Chapter 43 The Deceived Girl in the 1970s: Fake vs. Real Daughter Story (43)

Seeing Xiaoxiao looking confused, Mother Chen smiled and said, “Go back to your room and let Xiao Bin explain it to you.”

Xiaoxiao looked worried. “Mother, are you okay?”

Mother Chen shook her head. “This kind of thing happens every few years. You’ll get used to it. If they ever come to you in the future, don’t give them any face. Don’t let yourself get taken advantage of. And don’t be afraid—come tell me, and I’ll deal with them.”

When Xiaoxiao later learned about the situation with Chen Zhibin’s maternal family, she realised how tough Mother Chen had it.

Mother Chen’s name was Liu Sumei, so Chen Zhibin’s grandma on that side would be Grandma Liu. She was a typical traditional woman who favoured boys over girls. But Mother Chen was capable and strong-willed, so Grandma Liu couldn’t manipulate her.

However, if she didn’t get a little something every now and then, she’d feel uncomfortable. So she’d create a scene every now and then. But the moment Mother Chen declared she’d cut ties, Grandma Liu would quickly back off.

You could say, ‘If they wanted to completely sever ties, Grandma Liu and her family were annoying but not truly wicked.’ They were the kind of people who loved petty gains and were cowardly—bullies toward the weak, submissive to the strong. They never crossed the line too far or got anything too substantial.

As for the occasional small favours they got, Mother Chen just saw it as “filial duty” to the elders and let it go.

Chen Zhibin told her, “Wife, you’re the new daughter-in-law. Grandma might take the chance to talk to you when no one’s looking. Don’t be polite. Just say no. Don’t let yourself get taken advantage of. The Liu family are full of people who love pushing boundaries. My sister and I got taken advantage of a lot when we were little. Mother told me when she and Father first got married, Father kept giving in for the sake of her pride, and it was only after Mother found out and caused a huge scene in the Liu household that things started to change.”

Xiaoxiao thought: Mother Chen is truly her idol. No wonder the whole Chen family had no issue with her breaking ties with her birth and adoptive families.

—

After getting married, Xiaoxiao moved to the county town with Chen Zhibin. Their room assigned by the unit had been upgraded from a single to a small two-bedroom—more than enough space for the two of them.

When she had free time, she studied. She had a dream—to one day become a well-known author. This dream had followed her from her past life into this one.

So she kept studying, writing, and working toward one day publishing books. She didn’t want to remain a low-level online author scraping together some pocket money.

Chen Zhibin fully supported her dream.

He was her only and most loyal reader. He even studied along with her and gave her feedback.

Xiaoxiao had many famous works stored in her memory, but she didn’t intend to plagiarise. She believed that with enough effort, she could write something great on her own.

Of course, she submitted the occasional manuscript to magazines for extra income.

But in the second year of marriage, she got pregnant. Morning sickness lasted three full months and wore her out completely. She couldn’t do anything, and both Chen Zhibin and Mother Chen were nearly exhausted from taking care of her.

Luckily, ten months later, she gave birth to a healthy set of triplets—two boys and a girl. She had both sons and a daughter all at once.

Looking at the babies, Xiaoxiao turned to Chen Zhibin and said, “Let’s not have more kids, okay?”

Chen Zhibin nodded at her pale face. “No more. We already have sons and a daughter—no need for more.”

Seeing how much Xiaoxiao had suffered during pregnancy and childbirth, Chen Zhibin’s heart ached. So while she was recovering during her postpartum confinement and being cared for by his mother, he went and got a vasectomy.

Xiaoxiao was incredibly touched. Mother Chen was a little distressed over her son, but looking at her obedient grandchildren, she didn’t say anything.

With three babies, Xiaoxiao really couldn’t manage them alone. What was meant to be just postpartum care turned into Mother Chen retiring early to help.

Even with help, most of Xiaoxiao’s time and energy was consumed by the children.

It wasn’t until the babies’ one-month celebration that they were officially named:

• • Eldest son: Chen Sijia

• • Second son: Chen Siyu

• • Daughter: Chen Simiao

But in daily life, everyone still called them Dabao (Big Treasure), Erbao (Second Treasure), and Sanbao (Third Treasure). After all, they’d been called that for a month already, so it was hard to break the habit.

When the triplets turned three, the college entrance exams resumed. Both Xiaoxiao and Chen Zhibin took the test and were accepted into Beijing University. Xiaoxiao chose literature, and Chen Zhibin chose economics.

Naturally, Mother Chen went with them—after all, the kids didn’t want to be separated from their parents. Not wanting to be left alone, Father Chen also opted for early retirement.

As for Sister Chen, she had gone to live with her military husband not long after Xiaoxiao and Chen Zhibin married. Apart from coming back briefly to help with childbirth, she hadn’t visited much since.

To keep the family together, Xiaoxiao and Chen Zhibin moved to Beijing early to buy a large home near campus.

“I want to buy a traditional courtyard house,” Xiaoxiao told Chen Zhibin.

She had always been drawn to them. In both past and present lives, owning a courtyard home in Beijing had been her dream.

Chen Zhibin agreed, “Then we’ll ask around tomorrow. Today you rest.”

The next day, the couple began hunting near the university.

They were in luck—on the third day, they heard about a three-entry courtyard that was for sale. They visited and loved it. It was well preserved and only needed minor renovations before move-in.

Buying the place nearly wiped out all their savings, but they didn’t regret it. If they could afford more in the future, Xiaoxiao was determined to keep buying.

After hearing about the purchase, Father Chen and Mother Chen gave them some more money.

Xiaoxiao was alarmed. “Mother, don’t tell me this is your retirement savings?”

Mother Chen rolled her eyes. “What retirement money? This is our rainy-day fund. Consider it a loan—you two better pay it back. It’s meant to go to my grandkids when they get married.”

Chen Zhibin said, “But Mother, your grandkids are my kids. I’m still their father. It’s the same if I spend it early on their behalf.”

Mother Chen glared at him. “You think you compare to my precious grandbabies?”

Chen Zhibin: … Once grandkids arrive, sons lose all value.

Xiaoxiao said, “Mom, we’re planning to send the kids to school—what do you think?”

Mother Chen hesitated. “They’re still young. Maybe wait a bit longer?”

She wasn’t too keen on sending three-year-olds to school.

Xiaoxiao said, “Then let’s ask them, okay?”

Since the grandparents couldn’t be persuaded, Xiaoxiao asked the triplets at dinner, “Dabao, Erbao, Sanbao—do you want to go to school? You’ll have lots of little friends to play with.”

All three agreed excitedly—but after just one day, they refused to go back.

Dabao: “Mother, the other kids are boring. All they do is cry. I don’t like it.”

Erbao: “Yeah! Not fun at all. I’m not going again.”

Daughter: “Mother, they had snotty noses. So gross. And they pulled my pigtails.”

Dabao: “Yeah! I made them cry. Who told them to bully my sister?”

The other two nodded. “Yes, we made them cry.”

Xiaoxiao: …Am I really getting called in by the teacher on their first day of school?