Tian Jing returned after more than a year away.
Not only had she returned, but she also came back with a baby.
As soon as the news spread, the villagers were in an uproar.
Hadn't Tian Jing run off to secretly give birth?
Seeing her granddaughter, whom she hadn't seen in over a year, Grandma Xiao's eyes grew a little moist.
"How is your mother?"
"She's very well. I'll settle in first, then come back to chat with you."
Her granddaughter's evasive answer made Grandma Xiao a little worried. "Leave Hao Hao and the other two here. Have dinner with us tonight."
"Alright."
On the village road, Tian Jing and her companions were stopped by villagers.
Mother Li lifted the cloth covering her grandson's face. She knew what these villagers wanted to see.
Suddenly exposed to bright light, little Ran Ran closed his eyes tightly.
The villagers gathered around to examine the baby.
"Li Min's mother, where did this child come from?"
"We found him on the road. We don't know who is so wicked to abandon a baby boy."
A baby boy?
The villagers couldn't help but think of Fang Qiu Hong's eldest son.
"Is this child sick?"
Mother Li glared at the person who spoke. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything. The child is perfectly fine. We found him near the bus station."
"We also took him to a doctor, who said he was just a bit malnourished. That's why we decided to bring him back to raise."
The villagers looked at the baby's new clothes.
"You are really generous."
"What else could we do? When we found him, he was only wrapped in a tattered bellyband. Are we supposed to wrap him back in that?"
Mother Li, impatient with dealing with them, continued walking west.
Not long after, they were stopped by Fang Qiu Hong and Li Min.
"Mother, Mother, you're finally back? Let me see the baby. Everyone says my little sister-in-law gave birth to him."
Mother Li retorted sharply at her daughter, "What else can you do besides listen to gossip? Do you have a brain?"
"Your elder brother went after selling his watermelons. I went to help with childcare before the autumn planting, and he went after the autumn harvest. We've only just returned now."
"This child is at least five months old. Do you think what others are saying to you means anything?"
Mother Li directly exposed the villagers' malicious intentions.
Some villagers' faces showed interesting expressions.
Li Min lowered her head, counted on her fingers, and immediately pounced on Fang Qiu Hong, who was observing the baby nearby.
"It's your foul mouth that led a few people to spread rumors."
"Last year, my elder brother sold watermelons in September. It's only the end of August now. This baby is five months old, and it's impossible for your sister-in-law to have given birth."
"What do you mean by what you said? Why is your mouth so deserving of a slap?"
Fang Qiu Hong, who had been so confident, was stunned when she saw the baby, who bore no resemblance to the Li or Xiao families.
While fighting with Li Min, Fang Qiu Hong stubbornly argued, "What if your sister-in-law went after she got pregnant? That would be perfect."
Li Min no longer believed her.
Her mother was back, and if she listened to others again, her mother would hit her.
Moreover, her mother and brother hadn't been home for months. Her sister-in-law ignored her, and her elder brother wouldn't speak to her.
The people from the Xiao family at the village entrance also didn't pay much attention to her.
Only when the villagers' attitude towards her grew cold did she understand why her sister-in-law and brother were annoyed with her.
It was because she had been blinded by the villagers' flattering words.
"You're talking nonsense. My sister-in-law got her IUD inserted first."
Fang Qiu Hong yelled as she fought, "Didn't you say it could be removed? Didn't you say some people get pregnant with an IUD?"
Tian Jing pulled her mother-in-law and walked past the two fighting women.
"Fang Qiu Hong, you can sue. If you can't win the case, I will countersue. Your suspended sentence last time didn't carry much penalty."
Her past stain brought up again, Fang Qiu Hong became angry. "Do you think I dare not? By the way, didn't you say something about paternity testing?"
Tian Jing turned around and smiled slightly. "I think it would be better for you to go to jail. You can learn legal knowledge in there."
"Now, let me give you a legal point: whoever claims must prove."
"Paternity testing technology is expensive abroad. As a friendly reminder, the cost is outrageously high."
"I heard you have connections. I'll wait for you to come to my door to collect samples. As for giving you samples, that's impossible. I don't trust you. As for the cost, you will definitely pay."
"Whoever claims must prove means that you have to provide concrete evidence for your claims, not just speak carelessly. I'll be waiting for you."
After speaking, Tian Jing continued to hold her mother-in-law's arm and left.
Li Min scratched Fang Qiu Hong, who had been stunned by her sister-in-law's words, once more before letting go and chasing after her mother.
"Mother, wait for me."
The villagers dispersed in small groups.
No one paid any attention to Fang Qiu Hong.
They could all see clearly that the baby did not look like a member of the Li family.
He didn't resemble Hao Hao or Li Li at all. Eighty percent of the time, he was found.
As for the other twenty percent, it was a reservation.
Fang Qiu Hong was unwilling. She took her younger daughter and went to find her uncle.
Her uncle confirmed that Tian Jing was right, and she became dejected.
In fact, when she saw the baby's face, she really believed he was found.
But she was not convinced. The Li family could find a normal baby boy, so why did she give birth to a healthy baby girl?
This was also the reason she stirred up trouble in the village.
She was jealous of any woman who gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
"Uncle, do you think it's possible if I adopt that baby boy?"
"It depends on whether they have completed the adoption procedures. It also depends on whether they agree. This matter is not easy."
...
At the Li family's house, Li Zheng Guo put down his luggage and went to the village committee to get a certificate.
A certificate proving that he had the conditions and ability to adopt and educate the child his family had found.
Village Chief Ou asked in a low voice, "Is he really found?"
Li Zheng Guo then produced the police report for finding an abandoned infant.
Village Chief Ou, seeing the certificate stamped with a large red seal, believed him.
With the certificate bearing the red stamp of the Kusanli Village Committee, Li Zheng Guo felt relieved.
All the procedures were complete. After going to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow to complete the adoption registration, his youngest son would safely belong to the Li family.
Mother Li sent away her talkative daughter. After removing her disguise of travel wear with her daughter-in-law, she carried the baby to the east of the village.
Avoiding Xiao Shu Yuan and the others, Tian Jing quietly told her grandfather that she had gone into the deep mountains to give birth secretly.
Grandpa Xiao was both shocked and delighted.
"You really dare! Where's the baby? Let me see."
After he saw the baby's appearance, he was relieved. "This child will grow up."
"Right? My mother-in-law also said so. You should pay close attention to Li Li and the others. Don't let it slip."
"Yes, yes, I'll be careful. Shouldn't Hao Hao and Xiao Bo be going to school?"
"They'll go next year. Next year, the two brothers will go to school in the county town together."
Children attending school in this era were generally older. Hao Hao was seven and Xiao Bo was six. Next year, they would still be relatively young elementary school students.
"Then let them stay here with Li Li. I'll teach them to read and write, and they should have minimal contact with the villagers."
"Okay."
Hao Hao and Xiao Bo were very willing.
Li Li pulled her father's hand as he came in. "Daddy, you're not allowed to hold my brother. Come see me and my brothers every day."
Li Zheng Guo dared not agree.
Mother Li replied, "I'll take care of my brother. Your father has many things to do and no time to hold my brother."
Li Li was reassured. "Then I'll stay here with my great-grandfather."