The baby girl was only 3.1 kg. Even though she was covered in clothes, she was still very light.

  Fang Yusheng held her with both hands. Take note, he was holding her and not carrying her. Fang Yusheng didn’t dare to move as he was afraid he would accidentally hurt the baby.

  That fearful and cautious look was both comical and heartwarming.

  Qiao Jiusheng said, “Come, I’ll teach you how to carry her.”


  She reached out to carry the child, but Fang Yusheng avoided her. “I’ll do it. When you give birth in the future, you just have to take a good rest. Let me do the carrying and breastfeeding,” Fang Yusheng said righteously. He refused to admit that he really loved this baby girl.

  Qiao Jiusheng said, “I plan to exclusively breastfeed them. Are you sure you can feed the children?”


  Fang Yusheng was speechless.

  ***

  They stayed in the hospital for a while, and it was already 9 pm.

  The three of them had not eaten yet, and Aunt Jin’s son-in-law wanted to bring them somewhere to eat. Qiao Jiusheng thought that since he had just received a daughter, he naturally had to accompany his wife and daughter. She said, “Brother Chen, you should accompany Sister Yingying and the baby. We can just eat with Aunt Jin.”


  Upon hearing this, Brother Chen apologetically smiled. “Alright then.” Brother Chen indeed could not leave now. He only wanted to take them for a meal because Fang Yusheng and the rest had extraordinary statuses. Brother Chen was afraid of neglecting them. When he saw Qiao Jiusheng stating her point clearly, Brother Chen did not insist.

  The trio left the hospital for dinner.

  After the meal, Fang Yusheng planned to bring Qiao Jiusheng to a hotel. However, Aunt Jin said, “The hotel isn’t clean either, and you still have to spend money. Besides, since you’re here, you can come to my house and stay for a few days before going back. Our village is clean, and the environment is good. During this season, we can see maple trees all over the mountains. You can even eat fresh grapefruit and oranges.”


  Fang Yusheng looked at Qiao Jiusheng and gestured that he would listen to her.

  Upon hearing that she could eat grapefruits, Qiao Jiusheng was tempted.

  Fang Yusheng saw that Qiao Jiusheng’s reaction clearly indicated that she wanted to go. So, he said to Aunt Jin, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Aunt Jin.”


  On the way, Aunt Jin called her husband and told him to tidy up the room. It was only a ten-minute drive from the county city to Aunt Jin’s house. The couple was going to Aunt Jin’s house for the first time, and it was impolite to go empty-handed. Qiao Jiusheng wanted to get out of the car to buy some fruits, but Aunt Jin stopped her.

  “Don’t waste that money.” Aunt Jin sighed with emotion. “Our family didn’t have a good life in the past. Later on, I went to the Fang family and gained Madam Fang’s recognition. I stayed there to work. My salary is twice the annual income of my husband. Our lives have improved all these years, and it’s all thanks to the Fang family. Why bring gifts? It’s an honor that you guys can come!”


  Qiao Jiusheng knew that the Madam Fang Aunt Jin was referring to was not Xu Pingfei but Fang Yusheng’s mother, Lisa.

  She couldn’t make up her mind and looked at Fang Yusheng.

  Fang Yusheng nodded at her.

  Seeing this, Qiao Jiusheng did not insist.

  It was almost 11 pm when they arrived at Aunt Jin’s house.

  The surname of Aunt Jin’s husband was Song. Sometimes, he would send some local specialties to the Fang family. Qiao Jiusheng had seen him a few times.

  Uncle Song was very happy to see the couple. He had laid out the bed sheets early. Fang Yusheng and Qiao Jiusheng were distinguished guests. Uncle Song had originally planned to arrange their rooms to be in the largest room on the second floor near the back. From there, they could see the forest and the lotus pond in the distance. The view was pretty good, but Aunt Jin rejected him.

  Now that Qiao Jiusheng was pregnant, Uncle Song was afraid that there would be an accident if she went up and down the stairs. He knew that he had not thought it through properly, so he chose the room on the first floor.

  The room was large and clean. The furniture was not expensive but was grand.

  It was already late at night. After briefly washing up, everyone went to sleep.

  The next morning, Qiao Jiusheng finally saw the enthusiasm of Uncle Song’s family. Early in the morning, Aunt Jin made a table full of dishes. She knew that Fang Yusheng did not eat greasy food, and she also knew that Qiao Jiusheng did not eat fish and meat in the morning. Therefore, Aunt Jin filled the table with vegetables.

  The only meat dish was a stewed chicken.

  They didn’t know how she had stewed the chicken. It smelled good and looked beautiful, but there wasn’t much oil or the smell of chicken.

  Qiao Jiusheng drank a big bowl of soup in one go and ate a few handmade dumplings and buns under Aunt Jin and Uncle Song’s warm hospitality. She even ate some vegetables. Fang Yusheng was also stuffed, which was rare. After the meal, Uncle Song carried brown sugar and eggs to the hospital to visit his daughter while Aunt Jin prepared lunch at home.

  Qiao Jiusheng and Fang Yusheng strolled around the maple forest behind Aunt Jin’s house.

  Qiao Jiusheng rubbed her stomach with a satisfied expression. “If I continue eating like this, I’ll become fat.”


  Fang Yusheng said, “Aunt Jin’s cooking is very good.”


  After Lisa had divorced Fang Pingjue, the Fang family had fired Aunt Jin.

  Two to three years later, Fang Yusheng had grown up a little. Every year, he would come back to visit his grandfather during the holidays. He was used to eating the western food prepared by Lisa and was never used to eating Chinese food. However, he always used to think about the Fat Aunt’s dishes. Unfortunately, the Fat Aunt hadn’t been in this family anymore. Helpless, Grandfather Fang had invited back Aunt Jin, who had been fired.

  The previous night, Aunt Jin had said to Qiao Jiusheng that her family was doing well and that she had to thank the Fang family for this. In fact, the only people Aunt Jin was truly grateful to were Fang Yusheng and Grandfather Fang.

  Qiao Jiusheng nodded and said, “Their dishes are better than the ones in our courtyard.”


  “Although we don’t have to use pesticides, the soil isn’t as fertile as the soil near their house, so those vegetables aren’t as delicious as those grown here.” Fang Yusheng saw that his wife loved these vegetables and continued, “If you really like them, we’ll buy Uncle Song’s vegetables from now on. We’ll get someone to send them over every day. They’ll still be fresh.”


  “Forget it. That’s too troublesome.” Binjiang City also had a large vegetable market. All the vegetables could be bought regardless of the season. They were just expensive.

  Although Fang Yusheng was stingy, he wasn’t harsh when it came to food.

  The market was too far away from the Fang family, so they had never bought from there.

  At the mention of the house, Qiao Jiusheng thought of something. “You previously said that you got someone to design a house, and it’s under construction.”


  “Yes.” Fang Yusheng had recently visited the house. “The house is about to be completed. After the final touches are done, we can move in. After about half a year later.”


  “Where is it? Is it near Shui Teng’s market?”


  “About half an hour’s drive away.”


  “Then we can go to the Water Vine Market to buy groceries in the future.”


  As the two of them chatted, they finished walking through the forest. Standing at the end of the road, Qiao Jiusheng looked at the low and disorderly houses in the village in front of her. In the thin fog, the village appeared especially peaceful and beautiful. The surrounding air was filled with mist, and the air here was not as turbid as in the city. It was especially fresh.

  Qiao Jiusheng took a deep breath and felt refreshed.

  Suddenly, someone let out a pig’s cry.

  Qiao Jiusheng was stunned and turned to ask Fang Yusheng, “Did you hear that?”


  Fang Yusheng nodded.

  “Slaughtering pigs?” She had only heard of slaughtering pigs, but she had never seen it.

  “I think so.” Fang Yusheng had heard from Aunt Jin before that when pigs were slaughtered in the countryside, people would invite their close neighbors and relatives to celebrate. Aunt Jin had said that the dishes made with pork of a newly slaughtered pig were very delicious as the meat was tender and fresh.

  Fang Yusheng casually plucked a blade of foxtail grass and popped a green root into his mouth. He held it in his mouth and slowly walked ahead.

  Qiao Jiusheng followed him and copied him. She picked up a stalk of grass and chewed as she walked toward the village.

  After walking a few steps, they didn’t hear the sound of the pig anymore.

  “Are we going to freeload?” Qiao Jiusheng guessed what Fang Yusheng was going to do. As an experienced boss who had once sold adult products, she actually felt a little embarrassed.

  Fang Yusheng saw her awkward expression and held her hand. As they walked, he said, “Farmers are hospitable. They’ll welcome us if we go for a free meal. Don’t be embarrassed. If you’re embarrassed, stand behind me.”


  “Well… okay.”


  The winding roads in the village were confusing, and it took the couple a long time to find the butcher.

  The villagers loved to joke around. From afar, some people saw Fang Yusheng and Qiao Jiusheng and whispered gossip in surprise.

  “Eh? Who are those two? That man is handsome. He looks like a mixed-blood!”


  “He’s a mixed blood, isn’t he? His eyes are green.”


  “Yes, it’s quite pretty, just like that… that…” The mistress of the house patted her head with her hand and thought for a while before saying, “Many years ago, there was a very popular foreign singer. What was his name again… Oh, right, it was called Wei Taisi.” The singer was quite handsome, but his name was a little awkward to say.

  “It was Vitas,” her daughter corrected her.

  “Yes, yes, Vitas, Vitas!” The mistress still remembered the first time she had seen Vitas’s photo on her daughter’s phone. In the photo, the singer named Vitas was wearing a white shirt and standing in the flickering candlelight. He had a high nose bridge, deep eyes, pink lips, white teeth, and a charming smile.

  Today’s butcher was the owner of this house.

  Upon hearing this, the uncle turned around and glanced at his wife. He had a cigarette in his mouth. The two knives in his hands were rubbing against each other, making a frightening sound. He grinned and revealed a disdainful smile. He scolded his wife who was staring at Fang Yusheng and said, “What mixed-blood? He’s just a crossbreed.”


  The word “crossbreed” triggered the mistress. She immediately retorted, “If he’s a crossbreed, then what are you? I think you have no balls!”


  The pig slaughtering uncle was speechless.

  “Bullsh*t! When I was young, people said I looked like Takeshi Kaneshiro!”


  Hearing this, the relatives and neighbors couldn’t stop laughing. “If you are Takeshi Kaneshiro, then I am still Liang Chaowei!”


  “Then I am Zhang Guorong!”


  Fake Zhang Guorong’s wife said, “I told you I was Zhang Manyu when I was young, but you didn’t believe me…”


  A group of confident uncles and aunties transformed into Hong Kong superstars. When Fang Yusheng and Qiao Jiusheng approached them, they heard a group of superstars boasting about their youths.

  Qiao Jiusheng was speechless.

  She glanced at Fang Yusheng and asked, “Did we enter Superstar Village?”


  Fang Yusheng lowered his eyes, finding it hard to explain. He shook his head and said, “No, it’s a mental hospital.”


  The uncle asked Fang Yusheng and Qiao Jiusheng, “Which family is this cool guy and pretty girl from?” Fang Yusheng was dressed in gray and truly looked cool.

  The cool man held the beautiful girl’s hand and replied. “We’re from the Song family.”


  The uncle who had slaughtered the pig said, “Oh, Old Song actually has such a handsome relative. He has good eyes!”


  Without waiting for Fang Yusheng to explain his origins, the mistress warmly welcomed the couple into the house. “Come, come in and have a seat. If you don’t mind, you can have lunch at my house later. Our family killed a big pig today. Sister-in-law Chen will be in charge of the ladle. You guys are in for a treat today.”


  “We have to trouble you then.”


  After Fang Yusheng said that, he threw Qiao Jiusheng a smug look.

  Qiao Jiusheng did not know whether to laugh or cry.

  If Fang Yusheng knew that the uncle had called him a crossbreed, he would probably get up and leave.

  This house had many children, and some of them wanted to roast pork. Fang Yusheng wanted to roast a piece for Qiao Jiusheng, so he followed the group of children and ran to the charcoal fire to roast meat. Qiao Jiusheng had never seen a pig being slaughtered before, so she was rather curious about that. She walked out of the house and ran to watch the slaughter.

  When the uncle saw her, he smiled at her and cut the pig’s head while talking to her.

  “Miss, you’re not that old, are you?” He saw that Qiao Jiusheng was still in her early twenties.

  Qiao Jiusheng replied, “I’m 25 years old.”


  “I can’t tell. You look like a university student. City people are just good-looking.”


  Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiusheng was especially happy. She liked it when people praised her for her tenderness.

  The uncle took his butcher’s knife and compared it to the pig’s neck. He stepped on the pig’s back and stabbed the knife into the pig’s neck. Qiao Jiusheng subconsciously looked over and frowned when she saw the blood at the corner of the pig’s mouth.

  The uncle said, “Don’t look at this. Pregnant women shouldn’t watch a live slaughter.” With that, he exerted force on his wrist and started cutting the pig head.

  Even though the blood had already been drained, blood still flowed out when the knife cut the pig’s head.

  Qiao Jiusheng stood slightly further away and watched as the white knife went in. Red blood dripped onto the ground.

  She looked at the pig’s head, which was separated from its body, with a dazed expression. Suddenly, some bloody scenes flashed through her mind.

  She saw some people destroying a house…


  She saw a dagger cutting a woman’s neck.

  A lot of blood flowed down from the woman’s neck to her collarbone, staining her white outfit.

  The woman screamed in agony. When the dagger cut her throat, blood gushed out…


  The head fell off the woman, rolled a few times, and stopped.

  The head faced Qiao Jiusheng, the bleeding throat and distorted face being right in front of her.

  That face was…


  “No!”


  Qiao Jiusheng hysterically screamed.