Chapter 4Finding Mother

The moment I finished, Xiao Bao shrieked in pain.

He finally let go of me and, just like his father, began to kowtow on the floor. "Mommy, don't curse yourself! Don't say you're dead!"

"If you don't want us, we'll go! Just don't curse yourself!"

Thud. Thud. Thud. The sound of his small forehead hitting the floor echoed in everyone's hearts.

A woman had arrived with the police—Aunty Wang, from the neighborhood committee. She knew my situation better than anyone.

But now, she rushed forward, pulling Xiao Bao up, her face a mask of sympathy.

"Good boy, don't cry. You tell Aunty what you need. I'm from the committee, I'll help you."

She turned to me. "Xiaohan! Can't you just talk to them? Why are you bullying a small child?"

"I saw the live stream! They have photos! The boy is a carbon copy of you! And you're still hung up on 'paperwork'? What are you trying to prove? That you're an educated intellectual and they're illiterate?"

"They're simple country folk! They don't understand your city ways! All they know is that this child wants his mother!"

An officer gently tried to calm her down.

Aunty Wang, displeased, quieted down but continued to hug Xiao Bao, glaring at me.

This, I supposed, was human nature.

Everyone sympathizes with the weak—the harmless child, the disabled man, the old woman.

Aunty Wang's words sent the chat into another frenzy.

[I'm so disappointed. I thought there was a twist. But the neighborhood committee is on the family's side. It's confirmed. She's the mom.]

[That poor boy. His mother is a monster. I hope she gets hit by a car!]

[I've seen it all today. Chen Xiaohan's skin is thicker than a city wall! When she's cornered, she curses herself to death. She's ruthless!]

...

The officer, "Officer Li," sighed. "Ms. Chen, you called us. But this situation has a massive public profile. We need you to come to the station to cooperate with our investigation."

"Of course, if what you're saying is true, we will also issue a formal warning to those spreading rumors."

Just then, new "evidence" appeared online.

People from the village had posted a "high-definition" photo of the mother.

[I was the one who delivered Xiao Bao. This photo was taken right after he was born. Take a look. Is this Chen Xiaohan or not?]

The woman in the photo was disheveled, holding a baby. It was much clearer than the wedding video.

Aside from the fatigue and messy clothes, she looked identical to me.

[When Zhang Qiang was sick, Chen Xiaohan took care of him. I filmed it, I was so moved. I can't believe she's acting like this now.]

A short video played, showing the woman from the photo, holding the baby, dutifully caring for a man in a hospital bed.

More and more "villagers" posted photos, swearing I had lived there, that I was a hardworking wife, and that this new "city" version of me was a complete, monstrous change.

Aunty Wang saw this and puffed up with self-righteousness, blocking the police officers.

"Officer Li, don't stop me. I am here representing this community and all good-hearted people!"

"I've seen too many women like Chen Xiaohan. Gold-digging, heartless, disgusting!"

"Don't tell me you weren't willing! With Zhang Qiang's physical condition, how could you have gotten pregnant if you weren't willing?"

"You're an irresponsible animal! You abandon your own child! You're worse than scum!"

"Officer Li, the facts are clear! Taking her to the station will just be a slap on the wrist! It won't work on people like her!"

"This kind of person needs to be taught a lesson... by society!"

The crowd was surging, angry. Officer Li couldn't control the scene and called for backup.

Xiao Bao, his eyes red and swollen, stood in front of the crowd.

"Don't blame my mommy! It must be because I'm a bad boy that she doesn't want me!"

"Mommy, I'll be good! I'll cook and wash clothes! I'll listen to you! Please don't disown me!"

He was so "understanding" it was heartbreaking.

My own neighbors started trying to convince me.

Xiao Bao glanced back at me, a flash of triumph in his teary eyes.

He mouthed the words silently: "Mommy. This is the price for not obeying."

I couldn't breathe.

So this is what it felt like to be completely alone.

Even the police were neutralized.

Everyone was just waiting for me to give in.

Then, a shout from the crowd: "Chen Xiaohan's parents are here!"

Two gray-haired, elderly people pushed through. My father marched up to me and slapped me across the face.

"You disgrace! Your own son is here, and you still deny him?"

"Are you trying to ruin this family's reputation?"

I looked at my furious parents, and I smiled.

Good. Now everyone was finally here.