Chapter 10: A New Family, A New Identity

The suddenness of the request stunned Lin Duo. “An… an adopted daughter?”

Yue Renhui nodded seriously. “That’s right! I’ll tell you the whole story now. About 16 years ago, my wife became pregnant, but tragically miscarried at eight months. Her cervix was severely damaged, making further pregnancies impossible.”

Upon hearing this, Wu Bijuan lowered her head sadly, gently caressing her abdomen.

Yue Renhui continued his story without pausing. “Although the child was never born, we had several ultrasound scans beforehand, and the doctors all confirmed it was a girl. From then on, we always wanted to adopt a girl to replace our unborn daughter.”

“However, as you know, adoption is a very complicated process. Especially since we run a small business, our financial situation isn’t very stable, and we’re busy all year round, so we were never successful. We also grew older and had almost given up on the idea. Then, you appeared.”

At this point, Yue Renhui paused slightly. “Of course, your biological parents are likely still alive, and we won’t force anything upon you, nor will we compel you to sever ties with them. If they ever come looking for you, or if you change your mind, we won’t stop you from leaving. But please remember, this will always be your second home.”

By now, Lin Duo fully understood. The couple had harbored this intention from the very moment they hired her, which explained why they had treated her like family for the past month.

Lin Duo did hesitate for a few seconds. After all, her biological parents were still alive, and from an ethical standpoint, acknowledging new parents might not be appropriate.

However, the phantom images of the belt and sneakers began to drift before her eyes once more.

Given that sort of home, why should she cling to its memory?

Moreover, she genuinely needed protection to survive in this vast city where she had no other relatives.

****

Seeing Lin Duo nod softly, the Yue couple exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with excitement and relief.

Wu Bijuan’s throat trembled slightly as she tentatively called out, “Daughter?”

“Hello, Mom! Hello, Dad!”

Lin Duo’s clear voice was like heavenly music to the Yue couple’s ears.

Wu Bijuan’s eyes reddened, and she struggled to hold back her tears. “Good, my good daughter. From now on, we are a family.”

Having said this, Wu Bijuan gently embraced Lin Duo’s slender frame.

In Yue Renhui’s eyes, a similar light shimmered.

For the first few days that followed, Lin Duo felt a degree of awkwardness around the Yue couple.

However, as time passed, this awkwardness gradually dissolved. After all, they genuinely cared for her in every way.

This modest fruit shop felt infinitely warmer than the 120-square-meter apartment back in her hometown. Lin Duo’s heart grew increasingly fond of her adoptive parents.

In the blink of an eye, August arrived, and Lin Duo had been working at the fruit shop for almost two full months.

Nanan City’s summer was considerably hotter than her hometown’s. Even with several ceiling fans installed in the shop, Lin Duo would still break a sweat by noon, necessitating frequent towel wipes.

What truly pleased her, however, was that business had steadily improved over these days, with daily turnover seeing a small increase. This filled her heart with delight.

One afternoon, as Lin Duo was trimming some rotten fruit, a white-haired old man entered the shop.

Upon seeing her, he approached and asked, “Are you the new helper Little Yue found? You’re far too young; there’ll be trouble during inspections.”

Lin Duo shook her head repeatedly. “Uncle, you’ve misunderstood. I’m Uncle Yue’s distant niece, just here to help out.”

This was the agreed-upon explanation the three had devised to counter any suspicions of child labor.

Just then, Yue Renhui emerged from the back room, his face instantly lighting up with surprise. “Uncle Wang! You didn’t even give us a heads-up you were coming!”

The old man, addressed as Uncle Wang, waved a hand. “No need, no need. I was just passing by and wanted to check in on you. It’s been about three months since you opened, hasn’t it? How’s business?”

“It’s decent for now,” Yue Renhui honestly replied. “But there’s a new residential complex across the street, and more residents will be moving in, so business should pick up even more then.”

“Oh, and Lin Duo, quickly pick a good melon and cut it into slices!”

Indeed, such high temperatures were perfect for eating melon.

Uncle Wang took a slice of watermelon from the plate Lin Duo was holding, and as he ate, he chatted with her. “You still look like you should be in school. What made you decide to come out and work?”

Lin Duo lightly bit her lip, offering a disingenuous explanation. “I don’t want to study anymore. There’s no use in it.”

Uncle Wang, however, shook his head sternly. “Young lady, don’t talk like that. I’ve been a boss for most of my life, and many apprentices have said the same thing, but few ever didn’t regret it.”

“My childhood was tough; I had no chance to study, so now I particularly envy educated people. I constantly push my grandson to work hard, but alas, that boy is a disappointment.”

“In this life, you should do what’s appropriate for your age, otherwise, it’ll be too late to regret it later!”

Uncle Wang’s words seemed to strike a chord with Yue Renhui, who appeared lost in thought.

Uncle Wang and Yue Renhui chatted for a long time afterward. However, due to incoming customers, Lin Duo had to attend to them and thus didn’t hear the rest of their conversation.

That evening, after closing the shop, Yue Renhui looked at Lin Duo with utmost seriousness, in front of Wu Bijuan. “Daughter, truthfully, do you want to go to school?”

“I… I don’t…” Lin Duo lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper.

She knew how much it cost to support a student, and she also understood how hard her adoptive parents worked for every penny. Therefore, she was even more reluctant to burden them.

Yue Renhui did not give up. His voice deepened. “Look up, meet my eyes, and tell me your true feelings!”

Lin Duo obediently lifted her small face, meeting Yue Renhui’s gaze, which held both authority and tenderness.

Seeing Wu Bijuan’s concerned expression beside him, her heart warmed, and her voice caught in her throat. “Dad, Mom, I still want to study! But—”

“There are no ‘buts’!” Yue Renhui interrupted her. “Since our child wants to study, as parents, we will certainly find a way.”

“I’ll go ask around my contacts these next two days to see how to handle this. You should also take some time to review your old textbooks.”

“Thank you, Dad!” Lin Duo held back her tears and bowed deeply.

****

During dinner the next day, Yue Renhui recounted the results of his investigation. “Our daughter wants to enroll in school, but the first hurdle is her identity; currently, she’s undocumented.”

“However, I found a way. My hometown is in the countryside, where most children born outside the one-child policy aren’t immediately registered. Instead, they wait until they’re older to report to the public security bureau, thereby avoiding years of family planning fines.”

“So, I contacted a cousin from back home. He will register Lin Duo as his unregistered, over-quota child with the public security department, giving her a household registration foundation.”

“After that, through the formal adoption process, we will legally adopt Lin Duo as our official daughter, and then we can find a school.”

Although Yue Renhui made it sound simple, there were undoubtedly many complications involved.

For the following week, besides procuring stock, Yue Renhui was absent from home all day. He would return each night looking utterly exhausted, sometimes even with a hint of anger.

Yet, whenever he faced Lin Duo, he would always force a smile, lovingly patting her head.

At dinner a week later, Yue Renhui’s expression was finally somewhat relaxed. “My cousin’s household registration procedures are finally complete. Lin Duo is now nominally his child.”

“Tomorrow, he’ll come over in person to sign the adoption agreement with us and get it notarized.”

Wu Bijuan couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity, “Lin Duo has never even been there, and the household registration is already done?”

“Hehe, that’s the advantage of the countryside. Regulations are lax; just bribe them enough.”

The next afternoon, Yue Renhui’s cousin arrived at the fruit shop. He appeared to be an honest, simple farmer.

Wu Bijuan stayed behind to mind the store, while Lin Duo accompanied the two men to the nearby public security bureau.

After carefully examining the relevant documents, the notary cheerfully stamped the adoption agreement, not forgetting to chat with a smile.

“You rural folks sure are prolific! You’ve got eight kids before you’re even forty.”

Yue Renhui’s cousin offered a simple, honest laugh. “That’s how it is where we’re from.”

“Can you afford to raise so many?”

“Can’t afford ’em! That’s why we had to give one away. After all, a grown girl won’t stay, and my cousin has always wanted an adopted daughter.”

After the notarization, Lin Duo, accompanied by the two adults, proceeded to the household registration office to report.

After inquiring about the relevant circumstances and Lin Duo’s personal wishes, the official promptly issued a ‘Permanent Resident Registration Card’ on the spot.

They also informed them that the updated household registration booklet could be collected the following week.

Although it was just a thin piece of official paper, it represented a brand new Lin Duo.

Especially the ‘Female’ in the gender column—this was the identity Lin Duo had dreamed of. The joy of a dream come true, mixed with all the past hardships, welled up in her heart, and her eyes began to moisten slightly once more.

Yue Renhui’s rural cousin patted Lin Duo’s shoulder. “This girl, honestly, what’s there to cry about?”

“But your cousin, he’s a good man. Heaven is truly unfair to let him have no children. You must always be filial to them in the future, understand?”

“Mm!” Lin Duo suppressed her tears and nodded vigorously.