In her previous life, when Xiao Xi was in high school, she accidentally overheard the truth about Xiao Xi being sent away while eavesdropping outside the room where her second aunt and her father-in-law and mother-in-law were talking.
They thought she wasn’t home and chatted recklessly in the in-laws’ room. When she learned the truth standing outside, she felt as if struck by thunder, her limbs turning icy cold.
Although her father-in-law and mother-in-law favored sons over daughters, before the youngest son was born, Xiao Xi was the only grandchild in the family. Usually, when she changed Xiao Xi’s diapers or pads, Zhao’s mother would wash them. Zhao’s father often complained that Xiao Xi was just a girl, but he would still buy her candy from time to time.
She had always thought that Zhao’s parents cared for their only granddaughter to some extent.
So she never imagined that it was Zhao’s parents, together with the second aunt, who sold Xiao Xi away—for just five yuan!
Those five yuan weren’t even held by Zhao’s parents but were taken by the second aunt. Because she refused to bear a son, they thought that if Xiao Xi was gone, she would be willing to have another child, right?
Xiao Xi being sent away wasn’t an accident but a carefully planned scheme. Previously, she had been watchful and had no chance to act. It wasn’t until she was about to give birth to her second child that they finally got the opportunity. Even though she was already pregnant with a second child, the plan to send Xiao Xi away had been long set in motion. They didn’t abandon the idea just because of her pregnancy.
“It’s a good thing she got pregnant with Xiao Bei the second time, otherwise the sister-in-law would have definitely suspected!” she heard her second aunt say casually outside the door to Zhao’s parents.
Zhao’s mother even gave the second aunt a slight slap and said, “That’s all in the past. Why bring it up now?”
The second aunt dismissed it, “What’s there to fear? It’s been so many years, and who even knows where that family is now?”
Xu Huiqing didn’t even know how she got back to her room. Sitting on the bed, her mind was in chaos, replaying the scene when she found Xiao Xi.
At that time, Xiao Xi was already seven years old but hadn’t started school yet. She was small and thin, holding a gourd ladle feeding pigs in the pigpen when, for some unknown reason, a man from that household kicked her far away.
Back then, she didn’t even know it was her child, yet her heart broke to pieces. When she finally found her again, she was covered in wounds—new ones overlapping old scars.
She didn’t know how much time and effort it took to raise her to be like a normal child.
She hoped that Xiao Xi, being so young then, could forget all the pain of her childhood and remember only happiness and joy. But she herself never dared to forget. Every time she recalled it, it felt as if a thin, rusty blade scraped across her heart, making her shudder with pain.
She had only taken revenge on that family at the time. As for the child traffickers, they were never found. Never did she expect that, despite all precautions, the greatest threat would come from within the family.
When Xiao Xi was in high school, she devoted all her energy to Xiao Xi’s college entrance exams. Suddenly learning this truth, her first reaction was surprisingly to not affect the child’s exam.
She researched online extensively on how to silently get rid of that family, doing it without leaving a trace, without affecting her two children, and without implicating herself.
She didn’t even dare use the home computer to search, fearing leaving a trace. Later, by chance, she read that beans and grains stored for days would produce aflatoxin, a highly carcinogenic mold. Even if cookware contaminated with aflatoxin were sterilized at high temperatures or disinfected with bleach, the toxicity couldn’t be removed.
Having married into the Zhao family for years and having been a housewife for a long time, she knew that although Zhao Zongbao was selfish and cunning, he was talented in business. The Zhao family was wealthy enough to hire a housekeeper, so she didn’t need to do much. Her focus was on the two children and taking care of their studies.
From then on, she used the excuse of preparing nutritious meals for the two children and the elderly to dismiss the housekeeper and started cooking herself every day. She researched recipes and made nourishing meals for Zhao Lao-tou, Zhao Lao-tai, and Zhao Zongbao.
She pleased Zhao Lao-tou and Zhao Lao-tai so much that they boasted to everyone about how sensible and virtuous their daughter-in-law was. They often called a few of her younger aunts back to their maternal home to eat, insisting that Xu Huiqing cook for them.
Even Zhao Zongbao came home more often. The entire family, except Xiao Xi, was united and harmonious.
Afraid that the toxic residue in the tableware couldn’t be removed by heat, she had the two children live at school. Xiao Xi always obeyed her; when told to stay at school, she complied obediently. That was the first time she let Xiao Xi choose any school she liked in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, or Shanghai and any major she wanted.
“If it really doesn’t work out, we’ll just go abroad,” she said softly, stroking Xiao Xi’s hair.
It was her first time doing something like this. She was scared—afraid of leaving a trace, afraid of being caught before avenging, and afraid that the poison wouldn’t be strong enough or the revenge too late.
So she tried to keep Xiao Xi away from home as much as possible. She didn’t know which utensils were contaminated with the indelible toxic mold. She was ready to die herself but feared harming Xiao Xi through her own mistakes.
Since then, the second aunt who rarely came over before became a regular at their dining table. Except for her son Zhao Bei, who had his own set of dishes, everyone else’s bowls, chopsticks, and food were laced with aflatoxin.
Zhao Zongbao ate less since he came home less often. Zhao Lao-tou and Zhao Lao-tai lived with her day and night, and since Zhao Lao-tai’s health was already declining, she was the first to be sent off.
Thinking back on her past life, Xu Huiqing slowly closed her eyes as a tear slid down her cheek.
She didn’t know if it was during Xiao Xi’s high school years, when she had her stay at school and come home less, that Xiao Xi misunderstood and thought she didn’t love her.
Zhao Third Aunt was naturally loud. At that moment, the newborn was awake, and like all the family members taking care of the baby, she took the infant out to the balcony to sunbathe.
Zhao Fourth Aunt tiptoed out, closed the door, pointed into the room through the window, then pointed at her own eyes.
Zhao Third Aunt looked puzzled at first, then whispered, “Crying?”
Zhao Fourth Aunt silently nodded.
Zhao Third Aunt said, “It must be because Mom is too much.” Then she sighed again, “Mom wasn’t like this before.”
Zhao Fourth Aunt silently sighed as well.
Beside them, Zhao Fifth Aunt said, “Now that the son’s grown up, he thinks he’s got a backbone!”
Zhao Third Aunt lightly smacked her, “Stop talking nonsense!”
Zhao Fifth Aunt mumbled, “That’s just how it is!”
They daughters deeply felt the change in their mother.
With these three aunts around, Xu Huiqing’s life became much easier.
All three had given birth themselves, so they knew that postpartum was the most vulnerable and helpless time in a woman’s life. They knew exactly what she needed, whether it was help going to the bathroom or washing up, and even taking care of the newborn, leaving her with almost no worries. Her body recovered quickly in this environment.
Zhao Fourth Aunt was the first to leave. She had many things to attend to at home, and the hospital didn’t need too many people. She left the next day, leaving Zhao Third Aunt and Zhao Fifth Aunt behind. The two didn’t mind the simple hospital accommodations and even moved a bench from the hallway into the ward, setting it beside Xu Huiqing’s bed to squeeze in and sleep.
Zhao Third Aunt’s husband and Zhao Fifth Aunt’s husband returned home the same day. Once back, they talked with Zhao Lao-tou about Zhao Zongbao’s idea to renovate the old family house into a karaoke hall.
Zhao Lao-tou, having had his precious son at over forty years old, treated Zhao Zongbao like a treasure. His son’s words were like imperial edicts to him, so of course, he supported it.
The next day, workers were hired, cement and bricks were ordered from the factories, and construction began.
After two days, Zhao Eldest Sister also returned home. Only Zhao Third Aunt and Zhao Fifth Aunt stayed at the hospital to care for Xu Huiqing.
Xu Huiqing was supposed to be discharged earlier but stayed in the hospital for the entire postpartum month due to Zhao Zongbao’s hospitalization.
Tian Eldest Sister had over forty chickens. She had worried that the two postpartum women wouldn’t be able to finish them, constantly nagging at home. But one chicken per day was exactly enough for the two mothers. Even Zhao Third Aunt and Zhao Fifth Aunt sneaked a few sips of the bland chicken soup at Xu Huiqing’s bedside.
The newborn’s full month celebration was lively in the Zhao family!
Early in the morning, Zhao’s father had Zhao Fifth Aunt’s husband charter a van to pick them up from the hospital.
They rented a minivan.
Zhao Fifth Aunt’s husband was meticulous. He even specially placed a small bamboo bed in the center of the van, covered with quilts.
Xu Huiqing didn’t hesitate and lay down immediately, thanking Zhao Fifth Aunt’s husband.
The two-hour trip would have been hard on her back if she sat the whole time.
Zhao Fifth Aunt and her husband were both very decent people. Zhao Fifth Aunt said, “No need to be polite. Your brother-in-law should do this. Just lie down and rest. We’ll be home soon!” Then, in front of Zhao Zongbao and Xu Huiqing, she pulled out a red envelope and slipped it into the newborn’s swaddling, smiling, “May my great-nephew live a long life and go to university when he grows up!”
Zhao Third Aunt also took out a red envelope she had prepared in advance, saying the same blessing.
They had never given red envelopes during their hospital stay but had planned to present them together on the newborn’s full month day.
Just as the van arrived in Shu Town, firecrackers exploded, followed by the booming “Chongtian Xiang” at the Zhao family’s shop, drawing all the pedestrians on the street to gather and see what was happening.
The bamboo bed was meant to make Xu Huiqing comfortable lying down, but when they got off the van, Zhao’s mother insisted that Zhao Zongbao lie down instead. She said, “It takes one hundred days for injuries to heal. Zhao Zongbao hurt his foot and must be carried. Xu Huiqing has already finished her postpartum month, can’t she walk a short distance?”
Xu Huiqing had been lying down all the way in the van and wasn’t very comfortable. She didn’t argue but got up and let Zhao Zongbao lie down.
Many of the curious onlookers and relatives invited to the newborn’s full month banquet saw the van’s trunk open, and workers carried out a cooling bed. Everyone rushed to see the newborn, clawing to get a glimpse.
They even wanted to give red envelopes to the baby in front of everyone.
But when the quilts were pulled away, it wasn’t the mother who was there—it was the Zhao family’s man, Zhao Zongbao!