Chapter 254: Parents for a Lifetime
When Fan Xiuying spoke, the old lady was struck as if by lightning.
She didn't know that Jiang Xiaoxiao had such a background.
Jiang Xiaoxiao is Ye Hua's daughter?
How is that possible?
Ye Hua just looked at Jiang Xiaoxiao, and she didn't seem like a biological daughter.
Almost like an enemy, worse than a stranger.
Is this really blood-related?
But having spent these days with Fan Xiuying, she knows this in-law isn't one to speak frivolously. Xiuying's nature is very straightforward and she speaks accurately; there's absolutely no way she'd talk nonsense, and there's no advantage to the Jiang family from spreading such a false story!
"Is this true, sister-in-law?"
Fan Xiuying was both exasperated and amused; anyone hearing this might ask the same question first.
"Sister-in-law, would I deceive you with something this significant? Besides, don't I wish this child was my biological daughter? You've seen how close she is to me; I wish she were truly mine."
"Yes, that's fair, but that Ye Hua seems nothing like Xiaoxiao's real mother. How could a real mother meet her own daughter without uttering a word? Without you mentioning it, I truly didn't notice."
"Oh, the poor child, Xiaoxiao!"
As Fan Xiuying spoke of her daughter, her heart felt sour.
"Indeed, this child has had it tough, but I wonder if Ye Hua's visit was specifically because of this child's marriage? You wouldn't know, she actually brought two watches as gifts.
Said they were wedding gifts for the two kids, and earlier I was wondering, who gives such expensive gifts? Maybe Ye Hua knows about the marriage and feels guilty towards the child, so she brought these gifts intentionally.
If you ask me, people can have regrets, maybe the couple is now regretting, but after all, they are the biological parents. I can't say much. Yet, I think if they want to mend relations, let them. After all, they are the real parents."
The old lady wasn't just speaking carelessly, she genuinely felt uncertain about who was right or wrong in such matters.
After all, she was an outsider, and now there is a rift between Jiang Xiaoxiao and her biological parents. Who knows if one day Jiang Xiaoxiao might feel the need for her real parents; people's thoughts can change with time and age.
As an outsider, she didn't want to truly obstruct this.
Leaving the child with options is for the child's future benefit too.
When Fan Xiuying saw the two watches, she was surprised; the watches seemed very valuable indeed.
And one glance showed one was a men's watch, and the other a women's.
Her heart hesitated, could it be that Ye Hua genuinely wanted to make amends to Jiang Xiaoxiao?
"Then I should talk to Xiaoxiao about it, but ultimately it's up to her what to do. I don't want to trouble the child."
Old Mrs. Song nodded; she had to admit this in-law had quite a broad mind—put it in her own shoes, she might not have been able to do the same.
It was apparent this couple was truly genuine and sincere towards this child.
Fan Xiuying hesitated slightly but eventually went back and explained everything to Jiang Xiaoxiao, who smiled.
She naturally knew what her mother was thinking. Ultimately, Fan Xiuying felt that they were the real parents and feared that someday she might genuinely want to find her biological parents, a need that they couldn't fully understand.
In this era, many people were quite dedicated to their biological parents, unlike decades later, when the phrase "birth care doesn't surpass upbringing care" would be more evident.
Embracing Fan Xiuying's neck, "Mom, don't overthink, Ye Hua definitely didn't send those watches for me. Think about it, when I walked in just now, Ye Hua's eyes almost popped out. Her expression was so shocked, anyone could see clearly.
If she really knew it was my wedding, would she be that surprised? She's here for Old Song and his wife, probably wanting to request something from them. Presenting such grand gifts at the old man's grandson's wedding makes refusal difficult for him.
Think about it, if she truly came for me, why not hand the watches to me directly? Instead, they went to old Song and the old lady?"
Fan Xiuying pulled down her daughter's arm.
"You're going physical with your mom, look at how old you are, always hugging your mom's neck, leaning on her shoulders. The son-in-law might laugh at you! Seeing your point, I agree; perhaps this Ye Hua isn't here with good intentions, she's not here for you."
"Girl, Mom knows you're genuine with us, but let me tell you something. If you truly want to acknowledge your real parents, we're your support, those are your true parents, they gave birth to you, and anyway, they bring grace to you.
No one can discover the truth of past incidents, but Mom only wishes for your happiness and joy in this lifetime. Whether or not you acknowledge your biological parents, we always consider you our own."
"Do what you want, we support you, and don't worry too much about our feelings. Fear that we might be angry, but we won't be mad at you—a child of our own, what's there to be angry about? Plus, you're so sincere with us, no less than if you were our own. If we were to hold onto this, what kind of people would we be?
In our hearts, you're our real daughter. No matter if you made mistakes or were wrong in some way, would we hold grudges against you?"
Fan Xiuying earnestly comforted her daughter, afraid the child was too concerned about their feelings, so she wanted to draw a clear line with her biological parents—they didn't want to be a hindrance.
"Mom, I am your real daughter; you gave me life. Over the years, you raised me with all your effort. In my heart, you're my parents. I have only one pair of parents in this life, and that's you.
Other people, let them step aside. I don't regard them as my real parents, and they don't really treat me as their own daughter either. Frankly, it's just mutual. Mom, don't say such things again. If you do, I'll feel uneasy and like I'm letting you down.
I'm truly grateful. I am your daughter."
Jiang Xiaoxiao choked up, in her past life her parents tried hard to help her out of trouble, yet ironically, she threw herself into the fire.
Making her parents also jump into the fire.
She had wanted to tell her parents this in her past life, but sadly, her parents passed away too soon. They never heard her heartfelt apology, never heard the things she truly intended to say.
She truly wished to be her parents' daughter for a lifetime or even several lifetimes. If possible, she'd rather be her own parents' biological daughter; although there wasn't blood relation, their emotional bond was deeper than blood.
Fan Xiuying embraced her daughter, gently patting her back.
Tears filled her eyes, and she too wished to be Jiang Xiaoxiao's parent for a lifetime.
Her love for this child never wavered.
Never because of being biological or not.
NOVEL NEXT