Chapter 995: 237: Astonishing Results_6

“No, I just like Xiaoxi,” Zuo Ling asserted stubbornly.

Zuo’s mother sighed, “You used to be such an obedient child, what has changed now? I know you don’t find Laibao attractive, but haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Beauty is a source of trouble’? Being beautiful is not necessarily a good thing! King Zhou of Shang lost his kingdom because of Daji, Tang Xuanzong faced the An Shi Rebellion because of Yang Yuhuan, and King You of Zhou was overthrown because of Bao Si!”

The words of the ancients contain profound wisdom!

The saying ‘Beauty is a source of trouble’ is not without basis.

At this point, Zuo’s mother paused and continued, “Actually, women are all the same when the lights go out. There’s nothing more to them, nothing less!”

“Whether one is beautiful or not is just about looks. And besides, Lingling, you are destined for great things in the future. You can’t let your heart be taken by youthful love, and you certainly can’t let Xiaoxi hold you back!”

“What you’re lacking is a wise and virtuous wife, not a fairy who is above the mundane world!”

“Laibao, that child, definitely looks like she’s blessed with good fortune–big head, big bottoms, surely someone who can bear sons! After you marry, you’ll give me a fair and plump grandson!”

As she spoke, Zuo’s mother started to dream of a wonderful future.

Her grandson…

She gave birth to eight children, all for the day she could hold her grandson in her arms.

Zuo Ling shook his head, “No, no, Mom, please stop talking. Just the thought of having to sleep next to a pig in the future makes me so nauseous that I won’t be able to eat breakfast tomorrow.”

“You child,” his mother chided, “How can you speak like that! How has Laibao disgusted you? I think she’s very nice! Your Uncle Chen said that if you’re willing to marry Laibao, not only will our family not have to pay a penny for the dowry, but we’ll also get five thousand yuan as part of her dowry! Can Xiaoxi’s family offer five thousand yuan for a dowry? I bet they can’t even come up with fifty yuan!”

That’s five thousand yuan!

Where could you find such a favorable marriage offer?

But Zuo Ling sneered at the five thousand yuan, knowing that one can’t have the best of both worlds, “Even if Chen Laibao’s family offered fifty thousand yuan for the dowry, there’s absolutely no way I’d marry a pig!”

Having said this, Zuo Ling turned and walked away.

Zuo’s mother was so infuriated by Zuo Ling that she was more convinced than ever that Shangguan Xi was the reincarnation of the millennia-old fox spirit Su Daji!

“Let it be,” Zuo’s father said, “Just don’t meddle with the child’s affairs. Nowadays, people value love marriages, and arranged marriages by parents are out of fashion.”

When Zuo’s father was at work, he held a lower position than Zuo’s mother, so she had always been in charge, which meant that at home, Zuo’s mother had the final say.

Moreover, Zuo’s mother didn’t have any preference for sons over daughters. The reason she had eight children was to prove her worth!

Because a life without a son was considered incomplete.

“A daughter married off is like water splashed out; no matter how many daughters you have, they can’t compare to having a son.”

Zuo’s mother continued:

“Our Lingling is too outstanding; who knows how many girls out there have their eyes on him! I calculated everything but never expected Shangguan Xi to be from the countryside! If I had known she was from the countryside, I would never have agreed to it when Lingling first brought it up. That girl is too scheming, hiding her rural background and deceiving us for so long!”

She should have mentioned her rural background early on!

What is this, if not deceit?

“Our Lingling is a dragon roaming the heavens, and she is just a Sparrow–a Sparrow that aspires to transform into a Phoenix. It’s too unsightly!”

Zuo’s father turned the page of the newspaper in his hand and replied, following his wife’s thoughts: “I also think Laibao is a decent child. The Chens are still young and can at least provide support for them for over a decade. If our Lingling marries Laibao and they have a chubby baby boy, the good days are still ahead.”

…

Meanwhile, at the Ni Family’s home.

Ni Cuihua and Shangguan Dehui were sitting on the bed, also talking about Shangguan Xi.

As a stepmother, there were some things Ni Cuihua felt awkward to speak out directly. She could only convey her thoughts to Shangguan Dehui, “Dehui, although Xiaoxi seems to have a mild temperament and doesn’t usually show much temper, she actually has a rebellious streak deep inside. You have to talk to her about Zuo Ling properly, but also don’t push her too hard; beware of the extreme rebound effect.”

Even though Shangguan Xi wasn’t born to Ni Cuihua, through the days spent together, she had come to understand Shangguan Xi’s nature very well.

Shangguan Dehui nodded, “I know, don’t worry.”

Actually, Shangguan Xi was very much like the late Xu Fen.

Xu Fen had known that Shangguan Dehui had someone else in his heart, but she had still married him disregarding everything.

Shangguan Xi was also troubled, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep all night long.

She couldn’t figure it out–Zuo Ling’s qualifications were so outstanding, why couldn’t her family see his worth?

As a result, when Shangguan Xi got up the next morning, two dark circles had formed under her eyes.

“Sister Xiaoxi, didn’t sleep well last night?” Ni Yang greeted her at the dining table.

Shangguan Xi nodded.

“Here, take this.” Ni Yang fished a pink sugar pill from her pocket.

“What’s this?”

Ni Yang said with a smile, “It helps relieve fatigue and lighten dark circles.”

Hearing about the beneficial effects of the sugar pill, Shangguan Xi immediately took it and swallowed, “Thank you, Yangyang, otherwise I wouldn’t have been presentable today.”

After a while, Ni Cuihua came over with breakfast.

At noon, Ni Yang received a phone call from the hospital.

After hanging up, Ni Yang found Ni Cuihua, “Mom, I have something to tell you now, you need to be prepared emotionally.”

“Is it about the paternity test?” Ni Cuihua asked.

“Yes.” Ni Yang nodded, “Mom, Yanyun is our second sister.”

“Crash!”

The vase in Ni Cuihua’s hand dropped to the floor, shattering, and with tears in her eyes, she said, “Really, is it true?”

“It’s true,” Ni Yang hugged Ni Cuihua, “Mom, we’ve found our second sister.”

“We’ve found her! We’ve found her!” Ni Cuihua cried tears of joy.

Although they had found the person, Ni Cuihua was still faced with a dilemma.

Whether to acknowledge her or not.

Currently, without acknowledgment, they still had a kinship with the Wu Family–if they burst this bubble, what if they couldn’t even remain relatives?

After all, the Wu Family had raised Wu Yanyun for seventeen years, from a helpless little baby to a graceful young lady; no one knew how much heart and soul the Wu parents had poured into her.

If they were to acknowledge her now, would the Wu parents forgive them? Would Wu Yanyun forgive them?

In the evening, everyone gathered to discuss this issue.

The elderly Mr. Zheng and Mrs. Zheng said, “We definitely must acknowledge her! No matter what, that child is our Zheng Family’s blood!”