After Liu Xianglan left Shanghai, Liu Xiaolei was left behind at the Fang household.
For him, the most immediate, practical problem wasn’t anything else—it was going to school.
But to enroll, they first had to sort out his household registration.
Father Fang told Fang Yuming, “I went down to the household registration office today. It’s more complicated than we thought.”
“This child… is an illegitimate child, so the procedures are different. We need a paternity certificate issued by the village committee where he was born, stamped and forwarded. Don’t worry—I’ve already contacted the hometown. They’ll handle it as soon as possible.”
When Fang Yuming and Su Minzhi married, both their registrations were in Shanghai; Su Minzhi never transferred her hukou into the Fang household. On the Fang family’s register, the head of household was still Father Fang.
At that moment Mother Fang returned from outside with a basket of vegetables, sighed as she sat down, and said, “I went to Niannian’s school today—did you know? She’s already transferred, over to Xuhui District.”
Mother Fang sighed again. “Ah, Minzhi is clearly determined to get a divorce from you.”
Fang Yuming’s face changed instantly. He’d only just learned about the school transfer, and his voice brimmed with anger he couldn’t hide: “A child’s transfer is a big deal, and she didn’t even consult me? That’s not acceptable! No—I have to go over there.”
That night he hurried to Su Minzhi’s residence, only to find no one home.
Worse, when he took out his key to open the door, the familiar key wouldn’t turn. He pounded on the door in a mix of anger and panic, but inside was silent—no answer came.
At that time Su Minzhi was at Shanghai Railway Station’s exit with her daughter Niannian, waiting for her mother Yunshu to arrive from Guangzhou.
Yunshu emerged slowly with the crowd and spotted her daughter and granddaughter at once.
Niannian wore a red plaid dress, her two neat braids swaying at the ends, a small clip at her brow. Her big black-and-white eyes blinked bright and lively.
“Minzhi! Niannian!” Yunshu hurried forward, waving, her voice full of restrained joy.
“Niannian, call Grandma!” Su Minzhi prompted softly.
“Grandma! Grandma!” the little girl chirped, her voice so sweet it made the heart soften.
Yunshu’s chest tightened and she quickened her steps. She set down her luggage, crouched, scooped Niannian into her arms, and smothered her with kisses. “Oh my little Niannian, let Grandma hold you tight!”
The child smelled warm and faintly of milk, and that innocent scent washed away Yunshu’s travel fatigue. Her eyes grew moist as she smoothed Niannian’s braids.
She glanced at her daughter. Though Su Minzhi’s expression was reserved, her complexion looked better than Yunshu had feared, and that eased a good deal of her worry.
“Mom, let’s go home,” Su Minzhi said, taking her mother’s luggage.
“All right.” Yunshu replied, her voice trembling slightly.
On the table Yunshu had specially brought roast meats from Guangzhou—glossy and tempting, and Niannian’s eyes lit up.
Su Minzhi cooked a simple, light vegetable dish. The three of them sat down together; the meal was modest but warmer than any banquet.
“Mom, Niannian skipped a grade—she’s already in fourth grade,” Su Minzhi mentioned during the meal, pride in her eyes.
“What?” Yunshu paused with her chopsticks, then her eyes widened.
“My goodness!” She set down her chopsticks and clapped, delighted. “Niannian, you’re amazing! Our family’s got a little genius!”
Niannian blushed at the praise and kept her head down, fiddling with rice in her bowl, a shy smile tugging at her mouth.
After dinner Niannian went to her room to do homework, leaving only the two women in the living room.
Yunshu cleared the dishes, composed herself, and finally asked, “Minzhi, what’s going on with your divorce from Fang Yuming?”
Su Minzhi was silent for a moment, pressed her lips, and shook her head. “He refuses. If it comes to that, we’ll take it to court.”
A pang hit Yunshu’s heart. She covered her daughter’s hand, patted it gently, and spoke with iron resolve: “You foolish child—this isn’t something you have to bear alone. Don’t worry. With Mom here, I’ll find a way.”
The next morning Su Minzhi went to work as usual. Yunshu personally walked Niannian to school and watched her skip into the gate with her backpack before turning away.
She went straight to the Planning Bureau—Fang Yuming’s workplace.
At the security desk she calmly explained her business. “I’m looking for Comrade Fang Yuming. Could you pass along a message that… his family is here?”
The guard sized her up. She carried herself with dignity and didn’t look like someone there to make a scene, so he nodded and sent someone to inform Fang Yuming.
Before long, Fang Yuming emerged.
The moment he saw Yunshu he froze: guilt and panic showed plainly on his face.
He hurried over, forcing a smile and calling, “Mom… why did you come to Shanghai?”
“I’ll only take a few minutes. I have something to say.” She fixed him with a steady look that pierced his evasive eyes. “I just want to ask—what will it take for you to agree, to sign and be done with this divorce from Minzhi?”
Caught off guard by the blunt demand, Fang Yuming’s face betrayed a flash of alarm.
He glanced around like someone afraid of eavesdroppers, lowered his voice and begged, “Mom, this is the unit entrance—this isn’t the place to talk. Why don’t you go back for now and I’ll come to see you after work? We can talk slowly, okay?”
“I’m standing right here. If you can’t give me a satisfactory answer today, I’ll go inside now and talk to your superiors. I’ll have them do their job properly.”
Fang Yuming’s face drained white and he stiffened.
Yunshu’s gaze sharpened and the corner of her mouth curled coldly. “What? Afraid? Don’t tell me your leaders and colleagues don’t know you have another child out there?”
Those words struck like a thunderclap over Fang Yuming’s head.
He looked around desperately, lowering his voice to hurried explanations. “Mom, that was in the past… it’s over now…”
“‘In the past’?” Yunshu sneered. “Fine—you admit it’s ‘in the past.’ Doesn’t that just prove you hid this huge thing when you courted and married my daughter? Isn’t that deception in marriage? What else is it if not that?!”
She bit off each word. “Deception in marriage! This is an integrity issue—character. If you don’t clear this up, I’ll speak with your supervisors about it. Let them judge—how can someone with such moral failings remain in such an important post?”
Fang Yuming’s chest tightened and sweat beaded on his forehead.
But Yunshu wasn’t finished. Her eyes swept him and her tone grew harsher. “Oh, and your second aunt too—she pushed this match so hard, praising you up and down. What’s the result? Your whole Fang family teamed up and duped us! I’ll pay Jiaotong University a visit. Everyone should know how shameless your family was back then.”
Her voice grew icier though quieter, and the pressure in it was relentless.
Fang Yuming’s face went a mix of ashen and green; he was flustered and the sweat on his brow rolled down in drops.