Chapter 262: Chapter 241: Old Acquaintance

Wu Xiaowen received a telegram from Tang Yaxuan and learned her daughter was sick again. Though she was worried sick, one look at her superior’s long, sour face told her she couldn’t ask for more time off to visit. All she could do was plan to send Tang Yaxuan more money and write a letter instructing her not to rely on the small clinic. She had to go to a proper hospital, at the commune level or higher, for a check-up and medication. The money wasn’t important; her health was what mattered most. She just had to hold on until the next semester, and then Wu Xiaowen would bring her back to the provincial city!

With some progress finally being made on her return to Beijing, Wu Xiaowen’s mood brightened considerably. ’After Xiao Man’s cold indifference, Xuanxuan’s gentle, comforting nature is such a contrast. I finally get it now—a mother and daughter’s bond is a matter of fate. Our birth charts must clash, so it’s useless no matter how hard I try. I’m afraid I won’t be able to rely on my biological daughter in this lifetime. Thankfully, I still have Xuanxuan. As the old saying goes, even a kitten or a puppy you raise will show you gratitude. The daughter I’ve doted on since she was little is completely devoted to me. *That’s* what I call being on the same page.’

Hao Hao called to say he had told his older sister about their maternal grandfather’s symptoms. His sister agreed to prepare the medicine and mail it over, estimating it would arrive in Feng City within ten to fifteen days.

Wu Xiaowen breathed another sigh of relief. ’At least Hao Hao still has a bit of a conscience. But this only happened because I hounded him relentlessly with a barrage of telegrams and phone calls. He only agreed to ask his sister after I’d pushed him to his limit.’

’Hao Hao has always been a bit aloof, but he was never like this with me. He changed after Xiao Man returned. It’s obvious she’s the one who influenced him, who led him astray.’

Her children were distant, and even Lian Qingyun didn’t understand her. The more Wu Xiaowen thought about it, the more agitated and irritable she became. When her thoughts turned to the role Old Mrs. Tang had played in all this, her resentment boiled over. ’It’s true what they say—a scourge lasts a thousand years! Back then, what didn’t she do to stop me and Qingyun from getting married? She was even willing to kick her own son out, banishing him to some poor, remote mountain region. We were a young, newlywed couple who knew nothing, which is how our child ended up being switched at birth. When you get right down to it, wasn’t it all that old hag’s fault? If she hadn’t been so wicked and had just let us stay in Beijing, would any of this have happened? Now she has the gall to push all the blame onto me. That vicious, merciless old woman... she’s just plain rotten! To think she survived such a terrible disaster. How could she not have died? How could she have recovered?!’

’It’s all that meddling wild girl’s fault. She’s as clueless as if she’d just popped out from under a rock, unable to tell friend from foe. All she does is defy her own parents!’

’Sigh... what sins did I commit in a past life to deserve a nemesis for a daughter?’ Wu Xiaowen felt like she could die of frustration every time she thought about it.

With both children away, the living subsidy from Beijing was cut off. Her salary alone wasn’t enough to afford a nanny. Reluctantly, Wu Xiaowen had to admit there wasn’t much housework for just one person, so she let the nanny go. She did her own laundry and cleaning. Meals, at least, were easy to solve; she could just eat out at local restaurants.

One day, as Wu Xiaowen was leaving her work unit’s compound, she saw the doorman, Old Zhang, talking with a young man in a military uniform. The young soldier was tall and dashing, about the same age as Gu Shaojun. Wu Xiaowen couldn’t help but stare. Her heart gave a little flutter. ’Why is it... that this handsome young man feels so familiar, like someone from my past?’

Seeing Wu Xiaowen, Old Zhang smiled at the young soldier. "We have a few people with the surname Wu here. Here comes Director Wu now. See if she’s the one you’re looking for."

The young soldier turned, a smile making his features appear even more bright and handsome. "You must be Aunt Wu Xiaowen, right? I’m Bai Junfan—Xiao Fan, from the Bai Family. Do you remember me, Aunt Wu?"

Wu Xiaowen’s mouth fell slightly open as she stared at Bai Junfan in astonishment. "Oh my goodness, it’s really you, Xiao Fan! You’ve gotten so big! The last time I saw you, you were only about this tall!"

Bai Junfan stepped forward to shake her hand, a smile on his face. "I remember during the New Year when I was a kid, Aunt Wu, you gave me a red envelope and told me to ’grow up big and fast.’ Now that I’m all grown up, surely you’re not unhappy to see me?"

"Happy? Of course, I’m happy!" Wu Xiaowen’s laughter was crisp, her face alight with joy. She patted Bai Junfan’s shoulder lightly. "You’ve grown into such a fine young man! For a second there, my eyes were playing tricks on me. If it weren’t for that uniform, I would have thought it was your Uncle Lihua!"

Bai Junfan nodded knowingly. "My second uncle really wanted to come see you, but he’s just too busy right now—juggling things at work and at home. Grandpa’s health has only just started to turn a corner, so Uncle has to stay by his side a lot. In short, he just can’t get away."

"I know, I know. Your second uncle has always been gentle and good-tempered, so filial and obedient toward his elders. You should try to be more like him."

As she said this, Wu Xiaowen’s smile stiffened slightly. Her words weren’t entirely sincere; if Bai Lihua hadn’t been *so* filial and obedient back in the day, the two of them might never have broken up.

"I will," Bai Junfan replied. He pointed to a vehicle parked by the side of the road and said to Wu Xiaowen, "My second uncle called me the day before yesterday. He told me you were in the G Province provincial city and insisted that I come visit you. The discipline in the army is strict, so today was the earliest I could get away. I’m really sorry about that! I brought some things for you in the car, let me go grab them!"

"Oh my, you’re being far too kind. Just having you visit, Xiao Fan, is enough to make me happy. You didn’t need to buy anything!"

"My second uncle remembers your tastes, Aunt Wu. He specifically told me to go to the Overseas Chinese Store and to choose something for you with great care. I’m just a soldier, so I’m terrible at shopping, let alone picking out gifts. I had to ask the store manager for advice, but I did my best! Please, Aunt Wu, see if you like it. If not, we can exchange it—just don’t tell my second uncle!"

The slightly panicked, eager-to-please look on Bai Junfan’s face as he spoke made Wu Xiaowen dissolve into giggles. She was overcome with a feeling of pure joy, as if she had been transported back to her youth. Back then, Bai Lihua had doted on her in just the same way, doing everything he could to please her, unable to bear seeing her with even a hint of disappointment.

After leading Bai Junfan upstairs to her apartment, Wu Xiaowen attentively made him tea and peeled him an apple. The two of them sat on the sofa and chatted.

Wu Xiaowen sighed. "I spoke with your second uncle on the phone. His voice hasn’t changed, but he wouldn’t tell me the whole truth. He spent all those years at a farm in the far north... he must have suffered terribly. I wonder what he even looks like now."

Bai Junfan reassured her, "Don’t worry, Aunt Wu. I saw him a little while ago when I was back in Beijing. My second uncle definitely went through a lot. He looks a bit weathered and older in the face, but he’s in good health. It’s probably from all those years of physical labor; he’s quite strong."

"Is that so? That’s wonderful. As long as he’s healthy, that’s all that matters!"

"And you, Aunt Wu... after all these years, you’re still as young and beautiful as ever. It’s like I only saw you yesterday. My second uncle would be so relieved if he could see you."

"You rascal, teasing your Aunt Wu now!"

After they shared a laugh, Bai Junfan added, "When my second uncle returned to Beijing, he asked about how you were doing. He heard that you have a lovely son and daughter. Have they, ah, not gotten out of school yet?"

The corner of Wu Xiaowen’s mouth twitched, and she sighed. "Them... They’ve gone their separate ways. They aren’t with me anymore."

Bai Junfan was taken aback. "What do you mean by that? My little brother and sister are still young, aren’t they? Where could they have gone?"

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