In the thatched courtyard, three people harbored their own thoughts, having stayed up all night.
In the kitchen, Zhao Jiaqi lit the kerosene lamp. Four people worked silently on their tasks.
Dawn broke, and only after Xie Kun's men took away the cold noodles did they stop.
At the dining table, Zhao Jiaqi spoke gravely to her mother-in-law and Fan Zehao, "My body is not fertile, not that I deliberately hid it, I truly forgot. I thought about it all night. I cannot let the Fan family's lineage end with me because of me. Zehao, we should still get a divorce!"
Zhang Cuihua’s tears streamed down, and she wept silently. Her daughter-in-law couldn't bear children, which was ultimately a regret, but if they were to divorce, she still couldn't bear to part with Jiqi.
"I will absolutely not divorce. If we don't have children, we don't. This is fine, it saves trouble," Fan Zehao stubbornly maintained his answer from yesterday.
The mother-in-law wiped away her tears, her eyes misty, "If you can't bear children, we'll adopt one. It's no big deal, don't take it to heart. Our family doesn't believe in divorcing wives or separating."
With the mother and son stating their positions, Zhao Jiaqi felt comforted. Just as she was about to feel happier, Fan Guangping chimed in, "What's the big deal? If that doesn't work, take a concubine. The child born will still be called your son, and there will be an heir!"
Under the table, Wang Zhaodi fiercely kicked him, adding salt to the wound.
Take a concubine?
Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi were stunned.
"I only need my wife. If you want to take a concubine, have my sister-in-law arrange one for you. I'll pay for it!" Fan Zehao raised his dark brows and retorted.
Fan Guangping awkwardly twitched the corners of his mouth. Wasn't he doing this for the good of the family, not wanting the lineage to end, and not wanting to divorce his wife? Then taking a concubine was the only option.
This way, they would have an heir, and his wife wouldn't have to be divorced. Wasn't this a win-win situation?
Zhao Jiaqi put down her chopsticks and said very solemnly, "Zehao, in my lifetime, I will never share a husband with another woman. If you wish to have the beauty of two women, I advise you to give up this idea early. Otherwise, let's just divorce. I won't care how many women you marry."
Fan Zehao felt stifled, and with a grave expression, he looked back at her, "Wife, I'll say it again. I won't take a concubine. Only you is enough. I don't want to hear the word divorce again." He threw down his chopsticks and got up to leave.
This was the first time, and the only time in their long marriage, he had been angry with her.
The four of them left the courtyard and went to town to set up their stall. Fan Guangping's father, leading the children, arrived as scheduled. No matter how Zhang Cuihua refused, he would still come to work, unmoving.
The braised meat and dishes sold very well, and the orders were increasing daily. Their cold noodle business also improved day by day, selling seven to eight hundred portions daily, a truly small but significant achievement.
After working diligently for more than half a month, it finally rained, and they were able to take a much-needed break.
They took the opportunity to divide the earnings from the past half-month. Each person received an average of three taels of silver, which made everyone incredibly happy.
Holding a large pile of copper coins, Wang Zhaodi's eyes reddened, "To earn this much silver, we truly have to thank my sister-in-law. If not for you..."
"Sister-in-law, why say that? The weather is still hot, so we can sell for a while longer. By September or October, business will be much worse than now. While we still have about three months, let's all work hard," Zhao Jiaqi said.
Wang Zhaodi tucked the copper coins into her purse, patted the full purse, and her face broke into a wide smile, "Just for this silver, I will definitely give it my all."
How much effort "giving it my all" entailed, Zhao Jiaqi didn't really know, but for the sake of the silver and for a better future, she believed everyone would work with all their might.
After sending off Wang Zhaodi and her husband, Fan Zehao pulled Zhao Jiaqi back into the room. Holding his fragrant wife, he took a nap.
He woke up in the afternoon, the sky was still overcast, but at least the rain had stopped.
In the courtyard.
He was preparing his hunting gear. Zhang Cuihua saw this and asked, "It's this late, and you're still going hunting?"
"Yes, I'll catch a chicken to nourish my wife. Holding her, she's no longer soft, just skin and bones. She's uncomfortable to hold!"
Without looking up, Fan Zehao spoke to his mother exactly what he was thinking, with no concealment, feeling nothing was improper.
However, his mother's face turned red. She simply told him to be careful and returned to her room.
At that moment, Fan Zhang was at the clan elder's house.
"Uncle, have you heard? Fan Zehao's wife can't bear children. You say, this means our eldest son's lineage will end with him. You must do something about this!"
Fan Dongliang heard this, his beard twitched, and he glanced askance at Fan Zhang, very displeased, "They are no longer family, why should I intervene? I don't have that ability. Don't come to me with this matter. You can leave."
Before Fan Zhang could say another word, he directly issued the order to leave.
Fan Dongliang truly found his nephew annoying and shameless.
If he had paid attention to them, a widowed mother and her children, years ago, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
Now that he saw them setting up a stall at the pier and making money, he was getting greedy again. He didn't even look at how black his heart had become.
However, the braised meat and cold noodles made by that great-grandson's wife were indeed delicious. They were more grateful than these people and would send some food over every few days.
Fan Zhang was persistent, "Uncle, even if they are not family anymore, their blood is still the blood of the Fan family. We cannot let the lineage end like this. Uncle, you don't want to see this happen, do you?"
"Then what do you want? How do you want me to help?" Fan Dongliang stroked his twitching beard and asked.
He smiled ambiguously, with a hint of lecherousness, and eagerly replied, "My eldest daughter-in-law's niece has reached marriageable age. She's beautiful, with wide hips, and she'll definitely be able to bear children."
Fan Dongliang remained unfazed and continued to ask, "Do you want Zehao to marry her or take her as a concubine?"
"Of course, marry her. That little slut, even as a concubine would be an insult to our Fan family."
When Fan Zhang spoke of Zhao Jiaqi, he gritted his teeth with hatred, hating her to the very core.
Having learned of his nephew's plan, Fan Dongliang secretly snorted. He supported his aching back and stood up, "You go back first. I'll think about this matter."
Without receiving a definite answer, Fan Zhang left in frustration.
Shortly after, Fan Dongliang sent his grandson, Fan Biao, "Go find Jiqi and tell her Fan Zhang's plan. Be on guard for the next period."
His grandson, Fan Biao, also felt that his uncle would do something disgraceful, and quickly agreed, "I'll go now."
Fan Dongliang thought of something and called back his departing grandson, "Tell Jiqi to have Zehao stay by her side, lest she be ambushed without realizing it."
"Got it, Grandpa. I'll go now."
Meanwhile, on the mountain, Zehao, having caught a few wild chickens, was heading down the mountain with his little wolf. He encountered a delicate young woman who had sprained her ankle.
She was sitting pitifully on a large rock, rubbing her ankle. Seeing him pass by, she called out sweetly, "Hao gege, I've sprained my ankle. Can you carry me down the mountain? I will definitely repay you!"
Dressed in a pink long skirt, her clothes were not patched. She looked at Fan Zehao with shy eyes, biting her lips, and her brows slightly furrowed, presenting a picture of pathetic charm that would make any man's heart ache.