The Dai family was in uproar over Dai Weiguo’s injury, and the rumor that he had lost his fertility was rampant.
It was said that the families in their neighborhood at the XX compound had shifted their daily gossip from "Have you eaten?" to "Have you heard about the young son-in-law of the old Bai family?"
Though people were afraid to openly mock because of the Bai family’s face, there was never a shortage of private teasing.
Previously, Bai Jing had always been viewed through tinted glasses, with many suspecting that she married the twice-wedded Dai Weiguo because she knew of his infertility.
Now that the news was out, everyone looked at Bai Jing with full sympathy and admiration!
No matter the reason for their start, Bai Jing’s unwavering loyalty was enough to be admired.
Otherwise, given Bai Jing’s status and looks, she could easily divorce Dai Weiguo and find someone else. Not necessarily someone far superior in every way, but at least someone who could give her a child, ensuring she wouldn’t be left alone in old age!
Yet, Bai Jing firmly stated, "As a couple, we will be loyal and loving without doubt." This showed that they would not let their hard-won marriage end due to accidental harm. No matter how hard and challenging the future may be, the couple would weather the storm together and persist.
Liu Ye’er wrote to Shuzhen in a letter saying, "Tsk, tsk, this woman speaks beautifully! Just because of her steadfast loyalty through hardship, she managed to completely erase the stigma of intruding into someone else’s family and forcing the original wife to divorce. From being pointed at for impropriety to now being praised as a good wife by everyone, she has made an impressive turnaround.
Now, even her mother-in-law, who always criticized her quietly and was discontent with her eating well and not laying eggs, has had a complete change of attitude. Her brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and all the sisters-in-law have become even more indulgent in front of her. Already deeply doting on her, her husband has now completely abandoned any limits or principles.
Except for the fact that she’s unlikely ever to have children of her own, Miss Bai is practically a winner in life!"
Shuzhen, upon receiving the letter, felt both joy and sorrow.
More than the satisfaction of watching the scoundrel get punished, there was a faint concern.
Though the past and present lives were different, and their family’s life had drastically improved. Lian En, under the couple’s upbringing, had grown more and more sensible and polite, almost making filial piety his top priority.
Even if the gang of trash from the Dai family banded together, they might not be able to pry a crack in the solid relationship between father and son.
But, one must be cautious no matter how confident!
In the past life, she had been full of confidence, believing that her years of pampering would surely outperform the scoundrel’s financial and power advantages.
And what was the result?
Reality gave her a harsh slap!
In this life, the Dai family still had six daughters and not a single boy, and Dai Weiguo had completely lost any hope of having another child...
If they learned of Lian En’s existence, they would likely leap in like a mangy dog, unwilling to stop until they snatched the plump meat bun away.
"What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why the gloomy mood?" Finally having brought back all the red bricks to build the six rooms and courtyard wall, it was time to consider laying the foundation for next year’s house construction.
Upon entering the house, he saw Shuzhen furrowing her brows, sitting dejectedly.
Feeling distressed for her tormented look, Lianshan didn’t even bother washing his hands and face, heading straight to comfort his wife.
Pushing away the smiling face that had come close, Shuzhen fumes, "It’s you! If not for you interfering back then, I would’ve straightforwardly gotten on the operating table and ended it all, watching the family cut off their descendants, without these messy issues today."
Saying this without any hesitation, she directly handed the letter from Liu Ye’er to Lianshan.
After scanning the letter at a glance, Lianshan understood why his wife’s resentment was sky-high.
But understanding is one thing, even if he comprehends, he wouldn’t compromise in standing up for their elder son’s situation.
With a long sigh, he pulled Shuzhen into his arms, "Whatever troubles you, worries you, or makes you unhappy, throw your tantrum at your husband. A man is meant to protect his wife and children and take on responsibilities for the family. Let’s discuss everything together, and don’t get stuck in a dead end, nor blame Little Lian’en for it.
No matter how much hatred or entanglement is between us as adults, a child is innocent.
After all, birth is something beyond the choice of a child!
Lian En has been clever and well-behaved since he was little; in the entire ten-mile neighborhood, no child is more filial or smarter than him. I go places every day envied by people who say they’re not at all jealous, only jealous of me for marrying such a wonderful wife and having such an outstanding son like Lian En.
Look, he’s so great, so loveable, so please don’t say things that stab at the heart, okay?
After all, he is the one you held in your womb for ten months and he came into this world as I eagerly awaited him! Don’t take the blood ties too seriously; as the ancients said, the grace of raising exceeds the grace of birth, right? Lian En is a filial and sensible child, and he won’t disappoint us."
"I..." Shuzhen broke into sobs, "Wuuuu, I, I also know that my behavior is wrong. But as soon as I think of his biological father’s character, that person, I, I just feel a bit less fond of that child. I fear that one day, after pouring all my love into him, he will learn about his heritage and become like his scoundrel father - despising poverty and loving wealth. Not seeing our heartbreak, and leaving us, the countryside bumpkin parents, to embrace a villain as a mother for some so-called bright future!"
Seeing his wife cry so heart-wrenchingly, her tears like a river bursting its banks, Lianshan felt a sharp pain in his heart and hastily coaxed her, naturally overlooking the discordant ’again’ she mentioned in her words.
He was playing with his younger siblings, and coincidentally Yueyue wet her pants. Bringing his little sister back to change her pants, Lian En never thought that such a mundane task would lead him to overhear such shocking words.
What does it mean about his biological father’s character, that person?
Is he really not the biological child of Pappa and Mamma?
Thinking of the kids who, out of jealousy for his academic success and favoritism by the teachers, bitterly called him a bastard and were subsequently beaten terribly. Lian En felt a chill in his heart, his whole body trembling with cold: Were their words true after all?
Could it be that his Pappa, the best, best one in the world, who was most proud of him as a son, really wasn’t his biological father?
Just the thought of this possibility made Lian En feel a burning grief in his heart. Tears trickled down his eyes, scaring little Xinyue into shouting, "Waa waa waa, Mamma, Mamma, Big Brother is crying, crying!"