Li Mengyao stood frozen slowly regaining her composure.
Her father patted her shoulder and once she had calmed completely he led her over to Liu Cuihua.
He spoke to Liu Cuihua. “You must be Shen Qing’s foster mother.”
Liu Cuihua was bewildered by everything that had happened. As she listened she began to understand. Seeing Li Mengyao standing before her she realized who the girl really was and her hands trembled.
Shen Qing’s father spoke with genuine regret. “I am truly sorry for the mistake all those years ago. Thank you for raising Shen Qing for us.” He gestured toward Li Mengyao. “This is Mengyao your biological daughter.”
He gently pushed Li Mengyao forward. She looked at Liu Cuihua her lips parted but no words came. Only a flicker of distaste and rejection crossed her eyes as she took in the plain simple woman before her. Deep down however long she had known the truth she could not accept that her real parents were ordinary country folk.
Liu Cuihua smoothed the hem of her clothing. She had often wondered what her own daughter might look like. Now that she was here her heart soared.
“Mengyao.”
“Mengyao.” Shen Qing’s father reminded her gently.
Eyes bright with emotion Liu Cuihua stepped forward and drew her daughter into a warm embrace. “Let Mother look at you.” Tears streamed down her face. The bond of blood felt overwhelming. This was her daughter. Separated at birth she had never even seen her face until now.
Li Mengyao caught the scent of sweat and earth on Liu Cuihua and frowned. She pulled away slowly. “Are you truly my mother?” she asked her voice sweet but distant.
“I am indeed.” Liu Cuihua beamed unable to contain her joy.
Shen Qing watched the tender reunion. She knew Liu Cuihua was genuinely happy and deeply moved. If not for everything that had happened in her past Shen Qing would have wished them well. But she knew better. She tightened her grip on her clothing. She understood exactly why Li Mengyao had come to claim her now.
Li Mengyao glanced at Shen Qing her eyes gleaming with triumph. I may not be the one who was meant to be raised in comfort she thought but I am the true daughter by birth. They will love me more than they ever loved you.
Shen Qing saw the look clearly. If Li Mengyao wanted their affection why had she destroyed every member of this family so ruthlessly in her past life? Did she feel her roots were something to be buried? That her own humble origins were something to be ashamed of? How vain she was.
Liu Cuihua noticed Shen Qing standing alone looking small and quiet. Her heart went out to her. She hurried over and took Shen Qing’s hand. “Mengyao is my daughter but so are you.” Her tone was sincere and full of love.
“Mother do not worry.” Shen Qing smiled gently. “I am not jealous.”
Liu Cuihua’s heart ached for her especially after seeing how she had been treated by the Li family. “I will bake you flatbread later.” Her love was simple and generous always expressed through food.
Li Mengyao pouted and came closer seeking attention. “May I have some too?”
“Of course you may.” Liu Cuihua said warmly.
Li Mengyao ate the flatbread but found it coarse and unpleasant. She set it aside saying she would walk outside for a while.
Tiedan came in and said to Liu Cuihua. “I do not like that new sister. My second sister is Shen Qing.”
Liu Cuihua pulled him aside quickly not wanting Li Mengyao to overhear. “Do not speak that way. Mengyao is your real sister.”
Tiedan kicked at the rough earth. “But she threw her bread away! I saw her. We gave it to her because we wanted her to have it and she wasted it.” “She glared at me and said if I told anyone she would break my legs.”
Liu Cuihua was stunned. She had not expected such behavior from the gentle girl she had just met. Yet she is still my daughter she told herself. She must simply be finding it hard to settle in.
“She is new here and not yet used to our ways.” Liu Cuihua said softly. “Do not be cross with her.”
Tiedan shook his head and took Shen Qing’s hand leading her into his elder brother’s room.
By late afternoon Shen Qing’s father eldest brother and elder sister returned. Her father was delighted to see his real daughter and even happier that she had agreed to stay in their home. The evening was warm so they moved the table into the courtyard to eat.
Li Mengyao picked at her food barely taking a single bite. Her father had set aside half his own portion hoping she would eat it. She put down her bowl and looked at them with tearful eyes. “I thought since I did not grow up here you might not care for me.” “But I see how much you have missed me.”
Her eldest brother said kindly. “We have always missed you. We were only afraid you might be ashamed of us.”
Li Mengyao rolled her eyes inwardly. You have no idea how right you are she thought. Aloud she said sweetly. “How could I ever be ashamed of you?”
The evening breeze was pleasant but mosquitoes kept biting. She found herself longing for the city. Electric fans. Soothing balms. No heat no biting insects. And her parents there were educated and refined. They did not smell of sweat and hard work.
Her elder sister Shen Ru spoke up. “Now that you are home we will treat you and Qingqing exactly the same.”
Shen Qing knew they meant it. They loved her dearly and had already accepted Li Mengyao as one of their own. But she also knew Li Mengyao would never be satisfied.
Sure enough Li Mengyao spoke. “But if I am to stay here should not Shen Qing go back to my father’s home?”
Shen Qing’s lips tightened faintly but she continued serving vegetables.
Her eldest brother and Shen Ru exchanged glances. Shen Ru said firmly. “The Li family cast her out. We will not send her back.”
Her brother nodded. “They treated her terribly the very day she arrived. We will not do that.”
Li Mengyao hurried to explain. “Father only sent her away because he missed me so dearly.”
Shen Ru shook her head. “If he only missed you he would not have turned her out like something soiled and discarded. We saw how they spoke to her. We will not forget and we will not forgive.”
Liu Cuihua thought of the way Li Mengyao and her three brothers had stood together accusing Shen Qing and her heart ached. “Qingqing stays here. She belongs with us.”
Li Mengyao’s temper flared. “If she stays then how can I be here?” “My parents need their daughter too.” She looked from one to the other her voice steady and challenging. “You must choose. Is it to be Shen Qing or is it to be me?”