“Huang Yueying has behaved in such a shameless and immoral manner that she can no longer remain part of our Su family” Su Zhenghua said firmly. “I will send word to her parents to come and collect her belongings. From this moment onward she has no connection whatsoever with our family”
Su Wan nodded feeling heavy at heart. “What about Dongdong”
Six year old Su Xiangdong was the son of Huang Yueying and her late husband. The poor boy had already lost his father and now his mother was being sent away. There was no telling whether she would try to take him with her.
“Dongdong carries our familys blood. He is the only living reminder of your second cousin” Su Zhenghua said with determination. “I will never allow Huang Yueying to take him away”
Su Wan agreed and after comforting her uncle for a while she rode home. Her mind remained troubled. Even though Huang Yueying would soon be driven from the village Su Wan knew she could not let her guard down. She must keep a close watch over her daughter.
When she arrived home she found her little daughter squatting beside the drying herbs chattering away to herself. Seeing her mother the girls face lit up and she ran toward her with open arms.
“Mother you are back”
Su Wan caught her in her arms and asked. “What was my precious Yaya doing”
“Learning the herbs” The little girl said proudly looking up at her. “Grandfather praised me and said I am so clever because I remembered what each one does”
Su Wan heart melted and she kissed her daughter tenderly. “Of course you are clever. You are my daughter after all”
The little girl giggled happily at her mothers praise.
“Wanwan bring Yaya inside for lunch” Su Wans mother called from the main room smiling warmly as the two finished their embrace.
“Mother what is divorce” Yaya asked suddenly.
Su Wan knew she could not keep the truth from her daughter forever. “Where did you hear that word”
“I heard Great Uncle talking to Grandfather and Grandmother” Yaya replied innocently.
Su Wan stroked her hair gently. “Divorce means that from now on it will be just you and me living together. Father will not be coming back”
Yaya blinked her large eyes. “Does he not want us anymore”
“I am the one who does not want him” Su Wan corrected her. “He was not a good husband and he did wrong by me”
Lin Wenchuan was not Yaya biological father anyway so there was no need to spare his feelings.
“All right then” Yaya accepted the news calmly. She had never been particularly close to Lin Wenchuan who was often away on business. Yet Su Wan still saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
“Are you feeling sad” she asked.
“Just a little” Yaya admitted. “But as long as I have you and Grandfather and Grandmother I will be fine”
Su Wan heart swelled with love and she kissed her again. Every child longed for a father figure and she understood. Lu Linzhou face crossed her mind briefly. She wondered if he truly was Yaya father.
After lunch Su Wan sent her daughter out to play and told her parents everything that had happened. They were both deeply shocked.
“Huang Yueying always seemed so quiet and modest. She refused to remarry after her husband died who would have thought she would do such a thing”
“I believe the affair began when my former father in law stayed here” Su Wan shook her head glancing at her daughter in the yard. “Tomorrow I am traveling to the neighbouring city. Please keep a careful watch over Yaya and do not let her wander off”
Her father looked concerned. “Are you worried the Lin family might seek revenge”
“Not exactly but it is always best to be cautious” Su Wan did not go into detail so as not to alarm them.
“Are you going alone” her father asked.
“Yes”
“It is far too dangerous for a young woman to travel alone. Let me go with you” he insisted.
“I will be fine. I have traveled on my own before” Su Wan reassured him. He knew she was capable and strong willed and did not press the matter further. He only hoped she would find the child she was looking for.
That night Su Wan tucked her daughter into bed and packed her things. Then she sat before the dressing mirror.
“The divorce is finalized. Lin Guodong disgrace has been exposed. The influence Lin Wenchuan relied upon is crumbling”
The faint figure appeared before her. Su Wan paused with her comb in hand. The scarred face she had seen before had healed revealing a gentle and clear complexion.
“What happened to your injuries”
“Because you have changed the past I never went to prison. Without that suffering the wounds simply faded away” the figure explained.
“So they were inflicted there”
“Yes” The figure voice trembled with grief and anger. “Lin Wenchuan and Bai Wei bribed other prisoners to torment me. They hoped I would die there. But I survived all seven years”
She paused her eyes filling with sorrow. “When I finally came home I found myself all alone”
Su Wan felt a deep ache in her chest. “What happened to everyone else my parents my elder brother his wife and their son”
“Your brother was serving in the military. When he learned what had happened he rushed home with his wife and child. He confronted Lin Wenchuan and beat him severely when he refused to admit his wrongdoing. Then he began searching for evidence to clear your name. One night he came to the aid of a woman being attacked but she turned around and accused him of assaulting her”
“Because of that accusation he was dishonorably discharged and sentenced to seven years in prison. Later he was killed in a fight inside the prison”
A mournful sigh filled the room. Su Wan knew without doubt that Lin Wenchuan had orchestrated every bit of it.
“Do not be sad” she said firmly. “I swear nothing like that will ever happen again”
“Remember the name of the woman who betrayed him” the figure said. “Her name is Du Hong”
Su Wan nodded solemnly. Before she could ask anything more the figure vanished. She took a deep breath lay down beside her daughter and fell asleep holding the little girl close.
The next morning Su Wan rose before dawn to catch her transport. She sat before the mirror and readied herself. When she stepped into the main room her mother paused in the middle of preparing breakfast and looked at her in surprise.