Hearing this, Qi Yuancheng didn’t dare to delay any longer and immediately went in to intervene.
Of course, his priority was to protect his wife, Qin Rou. Even though the other party was his own mother, Qi Yuancheng knew very well who truly cared for him.
In the bedroom, Qin Rou cried as she said to Qi Yuancheng, “Even before the treatment, I never agreed to adopt your brother’s child, let alone now that you’re undergoing treatment and there’s hope for us to have our own child.”
“Qi Yuancheng, I can’t stay under the same roof with her. Either she leaves, or we get a divorce!” Qin Rou knew that her mother-in-law bringing along her younger brother’s son wasn’t Qi Yuancheng’s fault, but at this moment, she directed all her anger at him—after all, it was his mother.
“Ah Rou, don’t talk about divorce. I’ll never divorce you,” Qi Yuancheng said, gripping her shoulders firmly as he gently wiped the tears from her face. “Actually, I feel the same way you do. I don’t want to adopt my brother’s child either. I’ll go talk to my mother right now and make it clear.”
With that, Qi Yuancheng turned and walked out of the bedroom.
He saw Shuanzi still eating canned fruit as if nothing happening around him concerned him. A cold glint flashed in Qi Yuancheng’s eyes. His younger brother’s sons had all been spoiled rotten by their parents and grandparents, turning them into cold and indifferent people. Just moments ago, when he entered, his mother and Qin Rou had been fighting, yet Shuanzi—the one being protected—had kept eating without a care.
Qi Yuancheng had no power to change his younger brother’s children, but as Qin Rou had said, they absolutely would not take in a child like this.
After a brief glance, Qi Yuancheng headed to his mother’s room.
As soon as he entered, he was met with his mother’s tearful accusations against Qin Rou. Bai Lanhua cried pitifully, her words dripping with attempts to drive a wedge between Qi Yuancheng and his wife.
Qi Yuancheng listened silently as she vented.
Only when she finished did he finally speak, his voice firm. “Mom, take Shuanzi and go back home. Ah Rou and I will not be adopting him.”
“Eldest, what do you mean? Do you think I’m doing this for myself? I’m doing it for you! You and that woman have been married for so many years without a child. She’s just a hen that can’t lay eggs, she—”
“The one who can’t have children is me!” Qi Yuancheng’s declaration cut Bai Lanhua’s words short.
Bai Lanhua stared at her eldest son in shock.
“You… you’re joking, right? Are you just saying that to protect that woman?”
“Mom, the issue is with me. That’s what the doctor confirmed. And now, I’ve already started treatment. The doctor said that once I’m cured, Ah Rou and I can have our own child. So there’s no need for me to adopt Third Brother’s son. You don’t have to worry about it—just take Shuanzi back to the village.” Qi Yuancheng calmly admitted the problem lay with him, feeling no shame in it. At the very least, he couldn’t let Qin Rou continue to be misunderstood.
Originally, he was supposed to go for treatment around this time yesterday and today.
But because of his mother’s arrival—especially today’s situation—he simply couldn’t leave and had no way to attend his sessions.
Bai Lanhua was utterly stunned. She wanted to say it was impossible, but seeing the seriousness in her eldest son’s expression, she knew him well enough to realize he wasn’t lying—he was telling the truth.
So, the problem wasn’t that woman Qin Rou… but the eldest son himself?
And he was undergoing treatment? It could be cured?!
If he was cured, then he and Qin Rou could have their own child, and there’d be no need to adopt the third son’s boy?
But… but what would happen to Third Son’s family then?
Yes, Bai Lanhua’s first reaction wasn’t joy at the thought of her eldest son having his own child someday—it was worry for her third son’s family.
It’s often said that even among ten fingers, some are longer than others. When parents have many children, favoritism is inevitable.
And Bai Lanhua’s favorite had always been the third son—the one she raised herself, the one with a sweet tongue.
As for the eldest and second sons, they had been raised by their grandmother. The eldest, in particular, had joined the military at barely ten years old, so their time together had been minimal. Yet ironically, he was the most accomplished of them all.
Bai Lanhua knew exactly what her third son’s family was like—lacking any real work ethic, lazy and undisciplined.
Fortunately, the third son and his wife had three boys, while the eldest and his wife were childless.
So she had always planned for the eldest to “support” the third son’s family.
In her mind, since the eldest had no children, everything he owned should eventually go to the third son’s family.
But now, suddenly, the situation had flipped. The eldest was on the verge of having his own child. So… what would become of her third son’s family?
By the time Qi Yuancheng left, Bai Lanhua was still in a daze. Only after a long while did she snap back to reality.
No—she couldn’t let the eldest have a child!
If the eldest had his own child, her third son’s family would lose their eldest brother’s support and be forced into hardship. Just the thought of it made Bai Lanhua’s heart ache.
So the eldest must not have a child!
But… how could she stop him?
“If he doesn’t get treatment, he won’t have a child. That’s it—the doctor!”
An idea quickly formed in Bai Lanhua’s mind. She needed to find out who was treating her eldest son’s condition… and then figure out what to do next.
…
Gu Jianing had no idea that trouble was brewing.
When she once again didn’t see Qi Yuancheng show up for treatment, she merely frowned slightly before dismissing it.
Even if she wanted to treat him, to help him and Qin Rou have a child, if they chose not to continue, there was nothing she could do.
In any case, it didn’t affect her mood.
At noon, after finishing work and returning home, Gu Jianing saw that Sheng Zexi had already come back and even personally cooked a meal.
Gu Jianing was pleasantly surprised. “You’re back so early today?”
“Yeah, I have good news.”
Gu Jianing stepped forward and hugged him, blinking curiously. “What good news?”
“I’ve been promoted to deputy regiment commander. From now on, you’ll be the deputy regiment commander’s wife.”
Gu Jianing’s eyes lit up. “Really? That’s amazing! I knew you could do it.”
Seeing her happiness, Sheng Zexi smiled as well.
Truth be told, if his father hadn’t been suppressing him all this time, he would have risen much higher than deputy regiment commander by now. But after completing his last mission, his father could no longer hold him back, finally allowing him this promotion.
Thinking back, in their old military compound, the only one who could compare to him was Li Tingxuan from the Li family.
As far as he remembered, Li Tingxuan was already a regiment-level officer by now.
But…
Back when his mother was still alive, both he and Li Tingxuan were the “model children” that others admired. After his mother passed, he became the “rebellious son” in his father’s eyes—the antithesis of Li Tingxuan.
The thought of Li Tingxuan reminded Sheng Zexi of something. A comrade from the capital had mentioned that Li Tingxuan was planning to apply for a transfer to the Northwest Military Region.
Why?
Sheng Zexi found it extremely strange.
After all, when comparing the Northwest Military Region to the capital’s military district, anyone with eyes could see which posting was more advantageous.
So why was Li Tingxuan so eager to come to the Northwest?
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