Chapter 75 : No more descendants

“She hurt my son, and you want to let it go? Guoliang, this is your biological child!” Jiang Hongmei couldn’t believe Zhuang Guoliang’s indifference. She was already carrying his child, their bloodline.  

The argument between them grew louder, waking Zhuang Xiaobao and Zhuang Xiaoyu. Zhuang Xiaoyu hugged her frightened younger brother, and the two huddled in a corner.  

Zhuang Xiaoyu’s face was full of worry and unease. She had overheard villagers gossiping: ‘If you have a stepmother and if the stepmother has her own child, what happens to you?’  

She leaned closer to her brother and whispered, “Xiaobao, if that woman gives birth to a baby brother, Father won’t love us anymore.”  

Xiaobao blinked, confused. “You’re lying. Father said he loves me the most.”  

“Once there’s a baby brother, your boiled eggs will go to him. Father won’t give you candy or play horsey with you. We’ll be left begging on the streets!”  

Frightened by this prospect, Xiaobao said, “I don’t want a brother! I don’t want a stepmother either!”  

Zhuang Xiaoyu seized the moment. “If you listen to me, I promise there won’t be a baby brother. You just need to bump your head into her belly. Then she won’t have the baby anymore.”  

Without hesitation, Xiaobao leaped off the bed, ran to Jiang Hongmei, and rammed his head into her stomach.  

Jiang Hongmei, who was in the middle of berating Zhuang Guoliang, didn’t notice Xiaobao charging toward her. The blow struck her hard, and she felt an excruciating pain, as if something was tearing away inside her. “My stomach! My stomach!” she screamed.  

Zhuang Guoliang jumped to his feet, his face pale. He stared at Xiaobao, who stood frozen and biting his lip. “Xiaobao, what are you doing?”  

“Jiang Hongmei! Jiang Hongmei!” Zhuang Guoliang shouted, panicking.  

—

The night passed in chaos. By morning, Jiang Li heard shocking news.  

“Jiang Hongmei lost her child,” someone said.  

She was taken aback. “Didn’t they say yesterday that the baby was saved?”  

Aunt Geng stood at the door and sighed. “It was. But last night, I heard there was sudden heavy bleeding, and she miscarried.”  

As Jiang Li processed this, Zhuang Xiaoyu and Xiaobao were quietly sneaking out, hand in hand. Zhuang Xiaoyu looked uneasy. She hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. She was terrified of the consequences.  

Pulling Xiaobao aside, she whispered, “Xiaobao, listen carefully. You said you didn’t want the stepmother to have a baby brother, remember? That’s what you’ll say when Grandma asks. If you agree, I’ll give you all my candies.”  

The mention of candy made Xiaobao nod eagerly. Zhuang Xiaoyu let out a breath of relief. No matter what trouble Xiaobao caused, Grandma always took his side.  

Suddenly, a sharp, anguished scream pierced the air.  

Jiang Hongmei stumbled out of the house barefoot, her hair in disarray, clutching a jagged piece of broken porcelain. “Where’s Zhuang Xiaobao? I’ll kill him!”  

Zhuang Xiaoyu froze as Jiang Hongmei’s furious eyes locked on her. She instinctively pushed Xiaobao forward and stepped back.  

Before anyone could intervene, Jiang Hongmei grabbed Xiaobao and pressed the sharp porcelain to his neck. Xiaobao’s cries rang out, filling the courtyard.  

Zhao Xiangyu ran out, horrified. “Jiang Hongmei, let Xiaobao go! Are you crazy? He’s just a child!”  

Jiang Hongmei’s eyes were wild. “He killed my son! He has to pay with his life!”  

Zhao Xiangyu’s voice shook with fury. “Your son died because of your bad luck, not Xiaobao! How could a child so young hurt anyone?”  

“Besides, who knows if that child is even Guoliang’s? It might just be a bastard!”  

“Let Xiaobao go, or I’ll call the militia!” Zhao Xiangyu shouted anxiously.  

Jiang Hongmei was on the verge of breaking down. The child she had painstakingly conceived was now being doubted. She turned to Zhuang Guoliang with wide, teary eyes. “Do you think the same? That my child isn’t yours?”  

Zhuang Guoliang’s face was grim. He didn’t have any affection left for this woman, but Xiaobao was still in her grasp. Afraid to provoke her further, he kept his voice calm. “Put Xiaobao down first.”  

Jiang Hongmei’s rage exploded. “Zhuang Guoliang! Are you even a man? Someone pushed your pregnant wife, and you didn’t say a word! Now, you and your child have conspired to kill me and my unborn baby. I’ll make sure your family has no descendants!”  

She raised the jagged porcelain shard in her hand, slashing wildly. Warm blood splattered on the faces of the onlookers. Zhuang Xiaobao’s throat emitted a gurgling sound as blood dripped from his neck.  

“Xiaobao!” Zhao Xiangyu’s cry pierced the air.  

Zhuang Guoliang reacted instantly, kicking Jiang Hongmei away. She crumpled to the ground, laughing maniacally. “I’ll make the Zhuang family pay! I’ll bury my child with your bloodline.”  

“Quick, take him to the hospital! Call Doctor Liu!”  

Liu Lixin arrived and examined Xiaobao’s wound. “What a mess. Luckily, the aorta wasn’t injured.” He quickly treated the injury and stopped the bleeding.  

Zhao Xiangyu cradled Xiaobao in her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “My poor child, my heart is broken.”  

Furious, Zhuang Guoliang grabbed Jiang Hongmei and began to beat her without mercy.  

“Fourth son, what are you waiting for? Take this woman to the commune!” Zhao Xiangyu shouted.  

Jiang Hongmei glared up at Zhuang Guoliang, her voice venomous. “If you send me there, I’ll report your entire family. We’ll all go down together!”  

Before she could say another word, Zhuang Guoliang silenced her by covering her mouth roughly.  

The entire family stood in stunned silence, helpless against Jiang Hongmei’s threats.  

Cheng Yanyan cowered behind Zhuang Er, her legs trembling. She whispered, “If Guoliang hadn’t held her down, it could have been me she stabbed today.”  

Nearby, Gao Xiuqin covered her children’s ears, murmuring to Zhuang San. “We need to divide the family property tomorrow.. There’s bloodshed in this house every day. If Yingzi or Zhuzi gets hurt one day, I won’t survive it!”  

Her words shook Zhuang San from his daze.  

“Don’t cry, wife. I’ll talk about dividing the family tomorrow,” he said, his resolve firming.  

—

Meanwhile, Jiang Li was entirely unaware of the Zhuang family drama. She had gone into the city early to shop for wedding items with Qin Xiaoting.  

The wedding was set for two weeks later, just before winter. Qin Xiaoting, unfazed by the idea of becoming a bride, was cheerfully picking items at the supply and marketing cooperative.  

“Salesman, can I see that pillowcase with the mandarin ducks playing in the water?” she called out.  

Turning to Jiang Li, she asked, “Do you think it’s pretty?”  

Jiang Li nodded. “It’s nice, but the styles are a bit simple. Why not check out the department store?”  

“I went there a couple of days ago. The stuff is nice, but way too expensive! I’ll just buy this one.”  

Qin Xiaoting handed over the money with a big smile. “Liu Lixin gave me fifty yuan to buy things for the wedding. He wanted to come along, but I told him no. It’s not like I’ve never shopped before!”