Chapter 26

Because Chen Zai was coming back for a meal, the entire family gathered at the old house today. Besides the elders, even the two younger female cousins were called back for dinner.

Xiao Man and Duo Bao had become friends when they blocked Shen Pan at Shu Yuan’s wedding. The two shy children had already huddled together to play.

Eldest Aunt Du Kang and Third Aunt Jiang Lanying had both gone to the kitchen. Shu Yuan followed as well, asking if there was anything she could help with.

There was a housekeeper cooking, and as the new daughter-in-law, Shu Yuan didn’t want to take the initiative to cook. Still, she needed to make a good impression.

Sure enough, Jiang Lanying pushed her out, saying, “You don’t need to help. The old man wants to talk to you. Go on now.”

Jiang Lanying didn’t seem eager to help in the kitchen either. She pulled Shu Yuan into the courtyard to chat, avoiding the chores. She was talkative and warm, asking how married life was going, and also inquired about Shu Yuan’s job at the photo studio.

Shu Yuan was being pulled along and couldn’t get away, so she thought for a moment and asked, “Third Aunt, do you know where I can buy traditional clothing? I need it for photo shoots, just one set will do.”

Jiang Lanying worked at the cultural center, so she might know something.

Jiang Lanying thought for a moment and said, “Would old clothes work? I know the Youth Drama Troupe has some costumes they’re getting rid of. Maybe it’s what you’re looking for.”

Shu Yuan didn’t beat around the bush and said, “Old clothes are fine, but they can’t be too worn. Otherwise, they won’t look good in photos.”

Jiang Lanying answered readily, “It’s just a set of clothes, isn’t it? That’s easy enough. I’ll ask around for you.”

“Thank you, Third Aunt,” Shu Yuan quickly said.

Jiang Lanying was straightforward and loyal. “What are you thanking me for? We’re family.”

Du Kang was busy in the kitchen but kept glancing outside. She thought to herself, Jiang Lanying sure knows how to slack off. With so many people here, how could the housekeeper manage all the cooking alone?

She deliberately pulled the new daughter-in-law aside to chat, trying to make herself look like a kind and caring elder.

Despite all the looks she had sent her way, Jiang Lanying acted like she didn’t see a thing. She even pulled Shu Yuan toward the main house again, calling out loudly, “Hurry inside, the old man is waiting to talk to you.”

After dinner, Chen Zai rode his bicycle with his wife and child along the main road. While pedaling, he said to Shu Yuan, “If you don’t like going back to the old house, we can go less often in the future.”

Shu Yuan smiled and said, “Why wouldn’t I want to go back? I don’t even have to cook, the food is plentiful and there’s meat to eat. I think it’s quite nice. What about you, Xiao Man?”

Xiao Man held tightly to the handlebar with one hand and patted his round little belly with the other. “Great-grandpa kept giving me food. I ate so much I’m stuffed.”

Chen Zai said, “Alright then, as long as you two are happy to go back.”

After the family of three left, Du Kang immediately went to find Chen Fumi. While refilling his teacup, she began to speak. “Dad, look, Xiao Man doesn’t even carry the Chen surname. He took his mother’s last name. All the children in our family have their names arranged by generation, and for boys, the character should be ‘Dian’ according to the genealogy. Chen Zai isn’t a live-in son-in-law, so does it make sense for Xiao Man to follow his mother’s surname? And besides, that child was born in the countryside years ago.”

Tao Leshan was her relative, and she felt the need to speak up on her behalf. Besides, the Tao family really had it rough. When the political movement came, they ran faster than anyone, which had caused the old man to hold a grudge against them.

She wanted to stir the waters and make it seem like the Tao family wasn’t all that bad.

How could Chen Fumi not see through her? Without even lifting his eyelids, he said, “As long as the young couple are happy, you don’t need to worry.”

That brief reply blocked everything Du Kang had prepared to say right in her throat. The old man had always been rigid and old-fashioned, full of rules and traditions. How could he possibly allow a great-grandson to take his mother’s surname? Yet when it came to Chen Zai, he abandoned all his principles.

But she wasn’t about to give up so easily. Pressing her lips together, she said again, “Dad, this marriage of Chen Zai’s came out of nowhere. He hid it from you the whole time, never breathed a word. And it’s clearly a mismatch in social standing. I don’t think things between the two of them are quite right, and I’m worried they’re hiding something from you.”

Chen Fumi drank his tea slowly and methodically, finally lifting his eyelids. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Du Kang frowned slightly. Did he really want her to spell it out?

Who knew if Shu Yuan had deliberately approached Chen Zai while in the countryside, like some old tale of a village girl scheming to win over a fallen young nobleman. Using every means possible to get pregnant and give birth, then using Xiao Man as a stepping stone to marry into the Chen family.

Anyone with a sound mind could figure that out. Did he think the old man couldn’t?

She was educated and well-mannered, the kind of person who couldn’t bring herself to say such things aloud. Besides, it was obvious the old man didn’t want to hear it.

Just keep indulging Chen Zai then. He was strict with everyone else, but when it came to this grandson, the old man was extraordinarily lenient no matter what he did.

The person Chen Zai looked down on most was his own father, but in truth, he was just like him. Both were rebellious sons.

——

Jiang Lanying was truly enthusiastic. She quickly helped Shu Yuan inquire about where to buy old clothes and even called the staff housing compound to arrange it. The two agreed to go to the drama troupe on Friday afternoon.

On Friday afternoon, Shu Yuan finished her work, took leave, and went straight to Qingnian Road with Xiao Man. After waiting for ten minutes, Third Aunt arrived and led Shu Yuan through several twists and turns before finally finding the Youth Drama Troupe in a one-story building.

The cleared-out props were a complete mess. From the pile, Shu Yuan picked out a light purple set that was nearly new, with a diagonal collar and toggle buttons, easy to put on and take off, and finely made.

There was also a wig shaped like a hat that could be worn directly on the head, along with separate braid pieces, hairpieces, hairpins, and silk flowers, allowing her to do the hairstyle herself. She also selected a prop thread-bound book and a silk fan.

She originally had four hundred and sixty yuan. Buying the camera and tin foil flowers had cost her two hundred sixty to seventy. These new purchases cost another twenty-two.

Before leaving, after some thought, she spent another three yuan to buy a pair of embroidered cloth shoes used as props.

Since these were clearance items, they were already very cheap.

With these things, it was more than enough. Shu Yuan packed everything into a travel bag, held Xiao Man’s hand, and left the drama troupe together with Jiang Lanying.

“Third Aunt, if you ever want photos taken, come to me. I won’t charge you,” Shu Yuan said gratefully, fully satisfied.

Jiang Lanying laughed and said, “How could I not pay? But I’ll definitely come visit when I have time.”

She brought everything back to the photo studio and continued working until the end of the day.

After dinner, Shu Yuan showed Xiao Man the clothes and decorative props she had bought, and the little guy was especially intrigued. He leaned over the table, watching and asking, “So with the camera and these things, Mom can start taking photos for people now?”

Shu Yuan nodded. “That’s right. I’m planning to go to a park with traditional architecture. When I have a day off, I’ll go. The first time would be best on a Sunday, when there are more people walking in the park. I can bring you along too.”

Xiao Man was eager to go and said excitedly, “I can help Mom look after the stuff.”

Seeing that Chen Zai had come over to take a look as well, Shu Yuan said, “These clothes and props weren’t easy to find. They came from the drama troupe’s clearance. It was Third Aunt who helped me get them.”

“Which Third Aunt?” Chen Zai asked.

Shu Yuan smiled. “Who else? Your Third Aunt.”

Alright then. He wasn’t familiar with Third Aunt, but it seemed Shu Yuan had already made contact with her.

Seeing that he was still looking, Shu Yuan said, “Third Aunt is really nice, very helpful. She agreed to help me find these things without a second thought.”

Shu Yuan had already sensed that Chen Zai had a distant personality. Or maybe in families like theirs, traditional and conservative, family affection tended to be rather cold. Aside from being close to his grandfather, he wasn’t familiar with the other relatives.

Chen Zai didn’t respond to that. Instead, he asked, “How are you planning to carry all this? Do you want me to make a wooden box for you?”

He didn’t know how she had come up with the idea of taking traditional costume photos for people, nor did he know whether she’d be able to attract any customers.

Shu Yuan was surprised. So he wasn’t just generous but also willing to help. Her impression of Chen Zai improved just a little more.

She straightforwardly stated her request. “Can you make a wooden box this big? It needs to be tied to the back of a bicycle, so it should be lightweight and not too heavy. Also, I need a reflector. Can you make that too?”

Chen Zai didn’t complain about her being particular and simply asked, “How do you make a reflector?”

Shu Yuan said, “Paste aluminum foil onto plywood. I’ve already bought the foil.”

She gestured with her hands. “About this big.”

Chen Zai readily agreed. “Alright.”

Shu Yuan was in a cheerful mood. Chen Zai had taken the initiative to help and communication between them was going surprisingly smoothly. Suddenly, she slapped her forehead, walked to the door, took down her crossbody bag from the wall, pulled out a stack of bills, and handed them to Chen Zai. “I didn’t end up using it. Thank you for being willing to lend me the money.”

Chen Zai took the money and stuffed it into his pants pocket, saying, “You’re welcome.”

Shu Yuan beamed and said, “It’s easy to borrow when you repay promptly, isn’t that right, Dr. Chen?”

In the days that followed, Chen Zai gathered wood planks, plywood, nails, glue, and various other materials and tools like saws and hammers. Dr. Chen turned into Carpenter Chen, using his evenings to make the wooden box and reflector for Shu Yuan.

Xiao Man helped from the side, occasionally handing him tools.

——

That day, after getting off work and returning to the staff housing compound, Shu Yuan picked up a letter and a remittance slip from the mailroom. It was sent by the Public Security Bureau of Baihua County. The remittance slip was for eighty yuan, the remaining foster care fees recovered from Lin Dahu.

She had written a letter to the Public Security Bureau earlier.

With this, the entanglement with that foster family was finally settled. There would be no further ties. People had to move forward. It wasn’t worth being held back by unpleasant experiences from the past.

“Xiao Man, look! The public security uncles gave us an award certificate.” Shu Yuan handed the certificate to Xiao Man.

Shu Yuan considered it an unexpected delight.

The certificate named them as an “Outstanding Individual for Courageous Acts,” issued by the Baihua County Public Security Bureau, complete with the bureau’s official stamp.

In this era, a certificate like this represented a great honor.

Xiao Man took the certificate and examined it carefully. He didn’t know many characters yet, but he understood that it was an award for his mother. A beautiful smile appeared on his handsome little face as he gave Shu Yuan a thumbs-up and said, “Mom, you’re amazing.”

Only then did Shu Yuan take out another certificate, smiling as she said, “There’s one for you too, Xiao Man. Look, this one’s yours.”

Xiao Man was overjoyed and quickly took the certificate. It must have been because he went to report the case that he had also been recognized as an Outstanding Individual for Courageous Acts.

In the past, he had always been scolded by the Zhang family for being stupid, for being an unwanted child. Every day he fed the pigs, cooked, collected firewood, worked tirelessly like a spinning top, yet no one had ever praised him. He had only ever belonged in a dark corner, unseen by others. Confidence was out of reach. What he had instead was a deep sense of inferiority. He even thought he had been abandoned because he wasn’t good enough.

But now the public security uncles had given him a certificate.

A wave of bittersweet emotion rose from Xiao Man’s throat and nose. He asked in disbelief, “Can Xiao Man really be a great kid too?”

Shu Yuan nodded firmly. “Of course. Xiao Man is the best. You have to believe in yourself.”

Xiao Man was deeply encouraged. With trembling hands, he gently smoothed the creases on the certificate. He felt that the sticky darkness inside him had been largely dispelled by his mother, leaving only a small patch hidden in the corner. Now, the darkness had cleared completely, and bright light stretched across everything.

Inside the envelope was a photo, a recent picture of Die Lai. Shu Yuan quickly handed the photo to Xiao Man and skimmed through the letter. “Die Lai is in the welfare home now. No one will beat or scold her anymore, and no one will try to sell her again. The public security officers said they’ve contacted the Public Security Bureau in Lucheng, and they’ll help find Die Lai’s birth parents.”

Holding Die Lai’s photo, Xiao Man asked with hopeful eyes, “Mom, will Die Lai be able to find her parents?”

Shu Yuan thought for a moment, then pointed to a small black mole above Die Lai’s lip in the photo. “Look, she has a small mole here. If she had it before she went missing, this kind of mark will make it easier for her to be found.”

Shu Yuan’s serious and thoughtful answer made Xiao Man feel that she wasn’t brushing the matter aside. She truly cared. After thinking for a moment, he asked again, “Mom, does Auntie Lin Xiaotao still have to marry that old bachelor?”

What a kind-hearted child, he was still worried about Lin Xiaotao’s situation.

Shu Yuan replied, “It’s written in the letter. The public security officers helped her return the bride price, so she won’t be forced by Lin Dahu to marry anymore. She should be able to choose her partner freely now.”

Seeing them flipping through the certificates and discussing all sorts of things, Chen Zai felt the amount of information in their conversation was overwhelming, beyond what he could digest. He spoke slowly, “Shu Yuan, you’ve never told me how you brought Xiao Man back.”

Shu Yuan immediately sat up straight and looked back at Chen Zai, only to see his expression calm and unreadable, his eyes dark and bottomless. It seemed he had already picked up on something unusual from the certificates and their conversation.

Shu Yuan had no intention of telling him every detail. He would definitely think the situation was much more serious than it was and might even overthink it.

To be fair, it was serious. But thankfully, she had arrived in time and nothing worse had happened.

She passed the ball to Xiao Man. “Ask your son.”

Xiao Man was suddenly handed the ball. He looked at Shu Yuan, then at Chen Zai. He felt as if there was an invisible tug-of-war going on between his parents, and he didn’t know what to say. His dad was still waiting for an answer. After blinking his big eyes a few times, he said, “Dad, I’ll tell you when I grow up.”

Chen Zai looked at the mother and son. “……”

——

Shu Yuan pasted Die Lai’s photo on the glass window of the photo studio, with the words Missing Person written underneath.

“A lot of people come and go at the studio. More people will see this photo,” Shu Yuan said.

Xiao Man was touched. His little heart felt full, wrapped in a warm sense of comfort. Mom was busy, working hard to earn money and repay debts. She could have chosen to stay out of it, but she was doing everything she could to help his friend. He lay across Shu Yuan’s knee, looking up at her with admiration in his eyes. He wanted to say, “Mom, you’re so kind, you’re so beautiful,” but felt too shy to say it out loud.