Inevitably His

On a day in mid-December, the setting sun cast long shadows as the Siberian cold front swept through, stealing the last vestiges of warmth from the small town. Jane West, huddled against the chill, mused idly about enclosing the town under a glass dome to keep out the winter cold.

Lost in her thoughts, she was brought back to reality by the sighing voice of her mother, Linda, who emphasized, "Are you even listening? Its not easy for a single woman to raise two children. Every need is a challenge. It might be best to just be resolute..."

"Ive found a family for you. Theyve agreed to pay you a sum of money. Dont blame mom for being heartless; no mother doesnt ache for her daughter. The whole village is gossiping, saying you were kept by a big boss in the city and were thrown out by his wife, along with the children. Im doing this because I have no choice."

"I know youll miss them terribly at first, but it will get easier with time. Its better to endure a short pain than a long one."

Janes face remained composed as she listened to Lindas words, her eyes occasionally flicking to the unfamiliar face in the mirror. After the initial shock, she had managed to calm the panic within, but her mind was still blank, pondering her next steps, deciding to take it one day at a time.

According to Linda, the original Jane was also named West, though it was unclear if her name was the same. She was young, in her early twenties, and after giving up on further education, she followed the trend and went to work in the city. However, while other girls from their village returned after encountering difficulties, Jane West stayed in the provincial capital for six months. When she returned, her pregnancy caused a sensation in the village, and the villagers couldnt help but speculate about the father of her child. Jane kept silent, and when the children were born without a man to claim them, the villagers were certain that she had done something wrong, and the rumors of her being kept by someone spread.

During her pregnancy, her belly was larger than usual, and by the end, she had to rest in bed. On the day of her delivery, Linda found a midwife to assist her. After one child was born, Janes belly remained large, and they realized there was another.

Thus, without even going to the hospital, Jane West, in a daze, gave birth to twins at home.

The birth of twins out of wedlock was enough to draw criticism, and the fact that she had twins made it even more challenging. The family was desperate, but the villages aunts and relatives were more anxious, daily discussing what to do with the children.

Many people came to inquire about the children, and Jane West, having just given birth, felt a bond with them and refused to let them go. This confusion lasted for two years.

Now, with the children not yet two years old, dozens of families had come to inquire, wanting to buy and raise Jane Wests children. Linda, after taking care of her grandchildren for two years, naturally found it hard to part with them, but as the children grew, if they werent sent away before they understood, there would be no more opportunities. With these two burdens, it would be difficult for Jane, still young, to remarry.

Even if Linda was reluctant to part with them, she had to think about her daughters future. With her daughters looks, who in the surrounding villages wouldnt praise her? But Jane had made such a mistake. Fortunately, the mistake had been made, and since the children were twins, there were childless families eager to adopt them. A few days ago, a family from the city sent someone to inquire, offering to give Jane a thousand dollars, saying their family was good and the children wouldnt suffer. After much thought, Linda agreed.

So, she came to talk to Jane about it.

"Mom has said so much, what do you think?"

Jane snapped back to reality. In this undeveloped era, it was a significant matter for a woman to be pregnant out of wedlock, let alone give birth to two children at once. It was hard to raise them. Linda and the original Jane had already discussed this matter. The original Jane, looking at the two children, felt reluctant and changed her mind at the last moment. Thus, Linda began to persuade her again.

The original Jane was unwilling to give up her children. Jane even speculated that the original Jane let her to solve this matter.

No matter how hard the world was, Jane couldnt sell her children. After thinking for a moment, she said:

"Mom, Ive decided. Dont worry, once spring comes, Ill leave here and wont cause you any trouble."

Linda wiped away tears, "You child, is mom driving you away? Mom is thinking about you. You, dead set on not revealing who the childrens father is, youre just in your twenties, with two children, are you not planning on finding someone for the rest of your life?"

Jane scoffed, who said a woman must find a man? In her previous life, she was part of the no-marriage, no-children tribe. She could date, but marriage was out of the question. People said it was not easy for a single woman, yet she lived just fine. With money and leisure, no family or children, life was very comfortable. Finding a man meant serving and warming his bed, and if divorced, her property might be split in half. Thinking about it, Jane couldnt see any benefits in getting married and having children.

"Im more at ease not finding one."

"You... I think youre trying to exasperate your mother! Youll regret this later!" Linda wiped away tears and left.

As soon as she left, Jane West fully relaxed. If the conversation continued, she was afraid she would reveal her true identity.

...

At that moment, two little radishes stood at the door, staring at the twenty-centimeter high threshold, struggling to lift their small feet over it. Their steps were unsteady, their bodies swaying as if drunk, and their little butts wiggled with each step, but they finally made it in safely.

West held her breath, relieved when they finally made it inside.

The next second, the pale girl clutched her leg and cried:

"Mom, I wont go!"

The boy, staring at his sisters pants, said expressionlessly, "I wont go either!" He then hugged Wests other leg.

West stiffened, was this the legendary holding of thighs?

Good! Very good! West smiled stiffly, actually, having two children wasnt a bad thing, right? Right? She tried hard to persuade herself to accept it, but in her heart, she couldnt help but sigh. As a no-marriage tribe member, she had never raised children and used to get a headache just seeing them. Now, suddenly having children, and two at once, she was afraid she would shirk responsibility.

West smiled weakly, "No one is sending you away."

"Aunt said you sold us," the sister, Little Sesame, accused.

The brother, Little Dumpling, continued expressionlessly, "For a thousand dollars!"

West choked, "Who said that?"

"They all say so, Seventh Aunt, Eighth Aunt, Uncle, Aunt, Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Sister..."

Little Sesame recited all the names like a parrot, and West felt a headache coming on, quickly stopping her:

"Enough, enough! Its giving me a headache."

Little Sesame, not satisfied, looked at her with condemning eyes, emphasizing, "Many people said so!"

"They lied to you."

"Not selling."

West added specifically, "Youre too small to be worth anything. Selling children is like selling pigs; only the fat ones are valuable. Look at you, skin and bones, who would I sell you to?"

Little Sesame tilted her head, seriously considering the credibility of this statement, and after a while, she nodded, "Sesame is thin, not for sale!" She turned and pointed at her brother, adding, "Brother is fat, sell brother!"

West seemed to see the brothers black line of frustration. This was indeed a real sister, no discussion!

...

West spent a long time talking to them. Given their young age and limited language skills, it took a while for West to understand the general situation of this family. Before she had time to sort things out, she heard Sesame rubbing her stomach and shouting:

"Mom, Im hungry!"

"If youre hungry, eat sesame."

"How can I eat sesame?"

West, afraid