Lu Jingyi said, “You all chat, I’ll take the child back first.”
After Lu Jingyi and her family had walked some distance away, everyone gathered together to discuss in hushed tones.
“This Comrade Xu is really strange. Instead of picking up his own wife, he went to pick up his sister-in-law.”
When Xu Zhijun and the two others returned, they noticed everyone looking at them with very strange expressions.
Xu Zhijun asked, “Why are you all gathered here chatting?”
“We just saw your wife return. She came in a car—so impressive! Comrade Xu, you’re really fortunate.”
“Comrade Xu, we just saw your and Comrade Lu’s daughter. She’s truly beautiful. It’s rare to see a newborn so pretty.”
Hearing so many people praise her daughter’s looks, Li Hong unconsciously straightened her back.
Of course the daughter she gave birth to was the best.
Facing everyone’s compliments, Xu Zhijun accepted them gladly, unable to suppress the smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
Although Lu Jingyi was difficult to control, whether in looks, family background, or work, she was presentable.
“Thank you, everyone. When my daughter turns one month old, I’ll invite you all for a celebration feast.”
“Great! We’ll look forward to that day.”
Xu Zhijun smiled and bid everyone farewell before leaving.
After they had gone some distance, everyone gathered again to whisper.
“This Xu Zhijun is truly odd. He didn’t pick up his own wife from the hospital but went to get Li Hong instead.”
“Li Hong is also pitiful. Her husband died early, so she can only rely on her brother-in-law.”
“That’s true. Li Hong has a good temper too. Look at Comrade Lu returning surrounded by a big family, while there were just three of them alone.”
Xu Zhijun escorted his mother and Li Hong home. Setting down the things in his hands, he said, “You two carry on. I’m going back to check on Jingyi.”
Li Hong watched him leave with reluctance.
Of course she wanted to keep Xu Zhijun by her side forever.
But there was no helping it—Xu Zhijun was still nominally Lu Jingyi’s husband.
Li Hong thought viciously, Let Lu Jingyi be arrogant for a few more years. When the child grows up, I’ll reveal the truth to everyone.
By then, Lu Jingyi will surely be furious to death.
Meanwhile.
Xu Zhijun had already entered his home.
As soon as he pushed the door open, he found the room filled with items, many printed with English words he had never seen before.
With so many fine things, Lu Jingyi couldn’t possibly finish them all by herself. He would take some later for Li Hong and Xiao Tao to have.
After all, Xiao Tao was also his child.
Grandpa was taking out the items while explaining, “This is a concentrated nutritional drink that people abroad consume after childbirth. Something about vitamins—I can’t remember exactly. There are instructions on it; you’re a doctor, you can read it yourself. And here’s powdered milk, said to be for the baby. Also a camera—take photos of Long Bao when you have time, then put them in an album to look through later…”
Xu Zhijun stepped forward and picked up a can of milk powder.
Li Hong often said she wasn’t eating well and didn’t have enough breast milk, so Xiao Tao wasn’t getting enough to eat.
Xu Zhijun said, “Jingyi, a friend’s wife doesn’t have enough breast milk. Could you spare a can of this milk powder for me?”
“Which friend?” Lu Jingyi asked, puzzled.
In the past, she wouldn’t have questioned it.
It was just a can of milk powder—she wasn’t so stingy as to begrudge it.
[Of course, it’s for Li Hong.]
Lu Jingyi’s face turned cold. “You’re not planning to give the milk powder to your sister-in-law, are you?”
Called out directly, Xu Zhijun stopped pretending and nodded, “Yes, wife. Since you have so much anyway, and considering my elder brother is gone, why don’t you take care of his wife and daughter?”
Lu Jingyi retorted, “Did I cause your brother’s death?”
“Jingyi, how can you say that? She’s my sister-in-law.”
Wang Pei slammed the items onto the table and sneered, “She’s your sister-in-law, but you’re using my things to support her? Xu Zhijun, you really have no shame.”
Xu Zhijun pleaded, “Mom, I thought we were all family…” He looked at Lu Jingyi, hoping she would speak up for him.
But Lu Jingyi didn’t even glance his way, coldly stating, “Xu Zhijun, have you forgotten? Back at the hospital, she told people I caused too much commotion and scared her into early labor. If my mother hadn’t asked the doctors, that blame would’ve fallen on me. After how she treated me, why should I give her anything?”
Using her belongings to support Li Hong? Xu Zhijun shouldn’t even entertain the thought!
Seeing everyone’s eyes on the items in his hands, Xu Zhijun could only sheepishly put them down.
“Wife, since you’re unwilling, forget it.”
Wang Pei stepped forward, snatched the milk powder cans, and systematically numbered them before placing them in the cabinet. “Jingyi, I’ve counted—five cans total. It’s better for Long Bao to breastfeed right after birth anyway. Coincidentally, my friend’s daughter-in-law just had a baby too. I’ll give her two cans. The remaining three should last you about three months. After that, your father will buy you fresh ones.”
“Alright.”
Long Bao watched the milk powder, waving her little hands vigorously. 【It’s all mine, mine!】
Lu Jingyi caught her tiny hand and kissed it. “When you grow up, Mommy will give you all the best things in the world.”
Uncle chimed in, “When Long Bao turns one month old, Uncle will give you a little golden fish.”
【I like Uncle.】
Aunt added, “Auntie will give you pretty clothes.”
【Pretty clothes.】 Long Bao’s eyes sparkled with unusual brightness. 【I like Auntie.】
Aunt took the child into her arms. “This little one is just so adorable.”
Xu Zhijun stood at a distance, watching the group fuss over the baby.
He felt like he didn’t belong in this family.
The next day.
Xu Zhijun slipped away to visit Li Hong’s home.
Hearing movement, Li Hong sat up eagerly, only to see him empty-handed.
Li Hong asked, “Where are the things?”
Xu Zhijun feigned ignorance, “What things?”
“Lu Jingyi’s family came to see her—they must’ve brought plenty. You always used to bring me some before. Why come empty-handed this time?”
Xu Zhijun took off his hat and set it on the table. “They numbered every single item. Even if I wanted to sneak some to you, I couldn’t.”
Grandma poured warm water to wash the baby’s bottom, remarking, “What’s Jingyi’s situation compared to yours? How can you even think of competing with her?”
“Mom, we’re family now. Why does Lu Jingyi get to have everything?”
Grandma rolled her eyes. “Those came from her family. If you’re jealous, tell your own family to bring you things.”
“I…” Li Hong was instantly speechless.
When she married Xu Zhijie, the bride price she’d asked for had been seized by her parents for her brother’s wedding.
Before she joined the army camp, her parents would frequently visit, quietly urging her to take things back to her family.
It was her mother-in-law who put a stop to it—she drove her parents out.
Later, she endured until she could follow the army and finally escaped that family.
Later, when Zhijie sacrificed himself, seeing that she might have to return, she quickly begged Xu Zhijun to let her stay.
Forget about her family giving her things—it would be good enough if they didn’t expect her to bring things home.
We’re all women, so why is Lu Jingyi’s fate so good!
Thinking of this, Li Hong angrily pinched the child’s waist again, even harder.
It’s all because of this jinx!
Grandma walked over and said, “Give the child to me. I’ll wipe her down with a bath.”
Li Hong widened her eyes and quickly held the child in her arms. “Mom, I can bathe the child myself.”
“You’d be accumulating good karma just by not hitting her. Give the child to me.”
Seeing that she wasn’t moving, Grandma’s voice suddenly turned stern. “Give me the child.”
Lu Jingyi then tremblingly handed the child over to her.
Grandma said, “Second son, wring out the towel and hand it to me.”
“Okay.” Xu Zhijun walked over, wrung out the towel, and handed it to Grandma.
Li Hong quickly lay down and covered her head with the blanket.
Grandma lifted the clothes and saw several bruises on the child’s body.