Mistakenly Identifying the Father in the 1970s: The Childless Young Master from Beijing Comes to Claim His Children

Xia Mingyu is a mute woman who has endured five years of abuse from her husband, Qiao Hongye, and his paralyzed, cruel mother-in-law, Li Zhaodi. Despite her silence, she raises twin sons, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, while caring for her in-laws. The story begins when Qiao Hongye returns home after five years of absence, not to reconcile, but to sell their eldest son, Tuantuan, to his superior in the capital as a gift to curry favor. Upon discovering the betrayal, Xia Mingyu confronts him at a supply cooperative. In a moment of desperate rage, she breaks her thirteen-year silence, shouting for the first time. She publicly accuses Qiao Hongye of human trafficking, inciting the crowd to seize him and take him to the police station. She hides her younger son, Yuanyuan, in a straw basket to protect him from being taken as well.

At the police station, Qiao Hongye attempts to downplay the incident as a family matter, but Xia Mingyu’s persistent accusations and emotional pleas sway the officers. In a fit of anger, Qiao Hongye reveals that the children are not his, claiming she cheated on him and that the twins are bastards. This revelation shocks Xia Mingyu, who realizes that the man who impregnated her on their wedding night was not her husband. Meanwhile, Yuanyuan is discovered at the cooperative by Lu Ning, a subordinate of a high-ranking official named Sikong Huai. Lu Ning notices Yuanyuan’s striking resemblance to his boss and learns that the child has a twin brother who was sold to the capital. He contacts Sikong Huai, who initially dismisses the claim as absurd.

Sikong Huai travels to the southern province to investigate the trafficking case. At the train station, he encounters Tuantuan, who is being harassed by an accomplice of Qiao Hongye. Tuantuan, a clever and brave child, identifies Sikong Huai as his lookalike and trusts him. Sikong Huai rescues the boy and confirms through their identical features that Tuantuan is likely his son. He also recalls a mysterious incident five years prior when he was poisoned by wild mushrooms and lost consciousness, waking up by a roadside with no memory of the night. He suspects that this incident is connected to Xia Mingyu and the children.

Back at the commune, Xia Mingyu publicly exposes Qiao Hongye’s crimes, including the arranged marriage scheme and the attempted trafficking. The community turns against the Qiao family, demanding their expulsion. Li Zhaodi threatens Xia Mingyu, but Xia Mingyu finally stands up for herself, physically restraining her abusive mother-in-law. When Sikong Huai arrives with Tuantuan, Xia Mingyu realizes he is the man from her wedding night. Sikong Huai admits his identity and offers to take responsibility, proposing marriage and a life in the capital. Xia Mingyu, still traumatized and suspicious, refuses his immediate embrace but agrees to let him stay and help her deal with Qiao Hongye, provided he does not reveal his paternity to the children. She demands a written guarantee to protect herself and her sons from further betrayal.