Chapter 14: Becoming Family Without Blood Ties

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“The two kids had no one to look after them and were starving, so they ran out looking for food. They were so hungry that they tried to snatch food in a restaurant, got caught, and almost got beaten. I paid some money and took them home,” the elderly Mr. Bai nodded. The children must have been starving for several days by then.

“Later, some people from the military came and said someone was willing to adopt the two kids, so they took them away. Afterwards, that boy Lu Feng came by with some things to thank me for taking them in. Those two little rascals are sentimental; even after being adopted, they often sneak back to see me,” Mr. Bai looked toward Fu Xiaoxiao.

“I’m telling you all this to ask you, in consideration of the two kids still being so young, not to make things difficult for them. I know being a stepmother isn’t easy, and you’ll have your own children in the future, and they might become a burden then. But the two kids are sensible; just raise them until they turn eighteen. As long as I’m alive, I’ll give you ten yuan a month,” Mr. Bai said, waiting for Fu Xiaoxiao’s reaction.

Fu Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance with Mr. Bai and shook her head.

Mr. Bai’s eyes dimmed; he thought Fu Xiaoxiao had refused.

“Grandpa Bai, you don’t need to give me that ten yuan. I will raise them anyway. It’s a condition for my marriage to Lu Feng,” Fu Xiaoxiao looked at Mr. Bai. Seeing that he was alone, seemingly without family, and yet caring so much for these two children who weren’t even related to him, even willing to give ten yuan a month, proved he was a truly kind man.

Mr. Bai was momentarily stunned, not understanding what Fu Xiaoxiao meant.

Fu Xiaoxiao smiled wryly; no one in this family was simple.

She explained the condition of her marriage to Lu Feng to Mr. Bai, who fell silent after hearing it.

He hadn’t expected Lu Feng to marry Fu Xiaoxiao because of the two children.

“So you can rest assured. I understand how hard it is, and I believe that family isn’t only about blood ties—just like you and them. You’re not related by blood either, but that doesn’t affect your feelings for each other,” Fu Xiaoxiao’s words made Mr. Bai’s heart tremble, and he looked up to meet her gaze.

“We’re all the same. No one should despise anyone else. I can see you truly care for them and treat them as your own family, which is why you are telling me all this,” Fu Xiaoxiao smiled warmly at Mr. Bai.

Mr. Bai looked at Fu Xiaoxiao’s radiant smile, his eyes filled with complexity.

How much had she endured to have such a bright and sunny smile?

Outside, the two children who had been eavesdropping exchanged a glance.

When leaving the Bai residence, Mr. Bai personally saw them off. Fu Xiaoxiao borrowed a backpack and a water bottle from him and, carrying the two children, began the journey home.

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The thought of the two-hour walk home made Fu Xiaoxiao’s legs tremble.

Unlike the leisurely mood on the way here, Lu Lin and Lu Chen’s eyes occasionally glanced at her on the return trip. When she turned to look, the two children would casually look away as if nothing had happened.

“You’ve got mouths for talking. If you want to ask me something, just ask directly... you staring like that is giving me the creeps,” Fu Xiaoxiao said helplessly, having been stared at countless times.

“Y-you... don’t have a mother either?” Lu Chen asked cautiously, his voice small and uneasy.

“That’s not quite right. You have a mother. I guess my mom does too, but I don’t know where she is,” Fu Xiaoxiao smiled, knowing they had overheard her conversation with Mr. Bai.

“Those people said our mother didn’t want us anymore,” Lu Chen said stubbornly, pressing his lips together to hold back tears.

“Do you hate her?” Fu Xiaoxiao asked Lu Lin. Lu Lin kept a cold expression and didn’t answer, his small hands clenched tightly.

“She didn’t want us, so we don’t want her either,” Lu Chen said angrily, raising his small fists.

“Was she good to you before?” Fu Xiaoxiao asked seriously.

“...Yes.” Lu Lin and Lu Chen exchanged a glance. Although their mother had abandoned them, she had been good to them before.

“Then don’t jump to conclusions so quickly. Maybe she had her reasons? You have to make your own judgments. Whatever others say isn’t as good as asking her yourself,” Fu Xiaoxiao recalled Mr. Bai’s words. Their mother was soft-hearted; she might have been coaxed home and remarried without being asked.

If she was truly forced, then abandoning the children...

“But we don’t know where she remarried to...” Lu Chen looked at Lu Lin, who lowered his head. They wanted to find her and ask why she left them behind.

“Maybe I can help with that. Once we get home, I’ll help you find someone to ask,” Fu Xiaoxiao said, seeing their gloomy faces and deciding to help.

“Really?” Lu Chen looked up in disbelief, then excitedly linked his pinky finger with hers. “You better not lie to me—pinky promise!”

Fu Xiaoxiao smiled and hooked her finger with Lu Chen’s pinky. Lu Chen then sang, “Pinky promise, hanging, a hundred years without change!”

For the children, this was a very sacred ritual, and Fu Xiaoxiao played along, completing the pinky promise.

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Lu Chen ran happily at the thought of seeing their mother. Lu Lin’s eyes gazed deeply at Fu Xiaoxiao.

“She won’t come home with us,” Lu Lin said firmly, as if knowing their mother’s nature would never bring her back.

“If she’s doing well, wouldn’t you be happy? If she doesn’t come home, then she doesn’t. That doesn’t change that you’re her children,” Fu Xiaoxiao said. She had thought about ruffling Lu Lin’s hair but decided to pat his shoulder instead.

“You still have Xiao Chen. If you want, you also have Dad Lu and Mom Lu. Though we’re not related by blood, it doesn’t stop us from being family,” Fu Xiaoxiao smiled. Being family didn’t require blood ties.

Lu Lin looked at Fu Xiaoxiao, eyes full of confusion. “Everyone else doesn’t want to be a stepmother. Why do you?”

Fu Xiaoxiao was about to answer when two car horns startled her. A familiar military vehicle was driving toward them.

“Huh?” Fu Xiaoxiao looked at the driver—it was Wang Lu.

“Sis-in-law, the regiment commander told me to come pick you all up,” Wang Lu stopped the car in front of Fu Xiaoxiao and took her backpack.

“Sorry for troubling you,” Fu Xiaoxiao said, not refusing, and helped Lu Lin and Lu Chen into the car.

They had finally found a savior and didn’t have to walk home.

“Sis-in-law, next time if you want anything, just tell me. The military goes to buy supplies every few days. If the family quarters need anything, we’ll bring it back together,” Wang Lu explained.

“Oh, I didn’t know that. Thank you so much for telling me,” Fu Xiaoxiao said gratefully.

Lu Feng had left in a hurry and hadn’t told Fu Xiaoxiao about this. Without Wang Lu’s words, she wouldn’t have known.

After returning to the military base, Wang Lu took them home. Fu Xiaoxiao looked at him gratefully. “Xiao Lu, thank you so much. If you hadn’t come to pick us up, it would have been dark by the time we got back.”

“Don’t mention it, sis-in-law. When Captain Lu left, he kept telling me to take good care of you all,” Wang Lu said with a smile, scratching his head. After putting down Fu Xiaoxiao’s things, he went back to report to the commander.