Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 59

After returning home yesterday, she went to see Yue Mingli first. He did know a few lawyers, but they specialized in criminal cases.

He suggested she ask Yue Minghui and Qin Liping instead—especially Qin Liping, who had a classmate teaching at the University of Political Science and Law.

Shen Zhiqiu immediately called Yue Minghui and Qin Liping, arranging to meet Qin Liping today.

“Brother-in-law.”

By the time Shen Zhiqiu arrived at the entrance of Guojing University of Business and Economics, Qin Liping was already waiting.

He led her into a nearby alley. “I’ve set things up with my friend. Let’s have a meal together first. Zhiqiu, feel free to ask anything you need.”

“Alright, thank you, brother-in-law.”

“We’re family—no need to be polite.”

Qin Liping was clearly a regular. After greeting the restaurant owner, they were shown to a private room.

Soon, another man entered, and Qin Liping introduced them.

“Zhiqiu, this is my classmate Cheng Gan. He teaches Civil Law at the University of Political Science and Law and is also a practicing lawyer.”

“Cheng Gan, this is Shen Zhiqiu, my brother-in-law’s wife.”

Shen Zhiqiu stepped forward and shook Cheng Gan’s hand. “Professor Cheng, hello.”

“Hello, please sit.”

After ordering, while waiting for the food, Shen Zhiqiu took out a small paper packet from her bag—the one she had retrieved from the hidden compartment of her floor cabinet.

Inside were the land deed for the courtyard Ye Yunshuang had purchased and the original sales contract.

Her mother had slipped this packet into her hand just before she passed away, while Shen Daqiang wasn’t looking, urging her to hide it well.

After learning that the courtyard had actually been bought by her mother, she dreamed of her that night and remembered the packet.

“Professor Cheng, could you take a look at these two documents? Do they still hold legal weight?” Shen Zhiqiu handed the land deed and contract to Cheng Gan.

“Of course they do.”

Shen Zhiqiu explained her family situation: “Professor Cheng, after my mother passed, my father remarried. He and this woman have a daughter and a son together.”

“I want to know—does this courtyard have anything to do with her or her children?”

“After your father’s death, according to China’s Inheritance Law, his spouse would be the first in line to inherit, followed by his children.”

“But this courtyard was bought by my mother before she married my father. I’ve seen their marriage certificate—the date on this contract is earlier than their wedding date.” Shen Zhiqiu pointed to the date on the sales agreement.

“However, since your mother is deceased, her property would have passed to your father. Then, after your father’s death, it would go to his current wife. Only after her death would it be divided among the children.”

Shen Zhiqiu frowned. This was more complicated than she’d thought.

“Professor Cheng, under what circumstances would my father not be able to inherit this courtyard from my mother?”

Cheng Gan thought for a moment. “Only if their marriage was invalid—meaning they were never legally married. In that case, your father would have no right to inherit your mother’s estate.”

“But you said they had a marriage certificate, so they were legally married.”

Shen Zhiqiu suddenly lost her appetite.

If that was the case, her chances of securing the courtyard were slim.

No—she had to think of another way. She couldn’t let this property fall into Shen Daqiang’s hands.

After everything he’d done to her mother, how could he still inherit her assets?

“Old Cheng, what if the other party committed bigamy? Would they still have inheritance rights?”

After Qin Liping asked, he turned to Shen Zhiqiu. “Zhiqiu, Shen Liya isn’t your full sister, right? If I recall, there’s not much of an age gap between you two.”

“In that case, your father likely committed bigamy.”

Shen Zhiqiu’s eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly. “Yes, Shen Liya is only six months younger than me.”

After she explained the situation, Cheng Gan replied, “Based on what you’ve described, your father did commit bigamy. You could file a lawsuit against him and that woman—bigamy is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.”

“However, gathering evidence for bigamy—especially in cases like your father’s—is tricky. You’d need witnesses to prove that your father and that woman lived as a married couple, and you’d also need to confirm that your sister is their biological child.”

“Once your father is convicted of bigamy, you can then file another lawsuit to strip him of his inheritance rights. At that point, you’d be the only legal heir to your mother’s courtyard.”

Cheng Gan patted his chest, volunteering: “If it comes to that, come find me. I’ll help you.”

“Thank you, Professor Cheng.”

“And thank you, brother-in-law.”

Shen Zhiqiu called the waiter over and ordered two more substantial dishes, insisting, “This meal is on me.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t fight you for it. Your sister hasn’t given me this month’s allowance yet—I can’t afford to be generous.”

“Lao Qin, you—!”

Cheng Gan shook his head at Qin Liping, laughing wryly. “We’re six of one, half a dozen of the other.”

“Hahaha!”

While Qin Liping and Cheng Gan chatted and reminisced, Shen Zhiqiu, now full, sat quietly, thinking through her next steps.

First, she needed to find where Wang Fengqin and Shen Daqiang had lived together before they married and ask the neighbors.

Then, there was Wang Fengqin’s family.

And most importantly—she needed Shen Daqiang, Wang Fengqin, and Shen Liya to admit Shen Liya’s parentage.

After the meal, the three went their separate ways. On her way back, Shen Zhiqiu ran into Yue Mingde.

“Big brother, what’s all this?” Shen Zhiqiu eyed the large bundle on Yue Mingde’s bike rack.

“I bought some stock—planning to set up a stall at the night market.”

Yue Mingde waved Shen Zhiqiu over. “Zhiqiu, come on, let’s go to my place.”

On the way, Yue Mingde told her about quitting his job, divorcing Li Yan, working as a maintenance man at the university, and moving to the area.

“Xiao Xin, Xiao Hui, your aunt’s here!”

Hearing Yue Mingde’s voice, Yue Youxin and Yue Youhui rushed out. One helped unload the bike while the other led Shen Zhiqiu inside.

“Auntie, how’s Ya-Ya?”

“Ya-Ya’s doing great.”

Shen Zhiqiu ruffled Yue Youhui’s hair. “I bought some stationery for you and Xiao Xin. Come by this weekend to pick it up—and see Ya-Ya while you’re at it.”

“Okay!” Yue Youhui and Yue Youxin exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

They’d missed Ya-Ya terribly. They’d heard babies changed every day—they wondered how much she’d grown, whether she’d chubbed up a little.

“Zhiqiu, see if there’s anything you’d like.”

Yue Mingde opened his bundle and pulled out a handful of hair clips and ties.

“I’ve been scouting the night market these past few days—lots of young girls shop there, so I figured I’d stock up on things they’d like.”

Shen Zhiqiu picked out about thirty. “Big brother, I’ll take these. I’ll give them to my colleagues at the performance troupe. Let me know how much I owe you.”