Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Qinghe nodded, though he had no idea what his wife was about to ask. However, judging from her demeanor, she didn’t seem angry.

This put him at ease.

He had intended to tell her about this matter right after their marriage. But she was so good, having married someone like him who might not even have biological parents, and whose biological parents might have abandoned him.

He knew how ridiculous these thoughts were, but looking at her beautiful face that made his heart race, he had buried all his secrets in the depths of his humility.

Now that Xiuxiu wasn’t angry, everything was fine.

Xiuxiu thought that a normal person wouldn’t blame themselves for this situation.

But... her husband’s thoughts were truly unique.

"Wang Qinghe, what if you hadn’t told me about this and I hadn’t been on guard against this family? What if one day they suddenly decided they disliked me and wanted me dead? If I was careless and didn’t prepare, and ended up dying, what would you do?"

Xiuxiu asked casually, afraid that he would overthink it.

The color drained from Qinghe’s face, and his mind went blank.

The scene from his dream and her question made him feel as if such an event could really happen.

"No, why are you crying?" Xiuxiu was stunned. How could he be crying?

"Sorry..."

Qinghe’s voice was hoarse.

"I was just asking out of curiosity. Why are you crying? You’re a father now! How old are you!"

Xiuxiu felt a chill run down her spine. Although Qinghe didn’t look bad when he cried, why was he crying?

"If I really caused your death, I probably wouldn’t want to live either, and neither should they!"

Qinghe couldn’t believe Xiuxiu would think of such a terrifying question!

Before meeting Xiuxiu, he hadn’t wanted to get married. A man like him, abandoned by his biological parents and disliked by the parents who raised him, had planned to repay the family for raising him and stay with them for a few more years.

He didn’t want to marry and burden someone else with his misfortunes.

But from the moment he saw Xiuxiu, he fell head over heels in love. He was desperate to marry her, and without her, life seemed meaningless.

His feelings overpowered his reason, and he decided that regardless of his debt to the Wang family, if Xiuxiu married him, he would never let her suffer or endure hardship in this home.

If she died, what was the point of living?

Xiuxiu didn’t know what Qinghe was thinking, but his response matched exactly what he had done in his previous life.

He had tried every means possible to die alongside the Wang family, but failed each time.

In reality, she had never considered the other members of the Wang family as family. Her death had been because of Zhou Jiaojiao. Regardless of whether Qinghe revealed the truth or not, that woman would become displeased with anyone who didn’t cater to her whims.

Over time, her resentment grew.

So, in his previous life, Qinghe had lived with suffocating guilt and his love for her, torturing himself?

Xiuxiu did not comprehend those for whom love was paramount, yet she couldn't resist feeling a deep sense of compassion and heartache for him.

"I was just giving a hypothetical example. Don’t take it seriously. Rest assured, I won’t go anywhere dangerous. Once we separate from the family, we’ll live well together. How could anything happen to me?

Also, what kind of thoughts are those? It doesn’t matter if you’re not their biological child. No matter who your parents are or whether anyone wants you, we’re married, and I won’t look down on you. This isn’t your fault." Seeing Qinghe’s dejected mood, Xiuxiu tried to reassure him.

"Really, you won’t look down on me?" Qinghe looked at her.

Xiuxiu had no choice but to kiss him.

"Really!"

She said.

Only then did Qinghe cheer up.

"Let’s talk business. Don’t you want to know who your biological parents are? I always feel that Wang Shoucheng and Zhao Guifen aren’t capable of any charitable deeds; there must be some benefit for them! Also, we don’t owe them anything.

I’ll follow your advice regarding my bracelet, but you need to listen to me about separating from the Wang family."

Xiuxiu’s expression was stern. This ledger was incredibly useful. What saving grace? The two elders of the Wang family wouldn’t have that kind of enlightenment.

Aside from the money for Qinghe’s meals when he was young, everything else would be returned to her.

"Alright, I’ll listen to you." Qinghe forgot all his plans upon seeing his wife’s concern for him.

In the evening, at dinnertime.

The Wang family sat around the dinner table, and the atmosphere was polarized!

On one side, Xiuxiu’s family and the third and fourth sons’ families each had a large bowl of fish soup with a catfish for each person.

On the other side, Guifen and her husband, along with the second and fifth sons, only had boiled cabbage without any oil.

Normally, they could tolerate sharing a single fish.

However, the stark contrast at the table made those without fish crave it even more.

Guifen’s eyes turned green as she looked at the fish. "Lao Da, you didn’t bring back much game today. Aren’t you ashamed to drink that fish soup alone? Your father helped your brothers expand their houses and is exhausted. He’s still your father. Can’t you share some of the soup with him before drinking it yourself?

"Don't you know that being filial to your parents is paramount?"

Wang Qinghe always listened to their words without responding.

Bai Xiuxiu glanced at the two of them. "Yes, being filial to your parents is paramount, but only if they're your real parents."

"What do you mean? How so? Am I not his mother?" Zhao Guifen felt guilty and her tone became anxious.

Bai Xiuxiu looked puzzled. "Whose mother keeps her fish for the second and youngest sons, then asks the eldest son for a share of his food? If you hadn't asked, I would have thought my husband was picked up by you."

"What did you say?" Zhao Guifen now felt even more guilty, her voice rising in pitch.

"Enough, what are you arguing about? Isn’t our daughter-in-law right? You care about Old Second and Old Fifth, but you should also care about the Eldest. The rules are set by us; they can eat theirs." Wang Shoucheng didn’t want any more commotion in the house.

Especially not about the Eldest not being their biological child.

What they did back then was done, and they would never admit it for the rest of their lives!

The Eldest was part of their family, and that was final.

Zhao Guifen lowered her head, not daring to make a fuss.

Bai Xiuxiu found the old couple even more peculiar. These two were very afraid of people discovering that Wang Qinghe wasn’t their biological son?

"Xiuxiu? Xiuxiu, are you home? I’ve brought good news."

The voice of the captain’s wife drifted into the room, and Bai Xiuxiu recognized it as the matter discussed the other day. She quickly got up to greet her.

Seeing Bai Xiuxiu, Chen Jinhua clapped her hands in delight. "Xiuxiu, you’re in. You’re joining our village Women's Federation."