Hello and welcome to Conflicted, the history podcast where we talk about the struggles that

shaped us, the tough questions that they pose and why we should care about any of it.

I want to start this episode out with a huge thank you.

This is the first new episode since I launched the podcast in mid-September and I cannot tell

you how surprised and honored I've been

by the enthusiasm for the show. People from four continents have responded to this content,

and it's been a humbling and encouraging experience to receive such an outpouring of interest

and support. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you, truly. And without further ado, welcome to

Episode 6, Forbidden Children.

Thank you. 1993 1993 was the worst year of Wang Xiaolan's life.

It was the year her second daughter was born.

Xiaolan lived with her husband in a village in central China.

And like many rural Chinese at the time,

they were poor and often struggled to make ends meet. Their first daughter had only been born a little more than a year earlier, and they'd never intended to have another child so soon.

But sometimes, as we know, passions run hot and accidents happen. As the months went by and

her belly got bigger and bigger, Jowlan's mind swirled with a potent mix of hope, excitement, fear,

and dread. She and her husband had flipped a coin, and the way it landed would have far-reaching consequences

for everyone involved.

In the fall of that year, Ja'u'lan went into labor.

Surrounded by her husband and extended family, she strained and screamed, bringing a new

life into the world.

And when the dust settled, the midwife held a perfectly healthy, beautiful baby girl.

...