Chapter 347: A Dog Cannot Stop Eating Excrement

But in reality, no.

Shen Lan deliberately walked very slowly, but before long, he heard the sound of a door "slamming" shut behind him.

"Brother, does she not intend to come and beg us to go back?" Shen Yun asked, puzzled.

Shen Lan's brows were tightly furrowed; it seemed she wouldn't.

Si Rong was even more willful than he had imagined; she must be trying to force him to promise not to see Li Xuan and her two children ever again.

But Li Xuan had, after all, borne him his own flesh and blood; how could he never see her again? Li Xuan would be heartbroken.

Si Rong was truly heartless.

Was she trying to force his whole family to return to the countryside?

Shen Lan certainly wouldn't go back; he had to go to work the next day.

"Son, what should we do?" Shen Mu stood on the street corner and asked helplessly.

Of course, they couldn't return to their hometown, because she had long since boasted in the village that her son was an official in Huaiyang City. If the whole family went back in disgrace now, wouldn't they be laughed to death by those country folk?

"It's fine, I still have friends."

He was an official, after all; although he was only a Propaganda Department Director, he still had a few friends worth showing off.

"You all watch the things here," Shen Lan instructed, "Wait for me to find two friends; we'll go borrow a place to stay for the night first!"

He hadn't reached a dead end yet; it was impossible for him to compromise with Si Rong on those things.

"Okay!"

Both Shen Mu and Shen Yun felt the problem wasn't major; after all, Shen Lan usually had a decent reputation in Huaiyang, with many drinking parties he couldn't turn down and various social obligations.

"He's probably going to Brother Qin's place, otherwise it's Big Brother Liu's," Shen Yun guessed, "These two are usually the closest to my brother."

"But it would be best to go to Brother Qin's place," Shen Yun thought more comprehensively, "Big Brother Liu is already married, and it would be noisy for us to stay there with children in the house."

Brother Qin was unmarried and also dashing; if she moved in, perhaps she could even foster some affection.

……

"Is this family made of trash? So slovenly?"

Pushing open the door, the room was filled with a musty smell.

Si Rong understood the character of this family, "Mm, they are indeed made of trash."

It was just that in their past life, the two of them—mother and child—were well taken care of by Wang Ma in every way, so they naturally appeared clean and decent when they went out.

"Let's find a few people to come over and clean up!"

"No need," Ming Zi rolled up her sleeves, "I'll clean it up slowly myself."

Si Rong clicked her tongue, "Alright then!"

"First, change the door lock, then we'll go out for a meal and talk about your affairs."

"My affairs?"

"Yes, your affairs with Luo Sheng."

In her past life, Ming Zi died before her; the doctor said she had long-term liver depression in her chest, and such a person was not destined for longevity.

She always presented a smile to others, but Si Rong felt that in her marriage with Luo Sheng, she must have been hurt to the core.

That lowlife Luo Sheng had behaved himself for half a year when he first married Ming Zi, but then he kept drifting between various women.

Later on, he even died on top of a woman; his whole life was filthy.

She did not want to let Ming Zi live half a lifetime with such a beast again.

Although Luo Sheng only lived to be forty, the three children Ming Zi gave birth to all had Luo Sheng's blood flowing in them.

Once, she even heard Ming Zi's second son arguing with his mother, blaming his mother for his father's death.

Even she, an outsider, felt chilled for Ming Zi; how sad Ming Zi must have been in her heart.

Most boys are unable to empathize with their mothers.

They went to the State-run Hotel to eat.

They used two two-ounce grain coupons and additionally ordered a serving of braised pork, a plate of steamed Yellow River carp, and a stir-fried seasonal vegetable dish, costing five yuan and eight jiao.

The two chose a window seat and chatted while waiting.

"Did Luo Sheng propose to you?" Si Rong asked.

Ming Zi nodded, "However, I'm still hesitating; let's wait a bit longer. Things that are too easily obtained are never cherished."

"That makes sense," Si Rong agreed, "But I feel your true destined partner is someone else."

She felt that Xue Ming was quite good; although he was stubborn, he was truly good to Ming Zi—the kind of good that could sacrifice one's life.

"Who?" Ming Zi looked at her inquisitively, then laughed out loud, "It wouldn't be you, would it?"

"If you were a man, I would definitely have to climb your high branch!"

Si Rong: ……

"I'm being serious with you," Si Rong felt she needed to find a way to let Ming Zi see Luo Sheng's true colors, "Do you really believe he has turned over a new leaf?"

"Then tell me, can a dog stop eating excrement? If even a dog can't stop eating excrement, how could he possibly turn over a new leaf? Is he more credible than a dog?"

Ming Zi: ……

She frowned in deep thought, "Then a dog's credibility is still a bit higher."

"Exactly. When it's time to eat excrement, it eats excrement; even if you catch it, it won't deny that it's eating excrement."

"But what about Luo Sheng? If after marriage, he messes around outside every few days and different women often come to provoke you, the legitimate wife, what will you do?"

"I don't care, as long as it doesn't affect my status as Mrs. Luo."

Si Rong had known she would say that, "Then what if they become pregnant with Luo Sheng's child? What will you do then?"

"By then you will also have your own children; will you let those children outside compete with your children for the Luo Family's resources?"

"No."

"You wouldn't," Si Rong said faintly, "With your temper, you would take action and get rid of all those children."

"One after another..." In just a few sentences, Si Rong saw the emotion in Ming Zi's eyes.

Yes, she knew Ming Zi was afraid, afraid of facing such a situation after marrying Luo Sheng.

These few words of hers were, however, Ming Zi's daily life for nearly twenty years.

To seek benevolence and attain benevolence.

One cannot say Ming Zi's choice in her past life was wrong, but now that she has experienced Rebirth, she cannot bear to see Ming Zi live like she did in her past life again.

"I said I could lead you to make big money, and I definitely can!" Worried that Ming Zi wouldn't listen to her advice, she added another sentence.

It was a pity that she still couldn't tell her about the Reform and Opening-up.

She could only give an ambiguous reminder, "Very soon, very soon we will be able to do business. By then, you might even be richer than Luo Sheng; why marry him and suffer that kind of humiliation?"

The food arrived, and the two began to eat.

But Ming Zi was somewhat silent today; she was weighing things.

She didn't quite believe Si Rong's words that she might be richer than the Luo Family in the future; the Luo Family had a foundation, accumulated over several generations, how could she compare to them single-handedly?

But, she also really didn't want to live the kind of life Si Rong described.

She could not care about women on the outside, but she did not want to stain her own hands with blood to deal with the children in those women's bellies.

In such a life, could one sleep at night?

The afternoon sun was blazing; Shen Mu and Shen Yun were practically dying of heat standing on the street.

"Why hasn't my brother come back yet? I'm so hot and hungry, I feel like I'm about to faint from the sun," Shen Yun complained.

Shen Mu used the cattail fan in her hand to shade her from some of the sun, "He should be here soon. I expect those people saw your brother and wanted to talk to him again, or treat him to something."

"I wonder if they prepared lunch?"

"They definitely prepared it," Shen Mu finally saw her son at this moment, her heart filled with joy, and she said to her daughter, "Look! Your brother is back to pick us up for lunch!"