After hearing Bai Jiaojiao's words, Su Zhigao sniffed and didn't say anything more.

Li Shiqing was quite efficient. He found two relatives from the Su family to help collect the body of Old Madam Su. When they carried the body up the mountain, he had Su Zhigao follow behind and climb the mountain step by step.

The old lady was easily arranged to be buried next to the old man who had passed away many years ago. As soon as she was laid to rest, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

Even though Su Zhigao knew nothing, he still cried uncontrollably in front of Grandma Su's new grave.

Bai Jiaojiao waited for them at the foot of the mountain. When she saw Su Zhigao's face covered in tears, she quickly went up to wipe them away, afraid that the cold wind would make his face chapped.

"Xiaobai, thank you for adopting Zhigao."

The Su family watched as Bai Jiaojiao hugged Su Zhigao and cursed, "His two uncles are worthless. They'll get their comeuppance sooner or later. Heaven has eyes that aren't blind!"

Bai Jiaojiao didn't want Su Zhigao to hear too much, so she interrupted, "None of this is important. It's just that Zhigao's future still needs to be discussed with your elders surnamed Su."

"What, you don't plan to keep adopting Zhigao indefinitely?"

Uncle Su is from the generation of Su Zhigao's grandfather, but Su Zhigao's grandfather's lineage has dwindled, so he is a relative beyond the third degree of kinship.

Now everyone in Shili Village has a son, and they're all afraid of getting involved in this trouble. When they heard that Bai Jiaojiao didn't intend to take full responsibility, they all started to panic.

"Heng and I are only a few years older than Zhigao. If we raise him, would he be considered a son or a younger brother? We can't even register his household registration here."

What Bai Jiaojiao said was true. Uncle Su thought about it and realized that if a child had no legal status or relationship with his family, who would be willing to raise a child who was not related to him?

But he was helpless: "To be honest, this child has little to do with us. His grandfather and I were cousins, and by his generation, we are not so close anymore. We can't make decisions about this child."

"Does his uncle really have to come back?"

“When his uncle comes back, he’ll definitely sell him off!” Uncle Su knew the character of Su Zhigao’s two uncles well.

Seeing his indignant expression, Bai Jiaojiao was just what she wanted: "No matter what, you are an elder of the Su family. It is only right that you take care of where the Su family children go."

Bai Jiaojiao knew she couldn't interfere in other people's family affairs. If she really got into a face-to-face argument with the two uncles of the Su family, she might not be in the right.

But if there's an elder present, things become much easier.

Uncle Su understood Bai Jiaojiao's meaning: "You mean you want me to help them choose? Hmm, that's only right and I should do it!"

"Then I will thank you on behalf of Zhigao."

“Zhigao is our family’s grandson, this is what I should do.”

Uncle Su is happy to help as long as it doesn't involve his own interests.

Bai Jiaojiao carried Su Zhigao away. On the way, Su Zhigao grabbed Bai Jiaojiao's arm tightly: "Auntie, can't I stay at your house all the time?"

He was a little nervous. After staying at Bai Jiaojiao's house for two days, he had already grown to love the warm bedding and the delicious, filling meals.

He couldn't bear to part with these things, and even more so with Bai Jiaojiao, the person who would hug and comfort him.

"Yes, Zhigao will have his own home in the future."

Su Zhigao seemed confused and didn't ask too many questions.

Because of the sudden snowfall, the road repair work was stopped early in the evening.

Shen Heng arrived home early, took the stool back to the woodshed, and started chopping firewood inside.

They need firewood to make pastries, and now they have an extra kang (heated brick bed) to heat, so the firewood is going through very quickly.

"Heng-ge, dinner's coming up in a bit," Bai Jiaojiao called to Shen Heng as she entered.

"This firewood is going too fast. Let's buy some coal next winter; that's much more convenient!"

Shen Heng tidied himself up and patted the wood chips off his clothes.

Bai Jiaojiao agreed: "Why don't we buy some more this year? We can use this firewood in the kitchen and add some coal to the stove."

"Then I'll wait until the brigade leader gives me a day off so I can go out and buy some."

Bai Jiaojiao steamed a piece of pumpkin today; this old pumpkin is a real lifesaver these days.

The sweet and soft pumpkin was a favorite of children like Su Zhigao, who would obediently scoop it out with a spoon, and Bai Jiaojiao didn't have to worry about him choking.

She then said to Shen Heng, "I've already spoken to one of his cousins ​​today, so his uncle won't dare to do anything reckless."

Shen Heng glanced at Su Zhigao: "Do you know what people outside are saying about me?"

Bai Jiaojiao laughed when she heard this. It seemed that Shen Heng, who was working outside, had also heard what those people were saying: "My sister told me this, so I made it clear to the Su family today that we are only temporarily taking him in. We asked them to keep a close eye on things and find a good place for Zhigao."

"That's more like it." Shen Heng was easy to coax; after all, he hadn't taken the matter to heart in the first place.

The two of them did a good job researching at home, but it worried the three men in the Bai family.

Bai Shibao looked like he'd swallowed a dead fly: "Brother, I always thought my brother-in-law was so strong and healthy, but I never expected... it's really unfair to our little sister."

The couple had only been married for six months when Bai Jiaojiao learned that she could no longer have children. It wasn't just that Shen Heng was impotent; he was impotent from the inside out.

Bai Shibao heard that some men could get their wives pregnant on the bed, but couldn't, while others couldn't even get an erection.

Their resolute and decisive decision to adopt the child suggests that Shen Heng is likely the latter type.

Bai Shihai pursed his lips as well: "No wonder my brother-in-law dotes on our little sister so much, it turns out he feels guilty towards her. Shibo, you know a lot of people, is there anyone who can help?"

"I've never heard of any particularly good barefoot doctors, but don't worry, brother, I'll definitely help you find out."

Bai Zhiman frowned: "What are you asking about? If people hear this, they'll think it's something wrong with you. Are you still going to get married?"

Bai Zhiman's shout stopped Bai Shibao from speaking.

This concerns a man's dignity; we can't ruin his reputation.

"Then what should we do?"

Bai Zhiman sighed. Life doesn't necessarily have to involve sex. He saw that his daughter and son-in-law had a good relationship: "Even if they're going to have a baby, they can't have this one from the Su family. Shihai, go talk to your brother-in-law tomorrow. They're still young. Even if they want a baby, there's no rush. Let's wait and find out where we can find one from a more distant place that won't have any problems."

"Why."

Bai Shihai also felt that this was a safer approach. Otherwise, Su Zhigao would be constantly running into his former relatives, and it was uncertain whether they would become close in the future.

Bai Shiqing was unable to go out because of the snow, and the Bai family was anxious because they couldn't get an explanation in time.

If the Bai family was like this, then other families in the village all made Bai Jiaojiao holding the child a topic of conversation.

"That tall guy of his, sigh, I thought he could really drive his wife crazy at night? Turns out he's all an idiot."

"Haha, poor beautiful wife."

"Tsk tsk, that's why they say everyone has their own fate."

A group of people were talking on the road when Yu Wenli, who was returning from the pigsty, overheard them.