After all, he was a man, who would want to take on the burden another man had grown tired of and kicked aside? There was still another’s seed in that belly.
If people found out about this, wouldn’t he lose all face?
Besides, at the start, he was quite suspicious of why Director Ding and Ding Meifen would seek him out. Wouldn’t it be better to find someone without a wife, someone who could marry Meifen?
To seek him out, when he wouldn’t divorce and couldn’t marry her, what use was it?
Later, Ding Meifen kept saying she just liked him, admired his looks, and besides, she was only looking for a man to rely on without thinking of marriage. She also said there might be a chance of getting back together with the child’s father afterwards, at which time they could part on good terms. Moreover, other men didn’t have his magnanimity. As he listened to her, he gradually started to believe it.
During this time, his family, worn out by Chiang Baohe’s troubles, left Xiyun, who had suffered grievances at home, venting her anger on him, insisting that he ask his parents about splitting the household, driving him almost to the brink of collapse.
Going home meant either hearing Chiang Baohe screaming and swearing, throwing things around, or seeing the worried, wrinkled faces of his parents. Otherwise, it was his wife’s complaints and accusations, followed by his son’s crying and fussing over food and toys. He truly grew afraid and weary.
In comparison, things were much more peaceful at Ding Meifen’s place.
After Ding Meifen passed the three-month mark, her complexion improved greatly. A few years younger and much prettier than Xiyun, with a gentler nature, she was even willing to let him touch her after the baby was more settled, as long as he was gentle and careful not to cause any issues.
There, it was just the two of them, and Director Ding didn’t neglect his daughter, bringing her a bunch of things from time to time—things to eat, things to use. He could tag along in her comforts, and if he ignored the child in her belly, this kind of life made him somewhat reluctant to think of home.
Thus, Chiang Baoguo spent more and more time over there.
Fortunately, Director Ding kept his word and arranged a job for him at the factory as an accountant.
So, staying in the town didn’t require him to look for excuses; he only had to say that the factory provided him with a dormitory. After all, their factory was small, the dorms weren’t single occupancy, three people to a room—bringing family along was inconvenient. Even if Xiyun wanted to come with him, it wouldn’t work.
Furthermore, Xiyun was tied down by a slew of household chores, she simply couldn’t leave. Aside from bringing meals to the hospital, she hardly had any time to visit her husband at the factory.
And so, Chiang Baoguo settled in here quite contentedly.
"Baoguo, my dad said that I will probably have to go to the county hospital when I give birth. I was thinking Peace Town is still too small, you never know when you’ll run into someone you know. And later, with a child, I can’t always keep the child locked up at home, can I? So, after the baby is born, I was thinking of settling down in the county town. Could you come with me when the time comes?"
Chiang Baoguo was certainly willing.
"But what can I do if I go to the county town? It’s not easy to find a job there, is it?" Chiang Baoguo said, feigning difficulty.
"We have relatives in the county town; they could help us out, surely get you a respectable job," Ding Meifen said softly.
Of course, having a respectable job in the county town would be much better than in Peace Town!
Chiang Baoguo’s heart was already racing with excitement, yet he tried hard to control himself. He took Ding Meifen’s hand and said passionately, "Actually, I am definitely willing to go with you. But I’m a man, and if I don’t have a job, I’d only be spending your money, using your resources, I definitely can’t do that. If there’s a job, I can support you and the child."