Chapter 1: The Real and Fake Ye Fan.

“Tao Chunlan was a strong and capable woman, a fearless female warrior before the founding of the nation, and a tireless comrade afterward. At this moment, she appeared worn out; her normally upright shoulders were now hunched, and the dark circles under her eyes suggested a profound fatigue. Her eyes were bloodshot, indicating that she hadn’t eaten or slept well in many days.

‘Fan Fan, what are you thinking?’ Tao Chunlan gazed at her daughter, whom she had painstakingly raised. She didn’t want her to be caught in a difficult situation, yet the glimmer of hope in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

This situation wasn’t something Ye Fan could simply dictate.

Moreover, Ye Fan was not really Ye Fan.

Ye Fan had grown up in the twenty-first century as a diligent student from a small town, striving for success in the big city. She worked hard to earn a car, a house, and savings, only to find herself overwhelmed by the relentless pressures of modern life, ultimately leading to her untimely death from exhaustion.”

“In the moment she lost consciousness, Ye Fan was filled with profound regret. If she were to have another life, she vowed to take better care of her health and truly live.

Then, unexpectedly, Ye Fan lived again.

The good news was that she had rejuvenated by over a decade, awakening in the body of an eighteen-year-old girl. The bad news was that she had been thrust back in time by more than half a century, landing in the 1960s. Coincidentally, this girl also bore the name Ye Fan, but unfortunately, she found herself in an era marked by the suspension of college entrance exams. Faced with three stark choices in her new life—joining the military, moving to the countryside, or getting married—Ye Fan felt trapped.

Having always been frail and sickly, Ye Fan knew how much effort and money her mother, Tao Chunlan, had poured into raising her to be as healthy as a normal child. The thought of sending her to the army was simply out of the question for her mother. Even if Tao Chunlan were willing, Ye Fan could not endure the intense physical training demanded by military life.

Reluctant to see her daughter toil in the fields, Tao Chunlan suggested that they arrange a marriage instead. This way, they could delay the wedding for a few years, hoping that the political and social climate would improve before committing to a life together.”

“Little Ye Fan believed that if others could contribute to the Four Modernizations, she could too, even if it meant going to the sparsely populated and barren regions. Tao Chunlan, her mother, had worn her voice raw trying to dissuade her, but Ye Fan was determined to go to the countryside. Frustrated by her daughter’s stubbornness, Tao Chunlan’s temper flared, and she locked Ye Fan in her room.

Tao Chunlan’s husband was stationed in the army, and her son and daughter-in-law lived at their workplace. With her own job keeping her busy and food readily available at home, Tao Chunlan thought little of it and left Ye Fan to stew in her frustration. After a while, when the noise from Ye Fan’s protests died down, Tao Chunlan finally unlocked the door, only to find that Ye Fan hadn’t touched the food. Her daughter looked extremely frail, and in her concern, Tao Chunlan failed to notice that this Ye Fan was no longer the same as the one she knew.

Fearing the loss of her daughter, Tao Chunlan decided to compromise. Ye Fan, realizing she needed to take a step back, admitted her mistakes. However, Tao Chunlan suspected her daughter might be playing a clever game to escape, prompting Ye Fan to address a very practical concern. She explained that after several meals without food, she had fainted from hunger. What if she faced floods or droughts in the village, where resources would be scarce? Would she not starve to death in an unfamiliar place?

Seeing her daughter finally maturing, Tao Chunlan’s maternal instincts kicked in, and she immediately began to arrange matchmaking opportunities for her.”

“Two years later, Ye Fan got married, and her husband was called to the army. Concerned that her daughter might not adjust well to life in her in-laws’ home, Tao Chunlan decided to bring Ye Fan back to live with her. This arrangement lasted for five years.

Recently, Ye Fan received a letter from her husband, who informed her that he had been promoted to a regiment level and that his military unit had a family housing area. He mentioned that Ye Fan could join him there, and he would come home on leave to pick up his wife and children. However, before her husband could return, the real Ye Fan came back.

The true Ye Fan now went by the name Chen Xiaohui and was from Shen City.

It was through Chen Xiaohui’s arrival that Ye Fan learned that Tao Chunlan and her husband had spent several years in Shen City before and after the founding of the nation. Along with Chen Xiaohui came her adoptive parents, who were actually Ye Fan’s biological parents.”

“Ye Fan’s biological mother explained that on the day she gave birth, her husband was busy with work, and in her haste, she ended up mistakenly taking home the wrong baby.

If Ye Fan were still the pampered daughter of the Ye family, ignorant of the hardships faced by ordinary people, she would likely believe such an explanation without question.

During Ye Fan’s pregnancy, Tao Chunlan had constantly reminded her that while adults needed to be healthy, it didn’t guarantee that the child would be. She insisted that Ye Fan must rest more. Reflecting on her own past, she recalled how she had once taken her good health for granted, leading to several close calls during Ye Fan’s childhood.

In her previous life, Ye Fan was born in the year 2000, in the twenty-first century, a time when even in rural areas, some parents would abandon weak and sickly children. Furthermore, little Ye Fan was born in the same year as the founding of the Republic. It was an era where, despite wealth, acquiring quality goods was a challenge. Just by observing how little Ye Fan’s biological parents dressed, one could guess that they had little money at the time. If they were also hoping for a daughter, what could be easier than simply swapping for one that already existed?”

“Tao Chunlan had worked in intelligence during her youth, and with a single glance at the three people before her, she sensed that there was more to the story than met the eye. However, given the situation, delving deeper into the truth could potentially hurt both of her daughters’ feelings. As a result, Tao Chunlan could only pretend to wholeheartedly believe the claims made by Ye Fan’s biological parents.

The incident had occurred suddenly, leaving both Tao Chunlan and Ye Fan unprepared emotionally. Their household consisted solely of the two women and the two children, creating an atmosphere of panic and confusion. In response, Tao Chunlan invited the Chen family—Chen Xiaohui and her adoptive parents—to stay for the time being. She quickly contacted her husband, son, and daughter-in-law, asking them to return home so they could discuss how to handle the situation together.

When Ye Fan’s brother and sister-in-law received the phone call, they found the whole matter absurd. However, upon arriving home and seeing Chen Xiaohui’s appearance, which closely resembled Tao Chunlan’s from her youth, the three of them fell into a heavy silence.”

“Chen Xiaohui remained silent, feeling the weight of the situation. Her adoptive parents were unnerved into silence by the sight of Ye Fan’s father in his military uniform. Sensing the tension in the room, Tao Chunlan called on Ye Fan to speak. Ye Fan first smiled gently to reassure her mother, addressing her with warmth, before turning to her biological mother, Zhao Ruying, and saying, ‘It’s not as serious as we think.’

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan’s sister-in-law immediately relaxed. As she had suspected, even if this were indeed the real Ye Fan, she wouldn’t be the type to weep and wail over the revelations. She had often told her husband that he shouldn’t be so dramatic, to which he would bark back that she wouldn’t understand unless she had been in the same situation.

‘Mama—’

At this, both Tao Chunlan and Zhao Ruying turned their attention towards her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.”

“Ye Fan stood there in a daze, momentarily frozen by the gravity of the situation. Despite having mulled over the implications in the past few days, this moment still drew a bittersweet smile from her. After a moment of contemplation, she turned to Zhao Ruying and said, ‘I think I’ll call you Mom and Dad. To me, the love from giving life and the love from raising a child are equally important. Just because you gave birth to me doesn’t mean I should forget about the parents who raised me.’

Tao Chunlan felt a wave of relief and pride wash over her as she nodded approvingly. Zhao Ruying and her husband exchanged smiles, both nodding in agreement. ‘We’ll listen to you,’ they said, glancing over at Chen Xiaohui, ‘Xiaohui feels the same way.’

This exchange, charged with emotional significance, underscored the complexities of family ties and the deep connections forged through both blood and nurturing.”

“Ye Fan couldn’t help but notice Chen Xiaohui’s shifty eyes on the day she first arrived at the Ye family home. The girl seemed unusually nervous, which left a poor impression on Ye Fan. As she reflected on this, she glanced over at Chen Xiaohui. The younger girl, who had initially hung her head low, suddenly lifted it, tilting her chin slightly upwards. Her expression conveyed a mixture of arrogance and satisfaction, which puzzled Ye Fan.

Feeling bemused, Ye Fan struggled to understand what could possibly be making Chen Xiaohui so pleased with herself. Choosing to set that aside for the moment, she continued, ‘Mom, both Xiaohui and I are grown up now. I don’t have to stay in the Ye family, nor do I need to go back to Shencheng. Tomorrow, Geng Zhiye might arrive home this afternoon. I could go with him to the army. My work transfer is all set, and Xiaohui could easily take my place—’

‘I’m not trying to take your job,’ Chen Xiaohui interrupted, her tone sharp and defensive.”

“Ye Fan furrowed her brow, feeling slightly annoyed. When had she ever said that Chen Xiaohui was trying to take her job? ‘Xiaohui, you must have misunderstood. My colleagues can’t take on my responsibilities; if I leave, they’ll need to find someone else regardless. Rather than giving that opportunity to outsiders, it’s better to offer it to someone from our family.’

Tao Chunlan nodded in agreement, ‘Fan Fan is right.’ She then turned to Zhao Ruying and asked, ‘What do you think?’

Zhao Ruying’s immediate reaction was to look at Chen Xiaohui.

Seeing this, Ye Fan’s sister-in-law raised an eyebrow. It seemed that, like Ye Fan, Chen Xiaohui was also strong-willed. Previously, she had assumed Chen Xiaohui was just quiet and shy due to her reserved demeanor. ‘Xiaohui, have you already found a job? Ye Fan’s work is quite complicated; it might not be to your liking. Mom, Auntie, let’s hear what Xiaohui thinks first.’

The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension as everyone awaited Chen Xiaohui’s response, each person’s eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.”

“Chen Xiaohui was caught off guard by the question.

The Ye family had connections, and before arriving, Chen Xiaohui had considered that Ye Fan might have a job. However, she was surprised to learn that Ye Fan had been married for many years to a soldier. Given her understanding of Ye Fan’s parents, she never thought they would allow their daughter to marry someone in the military. The separation between spouses was one issue; in this era, the northern regions were tumultuous, and the south was restless. There were unrest in the skies and complications at sea as well. Every young officer with a promising future and military achievements carried the potential risk of sacrifice.

What surprised Chen Xiaohui even more was Ye Fan’s casual mention of transferring her job to her. It left her momentarily dazed, struggling to find her words. ‘I, I haven’t really thought it through—’ she stammered, her voice trailing off as uncertainty clouded her thoughts.”

Ye Fan’s sister-in-law gently asked, “Haven’t you figured out what you want to do yet?”

At twenty-five years old, Chen Xiaohui felt as though she was being treated like a foolish child. She quickly replied, “No, that’s not it. We just didn’t know Ye Fan was married or that she had the opportunity to go with her husband. I just wanted to see what my biological parents looked like. If I didn’t do this, it would weigh heavily on my mind, and I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else.”

Traveling thousands of miles from Shencheng to the capital just to meet someone, with no ulterior motives—wasn’t that a stretch? At first, Ye Fan couldn’t stand Chen Xiaohui and even questioned if she was being overly sensitive. But for the sake of Comrade Tao Chunlan, Ye Fan decided to hold her tongue. “So, do you have a job in Shencheng?” she asked, feigning disinterest.

Zhao Rujing blurted out, “No!”

Ye Fan was immediately curious about what Chen Xiaohui intended to do. “Since you don’t have one, what are you worried about?” she asked.

Tao Chunlan couldn’t help but inquire, “Are you worried that we’ll bully you, Xiaohui?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaohui panicked, eager to clarify, “No, no! That’s not it. It’s just that my household registration is in Shencheng, and they have strict regulations now. Since Ye Fan’s registration is here, can I even move mine over?”

Is that what she was worried about? Ye Fan was quite surprised. “My household registration isn’t here,” she replied.

“Not here?” Chen Xiaohui exclaimed, taken aback. “But don’t you live here?”

Ye Fan shook her head. “My household registration is at my in-laws’ house.”

Zhao Rujing couldn’t help but ask, “If your household registration is at your in-laws’ house and Xiaohui’s registration is moved here, wouldn’t that mean we no longer have a daughter?”

Ye Fan was left speechless. What kind of logic is that? No wonder they could come up with such a toxic and foolish idea as swapping children.

Suppressing her growing irritation, Ye Fan maintained her composure. “Even if Xiaohui doesn’t move her registration here, does that mean she won’t get married in the future? And even if she doesn’t get married, she still needs to transfer her household registration for work. Besides, Xiaohui has moved before.”

Ye Fan’s sister-in-law, with her straightforward personality, grew impatient with the back-and-forth. The gentleness she had displayed earlier was gone as she cut in, “When moving to the countryside, the household registration must be transferred as well. This isn’t something that Aunt should be unfamiliar with, right?”

Zhao Rujing immediately realized she had misspoken. “What I meant was that both Ye Fan and Xiaohui are in the capital, and it will be difficult for us to meet in the future.”

“Are you saying I should go back to Shencheng with you?” Ye Fan couldn’t help but ask.

Zhao Rujing nodded in agreement.

Ye Fan felt an urge to lash out. Her sister-in-law, noticing the change in her expression, quickly grasped her hand to calm her down. Taking a deep breath, Ye Fan replied, “My household registration is at my husband’s place. The only way to transfer it would be to get a divorce!”

“Isn’t there any other way?” Zhao Rujing glanced toward Ye Fan’s father, seeking a solution.

“Are you suggesting that my dad should use his connections? Have you lost your mind?” Ye Fan furrowed her brows and said, “Look, he can’t force me to get a divorce.”

“I’m not asking you to get divorced,” Zhao Rujing quickly replied, noticing Ye Fan’s displeased expression. “Well, let’s just not transfer the household registration for now. But you have to come back home with us. Xiaohui comes here, and if you don’t return with us, what will the relatives and neighbors think?”

“What does that have to do with me?” Ye Fan retorted sharply.

Zhao Rujing was momentarily taken aback, then glanced at Tao Chunlan and said, “Why does this child speak so rudely?”

Ye Fan felt irritated and couldn’t help but frown. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying my parents raised me the wrong way? Is it impossible that you two are the ones with issues? Given how twisted my circumstances are from the beginning, it’s already quite a feat that I’ve turned out like this!”

Chen Xiaohui was stunned, wondering how she could speak to her elders like this.

Zhao Rujing found it hard to breathe, while Ye Fan’s biological father suddenly sat up straight, tension radiating from him. Seeing this, Ye Fan’s sister-in-law quickly interjected, “Fan Fan, don’t talk nonsense!”

“I’m done wasting my breath with you,” Ye Fan replied, fed up after half a day of getting nowhere. Turning to the elderly couple from the Chen family, she said, “Although you’ve only been here for a day and a half, today is the third day. You must be tired from the journey, and you didn’t have time to think about things on the way here, nor did you have time to reflect before going to bed at night? The youngest person here is already twenty-five years old; none of us are fools. Just say what you want. If I hear any more nonsense about not wanting this or that, or doing things for your sake, you can pack your bags and leave immediately!”

Zhao Rujing shivered in fear. Her husband, Chen Kuanren, grasped her hand tightly and said, “What are you shouting for—”

“Shut up!” Ye Fan glared at him, her voice sharp. “When my mother gave birth, my father wasn’t there. A mother in labor can’t pay attention to everything; how could you not see what Xiaohui looked like? Just because newborns look somewhat alike doesn’t mean you can mistake one for the other! Did you think the swaddling clothes would all look the same? For the past twenty-five years, you never even considered switching back. Now you think you can come here quietly and switch without anyone noticing? Who told you the Ye family’s address? Just because we don’t mention it doesn’t mean we’re fools. Do you think only you two are clever in this world?”

Chen Kuanren, feeling humiliated and enraged, snapped back, “I’m your father; you should speak to me more respectfully!”

“Do you have any evidence? Just because we acknowledge that Chen Xiaohui is my mother’s child because they look alike doesn’t mean anything. There are plenty of people in this world who resemble each other but have no blood relation. What are you going to do if I don’t recognize her?” Ye Fan didn’t understand why the three of them, who seemed so prepared, were hesitating and entangled in this situation. Chen Xiaohui was born to Comrade Tao Chunlan, and Ye Fan wasn’t going to hold that against her. The one who switched the babies was Chen Kuanren, and he and Zhao Rujing seemed to be looking to make a profit from this situation. In their dreams!

Ye Fan pressed on, “Are you looking for a blood test to prove kinship, or do you have witnesses?”

Chen Kuanren was at a loss for words: “I, I—”

“Get to the point!” Ye Fan said coldly.

Chen Kuanren, Zhao Rujing, and Chen Xiaohui all trembled at her shout.

Tao Chunlan hurriedly tried to soothe the atmosphere: “Fan Fan, let’s talk calmly—”

Chen Kuanren interrupted, “It’s just—”

“Is this the main point?” Ye Fan asked, her voice laced with skepticism. Chen Kuanren instinctively tried to retract his words. Ye Fan turned to Zhao Rujing and said, “You two are the ones who swapped Xiaohui, so logically, you should compensate the Ye family. Considering you haven’t mistreated Xiaohui, I’ll let the money issue slide. If you truly care about Chen Xiaohui, my mother will go back to Shencheng with you tomorrow to transfer her household registration.”

Zhao Rujing quickly asked, “What about you?”

Ye Fan responded bluntly, “I have in-laws to take care of and children to look after; I don’t have time to go back to Shencheng.”

Chen Kuanren interjected, “That’s not acceptable.”