Chapter 67

Heavenly Lone Star is a term in folklore referring to someone extremely malevolent and inauspicious. It is also synonymous with the phrase “Broom Star,” typically describing someone destined to bring misfortune, calamities, and loneliness to those around them.

Xiao Bao first “brought calamity” by causing his father’s death while in the womb and then his mother’s death after being born. Naturally, he was labeled with this title. But no one, especially close family, would want to be belittled or insulted in such a manner. It’s no wonder Wang Qing’er was furious enough to get into a fight over it.

When Wang Yuan’er learned that the ones spreading the slander were relatives of Second Aunt, her expression immediately darkened.

How could a child even understand the “Heavenly Lone Star concept”? Clearly, it was the adults’ irresponsible gossip that the child had parroted.

Over the past few days, Wang Yuan’er had been preoccupied with her mother’s funeral and caring for her younger siblings, leaving no time to address the dispute between Second Aunt and her mother that had led to the premature birth. She had refrained from confronting Second Aunt out of respect for her mother’s spirit during the mourning period.

But now, this was too much. Did they think her patience meant she had moved on? Did they feel justified in rubbing salt into their wounds so brazenly?

Yes, they were orphans now, without parents to shield them—but did that mean they were soft targets to be bullied and manipulated?

“Stop crying already. Come, Second Sister will help you wash your face and fix your hair,” said Wang Chun’er as she wiped away Qing’er’s tears and pulled her to stand.

“Don’t bother fixing your hair—we’re heading to the main house,” said Wang Yuan’er, stopping Chun’er and walking toward the main house with Xiao Bao on her back.

In the main house, Grandma and Grandpa Wang sat on opposite sides of the kang bed. Grandma Wang was focused on mending an old garment, her head bowed, while Grandpa Wang held a brush and was scribbling in the account book. They were exchanging occasional words.

Even though it was the New Year, the recent passing of Madam Liang made it inappropriate for the family to engage in any celebrations. Instead, they stayed home, quiet and somber. The double blow of losing both a son and a daughter-in-law had aged them considerably.

When Wang Yuan’er and her siblings entered the room, their presence blocked out much of the light. Grandma Wang squinted her eyes.

“Grandpa, Grandma, if the two of you refuse to stand up for us siblings today, then we might as well go throw ourselves on our parents’ graves! It’d be better than living on like this, ashamed and humiliated!” Wang Yuan’er declared as she knelt. Her sisters followed her lead, kneeling as well.

Both Grandpa and Grandma Wang were startled by this scene. “What are you doing? Speak clearly, and get up at once!” exclaimed Grandpa Wang.

“Grandpa, Grandma, Second Aunt’s family has gone too far! First, she drove my mother to her death, and now she’s encouraging her relatives to slander my little brother. How can she be so cruel? Have we obstructed her in any way or taken something from her? Does she need to push us siblings to our deaths to find peace?” Wang Yuan’er ignored their protests, choosing instead to place all the blame squarely on Second Aunt.

No matter who started the slander about Xiao Bao being a “Heavenly Lone Star,” the culprits were undoubtedly Second Aunt’s family. Since they were her maternal relatives, she should bear responsibility. Moreover, her mother’s death was undoubtedly tied to the premature birth caused by her dispute with Second Aunt. A pregnant woman should never have been subjected to such stress. Had her mother not given birth prematurely, perhaps she wouldn’t have died from complications.

Recalling the moment her mother closed her eyes for the last time, Wang Yuan’er couldn’t hold back her tears.

“Stop talking about death and speak properly! Don’t spout nonsense—what kind of behavior is this?” Granny Wang snapped, visibly upset.

Chapter 68

“Grandma, it was all Second Aunt’s nephew who said this. That little rascal is only eleven years old—how could he come up with such words unless he heard them from adults?” Wang Yuan’er snorted coldly and recounted the insults Wang Qing’er had heard.

Grandma Wang trembled with anger. She glanced over Wang Yuan’er’s shoulder at the infant in the swaddle. If it weren’t for the fact that he was her legitimate grandson and her eldest son’s only male heir, she might have believed the talk about the child bringing calamity to his parents.

But such words as “Heavenly Lone Star”—others might dare say them, but no member of the Wang family should.

“Grandma, you know better than I do how my mother passed. She told me not to argue with Second Aunt about this, saying it was her fate. But if we don’t fight for ourselves, we’ll be bullied to death.” Wang Yuan’er wiped away her tears and gently patted the swaddle on her back. “Xiao Bao should have been born full-term. If it weren’t for Second Aunt, how would he have been born prematurely and saddled with such a reputation?” She wept, and the younger siblings, including Wang Chun’er, followed suit.

Grandma Wang’s temples throbbed with rage. She glanced at Grandpa Wang, who set down his account book, reached for his water pipe, and began smoking.

Grandma Wang’s face turned cold. “So, are you saying you want to settle accounts after the fact?”

“Grandma, we just want justice from Second Aunt,” Wang Yuan’er said calmly. “Xiao Bao is only a few days old. Must he carry this reputation for his entire life? Grandma, you have other golden grandchildren, but Xiao Bao is our only brother—we cannot bear to lose him.”

Her words were a direct accusation of favoritism on Grandma Wang’s part, cutting deep.

“Yuan’er, is this how you talk to your grandmother?” Grandpa Wang, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

Wang Yuan’er pressed her lips together and said nothing.

“Go and call your Second Aunt,” Grandma Wang said, tossing aside the garment and needle in her hands.

At that moment, Madam Zhang was sound asleep in her room. Over the past few days of funeral arrangements, she had become the Wang family’s sole daughter-in-law and had been worked to the bone. She was in the middle of a sweet dream when she was dragged out of her bed. Seeing it was Wang Qing’er, the little troublemaker, she snapped, “What are you up to, you little brat?”

“Grandma is calling you!” Wang Qing’er glared with her wide eyes, her face full of disdain.

Hearing that Grandma Wang was calling, Madam Zhang froze for a moment but didn’t dare refuse, given the unresolved matter with Madam Liang still weighing heavily on her mind. After dressing neatly, she entered the main house, only to be hit squarely in the face by an object as soon as she stepped in. She let out a cry and looked down to see that it was a half-finished shoe sole.

“Kneel!” Grandma Wang ordered sternly.

Madam Zhang, confused, raised her eyes to see Wang Yuan’er looking at her as if she wanted to devour her alive. Her heart sank. So, it was finally coming?

However, she quickly calmed herself. It wasn’t as if she had deliberately pushed Madam Liang—it was Madam Liang who couldn’t keep her footing and fell. Besides, Madam Liang had been the one to start the confrontation. If she hadn’t grabbed her, she wouldn’t have shaken her off!

Thinking this through, Madam Zhang felt her conscience clear.

“Mother, the children are all here,” Madam Zhang said with an awkward smile, but she refused to kneel. If she really knelt, her dignity as an elder would be utterly lost in Changle Town.

“Oh, now you care about dignity? Let me ask you—what nonsense did you and your family say? Did you spread the rumor that Bao Lai is a ‘Heavenly Lone Star,’ doomed to bring calamity to his parents?” Grandma Wang stared at her coldly.

Madam Zhang widened her eyes in anger and shouted, “This is a huge injustice! Mother, when did I ever say such things? You can’t pin this on me!”