Chapter 449 - 444: How Many More?
"What’s the word on the Zhou siblings?"
Gu’er asked Sun Jiaming, propped up by the pillows on her bed.
"The police took a statement from Feng Ling and came here to ask about what happened. They wanted to talk to you, but you’d just given birth and weren’t awake yet, so I gave the statement instead. At first, the Zhou siblings tried to pin the blame on Feng Ling, claiming she put them up to it. But with all of Feng Ling’s injuries, a witness testifying to how they beat her, and our side of the story, they finally had to confess. Li Zhi said they committed a crime and will definitely do time, but it has to go through the legal process, so the sentencing won’t happen right away. He told us to be patient."
Sun Jiaming shared what he knew.
Gu’er nodded. ’The Zhou siblings can’t escape this time. They’re definitely going to prison.’
"As for Zhou Mei, her husband’s family announced they’re disowning her. They even went to the Zhou family’s home and raised hell. Now, nobody in the entire village wants anything to do with the Zhou family. You know, the man Zhou Mei married was actually pretty good to her, but she just had to stir up trouble. She was never satisfied, always looking down on his family and her husband. She brought all of this on herself. And then there’s Zhou Fugui. He could have made something of himself after returning from the army, but his intentions were crooked. That girlfriend he found in the city broke up with him, too. Now he’s gotten himself thrown in jail as well. You really do reap what you sow."
Sun Jiaming sighed. ’We’re all from the same village. Who would’ve ever thought it would come to this?’
Gu’er nodded. ’Back when Sun Jiaming and I first came to the city, I never planned to do anything to Zhou Mei. After all, even though she set me up, I’d already slashed her with a knife, used the incident to break free from the Zhou family, and ended up with Sun Jiaming. As long as the Zhous were willing to let it go, I would have too. But Zhou Mei could never move on. She got married but didn’t know how to cherish what she had, looking down on her husband’s family and bringing this all on herself.’
Thinking of Zhou Mei and Zhou Fugui, Gu’er recalled the day the authorities came. Zhou Fugui had told Zhou Mei to run, not wanting her to be caught. He had also tried to drive a wedge between her and Sun Jiaming. Even his later attempt to run her over for revenge had been partly to avenge his sister.
But Zhou Mei hadn’t run. She’d tried to help Zhou Fugui escape instead. Sun Jiaming had mentioned that during the interrogation, Zhou Mei took all the blame, insisting Zhou Fugui had only acted to get revenge for her. She claimed to be the mastermind and begged the police to let her brother go.
Zhou Fugui, however, didn’t let her take the fall. He insisted it was all his idea, that Zhou Mei was just a woman following his orders.
’It seems Zhou Fugui and Zhou Mei really were close. It’s no wonder they ended up doing what they did. The warning signs were there.’
’But they can forget about having a good life anymore. If they want happiness, they can try finding it in a prison cell.’
Having thought it all through, Gu’er let out a long breath. With Zhou Mei and Zhou Fugui no longer around to stir up trouble, she had two fewer people to worry about. It was unsettling to always have someone plotting against you.
"Did you call my dad?"
Gu’er stopped asking about the Zhou siblings. Their fate was sealed, and they would have no chance to make anything of themselves in this life. The Zhou family in the village had also lost their influence and were now scorned by the villagers. There was nothing to worry about.
"Mom called him. Dad was thrilled to hear you had a son, but he said he probably can’t come back anytime soon. It sounds like he has some things to take care of over there and is really busy. He told us to take good care of you."
Sun Jiaming replied, tidying up the baby’s things.
"I wonder when Dad will be transferred back. I hope he can make it for the baby’s one-month celebration."
Gu’er was a little worried about Lin Shan, as there’d been no word yet.
"He probably will. They still haven’t announced the new deputy mayor, so I figure Dad has a really good shot. Don’t worry, just focus on your recovery. Dad will probably be back by the baby’s one-month celebration."
Sun Jiaming comforted Gu’er. They were, in fact, planning a banquet for the one-month celebration. Gu’er and Jiaming hadn’t intended to, but Cao Qiu felt that now that she had a grandson, she absolutely had to show him off. Not only did she want a banquet in the city, but she also wanted to host a three-day feast back in the village to let everyone know she had a grandson.
Gu’er nodded and began her month of recovery.
The baby was quite well-behaved. He usually just ate and slept, only crying when he was hungry or needed changing. Since Gu’er had plenty of milk, the baby ate his fill and was putting on weight steadily every day. He already looked much sturdier and fairer-skinned than when he was born, and he was absolutely adorable.
By the time the baby was twenty-three days old, Gu’er still hadn’t received news of Lin Shan’s transfer, but she did get another piece of good news: Marina was pregnant.
Grandma Dingzi brought the news of Marina’s pregnancy. When she told everyone, she was so ecstatic that her grin was a bit unsettling.
"I’m going to be a great-grandma! Oh, my dear sister, I’m going to be a great-grandma, too! My Marina is pregnant! I’m going to hold a great-grandchild!"
Grandma Dingzi repeated to Grandma Sun. She must have said it at least a dozen times that day, a clear sign of her joy.
Grandma Sun held her hand, nodding incessantly. They were both at an age where you never know what tomorrow will bring. What made them happiest? It was seeing the next generation, seeing their descendants thrive. Gu’er had given birth to a big, healthy boy, securing the Sun family’s lineage, and the whole family was overjoyed. Now that Dingzi and Marina were having a child, too, she was happy for them as well.
Gu’er looked at Marina. Marina wasn’t blushing; she gently caressed her belly, her face full of tenderness.
"First, I’ll give Jiji a beautiful little sister. Then, I’ll have a son for Dingzi. It would be best to have three daughters and three sons! That way, they’ll all have companions, and with so many of them, the house will be lively. They can look after each other, and Dingzi and I won’t have to worry in the future."
Marina really wanted a daughter. Even though she was only two months pregnant, she just had a feeling she was carrying a girl.
"That’s wonderful! Then our Jiji will be waiting for his little sister to be born."
Gu’er chuckled and gently wiggled Jiji’s hand. Jiji no longer just ate and slept all the time like when he was first born. Now, when he was awake, he would open his eyes and play for a while, though of course, no one knew what he was playing at.
Gu’er loved watching him. She never tired of something as simple as holding his tiny hand and wiggling it gently.
"Gu’er, Marina wants to have six. What about you and Jiaming? When are you going to give Jiji a little brother?"
That was Cao Qiu, who chimed in. ’She’s staying over, supposedly to help me during my recovery,’ Gu’er thought, ’but I know she really just wants to see her grandson. Even though we originally agreed not to live together, I understand her feelings. Besides, Cao Qiu isn’t the same person she used to be, so I don’t object to her staying. As long as it isn’t a permanent living situation, I can accept it.’
Gu’er looked at Cao Qiu. ’I’ve only just had one, and she already wants me to have another? No way. Even if I have another one, I’ll wait at least a couple of years, until Jiji is older. Raising two at once would be exhausting. I definitely don’t want to have six like Marina. If I can raise one or two children well, that’ll be more than enough. Six would kill me.’