Chapter 34 : Refusing to Recognize Him

After hearing the names Li Gang and Xu Ziying, Yun Siying felt a growing sense of familiarity, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it now.

“Thank you, aunties. I was also afraid of being disappointed and of taking someone else’s rightful place. Even though I didn’t mean to, I still owe a debt of gratitude to the family that raised me,” Yun Siying said with a choked voice, her eyes full of grievance.

“The Shu family raised me, and I went to the countryside in place of Shu Ruxue to repay their kindness,” Yun Siying continued, revealing more. The villagers’ eyes lit up, they were eager to hear more.

Li Hongying said, “That family is too much… After living together for 18 years, they still expect you to repay them? Back then, you were just a baby you knew nothing!.”

“Thank you, aunties. I feel so much more at ease with you here.”

As they talked, a large crowd had gathered at the gate of Li Gang’s house, men, women, young, and old. The group had grown like a snowball rolling downhill.

Fortunately, the gate wasn’t locked, and everyone walked right into the courtyard. Li Gang and Xu Ziying were stunned by the scene, breaking into a cold sweat. They asked nervously, “Yinyin, Yanyan, what’s going on?”

“Mom, everyone heard that my sister’s here to recognize her family, so they came along out of excitement,” Li Yanyan replied, a bit displeased. She couldn’t deny how captivating her sister was.

“You must be Siying, right? Welcome home. I’m your mother, Xu Ziying,” Xu Ziying said warmly, stepping forward and trying to take Yun Siying’s wrist but Yun Siying subtly avoided her touch.

“Siying, this is your father, Li Gang,” Xu Ziying said with a gentle smile, introducing the man beside her.

The two of them were about to step forward when Yun Siying said calmly, “You must be Shu Ruxue’s adoptive parents. She claims you’re my biological parents, but I can tell at a glance that we don’t resemble each other at all.”

“Child, you are our biological daughter. You can’t deny this,” Li Gang said, stepping forward.

“Uncle, don’t be so sure,” Yun Siying immediately rebutted. “I don’t look like either of you at all, and I don’t feel any connection with you. Besides, I heard that more than two children were misidentified at the hospital back then.”

Then, turning to the swelling crowd of villagers, she smiled and said, “Dear fellow villagers, I’m Yun Siying, the new educated youth sent to work here this year. Shu Ruxue said I’m the biological child of Li Gang and Xu Ziying. I’d like you all to bear witness, do I resemble them in any way? If I do, then I’ll accept it as fate. I do hope to find my real parents.”

Before Li Gang or Xu Ziying could speak, Li Hongyun jumped in and said, “Comrade Yun, I can testify you don’t look like them at all. With how plain-looking those two are, they couldn’t possibly have a daughter as beautiful as you.”

“No kidding, I’ve looked over and over, and I don’t see even a trace of Li Gang or his wife in this young lady’s features,” an older uncle added honestly.

The rest of the villagers nodded in agreement. None of them could see any resemblance between the delicate, fair, and beautiful young educated youth and the plainly featured couple, Li Gang and Xu Ziying.

“It seems the villagers have sharp eyes. They can tell at a glance that I’m not your daughter. Do you have any proof that I am your biological daughter like a birthmark, or a keepsake you left with me?” Yun Siying looked gratefully at the villagers, then turned to Li Gang and his wife. Seeing they were silent, she continued.

“It appears the hospital didn’t just misidentify Shu Ruxue and me. There must be other children from other families involved. I’m going to call the police to help investigate who my biological parents are and also help you find your real daughter.”

“Child, we know you don’t feel anything for us and don’t want to acknowledge us. We understand,” Xu Ziying said with reddened eyes and a defeated expression.

“Yes, child, this will always be your home. You can come back whenever you want. We won’t force you,” Li Gang added, stepping forward with a hurt expression.

“Sister, how can you say such heartless things?” Li Yanyan cried, looking at Yun Siying in disbelief, as if she were some ungrateful child. “Mom and Dad didn’t know you’d been switched. Ever since they found out, they’ve missed you terribly. But to avoid disturbing your happy life, they’ve been crying silently at home.”

“Comrade, you and your brother still show some resemblance to your parents, but Shu Ruxue and I really don’t resemble them at all,” Yun Siying said plainly.

“Li Gang, do you have any evidence that Yun Siying is your biological daughter? If not, let the young educated youth go!” someone in the crowd shouted.

“This girl has had a rough life. Her real parents ended up as her adoptive ones, her biological parents are still missing, and she’s being hounded by this couple.”

“Exactly! Maybe this couple saw that Yun Siying looks like a fairy and wants to sell her for a good price!”

“What’s going on here?” A commanding voice rang out, interrupting the villagers’ discussion. The brigade captain had arrived. It was getting dark, and he was alarmed to see the crowd still gathered, not heading home.

“Captain, you’re here,” the villagers greeted him, eager to see how he’d handle the situation.

“Captain,” Yun Siying explained, turning slightly toward Nangong Ruochen, who was still by her side.

“Auntie Li said I was their daughter, which caused everyone to gather here. I apologize for the disruption, but I really am not her daughter. I look nothing like them, and they have no evidence. I also heard the hospital mixed up more than just me and Shu Ruxue.”

“Li Gang, Xu Ziying, do you have any evidence that Yun Siying is your biological daughter?” the captain asked. He had a good impression of Yun Siying and was being careful with his tone.

“Captain, she and Ruxue were switched at the same hospital. Ruxue is the Shu family’s daughter, so obviously, she’s mine. What more proof do I need?” Xu Ziying replied confidently.