Chapter 381 Recognizing Ancestors and Returning to One's Origin

"Hua Bo's husband was named Si Miao. He was the commander of the war zone at the time. He was handsome, dashing, and had extraordinary courage!"

"While the child was still in Hua Bo's womb, Si Miao led a team to defend the fortress to the death. Until all his comrades were killed, he single-handedly held a machine gun and ten grenades, killing hundreds of enemies. Finally, he died heroically after running out of ammunition and strength! But it was his and the bravery of the entire company that won a huge turning point in the battle at that time!"

"Before going to the battlefield, Si Miao made a promise with Hua Bo that if the child was a boy, he would take the father's surname and be named Si Hua, and if it was a girl, she would take the mother's surname and be named Hua Simiao!"

The poignant words and the tragic love story of the older generation, where they could not have both, brought tears to my eyes.

Who could have imagined this!

A year later, Hua Bo died a heroic death, following Si Miao in death!

Only a poor child, less than a year old, was left behind.

"At that time, there was war both inside and outside the country. At night, the enemy launched a surprise attack, and several of Hua's cousins ​​died under enemy guns! My father, Hua Ci, rushed to the front line and fought bravely against the enemy. After he returned with a crippled leg, he received the devastating news that Hua Simiao had disappeared!"

"Later, the war strategy changed, and we had to change our surname from Hua to Hua and go into hiding. In the early days of the People's Republic of China, my father changed careers and started a business. He fought his way through both the legitimate and criminal worlds to establish himself and build the Hua family we have today. As life got better and better, my father often talked about finding Hua Simiao, and we never gave up the search! Fortunately, we found Simiao's descendants!"

Hua Baichuan's intense gaze fell on Wen Ni and the other person.

"What makes you so sure that my mother is the Hua Simiao you're looking for?" Wen Ni remained calm and composed as she continued to ask.

"Because of you. You look more like your maternal grandmother than your mother!" Hua Baichuan said, taking out a well-preserved, slightly yellowed old color photograph sealed in glass from behind the memorial tablet. "This is the only photo of Aunt Huabo and my father together. It was taken when she had just given birth to Simiao a few months ago, just before she went to the battlefield!"

"Sister, look!"

Xiao Cheng was amazed after just one glance. He took the photo and handed it to Wen Ni.

When Wen Ni saw the person in the photo, she froze!

The girl in the photo, Hua Bo, looks exactly like Wen Ni now.

They all had neat, shoulder-length short hair, small faces, and were tall and thin, somewhat malnourished, but their bright, piercing eyes were unforgettable!

Hua Bo was wearing an old-fashioned military uniform, which was covered in tattered fabric and patched up. But she smiled brightly and radiantly, holding a baby still wrapped in swaddling clothes in her arms. The baby's face was forward, and it was raising its little fist in confusion.

The relatively tall boy standing next to them had delicate features and an innocent smile, and he even looked seven parts like Xiao Cheng!

"Just...just based on a single photograph?" Wen Ni choked up, even stuttering slightly. She looked up at Hua Baichuan, trying to remain calm. "There are many people in this world who look alike..."

"Of course, one photo isn't enough to make an accurate judgment." Hua Baichuan said calmly. "I previously had Hua Zhuo investigate your mother's affairs and obtained several photos of her as a child. Besides the resemblance, your mother also has an arc-shaped burn scar on the web of her right hand!"

"...So what?" Wen Ni frowned.

"Take a closer look."

Hua Baichuan pointed to the area between the thumb and forefinger of the child's right hand in the photo.

Wen Ni frowned and lowered her head.

There was a distinct dark mark there!

Despite the marks of time, they can still be faintly seen.

Almost identical!

"Hua Simiao was only two months old when she was accidentally scalded by boiling water, leaving a deep scar."

They look almost identical.

The location of the scar is exactly the same.

“Even the most similar people wouldn’t be this similar!” Hua Baichuan took a deep breath. “Xiao Cheng, Wen Ni, stop running away. You, and your mother, are the people my Hua family has been searching for for generations!”

"Sister... our mother really wasn't an orphan, and our grandmother was such an amazing person!" Xiao Cheng's voice trembled as she tugged at Wen Ni's sleeve. "Sister, did you hear that?"

Wen Ni stared blankly, holding the photo without reacting.

“Xiao Cheng, Wen Ni, I’m so sorry I couldn’t find Simiao sooner. But now that I’ve found you, I will treat you like my own children. I will make up for all the hardships and suffering you endured when you were young!” Hua Baichuan’s pleading gaze fell on Wen Ni.

"Baichuan is right."

Madam Hua's voice rang out from outside the door.

She had calmed down and, with Hua Zhuo supporting her arm, they walked in together!

"We were able to find Hua Zhuo this time thanks to Wen Ni and Xiao Cheng. I was too heartbroken before, and I hope you won't take my words to heart, Wen Ni! Your uncle and brother have exhausted themselves searching for you. They only hope that you can come home, which would also fulfill our wish and the old man's last wish before he passed away!"

"Mrs. Hua."

Coming to her senses, Wen Ni lowered her eyes, concealing the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, her tone as calm as still water.

"Regardless of what happened in the past, Xiaocheng and I are now adults with our own lives and responsibilities. We were separated from the Hua family due to the chaos of war. You did not wrong us, and you did not wrong Mom. I believe that Mom will not resent you after learning the truth, and you don't need to feel that you owe us anything!"

"You refuse to come home, which means you don't forgive us." Hua Zhuo's voice was heavy with grief.

Hua Baichuan's heart sank even further, his eyes filled with helplessness!

In their complex gaze

Wen Ni didn't say anything, but pulled Xiao Cheng a few steps forward and each took three sticks of incense!

"Grandma, Uncle. It's our first time meeting, so I'm a little late. I hope you won't be offended."

"Before my mother passed away, she often told me about her tragic childhood experience of being a homeless person. She hated and resented it, but she still tried her best to survive in order to find an answer. Unfortunately, she didn't live to see that day. She did everything she could to give me and Xiaocheng the best, so that we could have a happy childhood surrounded by maternal love!"

"As her children, we should also fulfill her wish and help her return to her ancestral home!"

Three incense sticks were carefully inserted into the incense burner.

"Xiao Cheng."

"kneel."

With tears in her eyes, Wen Ni, together with Xiao Cheng, knelt down before the memorial tablet!

Upon seeing this, Hua Baichuan's tall frame swayed, and he was so moved that he shed tears.

"Grandpa, Aunt, our Hua family has finally waited for this day." Hua Zhuo was also very excited, murmuring, "Our Hua family is finally all together!"

"I'll have the housekeeper pack it up right away!" Madam Hua wiped away her tears emotionally. "Xiao Cheng and Wen Ni, you two should move back home as soon as possible! Our family can finally be reunited!"

“We will visit our great-uncle’s grave in person when we have time.” Wen Ni slowly stood up, calming her emotions. “But let’s forget about moving back to the Hua family’s house. Xiao Cheng and I are already used to our current life and our circle of friends.”

"This..." Madam Hua hesitated.

“Alright! As long as you acknowledge us, do whatever makes you comfortable, we absolutely won’t interfere!” Hua Baichuan readily agreed.

"There's one more thing I might need to trouble you with." Wen Ni turned around, her gaze sweeping over their sincere faces.