When she spoke, Li Mei's tone was filled not just with shock and disbelief, but also with anger!
Back then, they had agreed—three hundred yuan to swap her baby for a healthy boy. For this, she had risked her life, taking labor-inducing drugs to deliver the child prematurely.
Yet, after taking her money, these people had betrayed her, handing her a deaf and mute child.
Before she could even confront them, they had the audacity to show up at the military compound!
The more she thought about it, the darker Li Mei's expression grew.
If not for the sentry standing nearby, she would have lunged at the couple and slapped them hard across the face.
Her voice was sharp when she spoke again, "Who told you to come here?"
Faced with Li Mei's accusation, Granny Cai, the midwife who had arranged the swap, stayed silent.
Instead, her husband replied with infuriating calm, "Comrade Li Mei, are you sure you want to discuss this here?"
As he spoke, his eyes flicked meaningfully toward the sentry in the distance.
He said nothing explicit, but to Li Mei, it was a blatant threat.
Her chest heaved with fury.
But for the sake of her plans, she had no choice but to swallow her rage for now.
Once they moved to a secluded spot, Li Mei unleashed a torrent of curses at the couple.
Finally, she spat, "This child is defective. Take him back—I don’t want him!"
"I don’t care how you do it, but today, you’d better bring me a normal child."
She had thought it through.
While the child was still young, she had to act fast to replace him with a healthy one.
As for what the military doctor might think, Li Mei wasn’t worried.
That day, she had only let the doctor glance at the baby—no thorough examination had been done.
Besides, misdiagnoses were common these days.
If she insisted this was her child, what could the doctor possibly do?
Li Mei had it all figured out—except for one thing. These people hadn’t traveled all this way to solve her problems.
Granny Cai’s tone was indifferent. "Comrade Li Mei, when the child was handed to you, you inspected him from head to toe multiple times. You only paid after confirming he was fine."
"Now, after raising him for over ten days, you’re telling me he’s defective? What kind of joke is this?"
She scoffed. "Who knows what you’ve been feeding him all this time?"
"Let me tell you, drugs like gentamicin and streptomycin aren’t something you should give a child carelessly."
"Don’t you dare pin this on me!" Li Mei snapped, her temper flaring. "I’ve never even heard of those medicines!"
"The moment I brought him home, all I’ve fed him is milk. Even the military doctor said this child was born deaf!"
"If you insist on lying, there’s nothing I can do."
Granny Cai lifted her eyelids lazily. "The child was perfectly fine when we gave him to you. Why he’s deaf now—only you would know."
Li Mei realized then that the old woman was determined to play dirty.
But what came next was even worse.
After speaking, Granny Cai reached into the basket behind her and pulled out another child.
"Here." She thrust the baby toward Li Mei.
Li Mei stumbled back in alarm. "Wh-what is this?"
Why was she being given another child out of nowhere?
"This is your daughter."
Granny Cai’s gaze was cool as she continued.
"The family that promised to adopt her has backed out. You’ll have to take her back."
Li Mei’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly before she finally managed to speak.
"How could they do this? They gave their word!"
Granny Cai shrugged. "There was no other choice. The typhoon wrecked their home, and the family’s breadwinners were injured."
"They can barely afford food now—why would they waste money raising someone else’s daughter?"
Li Mei hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. But she already had one problem child in her arms—she couldn’t possibly take another.
"Auntie Cai, please, you have to help me!" Her voice turned pleading.
She dug out every last coin from her pockets and held them out.
Granny Cai glanced at the pitiful sum and sneered inwardly. Was this charity for beggars?
She pushed the money back. "It’s not that I won’t help you, but there’s just no solution."
Panic set in. "Auntie, I’m begging you! Try neighboring counties—someone will take her!"
"Comrade Li Mei, be realistic. You’ve birthed several daughters yourself. You know no one wants a girl these days."
"Yes, yes…" Li Mei was drowning in regret.
If she had known it would come to this, she wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble.
A daughter was still a daughter—she could always try for another son later.
But it was too late now. Gritting her teeth, she made an offer.
"Auntie, if you can find her a good home… I’ll give you another hundred yuan. Deal?"
A hundred yuan was no small amount.
But Granny Cai wasn’t after a one-time payment.
"This isn’t about money. I’m telling you, no one wants a girl. Just take the child back."
"Auntie—"
Then, in the midst of their back-and-forth, Li Mei remembered something.
Granny Cai had once mentioned that her youngest son had only boys—no daughters at all.
"Auntie, doesn’t your youngest lack a daughter? Why don’t you take her—"
Before she could finish, Old Man Cai cut in sharply.
"You make it sound so easy! Yes, my youngest has no girl."
"But they’re barely scraping by as it is. Another mouth to feed would ruin them!"
"Woman, stop dawdling. Give her the child."
Granny Cai swiftly shoved the baby into Li Mei’s arms. "Our family’s too poor to raise her."
"Auntie, I’ll pay! I’ll pay monthly!"
In desperation, Li Mei blurted out, "I’ll give you five yuan every month. Is that enough?"
Five yuan was substantial in these times.
But the old couple remained unimpressed.
After more haggling, Li Mei finally reached her limit.
"Eight yuan! That’s all I can give! I don’t work, and my husband’s salary is meager!"
"We have other children to feed—I can’t afford more!"
The old couple exchanged a glance.
Eight yuan fell short of their expectations, but it was more than enough to raise a child.
Besides, a girl could fetch a dowry when she grew up.
This deal was profitable no matter how they looked at it.
And since the boy in Li Mei’s arms was their own grandson, pushing her too far might backfire.
With that in mind, Granny Cai reluctantly agreed.
"We'll take the child back with us, don't worry."
"Since we’ve agreed to raise her, we’ll treat her well. Just remember to send the living expenses by the end of the month."
Li Mei nodded blankly.
"Auntie, can’t you think of another way? I don’t want this child..."
Granny Cai understood what she meant, but she had gone through great lengths to find such a good family for her little grandson. There was no way she’d let Li Mei back out now.
Patting Li Mei’s hand, Granny Cai spoke in a tone of earnest advice.
"It’s not that I won’t help you, but boys aren’t like cabbages—you can’t just have one whenever you want."
Li Mei knew the logic, but she still couldn’t accept it.
"Why can’t you see things clearly even now?"
Granny Cai continued, "Didn’t you just say you don’t have a job? Here’s the perfect excuse right in front of you, and you’re not even using it."
Li Mei froze. "What do you mean?"
Granny Cai lifted her chin slightly. "Your family has many children, and now there’s an added deaf-mute. Shouldn’t the army make some special considerations for that?"
"In my opinion, you might as well take this chance to ask the army to assign you a job."
"Once you have work, you’ll earn your own money and spend it as you please. Wouldn’t that give you more independence? Don’t you think so?"
