Chapter 174 : I Don’t Want This Stepmother

Lu Jinbo’s face alternated between red and pale.  

She hurriedly denied, “No… no, I can eat anything, even tomatoes.”  

But after saying that, she seemed to realize something and asked hesitantly, “Fang Qiang, is this child yours? But the matchmaker and my dad both said you’ve never been married.”  

Shen Jinxia raised her little face proudly. “Who says you can’t have children if you’re not married?”  

Turning to Fang Qiang, she pouted, crossed her arms, and declared, “Dad, I don’t like this aunt to be my stepmother.”  

Lu Jinbo hadn’t expected this outcome. After her father spent so much time arranging this meeting and Fang Qiang finally agreed, things had turned awkward in an instant.  

Fang Qiang gently patted Shen Jinxia on the shoulder and reassured her, “Dad will always make sure you’re happy.”  

Shen Jinxia nodded, satisfied. “Alright, then.”  

Turning to Lu Jinbo, Fang Qiang said, “I’m really sorry. I don’t think we’re suitable. My daughter agrees you’re not the right match either.”  

Lu Jinbo felt conflicted. In her village, uneducated girls like her were considered “old maids” at her age, and her father had struggled to find her a suitable husband.  

Fang Qiang was perfect in her eyes good-looking, with a prosperous family and a bright future.  

Even Shen Jinxia’s clothes and shoes looked expensive. Marrying into such a family would mean a good life.  

But the idea of being a stepmother had never appealed to her.  

The food arrived, filling the air with a tempting aroma.  

Fang Qiang said, “Let’s eat first,” handing Lu Jinbo a pair of chopsticks before focusing on serving Shen Jinxia.  

Shen Jinxia ate happily. Though the food wasn’t as delicious as her mother’s cooking, it was still quite tasty.  

Meanwhile, Lu Jinbo barely touched her food, feeling uneasy throughout the meal.  

When it was over, Fang Qiang paid the bill. Shen Jinxia stretched out her arms, saying, “Dad, I’m so tired. Carry me!”  

Fang Qiang smiled and scooped her up effortlessly.  

Watching this affectionate scene, Lu Jinbo felt awkward. She thanked him stiffly, “Thank you for the meal. I… I’ll head back now.”   

Leaving the restaurant, Fang Qiang placed Shen Jinxia on the motorcycle.  

She beamed up at him, “Uncle, how was my performance today?”  

Fang Qiang gave her a thumbs-up. “You were amazing. Today wouldn’t have gone so well without Xiaxia.”  

Puffed with pride, Shen Jinxia stuck out her chest. “Then come find me next time you need help!”  

“Deal,” Fang Qiang replied, laughing.   

Before taking Shen Jinxia home, Fang Qiang stopped to buy her some treats fruit, milk powder, and other snacks.  

When they arrived, Fang Xiaoluo was already waiting at the gate of the compound. Fang Qiang handed over the gifts.  

“Thanks to Xiaxia today. These are her rewards,” Fang Qiang said.  

Fang Xiaoluo took the items and invited him inside. “Come in for a while.”  

Fang Qiang shook his head. “No, I’ll head back. I’ve already wasted too much time, and there’s still work waiting for me at home.”  

Before he left, Fang Xiaoluo asked, “So, how did your blind date go today?”  

Fang Qiang smiled and said, “Good, it’s better this way that it didn’t work out.”  

—

After returning home, Shen Jinxia couldn’t stop chattering.  

“My uncle praised me! He said I did really well and that he’ll need my help again next time something like this happens.”  

Fang Xiaoluo was curious, “So, how exactly did you help your uncle?”  

“I didn’t like that auntie, so I called my uncle ‘daddy’, and then the auntie left after dinner,” Shen Jinxia said proudly.  

Fang Xiaoluo nearly choked on her saliva. She coughed and asked, “Why didn’t you like that aunt?”  

“She lied, and people who lie aren’t good,” Shen Jinxia said firmly. “Mom, you said that children who lie will get eaten by wolves. What if she keeps lying and wolves come to eat my uncle? Then I won’t have an uncle anymore.”  

Fang Xiaoluo was stunned by Shen Jinxia’s impeccable logic. “You know what? That actually makes sense.”  

Shen Jinxia beamed with pride and jumped into Fang Xiaoluo’s arms. “Mom, I’m sleepy. Can I hold you while I sleep?”  

Fang Xiaoluo picked her up, smiling. “Alright, my little clingy girl. Let’s go change into your pajamas first.”  

Meanwhile, even before Fang Qiang made it home, word spread like wildfire in Honghe Village: Fang Qiang had taken a child to his blind date, and no one could figure out when he’d fathered a child out of wedlock.  

Whenever Zhang Xinyan or Fang Shijun ran into anyone, they’d inevitably be asked: “When did your Qiang have a kid?”  

Zhang Xinyan and Fang Shijun didn’t know what to say, they had no idea when Fang Qiang could’ve had a child either!  

When Fang Qiang finally got home, Zhang Xinyan greeted him with a barrage of questions. “Where did you get a child from? I heard that girl cried her eyes out when she got back home.”  

Fang Qiang washed his face and answered nonchalantly, “I told her many times that I didn’t want to meet her, but she insisted. You can’t blame me for that. And besides, her situation wasn’t even what the matchmaker claimed.”  

He wiped his hands and added, “I took Xiaxia with me.”  

Zhang Xinyan sighed. “Alright, fine. I won’t meddle in your business anymore. Xiaoluo’s right, children and grandchildren have their own destinies. Get married when you want. I’m done worrying about this in this life, let alone the next.”  

Fang Qiang laughed, “Mom, it’s good you’re letting go. Look, with Xiaoluo here, our family’s only going to get better. There’s a lot more to do than just getting married. Xiaoluo is leading the way, and we can’t afford to fall behind, right?”  

—

As time passed, the Mid-Autumn Festival drew closer.  

Over several days, relatives and friends visited Fang Xiaoluo’s home, bringing gifts as tokens of gratitude.  

Chen Shisong, Zhu Baojun, and Yan Mingyi came over together, carrying gifts to thank her.  

Wei Yan even showed up with a cart full of items, unloading them right at the gate of the compound.  

The living room soon became packed with gifts, including a massive pile of mooncakes.  

But what stood out most was the color TV Wei Yan brought along.  

At that time, owning a TV especially a color one, was a luxury. Even black-and-white TVs were considered precious. A 14-inch color TV cost a whopping 2,000 yuan, and having the money wasn’t enough. You also needed a rare TV purchase ticket.  

Even with the ticket, getting your hands on a TV meant waiting in a long queue due to limited supply.  

“Wei Yan, I’ll accept everything else, but I can’t take this TV,” Fang Xiaoluo said firmly, repeatedly declining.  

Wei Yan smiled and explained, “My brother gave me the ticket, and I bought two. My family already has one, so I don’t have anywhere else to send this one.”  

As he spoke, he carried the TV into the house. “Besides, Xiaoluo, you’ve introduced me to so many jobs. I owe you this much at the very least. If I don’t show my gratitude, I’ll feel guilty. Plus, my wife told me that if I don’t give this TV away today, she won’t let me into the house tonight. Xiaoluo, please, don’t make me sleep outside.”