Volume 1, Chapter 4: Identity Revealed, An Ominous Atmosphere

Lying beneath the bedding imbued with the familiar scent of her parents, Shen Shuli finally relaxed her nerves after a day of tension. With some time to spare, she entered her awareness into her spatial realm, preparing a simple set of gifts for the Su family’s arrival.

Before long, Shen Yuehua came in to call her.

“Dear daughter, the meal is ready, and most of the Su family has arrived. Let me take you to meet them.”

At that moment, Shen Yuehua suddenly stopped speaking. She gazed at her daughter’s swollen face, so disfigured that her features were unrecognizable, a look of pain and helplessness in her eyes. She longed to confront the Lin family for what they had done.

“Daughter, you can’t show your face like this. Why didn’t you drink the Spirit Spring water to heal your face? It must hurt terribly!”

Shen Shuli felt no embarrassment, nor did she care about others’ opinions. She smiled faintly and said, “Mother, I’ve kept my face this way on purpose.”

“I originally wanted the biological parents of this body and the Su family to truly see how the Lin family treated the original owner and then decide whether to keep me.”

“But now, that’s no longer necessary. It’s a pity that I had to enter the house with this face; many from the Su family have already seen it.”

“If I use the Spirit Spring water now, it might arouse their suspicion.”

“All right, mother, I know what I’m doing. By the way, your elder brothers and their wives have gone to the county town and probably won’t return until nightfall. I’ll introduce you to them then.”

“Okay, got it.”

Shen Yuehua gave up trying to persuade her daughter and tidied her somewhat disheveled hair. Shen Shuli carried a large basket covered with cloth as they headed to the main hall.

In the main hall stood an enormous table made by joining three square tables. Normally, family meals were eaten at separate tables—one for each of the three branches—but on special occasions, they combined them.

Upon seeing his wife and daughter enter, Su Yunhai immediately came over to greet them.

“Daughter, come this way.”

Ignoring the strange gazes of more than twenty members of the Su family, Shen Shuli walked toward her father.

“Daughter, let me introduce you. These are your grandfather and grandmother, your eldest uncle and his wife…”

Shen Shuli greeted each person politely, behaving very obediently.

The eldest in the Su family was the patriarch Su Baogen, married to Wang Cuilan, with one daughter and three sons.

Their daughter, Su Hongxia, had long since married out and rarely returned home more than once a year.

The eldest son, Su Dashan, married to Cui Yuhong, had three sons and one daughter.

Their children were named Su Mantang, Su Manliang, Su Mancang, and Su Manyue.

The second son, originally named Su Dahai, had his family’s names changed after Su Yunhai’s transmigration. He married Shen Yuehua and had three sons and one daughter.

Their children were named Su Chang’an, Su Ping’an, Su Ding’an, and Su Wanwan.

The youngest son, Su Dalin, married Lin Xiuxiu and had three daughters.

Their children were named Su Manhua, Su Manye, and Su Mandi.

Not only that, but the Su family already had four or five great-grandchildren.

Despite their large numbers, the elderly Su couple refused to divide the family estate. Over twenty people crowded into a single courtyard, making for a lively household every day.

After the introductions, Su Yunhai presented Shen Shuli to the family.

“Father, mother, eldest brother, third brother, this is my own daughter, Shuli. She was swapped at birth with another family, but now she’s back.”

“As for Wanwan, she is no longer part of our Su family. However well you treated Lin Wanwan before, from now on, you must treat my daughter twice as well, understood?”

Su Yunhai’s smile was broad and genuine, reflecting his good mood.

After a moment, the room fell into silence.

Su Yunhai’s smile faded slightly as he scanned the family, finally fixing his gaze on the elderly Su couple.

“What’s this? Have you all decided not to acknowledge my daughter?”

Su Baogen forced a strained smile and chuckled awkwardly. “How could we not? After all, she is of the Su family’s bloodline and must return to the Su family. But Wanwan, the girl, really won’t come back?”

Su Yunhai’s smile vanished completely; narrowing his eyes, his voice turned cold.

“Do you see the wounds on my daughter’s face? They were caused by the Lin family, incited by Wanwan!”

“Wanwan has truly lost all conscience, showing no gratitude for the Su family’s upbringing. Despite all we’ve done for her, she’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch!”

“From now on, there is no Wanwan in this home. Don’t mention her again.”

“Also, what are you all standing there for? Where are the gifts you were supposed to prepare for my daughter’s arrival? Don’t tell me you haven’t prepared anything!”

The Su family members exchanged uneasy glances.

They had thought this newcomer’s face was disfigured by some strange illness.

Never had they imagined she had been beaten by the Lin family, and that Wanwan had encouraged it.

They all knew how gentle and kind Wanwan was—there was no way she would harbor such malice.

Surely, someone must have caused the trouble and gotten beaten, now finding excuses to slander Wanwan.

The first to object was the matriarch, Wang Cuilan, quickly defending Wanwan.

“Second son, what nonsense are you spouting? Wanwan could never do such a thing. We raised her with love; how could you not know her character?”

“Exactly, second brother, could it be that someone is deliberately slandering Wanwan?” Su Dashan gave Shen Shuli a sharp, hostile glance, clearly implying something.

Su Yunhai scanned the room again, noticing that almost everyone was looking at his daughter with disdain and skepticism, clearly unwilling to accept her.

He had expected the Su family might be influenced by past events, but he hadn’t anticipated such profound prejudice.

“Hmph, so it seems none of you want to acknowledge my daughter?”

“Second brother, don’t be angry. Everyone probably just needs time to adjust. Calm down,” Su Dalin quickly stepped in to ease the tension.

He pulled a plump red envelope wrapped in red paper from his bosom, smiling warmly.

“Here, niece, this is your third uncle’s gift—a small token. Please don’t despise it.”

Lin Xiuxiu, Su Dalin’s wife, hurriedly handed Shen Shuli a prepared red envelope as well, showing goodwill.

“Niece, it’s good to have you back.”

“Thank you, third uncle and third aunt,” Shen Shuli said with a slight curve of her lips.

Though her voice was sweet, her appearance was terrifying; her smile even more so.

The couple dared not meet her gaze and quickly sat down, avoiding eye contact.

Su Dalin’s daughters, Su Manye and Su Mandi, quickly produced their own red envelopes, though containing only five copper coins each.

These were the savings they had been hoarding for a long time.

Their eldest sister, Su Manhua, was already married and no longer lived with the Su family.

Shen Shuli accepted the gifts generously and returned them with the presents she had prepared.

“Sister Manye, here is a piece of red cloth. You can embroider a pattern on it to make a red wedding veil as a dowry.”

“Sister Mandi, these shoes should fit you. Try them on later.”

Su Manye and Su Mandi were astonished that their new cousin had only given them five copper coins, yet she returned such heavy gifts.

They quickly waved their hands, refusing and stepping back, afraid to accept.

With a sigh, Shen Shuli handed the items to her third uncle to pass on.

“Third uncle, my two cousins are shy. Please accept these on their behalf. These are my gifts to them; you must not refuse.”

Seeing his younger brother still trying to decline, Su Yunhai gave him a meaningful look, and he reluctantly accepted.

“Niece, third uncle thanks you on behalf of your two cousins. If you need anything in the future, just call on them. We’re family, so don’t hesitate.”

Shen Shuli’s generous gesture stunned the entire Su family.