Fang Yuqing quickly recounted everything that had happened. Fang Yuming listened, still completely stunned.
If Liu Xianglan hadn’t suddenly shown up today with a child, he would’ve practically forgotten this woman existed.
He lifted his gaze toward Liu Xianglan—she no longer resembled the young woman she once was. She had grown noticeably heavier, her skin tanned rough and dark from years under the sun, fine wrinkles spreading from her temples and eyes. She looked like a typical rural woman.
After a moment of silence, Father Fang spoke, voice steady.
“When was Xiaolei born?”
“August of ’77,” Liu Xianglan replied. “You can ask anyone in the village. I wouldn’t lie about it.”
Everyone fell into contemplation. Fang Yuming had returned to the city in December of ’76. The timeline matched.
Father Fang looked at the child again and said slowly, “He does look somewhat like Yuming.”
Liu Xianglan immediately cut in, firm and certain. “Of course a son resembles his father.”
Fang Yuming’s gaze fell on the little boy. The child kept his head down, shoulders slightly hunched, too timid to look back at him. A swirl of complicated emotions rose in Yuming’s chest, yet he couldn’t see much of himself in that youthful face.
Mother Fang, seeing her son frozen in place, spoke bluntly:
“So what’s your purpose in coming this time? Are you here to send your son to live with us in Shanghai?”
Liu Xianglan straightened her back, eyes resolute.
“I just want my son to become a city resident. You must give him household registration here and let him study in the city.”
Fang Yuming remained silent for a few seconds before asking, his voice tightening,
“Did you… later marry someone else?”
The atmosphere stalled, everyone turning toward Liu Xianglan.
Her expression flickered, but she still answered honestly,
“Yes. I got married after giving birth to Xiaolei. I have two more children—one boy, one girl.”
After speaking, she glanced at Fang Yuming with a complex look.
“My husband—you know him. Liu Shuiqiang. He’s from our village.”
Then, steeling herself, she asked directly:
“So are you acknowledging Xiaolei or not?”
The air in the room felt suddenly heavy.
Fang Yuming’s heart tightened. His voice sank.
“You’ve had this child for years. Why didn’t you ever come to Shanghai to find me? Why show up all of a sudden today?”
Liu Xianglan’s eyes flickered. She twisted the hem of her clothes, speaking haltingly:
“I… When I first realized I was pregnant, I wanted to come find you. But I only knew you lived somewhere in Shanghai. I didn’t know the address at all. I asked the commune, but they refused to tell me.”
Father Fang’s brows furrowed. Memories surfaced—back then, when his son returned to the city, he and his wife had deliberately asked the educated youth office not to disclose Yuming’s whereabouts, fearing Liu Xianglan would latch on.
Realizing this, he cleared his throat and said gravely,
“Your intentions are understood. But this isn’t something we can agree to immediately. Yuming is married now. We must ask his wife’s opinion.”
Mother Fang chimed in sharply,
“That’s right. This is Yuming’s family matter now. Of course we have to ask my daughter-in-law.”
Fang Yuming moved his throat, wanting to speak, but Fang Yuqing gently tugged his sleeve, stopping him.
She then turned to Liu Xianglan, her tone calmer:
“You two should stay here for now. After we discuss it, we’ll come find you. Do you have enough money?”
Liu Xianglan paused, but before she could answer, Mother Fang interjected,
“She has enough. I already gave her several dozen yuan earlier.”
With that, the Fang family stood and left. The hotel door creaked shut, and the hallway fell quiet once more.
No one noticed the small figure slipping out behind them.
Liu Xiaolei clenched his fists, tiptoeing as he trailed them stubbornly.
At the hotel entrance, Father Fang turned to his son.
“Yuming, do you intend to acknowledge this child or not?”
Fang Yuming swallowed, his face pale. He drew a deep breath, voice low:
“Minzhi definitely won’t agree. No—she mustn’t know about this at all!”
Fang Yuqing frowned slightly, trying to reason with him.
“This happened before you and Minzhi were together. It’s your past. After you married her, you’ve never wronged her.”
Father Fang nodded, adding,
“Your sister is right. Liu Xianglan is married now. She won’t have further involvement with you. Just talk to Minzhi. After all, the child is your flesh and blood.”
Mother Fang grew anxious and raised her voice:
“Have you forgotten? Minzhi doesn’t know anything about what happened when Yuming was in the countryside! When we discussed the marriage, we hid everything for Yuming!”
Fang Yuqing remained calm.
“Mom, times have changed. There’s no point digging up old matters now that Minzhi is already part of our family. Besides, Yuming never got a marriage license in the countryside. Situations like that were common. Minzhi should understand.”
Father Fang agreed.
“If needed, we can give the child household registration. Your mother and I can help raise him. We won’t let it make things difficult between you and Minzhi.”
But Fang Yuming’s face darkened further. His chest rose sharply with agitation.
“No. Absolutely not! I know Minzhi’s personality best. If she finds out, it won’t just be a matter of acknowledging the child—our marriage will fall apart!”
The moment he finished speaking, a small figure behind the door trembled violently.
Liu Xiaolei clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white, his eyes stinging with heat. He didn’t dare make a sound. He simply gritted his teeth and ran back to the room.
Bursting through the door, he threw himself at Liu Xianglan, eyes red and voice shaking:
“Mom… they’re not planning to acknowledge me. They said… they said his wife won’t agree.”
Liu Xianglan stiffened, her gaze turning cold as she hugged her son tight.
“Xiaolei, since you want to return to the city, Mama will help you.”
She stroked his messy hair, eyes filled with determination.
“If his wife doesn’t agree, that’s fine—I’ll go beg her. She must be home by now, right? I’ll go find her.”
One thought echoed fiercely in her mind:
My son must stay in Shanghai, in the big city. Otherwise he’ll be trapped in the village forever, just like me.
Jaw clenched, she stood up abruptly and pulled Xiaolei to his feet.
“Come, Xiaolei. We’re going to their home now. Mama will make sure you can stay.”
Mother and son slipped through the back door of the hotel. The sky was growing dark, a faint chill in the wind.
Liu Xianglan walked quickly, her soles tapping against the stone pavement.
Xiaolei trotted after her, heart pounding.
Their two figures—one tall, one small—headed straight toward the Fang household.