Chapter 68: It's Good to be a Widow

Why?

"Because he deserved a beating."

Jiang Cheng answered in a hoarse voice.

"Is it because of me," Si Rong raised her eyes, the two of them locking gazes, "right?"

She had a vague feeling in her heart that Jiang Cheng really was, just as the rumors among their classmates suggested, very fond of her.

If Shen Lan hadn't been so persistent back then, would they have achieved a happy ending too?

Jiang Cheng nodded, then felt his cheeks burning with heat.

He was terrified that Si Rong would keep pressing, as he would then have to confess the feelings he had held for her for so many years.

Although this was bound to happen sooner or later.

But he worried that Si Rong would despise him because of it.

"Don't do this in the future," Si Rong didn't press further; she simply voiced her concern, "I'm worried that Shen Lan will use these things to spread rumors and stir up public opinion. Will you be disciplined when that happens?"

In Si Rong's impression, the military was a very serious place with strict enforcement of the law.

Just as Jiang Cheng was hesitating over how to answer, he heard Si Rong say, "If you really want to beat him up, you can wait until night, put a sack over his head, and that way you won't get disciplined."

When she said this, her eyes were sparkling.

It was as if the stars in the sky were speaking.

So many years had passed, time had flown, and appearances had changed, but her gaze remained clear and unchanged.

"Okay."

Jiang Cheng couldn't help but smile along with her.

When Ming Zi walked in, this was the scene she saw; it was as if pink bubbles were floating between these two people.

Wow! I love this pairing!

Si Rong came back to her senses; she hadn't realized she had been staring at Jiang Cheng for so long.

"Um, Shen Lan was taken away by an ambulance," Ming Zi entered the door and found a sofa on the side to sit on, "He won't die."

"That's good."

Wang Ma had made steamed egg custard.

It was sprinkled with chopped green onions, sesame oil, and Wang Ma's secret-recipe soy-marinated beans.

It was fragrant and mouth-watering.

"Miss Ming, come and eat!"

She looked at Jiang Cheng and her young mistress, and the more she looked, the more satisfied she felt, "Miss, I'll go make some dinner!"

"Okay."

Si Rong replied, but as soon as Wang Ma entered the kitchen, Jiang Cheng stood up, mentioned he still had things to do, and left.

He did indeed have things to do when he came out today, but he had only been delayed because he happened to see Shen Lan.

If it happened again, he would definitely have to beat that guy up!

But next time, he would listen to Rongrong and use a sack at night!

Rongrong—this was a nickname he only dared to use in his heart.

Ming Zi praised Wang Ma's cooking while eating the egg custard.

"Seriously! If Wang Ma opened a restaurant, I would definitely patronize it every single day!"

As she spoke, she finished a whole plate of egg custard.

This was also the thing Si Rong admired most about Ming Zi; no matter what happened, Ming Zi could always eat and sleep as she should.

She couldn't do that; her eating and sleeping were both affected by her emotions.

"You should hurry up and think about what to do regarding the child in that widow's belly?"

Si Rong was worried for her.

"Now that your parents-in-law are both on the widow's side, supporting her in giving birth to the child, what do you plan to do?"

Ming Zi calmly wiped her mouth.

"I already had a strategy while I was eating the egg custard just now. Actually, this matter is easily solved if you just put yourself in her shoes."

"First, assuming the child is truly Luo Sheng's, and now that Luo Sheng is gone, if you were that widow, and the other three children were already so big, would you want to give birth to a child and raise it as a lone orphan and widow?"

"No, so she doesn't actually want to give birth to this child." Si Rong had experienced some things now; she knew that being born into wealth was a stroke of luck, but many people would stop at nothing for the sake of wealth.

Li Xuan was like that back then, Ming Zi was too, and the widow today was very likely the same.

"That leads to the second possibility. If the child in her belly isn't Luo Sheng's, then making a scene now is just for the sake of money."

"When it comes to money, I'm very familiar with these tricks."

Ming Zi casually picked up her nail polish and applied it to her hands, looking not the least bit troubled.

"Now that Luo Sheng is gone, I don't know what the company will be like in my hands in the future, but I won't be scattering money to others anymore."

"If she wants to act, I'll play along with her, until she's scared."

Ming Zi's mischievous expression looked just like a little fox.

Si Rong had a premonition that a big drama was about to unfold.

"If you need any help, just give me a shout; I'm always here."

"Are you wanting to watch the show?" Ming Zi was worthy of being her good sister; she saw through her little thoughts at a glance.

"Wait for it. Have Wang Ma make some dishes I like; I'll only have the energy to act once I'm full."

"Okay."

She was being coy and refused to say, and Si Rong was indeed extremely curious.

She specifically had Wang Ma prepare quite a few dishes that Ming Zi liked.

Ming Zi cannot live without spicy food.

Diced chicken with chili, mouth-watering eggplant, and boiled meat slices.

Ming Zi ate until she couldn't stop praising the food.

"Rongrong, sometimes I really want to poach Wang Ma,"

She was so jealous that Si Rong could eat Wang Ma's cooking every day.

"Keep dreaming," Si Rong pushed her head off her shoulder, "That's impossible in this lifetime; you can try to poach my husband, but you cannot poach my Wang Ma."

Although she had a good relationship with her mother, it was Wang Ma who had accompanied her while she grew up; Wang Ma was like her second mother.

"If you want to eat, you are welcome to come over for a meal anytime."

Si Rong usually didn't eat much for dinner, but seeing Ming Zi eating so heartily today, she followed suit and ate a few extra bites.

Feeling that the atmosphere was good at this moment, she decided to ask the question that had been on her mind.

"Zi, what exactly are your intentions toward my second brother?"

"If, and I mean if, my second brother got a divorce, is there a possibility of you two being together?"

Ming Zi swallowed a slice of meat and looked at her in shock, "Your second brother is getting a divorce?"

"No, I said it was an 'if'."

Si Rong emphasized.

"Let's put it this way! Your second brother and I are not a good match."

Ming Zi patted herself, "You know me; I have always been very clear about what I want. His personality is too overbearing, and while we are very similar, we are not suited to be a married couple."

"Actually, I really did like your second brother in the past, but later, when I thought about it carefully, given both of our personalities, it is highly likely that a marriage wouldn't last long. If we were to fight, how uncomfortable would you be caught in the middle!"

"Is Luo Sheng better than my second brother?"

This was Si Rong's second doubt.

Although the Si Family was just starting out back then, the Luo Family still couldn't compare.

Yet, between her second brother and Luo Sheng, Ming Zi chose Luo Sheng.

"It's not that he is better than your second brother, but that he is easier to manipulate than your second brother. I am only capable of manipulating trashy men like Luo Sheng."

All these years, she has managed the money Luo Sheng earned very well.

Whatever those women outside received was only what leaked through her fingers.

"I'm warning you, I've just become a widow, and it's quite good. My child is grown, I have money and leisure, and I will not remarry!"

Ming Zi finished eating and wiped her mouth, "Let's go! It's time for my performance."

Si Rong immediately put on her coat and followed her.

……

Zheng Ping sat on a stool, and Mother Luo slipped a gold bracelet from her hand onto Zheng Ping's wrist.

"Give birth to my grandson obediently, and my Luo Family will not treat you poorly."

"Will your daughter-in-law agree?" Zheng Ping looked at the bracelet on her wrist, "If I give birth, in the future, the child will need milk powder and schooling; which of those doesn't cost money?"

"I will personally deliver the monthly expenses to you," Mother Luo promised.

Zheng Ping shook her head and touched her own belly, "You are seventy-two this year, right? How many more years can you deliver them to me? This child, I must have Ming Zi's nod of approval before I can give birth."

Before her voice had even faded, she heard a burst of laughter, and then she saw Ming Zi lift the curtain and enter, followed by a beautiful woman.

"Is that so? You need my nod of approval before you can give birth?"

Zheng Ping nodded, her words full of provocation, "After all, if this were ancient times, you would be the first wife and I would be the concubine; naturally, I would need your consent to give birth to Luo Sheng's child!"