The situation at the shop before the new year was clear to him. It had been thriving, but these two people had managed to ruin it. Instead of using a proper master chef, they had replaced him with Liu Renfa's wife to save money, without a word. Was she a real chef? Villagers might not be particular when eating at banquets, but people paid money to dine at restaurants.
Since they lacked the capability, they should learn from this lesson and be more practical in the future.
Seeing that neither of the elder couple spoke up for them, Gu Xingmin and Liu Yuemin, though unconvinced, dared not say anything further.
"We're all brothers. Can't third brother just watch while third sister-in-law doesn't help us?"
Back in their own room, Liu Yuemin voiced her thoughts. "Why don't you call third brother? Fourth brother has been helped, it's not like you're asking for too much. With him speaking up, I don't believe third sister-in-law will object!"
Gu Xingmin's eyes lit up at her words.
Gu Xingdong had just finished a meeting. As he sat down in his office, before he could even take a sip of water, the phone rang. He picked it up. "Hello?"
"Third brother, it's me."
Soon, Gu Xingmin had explained the situation roughly.
"...We're all family. Why don't you see if you can talk to third sister-in-law again? It's only natural that family members work diligently. It would be helping second brother too."
Gu Xingdong pinched the bridge of his nose. He waited until Gu Xingmin had finished saying everything he wanted to say before he spoke.
"Second brother, I never interfere with Li Shu's career matters. I trust she has her own considerations on who to use and who not to use. Besides, I think it's best for family members to not get too involved. You know her temper; if she gets upset, even I have to back down. I'm doing this for your and second sister-in-law's own good, aren't I?"
Gu Xingdong's meaning was clear: he would always side with Chen Li Shu in matters. It would be bad for their brotherly relationship.
Gu Xingmin had met a polite refusal. In the end, he could only reluctantly hang up the phone.
"How was it?"
Liu Yuemin had been eavesdropping. Seeing him hang up, she quickly stepped forward to ask.
Gu Xingmin's expression was sour. "What else can it be? They're a couple. What am I, this second brother, to them?"
...
Lately, Sun Ling had been feeling chest tightness and nausea, especially in the mornings.
Thinking she had a stomach problem, she went to the hospital for a check-up.
The doctor looked at her lab reports and smiled, saying, "Congratulations, you're pregnant."
Pregnant?
Sun Ling looked stunned. "Doctor, am I really pregnant? Could there be a mistake?"
Jiang Chengyi was always very careful when they were together. How could she be pregnant?
"Doctor, we always... we always use protection. How can I be pregnant?" Sun Ling glanced around, seeing no one else in the room, and whispered shyly.
"Even with precautions, it's not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. It's all a matter of probability."
Seeing that her expression wasn't as happy as others who learned they were pregnant, the doctor asked, "Miss, do you want this child? If not, you must do it soon, as it will be less harmful to your body."
Sun Ling was still a bit dazed by the sudden news. She stood up and said, "I'll think about it."
If she and Jiang Chengyi were married, she would definitely have this child. But Jiang Chengyi had a family, and their situation...
Thinking of something, Sun Ling's steps gradually slowed.
The second branch of the Jiang family only had Jiang Chengyi as their son, and he currently only had one daughter. What if the child she was carrying was a boy? Then perhaps Jiang Chengyi could marry her?
Although she didn't like Jiang Chengyi much, the Jiang family's status was undeniable, and Jiang Chengyi was very wealthy. If she married into the Jiang family, her future life would certainly be different.
The more Sun Ling thought about it, the more excited she became. She carefully put away the lab report, turned, and headed in a different direction.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Jiangpan Garden residential community, approved by the government and invested in by the He family with Longteng Company as the contractor, had already begun construction. This was considered a major project for the province, and all parties were paying close attention. Jiang Chengyi had been on-site overseeing the work for some time.
As he came out from the construction site, he saw Sun Ling walking towards him and couldn't help but frown. "Why are you here?"
Sun Ling crossed the uneven ground and quickened her pace. "I went to your company to find you, but you weren't there. I heard from your secretary, Xiao Liu, that you were here, so I came."
As she got closer, Sun Ling said shyly, "Chengyi, I have something to tell you."
Jiang Chengyi nodded and took her to the car. Just as he sat in the driver's seat, he saw Sun Ling happily hand him a piece of paper.
"What is it?" Jiang Chengyi asked, confused, and took it. His gaze shifted to the words "lab report" on it and then involuntarily moved down. When he saw the test items and the result, his eyes suddenly tightened.
"I'm pregnant. The doctor said I'm a month and a half along. At first, I didn't believe it, especially since you always use protection. But the doctor said there's a probability with these things. You said this must be a child sent by heaven for us, I..."
Sun Ling was happily talking when Jiang Chengyi suddenly handed the paper back to her and said sternly, "Get rid of it."
Sun Ling froze. "Chengyi, what did you say?"
Jiang Chengyi repeated impatiently, "I said get rid of the child. This child cannot stay."
Given the Jiang family's background and his current situation, if word got out that he had a bastard child due to his misconduct, his grandfather would be the first to not spare him.
He had always been cautious about this. How could a child just appear? He remembered that Sun Ling's first time wasn't with him. Such a woman was fine for playing around, but for him to have a child with her, Jiang Chengyi inwardly snorted with disdain.
Sun Ling hadn't expected him to be so heartless. Not only was there no joy on his face, but he also looked like he wanted to desperately get rid of it, impatient for the child to be gone.
Although she didn't have much affection for Jiang Chengyi, this was, after all, her first child. Sun Ling urgently tried to persuade him, "Chengyi, this is our child after all. What if it's a son?"
Jiang Chengyi immediately saw through her thoughts and sneered, "Sun Ling, do you think if he's a son, I'll divorce and marry you?"
Her thoughts exposed, Sun Ling's expression stiffened.
Jiang Chengyi reached out and touched her cheek, his voice softening considerably. "Don't try any of those crooked tricks with me. Be good, and listen. I've already spoken to the landlord, and the house will be transferred to your name in a couple of days."
As long as she behaved, Jiang Chengyi didn't mind giving her some benefits.
Besides, he didn't care about sons or anything. Even if he wanted to have children, they would be born to his wife. He still clearly understood the priorities.
Hearing his words, Sun Ling's fingers clenched tightly. He wanted to use a house to make her obediently get rid of the child. What did her following him for so long count for? Was there no affection at all?