"Perhaps so." If that were the case, Zhu Xiangyao felt a bit better in his heart. "Bodyguards like this can probably only be hired through connections in the capital. Of course, it might have been arranged by the Cheng family." He sighed. "Forget it. I’d better go to the mountains first. Qiaolian is due to give birth in the next few days. We can’t afford any problems."
"Mm." Gan Juhua nodded. "I’ve packed my things. I originally planned to go tomorrow. Since that’s the case, you can go with me tomorrow."
Though they harbored many regrets, they had to put those matters aside for now. The only thing they could do was ensure Zhang Qiaolian gave birth to a son. The next day, the couple went to the mountains. They stayed there for only two days before Zhang Qiaolian went into labor. Since it wasn’t her first child, the second delivery was quick and painless. However, to their surprise, she gave birth to a girl.
As soon as Gan Juhua confirmed it was a daughter, her face darkened. "Where is the son we were promised? Why is it another money-losing burden? I fed you so much good food, and you ate the son away." Her words made no sense, but no one dared to contradict her.
"Mother," Zhu Xiangyao said, though he was unhappy, he kept his feelings hidden. "The child is already born. What do you want to do?" If he had known it would be a girl, he should have had the pregnancy terminated earlier. Now, all their efforts were in vain, like drawing water with a bamboo basket.
"Wait three days. Once the baby is a bit bigger, we’ll leave her at the door of the Third Branch’s eldest household. They have money. I don’t believe they won’t raise her. And don’t tell them the child is yours." Gan Juhua made her decision without hesitation.
Zhang Qiaolian was stunned. "Mother, you want to abandon this child?" She had carried the baby for ten months. It was her flesh and blood. No matter how petty she was, she couldn’t bear to throw away her own child.
"What’s the use of raising a money-losing burden? Naturally, we don’t want her. Besides, if the Third Branch’s eldest household raises her, you won’t have to worry about her going hungry or cold. You can rest your body for a while, and then try again. I don’t believe you can’t give birth to a son." Gan Juhua said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"No, no, I can’t bear it." Zhang Qiaolian was indeed selfish, but she loved her children deeply. In this situation, she refused to agree to abandoning the child.
"Are you trying to ruin Xiangyao?" Gan Juhua was furious. "If you had been more capable and given birth to a son, it would have been fine. Xiangyao lost her job, but that’s not the end of the world. Many people are doing business now. But this money-losing burden… how can you let Xiangyao lose her iron rice bowl for this? Do you have any conscience? And do you even want to have a son anymore?" Gan Juhua looked at her as if to say, "Tell me, what else can you do besides giving birth to a money-losing burden?"
Hearing this, Zhang Qiaolian burst into tears. She couldn’t bear to lose her child, but she didn’t want to harm her husband either. Zhu Xiangyao spoke up from the side. "Alright, don’t worry. If Shunyao’s family raises her, we won’t have to worry about her survival. They have money. And we can visit her secretly from time to time. Don’t you think so?" Zhu Xiangyao seemed to be comforting her, but she was also being selfish. Zhang Qiaolian knew she couldn’t save her daughter. However, she couldn’t resist at this moment. Her only thought was to find a way to protect herself first, and then find a way to get the child back. Even with this plan, the thought of separating from her child cut her heart like a knife.