The Abandoned Daughter's Second Chance

Chapter 356: Chapter 313: Xinghua Returns

Mo Jiabao looked at Xiao Man, his smile honest and sincere. "Xiao Man, I’m not good with flowery words, so I’ll just say it: thank you!"

Xiao Man smiled and waved a hand dismissively. "Uncle, we’re family. You don’t have to be so formal."

Mo Jiabao’s eyes grew red. "I know, I know, but I also know that if you hadn’t been here keeping them company, we wouldn’t have this day."

"Uncle, we’re all together now, aren’t we? From now on, things will only get better!"

"Yes, yes! Things will be better!"

Mo Jiabao grabbed Grandma’s hand and looked into her eyes. "Mom, you cried your eyes out missing me. I’ve let you down!"

"My child, it was my fault for not watching over you. I’m the one who let you suffer!"

"Finding you and Dad makes it all worth it! To have made you worry for so long, I’ve been a terrible son! Mom, I already spoke with Dad. I’m your son, so wherever you and Dad are is where I should be. My wife and children will follow me. We’re all staying with you and Dad. We’re not leaving! We’re not afraid of not having a household registration or land. I’m strong. I can clear new farmland on the mountain and pick up odd jobs. I can provide for my family!"

Through tears and laughter, Grandma said, "Good son, you won’t have to clear any land. Our family has several acres of farmland, and we just harvested the summer grain. As long as we don’t sell it, we’ll have enough to eat. Your father and Xiao Man had their eye on the mountain in front of our house for a while. They leased it and planted it full of herbs. A batch will be ready to harvest this fall, but with Xiao Man about to leave for university in Beijing, we were just worrying that there’d be no one to help your father. It’s wonderful that you’re back!"

Xiao Man added, "Exactly. With you and Auntie here to keep Grandpa and Grandma company, I can finally go to university with peace of mind."

Mo Jiabao looked at Xiao Man, his eyes filled with admiration but also a hint of sadness. "You’re such a smart kid, going to university at your age. Xinghua... she’s older than you but can barely read... It’s all my fault. I’m useless!"

Xiao Man comforted him, "There’s a saying: ’You’re never too old to learn.’ Knowledge is always out there. As long as you have the desire, you can learn anything. Xinghua is only sixteen. She can definitely go to school and learn to read."

Qiuyan piped up from the side, "Dad, Grandma said last night that the school is very, very close to home. Fourth Brother should go to school, and so can I!"

Grandpa laughed. "Everyone’s going! Everyone! When we get home tomorrow, I’ll sign you all up for school. Classes start September first! Oh, right, later I’m going to the department store to buy you all green backpacks—one for each of you!"

Dapeng asked curiously, "Grandpa, why does it have to be green? Can’t I have a yellow one?"

"Well, back in the day, your Sister Xiao Man insisted that I buy her a green backpack!"

Grandpa looked perfectly serious, as if implying that carrying a green backpack was the secret to getting into university. Dapeng and Qiuyan nodded in unison. "Grandpa, we want green backpacks too!"

Xiao Man chuckled. ’She could just imagine green backpacks becoming a family tradition.’

Mo Jiabao was too choked up to speak, his eyes red. Yu Wumei turned her face away to wipe her tears.

At ten o’clock in the morning, a black car pulled up to the hospital and stopped in front of the inpatient building. The driver got out, walked around to the other side, and opened the door. A tall, slender girl emerged. With her delicate brows, almond-shaped eyes, and lovely features, she was very pretty. Her hair was in two braids, and she wore a white blouse, blue straight-leg pants, and white canvas shoes—a crisp, casual student outfit. Her expression, however, was a stark contrast to her clothes. She looked flustered and alarmed. The moment she stepped out of the car, she froze, her feet pressed together, not daring to move. Clearly, she was in an unfamiliar environment and felt utterly unsafe.

This girl was Xinghua, just rescued from another county.

Two people came out of the inpatient building: Tang Qingyun and Yu Wumei. Xinghua immediately threw herself into Yu Wumei’s arms. The driver exchanged a glance with Tang Qingyun, then got back in the car, closed the door, and drove away.

There was no need for a crowd. The fact that Xinghua had been a victim of human trafficking was a secret kept within the family.

Yu Wumei gritted her teeth and managed to calm Xinghua down, then guided her back to the hospital room. The moment Xinghua saw her father propped up in bed, tears streamed down her face once more. She rushed forward, dropped to her knees by the bed, and cried out hoarsely, "Dad, this is all my fault..." before sobbing so hard she passed out.

The other patient in the room had already been moved, so now only family was present. Yu Wumei and Xiao Man quickly helped lift Xinghua onto an empty hospital bed. Xiao Man checked her pulse, then reassured Yu Wumei and the others, "She’s alright. She was just overwhelmed with anxiety and couldn’t catch her breath. Some warm water will do the trick."

When Xinghua woke up, Mo Jiabao and Yu Wumei did as Xiao Man advised. They kept their own emotions in check, put on smiles, and spoke to her in soft, gentle tones. They soothed her until her crying subsided and she was able to converse normally. Only then did Yu Wumei tell her the news: while searching for her in G Province, they had unexpectedly found her paternal grandparents. The entire family would not be returning to H Province; they were going to stay here with her real grandpa and grandma!

Even in her grief, Xinghua was pleasantly surprised by the news. Following the example her mother and the others had set the day before, she kowtowed to Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa said, "Good granddaughter. Now you have a grandpa and grandma to dote on you. We have nothing to fear!"

Grandma hugged Xinghua tightly, full of love and pity. She pressed her cheek against the girl’s, comforting her without words, but Xinghua dissolved into tears all over again.

Xiao Man studied Xinghua closely. ’Her tall, slender frame must come from Grandpa, but her features and expression are the spitting image of Grandma. She has the air of a classical beauty. She must be what Grandma looked like in her youth.’

Xiao Man still hadn’t had a chance to speak with Xinghua, but she wasn’t in a rush. ’We all agreed on the plan beforehand,’ she thought. ’Today is for letting Xinghua cry it all out. We’ll say what needs to be said, ask what needs to be asked, and get it all over with. Starting tomorrow, no one brings this up again.’

Around noon, the two cars dispatched to Gongdao Village arrived, carrying Secretary Mo, Eighth Uncle, and four other elders from the Mo family. As the group entered the hospital room and saw Mo Jiabao, they immediately declared he was a Mo, through and through. When they heard Mo Jiabao’s voice as he greeted them, they burst out laughing and marveled, "His voice is a perfect match, too!"

Secretary Mo said to Mo Jiabao, "Your mom and dad only ever had one son: you. It wasn’t that they failed to raise you; there was nothing they could do. They truly couldn’t find you. Your mother cried herself blind over it... For decades, she never for a moment forgot you! Our Mo family has lived and prospered in Gongdao Village for over three hundred years—it’s written on our ancestral tombstones. Our roots are here. A fallen leaf returns to its roots. You have to come home. Come back to your parents’ side and be with them, care for them in their old age. Don’t you worry about anything else. The household registration, the land—all of it will be taken care of."

With tears welling in his eyes, Mo Jiabao was unable to speak and could only nod vigorously.

They had another simple lunch in the hospital cafeteria. Afterward, since Grandpa wanted to buy backpacks for his grandchildren, several of the Mo family elders decided to go shopping with him. Grandma wanted to go along but couldn’t bear to leave Mo Jiabao and Xinghua. Xiao Man volunteered to do the shopping for everyone. With new additions to the family, they needed more household supplies, plus fabric and clothes. As it happened, Zheng Shaolian arrived just then. He had gotten Xiao Man’s call the day before but had been tied up with duties at his military base. Today, he was free to help her with the big shopping trip.

A little after three in the afternoon, everyone boarded a small shuttle bus Xiao Feng had arranged for the trip back to Gongdao Village. They carried Mo Jiabao onto the bus as well, laying him across three seats padded with quilts. As long as the driver took it slow, he would be fine.