Adoptive father provided "freedom" despite humble means in Huaiyuan; Birth mother offered "future" with a multi-billion fortune in Shanghai. A custody battle unfolds in Bengbu as the 13-year-old girl remains torn between two worlds.
Reporter: Zhang Huowang, Wang Xudong (Text and Photos)
On one side is her adoptive father who raised her for 13 years. Despite living in the countryside where they could only afford basic needs, he gave her an unrestricted life without academic pressure, just pure freedom.
"That's not freedom, it's indulgence. She must leave her adoptive father," argues her birth mother on the other side. Now worth hundreds of millions in Shanghai after years of hard work, she insists on reclaiming her daughter to provide her with an aristocratic lifestyle and education.
After spending half a year in Shanghai, however, the girl returned to her adoptive father's rural home in Huaiyuan County. The fierce custody battle continues as the 13-year-old struggles to make a difficult decision about her future.
Sleepless Nights: Daughter Chooses to Flee Aristocratic Life
For the past month, Ms. Zhang in Shanghai has been tossing and turning at night. Her 13-year-old daughter Huihui (a pseudonym) came back and then left again, returning to her adoptive father's home in the countryside far away in Huaiyuan County, leaving Ms. Zhang anxious and restless.
Just two days ago, the Canadian immigration office notified Ms. Zhang to bring her daughter Huihui for an interview. "We're at the most critical stage of the immigration process. If we pass the interview, it means we'll successfully immigrate. Money is not a problem for us," Ms. Zhang told reporters anxiously over the phone yesterday afternoon. She was making what she believed to be the ideal life plan for her daughter - giving her an aristocratic lifestyle and education. But her daughter preferred to return to the countryside, possibly missing the chance for the interview.
At the age of forty-something, Ms. Zhang and her husband have accumulated billions through more than a decade of hard work in Shanghai. According to her, all of her other children have already immigrated abroad and are enjoying the best education, except for Huihui, who was adopted by others when she was young due to poor conditions in the countryside.
Ms. Zhang sent several photos to the reporter showing scenes from Huihui's bedroom in Shanghai, revealing a level of luxury that is astonishing. "This villa is worth over ten million yuan. We want to make up for lost time and give her the best life possible. Everything we do is for her benefit. What more could she want? Why can't she understand a mother's heart?" Ms. Zhang asked bewilderedly on the phone.
Raising a Daughter Better Than Biological One
Why did Ms. Zhang initially give her daughter Huihui up for adoption? The answer is simple: thirteen years ago, Ms. Zhang and her husband had nothing when they first came to Shanghai from Huaiyuan County and were unable to care for their several children, so they chose to give their youngest daughter Huihui up for adoption.
In October 1999, when Huihui was just two months old, a nearby couple, Mr. and Mrs. Li Changcui from Shuangqiao Town in Huaiyuan County, adopted her and named her Li Xin Yu. However, just over a year after adopting Xin Yu, Mrs. Li gave birth to their biological daughter Li Xin Hui, followed eight years later by their son Li Xin Xiang.
"Even though Xin Yu is adopted, we treat her better than our biological daughter," said Mr. Li Changcui. Whenever there was a conflict between Xin Yu and Xin Hui, both he and his wife would criticize Xin Hui and never blame Xin Yu, ensuring that Xin Yu felt no difference and avoiding any gossip from others.
When talking about how well they treated their adopted daughter Xin Yu, Mr. Li became visibly emotional. He said that in the thirteen years, he had never hit or scolded Xin Yu even once. When they first adopted her, Xin Yu was in poor health with a vascular tumor on her hand. It was Mr. Li who carried her repeatedly to hospitals in Bengbu City until her condition improved.
"Xin Yu loves eating meat, especially chicken legs," Mr. Li mentioned. Despite their financial difficulties, they always saved money in other areas to buy meat and chicken legs for Xin Yu. On holidays and Xin Yu's birthday, chicken legs were always on the menu.
Spoiling and Indulgence: Concerns About Ruining the Daughter's Future
Ms. Zhang expressed gratitude for Mr. Li's kindness in raising her daughter Huihui. However, everything must be considered from the perspective of her daughter's future. She couldn't let gratitude ruin her daughter's entire life. Ms. Zhang believed that Mr. Li's indulgence of his daughter was a form of neglect, not the so-called "free and easy" life. Continuing this way would only turn her into a wild child with no achievements in the end.
Recently, during an interview at Mr. Li's home, the reporter saw several dilapidated single-story houses with barely any decent furniture, clearly indicating extreme poverty. This family had also experienced disasters and sorrows unimaginable to most people. In 2009, just three months after Mr. Li's wife gave birth to their son Li Xin Xiang, while returning late from visiting relatives, they encountered a thunderstorm. Crossing under high-voltage power lines, she was struck by lightning and tragically passed away, leaving behind Mr. Li, their three children, and his elderly mother-in-law. To take care of the family, Mr. Li was unable to work long-term outside and relied solely on farming and odd jobs for a meager income, leading the family to become increasingly impoverished.
The decline and incompleteness of the Li family strengthened Ms. Zhang's determination to reclaim her daughter Huihui. She believed that if she didn't take Huihui to Shanghai and let her stay with the Li family, Huihui would not only lack access to quality education but also suffer from Mr. Li's laissez-faire attitude, potentially developing personality defects.
Signing an Agreement: Compensation of Ten Wan Yuan to Reclaim Custody
In June 2011, Ms. Zhang and her husband visited Mr. Li's home to see their daughter Huihui and left five thousand yuan. Since Mr. Li was working a temporary job in Nanjing that day and wasn't home, they agreed to meet at the Second Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing after a phone conversation.
At a hotel near the Second Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, Ms. Zhang expressed her intention to take Huihui back to Mr. Li. "It's all for the child's good. I hope you can understand. And thank you for raising her for thirteen years. We are family, and we will also take care of your other two children, bringing them to Shanghai as well." To show her sincerity, Ms. Zhang knelt down and pleaded with Mr. Li.
A month later, under the premise that Huihui also wished to return to her biological parents, both parties signed an agreement in Huaiyuan County. The agreement stipulated that Mr. Li voluntarily returned his adopted daughter to Ms. Zhang. In gratitude for Mr. Li's years of raising her, Ms. Zhang paid ten wan yuan as compensation. The agreement also stated that if Huihui wished, she could visit her adoptive father, and Mr. Li, with the consent of her biological parents, could visit Huihui in Shanghai.
After bringing Huihui back to Shanghai, Ms. Zhang quickly arranged for her daughter to attend the best school, hired private tutors, and took her to every fun place in Shanghai. Upon hearing that Huihui wanted to fly, she immediately booked tickets for a flight to Qinhuangdao. Ms. Zhang felt she owed Huihui too much and wanted to make up for it all at once.
Return After Departure: A 13-Year-Old Girl Struggles with Uncertainty
Time flew by, and half a year had passed. However, during these six months, some troubling events occurred for Ms. Zhang.
Ms. Zhang bought Huihui a mobile phone, allowing her to contact her adoptive father Mr. Li. Occasional contact wasn't an issue, but frequent communication, even receiving text messages during class, troubled Ms. Zhang. Mr. Li told Huihui that it wasn't his wish for her to leave but rather Ms. Zhang forcing the situation. Her homeroom teacher informed Ms. Zhang that Huihui was distracted in class and often talked on the phone with her adoptive father during breaks.
After confiscating Huihui's phone, she began using her classmates' phones to send text messages to Mr. Li. Ms. Zhang was alarmed and called Mr. Li, demanding he stop contacting their daughter. "This will affect her studies. If contact is necessary, it must go through us."
However, Huihui seemed to miss her adoptive father more and more. She said her adoptive father was kind to her, never hitting or scolding her, and there was no academic pressure. Under her strong insistence, a month ago, she left Shanghai and returned to her adoptive father's home.
"What's wrong with disciplining her? She's still young and doesn't understand. If I don't discipline her, isn't she just like a wild child?" Ms. Zhang was very upset with Mr. Li, believing it was entirely his fault. Considering Huihui's future, Mr. Li shouldn't interfere with her studies and life. If he misses Huihui, he should come to visit instead of pulling her back into her previous living conditions. "I must get my daughter back," Ms. Zhang declared.
Mr. Li, however, claimed that it was Huihui's own choice to return, and he hadn't interfered. As Huihui grows older, she has her own thoughts. If she wishes to return to Shanghai, that's her freedom.
"Which is better, the bustling metropolis of Shanghai or the quiet countryside of Huaiyuan?" At the central elementary school of Shuangqiao Town, the reporter asked Huihui.
"Shanghai is better."
"Then do you want to go back to Shanghai?"
"I don't want to leave Dad (Mr. Li)."
In the mind of the 13-year-old Huihui, she is still conflicted and uncertain about her future. On one side is the deep gratitude she feels towards her adoptive father, and on the other side is the unbreakable bond of blood with her biological parents. For such a young heart, making such a harsh choice is incredibly difficult. Where should she go? Readers are invited to participate in the discussion and send your opinions via text message to 18656151052 along with your reasons.