Chapter 559

It wasn't what the neighbors had expected.

Xu Daming didn't fly into a rage over Qin Jingru's remarriage; his face even showed a hint of indifference.

After seeing Lou Xiao'e's remarkable poise,

Xu Daming's mindset underwent a complete overhaul, and his view of Qin Jingru's remarriage changed as well; he spoke to her in a flat tone, saying, "Tell Qin Jingru and her husband to move out of the Siheyuan at once," then turned to leave.

He underestimated Qin Jingru's shamelessness.

But that's not quite right either.

Qin Jingru was also left with no choice; they can't just let the couple be thrown out onto the street, can they?

With the later man standing beside her, she wasn't afraid of Xu Daming's blows.

She planted herself squarely in Xu Daming's path, legs apart, arms wide, wearing an indignant expression demanding he explain himself.

The neighbors watching the scene all felt a brief dazed moment, vaguely sensing that the one stopping Xu Daming from leaving was Qin Huairu.

She blinked her eyes slowly.

She confirmed it was Qin Jingru.

She thought to herself, "Really, the Qin sisters are equally shameless. You divorced Xu Daming, remarried the later man, and still dare to stay in his house?"

When Xu Daming wasn't around, you could stay as long as you liked, but now that he's back, we can't have Xu Daming, Qin Jingru, and the later man all squeezed into one room, can we?

She actually has the nerve to demand Xu Daming explain himself.

After Old Jia passed away, Jia Zhangshi raised little Jia on her own and spent her whole life mourning Old Jia.

You, Qin Jingru, aren't even a match for Jia Zhangshi.

"Jingru, what are you doing?"

The lone remaining steward, Elder Yan Fugui.

He offered a word of advice.

Xu Daming won't argue with you, Qin Jingru, so go ahead and gloat, but you still have the nerve to block him from leaving— isn't that just asking for trouble?

One should be grateful.

If Xu Daming hadn't married you, you'd probably be farming in the countryside now.

"San Daye, I'm not trying to do anything; I just want Xu Daming to explain clearly why I have to go."

The neighbors around also thought Qin Jingru was overstepping.

And why should she have to leave?

Since you remarried, you ought to live with the later man; having you and him stay in your former husband's house— what kind of sight is that?

"The deed is in my parents' name; this is my parents' house. While I was away, letting you and your husband stay here was already a great favor to you, Qin Jingru. Now I've returned and I want to live here, so you have to move out— isn't that right?"

The neighbors watching the scene.

They nodded in agreement.

What Xu Daming said is reasonable.

In the world, there's no one as shameless as Qin Jingru.

Wait.

It really is shameless: Xu Daming and Lou Xiao'e weren't even married yet, but Qin Jingru slept with Xu Daming, claimed she was pregnant, forced him to divorce Lou Xiao'e, and now after the divorce she clings shamelessly to his house, refusing to move out.

She chimed in with her support.

"Jingru, Xu Daming is right; since you've remarried, you shouldn't keep living in his place."

"Besides, this room isn't even Xu Daming's— it's his parents' room. If you hadn't divorced him, you'd be his wife, and living here would be fine; but now that you've divorced him and remarried, staying in his room is practically a provocation toward him."

"Where should I live?"

Looking at Qin Jingru with a questioning expression.

Xu Daming almost wanted to laugh.

"Where should I live?" you ask me, Xu Daming?

Ask your later man.

No longer wishing to contend with Qin Jingru, he issued her a final ultimatum.

"You have three days to move out, or don't blame me for being rude."

"What if you're rude? I won't move out—I can't let my kid end up on the street, can I?"

"Are you pregnant?"

"It's been over three months."

"Congratulations."

Qin Jingru was taken aback.

The neighbors were also muddle-headed.

After Qin Jingru remarried and became pregnant for over three months, as her former husband, shouldn't you, Xu Daming, feel angry?

Why did you even say "congratulations"?

All eyes turned to Xu Daming's face; if they weren't so familiar with his features, they'd surely think the Xu Daming before them was someone else.

"You don't resent?"

Qin Jingru asked brightly.

From beginning to end.

It has always been Qin Jingru who steps forward.

As for the later man whom Qin Jingru remarried, he stood silently behind her, letting everything unfold on its own, giving the impression of someone lacking responsibility.

"What do I have to resent? That you initially got a false pregnancy report from Qin Huairu to marry me? Or that Jia Zhangshi knew about it and deliberately stayed silent?"

Qin Huairu, who was watching the scene, never expected to be dragged into it.

Even Jia Zhangshi's complexion wasn't very good.

Fortunately, Xu Damao had no intention of settling scores with them later.

He repeated the harsh words he had just told Qin Jingru to move out within three days, patted his butt, and strode off.

He had originally intended to visit his parents, but halfway Xu Damao thought of something, suddenly changed his plans, and headed for the hotel where Lou Xiaoe resided.

He gave his name to the guard, then waited while the guard checked with Lou Xiaoe, and only after getting her consent was Xu Damao allowed inside.

According to the instructions.

He found the room where Lou Xiaoe was.

He knocked on the door.

After hearing a "please come in" from inside, Xu Damao pushed the door and entered.

What met his eyes was none other than Lou Xiaoe, deeply focused on her work.

Xu Damao's heart felt a strange stir.

Looking at Lou Xiaoe's surroundings, then thinking of Qin Jingru in the Siheyuan, Xu Damao felt stirred and grew a faint ambition.

"Tea or coffee?"

"Coffee, please!"

Lou Xiaoe brewed a cup of coffee for Xu Damao, placed it on the table before him, set it down gently, then sat on the sofa beside him.

She crossed her legs.

Her lovely eyes fixed firmly on Xu Damao, as if trying to discern something from his face; she suddenly felt that Xu Damao before her seemed somewhat different.

She couldn't say exactly what was different, at least not for the moment.

Xu Damao felt uneasy under her gaze, mistakenly thinking there was something wrong with his face, and hastily wiped it with his hand.

Seeing Xu Damao like that, Lou Xiaoe cracked a smile and said a line that instantly broke through his defenses.

"You're old."

"We haven't seen each other in ten years, but you're not old."

"To be precise, it's twelve years, from 1965 to now 1977, exactly a full cycle."

Xu Damao couldn't help but admit it.

What Lou Xiaoe said made sense.

Now Xu Damao standing beside Lou Xiaoe looks like a father and daughter; as for Qin Jingru, there's no comparison—this is also why Xu Damao felt no resentment seeing Qin Jingru remarry.

From Lou Xiaoe he saw the benefits of money.

Twelve years ago.

The Lou Xiaoe family lived nervously, always keeping their tails between their legs, fearing to bring disaster upon themselves.

They even set their sights on Xu Damao, marrying Lou Xiaoe to him, hoping to rely on his status to provide for the family.

Twelve years later.

The king returns.

She lives in a hotel Xu Damao could never enter, and enjoys the admiration of people Xu Damao would have to look up to—all for the money in Lou Xiaoe's hands, right?

He suddenly wanted to know how much money Lou Xiaoe had.

So he asked.

Seeing Xu Damao ask about his net worth, Lou Xiaoe lifted the tea before her, took a light sip, and said, "Compared to coffee, I prefer tea; as for your question, I can answer you: the real estate, stocks, funds, etc., altogether come to about seventy or eighty billion."

Xu Damao nearly choked to death.

He went to the countryside to show movies, taking some kickbacks from the locals, and was so pleased he couldn't stop grinning, considering himself the foremost household in the Siheyuan.

All it took was Lou Xiaoe speaking.

Seventy or eighty billion.

How many years would it take to spend all that money?

Xu Damao thought: if Lou Xiaoe didn't have that much money, Factory Director Yang wouldn't be so eager to cozy up to her, even going so far as to file a report upward.

To hide his embarrassment, Xu Damao picked up the coffee in front of him and took a sip.

He immediately started coughing.

He choked on a mouthful of coffee.

Too bitter.

It's almost like drinking bitter medicine; why are so many people drinking this hard-to-swallow stuff, claiming it's a symbol of status?

"Sorry, I wanted to ask you, do you want sugar? Coffee needs sugar."

Xu Damao ignored Lou Xiaoe's remark, pointed at her room, and changed the subject.

"Your room is not bad."

"Over two hundred per night."

Lou Xiaoe once again showed off her wealth to Xu Damao; looking at her ex-husband, she found him increasingly meaningless.

That little appearance.

That little mustache.

In Lou Xiaoe's eyes, he was just an ordinary person who couldn't be more ordinary.

"You came to see me this late; could it be that Factory Director Yang sent you?"

"The higher-ups' meaning is to find a small pilot unit."

"Apart from Red Star Yagangchang, we, the Lou clan, have no interest in other units."

I knew you'd think that way.

Then what are you here for?

I want money to go south to have a look, and also I want to sell the house in the back courtyard of the Siheyuan to you.

Xu Damao chose to speak truthfully; before seeing Lou Xiaoe, he perhaps harbored doubts, but after seeing Lou Xiaoe, Xu Damao truly had the idea of venturing to the south.

Even a skilled woman cannot cook without rice.

How can one venture without money?

Trying to get something for nothing?

Even if you try to get something for nothing, you must wash your own claws clean before you can lure the wolf.

Xu Damao set his sights on Lou Xiaoe, thinking that by selling the Siheyuan house he could obtain his first fortune.

I can buy your house, but I have a question; I hope you can answer truthfully.

There is no outsider in the room.

Lou Xiaoe is Xu Damao's former wife.

Xu Damao is Lou Xiaoe's former husband.

Some things.

Should be discussed openly.

What do you say?

I remember during the time we were married, I took a lot of medicine; your parents also gave me many disapproving looks, saying that I, Lou Xiaoe, marrying you Xu Damao would cause your old Xu family to have no offspring, saying that your old Xu family would cut off the incense. In Hong Kong I checked my body—I have no problem—and I also gave birth to a healthy son. You should know what I want to ask, right?

They are not foolish.

The meaning in Lou Xiaoe's words.

Xu Damao understood.

Once upon a time.

He had imagined such a scene.

No bitterness, only a hint of helplessness.

I know what question you want to ask.

Xu Damao pondered for a moment.

Lifted their head.

Looked at Lou Xiaoe seriously.

Spoke the truth.

I have health problems; the doctor said all sorts of deadly symptoms. I apologize to you; because of some of my reasons, you have undeservedly suffered much criticism, unable to lift your head in front of the neighbors.

Seeing Xu Damao pouring out his true feelings, Lou Xiaoe thought of a word.

Transformation.

Ten years of career in Hong Kong's markets enabled Lou Xiaoe to complete her transformation splendidly; her gaze became much sharper. She saw that Xu Damao at this moment had no concealment whatsoever toward her, but genuinely wanted to obtain Lou Xiaoe's forgiveness.

I thought you would refuse.

Why refuse? Isn't speaking the truth good?

Then what about the child in my belly?

Lou Xiaoe raised a second question.

If Xu Damao's words are not false.

Then, after leaving the Siheyuan and registering residence in Hong Kong not long after, I became pregnant; how should this be explained?

One cannot explain it with mythology; having a child out of the blue would make one a demigod.

Moreover, no one would believe it anyway.

Actually, Lou Xiaoe already had some evidence in her heart, though she didn't dare to think about it; as the child grew up, not to mention Lou Xiaoe noticing the child resembled Shazhu somewhat, even Lou Xiaoe's parents had such suspicions, secretly thinking that their daughter's child with Xu Damao had become a little Shazhu.

Xu Damao and Shazhu get along well.

Lou Xiaoe's child looks like Shazhu.

The ins and outs of this are simply unbelievable.

I left the Siheyuan, and seven months after registering residence in Hong Kong, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Xu Damao tremblingly took out a cigarette from his pocket.

Lou Xiaoe's face turned cold in an instant.

After marrying Xu Damao for three or four years, I still understand some of his habits; whenever Xu Damao feels panicked, he smokes.

She now wants to know why, when Qin Jingru was pregnant and forced Xu Damao to divorce Lou Xiaoe back then, Xu Damao was not as panicked as he is now.

What happened?

Why?

Xu Damao, I need an answer; you also know my current abilities. You had better think it over and tell me the truth, otherwise your parents and sister will suffer misfortune.

You.

After Xu Damao said the word 'you', he couldn't utter another word; thousands of words were blocked in his mouth.

Lou Xiaoe's aura suddenly changed.

It gave Xu Damao a strong sense of oppression.

I just left; that very night, someone hung our dog from the front door. Wherever, to do business, to do big business, you must be ruthless; I don't mean to coerce you, nor do I want to, I just want to know the answer: what is the situation with the child in my belly?