Volume One, Chapter 9: Wang Yaoyao Is My Biological Daughter

Wang Cuilian nearly ground her molars into dust, her cruel and venomous gaze seemingly intent on swallowing Shen Ruzhi whole. How could she say she was registering for Wang Yaoyao? She was the one going to the countryside in place of her, so the name to be registered should have been Shen Ruzhi's.

Shen Zhongguo finally understood: Shen Ruzhi had openly declared she was going in Wang Yaoyao's stead, so naturally, the staff had written down Wang Yaoyao's name. He had truly underestimated this girl.

Shen Zhongguo squinted, scrutinizing Shen Ruzhi's aggrieved expression, unable to discern whether she acted deliberately or out of carelessness.

“Since the roster lists Wang Yaoyao, she must accompany us to the countryside. Please, the train will depart soon,” the staff urged again.

Wang Yaoyao burst into tears, panic-stricken, clutching Wang Cuilian desperately.

“Auntie, I don’t want to go! I don’t want to go to the countryside!” she cried, casting a bewildered look at Shen Ruzhi. Why had she registered her name? Why!

Shen Ruzhi approached, saying, “Cousin, I’m sorry. I never thought they would use your name. I was the one who signed up. But now, you can only go with them. You grew up in the countryside; you’ll adapt quickly. Don’t worry, I’ll visit you often.”

Wang Yaoyao glared at her in fury, shaking her head and shouting, “No! I won’t go! I won’t go back to the village—I refuse!”

Wang Cuilian patted her hand, soothing her, “Yaoyao, listen to me, don’t be afraid. I won't let you go to the countryside.”

She had only just found her daughter after so much hardship; how could she let her suffer again?

“Comrade, comrade, you’ve got it all wrong. The one who should go to the countryside is my daughter, Shen Ruzhi. Just change the name and let her go,” Wang Cuilian pleaded.

“Aunt Wang, Zhizhi is your own flesh and blood. How could you send your daughter instead of your niece?” Tian Xiaoxia appeared at the doorway with her parents.

Tian Xiaoxia had come to her parents early that morning, crying and saying she dreamt that Shen Ruzhi had broken her leg. After much persuasion, she dragged them along to support her friend.

Shen Zhongguo frowned. Why had they come?

Tian Xiaoxia went straight to Shen Ruzhi, “Zhizhi, what happened to your face? Who hit you?”

Shen Ruzhi shook her head in grievance, “Xiaoxia, it’s all my fault. I messed things up—I deserved it. My cousin was lost as a child and suffered for years in the countryside. Now that she’s finally back, they want her to go to the countryside again, so my parents asked me to go instead.”

“Aunt Wang, Uncle Shen, is what Zhizhi said true? How could you do this? Zhizhi is your own daughter. Besides, Wang Yaoyao is the one supposed to go. How could you let Zhizhi take her place?”

Tian Xiaoxia’s voice was loud and clear, so everyone watching the drama understood what had happened.

The staff coughed and spoke seriously, “Are we done? There’s no such thing as sending someone else in your place. The name cannot be changed. Comrade Wang Yaoyao, the country asks you to go to the countryside to help build our great land. As young people of society, how can we shirk responsibility and seek comfort? That is a backward mentality. Please gather your things and come with us now.”

Wang Yaoyao stared in terror, trembling with fear.

“No, I won’t go! I won’t go! Auntie, help me, help me!”

Tian Xiaoxia’s father addressed Shen Zhongguo, “The state’s call for educated youth to the countryside is a good thing. If you’re worried about your niece, you can give her more money, but how can you send your own daughter instead? That’s unreasonable.”

Shen Zhongguo was speechless. What was once a secret was now public knowledge—thanks to that troublesome Shen Ruzhi.

“Wang Yaoyao, please come with us,” the staff said, reaching out to pull her.

Wang Yaoyao bit her lip, her face pale. “No, I won’t go. I don’t need to go to the countryside. I won’t go.”

Wang Cuilian pushed their hands away. “Don’t take her! You can’t take her! She doesn’t need to go!”

“Madam Shen, this is official policy. Please don’t make things difficult for us. The Wang family must send someone, and she’s already registered,” the staff replied.

“No, no, I won’t! I didn’t sign up! I don’t want to go to the countryside!” Wang Yaoyao cried, shaking her head wildly.

Shen Zhongguo was now in a tight spot. There was only one way to keep her from going: admit Wang Yaoyao was his daughter.

Wang Cuilian loathed Shen Ruzhi more than ever. If not for her, things wouldn’t have reached this point. Fearing the staff would take her daughter, she shielded Wang Yaoyao behind her.

She shouted loudly, “You can’t take her! She’s my daughter! Wang Yaoyao is my real daughter!”

Silence fell instantly.

Tian Xiaoxia stared wide-eyed at Shen Ruzhi beside her, utterly confused.

“You can’t make such claims just to keep her from going to the countryside,” the staff retorted, skeptical. No one willingly went to the countryside, after all.

Wang Cuilian looked to her husband, and seeing he didn’t object, continued, “I’m not lying. Yaoyao is my real daughter.”

Seeing her conviction, the staff asked, “Do you have proof she’s your real daughter? Or is this just an excuse to keep her from going?”

Wang Cuilian knew her husband had already arranged a paternity test.

“I have proof! Wait here!” Wang Cuilian rushed inside, grabbed a book, and quickly pulled out the document tucked inside.

“Look, here’s the paternity test. It proves Wang Yaoyao is my real daughter.”

The staff opened the file.

People began whispering.

“Heavens, what’s going on? Wasn’t Wang Yaoyao her niece? How did she become her daughter?”

“Exactly. Then who’s Shen Ruzhi? I remember clearly—they only ever had one daughter.”

The staff examined the document closely. “This paternity test confirms Wang Yaoyao is indeed your daughter.”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. She really was her daughter!

Shen Ruzhi’s eyes reddened, devastated, leaning incredulously on Tian Xiaoxia.

“Are Mom and Dad telling the truth? Is my cousin really your daughter…? Then who am I?”

Shen Ruzhi’s pitiful appearance tugged at everyone’s hearts.

The Tian family immediately reacted. Tian Xiaoxia suddenly understood, furious.

“So that’s it! You already knew Zhizhi wasn’t your real daughter, and Wang Yaoyao was. You planned to send Zhizhi to the countryside instead. How cruel! Zhizhi may not be your flesh and blood, but she’s been with you for eighteen years!”

Shen Zhongguo quickly spoke up, “Zhizhi is still my daughter.”