People who love gossip never change their nature – that’s just how Big River Village was. While hoping to get benefits from Xia Dajun, they still discussed his and Xiao Yu’s premarital pregnancy.
Everyone was curious about the background of Xiao Yu, the new bride. However, Xiao Yu rarely spoke, refusing to say much no matter how they asked.
After spending two days in the hospital safeguarding her pregnancy, Xiao Yu left Anqing with Xia Dajun and returned to their hometown in Hedong County. The two counties were adjacent, which made things convenient. Xia Dajun, carrying various packages, nervously went to the Fan family to propose marriage.
The Fan family hadn’t expected their daughter, who left without saying goodbye, would ever return. When Xiao Yu got involved with Fan Zhenchuan, her former fiancé caused a scene, bringing great shame to the Fan family. They had assumed their daughter was dead somewhere!
However, now Xiao Yu returned saying she was getting married. Though Xia Dajun looked a generation older than her, he had a proper job. With Xiao Yu already pregnant, the Fan family didn’t dare to be picky about Xia Dajun’s condition – they knew all too well about their daughter’s reputation.
They didn’t give Xia Dajun any trouble, quickly helping to arrange Xiao Yu’s documentation. Let her get married and become the Xia family’s problem instead!
Because of these unspeakable reasons, getting the documentation in Hedong County went more smoothly than Xia Dajun expected. He kept saying how nice Xiao Yu’s parents were.
Holding their fresh marriage certificate, Xiao Yu felt relieved: “Brother Dajun, they didn’t give you trouble because I’m pregnant. Premarital pregnancy isn’t a good reputation – please don’t look down on me in the future.”
Xia Dajun was overjoyed, “What nonsense are you talking about? We’re now legally married. You’re bearing a son for me, Xia Dajun – how could I look down on you!”
The newlyweds experienced some novelty, and even Xiao Yu’s gaze toward Xia Dajun carried more sincerity. Perhaps having a stable life with Xia Dajun wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Though Xiao Yu was ready to leave after getting married, Father Fan’s 50th birthday was in two days. As the new son-in-law, Xia Dajun had to make a good impression by celebrating his father-in-law’s birthday.
With money, everything became easier. He gave several hundred yuan to Mother Fan – what kind of respectable birthday banquet couldn’t be arranged with that?
Xia Dajun took Xiao Yu shopping in Hedong County. While Xiao Yu kept her head down, trying to stay inconspicuous, Xia Dajun, completely misreading his wife’s mood, took her to the department store: “Pick out a new outfit first. The styles here aren’t great, but we can buy more when we return to Pengcheng.”
In high spirits from his good fortune, Xia Dajun was extremely generous with money.
Xiao Yu casually selected an outfit from the counter, and Xia Dajun picked out sets for both her parents as well.
How many department stores were there in Hedong County?
Liu Fang happened to work right there. At first, she wasn’t sure if she recognized Xia Dajun, having only seen her former brother-in-law a few times. But she couldn’t mistake Xiao Yu – wasn’t she Fan Zhenchuan’s former maid?
The maid who had an affair with Fan Zhenchuan and angered his original wife to death. Fan Zhenchuan’s mother always hated her – if not for wanting to drive Xiao Yu away, Auntie Fan wouldn’t have rushed to find a young and beautiful wife for Fan Zhenchuan.
Liu Fang tentatively called out “Xia Dajun,” and he turned around. He could recognize Liu Fang.
Naturally – back then, Liu Fang had married a government official and carried herself quite proudly at her maiden home!
“Xiaolan’s aunt, what are you doing here?”
Liu Fang chuckled, “I thought I had the wrong person. You two are…”
Xia Dajun pulled Xiao Yu closer, “We just got married, we’re here buying some things.”
Xia Dajun didn’t know about Liu Fang’s poor relationship with Xia Xiaolan. To him, Liu Fang was from the Liu family, and he didn’t want to appear weak before them. He even felt somewhat smug – Liu Fen wouldn’t remarry him, yet he married the young and beautiful Xiao Yu. Liu Fen wanted to remarry but couldn’t find anyone suitable, having previously been involved with that clothing store man. If he could marry someone as young as Xiao Yu, could that clothing store owner who was younger than Liu Fen marry her?
Xia Dajun married Xiao Yu!
Liu Fang wanted to laugh out loud.
She wasn’t happy for Liu Fen or Xia Xiaolan – she was purely gloating. That loose woman Xiao Yu had become Xia Xiaolan’s stepmother. If Xia Xiaolan found out, she’d probably be furious enough to die.
If Xia Xiaolan was upset, Liu Fang was delighted!
Xiao Yu stood stiffly, wondering how she could have such bad luck running into Liang Bingan’s wife. Liu Fang knew her background and was Xia Xiaolan’s aunt – Xiao Yu feared Liu Fang would expose her past.
Unexpectedly, Liu Fang just smiled at her without saying anything.
Xiao Yu quickly pulled Xia Dajun away, “Brother Dajun, I’m not feeling well. Should we head back?”
Xia Dajun belatedly realized he shouldn’t have talked with Liu Fen’s sister in front of Xiao Yu – no wonder she was unhappy.
He no longer wanted to show off and worried Xiao Yu might affect her pregnancy.
“Xiaolan’s aunt, I have to go!”
Liu Fang held back her laughter as she watched Xia Dajun carefully supporting Xiao Yu as they left. What was that belly-touching about – was she pregnant? That fool Xia Dajun probably had no idea what kind of loose woman Xiao Yu was.
Xia Dajun’s misfortune and Xia Xiaolan’s distress kept Liu Fang gleeful all day.
She was still smiling when she returned home after work, puzzling Liang Bingan.
“Did you find money today?”
By now, Liu Fang had accepted the reality of Liang Bingan staying idle at home. With both a son and daughter to their name, and Liang Bingan no longer cursing at every turn, the couple’s relationship had gradually improved.
“You’ll never guess who I saw today!”
Liu Fang tried to create suspense, but Liang Bingan ignored her. Unable to contain herself, she told him about Xia Dajun and Xiao Yu’s marriage:
“How unlucky is my second sister? Xia Dajun seems to have made his fortune, spending generously shopping with Fan Zhenchuan’s maid. Of all people, he had to choose Fan Zhenchuan’s maid.”
Liang Bingan froze, then flew into a rage:
“You’re truly as stupid as a pig! Look at your second sister’s current situation – are you laughing at her? No matter how well Xia Dajun is doing, will he spend money on you? As for your second sister, though she was angry with us before, there was still room for reconciliation!”
The man who visited the Liu family during New Year – Liang Bingan still hadn’t discovered his identity.
But Director Fang from Anqing County did indeed visit, just as the people from Seven Wells Village said. Director Fang didn’t even enter the main gate, standing in the cold wind outside.
Did it matter whether this high-ranking official person talked about the man Liu Fen was seeing?
The point was that the Liu family had connected with such an important figure who was willing to associate with them. Later, when Liang Bingan swallowed his pride and went to Seven Wells Village, he came up empty-handed.
He kept thinking about this matter, but unfortunately, Liu Fen and Xia Xiaolan weren’t in Yunan, nor was Liu Yong. Now only Li Fengmei remained, running the clothing store in Shangdu. Liang Bingan kept urging Liu Fang to frequent Blue Phoenix, insisting she maintain good relations with Li Fengmei.
Li Fengmei strongly disliked Liu Fang, rebuffing her every time. After several attempts, Liu Fang didn’t want to go anymore.
Liang Bingan was exasperated – what’s wrong with enduring some cold remarks when you need someone’s help? As a man, he couldn’t keep pestering Li Fengmei himself. If it were him going, even if stones fell from the sky or knives covered the ground, nothing could stop him from mending relationships.
“Do this – whether your second sister knows about this or not, go to Shangdu and tell Aunt Huanhuan. I know you don’t like being a sales clerk at the department store, but do you think I want you to work in public? Whether our family can return to our former lifestyle depends on whether your second sister and niece get over their anger!”