Chapter 1 – The Real Daughter Returns to the Village

July 1982, Mancang Commune, Jiangjia Village.

Jiang Niannian was driven out by her adoptive parents’ family. Now she stood empty-handed at the entrance of Jiangjia Village, where her biological parents lived. A large yellow dog from the village barked at her.

[Woof woof woof, there’s a stranger in the village! Who is this girl?
Ugh, my teeth have been hurting so much lately, I can’t even eat.]

“Did you get a bone stuck in your teeth?”

She wasn’t afraid at all of the dog barking at her. After hearing what it said, she simply asked it directly.

She used to run a pet shop—this kind of situation was nothing new.

The big yellow dog tilted its head at her.

[Woof woof, are you… talking to me?]

Jiang Niannian squatted down and said to the dog:

“Of course I’m talking to you. Open your mouth, let me see if you’ve got a bone stuck in your teeth.”

The big yellow dog opened its mouth, and sure enough, Jiang Niannian saw a shard of bone lodged in its molars.

“Hold still. I’ll pull it out—then it won’t hurt when you eat anymore.
But if you dare bite me, I’ll stew you!”

The big yellow dog barked twice:

[Don’t worry. I, Big Yellow, always keep my word. I definitely won’t bite you.]

Jiang Niannian smiled and reached out to remove the splinter of bone stuck in the dog’s gums.

[Hsss… Woof woof, that hurt like hell!
But ah, it really does feel better now.
I kept feeling like something was stuck there, and now it’s finally gone.
Woof woof, thank you! You don’t seem to be from our village—who are you looking for?]

Jiang Niannian replied, “I’m looking for the Jiang family. Do you know which house belongs to Jiang Xiaolin?
Can you take me there?”

[Woof woof, there’s nothing I, Big Yellow, don’t know in this village! Of course I know the Jiang family. Come, I’ll take you.
That girl from the Jiang family—just a few days ago, she suddenly left a letter and ran off, saying she wasn’t their biological daughter and was going to find her real parents. Broke Auntie Jiang’s heart, she’s cried her eyes almost blind.
The Jiang brothers wanted to find her, but they didn’t know where to look, so they were stuck worrying.]

As the big yellow dog rambled on, Jiang Niannian pieced together the situation.

Aside from Jiang Mother and Jiang Father, there were three sons in the Jiang family: Jiang Dafu, 21 years old; Jiang Dagui, 18; and Jiang Xiaolu, 8.

So, years ago, Jiang Dagui and Jiang Xiaolin—no, her original self—were fraternal twins?

And the couple who took the baby wanted the boy, Jiang Dagui, but accidentally took her instead?

What an absurdly foolish couple.

Jiang Niannian had just reached the gate of the Jiang household when a young man suddenly stormed out, looking furious.

“I’m going to find her! No matter where she is, I’ll bring her back!”

As he spoke, he suddenly spotted Jiang Niannian and froze, curiously sizing her up.

The yellow dog barked:

[This is your second brother, Jiang Dagui.]

Jiang Niannian looked him over. Now that she noticed, her face actually did resemble Jiang Dagui’s—about sixty to seventy percent similar.

Jiang Dagui frowned.
“Young lady, who are you looking for?”

“My name is Jiang Niannian. A few days ago, a girl named Jiang Xiaolin came to my house.
She said she was my parents’ real daughter and that there had been a baby swap years ago.
She gave me this address and told me to come find my biological parents, so I…”

Jiang Dagui’s face lit up with joy as he stared at her in disbelief.

“You’re… my little sister?!
Where’s my little sister?”

Jiang Niannian frowned. Her first impression of this second brother wasn’t great.

The yellow dog barked from the side:

[Woof woof, I heard it all! She’s your real sister, so what are you still looking for?]

Jiang Niannian couldn’t help but smile. People really were no match for dogs.

“If you want to know, I can write down the address for you. She’s currently staying at my adoptive parents’ house in the city.”

Jiang Dagui looked delighted.

“That’s great! Come inside and write it down for me. I’ll go bring her back—Mom has cried herself sick since she left.”

Just then, Jiang Dafu, who had followed them to the gate, stepped out and looked Jiang Niannian up and down.

“You said just now… that you’re our real sister?
And because Jiang Xiaolin went to your city home, you came here?”

Jiang Niannian nodded calmly, observing their expressions.

“That’s one way to put it.”

Jiang Dafu beamed with happiness.

“Little sister! So that means you really are our biological sister—this is wonderful!
I’m your eldest brother, Jiang Dafu. He’s your second brother, Jiang Dagui.
Come inside and meet Mom and Dad. They’ll be thrilled to see you.”

As he spoke, Jiang Dafu tried to lead her into the courtyard, but Jiang Dagui grabbed his arm.

“Big Brother, wait!”

Jiang Niannian silently watched the two brothers interact.

Jiang Dagui gave her a glance, then pulled Jiang Dafu inside the yard.

The yellow dog also went in to listen to their conversation.

Jiang Niannian stood at the gate, waiting. She was already thinking—if the Jiang family didn’t welcome her, what would she do next?

Maybe she could just buy her own courtyard house, reopen a pet shop, and support herself again.