A man would surely be furious if he were cuckolded.

But to cuckold another man and have him raise your child – that satisfaction was beyond words.

If the child was his, taking it to Hong Kong was impossible – Liu Tianquan would kill him outright.

Even if Liu Tianquan spared him, life in the gang was extremely dangerous.

You could be wearing gold chains, eating meat and drinking wine, embracing women in the morning, then end up dead in the street by evening, with no one to claim your body. If the child was his, letting the Xia family raise it wasn’t a bad option.

The man grabbed Xiaoyu’s neck. “Whether it’s my child or not, if the boss orders your past exposure to Xia Dajun, whether he’ll still want you isn’t my responsibility.”

Xiaoyu stamped her foot angrily: “That’s my business! I won’t work for Liu Tianquan anymore. That fat miser is too stingy – working for him isn’t as good as working for Du Zhaohui. Look how he kept Xia Dajun’s benefits even after removing him. One’s a mistress’s brother, the other the Du family’s eldest young master – what future do you have following Liu Tianquan? Better to work for Du Zhaohui.”

Du Zhaohui was indeed generous.

He had always been wealthy, never lacking money since childhood, and didn’t mind spending on useful people.

Liu Tianquan was a miser because the Liu family was poor. He hadn’t risen far in the gang, only gaining status when his sister Liu Keying seduced Du Chengrong. Liu Tianquan desperately hoarded money through Liu Keying, treating wealth as paramount.

The man was almost swayed by Xiaoyu but quickly shivered:

“You know nothing, all hair and no brains. Traitors don’t survive in our world. The boss is now highly valued by Chairman Du – who knows who’ll win in the Du family affairs!”

Currently, the eldest young master was ahead, but the second young master had risen remarkably this year, showing potential to surpass him.

But Liu Tianquan’s fourth branch might not lose.

In the struggle between the eldest and second young masters, the fourth branch might benefit.

After all, Fourth Madam Liu Keying was still Chairman Du’s most beloved.

Liu Tianquan’s subordinate pushed Xiaoyu: “I almost fell for your words. Good luck to you – hope the boss is too busy to remember you!”

The man left as quickly as he’d arrived.

Xiaoyu leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

She had been terrified.

Touching her belly, she knew it didn’t matter whose child it was – it was hers.

She understood the man’s meaning – he wouldn’t stir trouble with Liu Tianquan, and might even cover for her. Liu Tianquan was in Hong Kong and might be too busy to deal with her now.

By the time she had the baby, Xiaoyu wouldn’t fear Liu Tianquan exposing her past.

Given the chance, she could charm any man!

Now Xiaoyu sincerely hoped Du Zhaohui would win the Du family inheritance struggle. If Du Zhaohui won, Xia Dajun would benefit somehow.

If Du Zhaohui lost, Xia Dajun would surely lose his high-paying job.

As for Xia Xiaolan, she’d deal with her after securing her position in the Xia family and handling these annoying family members first. Xiaoyu held her waist as she walked back slowly, seeing Wang Jingui had returned from shopping and was cleaning fish at the well.

In Pengcheng, being coastal, common sea fish was cheap – eating seafood was more economical than meat.

Xiaoyu covered her mouth, keeping her distance:

“Sister-in-law, I can’t stand the fish smell now, it makes me vomit. Are you deliberately trying to keep me from eating?”

Wang Jingui wanted to throw the fish in Xiaoyu’s face.

“Oh? Wasn’t it roast goose that made you vomit last night?”

Xiaoyu blinked, “What can I do? Today fish smell makes me nauseous too. Sister-in-law, better buy me some roast meat – I suddenly want that.”

Wang Jingui suppressed her anger and walked far under the sun to buy roast meat, only for Xiaoyu to vomit profusely at the smell.

When Xia Dajun returned from work, Xiaoyu was teary-eyed, saying she couldn’t eat all day, implying Wang Jingui’s cooking was bad and the baby rejected it.

“Dajun, why not hire someone who can cook? Maybe different cooking would help. I feel bad troubling sister-in-law – she’s already busy cooking for everyone, and now has to accommodate a pregnant woman’s tastes.”

Old Mrs. Xia nearly jumped up.

Ignore the free daughter-in-law’s labor and hire a nanny? This little vixen!

How presumptuous!

Wang Jingui looked confused, not yet understanding Xiaoyu’s scheme, actually believing Xiaoyu was being considerate.

Old Mrs. Xia firmly opposed, and Xia Dajun was undecided, so the matter was temporarily shelved.

That evening, Old Mrs. Xia finally understood, pulling Wang Jingui outside:

“You fool, you cook at home for free room and board. If she brings in a nanny, you won’t even have cooking work. Hongbing’s father and daughter work at construction sites for wages. You save your earnings while living on Dajun’s money – he didn’t mind, but this vixen wants to drive you out!”

Old Mrs. Xia was selfish – no one could truly warm her heart.

She never trusted Xiaoyu’s two-faced behavior from the start.

She just didn’t like these soft, weak enchantresses!

Selfish people easily understand each other’s schemes, and Old Mrs. Xia, despite her crooked face, understood Xiaoyu’s calculations.

Wang Jingui was shocked: “This woman is too wicked!”

Oh heavens, she regretted rushing to scold Liu Fen before – without getting Liu Fen back, the whole family would be hopeless.

Liu Fen was easier to bully – Wang Jingui increasingly missed her formerly docile sister-in-law.

Was remarriage impossible?

Divorced women don’t remarry easily. Wang Jingui wanted to pray at temples, just hoping Liu Fen would return to the Xia family. Maybe Liu Fen regretted it now – if only they could contact her!

…

In Beijing.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t know her third aunt’s “longing” for her mother was becoming unbearable.

She would have found it amusing if she knew.

While Xiaoyu marrying Xia Dajun made Xia Xiaolan uncomfortable, it guaranteed the Xia family’s future would be quite “interesting.”

Now Xia Xiaolan faced another interesting situation.

Yuan Han had indeed struck while the iron was hot, following Zhou Yi home.

If Yuan Han moved quickly, Zhou Cheng would only move faster.

Seeing his daughter bring Yuan Han home, Zhou Wenbing was deeply disappointed in Zhou Yi: “Fool, completely deceived, bringing home any stray cat or dog.”

Zhou Wenbing was mentally prepared – disappointment aside, someone like him wouldn’t lack basic composure.

His wife couldn’t bear the shock. After Zhou Yi introduced Yuan Han’s situation, her mother lost all dignity, pointing at the door and yelling at Zhou Yi:

“Zhou Yi, either he leaves, or you leave with him – choose!”

How would Zhou Yi choose?

Yuan Han told Zhou Yi to stay, but Zhou Yi instead took his hand and left together.

Zhou Yi’s mother couldn’t handle this, collapsing immediately and being rushed to the hospital that night.

Ah, can’t blame Elder Aunt’s temper this time – if Xia Xiaolan were in Elder Aunt’s position, she’d be furious too. Thinking this way, Guan Hui’e really showed good composure – though she disliked her then, she hadn’t been angry enough to need hospitalization.

“How is Elder Aunt doing? Is she stable now?”