Chapter 7: Hometown

Went to find the Ji family?

Lin Shouyi’s face changed, but he quickly dismissed the idea, “Impossible. Our families haven’t been in contact for over ten years.”

Hearing this, Sun Xiuzhi wasn’t so sure anymore, “True, back then Qiao girl was too young to know about it. Even if the old lady told her, the Ji family wouldn’t care. Back then, Old Mr. Ji…” She stopped mid-sentence when Lin Shouyi looked over.

Sun Xiuzhi swallowed her words, leaving Lin Wei puzzled, “Who’s Old Mr. Ji?”

“None of your business!” Sun Xiuzhi glared at her son and sat back down on the kang, “If I’d known that girl was so restless, I should have locked her up at home. It turns out her obedient act was all fake. The moment something didn’t go her way, she pulled this stunt.”

Sun Xiuzhi repeated these words many times over the past day and a half while searching for Lin Qiao, and she said even harsher things.

Seeing his parents’ worried expressions, Lin Wei tentatively suggested, “Since Qiao Qiao doesn’t want to, why not just let it go?”

“Let it go? The Ma family has already given the betrothal gifts, and you want to let it go?” Sun Xiuzhi nearly jumped up.

Seeing her intense reaction, Lin Wei’s voice weakened, “If it doesn’t work out, we can return the gifts. Our family isn’t short of those things.”

He might think they weren’t short, but Sun Xiuzhi didn’t agree. “You say it so easily. That’s hundreds of yuan worth of stuff! We’ve already worn the clothes, eaten the meat, and your father drank the two bottles of good wine they gave us. What do you expect me to return?”

Hearing her mention the wine, Lin Shouyi coughed lightly, “That’s not the point. Since our families have already arranged the engagement, we can’t just back out. Besides, Qiao girl is being too headstrong. Even though Xiao Ma is divorced, he has good conditions and looks decent. If she marries him, she can enjoy life in the city, which is better than marrying a farmer. How can she just run away?”

Seeing Lin Wei still wanting to say something, he grew impatient, “What’s wrong with you today, saying such nonsense?”

Lin Hui, who was only two years younger than Lin Wei, yawned, “Yeah, did you let Lin Qiao run away on purpose?”

Having searched for over a day, she was fed up. Just mentioning Lin Qiao made her feel annoyed.

“Where could I have taken her?” Lin Wei quickly looked at his parents.

Lin Shouyi hadn’t considered this possibility and waved it off, “Alright, we’ve been searching all day. Let’s get some sleep.”

After sending the two children back to their rooms, Sun Xiuzhi scooped hot water from the large pot to wipe Lin Shouyi down, “What are we going to do about this?”

Sleeping was out of the question. Until they found Lin Qiao, none of them would be able to sleep.

Lin Shouyi frowned and pondered for a while, “We’ll tell them that Qiao girl got sick from the rain and can’t get married tomorrow. We’ll ask them to pick another date.”

A wedding is a joyous occasion, and no one wants to marry a sick bride. It’s not auspicious at all. The rain today could serve as an excuse, but it would only buy them some time. They still needed to find Lin Qiao quickly.

Sun Xiuzhi gritted her teeth, “Alright, I’ll go to the county tomorrow and explain it to them.”

However, the date had long been set, and the Ma family had likely already made arrangements for guests and food. Suddenly saying the wedding couldn’t happen wouldn’t be easy. They might even have to compensate for the inconvenience.

Thinking about how this was all Lin Qiao’s fault, Sun Xiuzhi’s anger flared up, “When that wretched girl comes back, I’ll show her!”

The next day, the weather finally cleared. After breakfast, Sun Xiuzhi prepared to leave, hoping to intercept the Ma family before they came to pick up the bride. Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out of the courtyard, she saw a familiar yet unfamiliar face.

Lin Qiao’s mother, Liu Yulan, had left early in the morning. Her shoes and pants were covered in mud, and she was standing by the roadside talking to someone. Her features bore a five or six-point resemblance to Lin Qiao, but her drooping eyes were gentle and kind, now filled with worry.

Sun Xiuzhi’s heart sank immediately, and her eyelids twitched when she saw who Liu Yulan was talking to.

Living in the same village, she couldn’t fail to recognize Zhao San’s wife, the former mother-in-law of Ma Rongliang, the Ma family’s previous in-laws. When Zhao San’s daughter, Xia, had her incident, Zhao San’s wife had loudly cursed the Ma family for being heartless.

Seeing these two together at this time, it was hard not to think the worst.

Sure enough, Zhao San’s wife noticed Sun Xiuzhi and raised her voice, “What kind of good person is Ma Rongliang? An ungrateful bastard! If it weren’t for our family helping him, he wouldn’t even know how to farm as an educated youth, let alone eat his fill. And what did he do? As soon as he returned to the city, he abandoned his wife and kids. And now you want to marry your Qiao Qiao to him? No wonder the girl got sick from the stress. She’s had two injections of heart tonic.”

Lin Qiao had indeed been sick a few days ago, and in a small village with only one health clinic, news spread quickly. But because she was sick, Sun Xiuzhi hadn’t expected her to have the strength to run away, giving her the chance to escape.

Since seeing Lin Shouyi yesterday, Liu Yulan has been uneasy. Who would go out in the pouring rain to ask if she had seen Lin Qiao?

Unable to sleep all night, she left home at dawn, trudging through the mud for nearly thirty miles. Hearing Zhao San’s wife’s words, her face turned red with anger, and she rushed to Sun Xiuzhi, “Where’s Qiao Qiao? Is she missing?”

Sun Xiuzhi couldn’t admit it and glared at Zhao San’s wife, “Qiao Qiao is at home. Don’t listen to those gossiping tongues.”

“Gossip? Do I need to gossip?” Zhao San’s wife laughed angrily. “I’m not the only one who knows. Ask anyone in the village if it’s true that as soon as your old lady died, you sold Qiao Qiao.”

Some things are better left unsaid. Sun Xiuzhi, already anxious, was further irritated by this confrontation, especially with people around overhearing. Her face turned even uglier, “You’re just bitter because your daughter wasn’t wanted and can’t stand others having a good life in the city. If you ask me, it’s your Xia’s fault for having two daughters. With the strict family planning in the city, checking periods every month, if you have more children, you lose your job. Your Xia couldn’t have a son, so why shouldn’t he find someone else?”

Each word hit a sore spot, and Zhao San’s wife, forgetting Liu Yulan, immediately started arguing with Sun Xiuzhi.

Not interested in their quarrel, Liu Yulan bypassed them and entered the courtyard. She met Lin Shouyi and his son, who was coming out to check on the situation. Her gaze swept over Lin Shouyi’s obviously displeased face and asked Lin Wei, who looked uncomfortable at the sight of her, “Dawei, tell me the truth. Is Qiao Qiao missing?”

When Liu Yulan remarried, Lin Wei was old enough to remember. He recalled that she always brought candy for Lin Qiao and would give him a piece too.

At that time, Sun Xiuzhi was repeatedly pregnant and busy caring for her sickly youngest son, leaving Lin Wei in the care of Grandma Lin. Looking at Liu Yulan, he couldn’t help but think that if she were his mother, she wouldn’t neglect him even with other children. Later, the younger brother didn’t survive, succumbing to a rash. Their parents took Lin Wei back, even for his sake…

Lin Wei lowered his head, unable to meet Liu Yulan’s anxious and earnest eyes. “Qiao Qiao is missing. She disappeared the morning before yesterday.”

Liu Yulan’s vision darkened, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.

Sun Xiuzhi, realizing what was happening, chased into the courtyard, meeting Liu Yulan’s tear-filled eyes. “You received the martyr’s subsidy, you got everything, and this is how you treat Qiao Qiao? If something happens to her, I… I don’t want to live either!”

Hearing her mention the martyr’s subsidy in public, Sun Xiuzhi was furious and embarrassed. “We raised the child ourselves. She doesn’t carry your surname Liu, nor your new husband’s surname Deng. You haven’t raised her for a day, so why meddle in our family’s affairs!”

“I didn’t raise her? Qiao Qiao grew up with my support. Every year I paid child support, but you wouldn’t let me see her!”

That morning, the family of the person Lin Qiao and the others had saved finally arrived at the hospital, repaid the medical expenses, and gratefully brought a lot of homemade dry food. As they ate and traveled, they arrived just in time to hear this argument, and they were stunned.

The original Lin Qiao had few memories of her mother, and those she had were filled with rejection. She always remembered Sun Xiuzhi’s words like “Why are you crying? Your mother abandoned you long ago” and “You don’t know, do you? Your mother had a big fat son with someone else.”

She never knew that Liu Yulan had paid child support.

The neighbors watching the commotion were also hearing this for the first time.

“Didn’t they say that Shouyi’s wife never cared about the child and never came to see her?”

“They also said Shouyi’s wife got involved with that Deng guy early on. Do you believe that? The two families live dozens of miles apart.”

“Yeah, and there’s that scoundrel Huang from our village. Even if Shouyi was away in the army, would Yulan look at Huang? I think she just saw that Yulan was good-looking, had a good temperament, and was liked by Old Lin and his wife…”

This conversation touched on the Lin family’s private matters. Xiao Fang cautiously glanced at Lin Qiao’s expression in the rearview mirror. “Should we stop here?”

Although Lin Qiao wasn’t the original Lin Qiao, she inherited her memories. It was impossible not to feel anger. Her father died early, her mother remarried, and at a time when a child needed the most care, Sun Xiuzhi constantly said these things in front of her. Even though Lin Qiao wasn’t the one who experienced it, she could feel the original’s helplessness.

Her face was unusually expressionless. “Stop here, please. Thank you.” As soon as she finished speaking, she couldn’t help but turn her head and sneeze.

It was already the tenth sneeze since morning. Ji Duo, in the front seat, turned back. “Are you catching a cold?”

“It’s nothing. Maybe the morning was a bit chilly.” Lin Qiao rubbed her nose, and as soon as Xiao Fang stopped the car, she opened the door.

In the rural areas of the 1980s, even tractors were rare, let alone Jeeps. Some people were busy watching the commotion, while others, hearing the noise, turned their heads curiously. Under their amazed or puzzled gazes, Lin Qiao walked over to support the trembling Liu Yulan.

Liu Yulan’s eyes were blurred with tears. She hesitated for a moment before recognizing her. “Qiao Qiao?” Her eyes were full of disbelief.

Not only had she thought the child was lost, but even before, Lin Qiao had rarely been so close to her.

No one expected that after two days of searching, Lin Qiao would return on her own. Especially Lin Wei, who widened his eyes, which were very similar to Lin Qiao’s, and blurted out, “Why did you come back?”

This statement was clearly off, but Sun Xiuzhi didn’t have the time to argue. She immediately grabbed Lin Qiao, “You’re back just in time.”

She held Lin Qiao’s wrist tightly, as if afraid she would run away again and started pulling her inside. “Why did you go out in such bad weather? You must have caught a cold in the rain. Luckily, the rain stopped today, or your uncle and I would have been worried sick.”

It seemed like she was trying to explain Lin Qiao’s disappearance over the past two days. As she spoke, she unconsciously circled back to the marriage with the Ma family. “The dress is ready, it’s on my bed. Hurry up and change, the groom’s party will be here soon.”

Lin Qiao stood still, and Liu Yulan grabbed her other hand, “No, you can’t go!”

With her gentle appearance, Liu Yulan looked at Lin Qiao with determination in her eyes and hands. “Listen to your mother. You can’t marry that kind of person. Xiao Xia gave him two children, and he abandoned them. He could do the same to you tomorrow.”

Such words could only come from a mother. Lin Shouyi and Sun Xiuzhi would never say them.

Lin Shouyi’s expression was beyond unpleasant. “Let’s talk inside. Whatever it is, we’ll discuss it inside.”

Sun Xiuzhi wanted to curse, but with time running out and so many people around, she forced a smile. “Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Shouyi and I are her real uncle and aunt. We wouldn’t harm her. Xiao Ma has a job in the city, and he’s a state worker. He cares about Qiao Qiao and sent the best nylon fabric and even rented a car to pick her up.”

Using a car to pick up the bride was a luxury only seen in the city.

After all, buses belonged to the bus station, and without connections, you wouldn’t even know who to rent from. In the countryside, having a bicycle was already impressive.

Sun Xiuzhi said this to prove she hadn’t mistreated Lin Qiao and to persuade her to marry quickly. But Lin Qiao, who had always been obedient and did whatever she was told, remained unmoved. “Aunt, I really can’t marry him.”

Sun Xiuzhi was stunned, and even Lin Shouyi frowned, “What do you mean?”

In the silence, whispers from outside the courtyard became particularly clear.

“Where did that car come from? The license plate doesn’t look like it’s from around here.”

“It looks like a military vehicle. How did Old Lin’s girl get out of that car?”

Out of that car?

Everyone turned to see Ji Duo closing the front passenger door, adjusting his sleeves, and walking over. Even with his military pants still slightly disheveled, he stood tall and sharp, exuding an imposing presence.

A Jeep was much rarer than a bus, and this man didn’t look like someone who would appear on a rural dirt road…

Sun Xiuzhi’s grip tightened instinctively, but the next second, Lin Qiao twisted her wrist and broke free. “Before Grandma passed away, she told me that Grandpa arranged a childhood marriage for me. I came back this time to get my household registration and go to Yandu to get married.”