In her past life, she had learned the truth of Xiaoxi’s abandonment by accident, during Xiaoxi’s high school years. She had overheard her Second Elder Sister chatting with Father-in-law and Mother-in-law.
They thought she wasn’t home, chatting freely in her in-laws’ room. As she stood outside the door, the truth crashed over her like a thunderbolt, leaving her hands and feet ice-cold.
Despite her in-laws’ Son Preference, when there was no younger son yet, Xiaoxi had been the only grandchild of the generation. Mother Zhao had washed her soiled diapers and pads. Old Zhao might have grumbled about Xiaoxi being a girl, but he still bought her candy. She had thought Father Zhao and Mother Zhao felt at least a shred of affection for their only granddaughter.
Thus, she had never imagined Father Zhao, Mother Zhao, and the Second Elder Sister had conspired to sell Xiaoxi. For a mere five yuan!
And that five yuan hadn’t even gone to Father Zhao or Mother Zhao. The Second Elder Sister had taken it. Because she refused to give birth to a son, they reasoned: if Xiaoxi were gone, surely she would be willing to try again?
So Xiaoxi’s abandonment was no accident, but a long-hatched scheme. Xu Huiqing had simply kept too close a watch before, giving them no opportunity. That chance only came when she was nearing delivery with her second pregnancy. Even though she was carrying a second child, their plan to dispose of Xiaoxi had been set long ago; why would a second pregnancy change their minds?
“It’s lucky her second pregnancy brought Xiao Bei. Otherwise, if we’d had to send another one away, our sister-in-law would’ve definitely been suspicious!” She heard the Second Elder Sister speak in a dismissive, nonchalant tone to Father Zhao and Mother Zhao from outside the door.
Mother Zhao even swatted her. “That’s all in the past! Don’t bring it up!”
The Second Elder Sister scoffed, “What’s to be afraid of? It’s been so many years. Who knows where that family even went? Who could find out?”
Xu Huiqing didn’t know how she made it back to her own room. Sitting on the bed, her mind was a chaotic roar, filled only with images of when she had finally found Xiaoxi.
Xiaoxi had already passed her seventh birthday by then, yet she still hadn’t started school. Small and thin, she was feeding pigs with a gourd ladle. For some unknown reason, the man of that household had kicked her, sending her flying yards away.
She hadn’t known at that moment the girl was her own child, yet the sight had sliced her heart like a knife. After bringing her back, the child was covered in wounds—new injuries layered over old ones.
She couldn’t recall how much time and heart’s blood she had poured into nurturing Xiaoxi back to being a normal child.
She hoped Xiaoxi, being so young then, had forgotten the pains of her childhood, remembering only happiness and joy from then on. But she herself never dared forget. Every time she remembered, it felt like a thin, rusty blade raking across her heart, making her flinch with sharp, trembling pain.
Back then, she had only exacted revenge on that family. As for the human traffickers who stole the child, she had never found them. She never, ever imagined that after guarding against a thousand outside threats, the thief lived in her own home.
At that time, Xiaoxi was in high school. All of Xu Huiqing’s energy was focused on Xiaoxi’s college entrance exams. When she suddenly learned the truth, her first instinct was simple: do not let this affect the child’s exams.
She researched a great deal online—methods to kill that family without a sound, without a trace, without bringing any harm to her two children, and in a way she herself could walk away from.
She didn’t even dare search on the home computer, afraid of leaving a digital trail. Later, by chance, she read online that beans and grains, stored for many days, could produce Aflatoxin, an extremely potent carcinogen. Pots and bowls that had contained Aflatoxin couldn’t be detoxified, even with high-temperature boiling or industrial bleach.
She had married into the Zhao family years ago and had been a housewife for just as long.
Zhao Zongbao, though selfish and cunning, possessed a real talent for business. The Zhao family was quite wealthy. They employed a housekeeper, so she had few chores and only needed to focus on the children’s education.
Starting then, using the excuse of preparing nutritious meals for her two children and the Two Elders, she dismissed the housekeeper. Every day, she personally cooked, researched recipes, and prepared “health meals” for Old Zhao, Old Lady Zhao, and Zhao Zongbao.
Old Zhao and Old Lady Zhao were absolutely delighted. They bragged to anyone who would listen about how thoughtful and virtuous their daughter-in-law was. Every few days, they’d call their daughters back home for dinner, demanding Xu Huiqing cook for everyone with her own hands.
Even Zhao Zongbao started coming home more often. The whole family—except Xiaoxi—gathered together in perfect, harmonious joy!
Afraid of residual toxins lingering on the tableware that couldn’t be removed, she arranged for both children to board at their schools. Xiaoxi had always been obedient; when Xu Huiqing told her to board, she boarded without complaint. It was the first time Xu Huiqing didn’t insist she apply to schools in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region, allowing her to choose her favorite school and major, whatever she liked, wherever she liked.
“If it really doesn’t work out, we can just go abroad,” she had said, stroking Xiaoxi’s hair softly.
It was the first time she had done such a thing, and she was terrified. Afraid of leaving traces, of being caught before her enemies died. Afraid of affecting the children. Afraid the toxicity would be too weak, vengeance too late.
So she tried her best to keep Xiaoxi away from home. She didn’t know which dishes or utensils might have been contaminated with the indestructible toxin. Her own death would mean nothing, but she was terrified that a mistake in her handling would harm Xiaoxi.
From then on, the Second Elder Sister, whom she had rarely invited over for meals in the past, became a permanent fixture at her dinner table. Except for her son Zhao Bei, for whom she prepared separate bowls and chopsticks, everyone else’s food and utensils… were laced with Aflatoxin.
Zhao Zongbao came home less often and thus ingested less. Old Zhao and Old Lady Zhao spent every day with her, and Old Lady Zhao’s health was already failing. She became the first one Xu Huiqing sent off.
Remembering her past life, Xu Huiqing slowly closed her eyes. A single tear slid from the corner of her eye.
She wondered if, during that period of Xiaoxi’s high school years, her insistence on boarding school, her urging to minimize visits home, had planted some misunderstanding in Xiaoxi’s heart, making her believe she wasn’t loved.
Third Sister Zhao was naturally loud-voiced. Right now, the newborn was awake, and like all caretakers in that era, she was holding the baby in the sunlight on the balcony.
Fourth Sister Zhao tiptoed out of the room, gently closing the door behind her. Through the window, she pointed inside, then gestured at the corner of her own eye.
Third Sister Zhao looked confused at first, then asked in a low voice, “Crying?”
Fourth Sister Zhao nodded silently.
Third Sister Zhao said, “It has to be our mother, pushing things too far again.” She followed with a repeated, wistful sigh: “Mother was never like this before.”
Fourth Sister Zhao sighed silently in agreement.
Fifth Sister Zhao, standing nearby, chimed in, “Her son’s grown up, so she thinks she’s got a backbone now!”
Third Sister Zhao swatted her lightly. “Nonsense!”
Fifth Sister Zhao muttered under her breath, “It’s the truth!”
Their mother’s change was something these daughters felt most acutely.
With these three sisters-in-law present, Xu Huiqing’s days were much easier.
All three had gone through childbirth themselves. They knew the postpartum period was the most vulnerable and helpless time of a woman’s life. They understood what she needed. Whether it was using the toilet or freshening up, they were there to assist. She didn’t even need to worry about the newborn. Under this care, her body recovered very quickly.
Fourth Sister Zhao was the first to leave. She had a mountain of things to handle at home. The hospital didn’t need too many people, so she went back the next day. Third Sister Zhao and Fifth Sister Zhao stayed. Unbothered by the hospital’s simple facilities, they simply carried the long bench from the hallway into the ward at night, placed it beside her bed, and squeezed together to sleep.
Third Brother-in-law Zhao and Fifth Brother-in-law Zhao had returned home that same day. Upon arriving, they relayed Zhao Zongbao’s idea to Old Zhao: to fix up the old family house and open a Dance Hall.
Old Zhao, having only gotten this precious son after the age of forty, held him like he might shatter and cherished him like candy that might melt. His son’s words were like an imperial decree. How could he not support him?
The very next day, he summoned workers, ordered cement and bricks from the factories, and construction began.
Two days later, Eldest Sister Zhao also went home. Only Third Sister Zhao and Fifth Sister Zhao remained at the hospital to care for Xu Huiqing.
Because of Zhao Zongbao’s hospitalization, Xu Huiqing, who should have been discharged long ago, ended up spending an entire full month’s confinement in the hospital.
Sister Tian’s household had over forty chickens. She had been worried they wouldn’t finish them during the confinement month, with the chickens driving her mad clucking every day. But who knew, one chicken a day, and the two new mothers polished them off completely. Even Third Sister Zhao and Fifth Sister Zhao managed to score a few bowls of flavorless chicken soup from Xu Huiqing’s share.
On the day of the newborn’s Full Moon celebration, the Zhao household was exceptionally lively!
Early that morning, Father Zhao had Fifth Brother-in-law Zhao hire a car to bring them home from the hospital.
A minibus was hired.
Fifth Brother-in-law Zhao was meticulous. He had specifically found a small bamboo bed and placed it in the middle of the minibus, padding it with a thick quilt.
Xu Huiqing accepted the gesture without pretense, lying straight down on it, and thanked Fifth Brother-in-law Zhao.
A car ride of more than two hours would be terribly hard on her back if she had to sit the whole way.
Fifth Sister Zhao and Fifth Brother-in-law Zhao were both exceedingly tactful and considerate people. Fifth Sister Zhao said, “Why be so formal? It’s what your brother-in-law should do. Rest easy, we’ll be home before you know it!” Then, right in front of Zhao Zongbao and Xu Huiqing, she pulled out a red paper packet from her pocket, tucked it into the newborn’s swaddle, and beamed. “Long life and a hundred blessings for my nephew! May he grow up and get into university!”
Third Sister Zhao also produced a Red Envelope she had prepared long ago and offered the same blessing.
They had held onto their Red Envelopes during the hospital stay, waiting to present them together in front of the married couple, by mutual agreement, on the child’s Full Moon day.
Just as the minibus reached Water Wharf Town, firecrackers erupted. Right after, the “sky-shakers” in front of the Zhao Family Shop exploded in the air, drawing every pedestrian on the street to see what the commotion was about.
The bamboo bed was originally set up for Xu Huiqing’s comfort. But when it was time to get out, Mother Zhao stubbornly insisted that Zhao Zongbao lie on it. Her reasoning was that healing bones and muscles takes a hundred days; Zhao Zongbao had a foot injury and needed to be carried. Xu Huiqing had finished her confinement month—couldn’t she walk such a short distance herself?
Xu Huiqing, having lain down the entire journey, was actually rather uncomfortable anyway. She didn’t argue with Mother Zhao. She simply rose and let Zhao Zongbao lie down.
Many neighbors who had come to watch the excitement at the sound of the firecrackers, along with relatives arriving for the newborn’s Full Moon feast, saw the minibus’s rear hatch open and a bamboo bed being lifted out. They all rushed over, crowding and jostling, eager to see the newborn. They wanted to present their Red Envelopes in front of everyone, for all to see.
But the person they pulled back the quilt on was no recovering mother.
It was the Zhao family’s precious man, Zhao Zongbao!