Chapter 677

The chief's difficulty was resolved perfectly with the help of the Wufu Town Pawnshop and Zhong Susu.

I returned to the Lingnan Shi family, and immediately teamed up with Shi Changyun to clear out all forces inside and outside the Shi family.

During this process, descendants of the Mountain-Relieving Strongmen lineage still tried to incite me, to lift me onto the chieftain's position, to rebuild the Mountain-Relieving Strongmen team, but I refused them one by one.

My mindset is now very calm; I am about to enter the year of no confusion, and Jin Wuya is also in his forties. As ordinary people, we can say we have already lived more than half our lives. After experiencing this great calamity, we two only wish to support each other and grow old together.

Jin Wuya asked me, "Shi Rou, are you really not going to find A Cheng to calculate the fate and heir?"

I shook my head: "Before, I was obsessed with this because of my grandfather; now I have dug up and rebuilt the ancestral graves, so what else do I have to let go of?"

Jin Wuya smiled and asked again: "The Shi family is big and great; although during this time you have integrated resources and deliberately dispersed some of your holdings to other families, you still can support half of Lingnan. After we grow old, who will these industries be left to?"

"Half will stay with the clan, half will be donated." I had long made this plan: "It's a pity that Xiao Jiu Zhanggui and the others live somewhat far away; otherwise I could have left it to them to manage."

He then asked: "And you? Do you want a child?"

Jin Wuya shrugged and said: "Shi Rou, I need to rely on your luck for this; you have it, then I have it. Since I was never destined to have it, I won't force it."

We were in complete agreement on this matter.

With a good mindset, our vigor recovered quickly.

Over the next few months, I managed the company while he wandered the major markets of Lingnan; whenever I had free time, we would go out to play.

Auction houses, stone-gambling venues, Gui Shi...

Before, I devoted myself entirely to the Shi family; now I delegate authority where I can, and begin to truly value my own little life—my life has become rich and colorful.

But such good days lasted only eight months.

One day eight months later, Jin Wuya and I were soaking in hot springs at a vacation villa when, for some unknown reason, a sudden stabbing sensation came from our two feet in the water.

This stabbing sensation instantly pulled me back to the time of the herbal bath.

I scrambled out of the hot spring pool in shock; Jin Wuya was startled and hurried over to ask what was wrong.

I stared at the thin, cicada-wing-like fish-scale stuff on my feet, my face turning pale: "How could this be? Isn't everything over?"

Jin Wuya was also frightened; we hurriedly left the vacation villa and agreed to go to Wufu Town Pawnshop the next morning to seek Bai Shulan's help.

That night, I kept dreaming.

I dreamed of a strong, powerful heartbeat echoing in my ears, exactly like the one we heard from the small golden-thread nanmu coffin back then.

The next morning upon waking, I noticed the color of the fish scales on my feet had darkened a bit, and we immediately set out for Wufu Town.

After examining my condition, Bai Shulan hissed.

Jin Wuya immediately said anxiously: "Doctor Bai, is this a lingering aftereffect of the earth fetus? Will it get worse? Will it affect Shi Rou's future life?"

He rattled on with a bunch of questions, and Bai Shulan finally interrupted: "I haven't reached a conclusion yet; why are you rushing?"

Bai Shulan looked at me and said: "Shi Rou, you're pregnant."

I could hardly believe what I heard: "Really... really?"

"Absolutely certain." Bai Shulan said, "You probably just conceived not long ago—no more than twenty days. I've confirmed it repeatedly, so there's no mistake. The changes in your body may be related to the pregnancy, and they also suggest this pregnancy might be arduous. If possible, you should move to River City to live near me so I can monitor you throughout, just in case."

I was delighted inside and immediately told Jin Wuya: "Then let's move to your place; I'll leave the Lingnan affairs to Shi Changyun."

Jin Wuya had no objection, but he repeatedly asked Bai Shulan how to preserve the pregnancy and what he needed to do to help.

Fortunately, Bai Shulan had a strong presence and retorted a few sentences at Jin Wuya: "What's there to fear with me around! It's not like before; there's no reason we can't keep it!"

Jin Wuya took a calming pill, then immediately brought me back to his residence, had me sit in on a conference call with Shi Changyun and the others to settle matters there, while he cleaned up and tidied everything; that evening we went to the supermarket for a big shop, buying a pile of daily necessities.

The next morning, Jin Wuya alone returned to Lingnan, bringing all the things I usually use to River City, with some already packed and on their way via courier.

In the days that followed, I still kept dreaming; the heartbeat in my dreams grew stronger, and the color of the fish scales on my feet deepened as well.

Fortunately, the area covered by the fish scales did not increase.

On the day of Shan Shan's full-month celebration, I also attended, having specially selected many gifts.

That little girl Shan Shan is truly pretty; Xiao Jiu placed her in my arms, soft and cute, and I simply couldn't put her down.

I quietly told Xiao Jiu the news of my pregnancy; Xiao Jiu was overjoyed: "Really? Did you let Shulan have a look?"

"It's true; Doctor Bai has seen it, but I had to conceal it for the first three months, and only now that I'm three months along do I dare to say it." I said sincerely, "Xiao Jiu, thank you; without everyone's help, we wouldn't have today."

Xiao Jiu, however, said: "We're all family; what's with all the politeness? It's truly heaven's mercy that Boss Jin and you can have a child—good deeds are rewarded."

I also told her about the fish scales growing on my feet.

Xiao Jiu immediately said: "This matter is a bit mystical; why not… let A Cheng help you calculate it? This kid's shamanic arts are already perfected—one look and he gets it right."

A Cheng was quickly summoned; he took a scale from my feet, made hand signs and chanted incantations, then performed divination, his expression turning grave.

Xiao Jiu worried: "A Cheng, is something wrong?"

A Cheng said: "Elder sister, Lady Shi is carrying an empty fetus."

Xiao Jiu asked: "An empty fetus? What is an empty fetus?"

My heart also tightened, and I looked at A Cheng anxiously.

A Cheng explained: "An empty fetus means merely the shell of a child, without a soul infused; this pregnancy is not natural."

I immediately retorted: "It is natural; the baby came suddenly, and we didn't use any means…"

Xiao Jiu took my hand, gently patted it, signaling me to stay calm and indicating for A Cheng to continue.

"Lady Shi didn't understand what I meant." A Cheng said, "Since it wasn't you couple who forcibly brought this child here using special means, then there must be some other force that facilitated this pregnancy. Considering your previous ordeal and the fish scales that appeared on the top of your feet early in your pregnancy, perhaps... just my little suggestion, perhaps you should go back to that deep sea and have a look."