Initially, Ji Ying and Xu Qinghe brought the child home and were afraid that the child’s biological parents would come looking for them. Xu Qinghe even went to the county to inquire but heard no reports of a missing child.
Day after day, year after year, as they watched the child grow up slowly under their care in Shuangzhu Village, Xu Nianhua gradually grew up.
Ji Ying never imagined that, now that her daughter was twenty-two years old, Nianhua’s biological parents would actually come looking for her.
"Twenty-two years ago, on September 23, when I was returning to my parents’ home, I went into labor and gave birth at the hospital in Gaoliang County. The hospital still has the records of my childbirth," Fang Yue had done her homework thoroughly and even photocopied the records from back then, handing them to Ji Ying.
"I don’t know who was so wicked to have stolen my child, causing my daughter and me to be separated for twenty-two years."
Fang Yue, even when scolding someone, looked ever so gentle in her affluent appearance.
"I, I really didn’t steal your daughter." Ji Ying was afraid that Fang Yue misunderstood, she was almost ready to swear to heaven, saying, "I found Nianhua under a big tree."
Ji Ying subconsciously looked towards Xu Nianhua, afraid that she wouldn’t believe her.
"Mom, I believe you," Xu Nianhua snuggled next to Ji Ying and didn’t avoid further, asking a few more questions, and everything regarding the time and place matched up.
Also, what she was wearing at that time and how she was wrapped up in a small blanket back then, all matched up.
Especially the blood type, she had had an accident as a child that caused her to bleed heavily, and after being taken to the hospital, the doctors said she had the rare "Panda Blood". They had advised her to be careful with her health and to be cautious, as it could be very dangerous if she bled too much.
Thus, when it was mentioned that Gu Mingzhu also had "Panda Blood," Xu Nianhua felt there must be no mistake.
After confirming their identities, Xu Qinghe and Xu Nianji both returned.
Xu Qinghe had been silent ever since he knew her biological parents had come looking for her.
Xu Nianhua strongly expressed she did not want to go to South City or to recognize the Gu Family as hers.
However, Gu Hai and Fang Yue, along with Gu Mingzhu, constantly persuaded her, expressing they were just happy knowing about Xu Nianhua, their daughter.
In the days that followed, the Gu Family would appear at the Xu Family from time to time. Each visit, they brought enough gifts that the whole village knew Xu Nianhua’s biological parents had come for her, and they were particularly well-off.
Apart from Xu Nianhua’s family, everyone else especially hoped that Xu Nianhua would maintain good relations with the Gu Family, especially Xu Zhong and his entire family, along with Xu’s uncle and aunt, who had accepted benefits from the Gu Family and took turns advising Xu Qinghe and his wife.
They said that going to the Gu Family in South City would bring many benefits, and it would be good for Xu Nianhua’s future, and even her romantic prospects would be people from the city!
Xu Qinghe and Ji Ying, genuinely wishing the best for Xu Nianhua, had heard all these persuasive words so often that, despite their reluctance, they also wanted to discuss this matter with Xu Nianhua.
"Dad, Mom, whether or not I am biologically related to you, in my heart, I am always your daughter."
Xu Nianhua said decisively, even though the Gu Family was very good and didn’t mistreat her in material terms after finding her, her feelings towards them were very complicated.
Her intuition told her that, apart from Gu Hai’s sincerity, Fang Yue and Gu Mingzhu seemed to want her back, but not just out of familial affection.
Xu Nianhua didn’t know why, and so, she always kept a lukewarm relationship with the Gu