Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Illusion (Part 2)

Ding Zhuang looked at Tang Shi's swollen face, crying with snot and tears, and sighed deeply, his eyes filled with sadness.

This daughter-in-law, like An An, had married into the Ding family with a substantial dowry, yet their men hadn't provided them with a good life. If the Tang family really demanded a separation, it would be Ding Chi and his third grandson who would suffer...

Ding Zhuang sat despondently on the kang bed, waving his hand dismissively, "Everyone get out, just go."

Seeing his distressed father, Ding Zhao knew only Xiang Xiang could comfort him without getting hit, so he went out, carried Ding Xiang into his father's arms, and led Ding Chi and his wife out, then closed the door.

Ding Zhuang held his granddaughter tightly, his gaze empty, his expression sorrowful.

He must be thinking of the dearly departed Grandma An An.

Ding Xiang stretched out her arm to touch his face.

Ding Zhuang felt a tickling, soothing sensation on his face and looked down to see his little granddaughter looking at him with concern.

"Ah, ah..."

Ding Xiang wanted to say, 'Grandpa, don’t be sad, those two were just acting, scheming to swindle your money.'

But she couldn’t say it.

Seeing his granddaughter not frightened but instead comforting him, Ding Zhuang smiled. He leaned down to kiss her little face and held her tighter.

"Grandpa still has Xiang Xiang, Xiang Xiang is the treasure An An left for grandpa."

Ding Xiang's mouth twitched.

The treasure An An left you includes Ding Zhao and Ding Chi, not her.

After a moment of contemplation, Ding Zhuang placed Ding Xiang on the kang bed, stood up, took out keys, and opened a large chest, from which he retrieved several small silver ingots.

Ding Zhuang went to the main room and handed the silver to Ding Chi.

"This is all I have. If you lose it again, even if you sell yourself, I won't give you another penny. The blacksmith shop is left for my eldest son and grandson, the land and some savings are for my three grandsons for their education, marriages, and Xiang Xiang’s dowry."

The beating hadn’t been in vain.

Ding Chi's eyes were swollen from the beating, and when he smiled, they were barely visible.

He hastily assured, "Dad, rest assured, my wife brings good fortune. Even if I wanted to lose money, heaven wouldn’t let my lucky wife lose. Look at her, a full forehead, a square jaw, a straight nose ridge, a deeper philtrum than anyone, that’s a silver nest, a place for storing silver. Hehe, once I make big money, I’ll give plenty of it to Dad."

Hearing the praise, Tang Shi happily flirted with Ding Chi with a few winks, unabashed in front of others.

Ding Zhao and others looked at Tang Shi's philtrum, slightly longer than usual and indeed more concave than that of the average person.

The least attractive part of Tang Shi's face turned out to be her "silver nest," which now became her most shining feature.

Ding Zhuang was so furious he felt like spitting blood. His son was investing in business not because it was profitable, but because of Tang Shi's facial features promising wealth — what a ridiculous reason.

Looking at Tang Shi's foolish demeanor, Ding Zhuang wished he could just pass away on the spot.

That money was most likely going to be wasted again.

He spat out, "How could I have..."

He wanted to say "How could I have fathered such a useless son," but felt that would be blaming An An, so he refrained.

He then thought of saying "How could I have raised such a useless son," but felt that would be blaming his kind sister, so he held back.

Unable to blame his wife or sister, he slapped Ding Chi's head twice, "You idiot, can you read anything else besides bird fortunes? Other than bragging and squandering money, what else can you do?"

Ding Chi, holding his head, yelped in pain, then slyly smiled, "Dad, I also read Xiang Xiang's fortune. She's extraordinary, even better than Ling Ling, with an extremely prosperous fate. She will bring prosperity to the family, her husband, and the world, a once-in-a-century occurrence. With her in our family, we won't just be wealthy, we'll be rich and noble. I’m not lying."

Ding Zhuang paused, a glint of interest in his eyes, "Is Xiang Xiang's fortune really that good?"

"Absolutely true. If I'm lying, may thunder strike me. I need to come home more often to honor you and get on good terms with this niece. Hehe..."

Ding Zhuang laughed heartily, "I always said Xiang Xiang is smart, destined to be like Feng Su Zhen, to become a top female scholar. Having a top female scholar in the family certainly means wealth and honor."

He then glanced at Tang Shi, who was plump and indeed seemed to possess a certain aura of good fortune.

Perhaps, Ding Chi really could read faces.

Although Ding Zhao didn't believe Ding Chi's words, he loved hearing praises about his daughter and smiled too.

Ding Zhao cautioned, "Chi, don't spread these words about 'bringing prosperity to the world.' Such phrases can easily be misunderstood. You can say she brings benefits to the people, but remember, it also implies... attracting calamity."

Having read for a couple of years, Ding Chi understood Ding Zhao's meaning. Indeed, 'bringing prosperity to the world' could be linked to rebellion.

He touched his neck and laughed, "Right, right, I was just babbling. Xiang Xiang only brings prosperity to her family and husband."

Zhang Shi and Ding Li Chun had already set the table with food and drinks.

Father and sons joyfully climbed onto the kang bed to drink.

With many people around, Ding Zhuang, along with his sons, ate on the small table on the kang bed, while the daughters-in-law and three grandsons ate at the big table on the floor. Having had her milk, Ding Xiang sat alone at the head of the kang, gnawing on her fingers.

A slightly tipsy Ding Chi boasted, "Every time I invest in a business, I look at my wife first. If her forehead is dark, I don’t invest, as it's a sure loss. I wait until her forehead is bright to proceed with the investment..."

Ding Zhuang snorted, "Nonsense, if it's that bright, why do you always lose money?"

Ding Chi, feeling the pinch, said, "It was my mistake, previously I only paid attention to her forehead. Next time, I'll also watch her 'silver nest.' I'll only invest when that shines too."

Tang Shi smirked cunningly, proudly saying, "I knew Chi wanted to see my forehead shine, so I secretly smeared it with lard in the kitchen."

Ding Chi spat out his drink in shock, his face contorting in anger as he thumped his chest, "No wonder I always lost money before; it was all an illusion. Damn it, you really are... such a foolish woman, why would you secretly put on lard?"

Tang Shi pouted, dropping her chopsticks in distress, "You’re calling me stupid, you’re calling me stupid. Just the other day, you said I was the most beautiful and smartest woman, but that was a lie. I'm going back home, I won’t stay with you anymore..."

Ding Chi quickly soothed, "I wasn’t scolding you; I was scolding myself for being foolish. All that silver wasted," he lamented, slapping himself twice, then added, "Alright, alright, it’s the husband's fault. I won’t be harsh on Ling Ling anymore.

"Ling Ling, it’s not wrong to want to please your husband. 'A woman dresses for the one who adores her,' right? But remember, Ling Ling, you can't fake facial features, can't just smear oil on your face. If I misread it, we lose money. If we lose money, you can’t live in a big house or be a wealthy lady."

Tang Shi's face brightened up with a smile, "Mmm, I'll listen to Chi."

With the couple behaving like this, the adults felt awkward to watch them.

At the other table, Ding Li spoke, "We also have to look at mom’s sole. Dad says mom's feet are like steamed buns, storing gold."

Ding Chi corrected, "Not steamed buns, gold nests."

Ding Li Chun, who had been holding back his laughter, couldn't contain it anymore and burst out laughing, spitting out mouthfuls of chicken.

Everyone else joined in the laughter.

What a foolish family, making a fool of themselves.

They didn’t notice Ding Xiang, laughing so hard that saliva was dripping down her chin.

"From the 9th to the 11th, there will be two updates each day."