Chapter 13: Dowry

As Xiao Miaomiao stepped out, she saw Ouyang Xuan waiting at the door. She looked at her awkwardly and said, “Auntie.”

Ouyang Xuan frowned and looked at Xiao Miaomiao unhappily, “Did the dowry I gave you expire so quickly? Yesterday you were calling me Mom, and today you’re calling me Auntie?”

“No, Mom,” Xiao Miaomiao quickly corrected herself.

“That’s right. I’ve always wanted a sweet and lovely daughter, and your arrival has fulfilled that wish for me.” Ouyang Xuan held her hand and said.

Although Ouyang Xuan found it hard to speak, she still asked, “Miaomiao, did you… you know… with Jingcheng last night?”

Ouyang Xuan looked at Xiao Miaomiao nervously, “I don’t mean anything else, I’m just asking. I understand that you might not be ready so quickly, take your time, we’re not in a hurry.”

She was worried that Xiao Miaomiao might think she was urging her to get pregnant soon, and that it might put psychological pressure on her, so she quickly explained.

Xiao Miaomiao was indeed a little embarrassed, but she could understand. After all, her duty after marrying into the Li family was clear: to give them a son and a daughter.

Xiao Miaomiao didn’t think much of it.

“Mom, I already consummated the marriage with Li Jingcheng last night. The medicine worked well, but I’m worried it might hurt him. Besides, my body is fine. This is my medical report, I got it checked a few days ago. I’m very healthy.” Xiao Miaomiao showed Li Mom the medical report she had taken a picture of on her phone.

“So I want to check in a month to see if I’m pregnant. If not, we can shorten the time between intercourse, okay?” Xiao Miaomiao’s face turned red as she spoke.

Ouyang Xuan couldn’t disagree after hearing this.

“I know, it’s unfair to you, Miaomiao. We’ll do it your way.” Ouyang Xuan patted her hand and said.

“This matter of having children is ultimately up to fate. If we have one, we’ll raise it. We’ll fulfill all your wishes.” Ouyang Xuan could see that Xiao Miaomiao genuinely wanted a child, and she felt relieved.

“Yeah, I really want a child too. You know my ex-husband cheated on me, which is why I divorced him. Men are unreliable. My own child is the one I can truly rely on. If even that doesn’t work, it’s just my failure as a parent.” Xiao Miaomiao looked at Ouyang Xuan and said.

Xiao Miaomiao genuinely felt that men were unreliable, so she could only create her own “little account” to rely on for her old age.

Li Jingcheng was pretty good too. He had excellent genes, and he could only stay in bed, so she didn’t have to worry about him cheating around. She also had shares in the Li Group, which would give her dividends. She had money and a child, that’s all she needed.

Ouyang Xuan could see that Miaomiao had been hurt by Hong Wenbin and no longer trusted men.

No, she had to let Li Chen deal with Hong Wenbin. She couldn’t let him get away with this. Miaomiao was such a good girl, and he didn’t appreciate her, he even cheated on her.

He even wanted to scheme to get Miaomiao to raise his illegitimate child. Miaomiao only took half of his assets, which was actually cheap for someone with the surname Hong. In her opinion, he should be left with nothing.

“Miaomiao, should I tell your dad to make Hong Wenbin lose everything? If you’re still not satisfied, you can even make the entire Hong Group go bankrupt.” Ouyang Xuan looked at Xiao Miaomiao and said.

Xiao Miaomiao was surprised to hear this. She didn’t expect her to say that. She was a little surprised. Although the Hong family wasn’t as powerful as the Li family, they were still one of the top families. Was it really that easy to make them go bankrupt?

But Xiao Miaomiao still refused.

“No need. It’s between me and Hong Wenbin. Besides, I already got half of his assets as compensation for his cheating.” Xiao Miaomiao was open-minded. Instead of getting entangled with him and trying to bring down the Hong Group, he might think she couldn’t let go of him. It wasn’t worth it.

“We’re now clear. We won’t have any more relationship. We’ll be strangers if we meet in the future. There’s no need to be angry with him, it’s not worth it.” Xiao Miaomiao looked at Ouyang Xuan and said, “Thank you, Mom.”

Ouyang Xuan heard her say this and knew that she had truly let go of Hong Wenbin. That was good. She could take it and let it go. She was indeed the daughter-in-law she liked.

“Come on, let’s go downstairs for breakfast. I’ll take you shopping later. You still need to buy a lot of things. As for clothes and bags, I’ve already had people prepare them according to your preferences. They’ll be delivered today.”

“We’ll go shopping today and buy you some jewelry. I bought a lot before, intending to give them to my daughter-in-law. They’re on the third floor. You can choose whatever you like. They’re all styles that people your age like.” Ouyang Xuan gently pulled Xiao Miaomiao downstairs.

When they went down, everyone was already sitting at the dining table waiting for them.

“Miaomiao, wake up, come and have breakfast. We’re waiting for you. Are you used to it? If you’re tired, you can get up later. Just tell the chef to prepare something for you later.” Grandma Li looked at Xiao Miaomiao kindly.

She also believed in some superstitions. She didn’t fully believe what the abbot of the Qing Temple said, but she wasn’t willing to give up without trying. If what the abbot said was true and Xiao Miaomiao could give them a descendant, or if her grandson could wake up, she would definitely go to fulfill her vow.

Even if she had to eat vegetarian food every day from then on.

Xiao Miaomiao felt very fond of the kind and amiable Grandma Li. The Li family was arguably the top family in the country, but the elders gave her a kind feeling, without any sense of looking down on her.

In the Hong family, she had been looked down upon by her former mother-in-law. In their eyes, she was a motherless child with no fatherly love. They weren’t exactly good or bad to her, just the kind of people who looked down on her, feeling like she was climbing up by marrying into their family.

This was probably why Hong Wenbin didn’t dare to let his ex-wife know that he was having an affair and getting married to Liu Yueyue even when she was pregnant. After all, Liu Yueyue was just the daughter of a poor family with no backing. It was unlikely for her to enter the Hong family, and even if she did, she wouldn’t be accepted. It was better to have a small family outside, where she wouldn’t have to look at the other Hong family members’ faces.

But unfortunately, her cousin wouldn’t let Hong Wenbin and Liu Yueyue get away with this.

Hong Wenbin’s company wouldn’t collapse, but it would still be affected. And on the Hong family side, her cousin’s nature was always to repay kindness with kindness and revenge with revenge.

She had already given her cousin the biggest concession by not letting him bring down Hong Wenbin’s company. But it was unlikely for Hong Wenbin to make money in the future.