Chapter 21: Through the Night

It wasn’t meant to remind her that she and Zhao Zongbao already had two children binding them together, nor to make her relent and spare Zhao’s father, mother, and second sister-in-law. They just wanted the children to soften her heart.

She would never forget the cold words Zhao Bei had spoken to her after the incident with Xiao Xi in her previous life.

She didn’t even glance at the baby Zhao Third Sister was holding; instead, she directly took Xiao Xi back to the room.

After more than an hour of rest on the carriage, her strength had recovered considerably, though her arms still felt weak, and her body felt like a hollow shell, desperately needing nourishment and rest.

The Zhao family’s three rooms were two stories; the front rooms served as a shop, while the rear rooms were living quarters.

Xu Huiqing found her own room and carried Xiao Xi inside. The moment she gently laid Xiao Xi on the bed, the child woke up, her hands still clinging tightly around Xu Huiqing’s neck, refusing to let go or move onto the bed.

This was very different from how Xiao Xi had reacted the last time Xu Huiqing found her in her previous life.

Back then, the seven-year-old Xiao Xi was cautious and afraid—her fear directed at everyone, including Xu Huiqing.

She hadn’t dared to touch anything in the house; her eyes were full of fear and timidity, completely unlike the trust and dependence she now showed.

Many details unnoticed in the past suddenly stood out in contrast. Xu Huiqing immediately understood where the difference lay, and her nose turned sour with emotion. Her hatred for Zhao Second Sister, Zhao’s father and mother, Zhao Zongbao, and that couple deepened further.

Seeing Xiao Xi unwilling to sleep on the bed, Xu Huiqing didn’t force her. Instead, she sat down in the wooden rocking chair holding her, placing her on her lap and carefully cleaning the still-unremoved, tangled pig feed from her hair.

After quite some time, Xu Huiqing held Xiao Xi and softly said, “Since you’re awake, Xiao Xi, let’s not sleep yet. Let’s eat something first, alright?”

Xiao Xi nestled close into Xu Huiqing’s arms, holding her tightly with both hands, remaining silent.

Xu Huiqing gently rubbed her back in slow, steady strokes. “Xiao Xi, don’t be afraid anymore. Mom has found you, and Mom will never lose you again. Will you trust Mom just this once? I’m sorry for not protecting you before, letting Mom’s precious Xiao Xi be taken away.”

After all, Xiao Xi had been the only child for over three years before, showered with love by Xu Huiqing. Even though Zhao’s father and mother favored sons, Xiao Xi was the only grandchild in the house, and Zhao’s parents, along with several aunts, had shown her affection. So this Xiao Xi was completely unlike the abused seven-year-old from the previous life who treated the outside world like a frightened bird.

Instead, comforted by Xu Huiqing, she openly expressed her thoughts, saying, “Second Aunt told my new dad and new mom that Mom had a little brother, so they don’t want Xiao Xi anymore. They want to sell Xiao Xi!”

Xiao Xi’s words stabbed Xu Huiqing’s heart like a knife. Holding the little face gently, she looked into her eyes and earnestly told her, “Second Aunt and that couple are liars. They are bad people. Everything they say is to deceive you. They aren’t your new dad and new mom; they are bad people and have already been caught by the police.” She paused after looking deeply into Xiao Xi’s clear eyes, then continued, “Mom will never sell Xiao Xi because Mom loves you the most. Mom can do without anyone else, but never without you. Understand?”

The little one quietly looked into her mother’s eyes, as if confirming the truth of her words. Then, as if receiving the answer she had wanted, she nodded, nestled back into Xu Huiqing’s arms, and yawned.

She had already slept during the journey, but she was still very young, and it was late.

At that moment, Xu’s mother knocked and called out, “Huiqing, come out with Xiao Xi to eat something!”

Xu Huiqing carried Xiao Xi out. Xu’s mother tried to hold her, but Xiao Xi still remembered how Zhao’s mother had sent her to her Second Aunt’s house in the countryside to discuss sending her away. She made no response when Xu’s mother reached out to pick her up. Like a little koala, she clung tightly to Xu Huiqing’s neck, refusing to be held by anyone else.

Earlier, outside on the road where there were no streetlights and darkness prevailed, Xu’s mother hadn’t noticed how dirty and disheveled Xiao Xi was. Now, seeing the pig feed and rice bran dried and caked in her hair, along with the dirt on her body, she couldn’t help but scold bitterly, “Those wretched people from Jiansun, how could they be so heartless to such a good child…”

Before she could say the word ‘sell,’ Xu Huiqing interrupted, “Mom, go boil some hot water for me. I’ll take a bath later.”

She actually wanted to bathe Xiao Xi, but Xu’s mother didn’t know this. Seeing that Xu Huiqing hadn’t bathed for a month in the hospital and insisted on doing it herself, she hurriedly protested, “Don’t wash now. Wait until noon tomorrow when the sun is high. You just finished your confinement and can’t catch a chill!” But she still quickly went to the kitchen to boil water.

The Zhao family kitchen had a stove, but it was rarely used. They normally cooked with a coal furnace.

Xu’s brothers and sisters-in-law were still awake. Seeing Xu Huiqing come out holding Xiao Xi, they yawned and fought off sleepiness to say, “We’re relieved that Xiao Xi has been found. You don’t know how worried Mom was. You just finished your confinement; you need to rest well, or all that confinement will have been for nothing.”

Xu’s third brother said angrily, “When Zhao Zongbao gets out, I’ll give him another beating!”

Among Zhao family’s brothers-in-law, except for the husband of Zhao Fifth Sister, Zhao Fourth Sister’s husband had already left due to family matters. Zhao Eldest Sister’s husband was too tired and went to bed early, leaving only Zhao Third Sister’s husband.

Zhao Third Sister’s father also couldn’t stay up any longer. “Since my sister-in-law is back, I’m going up to sleep too. I really can’t stay up any longer!”

The Zhao family had a television, but after everything that had happened, no one was in the mood to watch it. The Zhao and Xu families sat separately, clearly divided, in the main hall of the Zhao family’s backyard, waiting for Xu Huiqing to return.

Once Zhao Third Sister’s father left, Xu’s three sisters-in-law could no longer keep awake and went to sleep.

There were many rooms in the Zhao family’s back yard aside from the kitchen and latrine, usually used for storage, but now they were used to accommodate guests for the night.

The Zhao family kitchen had chicken and meat dishes, all prepared earlier that day for the newborn’s full-month celebration. Most of the relatives who came for the feast had left, leaving the food untouched. Xu’s mother prepared a plate of sliced meat and fried eggs for Xu Huiqing.

Xu Huiqing was already starving, her hunger pressing from front to back, yet she fed Xiao Xi first.

Xu’s mother wanted to take the child from her to feed her herself, but Xu Huiqing refused, “Mom, go make the bathwater for me.”

She said it was for herself, but it was really for Xiao Xi. She had no strength left and didn’t even want to bathe. Let the dirt stay for now.

Several times during the night, Zhao family sisters tried to take Xiao Xi, but Xiao Xi, frightened, burrowed deeper into Xu Huiqing’s arms. Zhao Fifth Sister was so angry she scolded Zhao Second Sister before going to get the bathwater for Xiao Xi.

After feeding Xiao Xi, Xu Huiqing ate a large bowl full of meat and eggs herself, feeling somewhat restored.

She then washed Xiao Xi’s hair and body, cleaned the child’s head, and held her by the stove to dry her hair, while soaking her own feet in hot water.

After walking mountain roads all day, several blisters on her feet sent sharp pains shooting through her nerves, grounding her in reality with a vivid sense that this was no dream.

Xiao Xi soon fell asleep again in her arms. Xu’s mother urged her several times to sleep, but Xu Huiqing waited until Xiao Xi’s hair was completely dry before dragging her exhausted body back to the room.

Not trusting her to rest, Xu’s mother followed and slept alongside her, gently supporting her and murmuring, “You’re stubborn now and don’t listen to your elders, but you’ll see what happens later.”

Xu Huiqing gently patted Xiao Xi’s back with one hand, holding her close with the other, unwilling to fall asleep despite being mentally drained.

She had already noticed on the carriage that Xiao Xi startled easily in her sleep, her body jerking and legs kicking, accompanied by scared little whimpers.

Xu Huiqing spent nearly the whole night softly patting her. Each time Xiao Xi startled awake and saw her mother beside her, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep again, only to be startled awake repeatedly. Xu Huiqing quickly reached out to rub and pat her back, softly humming the local lullaby she used to sing to soothe her as a child.

Several times in the middle of the night, Xiao Xi woke with a start and in the dark reached out to touch Xu Huiqing’s face, feeling her nose, mouth, and chin, as if confirming her mother’s presence. Then she nestled fully into her mother’s arms, pressing close, breathing in her familiar scent. Comforted, she closed her eyes and fell back asleep.

When her little hand touched Xu Huiqing’s mouth, Xu Huiqing kissed her palm softly and whispered, “Good baby, Mommy’s here. Mommy will protect you and always keep you safe. Sleep peacefully now.”

Because Xiao Xi couldn’t sleep well, Xu’s mother who slept beside them also couldn’t rest, repeatedly worrying, “You need to sleep! If you keep pushing yourself like this, you’ll ruin your health!”

“You just finished your confinement; you can’t stay up like this. Even though you say you’re done with confinement, the first three months after giving birth are still considered confinement. Don’t think you’ve recovered just because you did a month of it!”

At the end, Xu’s mother couldn’t help but cry, her tone full of pleading: “Huiqing, please listen. Sleep for a while. Hold the child and sleep a bit. I’ll watch over you both.”

Only after four in the morning, when Xu Huiqing saw the sky turning pale, and the Xiao Xi in her arms had finally sunk into deep sleep with less frequent startles, her eyes slowly closing as she drifted into a sound slumber—

When she woke, no one was in the room. It was dim, the deep red “Prosperity Flower” curtains drawn shut. Though harsh sunlight couldn’t fully penetrate the thick curtains, the morning light filtered through cracks from the four rooms.

The child in her arms still slept peacefully. Xu Huiqing’s heart was filled with the joy of having regained something lost, a joy so overwhelming it brought tears, yet mingled with indescribable fear and dread.

She touched Xiao Xi’s warm body, carefully leaning in to check her breath at the tip of her nose.

Warm!