Chapter 503

“Don’t worry, we’ll definitely never do anything like that.” Su Xiaoxiao said with determination. She had already gotten a second chance at life, and she wasn’t about to throw it away by making enemies with everyone.
With the situation in Shanghai mostly settled, Jiang Yexun and Su Xiaoxiao spent the next few days cooped up at home, enjoying each other’s company. However, Jiang Yexun had started to notice something odd—his little wife seemed to have developed a particular interest in romantic matters. Though he was well-fed and content, he couldn’t shake the strange feeling that lingered.
A few days passed, and after celebrating the Lantern Festival with family and eating sweet rice dumplings, Su Hongchen boarded the train back to Dai City. He had originally planned to convince Su Xiaoxiao and Jiang Yexun to come with him, so the three of them could watch out for each other on the way. However, since the two of them were not due to return to the village until the end of March and had just been to Beijing at the start of the month, they still had about ten days left to spend in Shanghai. After some careful thought, they decided to stay and not join him.
They didn’t leave until March 1st, when they boarded the train back with He Xingzhi and his sister. Surprisingly, when they saw He Hongni again after a month, the once unruly girl seemed to have changed. She was now acting quite well-behaved, her demeanor sweet and obedient throughout the journey. Even when the train’s boxed meal wasn’t up to standard, she didn’t cry or throw a tantrum like she had before.
When the train finally pulled into Beijing, Jiang Yexun and Su Xiaoxiao had packed their things and were getting ready to disembark. He Hongni looked at them with longing eyes and asked, “Xiaoxiao, Yexun, aren’t you coming back to the village with us?”
As soon as He Xingzhi heard his sister speak, he angrily grabbed her by the arm. “Haven’t I told you before? Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t ask, and don’t say things you shouldn’t say!”
He Hongni immediately shrank her neck, looking as if she had been wronged beyond measure. If Jiang Yexun and Su Xiaoxiao didn’t already know how protective He Xingzhi was of his sister, they might have thought He Hongni was being abused at home. But judging by He Xingzhi’s expression, it was clear that he didn’t even realize his sister’s act—he seemed almost proud that his sister was relatively easy to discipline.
Jiang Yexun and Su Xiaoxiao ignored He Hongni, and since they were pressed for time, they quickly left with their bags.
However, once they stepped off the train, Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t shake the nagging feeling about the young girl who seemed to have learned how to throw subtle jabs. Su Xiaoxiao’s brows furrowed in concern.
“What’s wrong?”
Jiang Yexun, who had been watching over his wife as they walked through the crowd, immediately noticed her worried expression and asked softly.

“Do you think He Hongni might really try to make He Xingzhi look bad?” Su Xiaoxiao said, growing more uneasy as she thought about it.
Jiang Yexun almost couldn’t help but laugh at her worry. “Don’t worry. There’s no way that will happen. You know, nowadays people say it doesn’t matter whether you have a son or a daughter, but our area is still quite conservative, and the traditional belief in favor of sons is very strong. Even if He Hongni isn’t hurt physically, people will just think she’s a troublesome younger sister. If she’s sent back, she’ll just be seen as a burden. And even if He Xingzhi did hit her, people would only think it’s normal—what family hasn’t had to discipline their kids? Even boys, who are treated like treasures, are often beaten up when they misbehave.”
Su Xiaoxiao thought about it for a moment and had to admit that he had a point, though the tightness in her brow didn’t ease.
“So, you’re saying you prefer sons?” she asked through gritted teeth, feeling the subtle sting of his words.
Jiang Yexun quickly shook his head and denied it, looking serious. “Of course not! I don’t favor sons over daughters, and I don’t favor daughters over sons either. I will love any child that is ours. If you don’t want to have kids, that’s perfectly fine with me. I’ll make enough money to live a long life and take good care of you for the rest of our days.”
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t expect him to say something like that, and her lips curled into a small smile despite herself.
As they continued to walk toward the station exit, surrounded by people, their conversation couldn’t help but be overheard. A woman who had been walking beside them turned around and spoke earnestly, “You two are still young, you don’t understand yet. A child is the extension and stabilizer of a couple’s relationship. If a family doesn’t have children, sooner or later it will fall apart. Besides, having a son is what really secures your future! A daughter is just someone else’s, and when you get old, you won’t be able to rely on her at all.”