AD [QT] Chapter 1

(Word Count: 2999)

Edited

 

“The family has only two sons, and they run a distribution shop. They have no shortage of food and drink, just wanting a delicate daughter to pamper. Once the girl arrives at their place, she’ll be like falling into a nest of fortune. She’ll have it better than at your house. You can rest assured…”

 

Aunt Mao spoke until her throat was dry, grabbing a water cup beside her and gulping down a large sip. As soon as the water entered her mouth, she realized it had been mixed with brown sugar, which pleased her. Her eyes flicked around, and she took another large gulp, emptying the entire cup, causing Old Lady Han, who was sitting beside her, to furrow her brow.

 

“I agree with this, but crying and wailing—who are you showing it to? If you have the ability, why don’t you just give birth to a son? What a bad omen.”

 

Old Lady Han spoke harshly, not forgetting to roll her eyes at her daughter-in-law, who was still holding the baby tightly on the bed. She had given birth to one daughter after another, wasting two big spoons of brown sugar for the sake of a girl. The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. Which daughter-in-law gives birth to daughter after daughter like hers? If it were in the past, she would have been divorced long ago, yet she still had the nerve to cry.

 

Wu Hongmei felt a deep sorrow, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed at the child in her arms. Didn’t she also want to have a son? What wrong had she done for the heavens to treat her this way? She only wanted a son, just one son, and yet she couldn’t even have that.

 

Aunt Mao had seen this kind of reaction before, so she wasn’t at all surprised. Still, she followed the usual process and comforted her a few times. “A child is like a piece of flesh from a mother’s body, anyone would be reluctant to part with their child. Maybe the next one will be a son. For the sake of having a son, even if you’re unwilling, you have to let go.”

 

Wu Hongmei stiffly pulled at the corners of her mouth. Anyone can say these things, but when it comes to one’s own situation, who knows the pain?

 

Even though it was a girl, she was still the one who gave birth to her. She couldn’t bear to part with either of them. The first child, she gave to the child’s uncle for some comfort, and at least she could still see the child. But this one—if she handed it over to strangers, would she ever be able to see her again?

 

But this wasn’t something she could decide on. After giving birth to five daughters for the family, she had no confidence in front of her husband or her mother-in-law.

 

Aunt Mao noticed her hesitance and knew she couldn’t make a decision. She turned to Old Lady Han, pointing at the baby with a smile, “Shall I take the child then?”

 

Old Lady Han didn’t even look up, showing an expression that suggested she wished to be left alone. “Take her away! Take her away!”

 

Aunt Mao smiled and stepped forward, ready to take the child.

 

Wu Hongmei instinctively tightened her hold on the baby, glaring at her as if she were a kidnapper.

 

Aunt Mao curled her lips. If she wasn’t willing, then she should raise the child herself. She wanted a son but couldn’t bear to part with a daughter—how could she expect everything to go her way? Aunt Mao wasn’t in a hurry; with her experience, she knew Wu Hongmei would eventually give in. Once she promised someone something, there was no way she wouldn’t fulfill it.

 

Old Lady Han glared and snapped, “Give her the child.”

 

“Wait a minute…”

 

Han Ze stepped into the room, his simple and honest face full of helplessness and reluctance. Looking at Old Lady Han, he asked bitterly yet with a hint of hope, “Mother, is the fortune telling of Old Blind Han really accurate?”

 

The others in the room didn’t understand why he was asking this.

 

Old Lady Han’s cloudy eyes widened. For a moment, she wondered if her son had sensed something. She put on a fierce front, saying, “Of course he’s accurate. If he wasn’t, how would your sister have gotten into university? How would the third son have married a city girl?”

 

“Mother, why didn’t we let the old blind man read my fortune back then?”

 

Hearing this, Han Ze’s eyes filled with tears, his face growing even more bitter. He slumped down onto the floor.

 

“Do you think the old blind man can read everyone’s fate?”

 

“Enough, stop talking about useless things. Hurry up and let Aunt Mao take the child.” Seeing her son act like this, Old Lady Han was relieved but also thought he was just using emotional tactics. However, knowing her son’s straightforward character, she found it hard to believe he would do that.

 

“No. The child can’t be given to others.”

 

Upon hearing this, Han Ze stood up hastily, almost stumbling as he did.

 

“Mother, the child can’t be given away.”

 

Wu Hongmei’s face showed a surprised expression. If her husband didn’t want to give the child away, even her mother-in-law couldn’t make the decision, right?

 

“A girl like this, why can’t she be given away? Do you still want to have a son?”

 

Old Lady Han crossed her arms, looking at him with irritation. Why did everyone oppose her so much? The world had turned upside down.

 

“I’m not trying to have a son. The old blind man said I won’t have a son in this life. Mother…”

 

“What?”

 

“Mother, the old blind man said I won’t have a son in this life.” Han Ze drooped his head, speaking with a tone of resignation, as if surrendering to fate.

 

“The old blind man said you won’t have a son in this life?”

 

Han Ze nodded.

 

“Stop talking nonsense. How can you believe a blind man’s words?” Old Lady Han shouted in anger. After shouting, she glanced at Aunt Mao, her face slightly awkward.

 

“Mother always said he was very accurate, so I believe him.”

 

The old blind man had accurately predicted that his younger sister would be a university student, so the family had saved money to send her to school. He had also predicted that the third son was destined to eat from public rations and marry a city girl, so they had spent money pulling strings to get him a permanent job at the county’s textile factory, eventually marrying a city woman.

 

The old blind man’s predictions had all come true.

 

Therefore, Han Ze firmly believed in the old blind man’s words, and when he came back, he checked with Old Lady Han, but this time, he was unwilling to accept that he didn’t have the fate of a son.

 

Old Lady Han:…

 

Could she say that the reason she had relied on the old blind man’s predictions was to get the whole family to chip in for her youngest daughter’s university education and to help her youngest son find an easy job?

 

“Mother, if I’m destined not to have a son, then so be it. Don’t worry about me. People say a son-in-law is like half a son. With so many daughters, I’m sure to have plenty of sons-in-law to support me when I’m old.”

 

Han Ze had no idea what his mother was really thinking. By the end, he miraculously comforted himself, and his face showed a happy smile as he thought of the good life ahead.

 

The absurdity of his reasoning, especially the shining smile on his face, made Old Lady Han’s face turn red with anger. She was deeply frustrated, but she couldn’t tell him the truth—that she and the old blind man had colluded to deceive the family. Breathing heavily, she clutched her chest, ready to find the old blind man and give him a piece of her mind, but Han Ze stopped her.

 

“Mother, don’t blame the old blind man for telling the truth. He was just being kind. If we hadn’t known that no matter how many children we had, they would all be girls, when would Hongmei stop giving birth?”

 

“At least I won’t have to give birth to a son anymore. I’ll raise these girls well. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the town to get sterilized and then just focus on raising my daughters. I won’t think about anything else.”

 

Old Lady Han choked on her breath, unable to say anything as her hand trembled, pointing at her son. The others watching the scene, like Aunt Mao, hurried to support her, fearing she might faint. If something happened to her, it wouldn’t bode well for them.

 

Han Ze sighed in relief, “Mother, don’t worry. I’ve made up my mind. There are plenty of families in the village without sons. Don’t they live just fine?”

 

Old Lady Han had just caught her breath when her son’s words left her speechless again. She took a deep breath and, with a menacing tone, said, “I’m going to find the old blind man.”

 

Having received so many things from her, he still dared to talk nonsense—she couldn’t forgive him.

 

Han Ze wanted to stop her, but she shot him a glare, so he retreated. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I’ll go with you.”

 

Old Lady Han snorted and, with a big stride, left the house. She moved so swiftly that she didn’t seem to have any leg or foot pain, looking as spry as a young person.

 

Aunt Mao was extremely angry when she saw the mother and son leave without saying a word. She glanced at Wu Hongmei, who seemed to treat her as an enemy, snorted coldly, and turned to follow the mother and son. She wanted to see how that so-called “Old Blind Han” could predict destinies and dare to ruin her plans.

 

Wu Hongmei tightly held the child in her arms, her eyes filled with love. Although it was not a son, this was her child, the one she carried for ten months and gave birth to. If there was any way, she would never abandon or part with her child.

 

Thinking of her husband’s words, her face was full of conflicting emotions. She wished Old Blind Han’s words were true so that the child could be kept. But she also wished they were false, as that would mean she still had hope for having a son in the future.

 

Her mind was filled with thoughts of daughters and sons, and she couldn’t bear to part with either…

 

…

 

Old Blind Han was leisurely lying in a recliner, stroking his cigarette. The Han family was good to him, knowing he liked to smoke, and his daughter-in-law sent him some, along with his son. They were really good people. He would repay them with all his heart for the cigarettes…

 

“Old Blind Han!”

 

A loud shout startled Old Blind Han, causing him to stand up in a hurry. In his panic, the cigarette in his hand was thrown unintentionally, and the recliner was knocked over onto its back.

 

Seeing Old Blind Han’s flurry of movements, Old Lady Han was certain that he was guilty. She couldn’t help but curse him in her heart. He deserved it! A blind man like him should stay at home and not talk nonsense. She had wasted so many cigarettes on him, she snorted and said, “Old Blind Han, why did you tell my eldest son that he has no sons in this life?”

 

Old Blind Han steadied himself, his hands waving in the air, “Where’s my cane? Where’s my cigarette?”

 

Han Ze picked up the cane from the ground and handed it to him. With the cane for support, Old Blind Han steadied himself, shaking his hands and shouting, “My cigarette! My cigarette…”

 

Han Ze found the cigarette under the chair and handed it to him.

 

Old Blind Han felt the cigarette in his hand. It was his pack of cigarettes, the one his eldest son Han Daqing had given him. He sighed in relief and then had the leisure to respond to Old Lady Han’s question: “I say, Daqing’s wife, why are you so jumpy? It’s terrifying!”

 

“What do you mean by asking me that? I want to ask you what you’re doing! Why did you say my eldest son has no sons? Now my son wants to get sterilized! You’re so malicious, cutting off his chance to have a son. Are you trying to make my son extinct?” Old Lady Han said angrily.

 

Han Ze quickly spoke up, “Mom, I know you’re heartbroken for me, and can’t accept this. But this isn’t Old Blind Han’s fault. It was me who forced him to tell the truth…”

 

Old Blind Han raised the cigarette in his hand, “You see, this is proof that Han Ze forced me to tell the truth.”

 

“Shut up!”

 

Old Lady Han couldn’t take it anymore and yelled.

 

Han Ze frowned helplessly, “Mom, I’ve thought it through. I’m no longer upset. If fate says I can’t have a son, then so be it. At least I still have several daughters. If I raise them well, they can still support me…”

 

Old Lady Han was almost sick to her stomach. Does the eldest son only have mush in his brain? He believes anything others say. Look at what he’s saying. How can daughters compare to sons?

 

Well, if he wasn’t a fool, he wouldn’t have been tricked. The other kids in the family aren’t so easily manipulated.

 

Old Blind Han said, “Right, one son-in-law is half a son. Your family has four daughters, which equals two sons. No matter how you calculate it, you’re not losing out. Besides, as long as the family has money, you can buy a house in the city and let the son-in-law live with you. Who can say anything?”

 

Old Lady Han retorted, “Then why don’t you let your son live with his mother-in-law?”

 

Old Blind Han wasn’t angry, he said leisurely, “My son’s mother-in-law is so poor, they hang a pot to tell the time. They’re depending on me to support them, and you expect them to buy a house in the city for my son?”

 

Under Old Lady Han’s sarcastic gaze, he continued, “Just like your third son’s wife. She’s the only daughter in her family. Your third son lives at his mother-in-law’s, acting like a son to her, and will have to take care of her in her old age. You can’t say anything, can you? That’s because they have money and power. It looks like there’s no real difference between having a son or a daughter.”

 

“You…” Old Lady Han was hit where it hurt and angrily said, “Can Han Ze compare with the third son’s mother-in-law’s family?”

 

Old Blind Han just smiled without speaking.

 

Han Ze looked hurt as he glanced at his mother. So in her eyes, he was this useless?

 

Noticing her son’s pained gaze, Old Lady Han finally softened.

 

Old Blind Han stroked his beard and said, “Han Ze, although you don’t have a son’s fate, all your daughters are successful and filial…”

 

Han Ze smiled foolishly, feeling slightly relieved. His daughters were of course filial.

 

Old Lady Han sneered, looking at Old Blind Han. Keep making up stories, she wanted to see how far he could go with this.

 

Old Blind Han glanced at Old Lady Han and then continued to Han Ze, “As for you, although you’re honest and straightforward, you have a pair of skilled hands. With those hands, as long as you make up your mind, wealth and prosperity will come soon.”

 

Han Ze held his hands, turning them over and over. They were calloused, but he didn’t see anything special about them. However, he believed every word Old Blind Han said, because this was something his mother had believed in for years. How could he not believe? So, he was sure he would be able to prosper with these hands.

 

Although the son was a fool, he was still her son, and no one else could be blamed. With a helpless sigh, Old Lady Han said, “Oldest son, don’t listen to your Old Blind Han uncle. If fortune-telling was so accurate, everyone would believe in fate and stop working.”

 

Han Ze sighed, “Mom, I know you’re worried about me not having a son. You’re even willing to criticize Old Blind Han, who you’ve trusted for decades, to comfort me. I’m really moved. But you should know, Old Blind Han’s abilities can’t be undone by a few words. Didn’t the things he predicted for my little sister and third brother come true?”

 

Old Blind Han shrugged, “Yes, didn’t your family have two examples right in front of you?”

 

What could be more convincing than seeing things happen with your own eyes?

 

Old Lady Han almost fainted. Good Old Blind Han, good Old Blind Han!

 

Meanwhile, Han Ze suddenly said, “One son-in-law is half a son. Not only will the fifth daughter not be sent away, but I’ll also have to go to my mother-in-law’s house and bring the fourth daughter back. I can’t let my brother-in-law get the better of us.”

 

Old Lady Han nearly fainted again. She was about to say something when Han Ze interrupted, “Mom, don’t say anything more. I know you love me the most. You’re always thinking of me. Don’t worry, even if I upset my mother-in-law’s family, I will bring the fourth daughter back. She’s like half a son to me.”

 

Old Lady Han finally fainted.

 

Han Ze skillfully pressed on her acupoint, and a mechanical voice echoed in his ear.

 

[Congratulations to the host for completing the task of keeping the fifth daughter, reward: 200 points, unlocked Cooking Master skill.]

 

Ivy: Hi, guys. Thanks so much for reading this book. My school is currently in session and I don’t have a lot of free time to post this book daily, so I’ll post it arc by arc. I’ll probably post 2 arcs or 3 a month, depending on my schedule.

Also, please rate and leave a review on this book on NU. And Please leave a comment here. I’d love to here your thoughts. Thank you.