Chapter 13: Taking the Child to Visit Relatives

The day He Yashu decided to set off, Zhong Youguo took the mother and daughter to the city’s train station. Only after watching them board the train did he leave.

“Mom, there are so many people on the train!” Little Zhong Ling looked around the train with curiosity. This was her first time riding a train, and seeing all the people coming and going made her very excited.

He Yashu placed their luggage on the rack, smiling at her daughter’s curious eyes. But then she frowned slightly at the crowded condition of the train—people were packed in like sardines.

She had no choice but to hold Zhong Ling tightly in her arms. After all, in this era, child traffickers were rampant. If her daughter was taken, she would never forgive herself.

“Lingling, if you need to go to the bathroom, you must tell Mommy—don’t run off by yourself, okay?” Even though she had already reminded her daughter at home, children have short memories, so He Yashu kept repeating herself to avoid any accidents.

“I know, Mom. Lingling will be good. When can we see Daddy?” Zhong Ling looked at her mother with anticipation. She had been so excited about seeing her dad that she could barely fall asleep the night before.

“After you take a nap and have lunch, we’ll be there. Your dad should be waiting at the train station.” As they were about to see Zhong Youliang, He Yashu felt a bit nervous. After all, she wasn’t the original “He Yashu” and could only take things one step at a time.

Zhong Ling was smart. Hearing her mom say that made her even more excited. She started chattering nonstop about all the things Grandma and Grandpa had packed for Dad, and which items she helped prepare.

Watching her talk non-stop, He Yashu couldn’t help but feel proud. When she had first “crossed over,” little Zhong Ling had been silent and timid. Now she was so lively—it felt like a small accomplishment.

“Hey, young lady, you only have one child, right? Let me tell you, girls grow up to be someone else’s. You should hurry up and have a son while you’re still with your husband. I’m sure he’ll treat you better if you do.” The warm moment between mother and daughter didn’t sit well with everyone. A woman sitting across from them, cracking sunflower seeds, interrupted with a tone of faux concern.

“That’s not something you need to worry about. Whether boy or girl, we love them the same. Besides, having a son doesn’t guarantee happiness, especially these days. Right, ma’am?” He Yashu wasn’t going to indulge her. She shot the woman a look and responded coolly.

“You make it sound easy. If you only have a daughter, your family line ends. Even if you give birth to a dumb son, people won’t say your family is finished.” The woman’s face changed when He Yashu didn’t give her face, and her words became nastier. She actually thought she was being helpful.

Zhong Ling looked helplessly at her mom. He Yashu quickly soothed her, knowing that her daughter was sensitive and probably scared that they’d stop loving her if a baby brother came along. Once Zhong Ling calmed down, He Yashu replied:

“Well then, I sincerely wish you’ll have a dumb son in the future. That way your family won’t ‘end.’” she said bluntly.

“You little bitch! What did you just say? Why would we have a dumb son? If you’ve got nothing nice to say, just shut your mouth. I was being nice!” The woman exploded in rage, screaming insults.

Other passengers overheard and found the woman’s words incredibly nasty. They gave He Yashu strange looks, confused about how such a beautiful young woman could speak so “poisonously.”

“I didn’t say anything wrong. She was the one who said no matter what, you must have a son—even a dumb one is fine. My husband and I are healthy, yet she’s ‘wishing’ that on us? I don’t want that kind of blessing.” He Yashu looked around innocently.

The other passengers weren’t fools. They quickly realized the woman had provoked it. Not wanting to get involved, they all turned away and resumed their own conversations.

The woman cracked her sunflower seeds even louder, but knowing He Yashu wasn’t easy to mess with, she didn’t dare say more.