Part 2/13:
In rural areas such as Fujian's Changle, abandoned girls, known locally as "弃女" (abandoned daughters), became commonplace. These girls, sometimes just a few days old, were often sent to nearby cities like Putian, where they were given the generic nickname "阿乐" (A-Le), symbolizing their status as "adopted" or "warehoused." The abandonment was driven by traditional family expectations—particularly the desire for a male heir—and socioeconomic hardship, where raising girls was viewed as an economic burden.