Chapter 2: Fainting

Ye Fan thought to herself, I’m not a minor, you don’t get to decide whether this is okay or not.

“I haven’t finished speaking. The Ye family raised me, and when they grow old, I’ll take care of them. Xiaohui was raised by you, and when you grow old, she’ll take care of you. You gave birth to me, and when you die, I will bury you properly. As for everything else, don’t even think about it.”

Chen Kuanren, Zhao Ruping, and Chen Xiaohui were all stunned, clearly not expecting Ye Fan to say such a thing in public.

Two days ago, when the Chen family arrived at the Ye household, Ye Fan had sent her two children to her in-laws’ home. Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping stayed in the guest room, while Chen Xiaohui stayed in the children’s room. Over the past couple of days, worried they might get bored or uncomfortable, Ye Fan kept making small talk with them.

Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping both agreed that this trip was worth it, just like Xiaohui had said—they had gained a good relative and another daughter.

Chen Kuanren snapped back to reality, blood rushing to his head. He suddenly stood up. “We’re leaving!”

Tao Chunlan stood up to block him. “Chen—”

Ye Fan interrupted, “Mom, sit down. Who knows whose benefit they’ve received to come here and cause us trouble.”

Chen Kuanren stopped, feeling greatly insulted. He pointed a trembling finger at Ye Fan. “Say that again!”

“How else am I supposed to think?” Ye Fan shot back. “What happened in the last twenty-five years? Xiaohui’s supposed to go to the countryside, and you didn’t bring her back. Are you worried I’ll suffer if I go to the countryside?”

Chen Kuanren paused for a moment, then nodded. “Right!”

The group was quite surprised.

Ye Fan didn’t even blink. “Do you dare swear that you didn’t come looking for me because you didn’t want me to suffer, not because you were afraid I’d die early from being frail, and that you came here like today? Xiaohui returned to the Ye family, and now you don’t have a daughter?”

Chen Kuanren froze, Zhao Ruping looked awkward, clearly confirming that Ye Fan had guessed correctly.

Chen Xiaohui shook her head in disbelief and instinctively grabbed the armrests of the chair.

No, this isn’t how it is.

Chen Xiaohui silently told herself to calm down, and her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to eight years ago.

In the autumn of 1966, when the college entrance exams were suspended, the streets urged Chen Xiaohui to go to the countryside, but she wanted to wait a little longer. After managing to delay until after the new year, the situation at school hadn’t improved, in fact, it had gotten even more chaotic. When Chen Xiaohui returned home from school, she ran into a street official who once again urged her to go to the countryside. She didn’t want to go, and one night, unable to sleep, she thought about talking to her mother. She overheard her parents talking about how “if we knew Xiaohui couldn’t stay, it would have been better to raise our own.”

In her past life, before they could say any more, Chen Xiaohui had stormed in, turning on the light, and asked what they meant. Chen Kuanren explained that they had only realized their mistake after bringing the child home. They had gone to look for the real family but couldn’t find them, only knowing that the other family was named Tao Chunlan. He was busy with work and felt that since the child was small, whoever raised her would naturally have a bond with her, so he had raised her as his own.

Chen Xiaohui, in her desperation, asked Chen Kuanren about the number of children in that family. If there was only one, she wouldn’t have to go to the countryside if she could just be swapped. After just a few days of hesitation, Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping agreed. Chen Xiaohui always believed that they cared for her, after all, they had raised her.

In her previous life, she got her wish and was swapped, which forced Ye Fan to go to the countryside, though the Ye family never openly said anything, they resented her deeply. That year, when Ye Fan returned to the Ye family in Shencheng, she immediately received news about a match being arranged for her, and was married off back to the capital.

Not long after, the college entrance exams were reinstated, and Ye Fan’s brother and sister-in-law found a tutor for her. After graduating from university, Ye Fan worked at a state-owned enterprise. That enterprise later became a leader in the industry, and Ye Fan became its helm. Meanwhile, Chen Xiaohui, who had married and had children early, couldn’t find the time to study for university exams, and after the reforms, she almost lost her job.

Her husband suggested that she soften her stance towards her parents, but Chen Xiaohui believed that she could make her own way in life. However, with limited knowledge and little communication with her natal family, she missed many opportunities to make money. Later, because of the hard work and poor nutrition, she fell ill, with the medical bills still paid by Ye Fan.

Even now, Chen Xiaohui feels frustrated when she thinks about this.

This time, the street committee was still pushing her to go to the countryside. Chen Xiaohui spent sleepless nights, and just the morning before she overheard her parents’ conversation in her previous life, she remembered the past. Chen Xiaohui decided to go to the countryside. If Ye Fan could stay there for seven years, she could too. In her previous life, the Ye family’s resources were tilted towards Ye Fan, but this time, it was her turn.

But if what Ye Fan said was true, then in her previous life, she had scrimped and saved while being filial to Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping… Chen Xiaohui’s vision went dark, and her body fell backward.

“Chen Xiaohui?”

In her daze, Chen Xiaohui saw Ye Fan rushing toward her in a swift motion. When she opened her eyes again, she found Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping standing beside her.

“Are you awake?” Ye Fan asked as she pushed open the door.

Zhao Ruping was very surprised: “You didn’t leave?”

Chen Kuanren, recalling what had happened earlier, felt a surge of anger: “Xiaohui almost got killed by your anger, and you still dare to come?”

Ye Fan didn’t want to make a scene in the hospital room: “I asked you to swear, not Xiaohui. You weren’t killed by me, so what’s she angry about? Chen Kuanren—”

“I’m your father!”

Ye Fan: “Do you have any proof?”

Chen Kuanren deflated like a punctured balloon. When he tried to shout at Ye Fan again, he met her gaze, which seemed to see through everything. He opened his mouth, but all he could manage was, “—You’re not welcome here!”

Ye Fan was over ten years older than Chen Xiaohui in both her previous and current lives, so she didn’t want to argue with her. Chen Xiaohui was the victim, and Ye Fan didn’t want to hold any grudges: “I’m not here to visit you. I came to visit Xiaohui because of my adoptive parents. Xiaohui, you are the daughter of the Ye family, and it’s only natural for you to come back. You don’t need to worry about what I think; I’m the wife of the Geng family!” She glanced at Chen Kuanren, then turned her gaze to Zhao Ruping. “I don’t care about the Chen family’s affairs; they have nothing to do with me. Don’t try to persuade me. The hospital bills have already been paid. Xiaohui, think it over and go to the Ye family. Comrade Tao Chunlan is always available to accompany you to Shencheng to transfer your household registration.” With that, she turned and walked out.

Chen Xiaohui instinctively called out, “Wait—”

Ye Fan stopped and turned back. “You want to ask why the Ye family hasn’t come? My older brother drove you here. I asked him to go back and tell my parents you’re fine, so they don’t worry. I didn’t ask my parents to come, so if you want to blame someone, blame me. But I still want to say—they are respectable people, not like the despicable ones who swapped children—”

Chen Kuanren jumped up angrily, “Who are you calling despicable?”

“Did I say it was you? Why are you so eager to take offense?” Ye Fan shot him a glare and continued, “They raised you, and you raised them. There’s no debt between you, and you don’t have to keep in touch with each other. When you two die, let Xiaohui know. If they get old and need a daughter to mourn for them, I’ll notify Xiaohui. I’ve said this before. But Xiaohui, I want to remind you, whether you listen or not, the Chen family wronged you, and no one will blame you if you don’t take care of them.” She pointed to the fruit and snacks by her bed. “These were bought for you.” After saying that, she opened the door and left again.

Chen Kuanren cursed a few words and then pointed at Chen Xiaohui, saying, “I told you so. With the Ye family’s good conditions, she could never go back with us.” He then pointed at Zhao Ruping, “You still say she’s your daughter? Look at what you’ve got—this is your daughter?”

The door to the hospital room suddenly opened, and Chen Kuanren seemed to be choked, his face turning red with the pressure.

Ye Fan leaned against the doorframe. “Chen Xiaohui, you don’t have to suffer in the Chen family.” She nodded toward Zhao Ruping. “I heard you have a pension. I suggest you divorce. Your salary is yours to keep, and you don’t have to serve this despicable old man.”

Chen Kuanren, furious, raised his hand to strike, but Ye Fan quickly moved aside and slammed the door shut. The sound of the door hitting him made Chen Kuanren slam into it, and Chen Xiaohui was startled. Zhao Ruping ran over, exclaiming, “Are you hurt?”

Chen Kuanren rubbed his hand and then his face, wincing in pain as he inhaled. “Get Xiaohui discharged, we’re leaving now, immediately going back to Shencheng!”

Chen Xiaohui couldn’t help but ask, “Am I coming back too?”

“You still want to stay here?” Chen Kuanren asked incredulously. “Aren’t you afraid Ye Fan will bully you to death? She’s just like the children of the big officials in Shencheng—arrogant, overbearing, and unscrupulous!”

Zhao Ruping nodded. “Xiaohui, your dad is right. This Ye Fan, I’ve finally seen through her. She’s spoiled by the Ye family. Besides, she’s already married, and we really can’t do anything about her not wanting to go back. If she didn’t even call the Ye family to see you, and they didn’t dare show their faces, it means they listen to her. Do you think you’ll be treated well when you go back to the Ye family, under her watch?”

In her past life, Ye Fan was powerful, and Chen Xiaohui believed it was because she had gone to university, seen more of the world, and had the support of the Ye family.

Before fainting, Chen Xiaohui felt resentful. She hadn’t known in her past life that Ye Fan had been frail and sickly, treating medicine like a meal. Why should the Ye family blame her? Ye Fan had enjoyed seventeen or eighteen years of privilege—wasn’t that enough? Now, hearing Zhao Ruping and Chen Kuanren complain, Chen Xiaohui seemed to understand that in her previous life, the Ye family hadn’t just disliked her for being clueless, but they hadn’t been close to her either.

This time, they’d only been here for a few days, but Ye Fan had already figured out that the swapped child was no accident but done on purpose. Perhaps, in her past life, the Ye family also thought she, like Ye Fan, had figured it out. They must have thought she sided with the Chen family, complaining about the Ye family’s favoritism toward Ye Fan, while to the Ye family, she seemed incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.

In the seven years since her rebirth, Chen Xiaohui had always believed that with more than twenty years’ worth of memories over Ye Fan, this life would allow her to do better, even without the Ye family’s support, as long as she managed to get into university.

Hearing Ye Fan call Chen Kuanren by his name, insult him, and intentionally try to provoke Zhao Ruping into divorcing, made Chen Xiaohui feel powerless. Her body softened, and she collapsed backward. Zhao Ruping rushed over and asked, “Xiaohui, why are you crying?”

Chen Xiaohui touched her face and realized she was indeed crying.

She didn’t know why she was crying, but the more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became. She had been frustrated in her past life, and now, she was frustrated again. Her throat tightened with the discomfort, but she couldn’t cry out.

Chen Kuanren snorted coldly, “You don’t want to leave, huh? I told you before that having two sons was enough, but you insisted on having a daughter. Now look, both of them belong to someone else.”

The habits Chen Xiaohui had developed over the years made her instinctively want to comfort them, to assure Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping that she would always be their daughter. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Ye Fan’s arrogant image appeared before her eyes, and unexpectedly, Chen Xiaohui felt a trace of envy. She immediately felt alarmed—she was actually envious of Ye Fan.

Impossible!

Chen Xiaohui unconsciously shook her head. She could never envy someone like Ye Fan, who had benefited so much in both her past and present lives.

“What about my job when I go back?” Chen Xiaohui asked the most practical question.

Chen Kuanren was stunned.

Both he and Zhao Ruping had pensions, but they weren’t much, just enough to support their two sons. Chen Xiaohui had no job, no partner, and lived off the family. Bringing her back would only add to their burden.

Chen Xiaohui hadn’t known her original surname was Ye; Chen Kuanren had raised her as his own. Now that she knew where the Ye family was, and the Ye family knew of her existence, the Ye family’s circumstances were much better than the Chen family’s. Chen Kuanren began to realize that, in the future, if Chen Xiaohui became closer to the Ye family, he wouldn’t be too happy to raise another daughter for them.

Zhao Ruping had indeed wanted a daughter, and now that Chen Xiaohui had returned to the city, she didn’t want her to be too far from her. Zhao Ruping had hoped that by accompanying Chen Xiaohui to reconnect with her family, either they would get her back, or Chen Xiaohui would return with her, and the Ye family would offer some compensation, like money.

But it turned out to be a complete failure.

It was all Ye Fan’s fault!

Zhao Ruping silently resented, thinking that if she had known things would turn out like this, she never should have given birth to her.

“Xiaohui, what will Mom do if you leave?” Zhao Ruping’s voice quivered, her eyes welling up with tears. “Mom has missed you every day, every month. After waiting so long for you to come back, if you stay in the capital, how will Mom live without you?”

Chen Xiaohui couldn’t help but feel moved, but Ye Fan’s mocking words echoed in her ears. She clenched her fists and pressed her lips tightly together. “I will be able to support you and Dad when I have a job and money, won’t I?” The Chen family lived in a cramped, old building, cooking in the hallway, sharing a bathroom and toilet with others. The house wasn’t soundproof, and the air was always heavy with smoke. It was nothing like the Ye family’s large, private compound, where even the guest rooms were bigger than the Chen family’s living room. Chen Xiaohui didn’t want to return. She had told the Ye family she was just stopping by, but in reality, she was retreating in order to make them think she was obedient and sensible, not demanding.

Zhao Ruping hadn’t expected life at the Ye family to be so good. The children had milk powder, and there was always meat for lunch or dinner. Even if there wasn’t, they could still have scrambled eggs with spring onions. The Ye family had surely arranged a great job for Ye Fan. Zhao Ruping felt a little tempted. “But the job isn’t from the Ye family. If Ye Fan says she’ll give it to you, can she really just give it to you?”

Chen Xiaohui replied, “The temp job pays around 10 or 20 yuan a month. If I eat and live at the Ye family, I can save 10 or so yuan a month. That adds up to 100 or 200 yuan a year.”

Zhao Ruping immediately looked at Chen Kuanren, asking him to make the decision.

Two days ago, Chen Kuanren had gone to the Ye family’s gate and seen the spacious courtyard. The clean windows and well-maintained house had given him a premonition. “It’s so far away. If you don’t visit us, we can’t really do anything about it.” He sighed, “Just consider that we raised you for nothing all these years.”

Suddenly realizing the truth, Chen Xiaohui was still struggling to process it. Her ingrained habits made her blurt out, “No—” Both in this life and the past, she cared deeply about face, and she couldn’t bring herself to say, “The Chen family has wronged her.” “Mom, I don’t want to go back to the countryside.”

Zhao Ruping sat down on the edge of the bed, thinking for a long time. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that if they had to go back to the countryside or marry into a family similar to the Chen family’s, she and her husband might have to continue supporting her. “Since the Ye family is willing, we should transfer the household registration first. We’ll deal with the future later.”

Chen Kuanren’s words were just meant to provoke Chen Xiaohui. Seeing her response, he was incredulous. “Transfer it? If she stays in the capital, you’ll die and decompose, and she still wouldn’t know.”

Zhao Ruping shook her head slightly. “I have a way to deal with her.” Then, she turned to Chen Xiaohui and said, “Mom respects your decision. But don’t let me down.”

Chen Xiaohui nodded solemnly. “Mom, I won’t. I’m not Ye Fan.”

On the other side of the wall, Ye Fan paused for a moment. It turned out that her feeling was correct—Chen Xiaohui really didn’t like her.

Ye Fan wasn’t made of gold and silver, and she had never expected to be loved by everyone. She wasn’t close to Chen Xiaohui, and she didn’t care about whether she liked her or not. She just shook her head and smiled, then continued waiting.

The Chen family came out and was startled. Chen Kuanren exclaimed, “You didn’t leave?”

“Xiaohui is new to the capital, unfamiliar with the place. She doesn’t even know where Zhengyangmen is. The Ye family didn’t send anyone, so what would it look like if I left?” Ye Fan asked, looking at the stunned Chen Xiaohui. “Discharge? I’ll go handle the discharge procedures.”