And what about Jiang Sisi? She must have arrived at the Jiang family now, right? It’s just unclear whether Director Hong managed to negotiate successfully.
With Director Hong involved, things would become much simpler. And after today’s commotion, plus the fact that the Jiang family’s biological daughter had returned, Anning’s departure from the Jiang household seemed only natural. Of course, that was how outsiders would see it—the Jiang family themselves didn’t think that way.
Anning had lived in the Jiang household for 18 years. They felt that having raised Anning with good food and care for 18 years, they deserved repayment. Eighteen years of nurturing… and she hadn’t given anything back yet. How could she just leave? They wanted to extract every bit of value from her before letting her go.
In the original story, wasn’t it exactly like this? They never considered that their daughter had been cared for in someone else’s home for 18 years.
Anning remembered reading the book and thinking the author had a sharp sense of humor. Girls living in rural areas had hands as tender and fair as scallions.
During the period when Jiang Sisi returned in the story, she went around crying and complaining, saying how hard life was in the countryside—cutting pig grass, earning labor points in the fields, cooking and washing at home, with no time to rest.
Once she left the hospital, Anning intended to go near the Hong family’s house and expose Jiang Sisi in person. Her fair, tender hands would be the proof.
……
Sure enough, around four or five in the afternoon, the Hong family returned home. Among them was a fair-skinned girl.
She was about Anning’s age, tall, shapely, and her face slightly paler than most girls. Her face resembled the eldest daughter-in-law of the Hong family—seven or eight parts similar. Everyone could see immediately: this was indeed the biological daughter of the Jiang family, finally brought home.
As the Jiang family approached their courtyard gate, which was half-open, they assumed Anning was inside doing something. They muttered complaints under their breath, while neighbors peeked out, but no one came to greet them.
Everyone found it odd. What’s going on today? Why is everyone sneaking around to look at their house? Did something happen?
“Jiang Ning! Jiang Ning! Are you here? Where have you gone? We’re back and you haven’t even cooked! Are you trying to rebel?”
They called several times, but no answer. They exchanged glances. Jiang Ning had always been timid and weak under their control, never daring to stand up. At home, she had been a little tyrant’s plaything—always yielding to others.
They assumed Anning was hiding upstairs, being lazy, so a few of them went up to the small staircase corner where her room was.
Just as they were looking for Anning, Director Hong from the station arrived with a police officer and entered the house.
“Ah, Old Jiang, you’re back! Have you received your biological granddaughter?”
“Congratulations, Old Jiang. Lost and found, your granddaughter is truly lucky.”
Director Hong walked in; there was no need to look further.
“Old Jiang, since everyone’s home today, I’ll explain what happened in your household these past couple of days.” Director Hong then recounted the events of the day.
Jiang Chenggong shot a sharp glance at his eldest daughter-in-law. Worthless woman—couldn’t handle anything, and now it’s caused trouble at the station. A scar on her face—what’s the big deal? It’s not like she killed anyone. Today was supposed to be a day to celebrate the return of Sisi, their treasure, but that unlucky girl ruined it.
“Director Hong, it’s just our women not understanding things. She only taught the girl a lesson. Once we bring Ning back home for a few days of proper care, it’ll be fine.”
Director Hong didn’t respond to Jiang Chenggong but looked at Jiang Sisi with a flash of thought in his eyes.
He asked Jiang Chenggong, “Old Jiang, this is your biological daughter you brought back?”
“Yes, this is the daughter who was switched at birth in the countryside. Now we found her, so yesterday the whole family went there to bring her home.”
“Sisi, this is the police chief of this area—come greet Uncle Hong.”
Jiang Chenggong didn’t try to hide Jiang Sisi’s identity. He admitted it directly—after all, in a couple of days, he would have to take her to the station to transfer her household registration, and Director Hong would know anyway.
“Hello, Uncle Hong. My name is Jiang Sisi. You can call me Sisi. I wasn’t treated well in that house, so I didn’t bring any special gifts back. I hope you won’t mind.”
“Ha, who cares about uncle or not? I’m old, young lady. Just call me Director Hong—it sounds better.”
Inwardly, Director Hong thought: with a family like yours trying to curry favor with me, I have no time to recognize any nieces.
Jiang Sisi bit her lip, looking displeased, thinking, Old man, you’re just a station chief. What’s so great? But she still apologized verbally, “Yes, Director Hong. Sorry, I didn’t think it through.”
She nodded slightly and turned into the room.
Director Hong didn’t beat around the bush. He directly took out the medical disfigurement certificate and placed it in front of Jiang Chenggong.
“Old Jiang, this afternoon we also spoke with Jiang Ning (the heroine’s name is still on the Jiang household registration).
Jiang Ning expressed that she wishes to reclaim her identity as an An family daughter and visit her birth family.
However, the An family requires a written identity certificate and public notice confirming that there’s no maternal relationship with An Liao Ning.
“It’s impossible. Jiang Ning was raised by our family; she cannot return. I don’t agree.”
“An Ning has eaten our food and used our resources—why should she leave when grown? I disagree.”
“Why should Jiang Ning? Simply because Jiang Lin is the biological mother of the children, because you married the stepmother long ago. Because Jiang Ning is an An family daughter. Because your Jiang family’s daughters have already been brought back. The An family also helped raise your daughter for 18 years.
“You say ‘bring her back,’ and so it’s done. Your daughter is raised by someone else, but in fact, she’s still your daughter.
“Furthermore, Old Jiang, Jiang Ning requests 2,000 yuan as future dowry. Because her face has been disfigured, this 2,000 yuan will serve as her dowry.”