Volume One, Chapter 15: Shen Ruzhi Was Stolen Away

Shen Ruzhi sneered coldly in her heart. They knew their fate was already sealed, with no possibility of turning things around. So they racked their brains, lied, slandered, and tried to pin fabricated crimes on her, wanting to drag her down with them.

Song Cheng frowned, his gaze toward the Shen family filled with displeasure. Wasn’t she said to be their adopted daughter? Yet they could be so harsh, uttering threats of torture.

Tian Xiaoxia was about to rush forward to defend Shen Ruzhi. But Shen Ruzhi stopped her, tears shimmering in her eyes, and stepped forward herself.

“Mom, Dad, I know you can’t bear to leave me behind, afraid that I’ll suffer alone here. But you always taught me, even if I can’t stand tall and proud in this world, I must at least be honest and trustworthy, never betraying my conscience. Yesterday, you drove me away in front of all the neighbors. I couldn’t even take a single piece of clothing. As much as I wish I could go with you to the countryside and share your hardships, I cannot lie against my conscience. So many eyes saw me unable to even cross our threshold. How could I have possibly taken anything away?”

At these words, the crowd’s thoughts returned, as if awakening from a dream. Their eyes toward the Shen family brimmed with even more contempt and disgust. To go to such lengths just to implicate an adopted daughter—these Shen people were truly a den of snakes and rats.

Shen Ruzhi was filial, kind, and sensible—clearly not a child of their blood.

“Shen Ruzhi, you—!” Shen Zhongguo hadn’t expected to be outmaneuvered here, and rage filled him to the brim.

Shen Ruzhi wiped her tears, looking pitifully at those around her, her tone unyielding. “Uncles, Aunties, I know that even if I lied today and claimed I left with Shen family’s property, I would still be seen as a capitalist representative. Even if, in doing so, I could go down to the countryside with my parents, brother, and sister as I wish, you all would not go against your conscience to support a wrongdoer. You will uphold the truth and act with integrity.”

“That’s right! I saw with my own eyes—when Zhi left, she didn’t even have a pair of shoes. What could she possibly have taken?”

“Exactly! Vice Minister, the Shen family is rotten to the core. They know Zhi isn’t their biological daughter, and in order to abandon her without criticism, they tried to let her take the place of their real daughter, Wang Yaoyao, and go to the countryside. When their plan failed, they simply threw her out.”

“We can all testify—Zhi left with nothing. The Tian family was there too. If you don’t believe it, you can investigate.”

Tian Xiaoxia’s parents stepped forward. “Yes, Zhi didn’t take a single brick or tile from the Shen family, let alone any valuables. After being thrown out last night with nothing, she stayed at our house.”

“Zhi is just too filial—even now, she still thinks of the Shen family.”

“They never treated her well, yet she still has such a heart.”

“She’s not their own child, after all!”

Shen Ruzhi spoke earnestly, “Uncles, Aunties, please don’t say any more. Though there is no blood between us, and my household registration is separate, in my heart, they will always be the parents I respect most. I am willing to go to the countryside with them—please take me as well!”

Hearing that Shen Ruzhi wanted to go with them, Wang Cuilian was so overjoyed she could hardly contain herself. “Good! Good! You all heard it—it’s her own wish to come with us. Let’s go, together.”

Shen Jinlin asserted, “That’s how it should be. Our family raised Shen Ruzhi for eighteen years—she ate our food, used our things. She should work for us to pay it back.”

The crowd murmured, “Truly the behavior of capitalists.”

Song Cheng coughed twice and raised his voice. “Enough! No matter your reasons, Shen Ruzhi has no connection to the Shen family. She doesn’t have to go with you.”

Shen Zhongguo, having anticipated this outcome, smiled faintly. “Zhi, I am gratified that you have such a heart. After eighteen years in our home, I don’t expect you to repay us—just live well, that’s enough.”

At this moment, Shen Zhongguo donned the mask of a kindly foster father.

Shen Ruzhi knew she had to sever all ties with the Shen family—gratitude included. Otherwise, she would bear the mark of ingratitude for life.

“If you have any conscience, you’ll come with us,” Wang Cuilian shrieked. “I raised you all these years, and this is how you repay me?”

“Enough! I can’t stand it any longer. Wang Cuilian, some things must finally be said. Let everyone here bear witness.”

A woman in her forties, dressed in a blue cloth jacket, stepped forward.

“Who is she?”

“Oh, her? I know her—she used to work as a maid for the Shen family. I heard she left when the family had troubles. Her name is Wang Ping.”

“That’s right, I’m Wang Ping. I wasn’t just the Shen family’s maid—Wang Cuilian and I were once mistress and servant. Years ago, when my family was destitute, I was sold to the Wang family to serve her. Later, when society changed, I worked in her household. I was there the day she gave birth! It was she herself who lost her own daughter, after quarreling with Shen Zhongguo. Carelessly, she left the child on a chair, and when she returned, the baby was gone. Fearing her in-laws’ wrath, she somehow found another child to bring home. I can testify—Shen Ruzhi was stolen from the hospital, not picked up off the street.”

Wang Ping’s words landed like a bomb, catching everyone off guard.

No one was more shocked and terrified than Wang Cuilian. She thought she was the only one who knew—how could Wang Ping have found out?

Wang Cuilian screamed, “Wang Ping, you’re talking nonsense! It’s not true, it’s not true!”

Wang Ping pressed on. “Think about it: when Zhi was little, Wang Cuilian was always hitting or scolding her, wouldn’t even buy her proper clothes in the dead of winter. That’s because she always knew Zhi wasn’t her own child. So when she found her real daughter, she didn’t hesitate to scheme against the adopted one.”

“Heavens, now that you mention it, it really does make sense.”

“Wang Cuilian is a thief—she stole Zhi to replace her own lost child.”

“What kind of person is she? She lost her own child and just stole someone else’s. Did she ever think how much pain the real parents must have endured?”

“She’s heartless—worse than an animal. What’s the difference between her and a child trafficker?”

“Exactly! People like her should be thrown in jail.”

“Yes, arrest her, lock her up.”

Wang Cuilian stared in horror—someone had really witnessed it!

She wasn’t a child trafficker.

Wang Yaoyao looked at her mother in disbelief. So it was she who lost her? She hadn’t been switched at birth!

“No, it wasn’t me, it wasn’t me. Shen Ruzhi was a child I found by the roadside. If not for me, she’d have frozen to death. She should be grateful to me, grateful!” Wang Cuilian shouted, trying to use the force of her voice to make her story the truth.

Tian Xiaoxia tugged at her father’s sleeve. Tian Fujun stepped forward. “I support Wang Ping’s statement. Wang Cuilian’s actions likely constitute child trafficking. Yesterday she claimed Zhi was found on People’s Road. I sent someone to investigate; that year was during the dragon and lion dances, and there were many militia stationed nearby. None of them saw a child abandoned by the roadside. So I recommend a thorough investigation of Wang Cuilian to verify her account.”