Chapter 189 - 188: I Am Your Father
Chen Afu said, "Mr. Chen, it seems you are unaware of the life we led before. If you knew, you wouldn’t say that. Our family of four, my father had lung disease and couldn’t do heavy labor, he even needed to eat well. Alu had a broken leg and Dabao was still young while I was foolish. We were a family of five living off my mother’s embroidery work and the rent from a mere four acres of land, among the poorest farmers in the whole of Xiangluo Village."
God was merciful, and my mind gradually cleared up. Seeing my mother who never gave up on my treatment, my father who would rather wrong his own brother than me, my young and crippled brother sharing the burdens of our house chores, the tender care of young Dabao, and the meager delicate food given only to my father and me... Seeing such a poor yet bound by love family, what reason did I have to hide at home and let them care for me in such a way?
I was willing to use my hands and wisdom to make their lives better, to relieve my mother from labor, ease my father’s worry, heal my brother’s leg earlier, and let Dabao experience a normal childhood... I taught Ms. Chu about sewing and sold embroidery products and designs to the Embroidery Workshop, and even partnered with others to open a wine shop. These were only a result of my wisdom and diligence, taking nothing without working for it. I have no shame. I’m not a legitimate daughter who can afford to hide in the backyard and live a luxurious life."
Chen Shiying’s eyes reddened again, "Fu’er, this family has given you such care and warmth, it’s right for you to act in this way." He then turned to Mrs. Wang, "Sister, don’t feel distressed. I’m not blaming you, I have no reason to blame you. You’ve treated Fu’er so kindly under such difficult circumstances, I thank you, thank my brother-in-law, thank you all." He then stood up and bowed to Mrs. Wang.
Seeing this, Mrs. Wang quickly turned herself aside.
Chen Shiying then said to Chen Afu, "Fu’er, I am your father. Are you willing to come home with me? If you really don’t want to stay in that house, you can also stay in this house permanently and just visit home occasionally, accompanying your father. How about it?"
Of course, Chen Afu couldn’t possibly return to that household, but was very curious about what kind of status Chen Shiying would give her. She asked, "What status would I return home with? My mother’s status at the time was not yet kosher, surely, I can’t be your illegitimate daughter?"
Chen Shiying sighed, "At that time, I was careless. I was not aware that my mother hadn’t gone to the County Government to register your mother’s status. I’ve been taking for granted that she was my legitimate wife... until she was driven away and I learnt the truth. It was too late then. My mother has done many wrong things, but after all, she is my mother. As her son, I can’t push her out to face criticism from others. So, I thought I had no choice but to bear the consequences on her behalf. I decided to state that I had a daughter due to my inability to control my emotions before marriage, and let Mrs. Jiang put you in her name. If there’s unpleasant gossip about me, even if I was impeached by imperial censor and demoted, even if my future promotion opportunities are affected, it’s all on me to bear."