The two children had a difficult life living under someone else's roof. They were often beaten by their uncle and aunt and bullied by their cousins. Representatives from the Women's Federation visited time and again, but aside from criticizing and lecturing the adults and other children, their hands were tied. In time, they could only let things be.
But even that wasn't the worst of it. Ruyuan was abducted and sold by human traffickers. Without her brother's protection, the blind Little Ruyi fell into a pond and drowned while crying out for him...
As Xia Zhaoyun recalled this, her eyes welled up and her heart clenched with pain. She looked at the two children beside her, earnestly munching on dried sweet potato strips, and couldn't help but smile gently. She pulled them into her embrace and kissed each one in turn. "Ruyuan, Little Ruyi, Mommy will be here to protect you as you grow up this time!"
