With a plan in mind, Lianshan’s previously anxious heart gradually calmed down. Until Shuzhen led him all the way to her room at the guesthouse, she didn’t show the slightest intention of calling Brother Liu over to tidy up or opening the doors and windows: "Uh, Shuzhen sister, should we still call Brother Liu over? Otherwise, maybe open the doors and windows?"
Hmph, it’s really not that he had impure thoughts. It’s just that in these times, conduct is scrutinized so strictly that even the slightest rumor could lead to a huge series of disasters.
Lianshan himself, being a big man, didn’t mind, but he was afraid of implicating Shuzhen!
The man’s thoughts seemed to be written right on his face, always easily seen through by Shuzhen. Seeing him still concerned about her feelings and reputation even in this situation, Shuzhen couldn’t help but feel a warmth in her heart. Still, thinking about what she needed to do next, she forced herself to suppress the corners of her mouth from lifting, making an effort to look serious and accusing: "Now you consider my reputation, but what were you doing when you pretended to be my man and held my hand earlier?"
"This... this, this, I, I... I was also doing it for your own good!" The honest man blushed, stammering before finally squeezing out this sentence. To support his younger brother and sister, he would go into the mountains to hunt, dive into the water to fish, working as if one person were three. Anyone who dared to bully his younger brother and sister would find him ready to fight to the death if needed. Lianshan was fearless! Mentioning him would invite thumbs-up and praises like "good man" and "real man."
Being the support for his younger siblings, young Lianshan forced himself to become courageous and strong, gradually developing this fearless and tough character. Now even the biggest hooligans wouldn’t dare provoke him easily, and when he frowned, he could scare a bunch of naughty kids to tears. For many years, he didn’t know what fear was, but in front of Shuzhen, he lost all his courage.
Afraid of her being upset or shedding tears, her little face would instantly make his words incoherent from fear. Clearly, she barely reached his chin, and her petite frame looked like the wind could blow her away. No matter how fierce she might be, she couldn’t withstand him with one hand! Yet such a frail little woman overwhelmed him into honest submission, with no thought of resistance. All he thought was as long as she didn’t cry or get mad, he’d do whatever she wished. After all, how shameful is it for a man to argue with a woman?
Thinking so, Lianshan actually felt a bit disdainful of himself.
They had been through all kinds of weird experiences along the way. If they had stuck to the adage "a good man doesn’t argue with women," how would they have survived those times when you had to risk your life to feed yourself?
Clearly, this demeanor was nonsense; he felt it was more like being bewitched by Shuzhen. Naturally considering her in everything, just seeing her purse her lips would make him laugh heartily for a long time. Although they had lived in the same village, they hardly had any interactions in the past. In fact, they hadn’t even spoken properly before he fished her out of the river the other morning.
Seeing the foolish man’s embarrassed scratching at his ear and cheek, Shuzhen found it quite funny. So steely in front of others but so shy and bashful under her gaze, with a natural loyalty without needing to be taught—she liked it! She wanted to claim him as her own as soon as possible, quickly, immediately, right now! Otherwise, she might find herself crying when someone else with an eye for treasure sees him.
Seeing him blushing , clearly not uninterested in her, Shuzhen’s doubts vanished, replaced by firm resolve. After all, when a man and a woman have mutual feelings, anything besides a little maneuver should not be considered malicious. At most, it’s just aiding the flame, helping their little spark of love take root and grow faster and better, sooner becoming a towering tree.
With that thought and intention, Shuzhen seamlessly switched from a questioning demeanor to a teary, aggrieved channel. Her almond-shaped eyes glistened with tears, looking mistily at Lianshan: "For my own good, you ruined my big plan, did you know that? I cried so much just to arrive at today’s decision, jumped through so many hoops to get a referral from Lin Yuanzhi and persuade that obstetrics director to perform the surgery for me?
And now, with everything prepared, I was just about to go onto the operating table. But then you came in with a veto, saying no, not doing it, wasting all my efforts!"
"Yes, yes, yes, Shuzhen sister, don’t cry. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have pretended to be your man and hurt your reputation, but I really did it for your own good! Even the doctor said your constitution isn’t good and it’s particularly risky to push through with surgery. Knowing there was danger, even if you blamed me, I had to hold you back, didn’t I?"
Life was at stake, especially hers, so no matter how cowardly he felt inside, Lianshan was certainly not going to back down: "I know Dai Weiguo is untrustworthy, turned into a heartless traitor making your heart cold, and with it, a eagerly anticipated child became a burden. If you honestly didn’t want him, after he was born, we could send him to Beijing, off to the Dai family for upbringing. Why insist on an abortion, risking losing your life and the ability to have more children?
What if, what if something bad happened, and you could never have children again, wouldn’t you regret it later?"
Although talking about abortion and childbirth was unbearably awkward for a big man like him with a woman, to dispel this stubborn thought from this stubborn woman, Lianshan had to grit his teeth and ignore all that.
All right, Lianshan hit the nail on the head, rendering Shuzhen speechless for a long moment, collapsing the determination and confidence she’d struggled so hard to build, forgetting even her act all the way up to the clouds.
Those words were really damn unpleasant! Just imagining the possibility made her whole body ache in fear. In her past life, being heartlessly hurt by that ungrateful child, Shuzhen was resolute in refusing to give birth to him, giving him another chance to hurt her and her husband.
Nor was she keen to see Dai Weiguo, the immoral man, experience the sorrow, regret, and despair upon knowing that her only son was thoroughly dealt with using the money from him and his true love, Bai Jing. Isn’t it greatly satisfying and gratifying to know they themselves became executors of their own lineage’s end?
But if such a result came at the cost of her ability to bear children, depriving her of the chance to have five smart and filial children with Brother Lianshan...
Shuzhen felt all her previously unwavering determinations had gone to the dogs. It was just an ingrate after all! Why not give birth? Just deliver and send him off to the Dai family; let the heartless man, the white lotus, and the ungrateful child hurt each other without disturbing her family’s happiness!