Volume One, Chapter 18: The Kersu Family

After all, Fu Zhilin was Su Ningxia’s fiancé; it wouldn’t be right to swap engagements just because their real daughter had returned. Mother Su could never bring herself to do such a thing. Yet, she saw nothing wrong with her younger daughter being attentive toward Fu Zhilin.

“Brother Fu, I’m about to start teaching children to read! I’ll be getting a stipend of thirty yuan a month!” The moment that number was mentioned, surprise flashed in Fu Zhilin’s eyes.

“Xiaoxue, are you really that capable?”

“Brother Lin, I actually have good grades. If my adoptive parents hadn’t been so poor, I could have gotten into a top university!”

Fu Zhilin ruffled her hair, the gesture between them unexpectedly intimate. Yet, when he saw Su Ningxia, he cleared his throat, stood up, and said, “I brought you some things—my parents asked me to deliver them. There’s also some new fabric for you to make clothes. Please accept them.”

Though Fu Zhilin cared for Su Tingxue, he still had a shred of concern for Su Ningxia. After all, they were once engaged. It was only natural for the Fu family to send her a gift.

But at that moment, Su Tingxue heaved a sigh. “I’ve never worn nice clothes since I was little. They were always hand-me-downs. In the biting cold of winter, I wore such thin layers that I shivered and had to warm myself in a pile of straw.”

A trace of sympathy flickered through Fu Zhilin’s gaze. “Those things are all to nourish you. Ningxia, you don’t mind, do you?”

“I’ll decide. Let’s give them all to Xiaoxue, shall we?”

In the past, Su Ningxia might have protested, but now she was thoroughly disillusioned and could only let Su Tingxue take whatever she wanted. No matter how she reacted, everything would end up in Su Tingxue’s hands anyway.

“If she wants them, she can have them all.”

A hint of guilt crossed Fu Zhilin’s eyes. “I’ll take you to buy some new ones. The military just issued some money.”

“Brother Lin, I want to eat sugar pastries, and I want new shoes too,” Su Tingxue demanded.

Fu Zhilin became even more embarrassed but still indulged her. “I’ll buy a pair for both you and your sister.”

Su Tingxue scoffed, “My sister already has plenty of shoes. She doesn’t need more. And she gets to eat all sorts of delicious things every year. I’ve never tasted such treats!”

Fu Zhilin’s heart ached even more. “We’ll buy everything for Xiaoxue.”

Su Ningxia walked straight into the kitchen. Most of her clothes and shoes had already been given to Su Tingxue. Because the two had similar height and size, the family simply decided that the majority of Su Ningxia’s belongings should go to Su Tingxue.

Even the small portion that remained was eventually taken from her.

In the kitchen, the second Su brother was stoking the fire. When he saw Su Ningxia come in, he naturally gave her his spot and said, “I need to get back to my studies.”

But with his abilities, he could never become a doctor. The family had spent money year after year for him to study and pulled strings to no avail. No one wanted him. Now that he’d even lost his job at the clinic, there was nowhere left for him to turn.

Mother Su sighed softly. “Ningxia, look at our family’s situation. Your sister has gone out to work. Why don’t you take a temp job at the steel mill?”

Temporary work at the steel mill was hard and exhausting. The third brother managed because he worked with their father. But for a young woman like Su Ningxia, she’d be left with darkened skin and dizzy spells within days.

Mother Su, however, felt no sympathy.

“Young people should suffer a bit. Without hardship, how can there be good days ahead? Listen to your mother—if you earn some money, life will be easier for all of us.”

Su Ningxia pressed her lips together. “I understand, Mom.”

“You’re so disobedient,” Mother Su sighed. “You weren’t like this before. Are you unhappy because Xiaoxue came back?”

“But you know, Xiaoxue is our real daughter. It’s only natural for us to treat her well. You aren’t related to us by blood, yet we’ve cared for you wholeheartedly for over twenty years. You should be grateful!”

“And besides, you owe Xiaoxue this. If she doesn’t have a good life, you have to help support her in the future!”

Su Ningxia laughed to herself. So all her efforts over the years were worthless; she was meant to sacrifice herself for the sake of everyone else?

By this time, Fu Zhilin had taken Su Tingxue out to the street.

Leaving the house, Su Ningxia saw Li Xiu standing not far away. When Li Xiu spotted her, she waved. “Ningxia, look at your fiancé—he’s almost got his arms around your sister!”

“She keeps calling him ‘brother’ so sweetly. Are you really going to hand your man over to her?”

Su Ningxia gave a low laugh. “I don’t want him anymore.”

“Xiuxiu, just pretend you didn’t see these things from now on.”

Li Xiu sighed. “Your family used to do well, but since Su Tingxue came back, everything’s gone wrong. Don’t you think she’s a jinx?”

Truth be told, it did seem possible.

But this was something Su Tingxue must never hear, or she’d burst into tears and make a scene again. And just as fate would have it, a sharp female voice rang out.

“How can you say that about me!”

Su Ningxia turned around.

Su Tingxue was already sobbing, and behind her, Fu Zhilin’s face was dark with anger.

“Ningxia, apologize to Xiaoxue!”

“How could you say such things about Xiaoxue? Do you have no conscience?”

Li Xiu rolled her eyes. “I said it, not Ningxia! Think about it—ever since Su Tingxue came back, your family’s eldest and second sons had trouble, and your life’s gotten harder. Isn’t it obvious she doesn’t fit in? What’s wrong with what I said?”

Fu Zhilin’s expression shifted.

Beside him, Su Tingxue nearly couldn’t catch her breath for sobbing.

“Sister, did you put Li Xiu up to this? I don’t believe she’d suddenly turn against me on her own. You must have instigated her, didn’t you?” As she spoke, her gaze was sharp and fixed on Su Ningxia, waiting for an answer.

“If I say no, will you believe me?” Su Ningxia looked at Fu Zhilin.

Fu Zhilin frowned. “You must apologize to Xiaoxue!”

“Xiaoxue has already suffered so much because of you!”

Because of her?

Su Ningxia was baffled. “How have I wronged her? Please explain.”

“If I really did something wrong, I’ll apologize.”

Fu Zhilin was at a loss for words.

After some thought, he could only say, “Because you stole Xiaoxue’s life!”

Before Su Ningxia could retort, Li Xiu laughed. “Are you insane? Did Ningxia choose to be switched at birth? This has nothing to do with her, yet you blame her for everything. You’re the ones who are truly shameless!”

Fu Zhilin was stunned.

Suddenly, he realized she was right.

Su Tingxue stomped her foot, her glare pinning Li Xiu in place.

“So you’re saying I deserved to be raised in the countryside, to suffer, that all this should have happened to Su Ningxia, and I suffered in her place! Am I not the most innocent victim here?”