Chapter 136 Recognizing Relatives
"Everyone, please be quiet for a moment." Shen Feng raised his voice, and the crowd gradually quieted down, all looking at him.
He walked up to Yu Shuxiang and Lin Qiaozhen, nodded to Yu Shuxiang first, then turned to the crowd and said in a steady tone: "Today is Li Jianguo and Lin Qiaozhen's big day. Whatever happens is just a side story in this happy occasion."
Let's let the newlyweds finish their wedding first. We can talk about anything else after the ceremony, okay?
Yu Shuxiang was stunned for a moment before realizing that she had lost her composure. She wiped away her tears and let go of Lin Qiaozhen, saying, "I was too excited and almost forgot that today is Qiaozhen's special day."
Lin Qiaozhen, her eyes also red, held Yu Shuxiang's hand and said, "It's alright, don't take it to heart."
Seeing this, Li Jianguo quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Yes, Brother Shen is right. The wedding isn't over yet, let's keep the festivities going."
His colleagues realized what was happening and started teasing him: "Yes, let's drink the nuptial wine first, we haven't had enough yet."
The crowd became lively again; some people brought stools for Yu Shuxiang to sit down, and others handed the newlyweds wine glasses.
Despite this unexpected turn of events, Shen Feng stepped in and stabilized the situation, allowing the wedding to continue.
Lin Qiaozhen and Li Jianguo exchanged a glance, both seeing the unspoken understanding in each other's eyes. They raised their glasses and, amidst the cheers of the crowd, drank the belated toast.
Yu Shuxiang sat to the side, looking at the smile on Qiaozhen's face, feeling both guilty and relieved.
I feel guilty for not taking good care of her all these years, but I'm so glad I finally found my niece and can see her get married.
The wedding continued, and everyone jokingly urged the newlyweds to sing, filling the dormitory courtyard with laughter once again.
Shen Feng stood in the corner, watching the commotion before him, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
As the sun gradually set in the west, the wedding drew to a close, and the guests gradually dispersed, leaving only Lu Mingyue, Zheng Xiuhua, and a few other familiar family members, as well as Shen Feng, Yu Shuxiang, and the newlyweds.
Lu Mingyue looked at the children beside her. Leilei and Yaoyao were already sleepy, leaning against her legs and yawning, their eyes almost closed.
She knew that what was going to happen next was a family matter for Yu Shuxiang's family, and the presence of outsiders like them would inevitably make the atmosphere feel awkward. It would be better to leave at the right time and give them some space to talk alone.
"Qiaozhen, Jianguo, congratulations on your marriage today," Lu Mingyue said with a smile as she stepped forward. "This is a small token of my appreciation. I wish you a happy marriage and a prosperous future."
Qiaozhen quickly declined, saying, "Sister-in-law, you've already given me insoles, why are you asking for a red envelope?"
Lu Mingyue held her hand: "The insoles are a token of my affection, and the red envelope is a gift of good fortune. They are different, so you must accept them."
She then turned to Yu Shuxiang, smiling and nodding, "Auntie, today is truly a joyous occasion. Qiaozhen has found you, so you'll be very busy from now on. We won't disturb you any longer; let's take the children back to rest first."
Yu Shuxiang nodded quickly: "Oh, okay, thank you so much, Comrade Lu. I'm so grateful to you today."
Shen Feng also came over: "Comrade Lu, take care on your journey."
Lu Mingyue agreed, bent down to pick up Yao Yao, and then took Lei Lei's hand: "Then we'll be going now. Contact us anytime if you need anything."
Seeing this, Zheng Xiuhua also put down what she was holding: "I'll go with you too, it's on my way."
After saying goodbye to the newlyweds, Shen Feng, and Yu Shuxiang, the group took their children and headed towards the family compound.
Shen Feng glanced at the sky and said to everyone, "Alright, the wedding is over. Let's go inside and talk about this properly."
Shen Feng spoke first, his gaze falling on Yu Shuxiang: "Mom, you just said that Qiaozhen is Aunt's child. What exactly happened? Please tell me slowly and give me all the details."
Yu Shuxiang clenched the floral handkerchief in her hand, her fingertips turning white from the force. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke: "This story begins twenty years ago. Qiaozhen's biological mother is my twin sister, Yu Shulan. Back then, she was pregnant with Qiaozhen and was in poor health, so I stayed with her every day."
When she was close to giving birth, she kept saying she felt uneasy, so she embroidered this handkerchief in advance, saying she wanted to leave a memento for her child. She also said the orchids on the corner of the handkerchief were a family tradition, a technique only family members knew.
She paused, tears welling in her eyes again: "A few days after Qiaozhen was born, Shulan took the baby out to buy things and never came back. My family and I searched for her for a whole year, but we had no news. We thought they were just mother and daughter..."
Unexpectedly, I ran into Qiaozhen at the supply and marketing cooperative later. She looked familiar, and I felt a sense of closeness to her.
Yu Shulan sat on a small stool in Li Jianguo's dormitory, her fingertips gently brushing against the small brown mole behind Lin Qiaozhen's right ear, tears falling like broken beads onto her clothes.
She discovered this mole when she was changing her child's clothes years ago. It was like a tiny sesame seed embedded in her fair skin, and it became the clearest mark in her heart.
I even joked with my sister that if the child got lost, we could find him using this sign. Little did I know that my words would come true.
Yu Shulan's voice was choked with sobs, as if she had returned to that stormy night twenty years ago.
"Over the years, I've been looking for you everywhere. Every time I see a girl around your age, I have to lean in and look behind her ears, but I'm always disappointed."
Lin Qiaozhen leaned against Yu Shulan's chest, her tears soaking her clothes.
She knew from a young age that she had a mole behind her right ear. Her adoptive parents always said it was a lucky mole that would bring good fortune, but they never imagined that this small mole would be the only clue her family had to find her.
"So you've been looking for me all these years?"
"I've been looking for it." Yu Shulan nodded vigorously, her fingertips tracing the mole.
"Later I went to the city and found a job in a textile factory. I saved up some money and asked around everywhere. I even went to markets big and small, holding up signs with your name on them, but I just couldn't find you."
If I hadn't seen the mole behind your ear this time, I might never have seen you in my life.
Shen Feng, who was standing to the side, said softly, "Mother, don't be sad. Now that we've found Qiaozhen, we're a family now. Let's live a good life together."
Lin Qiaozhen looked up at Yu Shulan's bloodshot but bright eyes, and felt a mix of sadness and warmth in her heart.
It turns out that all these years, her family has never given up on her. That little mole is like an invisible thread that binds them tightly together.
Even though they were separated by thousands of miles, and even though twenty years had passed, they were eventually brought back to each other's side.
"Auntie," Lin Qiaozhen called out tentatively, her voice trembling slightly.
Yu Shuxiang immediately agreed and hugged her, saying, "Oh, my dear niece, Auntie has finally found you."
Li Jianguo's eyes also reddened as he watched this scene.
Yu Shuxiang patted Qiaozhen's back and said softly, "From now on, Auntie will be your support. You and Jianguo should live a good life together. If anything happens, Auntie will help you."
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