CHAPTER 355: CHAPTER 348: NOT RECLAIMING

Junjun’s foster parents are indeed well-off, with a two-story western-style house on Huangxing Road, quite imposing.

Ever since arriving in Shanghai, Niu Guiyuan had become very silent, and upon seeing the two-story western-style house, she became even more taciturn as if she had a bellyful of worries.

"Sister Guiyuan, let’s go ring the doorbell!" Sisi said and was about to walk over to press the doorbell.

Niu Guiyuan held onto Sisi, "Ah Nan, wait a bit longer."

Niu Guiyuan’s current state was off, her complexion pale and her appearance haggard, but her eyes were unusually bright.

Sisi didn’t ask further, quietly accompanying Niu Guiyuan, although she didn’t understand why Niu Guiyuan wasn’t in a hurry to recognize her child.

Not long after, the door across the street opened, and a woman in her forties walked out with a little boy, chubby, with big eyes, a high nose bridge, red plump lips, wearing a naval shirt and shorts, very adorable.

"Junjun, my Junjun!" Niu Guiyuan controlled her voice with great effort, whispering, her body trembling, yet she restrained herself from going forward.

"Take the baby to the park up front for a stroll, don’t go too far," came an old lady’s voice from inside.

"Got it!" The middle-aged woman replied, closed the door, and began walking to the park with Junjun’s hand in hers.

Niu Guiyuan followed closely behind, and Sisi had no choice but to follow; she didn’t know what Niu Guiyuan was planning to do. It felt strange.

In the park, the middle-aged woman lifted Junjun onto a swing and started pushing him. Junjun laughed happily, urging, "Higher, go higher!"

Niu Guiyuan suppressed her excitement, let go of Sisi, and carefully walked in front of Junjun, but Junjun didn’t recognize Niu Guiyuan anymore, only glancing at her before focusing on the swing again.

Her Junjun didn’t recognize Mama anymore! A sharp pain struck Niu Guiyuan’s heart, as if it were bleeding.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

The middle-aged woman noticed Niu Guiyuan’s odd behavior and protectively embraced Junjun.

"Big sister, I’m from the countryside, I’ve had a bit of heat stroke, and I wanted to come to this shady place to cool off," said Niu Guiyuan, indeed appearing pale as if she were suffering from heat stroke. The middle-aged woman let her guard down and continued to push Junjun on the swing.

"Big sister, this child must be yours, so beautiful!" Niu Guiyuan calmed her emotions and started chatting with the middle-aged woman.

"Wouldn’t dream of having such a beautiful little one. He’s the grandson of the family I work for; I’m helping them out," said the middle-aged woman, who also seemed to enjoy chatting and soon got into a conversation with Niu Guiyuan.

"You wouldn’t know, but my employer cherishes this little one so much, he has to drink a bottle of milk every day, also eat an apple, they say it’s to replenish vitamins, and his clothes are always new, as soon as they get a little worn, they won’t wear them, I’ve taken back quite a few old clothes for my granddaughter to wear."

"And, you know, a little one this young has to learn English. Everyone in my employer’s house can speak English, and now even this little one can speak it, babbling it all day long at home, and I can’t understand a word."

"HOWAREYOU!" Junjun on the swing suddenly said in English, with perfect American pronunciation.

"Listen, that’s the foreign language, he hasn’t even finished learning Chinese, but he’s pretty good with the foreign devil’s language, I also don’t understand what the employers are thinking, maybe they’re planning to have their grandson live abroad in the future?"

"Big sister, I see that you have an easy job here, just cooking, washing clothes, and looking after the child."

"Yeah, it’s quite easy, and the employers are quite polite. Sigh, I’m finishing this month and won’t do it anymore, a real pity!"

"Why did you stop if you were doing well?"

"Ah, my wife is going to have a grandson next month, so of course, I need to go back and take care of my own grandson."

....

Junjun got tired of swinging on the swing and ran off wanting to play on the slide but was coaxed by the middle-age woman to go home, their figures, one tall and one short, gradually disappearing into the distance. Niu Guiyuan just sat there, staring blankly ahead.

"Sister Guiyuan, what’s wrong?" Sisi emerged from under the big tree and sat down beside Niu Guiyuan.

Niu Guiyuan smiled bitterly, "Ah Nan, Junjun doesn’t recognize me, his Mama, anymore."

"Junjun was less than two years old when he left, and it’s been two years now. It’s normal that he can’t recognize you. Once you recognize Junjun again, over time, he will naturally become close with you," Sisi said, trying to comfort Niu Guiyuan.

Biting her lip as if she had made a decision, Niu Guiyuan shook her head, "Ah Nan, I’m not going to recognize Junjun back."

"What? Sister Guiyuan, have you gone mad?" Sisi was shocked. Could it be that Niu Guiyuan was so deeply traumatized that she lost her senses?

"No, Ah Nan, my mind has never been clearer. Junjun has a good life here, a good home, and can have the best education. He even has a residence registration in a big city, none of which I can give to Junjun."

"But you are Junjun’s biological Mama, and that is invaluable."

"But as his biological Mama, I am useless. I can’t give Junjun a good life," Niu Guiyuan said with a wry smile.

Sisi sighed, somewhat understanding Niu Guiyuan’s thinking. Perhaps the good conditions of Junjun’s adoptive parents intimidated her, worrying her that he would suffer if he returned.

"But Sister Guiyuan, if you don’t recognize Junjun back, don’t you miss him? And what about your husband, will they agree?"

"Ah Nan, I fear my marriage with your brother-in-law will not last long," Niu Guiyuan dropped another bombshell.

She didn’t wait for Sisi to speak and continued, "I’ve made up my mind. I won’t tell Wang Quanzhong’s family that I found Junjun. After all, they don’t really care about him. I plan to quit working at the restaurant and become a nanny for this family, that way I can take care of Junjun every day."

Niu Guiyuan began to smile as she spoke, seemingly quite pleased with her plans, and added, "Ah Nan, look how well Junjun is doing here. He can have milk every day, and an apple, wears new clothes, and can even speak English. This shows his adoptive parents value him greatly. It’s better for Junjun to stay here than to be with me. He’s bound to be successful in the future."

"I’ve found out that their current nanny is quitting at the end of this month. When that happens, I’ll become the nanny, take care of Junjun every day, just like before. Even though I can’t call myself Mama, as long as Junjun is happy, that’s all that matters."

....

Sisi looked at Niu Guiyuan with pity as she babbled on, one moment smiling, the next moment staring blankly, talking ceaselessly without expecting any response.

What could have happened between her and her husband? It seems to be a serious issue; otherwise, Niu Guiyuan wouldn’t suggest they’d separate. No wonder Niu Guiyuan seemed a bit neurotic now—with her son lost and a failing marriage, such continuous blows could wear down any woman.

Although Sisi always believed that it was better for a child to be with his biological mother, this was after all Niu Guiyuan’s own affair, and others could not make decisions for her.

Niu Guiyuan went back to Wangjiazhen alone, while Sisi stayed in Shanghai. School was about to start, and she was taking the train to Beijing tomorrow.

Sisi didn’t know how things unfolded afterward. It wasn’t until autumn that He Xuewen came to Beijing and told her that Niu Guiyuan indeed went to Shanghai to work as a nanny, and she had divorced Wang Quanzhong. Wang Quanzhong disagreed with her going to Shanghai, leading to a big argument, and he even hit Niu Guiyuan.

Of course, Niu Guiyuan’s four brothers weren’t pushovers. They went to Wangjiazhen the next day and gave Wang Quanzhong a beating, after which Niu Guiyuan took the opportunity to ask for a divorce. The Wang Family surprisingly agreed without any objections.

Sisi hadn’t expected that when Niu Guiyuan said they wouldn’t last long, it truly wouldn’t be long before the divorce. Even in the 21st century, life was difficult for a divorced woman, having to endure the stares and gossip of others, let alone in these more conservative times.

Sigh! Hopefully, Niu Guiyuan can find happiness in the future!