Chapter 16: Heart Ripped Apart

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Huo Zheng was tall and stood out like a crane among chickens in the crowd, drawing everyone's attention. Huo Mingyao wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and, unintentionally looking up, caught sight of her father’s figure, whispering, “Daddy?” Huo Zheng stretched out both hands, and Mingyao, certain she wasn’t mistaken, instantly let her tears fall like pearls. “Daddy!” The little girl ran toward her father, and the onlookers made way for her. Huo Zheng crouched down and caught his daughter in his arms, gently wiping her tears with a heart full of tenderness. “What happened, Yaoyao? Who bullied you?” As he spoke, his eyes subtly glanced at Li Cuifen. A chill ran down Li Cuifen’s spine—how unfortunate that she had chosen this exact moment, when Huo Zheng had just returned, to cause trouble. She took a couple of steps back, attempting to slip away. “You came back just in time. Li Cuifen says the two kids threw dung into her house. Ask them what happened, and let’s clear this up. We can’t let innocent people suffer unjustly.” Wang Lixia sided with the children, speaking with the intention to prove their innocence. When Huo Minglei saw his father return, his eyes brightened. Noticing the woman beside his father looked a bit dim, he bowed his head and stepped forward to admit guilt. “Daddy, I’m sorry. I led my sister astray.” This was essentially an admission of guilt. “No! It’s Auntie who said bad things. That’s why my brother and I acted like this.” Huo Mingyao hurriedly explained, her pale, delicate face flushed red from speaking so quickly. The little one was only three years old this year, and it was her brother who had helped her climb the tree. After speaking so much, she felt tired and leaned wearily on her father’s shoulder. She looked up slightly and met a pair of kind eyes. This auntie was really pretty, and the little girl lifted the corners of her mouth in a smile. Lu Mingyue noticed her dry lips and hurriedly opened a water bottle, offering it to her. Huo Mingyao shook her head, “Thank you, Auntie. Daddy says I can’t drink things from strangers.” Since Huo Zheng was often away on missions, worrying about the children getting into trouble, besides hiring someone to look after them, he also taught them some safety knowledge. Mingyao licked her lips, longing for water. “Yaoyao, this person isn’t a stranger.” Wang Lixia smiled and said, “You must be Huo Zheng’s wife, right?” Lu Mingyue smiled gently, “Yes.” Daddy’s wife? Mingyao’s mind raced—so she was her and her brother’s mother!

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Thinking of the rumors, the little girl curled up like a quail, trying not to let Lu Mingyue see her. Huo Zheng looked at his son and ruffled his hair, speaking softly, “Leilei, why don’t you tell Daddy what happened?” Only their own children knew the truth. His son was not the type to start trouble; rather, he was somewhat restrained. Li Cuifen must have said something she shouldn’t have, which made him behave this way. Hearing his father’s gentle voice, Huo Minglei’s eyes reddened, and choking back tears, he said, “That woman, Gousheng’s mom, said my sister and I were unwanted children. She said when the new mom comes, we would have to pack up and leave, and that Daddy has no conscience.” Daddy was Huo Minglei’s idol. No one was allowed to speak ill of him. After hearing this, the siblings discussed for a long time at home and decided to retaliate by throwing dung. Near the residential compound was a field where villagers collected cow dung for fertilizer. The children often found dried cow dung there and used it to play pranks. The siblings carefully gathered some dry cow dung, climbed atop a haystack, and threw it into Li Cuifen’s house. Wang Lixia was furious. Li Cuifen had no filter on her mouth and spoke recklessly, like a muddled mess of thoughts. She never considered the children’s feelings. Today, Wang Lixia needed to have a serious talk with her. “Li Cuifen!” Li Cuifen hadn’t gone far but froze on the spot upon hearing Director Wang’s voice. Forcing a smile on her stiff face, she said, “Director, my stomach hurts a bit. Can we talk later?” She wanted to escape the scene first. As for everything else, in a couple of days, everyone would forget. Staying would surely mean having to apologize to the children. What a joke—did she have no shame? “Sister-in-law, don’t you still have things to do?” Lu Mingyue stepped forward, her gentle voice quickly drawing everyone’s attention. Both Huo Minglei and Huo Mingyao looked up at her simultaneously. “The children are young but know the importance of apologizing when they’re wrong. As parents, if we don’t set a good example, people will laugh at us.” “Huo Zheng’s wife, it’s not that serious. You’re just too particular.” Li Cuifen laughed awkwardly, not forgetting to put a label on her. Lu Mingyue thought: shameless. Bullying children is no skill. If you have the guts, settle it with Huo Zheng. Hearing her unspoken thoughts, Huo Zheng raised his voice, “Sister-in-law Li, my wife is right. You should apologize.” Under everyone’s gaze, Li Cuifen was ashamed and furious. Her face flushed deep red and, in a fit of rage, she spat out, “Sorry, are you satisfied now? Humph! Gousheng, let’s go.” Seeing her son had already run far away, she hurried after him with quick steps. After she left, the crowd turned their attention to Lu Mingyue. This time, Huo Zheng’s trip was clearly for marriage and finding a partner. This was no secret in the residential compound. Even the children knew their siblings would soon have a new mother. Wang Lixia said, “Everyone, let’s disperse. Go about your business and let this family sort things out.”

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With no more excitement to watch, the crowd reluctantly dispersed. Huo Mingyao, seeing Lu Mingyue’s gaze, shrank back into her father’s arms. Lu Mingyue noticed the little girl’s tangled hair and gently asked, “Can I call you Yaoyao?” Mingyao’s eyes lingered on the smile at her lips, and she nodded slightly. “Would you like some water?” Seeing the little girl’s lips grow drier, Lu Mingyue asked again. Mingyao now knew she was the new mother, not a stranger, and obediently nodded. Huo Zheng put her down, and the little girl hugged the water bottle, gulping it down—she was clearly very thirsty. After finishing, Yaoyao handed the bottle to her brother. “Brother, you should drink too.” Huo Minglei refused, stubbornly turning his face away. Lu Mingyue raised an eyebrow, realizing the boy had issues with her. Indeed, Huo Minglei had reasons. Li Cuifen’s words weren’t empty. Some of his friends had stepmothers and lived miserable lives, their clothes always torn. Who knew if this smiling woman before him was truly good or bad? He guardedly pulled his sister close. “Silly girl, if someone gives it to you, just drink.” Yaoyao’s little head tilted in confusion. “But pretty Auntie is our new mom.” She had never seen her own mother since birth. Whenever she saw her friends running home into their mothers’ arms, she felt jealous. Now that the beautiful auntie was here, she finally had a mother, and that made her somewhat happy. Lu Mingyue greeted Wang Lixia warmly. “Hello, Comrade Lu. From now on, we’re one family. If anything comes up, you can come to the Women’s Federation to find me.” Lu Mingyue nodded in agreement. “Then I won’t disturb your family reunion.” After Wang Lixia left, Qin Lie wanted to stay and ask Huo Zheng about hearing her unspoken thoughts, but Huo Zheng sent him away. “The matter has already happened. You’d better go to the hospital first and find out what really happened.” What he said made sense. The thought of his child suffering in some unknown place pierced Qin Lie’s heart like a knife.