Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  Once she had finished her confinement period, she had still not met anyone from her family. She knew that her mom had gone to the Chen family’s house several times to look for her but had been stopped by her mother-in-law.

  Ding Jiayi laughed. “Are you still jealous about that? Why do you care about your dad’s concern and anxiety? Can you wear it or eat it? Why are you behaving like a child and nitpicking about even this? Zijin, remember that we have to know our duties as women. The most important things are the ones that are tangible. No matter how much your dad cares about Qiao Nan, can he give birth on Qiao Nan’s behalf or die for her? Or can he make Qiao Nan our family’s only university graduate instead of you?”

  What was the point of caring only now? Many things had already been set in stone. No matter how much of a fuss he kicked up, the fact remained that Qiao Nan was half-literate and had only graduated from junior high school. There was no way she could compare to Zijin, who was a university graduate. “Talking about that, it’s fortunate that Qiao Nan has such low qualifications. I’ve already thought about it. The Zhai family was willing to accept a daughter-in-law who’s a mere junior high school graduate. You’re a university graduate! Once you marry into the Zhai family, they should love you even more!”

  On the other hand, if Zijin had been the second woman to marry Zhai Sheng, there would be no fight between Zijin and his previous wife…… Zijin would lose out no matter what. Thankfully, Qiao Nan had married into the family first to lay the foundations for Zijin. Once Zijin married into the family, Zijin would be much more suitable for Zhai Sheng as compared to Qiao Nan.

  “That sounds quite reasonable.” Qiao Zijin nodded. Was it necessary to care about it? It might be important, but tangible benefits were more important. Her dad could be concerned about Qiao Nan for all she cared, as long as he did not ruin her plans. “But Mom, don’t forget that Dad will get his temporary identity card in three days. Then, he’ll be able to make the trip to the capital.”

  \r \r \r

  What would they do in three days’ time? Once her dad made that trip, her plans would fall through.

  At the mention of this, Ding Jiayi was troubled too. She had not expected Qiao Dongliang to be so stubborn about this matter. Although he had lost his identity card and knew that he would not be able to make the trip for the time being, he was still insistent on doing so. He had never even thought of handing the job over to Qiao Zijin. “I have a way but I can’t use it too many times. Even if I succeed, your dad may get suspicious over time. The only thing I can do is prevent him from boarding the bus in three days’ time when he receives his identity car. After that, you’ll be on your own. I can’t be the only one putting in the effort, after all. Zijin, aren’t you going to do anything?”

  There was a limit to how much she could help out. After all, Zijin was the one going to the capital.

  “Mom, how about this? As long as you prevent Dad from boarding the bus, I’ll take Dad’s place and head to the capital. Since Dad won’t be around, I can say whatever I want to Qiao Nan and the Zhai family. I’ll try to settle the matter before the two of them get in touch with each other and before Dad reaches the capital. Of course, if Dad asks where I am, you can just tell him that I’ve gotten bored sitting around at home and have gone on a trip.”

  She was headed to the capital, which was home to the Great Wall and Tiananmen. It was reasonable for her to take a trip there.

  In short, they would try their best to delay her dad while she tried her best to get close to the Zhai family. Then, she would try to convince Qiao Nan to help her in marrying Zhai Sheng before she took her last breath.

  “Alright. Let’s do that.” Hearing that Qiao Zijin had plans of her own, Ding Jiayi sighed in relief. There was no way the plan would succeed if she were to work alone. Qiao Zijin had to make some practical action too. She was capable of delaying Old Qiao. But getting the Zhai family to agree to Qiao Zijin marrying Zhai Sheng? That was impossible!

  Three days later when Qiao Dongliang received his temporary identity card and could purchase bus tickets to the capital, Qiao Dongliang met with another incident.

  What incident?

  He overslept!

  The bus departed at seven-thirty in the morning but by the time Qiao Dongliang awoke, it was already half past ten. He had missed the bus by three whole hours. The bus was probably already halfway along the way to the capital. As such, Qiao Dongliang had once again missed his chance to head to the capital. “How could I have overslept?”

  He was already in his seventies and was a light sleeper. He had rested rather well at home recently and that was why he had not been able to go to sleep the previous night. Even so, he could not have woken up only at ten-thirty, right?

  “How am I supposed to know?” Ding Jiayi did not dare to look Qiao Dongliang in the eye, in case he realized something amiss. “Old Qiao, you’re always feeling unwell. That’s why you overslept. Actually, I even tried to wake you up a few times today. I saw that you didn’t wake up, so I thought that you changed your mind and decided not to go to the capital.”

  Qiao Dongliang knocked his head, wondering if he had indeed fallen ill. Otherwise, why did he feel so light-headed and giddy? It was already half past ten. There was no way he was still half-asleep. “Where’s Zijin?” Since the time he had awoken, he had only seen Old Ding but not Qiao Zijin.

  Ding Jiayi turned around, her back facing Qiao Dongliang. “Zijin said that she’s gotten too bored at home, so she went on a trip. Since you didn’t want to go on a trip, she went off alone.”

  “She went on a trip?” Qiao Dongliang thought that something felt strange but he could not pinpoint what it was. “Forget it. I’m going to get a bus ticket.”

  “You’re getting another ticket?” Ding Jiayi tried to stop Qiao Dongliang. “A bus ticket from Ping Cheng to the capital is expensive. It costs more than two hundred yuan! You’ve already wasted two bus tickets. That’s more than four hundred yuan! I think that you’re fated not to go to the capital! Which woman doesn’t give birth to children? Why is she so precious that you need to make a trip specially to visit her? Didn’t she tell you that she’ll bring you to the capital once she finishes her confinement period? Why are you in such a hurry?”

  “No. I have to meet Nan Nan. Otherwise, I’ll be worried.” How could that be the same? Yes, every married woman gave birth after getting married. The difference was that most women were in good health during pregnancy. Nan Nan, on the other hand, had only gotten pregnant at the age of forty and her pregnancy was even unstable. She had been admitted into the hospital in her seventh month of pregnancy. How could he not visit her as her biological father? “Alright. Stop spouting nonsense. Why would I be fated not to visit her? I don’t believe that.” It was not right for Nan Nan to give birth without a single family member by her side.

  He had failed in his attempts to go to the capital twice and would always meet with an incident. Qiao Dongliang could not help but wonder if the heavens were against him too. But didn’t they always say that men’s will would always triumph over heaven’s will?

  #