Lu Jingyi took a deep breath, her tone tinged with reproach. “You weren’t happy when I said I wanted to buy a silver bracelet before. When did you buy this gold bracelet?”
“I bought it secretly, planning to surprise our daughter.”
Lu Jingyi reached out, wanting to throw the gold bracelet in his face.
But a small hand was faster than hers, grabbing the gold bracelet.
“Wow, my daughter is so strong! Do you like it?”
[Jin Can Can! Like!]
Lu Jingyi suddenly realized that her ears were filled with that adorable Xiao Nai Yin.
The voice was like a bucket of water, completely dousing her anger.
Yes, this was gold—why should she give it up for someone else?
Lu Jingyi took the small gold bracelet. “Sweetie, shall I put it on for you?”
[Okay! Pretty!]
Lu Jingyi carefully widened the small gold bracelet and slipped it onto the child’s left hand.
The plump, fair little arm resembled a tender segment of lotus root, and the bracelet shimmered with a warm, radiant glow under the cozy indoor light.
The Dragon Cub waved her hand excitedly.
Her utterly charming, adorable appearance melted everyone’s hearts completely.
Xu Zhijun grew fonder the more he looked at her—there was something in the child’s brow that reminded him of Li Hong in her youth.
Li Hong had been just as lively and cute when she was young.
Xu Zhijun: “I’ve already thought of a name for the child. How about Xu Yunshu? ‘Unmoved by glory or disgrace, watching the flowers bloom and fall before the courtyard; indifferent to coming and going, following the clouds as they roll and unfold beyond the sky.’ I hope our daughter can be like this poem—untroubled by trivial matters and carefree.”
Lu Jingyi clenched her fist.
Xu Zhijun had only attended elementary school and had never read much, so he naturally wouldn’t know this poem.
He must have asked his comrades for it in advance.
And this name was based on his belief that the child was his and Li Hong’s.
As if torturing herself, Lu Jingyi tested his attitude toward their own child. “Fine, let’s call her Yunshu. I heard Li Hong also gave birth. Has she decided on a name for her child?”
Hearing Li Hong’s name abruptly, Xu Zhijun stiffened for a moment.
He replied awkwardly, “I don’t know. That child’s name should be chosen by her.”
Lu Jingyi’s heart ached so much it felt like it was dripping blood.
So, he had never even considered naming their child.
Xu Zhijun quickly changed the subject. “Honey, look how adorable our child is. Why don’t you quit your job and stay home to take care of her peacefully?”
Lu Jingyi glared at him coldly. “Xu Zhijun, you promised I could go back to work after giving birth.”
“Yes, but can you bear to leave the child and go to work?”
Lu Jingyi lowered her head and glanced at Yunshu, who was playing with the gold bracelet.
Her Yunshu.
Her Yunshu had almost been switched at birth. Although Li Hong hadn’t realized it yet, what if she found out and wanted to swap them back?
She couldn’t imagine what kind of mistreatment Yunshu would suffer if she were taken away.
Just as Lu Jingyi was about to relent, she heard the familiar Xiao Nai Yin. [Mom, you mustn’t agree!]
[He just wants you to have no job and no contact with people—to control you!]
[He’s a big bad guy.]
Control…
Lu Jingyi froze, staring at Xu Zhijun in disbelief.
Xu Zhijun, feeling guilty, avoided meeting Lu Jingyi’s eyes from start to finish, so he didn’t notice her gaze filled with hatred and fury.
[Mom, saving people brings good karma, and it’s really good for me. When I grow up, I’ll get lots of Jin Can Can for you.]
With that, Lu Jingyi felt completely at ease.
She firmly refused, “I won’t resign.”
Xu Zhijun was somewhat angry. “I’m doing this for you and our daughter’s sake.”
“The Chairman said women hold up half the sky. Other comrades continue working after having children, why can’t I? Your political awareness is too low.”
Since Lu Jingyi had invoked the great leader, Xu Zhijun couldn’t press her further about resigning.
He thought he would gradually persuade her later.
He didn’t like his woman being more capable than him.
Besides, she was already married yet still showing herself in public.
If not for wanting to marry her, he wouldn’t have agreed to let her work outside after having children.
Xu Zhijun straightened up and said, “I’ll go get food. What would you like for lunch?”
Wang Pei: “The doctor said she can only eat small wontons since she just gave birth. As for me, just bring back whatever’s convenient.”
“Alright.”
Although his mother-in-law said that, Xu Zhijun didn’t dare to actually bring back just anything.
After Xu Zhijun left, Lu Jingyi finally let her tears fall in anger.
“Mom, did you hear that? He actually treated our daughter like that, and he doesn’t want me to work outside. How could he do this to me!”
Wang Pei was also trembling with rage.
This was the fine son-in-law she and her husband had so carefully chosen for their daughter.
There had been more suitable candidates than Xu Zhijun, but they had valued his honesty and his good treatment of their daughter.
They never expected his kindness toward their daughter was all an act.
Lu Jingyi: “Mom, how does Li Hong treat that child?”
Wang Pei sighed deeply. “When I was there, the child kept crying, but she wouldn’t even hold her. She probably thinks the child isn’t hers.”
“Xu Zhijun put so much thought into choosing a name and even bought Jin Zhuo, but none of it was for my child. He doesn’t love me, and he doesn’t love my child either.”
Wang Pei: “Get a divorce. Your father and I can support you and Yunshu.”
“But without evidence, and me having just given birth, the organization won’t approve a divorce.”
Lu Jingyi said bitterly, “Besides, I’m not willing to let those two off so easily. I want to ruin them completely.Wang Pei stroked her daughter’s head affectionately.
“It’s all your father’s and my fault for misjudging his character. We thought Xu Zhijun was honest, but we were deceived by him.”
Although their family had been abroad during the ten years of turmoil, they still felt apprehensive about that period and wanted to find someone reliable for their daughter.
It happened that Old Lu had helped secure a batch of steel materials then, and the organization invited their whole family to return.
Jingyi was transferred here, and the political instructor and hospital director arranged a social gathering.
Their daughter had taken a liking to Xu Zhijun’s decent appearance.
She and her husband observed him for a long time, thinking Xu Zhijun was honest, before agreeing to marry their daughter to him.
If not for hearing their little granddaughter’s thoughts, they might still believe Xu Zhijun was an honest man.
They never expected him to be so black-hearted, actually swapping babies and watching his own biological daughter be mistreated.
Watching her granddaughter reach out tenderly to wipe her daughter’s tears, Wang Pei’s eyes reddened.
“Shall we give the child a nickname?”
Lu Jingyi: “Let’s call her Long Bao. What do you think, Mom?”
[Long Bao is good. I’m the Golden Dragon baby.]
Hearing the lively Xiao Nai Yin, Wang Pei smiled and nodded. “Good, Long Bao is good. Our Long Bao is surely a blessed child.”
Wang Pei picked up the child and gently rocked her to sleep.
Long Bao felt her eyelids growing heavier, and soon she fell asleep.
When she regained consciousness, she felt a tickling sensation in her nose.
She opened her eyes and discovered that it was a beautiful auntie brushing her nose with her hair.