Chapter 201: Chapter 189: Not Even Close

Lunch was ready. Xiao Feng came over to invite the couple to eat. Although Wu Xiaowen felt a little hungry, she was worried about hygiene, so she claimed she wasn’t hungry and didn’t want to eat.

Grandpa and Grandma then came to invite her personally. Country folk are sincere hosts, and their kind words were heartwarming. Only then did Wu Xiaowen take a proper look at the old couple, and what she saw gave her a little shock. It turned out Grandpa and Grandma weren’t the sloppy, unkempt people she had imagined:

Because he’d been catching and killing the chicken, Grandpa had taken off his thick, blue cotton-padded jacket. Now, he was just wearing a gray, long-sleeved wool sweater with a military-green thermal vest over it. He had on a pair of army trousers fastened with a military-issue leather belt, and on his feet were a pair of liberation shoes. These were all gifts from Zheng Shaolian and Squad Leader Xiao Zhao. Grandpa was already lean and well-built with a straight back, and this outfit made him look crisp and sharp. Anyone who didn’t know better might have mistaken him for a retired soldier. Grandma, for her part, wore a light-gray, traditional-style jacket with a blue homespun apron tied around her waist and handmade ’thousand-layer’ cloth shoes. Her thick, jet-black hair was combed back so neatly it shone, without a single hair out of place, and coiled into a tight, pretty bun. Despite her age, her skin was still fair and smooth, her expression gentle, her eyes smiling. She radiated a warm and comforting presence.

’Food made by two people like this ought to be clean, right?’ Wu Xiaowen wondered to herself as she followed Tang Qingyun toward the kitchen. She couldn’t help but glance at Grandma’s hands, folded over her blue apron, before unconsciously looking at the back of her own. She couldn’t quite figure it out. ’How can an old country woman have such amazing skin? It’s nearly as good as mine!’

Lunch turned out to be quite pleasant. There was chicken, pork, and soft tofu. Wu Xiaowen especially loved the fresh, vibrant green vegetables, the sweet, crisp white radishes, and the special homemade dipping sauce. The aroma was absolutely incredible. She only had one bowl of rice and a few pieces of chicken and tofu, but she ended up eating two full bowls of the vegetables and drank most of a bowl of meat broth.

Her only complaint was that Xiao Man was too arrogant and ill-mannered. She’d actually eaten her fill before the guests and her parents had even come to the table. Afterward, she worked silently in front of the large stove, bustling back and forth, steaming and frying things. Wu Xiaowen had no idea what she was up to.

’And Grandpa and Grandma didn’t say a single word to correct her. This simply wouldn’t do. In terms of manners and upbringing, Manman was worlds apart from Xuanxuan. Once they got back to the city, she would need to be disciplined properly.’

After lunch, Xiao Man did something even more outrageous: she demanded that Tang Qingyun and Wu Xiaowen pay for their food!

Wu Xiaowen was dumbfounded. Tang Qingyun was mortified. Xiao Feng had to suppress a laugh—he didn’t have a single penny on him, having given it all to Xuanxuan earlier.

"Food is scarce in the countryside," Xiao Man said, "and it’s not easy to raise a chicken. My grandma was keeping that hen for its eggs. She was going to sell them to save up for my living expenses at school. Since you ate it, you have to pay. I’m not asking for much. Five yuan per person. The kid doesn’t count. That’s fifteen yuan. Hand it over."

Tang Qingyun coughed. "Manman, you’re supposed to come back with us. When you go to school in the provincial city, you won’t have to worry about tuition or living expenses."

"Pay for this meal first. We can talk about everything else after!"

"Manman," Xiao Feng interjected, "can we put it on a tab for now? I’ll have someone bring the money in a couple of days."

Tang Haocheng ran back to Xiao Man’s room, grabbed his little backpack, and pulled out a few bills. He handed them to Tang Qingyun. "Dad, you can borrow my money."

Tang Qingyun: ...

’A hundred different emotions churned within him. What had become of my life? Had I really sunk so low that my own daughter was dunning me for money and I had to borrow from my son?’

Wu Xiaowen found it even more unbearable. She looked at Xiao Man reproachfully. "Manman, he’s your biological father, and I’m your biological mother! How can you be so heartless?"

Xiao Man sneered. "Me, heartless? I don’t think I’m anywhere near as heartless as the two of you. Let’s say we had met before today, in Wancheng or the provincial city, and I was homeless without a penny to my name. Would you have taken pity on me and offered to buy me a meal? I highly doubt it! So, just hand over the money and spare me the lecture!"

Tang Qingyun had just started to reach for the money when Xiao Feng intercepted it, taking the bills from Tang Haocheng. He picked out three five-yuan notes and handed them to Xiao Man.

Xiao Man accepted the money and waved a dismissive hand. "Be on your way. I won’t see you out!"

Tang Qingyun grabbed her arm. "Manman, the two switched girls have been returned to their rightful families. You’re our biological daughter. You have to come home with us!"

With a flick of her wrist, Xiao Man easily broke free from Tang Qingyun’s grasp. "I’m not going. This is my home! Grandpa and Grandma are my family, and we are not going to be separated!"

"What?" Wu Xiaowen exclaimed. "This has already been decided! How can you disobey?"

"Why should I? Obey who?"

"Your biological grandfather! This was his decision!"

"I don’t know any biological grandfather. I only have my Grandpa. You can go talk to him. He’s the head of this household. I’m just a child who doesn’t know any better, so stop bothering me!"

"You... you’re making things impossible for us! The girls have been swapped back, but now you refuse to leave with us. We’ll be left with no daughter! How are we supposed to explain this to the family back in Beijing?" Wu Xiaowen was furious, her mood souring by the second. ’Is this child really mine? Why is she so difficult? She’s completely feral, beyond discipline!’

Xiao Man said, "I never asked you to switch us. And let me make one thing perfectly clear: I will never acknowledge you as my parents, and I will not be your daughter! So you might as well take Tang Yaxuan back with you and keep doting on her as your precious little girl!"

"You know that’s impossible," Wu Xiaowen said, her eyes turning red. She looked at Tang Qingyun. "Qingyun, what are we going to do? If she won’t come with us, the family in Beijing..."

Tang Qingyun’s face was grim. "Manman, come home with Mom and Dad. As for Grandpa and Grandma, I promise we’ll look after them and support them in their old age. We’ll respect them as elders of our family."

Xiao Man shook her head. "My Grandpa and Grandma are perfectly capable. In fact, they’re the ones supporting me. They don’t need anyone else’s support!"

With that, Xiao Man shouted toward the kitchen, "Grandma! Come entertain your guests! I have to pack my things, school starts tomorrow!"

She then went into her room, locked the door, and refused to come out.

Grandpa and Grandma had deliberately stayed in the kitchen, letting the parents and their daughter talk things out. They already knew what the outcome would be—that Xiao Man wouldn’t leave with them—but it still felt wrong to stand by and watch. Besides, the elderly couple didn’t care for Wu Xiaowen’s superior attitude.

Now, hearing Xiao Man call for them, they had no choice but to emerge.

When Wu Xiaowen saw how respectful Tang Qingyun was toward the two elders, she felt compelled to change her own attitude. ’Maybe they could help persuade Xiao Man,’ she thought. It would be best if they could get her to return to the city with them soon. With that in mind, she spared no effort in offering a few more pleasantries.

But their hopes were dashed. Xiao Man didn’t come out again. Her door was bolted tight, and the curtains were drawn. No matter what they said from outside her door or window, not a single sound or movement came from within. Wu Xiaowen was so furious she wanted to cry. Tang Qingyun, on the other hand, was getting a master class in the ultimate form of a girl’s temper tantrum: complete and utter silence. ’She’s just ignoring us. There’s nothing we can do!’

At that moment, he couldn’t help but do as Wu Xiaowen had done and compare her to Tang Yaxuan. ’She really is so much more obedient and gentle than Xiao Man.’

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