CFJWF : Chapter 35

He Fan felt lost, grief welling up inside him. “Is it only Eldest brother who is truly the mother’s child?” he muttered.  

Xiao Wanshi had always favored Wan Hai, and He Fan had never questioned it before. But with her sudden departure, the family was shattered. Yesterday had been their last meeting, and she hadn’t even told him the truth.  

Wiping his tears with his sleeve, He Fan noticed his father, He Donglai, standing stiffly nearby. Without a word, He Donglai turned and went back to his room.  

Moments later, cries of anguish echoed from the room. He Fan rushed in and found little He Xiaobao, dirty and disheveled, sobbing. It was clear that He Tong, the third son, had hit him.  

“What are you doing, Third Brother?” He Fan demanded.  

Seeing He Fan, Xiaobao clung to him, bawling. “Uncle, he said my dad doesn’t want me anymore!” The words deeply wounded the little boy, leaving him inconsolable.  

He Tong, sitting off to the side, sneered, “And isn’t that the truth? You’re the only one here who still thinks everyone’s a saint. His father treated us like servants while they lived like royalty. Now we’re the ones left to clean up their mess.”  

His bitterness ran deep. “For years, our eldest brother’s kids were treated like treasures. What did we get in return? Nothing but shame. I can’t even hold my head up in the village anymore.”  

At twenty, He Tong remained unmarried, unlike his peers, whose children were already running around the streets. Even He Fan, at eighteen, felt the weight of his family’s disgrace.  

He Tong continued his rant, “Mother never treated us like family. I’m already ruined, with no hope for the future. But you, the youngest, were supposed to be the lucky one. Yet even you’ve been abandoned. She made sure her three grandsons could go to school, but she forgot about arranging a marriage for you. And you still think she’s a good person?”  

He Fan, stung by the truth, replied, “No matter what, you shouldn’t take it out on a child.” He then took the three-year-old Xiaobao outside. Inside, He Tong erupted into maniacal laughter, further unsettling He Fan, who now feared his brother’s growing instability.  

The household was in chaos. His sister-in-law, Xu Li, had fainted from the shock of recent events and been sent back to her parents’ home. With no one to care for Xiaobao, He Fan had to step in.  

“From now on, Xiaobao, you’ll stay with Uncle,” He Fan said, determined to shield the boy from the turmoil.  

When He Fan tried to leave the house, someone threw rotten vegetables at him, shouting, “Scum! Filth! If I see you again, I’ll beat you!”  

He quickly retreated indoors, his confidence shattered. Once a carefree bystander in his family’s affairs, He Fan now regretted his passivity.  

—  

Meanwhile, Xiao Wanshi wasn’t fleeing with stolen money as He Donglai assumed. She was on a mission to save her son.  

Regret gnawed at her. She should never have acted out of spite by burning He Zifeng’s house. That act, coupled with Liangzi’s blackmail, had spiraled out of control. Even Wan Hai had disapproved of her actions, calling them reckless.  

Back then, she had dismissed him, accusing him of lacking courage. Now, she saw her mistakes clearly. Her life as a wealthy village matron had been comfortable—why had she sought unnecessary conflict?  

The journey to the county was grueling. She had left in the dead of night, wearing shoes that were stylish but ill-suited for long walks. By the time she reached the county at midday, her feet were raw and bleeding. The once-proud village beauty now looked haggard and worn.  

Stopping briefly for a bowl of noodles, she used the 50 wen from He Fan and the 20 taels of silver hidden by He Donglai.  

After discreetly asking around, she learned that Wan Hai was being held in the county jail. Bribing the guards with five taels of silver and pleading persistently, she was finally allowed a visit.  

The stench of mold, urine, and filth inside the jail made her gag. The prisoners’ occasional screams and shouts added to the oppressive atmosphere, making her hair stand on end.  

The guard led her to Wan Hai’s cell, opened the door, and left. Inside, she saw her son, disheveled and hollow-eyed, his stubble showing after just one day in custody. His clothes were filthy, and he looked like a beggar.  

“Mother,” Wan Hai said, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “What are you doing here?”  

“You’re my heart and soul, my precious boy,” she said tearfully. “It’s all my fault you’re in here.”  

Wan Hai’s initial anger toward his mother softened upon seeing her frail figure. She must have walked all the way from the village, he realized. “Don’t blame yourself, Mother,” he said, his voice trembling. “It’s just my fate.”  

“No,” she said firmly, glancing around to ensure they were alone. “This isn’t your fate.”  

Lowering her voice, she revealed, “You’ve always wanted to know who your real father is, haven’t you? It’s Gong Xiyuan’s son.”  

Wan Hai stared at her, shocked. Gong Xiyuan was one of the wealthiest merchants in the county, owning half the town’s property. Everyone knew his name. Until this moment, Wan Hai had never imagined he could be connected to such a powerful figure.  

Xiao Wanshi explained, “I used to work as a servant in the Gong household. Gong Xiyuan was already the heir back then. One night, after he got drunk, I seduced him. I thought I could become a concubine, which would’ve been a dream come true. But his wife, Liu Shi, found out and nearly had me beaten to death. If not for the old madam intervening, I wouldn’t be here today. They gave me a few taels of silver and dismissed me. I found out I was pregnant shortly after leaving.”  

Her plan to use her pregnancy to secure a place in the Gong family crumbled when she learned how ruthless Liu Shi could be. “I was too scared to bring you back there,” she admitted. “Liu Shi is capable of anything. Even if I handed you over, you might not survive.”

Xiao Wanshi had been hoping for years that Gong Xiyuan would remain childless. However, her hopes were dashed—Gong Xiyuan had a remarkable ability to sire children and now had eight legitimate sons. With no room for a concubine, Xiao Wanshi finally abandoned her dream of re-entering the Gong family. Unable to survive in the county, she sought a man with money, and after some inquiries, she set her sights on He Donglai. Eventually, she managed to ensnare him.  

“I’ve always wanted Dabo, Erbao, and Xiaobao to take the imperial examinations,” Xiao Wanshi confided to Wan Hai. “For merchant families like the Gong clan, their weakness lies in not producing any scholars. If one of the boys succeeds, the Gong family will be proud to support him. When the time comes, I can subtly reveal the truth, and our family can reclaim its rightful place.”  

But fate had other plans, and instead of enjoying wealth and prestige, Wan Hai now faced ruin.  

“I’ll speak to the Gong family steward,” Xiao Wanshi continued. “He knew about me back then and helped us survive when we lived in the county. He provided the money and even came up with this detailed plan.”  

She gave her son a stern warning. “The Gong family’s eight sons are not to be trifled with. Once you’re free, return to the village and sever all ties with them. Let Xiaobao succeed on his own, and everything will fall into place.”  

Wan Hai knelt and solemnly kowtowed. “Thank you, Mother.”  

Xiao Wanshi waved it off. “Take care of He Fan and He Tong when you return. They’ll need guidance.”  

“Why are you suddenly saying such things?” Wan Hai asked, alarmed.  

“You know He Donglai’s temper,” she replied, rolling up her sleeve to reveal bruises and welts. “He won’t tolerate me anymore. When I return, I’ll have no place there. I’m planning to leave. I’ll go to South City, to a small alley near the Wowo Steamed Bun Shop. My sworn sister is married to an old fish seller there. If anyone asks, tell them I’ve died.”  

She removed her outer robe, bit her lip, and smeared a few drops of blood on it.  

Wan Hai’s face tightened with anger. “Mother, we’re your sons—we should protect you. You deserve to enjoy your old age. If he dares lay a hand on you again, I’ll deal with him myself. He’s just an old man; I’m not afraid of him.”  

“Be patient until Xiaobao makes something of himself,” she said, brushing his words aside.  

Just then, the guard came to signal the end of their visit.  

Tears blurred Xiao Wanshi’s vision as she bid her son farewell. She left the prison and headed straight for the Gong family estate.  

By evening, she emerged from the estate, not heading to South City as she claimed. Instead, she left the county altogether, hiring a carriage to travel north. The address she mentioned earlier had been fabricated.  

With 15 taels of silver in her possession, she planned to live the rest of her life frugally and comfortably.  

Wan Hai was released after two days, thanks to his mother’s efforts and a bribe to smooth over the process.  

During his time in prison, Wan Hai had harbored countless fantasies about his future. Despite He Donglai’s kindness, he wasn’t his real father. Yet when he was finally released, it wasn’t a prominent Gong family member who came for him but a lowly servant, whose demeanor reeked of fear, as if he suspected Wan Hai of scheming to extort them.  

Humiliated, Wan Hai’s pride flared. *Look down on me now, will you?* he thought bitterly. *One day, I’ll crush every single one of you beneath my feet.*

Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡