Identity: He only has Manman.
“Xie… Xie… Xie Mingtu?”
Liu Zhaoqiang was completely thrown off. Who was this Xie Mingtu? Wait, wasn’t Xie Mingtu his niece’s husband? The fifth son of the Xie family, Xie Mingtu? But how had he changed so drastically?
Liu Zhaoqiang pointed at the man in front of him, his hand trembling uncontrollably. He couldn’t believe that the man standing before him was Xie Mingtu!
The crowd that had gathered to watch also overheard their conversation, and immediately, an uproar broke out.
“He’s Xie Mingtu?!”
“Who’s Xie Mingtu? Never heard of him…”
“Are you stupid? Xie Mingtu is the real name of Xie Lao Wu (Old Xie Fifth) !”
“Xie Lao Wu? You mean the one married to Su Xiaoman…?”
“That’s impossible!”
The crowd was filled with disbelief. How could this handsome young man be the same unremarkable and shabby Xie Lao Wu, who was known for being down on his luck?
Some even whispered suspicions that Xie Lao Wu must have died during the trip, and this man was an imposter taking his place.
After the initial shock subsided, people began to scrutinize the man closely. Gradually, they started to make sense of things.
“Look at his eyes, that nose… he does look a bit like Xie Lao Wu.”
“Yeah, now that I look closer, there are some similarities in the features.”
“I never thought Xie Mingtu would clean up so well and turn out to be so handsome.”
“The transformation is unbelievable! His own mother wouldn’t recognize him! Where’s Sun Mei? Did she come to see if she can still recognize her son?”
At that moment, Sun Mei, along with her eldest daughter-in-law Qin Xiuying and second daughter-in-law Xu Yanlan, had just arrived at the village entrance to greet them. Sun Mei’s third daughter-in-law, who was pregnant, hadn’t come because it wasn’t appropriate for her to be in a large crowd.
Xu Yanlan pointed ahead, “Mother, look, the tractor has stopped over there.”
Sun Mei nodded and quickened her pace, pushing through the crowd to get closer.
Her heart was racing, her thoughts filled with her poor, dear biological son, Jiang Yantang. She couldn’t hear anything else around her.
Once she pushed through the crowd, Sun Mei’s eyes immediately began scanning for Jiang Yantang.
And then she saw him!
Sun Mei’s eyes lit up with excitement, and a wave of emotion surged through her, tears welling up in her eyes. She had to cover her mouth to stop herself from crying out.
That was her biological son!
The well-respected Jiang Yantang, the educated youth everyone admired.
Just thinking about it made Sun Mei’s heart race even more. To think that she had given birth to such an outstanding son. Compared to Jiang Yantang, even her previously favoured second son seemed insignificant.
She could barely contain her excitement. Years ago, when she had given birth prematurely while visiting relatives, her baby had been born jaundiced and sickly. She had thought he wouldn’t survive… but here he was, thriving, and had grown into such an exceptional young man.
Sun Mei clutched her sleeves tightly, trying to calm herself down. She couldn’t show too much emotion just yet. She had to keep her cool. Jiang Yantang was now a child of a prestigious family, and she couldn’t let anyone connect him to the lowly Xie Mingtu.
Just as Sun Mei was lost in her thoughts, someone nudged her shoulder. “Sun Mei, you’d better take a good look at your Xie Lao Wu. He looks like a completely different person—can you even recognize him?”
Xie Lao Wu? What could possibly have happened to that scoundrel?
“Look over there, that’s your youngest son! Ha! Bet you don’t recognize him!”
Following the direction pointed out to her, Sun Mei saw Xie Mingtu, now transformed. His facial features sent a shockwave through her, instantly reminding her of someone from her past.
The excitement she had felt earlier suddenly turned cold.
How had this worthless kid changed so much?
Sun Mei, visibly upset, stormed over to Xie Mingtu and immediately scolded him: “Who told you to dress like this? You go out once, and now you’re strutting around like a hooligan, dressing like a second-rate crook. Ugh!”
“What kind of farmer forgets his roots and starts dressing like this?”
She continued to berate him, calling him a disgrace. Xie Mingtu remained silent, while Su Xiaoman grabbed his wrist and firmly countered: “Mother, I was the one who dressed him like this. Why should my husband, Xie Mingtu, look sloppy and dishevelled? Villagers, don’t you think he looks much better like this?”
The crowd quickly chimed in:
“Very handsome!”
“Sun Mei is just stuck in the past. He looks like a city boy, nothing like a second-rate crook. Have you ever seen a crook this good-looking?”
“She’s still complaining about her youngest son? Honestly, her second son looks more like a troublemaker most of the time. Sun Mei really does have her favorite.”
“Why is she so hostile toward her own son?”
Sun Mei’s reaction struck many as odd. It wasn’t unheard of for her to show favouritism toward her second son, but now that Xie Lao Wu had cleaned up and married such a beautiful wife, why was she still treating him so harshly?
It didn’t make sense to anyone watching.
In the past, it was understandable—Xie Lao Wu had been invisible, shabby, and disliked. Compared to Xie’s second son, a respected teacher, there was no competition. But now that Xie Lao Wu had turned himself around, why wasn’t Sun Mei proud of him?
Something about this whole situation felt off to the villagers.
“Hey, have you noticed? Xie Lao Wu doesn’t really look much like his brothers. His older brothers all have square faces, but Xie Lao Wu’s jawline is much slimmer. When he had a beard, you couldn’t tell, but now, his bone structure is definitely different.”
“Yeah, he really does look different.”
“Now that I think about it, I remember Xie Lao Wu being such a cute little kid—he looked like a lucky baby when he was small.”
…
The subtle murmurs from the crowd felt like sharp knives stabbing into Sun Mei. In the past, she didn’t care much about these remarks, but now, with the secret of Jiang Yantang’s true parentage weighing on her, she couldn’t stand to linger in this situation.
As long as she didn’t acknowledge it, no one could uncover Jiang Yantang’s identity. As for that Xie dog—Xie Mingtu—not looking like the rest of the Xie family? It was because he was nothing more than an outsider, a “mud-legged” peasant at heart.
With that thought, Sun Mei calmed down significantly. She glared at Su Xiaoman and said, “Move along, move along! What are you standing around here for? Let’s go home, now!”
Su Xiaoman, still holding Xie Mingtu’s hand, looked up at his face. His expression remained indifferent, his eyes slightly downcast, as if he was long used to this treatment. Noticing Su Xiaoman’s gaze, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly in a faint smile.
From the moment Sun Mei arrived, Su Xiaoman had been observing her, noticing how she first sought out Jiang Yantang upon arriving. It was clear now that Sun Mei was fully aware that Jiang Yantang was her biological son.
Su Xiaoman and Xie Mingtu returned to the Xie household with their belongings.
As soon as they entered, Second Sister-in-law Xu Yanlan circled them like a curious cat, asking questions.
“You two brought back quite a haul, didn’t you?”
“I heard from Comrade He that Old Five learned to drive trucks over there and made some money, didn’t he?”
“Must’ve made quite a bit—are you planning on handing it over?”
“Hey, Ma! Come take a look at what Old Five and his wife brought back!”
Sun Mei had a sour look on her face the whole time since they returned. Whenever she glanced at Xie Mingtu’s handsome face, she felt a seething urge to mar it. These days, she was especially sensitive, worried that Xie Mingtu’s presence might somehow threaten her biological son Jiang Yantang’s future.
She also kept thinking about how some villagers had commented that Jiang Yantang resembled Xie Laosan, which made her paranoid. Would anyone notice that Xie Mingtu also resembled…
No, no, no—no one knew what Jiang Yantang’s real family looked like. She had nothing to worry about.
Sun Mei’s mind was in turmoil as she considered how to get Xie Mingtu back to his old self. Even when Xu Yanlan called her, Sun Mei only half-heartedly responded.
The wives of the eldest and third sons, Qin Xiuying and Zhou Xiaohui, also emerged with their children. Qin Xiuying had two sons and a daughter, while Zhou Xiaohui had two daughters, Xie Chunjuan and Xie Xiajuan.
As soon as little Xie Chunjuan spotted her beautiful young aunt Su Xiaoman, she ran over with a wide grin. “Auntie! You’re back!”
Su Xiaoman pinched her little cheek. “Yes, I’m back! Auntie brought gifts for you all.”
Su Xiaoman handed out Snowflake Cream and toothbrushes, and gave each child a handful of fruit candies. The children happily bounced around, sucking on the sweet treats.
She then gave the two boxes of Snowflake Cream to her eldest and third sisters-in-law. Though Eldest Sister-in-law Qin said, “We’re just country folk; what do we need with this fancy cream?” she still accepted it with a smile.
“And these toothbrushes are for the kids. Each family gets one set,” Su Xiaoman added.
In the countryside, people didn’t prioritize dental hygiene, and they were often reluctant to buy toothbrushes. Su Xiaoman had noticed that Qin Xiuying’s two sons were sharing one worn-out toothbrush, which had already been used to the point of fraying. Apparently, that old toothbrush had been passed down from Xu Yanlan’s family to Qin’s.
On her trip, Su Xiaoman had thought of the children and decided they all deserved new toothbrushes—if only to spare her the painful sight of them using that old one.
“Chunjuan, these two toothbrushes are for you and your sister.”
The little girl beamed, showing off her teeth as she thanked her aunt. “Thank you, Auntie!”
Xu Yanlan, seeing that the others had received gifts, was already frowning so hard she could squash a fly. “What about our family, Old Five’s wife? Yaozu is the treasure of this family, you know.”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you,” Su Xiaoman replied with a smile. “Second Sister-in-law, you always have Snowflake Cream and toothbrushes at home, so I didn’t get those for you. They’d be unnecessary. But here, I picked out a handkerchief for you—it suits you perfectly.”
Su Xiaoman handed her the neatly folded handkerchief. Though it had been stained with ink, she had embroidered over the spots to make it look presentable.
Feeling the fabric, Xu Yanlan grudgingly admitted it was nice. She shot Su Xiaoman a glare, feeling that her brother-in-law’s wife at least had some sense. But she still couldn’t help envying the Snowflake Cream that the others had received.
Su Xiaoman then handed a small blue pouch to her nephew, Xie Yaozu. “And this pencil case is for you.”
“I also made three more pencil cases for the other kids—one per family,” she added.
During her stay at the Zhou family, Su Xiaoman had borrowed a sewing machine to make three pencil cases out of scrap fabric. Her sewing was meticulous, and she even embroidered little animals on them, making them look more exquisite than what could be found in stores.
Xie Yaozu looked at his pencil case but didn’t seem particularly impressed, especially after seeing the others receive similar gifts. He felt somewhat dissatisfied.
The other children, however, were overjoyed and kept passing the pencil cases around between siblings. The brothers offered it to their sister, who eventually accepted it with a smile.
Seeing this, Xie Yaozu puffed up with pride, feeling once again superior to the others for having his own special item.
Old Xie received a new smoking pipe and a pouch of premium tobacco. He chewed a bit of the tobacco and remarked, “Now this is good stuff. You’ve got an eye for quality.”
Content with his new tobacco, the old man was satisfied.
For Sun Mei, Su Xiaoman had prepared a can of fruit preserves, which had been chosen by Xie Mingtu. Sun Mei accepted it without much expression and immediately handed it to her beloved grandson, Xie Yaozu.
“So, I hear you learned to drive trucks during your trip? How much money do you have left after buying all this stuff?” Sun Mei asked, still eyeing her son suspiciously.
Su Xiaoman jumped in before Xie Mingtu could respond. “Nothing left! We spent it all on gifts and new clothes for Mingtu. You can do the math, Mother—there’s nothing left.”
Sun Mei gave Xie Mingtu another look. She had expected as much. Making new clothes could be expensive, and it was clear that Su Xiaoman had spent quite a bit on Xie Mingtu’s wardrobe. The fabrics were fine and tailored into stylish, flattering designs.
Sun Mei eyed the new clothes with disdain. How could that Xie dog possibly deserve to wear something so nice?
“Old Five, take off those clothes! What do you think you look like wearing such things? It’s a waste on you. You finally made a little money, but instead of thinking about your brother, you’re just focused on yourself. These clothes should go to your second brother,” Sun Mei demanded, her voice sharp. “Your second brother would look much better in them.”
All Sun Mei wanted was for Xie Mingtu to go back to his old, scruffy self—ragged hair, unkempt beard, and worn-out clothes. In the past, when Xie Mingtu silently obeyed her commands, she had been used to ordering him around. But this time, to her surprise, he didn’t immediately act as she demanded.
“These are my clothes.”
“Pah! Your clothes? What, you go out once, and now you think you’re something special? Haven’t you heard of family values, respect for your elders, and brotherly love? You selfish brat, you make a little money, and all you care about is feeding yourself, dressing yourself. You don’t even think to honour your own brother. Your head must be full of nonsense, you’re so selfish!”
Su Xiaoman almost laughed at Sun Mei’s twisted logic, but she understood this type of person well. People like Sun Mei, and the old lady Su Xiaoman once knew, followed a hypocritical double standard. Trying to reason with such people was futile—they only understood when the consequences of their own actions caught up to them. Sun Mei would eventually face the backlash from her own decisions.
For now, Su Xiaoman was willing to let Sun Mei bask in her arrogance, knowing her comeuppance was on the horizon. Su Xiaoman had carefully laid some “seeds” for Sun Mei’s future downfall.
“Mother-in-law, look closely. Mingtu and his second brother have completely different builds. How could his clothes fit Second Brother?” Su Xiaoman squeezed Xie Mingtu’s hand and glanced at her two sisters-in-law for support.
The two sisters-in-law chimed in immediately. “Exactly! Mother, Xiaoman is right. Old Five’s clothes would never fit Old Two. Besides, Old Five has been wearing his brothers’ hand-me-downs for years. It’s only fair that he finally gets a few new clothes of his own.”
“That’s right, that’s right,” they echoed.
Even Xu Yanlan, who was usually antagonistic, added her agreement. “That’s true, Mother. Old Five is married now; it’s only natural he should have some new clothes. Xie Weiqiang has plenty—he doesn’t need Old Five’s clothes.”
With all her daughters-in-law against her, Sun Mei had no choice but to back down. She shot a furious glare at Xu Yanlan but couldn’t argue further. The thought of her precious second son, who resembled Jiang Yantang, briefly distracted her. Whenever she thought of Jiang Yantang—her true, excellent child—her heart ached.
Later that evening, after a simple meal at the Xie family house, Su Xiaoman and Xie Mingtu returned to their own modest quarters.
As Su Xiaoman organized their belongings, she glanced at Xie Mingtu, who was sitting by the bed, quietly whittling a piece of wood. He had been unusually quiet since they came back.
Su Xiaoman walked over, hugged him from behind, and rested her head against his thin back. She could understand his feelings better than anyone.
Being neglected by one’s mother while watching another child be favoured—it was a complex and painful experience. There was always a lingering question of whether one was truly unworthy of love, and despite trying to win approval, most of what they received in return was indifference or scorn.
Though Xie Mingtu might not yet know the full truth about his parentage, Su Xiaoman sensed that the revelation was coming. Sun Mei’s behaviour had been strange all day, and Su Xiaoman figured it was only a matter of time before Sun Mei spilled the secret herself. With Xie Mingtu’s sharp hearing, he would likely overhear it directly, which might be better than hearing it from her.
“Xie Mingtu, don’t be sad,” Su Xiaoman whispered, though she wasn’t sure if he already knew the truth. Still, she felt that when the time came, it would be better for him to hear it himself rather than from her.
Xie Mingtu put down the piece of wood and the knife, turned around, and pulled Su Xiaoman into his arms. He rested his chin on her shoulder, remaining silent for a while before finally speaking in a hoarse voice, “I still have you, Xiaoman.”
“Exactly, you still have me—and I like you,” Su Xiaoman said with a soft smile. “Tomorrow, come home with me. My mother loves you too. She’s always thought highly of you.”
Xie Mingtu was momentarily stunned. “Really?”
He knew Su Xiaoman’s family hadn’t been particularly impressed with him as a son-in-law, especially her brothers, who had always looked down on him.
“Of course! Otherwise, why do you think I married into your family? It’s because my mother likes you,” Su Xiaoman teased. “She even bet with me, saying you’d clean up nicely.”
Xie Mingtu’s eyes lit up, and he gave Su Xiaoman a soft, grateful smile.
Meanwhile, in the other room, Sun Mei and Father Xie hadn’t gone to bed yet. Father Xie was happily puffing on his new pipe, savouring the tobacco his son had brought back. It was indeed good quality.
“Old lady, what’s gotten into you today? Don’t be too hard on Old Five,” Father Xie said, puzzled by Sun Mei’s harsh attitude toward their youngest son. He had long suspected that her dislike for Xie Mingtu stemmed from a strained relationship with his mother, who had doted on Mingtu when he was a baby.
Sun Mei, lips tightly pursed, had been wrestling with her emotions all day after seeing Jiang Yantang. The truth about her son’s real identity had been weighing heavily on her.
She couldn’t keep it to herself any longer.
“Old man, come here. I’ve got something to tell you,” Sun Mei whispered. She then revealed the truth about Jiang Yantang’s parentage to Father Xie.
The revelation hit Father Xie like a lightning bolt. His pipe nearly slipped from his hands, and hot ashes burned several holes in his clothes.
“What? What are you saying?!”
“Shh! Keep your voice down. No one else can know,” Sun Mei warned, a satisfied smile creeping onto her face. “Our son is a cadre’s child now—well-educated, with a bright future ahead of him. No one can take that away from him.”
“You… you…” Father Xie was overwhelmed. The truth was too much for him to handle. He had just learned that Xie Mingtu wasn’t his biological son, and that Jiang Yantang—the educated young man everyone in the village admired—was actually his.
His real son had been robbed of his identity.
Father Xie stared blankly at the tobacco in his pipe, lost in thought. “Old lady… we should treat Mingtu better from now on.”
“People need to have some conscience,” Father Xie muttered, feeling a deep unease. Knowing that the outstanding Jiang Yantang was actually his biological son, he couldn’t shake the sense that their family’s fortunes had inexplicably shifted for the better.
But everything that should have belonged to Jiang Yantang had been given to Xie Mingtu, their Old Five. Xie Mingtu had been living the life meant for Jiang Yantang—the true son of a cadre. And yet, it was Xie Mingtu who had enjoyed that privileged upbringing.
His wife had switched the babies in a moment of madness, and now their family was burdened with guilt for a great wrong.
“We’ve done something terrible,” he said, his voice tinged with regret.
“I’ve shown more than enough conscience,” Sun Mei snapped back, glaring at him. “If I didn’t have any conscience, I would’ve strangled that child the moment we switched them. Why should I raise someone else’s child?”
“He had enough food to eat and clothes to wear growing up. Isn’t that enough?”
…
Xie Mingtu clenched the bedcovers beneath him, his fingers turning white with the force. The veins on his hands bulged as he gripped tightly, then slowly released.
He stared blankly at the ceiling beam above him.
Sometimes, having such keen hearing felt like a curse. He had heard every word of the conversation between Father Xie and Sun Mei.
Flashes of old memories came rushing into his mind: a small, bewildered boy chasing after the back of a woman, crying out “Mother,” while the woman ignored him, her cold indifference echoing through his ears. And now, the words that would haunt him forever:
“If I didn’t have any conscience, I would’ve strangled that child the moment we switched them. Why should I raise someone else’s child?”
…
Xie Mingtu closed his eyes tightly, trying to block out the pain. But when he opened them again, he found himself looking at Su Xiaoman, who was sleeping peacefully beside him. Her soft, steady breathing carried a faint, comforting sweetness that calmed the storm inside him.
In that moment, all the anguish and confusion in his mind subsided, as if the turbulent waves had finally stilled.
Under the softness of the silk blanket, his rough, calloused hand found her delicate, white fingers and held on tightly.
Xie Mingtu thought to himself, as long as I have Xiaoman, that’s all I need.
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