Chapter 163

Chapter 163

◎Preference for Sons is the Source of Tragedy◎

While the crowd was still processing what happened, the group quickly slipped away. Once outside, Xu Shanshan was still thinking about the incident in the cold drink shop: "Will that guy who started the fight get arrested?"

Xiao Ye reassured her, "Don't worry, even if the police come, they’ll likely just give a verbal warning. It's not a big deal. I just didn't expect that guy's karma would come so quickly. He couldn't even spare 80,000 for the bride price but still wanted a wife? What a delusion."

Chi Xingyao, having seen such things more than once, expressed her disdain: "That guy’s intentions are practically written all over his face. He couldn’t afford the bride price but went and bought a car instead, dragging the girl along until she’s in her thirties. And to make it worse, he might even try to get her pregnant before marriage, hoping to marry her without paying a single cent for the bride price. He might even pressure her into sacrificing herself for him. How can there be so many jerks in this world?"

Xiao Ye raised his hand, "I'm not a jerk."

His heart was completely devoted to Naonao. If Ji Naonao agreed, he would gladly hand over all his assets. After all, it's often said that where a man's money is, his love lies.

Ji Nanxing pulled his hand down, "No one was accusing you. Why are you taking it personally?"

Xiao Ye chuckled and leaned closer to him, "If I stayed quiet, wouldn’t it seem like I’m hiding something?"

Ji Nanxing turned to Xu Shanshan, "There's another matter, possibly related to your origins. It's up to you whether you want to know."

Xu Shanshan was surprised, "My origins?"

She was just an average person. What hidden secrets could her origins possibly hold?

Ji Nanxing continued, "Even if you don’t find out, it won’t change your life. But you have the right to know. Although knowing might not necessarily be a good thing, you can think about it. If you want to know, you can contact me later."

He then added, "The fee for today’s divination is 2,000 yuan. As for the matter about your origins, I won’t charge you if you decide you want to know."

Chi Xingyao immediately transferred the money to Ji Nanxing via her phone. Xu Shanshan whispered to Chi Xingyao, "I'll send you the money later."

Chi Xingyao smiled at her. Whether the money was sent or not didn’t matter much to her. Sometimes, that amount wasn't even enough for a single meal. But she really clicked with Xu Shanshan—it was the kind of instant connection that made her feel they could become good friends.

Before Ji Nanxing and the others could leave, Xu Shanshan spoke up, "Don’t wait for next time, Master Taoist. If there's something about my origins, tell me now. I want to know."

Who could resist that kind of curiosity? Besides, if not knowing didn't affect her, then even if she found out something unpleasant, she could simply continue as if she didn't know.

Ji Nanxing said, "Your weak kinship line doesn't mean your parents passed away early. It means your parents are still alive, but you have no connection with them."

Otherwise, unless Xu Shanshan already had children, there wouldn't be a kinship line. Like Chi Xingyao, who currently has no kinship line because her relatives are no longer alive. As for her living grandparents, they’re not only separated by generations but have also lost contact over the years.

Xu Shanshan was completely stunned, her face filled with disbelief, "What are you saying?"

Her parents are still alive? How could that be? For a moment, Xu Shanshan was utterly bewildered, even feeling as if she were in a dream because it was too absurd.

Ji Nanxing continued, "I’m just telling you what I see in you. Also, regarding your birth date, it would be best if you clarify your true birth date. Even if the one on your ID is wrong, it’s okay as long as you know the correct one."

Otherwise, after today’s reading, if she knew that the birth date belonged to someone who died young, it could somewhat affect her own luck.

That's why many skilled Taoists advise people not to casually seek divination. Knowing too much can be worse than staying blissfully unaware.

After saying what needed to be said, Ji Nanxing left with Xiao Ye. The two girls sat by the roadside for a long time, too stunned to move.

Xu Shanshan looked at Chi Xingyao as if seeking confirmation, "He’s the real deal, right? Not just some fraud spouting nonsense?"

Chi Xingyao, who had been confident before, now hesitated to be too definitive, "All I know is that he can see my deceased relatives, and today’s reading was spot-on."

Xu Shanshan asked, "So what he said might be true? My parents are still alive? Do you think I might have been kidnapped?"

Chi Xingyao sighed, "But he said your kinship line is weak, meaning you have no connection with your parents. Does that mean even if you were kidnapped, you might never find them in this lifetime?"

If that's the case, no wonder the Young Celestial Master said knowing or not wouldn’t change your life now.

Chi Xingyao thought for a moment and shook her head: "Wait, if you knew, you’d definitely go looking for your parents, so your life would definitely change."

Xu Shanshan looked confused: "So what’s he getting at?"

Chi Xingyao grabbed her hand: "Hang tight until I wrap up this project—it’ll just be a few more days. After that, I'll accompany you back to your hometown, maybe we can find something."

Xu Shanshan looked at Chi Xingyao: "Thank you, thank you for helping me so much."

Chi Xingyao smiled: "Meeting you was fate, and honestly, I’m really curious about your situation."

It’s so wild. Who’d have thought a simple fortune-telling session could uncover so much? This summer’s been surreal for Chi Xingyao, but in a way, it’s made her otherwise dull life way more exciting.

After parting ways with the two girls, Xiao Ye took Ji Nanxing to the night market: "You hardly ate anything earlier—come on, I’ll take you to try some amazing ice cream."

Ji Nanxing was pulled along: "How good is it?"

Xiao Ye turned back and smiled at him: "You’ll see when you taste it."

The night market was packed, with food stalls sprinkled between every few item stalls, making it perfect for snacking while browsing.

Fancier stuff, like sparkly accessories, were on tables, while things like bags and shoes were sprawled on the ground, so you had to watch your step.

The amazing ice cream Xiao Ye talked about wasn’t from a shop—it was from a tricycle with an ice cream machine and stacks of cones. At five yuan a pop, the owner was super generous, piling each cone sky-high, making it feel like a steal.

Xiao Ye told Ji Nanxing to wait in an empty spot while he got in line. Everyone in line paid by scanning a code, so the owner could just focus on making the ice cream without dealing with cash.

While in line, Xiao Ye kept looking back at Ji Nanxing, like he was making sure he was staying put. Every time he looked back, he’d flash a big grin, making Ji Nanxing smile too.

When Xiao Ye ran back with two cones, Ji Nanxing tilted his head slightly. How could someone be so good-looking and goofy at the same time? It was like he had a tail wagging behind him.

Chi Xingyao’s team won the company’s internal competition, just like they’d expected. After almost a month of grinding, they finally got their payoff. Their team leader gave them a couple of days off to recharge before the next round of challenges.

Chi Xingyao decided to tack on her annual leave too, giving her almost two weeks off.

Xu Shanshan was on summer break but had a freelance gig, so she didn’t have to clock in and could work on her own time.

After a flight, a train ride, and almost two hours in a car, they finally made it to Xu Shanshan’s hometown.

Chi Xingyao slid her sunglasses down a bit and took in the dusty little town in front of her. She looked at Xu Shanshan with admiration: "It’s incredible that you got out of here."

She herself was a pampered princess, born into a wealthy family with a grandmother who was a lady of high society. She had received elite education since childhood, attending international schools and receiving British education. The toughest thing she’d ever gone through, aside from losing loved ones, was probably drinking an iced Americano.

This place, where the wind kicked up dust, was straight out of a book or movie. She felt like she’d be coated in dust just from standing here for a bit.

But Xu Shanshan grew up here and still made it out. Chi Xingyao felt a mix of admiration and a pang of sadness for her.

Xu Shanshan didn’t think it was that hard. After finally getting out, she thought she would never come back. But now that she was back, she didn’t dwell on the past hardships but instead felt a sense of nostalgia.

Especially hearing the familiar dialect, she realized that this was what coming home felt like. It was quite magical.

Xu Shanshan said to Chi Xingyao: "They built a road here a few years ago. When I was in school, there was no road, just dirt paths that got really muddy when it rained. Even earlier, when I was in elementary school, the conditions were worse. I had to walk through fields and ridges, taking almost an hour just to get to and from school."

Chi Xingyao couldn’t imagine how tough that must have been. It was only a little over a decade ago, around 2010. She knew that even now, there are still places in their country without electricity, but hearing it from someone she knew personally felt different.

They didn’t go straight to the village. It would take another half hour by tricycle, but it was already late, and it wasn’t safe to go to the village at night, so they stayed at a hotel in the town.

Early the next morning, Xu Shanshan and Chi Xingyao took a tricycle back to the village. After all these years, the village was still there. Although many people had moved to the town, leaving the village somewhat abandoned with many empty houses, there were still some elderly people who couldn’t bear to leave or were struggling to make ends meet.

Seeing two young women, several people working in the fields couldn't help but look over curiously. Xu Shanshan smiled and stepped forward, speaking in the local dialect: "Is that Grandma Axiu? I'm Shanshan, Shanshan from the lower house (a neighborhood or area)."

Grandma Axiu, though elderly, was still strong and sharp-minded, and she remembered her: "Shanshan, oh, you're back? My, you've grown so beautiful in just a few years."

Now she looked like a city girl, so Grandma Axiu hadn't recognized her at first.

Xu Shanshan said, "I came back to visit the graves and check on the house. How have you been, Grandma Axiu?"

Grandma Axiu smiled, "I'm doing well. Your house is empty. Come over for lunch—I'll cook you a chicken!"

Xu Shanshan quickly declined, "No need, Grandma Axiu. My friend and I are just here for a quick visit; we'll be leaving soon."

Grandma Axiu had already noticed the girl beside her, who was also strikingly beautiful, just like a city girl.

Xu Shanshan said, "Grandma Axiu, you must be busy. I'll go check my house and visit you later."

Grandma Axiu waved her hand, and Xu Shanshan led Chi Xingyao toward her dilapidated house.

The bricks and tiles were broken, and several walls had collapsed, making the house look like it could crumble with a single kick.

Xu Shanshan sighed, "I always wanted to escape from here, but now that I'm back, I feel a sense of belonging. It's strange how people can feel this way."

Chi Xingyao, seeing such a rundown house for the first time, looked around curiously and asked, "Did your parents treat you well?"

Xu Shanshan thought for a moment and shook her head, "They weren't particularly good, but they weren't bad either. They fed me when there was food, but if I didn't do well with farm work, they'd scold or hit me. They often grumbled about compulsory education, saying it was better to get used to farm work early. They even planned to arrange a marriage for me when I was still in elementary school, saying it would secure my future. To this day, I don't know if they meant well or not."

For those who never left this place, stability was the greatest hope in life. Their vision was limited, so Xu Shanshan truly didn't know if her parents' desire for her stability was for her good or not.

After thoroughly searching the dilapidated house, Xu Shanshan found nothing of use. She had already turned the house upside down when she left, and there was nothing left.

Chi Xingyao asked, "Aren't there any property deeds or your birth certificate here?"

Xu Shanshan shook her head. Chi Xingyao said, "Do you know which hospital you were born in? We can check at the hospital."

Xu Shanshan replied, "I was born at home, so there was no need to go to the hospital."

Chi Xingyao was surprised, "Really? What era are we in, still having home births?"

Xu Shanshan nodded, "That's what my parents said. They said I came out too quickly, and there was no time to go to the hospital, so I was born at home."

Finding nothing useful, Xu Shanshan decided to give up but planned to ask Grandma Axiu instead. Grandma Axiu had lived here her whole life and would know if there was anything unusual about her birth.

However, they hadn't brought anything with them, and going empty-handed would be impolite. Fortunately, Xu Shanshan had prepared a red envelope with two hundred yuan.

Grandma Axiu naturally refused, saying that a young girl like her had a hard time outside and should take care of herself.

Xu Shanshan insisted, "Please take it—it's not much. And Grandma Axiu, there's something I need to ask you."

Unable to refuse, Grandma Axiu accepted the envelope and asked, "What do you want to ask?"

Xu Shanshan said, "Grandma Axiu, am I really my parents' biological child?"

At this question, Grandma Axiu's expression shifted slightly. Chi Xingyao noticed and exchanged a glance with Xu Shanshan. It seemed the Taoist was right again—there was indeed a hidden story about her origins.

Xu Shanshan smiled, "Grandma Axiu, I'm grown up now, and my parents are gone. There's no need to hide the past anymore. I'm asking because I already know something. Please tell me—it's better than living in confusion forever. At least let me know who my real parents are."

Grandma Axiu sighed, "How did you find out? Your uncle wouldn't have told you this."

Xu Shanshan said, "I found out by accident. Grandma Axiu, what's the story? Do you know who my real parents are?"

Granny Axiu: "Your parents are no longer alive, so whether you know or not, it doesn't really matter anymore. Back then, your grandmother told us not to talk about it, fearing that you wouldn't be close to them if you found out you weren't their biological child. Your biological parents live in the town, surnamed Ye. They run a stall at the market, the one that sells roasted seeds and nuts."

Xu Shanshan didn't expect things to go so smoothly; she actually managed to uncover the truth.

Chi Xingyao, standing beside her, asked, "Granny Axiu, do you know how Shanshan ended up with the Xu family? Why did her biological parents abandon her?"

Granny Axiu replied, "Why else? Because she was a girl, and a twin, no less. I don't know if you're the older or younger sister, but there's another one in your family, a twin. Your grandmother didn't want you, she wanted a boy. They couldn't afford to raise more children, so they gave you away. The Xu family had it hard too; they had three children who all died, and their health was ruined, so they couldn't have more. When they heard someone didn't want their child, they hurried over and took you in."

She was quite old, but back then, the village talked about it for a long time. As the children grew up, the Xu family feared they would find out the truth and go looking for their biological parents, so they told everyone to keep quiet. Feeling sorry for the Xu family, everyone kept their mouths shut.

No one expected Shanshan to grow up and discover her true origins.

Chi Xingyao asked, "Did the Ye family have a son later?"

Granny Axiu sneered, "They did. How else would they face retribution?"

Chi Xingyao quickly asked, "What happened? How were they punished?"

Granny Axiu explained, "The Ye family had four daughters in total. The eldest disappeared at birth, no one knows if she's dead or alive. Then they had twins, Shanshan and her sister. The village believed that losing a child brought bad luck, so they couldn't have a son. They didn't abandon the twins, but gave one away. The other was kept at home and named Zhaodi. A couple of years later, they had another girl, which so infuriated the Ye family that they almost got divorced. The youngest was also given away, or more accurately, sold. The eldest, Shanshan's sister, could do farm work by the age of three or four, even standing on a stool to cook at the stove. It was tough."

Xu Shanshan pursed her lips, silent. Although she had a tough childhood, compared to this, her parents treated her quite well, at least raising her.

Chi Xingyao asked, "Did they finally have a son?"

Granny Axiu said, "Yes, the fifth child was a son, treasured like gold. Shanshan's sister was pitiful; she drowned in the river, leaving the Ye family with only one surviving child."

Chi Xingyao couldn't help but wonder, "Was it an accident, or did the Ye family dispose of her because they didn't want her?"

Granny Axiu said, "It was an accident. A six or seven-year-old girl could already do a lot of chores, and in a few more years, she could be married off for a dowry. No matter how bad they were, they wouldn't dare kill a child of that age. But they were cruel. The year after she died, they sold her to a family who had also lost a child, for a ghost marriage ceremony."

The two girls were shocked. A ghost marriage? What kind of thing was that!

Granny Axiu looked at Shanshan and couldn't help but touch her face with her wrinkled, thin hand: "We didn't know about this initially. Later, after your parents passed away, right after your sister's ghost marriage, your uncle took you away. His plan was to raise you for a few more years and then marry you off for a dowry, so he wouldn't lose out and you could help with the family work. But not long after taking you in, your uncle almost had an accident. At that time, they believed it must be due to the ghost marriage. You were twins, and the time of birth was unclear. Ghost marriages require matching birth dates, and matching you would be like matching your sister. The villagers thought it was unlucky, fearing that if it was you and not the deceased girl, it would be a living person in a ghost marriage."

Xu Shanshan asked, "So they said I was cursed to bring misfortune to my relatives because of the ghost marriage?"

Granny Axiu nodded, "Yes, but ghost marriages are hard to talk about. Your biological parents definitely didn't want you, and your uncle's family didn't dare keep you, fearing you would affect their luck. That's why they treated you that way."

Xu Shanshan laughed. She never imagined that her so-called curse had such a backstory. It was ridiculous, truly ridiculous.

The root of all the tragedy was the desire for a son.

She had thought herself lucky before, despite her poor background and poverty, being the only child in her family, not having to deal with a son being favored over a daughter. But if it weren't for her adoptive parents, she might not have survived.

After leaving the village, Xu Shanshan, wearing a mask, went to the small market in town. Although she might not be recognized, she didn't want to get involved with her biological parents, yet she was curious about what they looked like.

Chi Xingyao walked arm in arm with her, and they went to the roasted seeds and nuts shop. Chi Xingyao went in first, asking about the prices of some items.

Xu Shanshan looked at the small shop, where an old man who could easily be her grandfather was feeding a mentally disabled boy while managing the shop.

Chi Xingyao glanced and asked, "You have to take care of him and run the shop. Isn't it too much?"

Old Man Ye didn't find the question odd, probably having been asked many times before, and replied, "There's no choice. My wife passed away a few years ago. What else can I do but bring him along?"

Chi Xingyao asked, "Was he born like this?"

Old Man Ye, thinking about it, felt a pang of anger: "No, he got a fever that damaged his brain."

It would have been fine if they had taken him to the hospital, but his mother insisted that too many injections would make him stupid and wanted to use some folk remedy, which delayed treatment and ruined his brain.

Chi Xingyao said "oh" and casually pointed to the melon seeds nearby, saying, "Can you weigh ten yuan's worth for me?"

Old Man Ye opened a bag and filled a bowl, which happened to weigh exactly ten yuan.

Chi Xingyao paid the money and pulled Xu Shanshan out of the store.

Once outside, the sunlight was blinding. They turned back to see the thin, aged man sitting back in the dimly lit shop, continuing to feed the boy who clearly had mental disabilities.

Xu Shanshan chuckled, "It really is karma."

Chi Xingyao tugged at her, "Let's go, it's time to head home. When we get back, I need a good bath and then have a big meal. I'm going to start enjoying my little holiday!"

Xu Shanshan smiled, "My treat, I'll take you to hotpot."

Chi Xingyao replied, "Great! How about we go on a trip? Since you're also on summer break, I'll find a place that's cheap and has beautiful scenery. If we get bored with one spot, we can check out places others are tired of."

Xu Shanshan calculated her savings and felt it was indeed time to relax and enjoy herself a bit, so she nodded, "Okay, but I'm a broke student; I can't afford anything too pricey."

Chi Xingyao assured her, "Don't worry, I'll plan it out. I promise we'll have a blast without breaking the bank!"

The two girls walked forward, laughing and leaving all the gloom behind. It was only at this moment that Xu Shanshan finally stepped out of the shadow of her so-called 'hard fate that harms relatives.'

Such a father, who was less than human, was still alive and hadn't been harmed by her. What right did she have to think she had a hard fate that harms relatives? (Note: This refers to a traditional belief in some Chinese cultures where a person's destiny is thought to bring misfortune to family members.)