New family member

As the evening sun was setting, the streets were filled with laughter of children returning home happily from school, workers leaving the office and couples going on dates. Chi Lian was not among this group of people. She watched them as the car rushed past them. Her phone was ringing non-stop, and Chi Lian was rushing home to explain to her family the reason as to why dozens of baby supplies had been delivered to their door.

There was no doubt that they would be worried and angry with her for taking such a momentous decision without consulting any member of her family first. Perhaps the old Chi Lian would not have been capable of making such a decision but she was the new Chi Lian. Her life was in her hands. Every decision she made was only done after considering the repercussions of her decision. She just had to make them see her point of view.

She found them gathered outside the house as if they were waiting on an important guest.

"Chi-Chi-"her mother started and paused because the sight before her eyes was absolutely shocking. She pointed at the child Chi Lian was carrying out of the car, "Who-Whose baby is that? "

"Let's have this conversation inside the house."

This was a public estate and other residents were taking walks or jogging. Some were walking their pets. There was no need to have a private family conversation in public.

"Go and help your sister with the groceries." Papa Chi instructed the boys.

Her brothers walked by her with questioning gazes. Their eyes moved to the baby and then to her face.

"Sister did you have a secret child outside?" Chi Zimo asked.

"Will your mouth itch if you wait for a few minutes?" Chi Wei asked.

"Idiot," Chi Rui said.

Chi Zimo looked so aggrieved. He was just so curious that he could not help himself.

Inside the house, mama Chi held out her hands to take the baby from Chi Lian. The stubborn Mei-Mei however was already clingy to her new mother and refused to let go.

"I can still carry her." Chi Lian said. She took a sit and patted Mei-Mei on the back.

When all the family members gathered, Chi Lian took a deep breath and opened up about how she met Mei-Mei and the situation of the orphanage. Mama Chi cried when she heard about the starving children who were dressed in torn and patched up clothing.

"So," Chi Lian concluded, "I adopted her."

"What?" Chi Zimo shouted.

"I could not just leave her there. She has nobody let in the world. And moreover, I had a dream last night, a Buddhist monk told me that if helped a poor child our family would be blessed because the child is blessed."

"Huh." Her father looked suspicious. Superstitions were outdated in this modern society.

"Really!" her mother quizzed. "Chi-Chi, the empire has a strict policy of three children per family. If you adopt that child, you can only have two biological children of your own. And moreover, you are an unmarried young woman. Having a child will hinder your prospects on the marriage market."

Chi Lian considered the precious words of her mother. She was cautioning her the same way principal Wang had done. But her mind was already made up. Every time Mei-Mei stared at her with those big beautiful eyes, she fell deeper in love with her.

"I know all that, but I have made up my mind. Look at her." Chi Lian turned Mei-Mei around so that the whole family could get a good look at the beautiful child.

Mei-Mei's eyes were big and clear. She pouted her small lips and smiled like an angel.

"So cute," Chi Rui gasped.

"I still don't think this is a good idea. The baby is cute but what will happen when sis gets married in future. What if her husband rejects the child?"

"Then such a man is not worthy of your sister." Papa Chi said.

"Yes. We will not accept such a man." Mama Chi added.

"Our sister is a capable woman. Men will be the ones pleading to marry her. You just wait and see." Chi Wei spoke as if he had travelled into the future and had this information first hand.

"I am going to tell people that she is my biological daughter. I don't want her to grow up feeling like she lacks something because I am not her biological mother."

"Are you sure sis?" Chi Zimo asked.

"Yes. Two years ago I lived abroad for a few months. If anybody asks then we tell them that I had Mei-Mei during that time. "

The house was encompassed by the sound of silence. Chi Lian had made her choice and there was no talking her out of it.

"Look, this is not going to be easy. Some people will gossip about Chi-Chi but we are her family and the Chi's stick together no matter what. We will support her decision and defend it to the public if someone ridicules her. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," The boys said.

"I guess this means I am now a grandmother." Mama Chi smiled and clapped. It had been a long time since she had held a child. She had always been looking forward to having grandchildren but none of her sons were married. She looked at Mei-Mei lovingly. Her eyes portrayed a dotting intention. "Let me help you prepare Mei-Mei's room."

"Me too," Papa Chi followed them to prepare the room where his new granddaughter would be sleeping.

The three brothers were left behind to carry the baby supplies into the room.

Unknown to the family, an eavesdropping Jun Muyang had managed to listen to the entire conversation from beneath the window outside the living room.

He did not mean to eavesdrop on his new neighbors. His foolish dog a golden retriever named Cooper had dragged one of his important papers to the yard. From there, the wind blew it into the neighbors' compound. When he went to retrieve it, the family had moved outside and stayed there until the woman showed up with a baby.

He tried to leave after they entered the house but his legs were aching and needed to be stretched first. During those few minutes of stretching, he managed to overhear what they were discussing.

It was simply perplexing to him that a single unmarried woman of her age was choosing to adopt a child and planning to pass it off as her own biological child. It was a certainty that in some circles she would be shunned.

Why would she make a decision? Undeniably, the infant did have a pitiful background but that was not reason enough to take such a life altering drastic decision.

Was it love, pity or foolishness?

Muyang looked at his secretary Wenzhe.

"What do you think about her?"

Wenzhe pushed his glasses back up for what could be perceived as the hundredth time that day.

"Who?" He was confused.

"That woman who moved in with her family next door?"

"I have not taken a good look at her as of yet sir. What do you think about her?"

Wenzhe silently waited for a response. His ears were itching for gossip. In all the years he had worked for Muyang, this is the first time that he was asking about a woman. Perhaps the iron tree was finally blooming.

"I think she is foolish." He smiled with a smirk on his face.

"Huh." Wenzhe was confused. This was not the response he was expecting. "Yes sir, you are right. She is foolish indeed." It was his job to agree with the gold master at all times.

"Haven't you just said you have not seen her, how would you know if she is foolish or not?"

"Ermm-"Wenzhe scratched his head. 'He is definitely defending that woman.' he thought.

Secretly, he took out his phone and sent a message.

[Young master asked about a woman today.]

[What's her name and family background?]

[I will check and tell you when I know more.]

In the Chi household, Chi Lian was telling her family about her plans to sponsor the orphanage and get the authorities to investigate the theft of the funds meant for the welfare of the children.

"We should make it a family activity. We can go every weekend and spend some time with the children."

"I agree." Mama Chi volunteered. When they were wealthy, she used to do such activities with her friends but now they did not extend an invite to her because her family had fallen from grace. It felt exhilarating to know that she could be useful again.

"Excellent, I knew you would not let me down sweet mother. You will also be in charge of the budget and expenses."

"Your mother is a very capable woman." Papa Chi said. He always took every chance he got to boast about his wife.

"Thank you my dear." Mama Chi blushed.

"Old people please stop showing off your affection." Chi Zimo pretended to be disgusted.

The harmonious family environment continued until they went to bed that night.