Chapter 86: The Road of Exile, Part 28

When Shi Xianyu stared in astonishment and blurted out, “Xiaoli, why would you think that?” Lu Li pressed her lips together, looking a little wronged, and wrote stubbornly: she does not want her own child. She is a bad mother!

Shi Xianyu opened her mouth, not knowing what to say. She knew Lu Li was most likely thinking of her own experience of being abandoned by her mother.

In truth, she could have left it alone. After all, children throw tantrums; once this bout passed, they would forget it on their own. But seeing Lu Li so indignant, Shi Xianyu felt she could not simply stand by.

“Aunt Ye doesn’t not want her own child. She only hopes to welcome her baby when she is in a better state, in a better environment.”

Shi Xianyu tried to explain, even though Lu Li might not understand. “Aunt Ye trains hard every day and takes missions actively because she wants to make the Oasis a better place. When there is no longer any shortage of food or water, when everyone can live in a carefree oasis, then they will be able to raise their children much better.”

Lu Li asked: Does Aunt Ye like her child?

Shi Xianyu nodded. “Of course she likes her child. She just isn’t ready yet... not ready to be a mother.”

Lu Li went still. She lay there with her little lips pursed, as though thinking over Shi Xianyu’s words.

Shi Xianyu walked over and gently stroked her hair. “...Xiaoli, not everyone is born knowing how to be a parent. Before Aunt Ye becomes a mother, she is first herself. She has to make sure her own life is stable before she can make sure her child’s life is stable too. If she recklessly gives birth without regard for anything else, that isn’t loving the child. That is being irresponsible.”

She sighed and added, “I’ve been able to take care of you for so long because I don’t have the pressure and burdens of survival. If one day I were to lose everything, I might also have no choice but to send you away. But if I sent you away, it would absolutely not be because I dislike you. It would be because I hope you can live better. Do you understand, Xiaoli?”

Lu Li turned over and clutched tightly at Shi Xianyu’s hand, the one that had been stroking her hair, pressing her cheek against the back of it. Her eyes were wet.

Shi Xianyu thought Xiaoli probably understood.

“Back then, when your mother left, she must have had her reasons too.”

A car horn sounded outside. It was Big Beard, urging her on.

Shi Xianyu did not delay any longer. She withdrew her hand, patted Lu Li’s head once more, and hurried off.

Big Beard did not know what was happening with Ye Liuyun, and merely assumed Shi Xianyu was unwell. After he drove her to the hospital, Shi Xianyu met the friend Ye Liuyun had mentioned. The woman was a pharmacist at the hospital, and she and Ye Liuyun often looked after one another.

Ye Liuyun had used the excuse that Shi Xianyu had a hereditary illness and could not have children. The pharmacist handed over a pregnancy test kit and medicine for termination, saying, “If it’s fast, it may take half an hour. If it’s slow, two or three hours is possible too. If it still hasn’t come down, remember to come back to the hospital and find me.”

Shi Xianyu nodded.

The pharmacist added, “Take the medicine in the red box after it’s over. Keep taking it for seven days. During these seven days, it’s best to stay in bed, eat something nutritious, and nurse your body well.”

By the cover of night, Shi Xianyu carried a bag of medicine back and kept watch over Ye Liuyun through the latter half of the night.

Perhaps because she had trained for many years and had a good constitution, it did not take long before it came down. Ye Liuyun would not let Shi Xianyu look, fearing she would be frightened, and buried it herself in some place.

“The pharmacist said you should rest for at least a week. The medicine she prescribed is also enough for a week,” Shi Xianyu said.

Leaning against the bed, Ye Liuyun slowly shook her head. “I can only ask for three days off at most. If it goes on too long, people will grow suspicious.”

Her face was still very pale, but her expression was no longer so pained.

The sky outside was growing light. Shi Xianyu stood up and said, “Rest well. When you wake up, I’ll make you some porridge.”

Ye Liuyun gave a weak nod and lifted her eyes to look at Shi Xianyu. “Thank you. You’ve saved me twice.”

Shi Xianyu smiled at her. “It was nothing.”

The next day, Shi Xianyu made red date porridge and steamed egg custard. She first fed Lu Li until she was full, then asked Carrot to send the child to the nursery. She stayed behind to look after Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun’s body was fine; it was her spirits that were utterly drained. The harm and impact of what had happened to her was far greater psychologically than physically.

Seeing her so disheartened, Shi Xianyu could not bring herself to press her about the missing-person notice. She could only set the matter aside for the time being and hope Ye Liuyun would recover sooner.

But while Shi Xianyu could wait, someone else could not.

After waiting in the dormitory for a full two days, Lin Yuan could no longer sit still and came in person to find Shi Xianyu.

Shi Xianyu could not help feeling a little ashamed.

When it came to finding a mother for Lu Li, Lin Yuan seemed far more invested than she was.

Ye Liuyun said, “I left my contact information back then. If there had been any news, someone should have contacted me by now. It’s already been four or five days, and there’s still nothing. Then there are only two possibilities.”

She raised a hand and counted them off. “First, the person we’re looking for is not in any of the oases where we posted the missing-person notice. Second, that person is deliberately avoiding us.”

Shi Xianyu’s heart sank as she listened. “Why would she avoid us... Is she really that unwilling to reunite with her daughter?”

After a moment’s thought, Ye Liuyun guessed, “Maybe she has some unavoidable hardship? For instance... she may be dependent on some man, and that man cannot accept that she has a daughter?”

Lin Yuan looked impatient. “Stop waiting. Find every person named Yu Jing, then we’ll investigate them one by one.”

Shi Xianyu looked at him, uncertain. “That doesn’t seem right...”

For a mother and daughter to recognize each other, it was meaningless unless both sides were willing. Forcing it would only hurt Lu Li even more.

Lin Yuan frowned. “First find the person. As for whether she wants to acknowledge her daughter or not, we can ask her for an explanation then.”

Ye Liuyun looked somewhat troubled. “If it’s in Dragon Rock Oasis, I can ask an acquaintance to get a resident list. But for the other oases, I’m afraid it won’t be easy.”

Lin Yuan was the type to act immediately. “Then start with Dragon Rock Oasis.”

“Fair enough.” Ye Liuyun nodded slowly. “Whatever the reason, we should find the person first.”

Shi Xianyu looked at Lin Yuan, then at Ye Liuyun, and in the end could only nod as well.

The three of them were discussing how to search for the person in the house when the sound of a car engine suddenly came from outside. They instinctively looked out the window, only to see a vehicle parked outside the gate. The Godmother in her white robe was leading Lu Li out of the car.

Shi Xianyu froze. “Why are you back so early? Wasn’t there supposed to be a cultural performance today...”

“Why is Xiaoli crying?” Ye Liuyun also froze.

Shi Xianyu hurriedly got up and went outside. Lin Yuan and Ye Liuyun followed.

In the yard, Lu Li was walking in with the Godmother, sobbing all the while. Half of the braids she had gotten in the morning had come undone. Her beautiful new dress was dirty, and there were scratches on her arm from fingernails.

Shi Xianyu’s heart clenched. She moved forward, wanting to take Lu Li into her arms, but the moment she reached out, Lu Li shoved her away!

Lu Li ran into the caravan in tears and slammed the door shut with a bang!

Shi Xianyu anxiously knocked on the door twice, then asked the accompanying Godmother, “Teacher, what happened? Was Xiaoli bullied at the nursery?”