Chapter 29 requires avoiding suspicion.
Zhao Qingda had just taken out the money for today's tickets in Wang Juan's newly rented suburban courtyard.
Wang Juan snatched it away with lightning speed, and by the dim light of the bulb, with her fingers wet with saliva, she counted the bills one by one at a breakneck pace, her eyes shining with astonishing brilliance.
"Look at you, all greedy and obsessed with money!" Zhao Qingda leaned against the door frame, smoking, and chuckled as he scolded her for her money-grubbing look.
He felt a sense of satisfaction—this woman was greedy, but she was straightforward in her greed, and her greed made him feel capable.
"Pah! What do you know?" Wang Juan finished counting, carefully rolled up the money, stuffed it into her inner pocket, patted it, and then swayed over, pretending to punch him, her voice so sweet it could drip water.
"I'm saving this for our son! He'll need money for school and getting married in the future, right?" she said, touching her already showing belly, her face full of anticipation. "I have to build a legacy for my son."
Zhao Qingda felt pleased by her "far-sighted" words and was about to hug her affectionately.
Wang Juan seemed to suddenly remember something, her face darkening, her previous coquettishness vanishing instantly: "By the way, I heard someone say today that your son who couldn't lay eggs... oh, he can lay eggs now, and two at a time? Twins?"
Zhao Qingda's smile froze for a moment, and he gave a vague "hmm," feeling a little guilty but also inexplicably smug.
Seeing him like that, Wang Juan felt a surge of anger well up inside her, and she pushed him away abruptly.
Her eyes welled up with tears: "Fine! Zhao Qingda! She's at home, happily pregnant with twins, everyone treats her like a treasure! And me? What am I? I'm stuck here with you in this wretched place, all naked! No status, no money! The kids will be bastards when they're born! People will talk behind my back for the rest of my life!"
She became increasingly agitated as she spoke, her voice rising, tears welling up in her eyes. "What's the point of me living! I'd rather be dead! It would be all over!"
As he spoke, he actually turned around and rushed out the door, making a move to run towards the murky ditch not far away.
Zhao Qingda was terrified, and his drunkenness mostly sobered up. He rushed up and hugged her tightly from behind, crying, "Juan'er! Juan'er! Don't be silly! Let's talk this out!"
"I don't want to live anymore!" Wang Juan struggled, crying uncontrollably. "Let me go! Let me die! So I won't get in your way!"
"My dear aunt! Stop messing around!" Zhao Qingda was both anxious and scared. In the dark, if something really happened, he would be in deep trouble.
He forcefully dragged her back into the house, pressed her into a chair, and, panting heavily, promised, "Calm down! I...didn't I say? After the baby is born, I...I'll divorce her! I'll marry you in style! I promise!"
Wang Juan, sobbing, raised her tear-filled eyes and stared at him: "Really? We're getting a divorce right after I give birth? You're not lying to me?"
"I'd be a bastard to lie to you!" Zhao Qingda swore to the heavens. "Look, I've already settled you here, why would I lie to you? It's just... it's just that she's pregnant with twins right now, and my mother's keeping a close eye on things, so it's not easy to bring it up... Just bear with it a little longer, okay? I'll take care of it right away after the babies are born!"
Wang Juan gradually stopped crying, but she was still relentless, pinching his arm: "Just talking isn't enough! You have to give me a straight answer! Also, I don't want to live in this shabby house for long! After I give birth, you have to buy me an apartment! At least a two-bedroom one! Otherwise, I'll take the baby to your doorstep and make a scene! Let's see who loses face!"
"Buy, buy, buy! Definitely!" Zhao Qingda readily agreed, wanting to appease this troublemaker for now.
The heat in the courtyard was unbearable.
As Wen Xiaoxiao entered the later stages of her pregnancy, her body felt as heavy as if it were weighed down by a giant millstone, and she couldn't find a comfortable position in bed no matter how she lay down.
Unable to sleep, she got up, came out of the house, and sat on the stone bench.
The moonlight was hazy and dim, and all around was quiet.
She supported her lower back with her hands and gently rubbed it, but it didn't feel right.
The door to the main house made a soft knock.
Zhao Fei walked out silently.
Without asking any further questions, he walked over and stood behind her.
His large hand naturally covered her waist, pressing and smoothing the taut muscles with just the right amount of force.
Wen Xiaoxiao trembled, but did not dodge.
She closed her eyes, sighed softly, and almost leaned her weight against the solid support behind her.
Just then, the door to the west wing creaked open.
Li Yugu got up in the middle of the night and walked out in a daze. He immediately saw Zhao Fei standing behind his daughter-in-law under the locust tree, his hand on her waist. The two were very close, and their posture... in the hazy moonlight and deep night, exuded an indescribable intimacy and ambiguity.
The old lady's heart skipped a beat, and she was wide awake.
She coughed loudly.
The two people under the tree separated quickly, like startled birds.
Zhao Fei withdrew his hand, turned around, and said calmly, "Auntie, are you still awake? I got up to use the restroom and saw that Xiaoxiao's back was hurting badly, so I massaged it for her."
Wen Xiaoxiao also hurriedly stood up, holding onto the stone table.
Li Yugu remained silent, his gaze sweeping suspiciously back and forth between the two of them several times.
It was too dark to see the expressions on their faces.
She walked over, took Wen Xiaoxiao's hand, and said in a tone that revealed neither joy nor anger, "Xiaoxiao, why didn't you call Mom if your back hurts? Feizi is a grown man, clumsy and rough. Come on, let Mom massage it for you. Feizi, go back to your room and get some sleep, you have to work tomorrow."
Zhao Fei paused, glanced at Wen Xiaoxiao who had her head down, and said in a low voice, "Then... okay." After saying that, he turned around and went back to the main house, closing the door behind him.
Li Yugu helped Wen Xiaoxiao slowly walk back to the east wing and let her sit down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).
The old lady had a strong grip, pressing down on Wen Xiaoxiao's waist repeatedly, causing her to gasp in pain.
After pressing the buttons for a while, Li Yugu finally stopped, sat down next to Wen Xiaoxiao, and remained silent for a long time.
The lights were off inside; only a faint light shone in from the window.
In the darkness, the old lady's voice was low: "Xiaoxiao, you're a sensible child. Now that you're pregnant, there are some things... you need to be careful about. Feizi is your brother-in-law, you need to avoid suspicion. If people see this and gossip, it won't be good for our family. Do you understand what your mother means?"
Hearing her mother-in-law's pointed words, Wen Xiaoxiao felt as if ice shards had sliced through her heart, leaving her feeling both cold and aching.
Be mindful of boundaries? Avoid suspicion?
Zhao Qingda is keeping a mistress outside, why doesn't she tell her son to be more mindful of his behavior?
Why not make him avoid suspicion?
Wen Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes very lightly and quickly in her mother-in-law's direction, "Okay, Mom, I know."
Li Yugu gave a few more instructions to go to bed early before getting up and leaving.
Wen Xiaoxiao lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), and the soreness in her waist seemed to have lessened a bit, but the pent-up anger in her heart burned even more fiercely.
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