Chapter 19: A Good Way to Have Sons

Ruan Jiaojiao only saw Zhaodi three days after her return visit to her parents’ home. At that time, Zhaodi… how should she put it? If not for the familiar call of “Second Aunt,” Ruan Jiaojiao would have doubted whether this was the same Zhaodi at all.

This time, it was Shen Junmei who called her and Fu Ting over to the main family’s house. In a rare show of “kindness,” she even gave each of the boys, Dabao and Xiaobao, a White Rabbit milk candy.

“Jiaojiao, from now on, we’re family~”

Shen Junmei reached out her calloused hand to touch Ruan Jiaojiao, but Jiaojiao nimbly avoided her.

Shen Junmei paused, a little embarrassed. But remembering today’s real purpose, she swallowed down the “humiliation” and instead said to Jiaojiao:

“It’s fine. Little sister-in-law, I know you have opinions about me, but I don’t blame you. However… Zhaodi is your big brother-in-law’s child. That makes her your niece too, doesn’t it?”

Ruan Jiaojiao: “…”

“Just spit it out.”

The beautiful young woman even cursed. Fu Ting was momentarily stunned, then the longer he looked at her, the more his heart melted. My wife is so cute. Even when she swears, she’s beautiful.

“That… my Zhaodi has been married a few days now. You’ve given birth to two sons, haven’t you? The spirit woman said, if you give Zhaodi your urine to drink, she’ll be able to bear sons too!”

Ruan Jiaojiao: “Pff—”

She had just taken a sip of water and almost choked to death on it.

She knew the women of Shanjiao Village were still under the influence of old superstitions, but she hadn’t expected them to be this superstitious.

Seeing the hopeful look in Shen Junmei’s eyes, Ruan Jiaojiao’s palms itched to slap her.

At that moment, Fu Ting and Fu Jun’s mother—Old Madam Fu—also came over.

She was past eighty, yet still strong enough to farm on the slopes.

Fu Ting immediately stood up. “Mom.”

Ruan Jiaojiao followed, calling sweetly, “Mom.”

“Ai, ai…”

Old Madam Fu looked at this fair, tender little daughter-in-law, and the more she looked, the more she liked her.

She had always thought it was Fu Ting who “bullied” Jiaojiao first, forcing this city girl to marry him.

So even though the “old” Jiaojiao had done nothing for Fu Ting, not even basic wifely duties, and even tried to push him into splitting from the family, Old Madam Fu had never once blamed her.

The old woman was kind, but her thinking was even more feudal than Shen Junmei’s. Holding Jiaojiao’s hand, she said:

“Girl, you’ve birthed two boys already—you’re the pride of Shanjiao Village! But you must never let outsiders drink your urine, or you’ll ruin the Fu family’s fortune, understand?”

Ruan Jiaojiao’s face turned green.

Thankfully, Fu Ting cherished his wife. Knowing she was uncomfortable, he quickly said:

“Mom, Jiaojiao was just hurt. Her ankle is still swollen. A woman who’s injured… her urine still works?”

The so-called “spirit woman” was spouting nonsense, and now Fu Ting was adding more nonsense.

Jiaojiao nearly laughed out loud at his words, but she managed to hold it in.

Old Madam Fu actually believed Fu Ting, and slowly released Jiaojiao’s hand.

Shen Junmei opened her mouth as if to speak, then held back.

Noticing everyone’s reaction, Jiaojiao deliberately said:

“How about this, sister-in-law—you let me spend some time alone with Zhaodi. I’ll pass all my good fortune onto her! Same effect.”

Shen Junmei, desperate enough to try anything, reluctantly agreed and pointed to a room. “Fine. Go on then.”

With Fu Ting’s support, Jiaojiao limped into the room.

Inside, Zhaodi was sitting and sewing clothes. When the door opened, she didn’t even look up, just kept stitching with lowered head.

Something was wrong.

Jiaojiao quickly signaled Fu Ting to wait outside, then hobbled over to gently pat Zhaodi’s shoulder.

“Zhaodi, it’s me. Your second aunt is here. I want to talk with you…”

But Zhaodi kept her head down, sewing intently.

Her face was cold, expressionless, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Jiaojiao’s heart ached. She was just a teenager! If it had been her in this situation, she might have chosen death.

“Zhaodi, stop sewing. Whatever grievance you’ve suffered, tell Second Aunt. I’ll get justice for you.”

Jiaojiao forcibly set aside her needlework and pulled her into an embrace.

She felt Zhaodi’s body stiffen. Then…

“Second Aunt, I’m fine. New Year’s is coming. I want to make clothes for my husband. I’m good with a needle. He’ll be comfortable in them.”

Her husband…

Jiaojiao knew exactly how much Zhaodi loathed that man—old enough to be her father. There was no way she would willingly sew clothes for him.

Something terrible had happened, leaving a shadow in her heart.

“Zhaodi, wake up! I’m your second aunt. You don’t have to pretend in front of me. It’s just us here—no one will hurt you!”

But Zhaodi only bit her lip and repeated, “Second Aunt, I want to make clothes for my husband.”

No matter what Jiaojiao said, Zhaodi gave the same reply: “I want to make clothes for my husband.”

Finally, Jiaojiao played her last card.

“Fine. If you’re like this, I can’t save you. I’ll leave now and never come back.”

She turned, limping toward the door.

That was when Zhaodi suddenly broke, rushing to cling to her and crying out:

“Second Aunt! My heart is bitter!”

“My heart is bitter—I can’t go on living!”

Her heart-wrenching sobs were like knives slicing into Jiaojiao’s chest. Closing her eyes, Jiaojiao held her hands tightly.

“Zhaodi, I know you’ve always been kind to my two boys. So I won’t abandon you. But first, you must tell me—last night, what exactly happened?”

It turned out, Jiaojiao wasn’t the only one suffering last night. Zhaodi had too.

But while Jiaojiao had Fu Ting and her two sweet sons to comfort her, Zhaodi had only despair.

And her greatest despair wasn’t from what her husband did to her, but from the fact that the person who delivered her into this “living hell”… was her own father, Fu Jun.

Fu Jun lied to Zhaodi, saying he would let her go. In reality, he and Shen Junmei worked together to deceive her, to watch her closely.

After all, Zhaodi was raised by Shen Junmei—every flicker of emotion was transparent to her foster mother. She knew Zhaodi wanted to run.

Realizing she couldn’t physically stop Zhaodi now that she was grown, Shen Junmei devised a trap with Fu Jun.

Fu Jun used their father-daughter bond to gain Zhaodi’s trust, while Shen Junmei pretended to believe Zhaodi wouldn’t run and let her be.

That night, Zhaodi happily packed her belongings—a few ragged clothes, and two cents she’d saved over three or four years. After thinking it over, she left the money behind for Shen Junmei.

After all, Shen Junmei had given birth to her and raised her. Even if she treated her poorly, she had given her life.