Some people find being a dog more comfortable than being human.

This is purely a personal choice.

Wang Jianhua lost his job, became a live-in son-in-law, and had to grudgingly acknowledge an illegitimate child.

No one knew what Du Chengrong had instructed Xia Junbao, but he stayed in Beijing with the child, saying he wanted to watch his little nephew grow up… The entire residential compound knew that Director Zhang’s son-in-law had fooled around with women outside and even fathered a child!

Director Zhang’s daughter was magnanimous enough to accept the illegitimate child.

Someone spread rumors that the Zhang family’s acceptance of the child was just a temporary measure and that they would eventually harm the child’s life while in their care.

Why else would the child’s uncle refuse to leave?

Without someone watching, the Zhang family might harm the child.

When Director Zhang heard these rumors, he was nearly beside himself with anger and became increasingly harsh and disgusted with Wang Jianhua.

Heaven knows, Director Zhang wasn’t that evil. True, he didn’t like the child – what father-in-law would like his son-in-law’s illegitimate child? But to say he would heartlessly kill Wang Jianhua’s illegitimate child – he wasn’t that kind of person. Now with such rumors circulating, the Zhang family had to take extra care in raising this child. They wouldn’t dare let anything happen to him, or they’d never be able to clear their name even though they’d done nothing wrong.

Director Zhang deeply realized he had fallen for the Wang family’s evil scheme. He had misjudged both his old friend Wang Guangping and that worthless son-in-law Wang Jianhua.

Another thing troubled Director Zhang: shortly after the child entered his home, the Family Planning Office and Residents’ Committee came knocking.

They couldn’t raise the child without proper documentation – he needed a household registration.

If they declared him as Wang Jianhua’s child, it would use up Wang Jianhua and Director Zhang’s daughter’s within-marriage birth quota. They wouldn’t be able to have more children without violating family planning policies!

While Wang Jianhua had lost his job, Director Zhang’s daughter hadn’t.

Violating family planning policies meant certain dismissal from public service…

Director Zhang wanted to kick Wang Jianhua out of the Zhang family, considering finding a new son-in-law for the first time.

Wang Jianhua had no say in anything now. He was merely an unpaid servant in the Zhang household. A grown man with a university degree – even if dismissed from his job, couldn’t he make a living somewhere else? He only slunk back to Beijing seeking his father-in-law’s protection because he feared Du Chengrong’s revenge if left alone.

For this protection, he chose to stay spineless in the Zhang family.

Having given up his dignity, the Zhang family naturally ordered him around as they pleased. Wang Jianhua handled all the household chores, inside and out – cooking, laundry, mopping – living as pathetically as possible!

Occasionally, Xia Junbao would appear mysteriously calling him “Brother-in-law,” making Wang Jianhua’s days an endless torment!

Though furious, Director Zhang had to arrange an identity for Wang Jianhua’s illegitimate child. Finally, they registered the child under a distant Zhang relative’s household, claiming he was someone else’s child being fostered by the Zhang family.

Director Zhang still held his position, so others gave him some face.

Though everyone knew the truth about the child, they turned a blind eye to Director Zhang’s arrangement.

Was the bomb defused?

No!

The bomb was temporarily contained. No one in the Zhang family liked Wang Jianhua, and neither did Xia Junbao. With Xia Junbao staying in Beijing, the child would eventually learn about his origins, and Wang Jianhua would never know peace!

Director Zhang’s daughter had no intention of bearing Wang Jianhua’s children.

Since Wang Jianhua gave her an illegitimate child, she would make sure he experienced being cuckolded.

She wouldn’t bear Wang Jianhua’s children, but she would make her children call Wang Jianhua “father.” After all, any child born from her would be a Zhang, regardless of the biological father.

She wouldn’t even hide it from Wang Jianhua!

What could Wang Jianhua say even if he knew?

A spineless, worthless man deserved to be a willing cuckold!

If Luo Yaozong were here, he would surely advise Wang Jianhua: never underestimate women, never bully them – the more honest a woman seems, the more terrifying she becomes when she turns dark!

Xia Xiaolan could easily guess Wang Jianhua’s fate.

Wang Jianhua’s destiny was completely altered.

The once-promising Wang Jianhua would never be seen again; from now on, he was just another worthless man.

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t even deliberately sought revenge, yet Wang Jianhua had already destroyed himself.

Who had led Wang Jianhua to become like this?

Was it entirely Xia Ziyu’s fault?

Perhaps not.

Everyone faces countless choices in life. At each crossroad, turning in different directions and meeting different people changes one’s fate.

Without a firm character, even someone destined to be a protagonist can fall to become a pathetic supporting character if they make the wrong choice at a crucial crossroads.

…

That night, Wang Jianhua had a long, strange dream:

He dreamed of his time as a sent-down youth in Dahe Village, Anqing County.

The Xia family in the village had three granddaughters, one named Xia Xiaolan, was alluring in appearance but fiery in temperament.

He couldn’t help being attracted to Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan also had feelings for him.

But Xia Xiaolan was competitive and wouldn’t marry a poor sent-down youth who couldn’t return to the city.

“My man must have the capability! If you don’t have what it takes, don’t stand in my way of finding someone who does!”

Those words were too direct.

In the dream, he refused to accept this and wanted to pluck the most beautiful flower in the village.

The only way to change their situation was to enter university!

He studied hard for a year and got admitted to Capital Normal University, just like in reality. The day he received his admission letter, he brought it to Xia Xiaolan:

“Is this accomplished enough?”

In the dream, Xia Xiaolan wore two big braids, her chest straining against her loose clothing, her pretty face both coquettish and fierce. She snatched the admission letter, examined it carefully, and then tossed it back to him:

“Not bad, barely qualified to be my boyfriend!”

How proud this girl was – a university student was precious, yet only barely qualified to be her boyfriend?

But clearly, this was exactly what Wang Jianhua liked.

When this man liked a woman, her being gentle was right, but being fierce wasn’t wrong either.

Anyway, once the admission letter arrived, they officially became a couple.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for Wang Jianhua to report to school. He thought he would have to maintain a long-distance relationship with Xia Xiaolan, but she packed her things and followed right behind him, saying she would also go to Beijing.

“I’m going to study, what are you following me for?”

“You’re my man, wherever you go, I follow. When I get to Beijing, you’ll have to find a way to support me. If I can’t even eat my fill, then you’re a useless university student!”

Xia Xiaolan spoke with conviction; whatever came out of her mouth, even if not entirely reasonable, was said with complete confidence.

Who could blame her when she was so beautiful?

Wang Jianhua knew this woman wasn’t joking. If he couldn’t support her in Beijing, she might dump him and find a more capable man.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t being unrealistic. Though she was a village girl, she had an extremely pretty face. Older people might find her improper, but young men liked improper girls!