Xia Dajun’s face turned a mottled red and black. “Although we just got our marriage certificate, I’ve long considered Xiaoyu my wife. Now that we’re officially married, no one can say anything. Mom, why aren’t you happy for me? Before, when people mocked me for having no son to tend my grave, didn’t you argue with the villagers on my behalf?”

Old Mrs. Xia’s expression was unnatural.

Not having a son had been her means of controlling Liu Fen and Xia Dajun.

Since Liu Fen couldn’t bear a son, she was always at a disadvantage before her mother-in-law, working like a beast of burden without daring to complain.

Without a son, her second son naturally had to obey her words too. She could still have the final say about whether to adopt one of Hongbing’s sons for her second son.

To say Old Mrs. Xia favored sons over daughters wasn’t exactly true.

If she truly favored sons, why would she love Xia Ziyu more than the others?

It was only because Xia Ziyu was the most promising at the time. Old Mrs. Xia treated Xia Ziyu well hoping for future “filial piety” – ultimately, Old Mrs. Xia loved no one but herself.

Hearing Xia Dajun’s questioning, Old Mrs. Xia came to her senses.

The eldest son’s family was finished, and Xia Ziyu had proven ungrateful.

Hongbing was her favorite youngest son, but his future remained uncertain. It would likely be her second son, Dajun, who would care for her in old age. She couldn’t risk alienating him now.

“Mother was just angry you didn’t tell me about such important matters. How far along is Xiaoyu in her pregnancy? You shouldn’t have her traveling between cities – what if something happened to my precious grandson? At your age, you should know better! Getting the marriage certificate is good though – I hear having babies in the city requires all sorts of paperwork.”

With Old Mrs. Xia’s change in attitude, Xia Dajun’s face brightened.

One must still be filial to one’s mother – he’d been doing it for so many years, that it had become a habit.

Though Xiaoyu had gradually influenced him to be less obedient to Old Mrs. Xia, he still hoped for family harmony.

The Xia Hongbing family sat dumbfounded. Xia Dajun coughed twice, “I’ll go check on Xiaoyu, her pregnancy symptoms are severe.”

What was wrong with Hongbing? His brother announces his remarriage and he can’t even offer congratulations.

While Xia Dajun went to find Xiaoyu, unaware of how depressed Xia Hongbing was. Of Xia Dajun’s marriage and Xiaoyu’s pregnancy, probably only Xia Dajun himself was truly happy.

Xia Hongbing’s mind was filled with thoughts of marriage and pregnancy – wouldn’t the three household registration spots now all go to Xia Dajun’s family of three? Even with his mother’s help, what did it have to do with him?

If even Old Mrs. Xia wouldn’t get a spot, how could he possibly get one?

Wang Jingui also sensed life would become more difficult. When Xiaoyu and Xia Dajun were involved without formal ties, she already had him under tight control. Though Xia Dajun still supported the family, he said Xia Hongbing’s father and daughter were earning their own money. While generous with living expenses, he no longer spent lavishly as when they first came to Pengcheng.

Now that Xiaoyu and Xia Dajun were married and expecting, with Xia Dajun obsessed about having a son, how much of his earnings would be available for everyone else?

Wang Jingui was irritated, especially seeing Xia Ziyu’s younger brother Xia Junbao wolfing down his food at the table. She burst out angrily: “Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you know! When your new second aunt has a son, you’ll be lucky if you’re not thrown out – forget about school!”

She particularly resented Xia Junbao.

Among all the nephews, Xia Dajun felt guilty toward Xia Changzheng’s family, believing Xia Xiaolan was responsible for both Xia Changzheng and Zhang Cui’s imprisonment. Xia Ziyu had no choice but to remain a fugitive, leaving only Xia Junbao, whom Xia Dajun kept close to care for.

Though all three nephews’ schooling in Pengcheng was arranged by Xia Dajun, Wang Jingui felt Xia Junbao was getting more than his share.

Xia Junbao didn’t dare continue eating. Old Mrs. Xia glared at Wang Jingui, “You’ve grown bold, daring to bully only Junbao. Why don’t you dare handle that little vixen?”

Deal with Xiaoyu?

Wang Jingui shrunk her neck.

Xiaoyu was skilled at manipulation – Wang Jingui wouldn’t dare touch a hair on her head.

Alas, even having Liu Fen back as her second sister-in-law would be better than this Xiaoyu.

Liu Fen would do anything without resistance and wouldn’t keep such tight control over Xia Dajun’s money.

Too bad the former second sister-in-law wouldn’t return – Wang Jingui deeply regretted this.

Xiaoyu’s morning sickness was severe; she couldn’t keep anything down that evening. Past midnight she complained of hunger, and since Xia Dajun couldn’t cook, he had to wake Wang Jingui to help.

Wang Jingui was fuming in her room.

It was one thing to serve meals for the whole family, but now she had to prepare special dishes for pregnant Xiaoyu. Everyone’s been pregnant before – who was as precious as Xiaoyu?

Though Wang Jingui grumbled, she got no support.

Xiaoyu wielded the power of impending motherhood, using the unformed life in her belly to begin tormenting the Xia family.

She wanted to make the Xia family members retreat in the face of difficulty.

In the future, only she, Xia Dajun, and their son would move into the new house – just the three of them living their own life, with all these freeloaders keeping their distance!

The next day when Xia Dajun went to report back to work, Xiaoyu insisted on seeing him off despite feeling unwell.

They’d been sharing a bed, and after getting married seemed even more inseparable. Xia Dajun was in high spirits:

“Go back early, be careful not to bump into anything.”

Xiaoyu gave a soft acknowledgment: “Brother Dajun, don’t worry about me. Mother and sister-in-law will take good care of me.”

If she felt unwell, it would mean Old Mrs. Xia and Wang Jingui hadn’t taken proper care – that the Xia family was causing her distress.

Xiaoyu smiled gently and slowly walked back after seeing Xia Dajun off.

Noticing a mark on the wall by the door, Xiaoyu’s expression changed. She grit her teeth and pretended not to see it, but was pulled into an alley by a roguish man with a fierce expression:

“The boss instructed you not to waste time with Xia Dajun – now Ah Hua is Du Zhaohui’s trusted bodyguard. You’re bold, not only ignoring the boss’s orders but even going home with Xia Dajun to get married?”

Xiaoyu had anticipated this situation. Touching her belly, she tried to stay calm:

“Not get married? What about the child in my belly? I’m three months pregnant – there’s an eighty percent chance it’s Xia Dajun’s, and twenty percent it could be yours. Boss Liu had you contact me, but you took advantage and slept with me. Now you dare criticize me… Either take me to Hong Kong and properly care for us mother and child, or I’ll live a good life with Xia Dajun and stop working for Boss Liu!”

Liu Tianquan’s subordinate was dumbfounded.

The usually timid Xiaoyu dared to speak such words.

The child in Xiaoyu’s belly might be his.

Liu Tianquan’s subordinate had his doubts. He had indeed been involved with Xiaoyu, but after Xia Dajun took her home, with so many people in the Xia household, their liaisons became inconvenient, and they’d gradually stopped meeting over the past two months.

If Xiaoyu was three months pregnant, the chances weren’t just twenty percent – it was fifty-fifty. The child was either his or Xia Dajun’s.

Among gang members, few had proper wives – mostly just temporary lovers.

Some had children, some didn’t. The one who’d gotten involved with Xiaoyu happened to be childless. Suddenly receiving such explosive news left him stunned.

Tears glistened in Xiaoyu’s eyes: “I must keep this child. Even if it’s yours, I won’t let him join the gang – he must grow up as Xia Dajun’s son!”