianqing’s point, smiling faintly, her eyes growing colder.

“Since I myself didn’t know my lineage, Comrade Yuan Tianqing, you and I have never interacted, not once spoken before today.”

“So tell me, how did you know my grandfather’s name is Zhong Qingyang?”

“It seems Comrade Yuan Tianqing knows quite a lot indeed.”