The Abandoned Daughter's Second Chance

Chapter 187: Chapter 175: I Know You Now

Zheng Shaolian then told Tang Haocheng, "Mo Xiaoman spent this Spring Festival in Beijing. She visited my grandfather’s house and your Tang family’s home. Mr. Tang even wanted to adopt her and call her Tang Manman."

Tang Haocheng was even more stunned. ’Mo Xiaoman actually went to my family’s home in Beijing! But when I talked to my grandparents on the phone, why didn’t they mention it?’

"Why did Mo Xiaoman go to Beijing?"

"Want to know?"

"Yes!"

"I’m not telling you!"

Tang Haocheng: ...

The young boy’s dazed and gloomy look made Zheng Shaolian roar with laughter. He had finally succeeded in his prank. He patted Tang Haocheng’s head. "A military helicopter flew her back and forth between Beijing and Wancheng in four days. You should be able to guess that she wasn’t just running around because she was bored, right? You’ll understand later. Anyway, you could ask your grandmother if she’s feeling better. How’s her health?"

A look of delighted surprise appeared on Tang Haocheng’s face. "Are you saying my grandma’s illness..."

"Oh, I’m not too clear on the details. They were just saying a bit of this and a bit of that on the phone, and it got me all confused. You can go ask her yourself!"

Tang Haocheng’s anticipation grew, now tinged with a flutter of excitement. He became more talkative, wanting badly to tell Brother Shaolian that he and this Mo Xiaoman might be connected, but he held back in the end. ’Until things are clear, it’s pointless to say anything.’

The car reached Gongdao Village and stopped directly in front of Xiao Man’s home.

Zheng Shaolian led Tang Haocheng out of the car to the entrance and pushed open the unlatched courtyard gate. "Mo Xiaoman! Grandpa, Grandma! I’m here!"

Since he had called ahead, they knew Zheng Shaolian was coming today. Grandpa and Mo Chengfu had already made an early trip to the mountains and back, so they hadn’t gone out again. At this moment, the whole family was sitting in the sun-drying yard, soaking up the sun and whittling bamboo skewers. Xiao Man had suggested that for the Lantern Festival tomorrow, she wanted to eat something different: grilled meat skewers.

Grandpa and Grandma doted on her, so they let her do whatever she wanted. If they could help, they would. And so, the entire family was mobilized. Grandpa split the bamboo, Mo Chengfu did the rough shaping, and then Grandma and Xiao Man used small knives to carefully whittle them until they were smooth and splinter-free.

Hearing the car outside, they guessed it was Zheng Shaolian. Everyone put down their work. When they saw Zheng Shaolian come in, Grandpa chuckled. "Good, you’re here! You’re here! We’ve got everything ready for you."

With that, he walked outside to look at the car.

Seeing some dust on Zheng Shaolian’s clothes, Grandma took a clean cloth to pat him down. "Who else is out there?" she asked. "Have them all come inside. Lunch is ready. The vegetables are all washed and waiting. Now that you’re here, we can just put the pot on the fire and eat. Grandma made your favorite tofu balls, filled with fresh pork and shrimp, and a little bit of cilantro!"

Zheng Shaolian smiled. "Grandma, you’re just like my real grandma!"

Xiao Man rolled her eyes at him. "Stop sucking up. She’s *my* grandma, not yours!"

Then, pointing at Tang Haocheng beside him, she said with a cold expression, "Who is this? Get out. You’re not welcome in my house!"

Tang Haocheng: ...

He hadn’t looked at anyone else since walking in. His gaze found Xiao Man and remained fixed on her. The feeling from their first meeting instantly returned: an inexplicable sense of familiarity and closeness. Her every move, her voice, her expressions, even that big eye-roll—it was all as if he had seen them a thousand times before.

He didn’t realize it yet, but this was because Mo Xiaoman’s features, expressions, and even her aura were strikingly similar to his and Tang Qingyun’s. It created an illusion, making him superimpose some of his and his father’s own mannerisms onto her.

In short, Tang Haocheng now completely saw Mo Xiaoman as one of his own. But unexpectedly, before he could even make a friendly gesture, Xiao Man threw cold water on him by trying to kick him out. He instantly felt a mix of hurt, indignation, and anger.

Zheng Shaolian put an arm around Tang Haocheng’s shoulders and gave Xiao Man a displeased look. "Have you no manners? Visitors are guests, and I brought him. Besides, this is Mr. Tang’s nephew. His name is Tang Haocheng. He’s younger than you, you know?"

Seeing Tang Haocheng’s eyes turning a little red, Granny Mo also gave Xiao Man a light swat. "What’s gotten into you, child? It’s the New Year holiday! We’re happy to have kids over to play. There’s no reason to kick someone out! Besides, Shaolian brought him. He’s so young and well-behaved, he hasn’t done anything to you!"

"What do you mean he hasn’t done anything to me? Grandma, you don’t know what he did..."

Before Xiao Man could finish, Zheng Shaolian cut her off. "It was an accident that he broke your toy. He’s already paid for it, and you slapped him. You should just let it go!"

"What? Xiao Man, you slapped him? Oh, for heaven’s sake! Look at you! Hitting such a cute, well-behaved boy? Is that any way for a big sister to act?"

Grandma took Tang Haocheng’s hand and soothed him tenderly. "Don’t be scared, little fella. Sister Xiao Man is just teasing you. She doesn’t mean any harm. She’s the same way with Little Tiger and Little Leopard—she’ll smack them a couple of times whether they deserve it or not, but when she’s in a good mood, she’ll go to great trouble to make them all sorts of delicious treats... Here, Grandma will get you some popcorn. We also have cream cake, crispy rolls, spicy strips, sugar-roasted chestnuts, and chinquapins that Sister Xiao Man made. Do you like any of those? What’s your name, and how old are you?"

With Grandma sheltering him, Xiao Man couldn’t drive Tang Haocheng away. She could only take her anger out on Zheng Shaolian. "Why are you so nosy? Bringing all sorts of people to my house. You can stop coming here too!"

But Zheng Shaolian ignored her. He just grinned, glanced behind her, and followed Grandma to get some snacks for himself.

Xiao Man turned to see Grandpa glaring at her, his face stern. He had obviously heard everything and was admonishing her for her harsh words. She was speechless. ’That Zheng Shaolian really needs to be taught a lesson.’

Grandma called Xiao Man to the kitchen to help with the meal. There wasn’t much to do. The greens were already washed and resting in a bamboo sieve. Mo Chengfu had already prepared a chicken and a fish, which were marinating in separate bowls with cooking wine and cilantro. A pot of ribs was simmering on the stove. All Xiao Man had to do was slice the rehydrated dried mushrooms to add to the pot, take the steamed tofu balls out of the steamer, and prepare a few small dishes for salt. Once Grandma got the fire pit burning bright, they could all gather around it to eat.

This was the local custom. In winter, they didn’t stir-fry their food. Instead, they would gather around a red, roaring fire pit and cook everything together in one pot. It would be many years before this style of eating became known as a "hot pot."

Thanks to Zheng Shaolian’s fussiness, the Mo family’s hot pot meals became unique. They were the first to introduce serving chopsticks, and the dipping dishes were no longer communal—each person got their own. After eating at Xiao Man’s house, many of the more particular villagers started hosting guests the same way. Secretary Mo’s family was the first to adopt the practice, and people like Guan Ailan and Mo Linghui were quick to follow suit. In a way, they had Comrade Zheng Shaolian to thank for bringing a new standard of hygiene to Gongdao Village.

Sheltered by Grandma’s doting care, Tang Haocheng ignored Mo Xiaoman’s cold glares and quietly ate a hot lunch with everyone at the Mo home. He felt it was the most delicious meal he had ever eaten. He ate lots of meat and vegetables and had three helpings of rice, which surprised even himself!

While Zheng Shaolian and the others were loading the vegetables into the car, Tang Haocheng walked up to Xiao Man, and the two of them spoke.

"I know who you are, Mo Xiaoman!"

"What do you know about me? I’m warning you, don’t come to my house again!"

"I’ll be back!"

"Go ahead. We’ll see if I let you in the door!"

"Mo Xiaoman, you and Tang Yaxuan were switched at birth!"

Xiao Man looked Tang Haocheng straight in the eye. "Who told you that?"

"My dad did. He and I went to my uncle’s house and saw another Mo Xiaoman. They must have gotten it wrong. That one looks nothing like anyone in our family!"

"So, you came running back here to find another one? Isn’t Tang Yaxuan perfectly fine? She’s delicate, obedient, and gentle—a perfect fit for a Tang Family girl. Isn’t she enough? Why keep looking?"

"She was the one taken by mistake. Now that we know there’s another daughter by birth, of course we have to find her!"

Xiao Man sneered. "Then how can you be so sure it’s me?"

"I can feel it. That’s why I’m sure. You’re the one who was taken by mistake. You’re the Tang Family girl!"

"What good is a ’feeling’? Does that count for anything? You need evidence!"

"I’m sure there will be evidence. My dad said he’s coming to your village in a few days. He’s been here before. He must have been tricked by them!"

"How old is your dad? If he’s so gullible, you’d better not let him leave the house!"

Tang Haocheng: ...

"He’s your dad too!"

"Don’t be ridiculous. Did he raise me? I never received a single thing from him. I refuse to acknowledge a father like that!"

"He and Mom gave birth to you!"

"So?"

"So... so, you have to go back to them!"

"And then?"

"...The family will be reunited! You’re part of the Tang family. Blood ties can’t be broken. You must return to the Tang family!" Tang Haocheng finally managed to answer.

"Must? Why should I? Abandon me when you feel like it, then try to get me back when you feel like it? Do you think I’m that much of a pushover?"

"What happened back then wasn’t anyone’s fault, and it certainly wasn’t mine!"

"Then what are you doing here?"

"You’re my sister!"

"What about Tang Yaxuan?"

"She’s my sister, too."

"You want two sisters? You really want to have it all, don’t you? Think about it. If I were the disfigured Mo Xiaoman, the one you saw, would you still want to claim me as your sister? Your mom and dad hid that Mo Xiaoman away because she was too ugly. She was an embarrassment to them! So what about you? Would you dare to take such an ugly girl out in public and tell everyone she’s your biological sister? Would you?"

Tang Haocheng was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I wouldn’t go around telling people I had a sister like that. But I respect the truth. My real sister is my real sister! No matter what, you have to come back to the Tang family!"

A chill ran through Xiao Man’s heart. ’Tang Haocheng... whether as a child or an adult, his way of thinking is the same. He’d just lock me away?’

"Let me tell you something plainly. I am the one who was taken by mistake! The Tang family still has a grandpa, a grandma, and a great-uncle. It doesn’t just belong to your parents. Whether or not I return to the Tang family is my decision to make. But let me make one thing clear: I will not acknowledge you, or your parents! Because your motives are impure! When I’m not good enough, you discard me. But when you find out I’m decent-looking, you suddenly claim I’m yours? What kind of twisted logic is that? You came here with Zheng Shaolian, so you can get the hell back out with him. Don’t ever come back! If we see each other on the street, pretend you don’t know me. I hate you!"