“Sister Rao is pregnant?!” When Madam Feng told Old Madam Ming about this in private, Sheng Shuihe also told Sheng Weiqiao the whole story in a few words. She felt dizzy, “What shall we do now?!”

Sheng Shuihe cupped his chin with his hands folded on the stone table. He looked at her with interest, “Mom thought that we should ask Doctor Hang to prescribe aborticide and let Third Sister have an abortion. Anyway, Third Sister is still young. After three or five years, no one will know.”

“But Sister Rao… refused?” Sheng Weiqiao was distraught, and she had to bite her lips hard to hold back the tears. She whispered, “Why?”

She thought Sheng Weirao would not refuse this proposal before.

Sheng Weirao had not been betrothed yet. Even if people became open-minded now, being pregnant before marriage would definitely be despised by people. Besides, there was no love between the child's father and Sheng Weirao. If she were to give birth to the child in the future, the existence of the child would reopen old wounds of her and the whole Sheng Family.

Besides, Sheng Family had made plans for Sheng Weirao's future. In a few years, everyone would forget this, and then Sheng Family would prepare wealthy dowries for her. So, men in poverty would definitely be attracted by this!

However, Baoyue told Sheng Weiqiao this morning that Madam Feng had left sullenly after talking with Sheng Weirao last night.

It could be seen that Sheng Weirao probably refused Madam Feng's proposal.

But Sheng Weiqiao couldn't figure it out. It was evident that Sheng Weirao was severely hurt when she was at sea. Why would she want to keep the child?

Was it because the child was her flesh and blood?

“According to mom, Third Sister thought that she would not be able to marry a good man, and even if someone wanted to marry her, he would only be interested in her dowry.” Sheng Shuihe said lightly, “Even if she and her husband have a child in the future, when the child grows up, he or she may alienate her because of rumors. So, she would not get married but rather keep the child. Of course, in order not to affect the reputation of Sheng Family, she is willing to live in the foster home in the suburbs to keep this secret!”

“Later, she will announce that she is disheartened and will not get married for life!”

“After a few years, she will bring the child back to Sheng Family in the name of an adopted child. In the future, she and her child will depend on each other forever!”

“Sister Rao is too pessimistic. At first, Second Aunt married Second Uncle, and then she remarried after giving birth to Eldest Brother.” Sheng Weiqiao took a deep breath and tried to calm down, “I heard that after she remarried, she and her husband had their children and lived in comfort. So, why couldn't Sister Rao marry a good man?”

Sheng Shuihe said with a smile, “Sweet little girl, how can you persuade Third Sister by taking Second Aunt as an example? Don't forget that the first Second Aunt could rely on her family before, but the second, Madam Bai, she could only depend on herself, right?”

He thought, “Do you think everyone is like you? You are doted on by your parents. Your mother's family is powerful. Even your aunt is the Old Madam of one of the three major families. Since you were born, you are protected by so many people, so you are always optimistic when you're in trouble. After all, how many troubles have you met since your childhood?”

“Even if you are in trouble, since there are so many people who are protecting you, you'll be fine in the end!”

“But Sheng Weirao's mother is dead. Her mother's family is unable to help. Besides, her father is totally unreliable. In this situation, how can she be optimistic?”

Sheng Weiqiao heard there was a note of irony in his voice. She turned pale but failed to refute, so she could only glare at him.

Sheng Shuihe looked at her and smiled.

Their conversation reached a deadlock for a moment. Then Sheng Weiqiao finally found a reason to pick on him, “What are you laughing at?! Our family gets in trouble now. How can you laugh?!”

“Why can't I laugh?” Sheng Shuihe refuted justly and forcefully, “Anyway, you dislike me again. Maybe you will throw me out in several days. By then, I will not be a member of Sheng Family anymore. So why should I feel sad for an outsider?!”

Sheng Weiqiao struck the table and shouted indignantly, “Don't you have feelings?! Even if she is not your family member, you should be sympathetic when you hear of such a terrible thing!”

“Why should I sympathize with her?” Sheng Shuihe even laughed out loud and said lazily, “People on Daimao Island are way poorer than her. For example, five years ago, a s.h.i.+p in the neighboring county got lost because of the storm and strayed into the sea near Daimao Island. Then all people on the s.h.i.+p became captives who came to us.”

“There were two siblings who were from a rich family on the s.h.i.+p. The young sister was about fifteen or sixteen years old and had a fierce temper. I heard that when she fell into the hands of the pirates, she wanted to die!”

“But her brother was not as brave as her. He knelt down and kowtowed as soon as he saw the pirates, saying that as long as they wouldn't kill him, he could do anything for them. The person in charge of them found that the sister was beautiful, so he told the brother, 'As long as you persuade her to keep alive and serve me, I will not kill you!'“

“The brother knelt down to the sister without hesitation. She cherished the brotherly love between them. So, after much consideration, she agreed with tears in her eyes.”

“I was young and ignorant at the time. The sister became disheartened after she agreed. I felt pity for her, so I begged my Eldest Brother and interceded for them.”

There was no pity in Sheng Shuihe's eyes, but full of self-mockery, “He agreed immediately. But he said that I would certainly regret it in the future. Then, what he said was proved to be correct. After being released on the sh.o.r.e, the brother framed the sister that she was afraid of death and sold her virginity to the pirates to cover up the fact that he betrayed his sister to survive!”

“The brother had a good reputation at the time and was the eldest son in his family. Since it was he who said that his sister had lost her virginity, how could she prove her chast.i.ty? When she returned, she was forced by her family to commit suicide by hanging herself from a beam.”

“Later, I asked my brother to let me lead several people and went on sh.o.r.e to kill him. After that, when women were captured to the island, I would ask people to treat them well, but I never tried to release them anymore.”

He glanced at Sheng Weiqiao, who was astounded, and then he said mockingly, “In contrast, the situation of Second Aunt and Third Sister is good enough, isn't it?”

When he said that, he was very calm and indifferent.

However, his tone was cold. There was no sarcasm, mockery, or cynicism in his voice. But the indifference that was taken for granted by him made Sheng Weiqiao feel uncomfortable. She asked, “According to you, as long as there are more miserable things in the world, no matter what happens to you, you are not eligible to be sad or worthy of sympathy. If so, you can live on Daimao Island, but why did you return to Sheng Family?”

She thought Sheng Shuihe would be irritated by her. However, he smiled without anger. He opened his hands that propped up his chin and patted her on the head quickly. Then he said kindly, “Sweetheart, do you forget that I was brought back by dad? I didn't come here by myself and beg for adoption!”

“…!!!” Sheng Weiqiao was too indignant to say anything.

She thought that she couldn't continue to talk to the son of a mistress!

Otherwise, she would go mad sooner or later!

She struggled to free herself from his hands. Then she suddenly stood up and shouted, pointing to the outside, “Go out! Now!”

She directly threw him out, but would Sheng Shuihe do as she wanted?

Of course, it was impossible!

He shook his sleeves and sat upright. Then he said firmly, “No! Sweetheart, you wish me to go out, but I will not leave! Besides, I'm going to have dinner here. If you don't allow me to eat here, I will climb over the wall and wander around in your small kitchen every day. But don't worry. I will uncover the lid and see what's in it at most. I will not secretly spit or put sand or c.o.c.kroach or laxative in the dishes!”

“You are so shameless! Are you still human?!” Gazing at him for a moment with indignation, Sheng Weiqiao found that he sat still and looked at her calmly, which made her rage. She struck the table and shouted, “I am your sister! And I'm only thirteen! How can you treat me like this! Don't you have feelings?!”

“Sweetheart, I'm just seventeen!” Sheng Shuihe looked innocent and sighed, “According to the old social norms, after the capping ceremony for a young man when he reaches twenty, he can be seen as an adult. But for a girl, after the hair-pinning ceremony when she reaches fifteen, she can be seen as an adult. That is to say, I will become an adult in three years, but you will be an adult in two years, so you should show courtesy to me!”

Sheng Weiqiao was furious now, “You are completely shameless!!!”

“I'm just an ordinary person. Why do I need to be shameful? To be sn.i.g.g.e.red at by my peers?” Sheng Shuihe touched his chin and smiled brightly, “Okay, sweetheart, you'd better go and tell your cooks that I love spicy food, so don't cook light dishes!”

Sheng Weiqiao's chest heaved violently. Her almond eyes stared at him in which the anger was burning like fire. If she were strong enough, she would lift up the stone table in front of her and smash it on the head of the son of a mistress!!!

But just when she wanted to rush to fight with him, she suddenly thought of something, “Wait! If he is going to have dinner here, I can ask my cooks to cook for him. Then I can order them to spit and put sand or c.o.c.kroach or laxative in the dishes!”

“It's such a good chance!”

“That d*mned son of a mistress! If you give him an inch, he will take a mile! But now he has fallen into my hands!”

Thinking about this, Sheng Weiqiao held back her anger and sneered, “It's just a meal. I'm not as mean as you! Today I allow you to have dinner here!”

“But I'm afraid you can't stand it!” she thought.

“Sweetheart, you indeed come from an ill.u.s.trious family. You're so generous!” however, Sheng Shuihe gave her the thumbs up and said with a smile, “Well, in this case, I would like to meet you halfway. You don't need to ask your cooks in the small kitchen to prepare the dinner for me. I will have dinner with you and your sister!”

“Absolutely no!” Sheng Weiqiao thought.

“If you eat the same food with us, how can we spit and put sand or c.o.c.kroach or laxative in the dishes!”

Sheng Weiqiao was anxious and was about to speak, but the d*mned son of a mistress continued to say happily, “This way, you need not ask your cooks secretly to spit and put sand or c.o.c.kroach or laxative in the dishes!”

She was driven beyond endurance!

It seemed that she lost control of herself. She even didn't have time to stand up and weave around the stone table. She directly lifted her dress and climbed up to the table and threw herself at him. Then she pinched and shook his neck vigorously, “Go to h.e.l.l! Go to h.e.l.l! Go to h.e.l.l!!!”

Then!

Just when she was towering over him and venting her anger that had acc.u.mulated for a long time on him, she heard an angry voice behind her, “Weiqiao?! What are you doing!!!”

Sheng Weiqiao was astounded for a moment and stopped subconsciously. She turned and saw Madam Feng, who was wearing a pale blue dress and was accompanied by Xiquan. Madam Feng stood not far away and looked at her incredulously. Sheng Weiqiao froze for a moment and finally woke up to reality. She hurriedly loosened her grip and wanted to jump off the stone table!

However, the d*mned son of a mistress coughed and supported her with his hand at the same time, which made her so angry that she wanted to climb up the table again and strangle him to death!

So, when she looked up at her mother, Madam Feng's face had already fallen!