In his eight-year-old mind, Zhang Jinlin could not fathom why his birth mother had abandoned him. He was certain that some villain must have kidnapped him and dumped him at his stepmother’s home.
If only his birth mother would say the word, he would be willing to let bygones be bygones and return to her.
Zhang Xiangwei did not understand why the boy was asking such things, and he turned to look at his mother, feeling equally puzzled.
Zhang Shun’s wife looked completely stunned. How could a child like Zhang Jinlin say something so absurd?
Had she ever lost a child eight years ago?
"Mom, did you really lose a child?" Zhang Xiangwei asked, curious but unsure of what his mother was thinking, as she had yet to respond.Zhang Shun's wife's mind raced through a myriad of thoughts in an instant, and she probed tentatively, "Jinlin, why are you suddenly asking this?"
As she spoke, she even placed her hand on the child's head and stroked it gently.Zhang Jinlin felt the warmth from the palm of Zhang Shun's wife. A sour, stinging sensation rose in his chest; he sniffled and said, "My mom told me I wasn't born to her, that she found me."
Zhang Shun's wife burst into laughter. She ruffled Zhang Jinlin's hair vigorously and said:"Your mom was lying to you, and you actually believed that?"
"No, my dad said I was a foundling too."
"So you're looking for your family now?"
"Yes, I want to find my birth mother. I don't want to stay at their house anymore."
Zhang Jinlin looked expectantly at Zhang Shun's wife.
Zhang Shun's wife burst into laughter, rocking back and forth.
Zhang Jinlin smiled too, tears still hanging on his face—his mother looked so happy to see him.
Suddenly, Li Baoying returned with Zhang Hua.
She found it a bit strange to see Zhang Jinlin and Zhang Shun's wife together. What was her youngest son doing at Zhang Shun's doorstep?
"Jinlin, what are you doing?" she asked.
Zhang Shun's wife saw her as well and laughed as she explained for Zhang Jinlin, "Baoying, your Jinlin is too funny! He asked me if I'd lost a child eight years ago. How do you suppose I should answer that?"Li Baoying wanted to laugh but held it back, as her son was looking at her with a wronged expression, terrified that she wouldn't let Zhang Shun's wife acknowledge him. She said, "Just tell the truth; it’s not a big deal. He’s grown up now, and there are some things he ought to know. If you want to take him with you, I have no objections."
"Fine, since you say so, I'll tell the truth. I did lose a child eight years ago. I think Jinlin looks quite like him. Jinlin..."
Before Zhang Shun's wife could finish her sentence, Zhang Shun, who had just walked out from the courtyard, cut her off.
"Mother of the children, what nonsense are you spouting? Stop making trouble and trying to deceive the child."
Zhang Shun’s face was solemn. He was short, with a pair of shrewd, somewhat sleazy, triangular eyes, and slightly dark skin that gave him an unapproachable air.
Seeing him, Li Baoying gave a faint smile and took Zhang Hua home. She knew the kind of man Zhang Shun was: he was terrified of others taking advantage of him, so he kept everyone at a distance and had no good relationships with any of the neighbors. In her past life, when her Zhang Hua had been falsely accused of stealing sunflowers from his field, he had glared at her so fiercely that, even after she paid him for the damages, he continued to frighten Zhang Hua every time they crossed paths. People with narrow minds rarely lived long; he had died of cancer in his fifties.
Li Baoying had no respect for the man and did not want to exchange any more words.
Zhang Shun's wife stopped speaking and waved at Zhang Jinlin, saying, "Go on home!"
Zhang Jinlin had been about to ask if he was truly the child she had lost and when she planned to take him back, but when he turned and caught Zhang Shun’s predatory gaze, he turned and ran. Zhang Shun was too terrifying; he was afraid.
Yet, if he was truly his biological father, why wouldn't he acknowledge him?
Seeing her youngest son return dejected, Li Baoying smiled and said, "Why are you back already? Are you going to pack your things before moving over there?""Actually, your parents have money and wouldn't look twice at the junk we have here. You should just go over there and have them buy you new things."
Zhang Jinlin kept his head down and whispered, "Mom, I'm not leaving. I'm staying with you."
"Hmph, staying with me? I suspect your parents didn't want you, and that's the only reason you came back, isn't it?" Li Baoying said with a sneer.
"Mom, am I really Uncle Zhang Shun's child? Did you see with your own eyes when they dumped me in our yard?" Zhang Jinlin asked, still unwilling to give up.
"I didn't see it happen. But didn't she say she'd lost a child? It’s probably true," Li Baoying replied.
She quickly heated up some steamed buns and made cabbage soup. She had to head out to work as soon as she finished eating; she didn't have the time to bicker with the stubborn boy.
Zhang Jinlin fell silent, deciding to wait for another opportunity to ask more carefully. Perhaps his mother might actually acknowledge him one day?
After eating and tidying up briefly, Li Baoying took Xiaohua and headed to work.
After the New Year, more educated youth were expected to arrive in the city, and they would need to be settled. The village leaders had found a spot at the educated youth station and were organizing people to build houses for them. Those who participated in the construction would earn work points.
The village was poor and couldn't afford to build large brick-and-tile houses, but they couldn't build thatched huts either; those looked too unsightly, and the educated youth from the city wouldn't be able to get used to them.
Therefore, they were building a row of single-story houses, improving on the thatched hut design by adding a bit of brick and tile.
Even so, these houses were better than what most people in the village lived in.
There were four or five original educated youth—two women and three men. They were all young; when they first arrived, they had been fair and delicate, but after just a few years, they had been tanned to the same shade as the locals.
Still, educated youth were educated youth. They had knowledge and schooling, and their air of refinement made them stand out.
Li Baoying let Zhang Hua play on the side while she went to move bricks.
Working alongside her was Old Lady Lin, who lived in the same alleyway. She was nearly fifty but still wouldn't rest; she was clearly a diligent woman.
Old Lady Lin had two sons and a daughter. Both sons were married, and her daughter was currently being courted.
Her daughter was very beautiful, and matchmakers were practically wearing down the threshold of their home, yet she had not found a suitable match.
Old Lady Lin said there was no rush; a good family is worth waiting for, and a good girl never fears not finding a husband, so her daughter wasn't anxious either.
Li Baoying greeted Old Lady Lin and began to work.
"Baoying, do you have anyone from your maiden home you could introduce to Xiaohong?" Old Lady Lin suddenly leaned in and asked.
Li Baoying’s maiden home was in Li Village, fifty kilometers away. It was a well-known, advanced village, and the living conditions there were better than in any of the surrounding villages. Everyone in the neighboring areas wanted to marry their daughters off to someone from there.
"This... I really wouldn't know. I haven't been back home this year," Li Baoying said coldly.
She had two older brothers, and her parents lived with them in turns. Her two sisters-in-law didn't welcome poor relatives, so she didn't go there to be an eyesore.
Besides, she had to look after her eldest son at home and couldn't be bothered to go. As long as she knew her parents were doing well, that was enough.
Come to think of it, her two sisters-in-law were the reason she had married into the Zhang family. They were afraid their parents and brothers would favor her and give her all the good things, so they had conspired to marry her off to Zhang Village, fifty kilometers away.
Fifty kilometers was nothing to people decades later—a one or two-hour drive—but back then, it took over ten hours on foot.
Even by horse-drawn carriage, it took a long time, and Li Baoying’s family didn't own a carriage.
Because of this, Li Baoying harbored some resentment whenever her maiden home was mentioned.
"Baoying, I know you haven't been back, but just think—is there anyone around your age in that area who might be a match for my Xiaohong?" Old Lady Lin continued to press, ignoring Li Baoying’s coldness.