Chapter 259: Chapter 258: A Chance Encounter with Wang Hui Fang’s Ex-husband

"Leaving so soon? Why don’t you stay a couple more days? Ziqing can show you around town."

Qi Mingyang glanced at He Ziqing, who shot him an annoyed glare. She clearly had no intention of asking him to stay.

"No, thank you, Uncle. I’ll come visit you again when I have free time."

He Nan nodded. "Alright then. Ziqing will see you out."

"Okay. Goodbye, Uncle, Auntie."

"Goodbye!"

Once they were outside, He Ziqing stopped and said nothing, just staring at Qi Mingyang.

Seeing that He Ziqing was angry, Qi Mingyang smiled. He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away.

"Why did you just show up like that? Didn’t I already promise I’d tell my dad after I got back? Are you really in that much of a hurry?"

Qi Mingyang looked at her. "It’s true, I am in a hurry. But I figured that as your boyfriend, coming to give Uncle a New Year’s greeting shouldn’t be a problem for you. It’s not like I announced I was your boyfriend."

He Ziqing glared at him. "Even so, you shouldn’t have come without telling me first. I wasn’t prepared at all."

’It wasn’t just that I wasn’t prepared; it was a total shock.’

"Your dad still doesn’t know about us. You haven’t told him yet, have you? The New Year holiday is over. When are you planning to tell him?"

He Ziqing’s eyes darted around, her thoughts in a whirl. "I... I haven’t figured out how to say it yet."

Seeing how conflicted He Ziqing looked, Qi Mingyang opened his mouth to speak but ultimately decided not to press her.

"Well, take your time and think it over. I’m heading back to Beijing City now. I’ll be waiting for you there."

He Ziqing took in his travel-worn appearance. "Didn’t you say you’d already booked a hotel?"

Qi Mingyang sighed. "Your father invited me to stay over, but I could see you didn’t want me to, so I had to make an excuse."

"So you came all this way just to wish him a happy New Year, drop off some gifts, and have a meal?"

Qi Mingyang raised an eyebrow. "What else? Didn’t I tell you? I came to wish Uncle a happy New Year, and to see you. We haven’t seen each other in over ten days."

He Ziqing blushed at his words.

Qi Mingyang smiled. "Alright, I’m off. You should head back inside. Remember to tell your dad soon."

He Ziqing nodded.

"Good. I’m going."

When He Ziqing returned, she found He Nan waiting for her in the courtyard.

"Dad."

"He’s gone?"

"Yeah."

He Nan turned. "Come inside with me."

He Ziqing followed her dad into the room.

He Nan sat down at the table and looked at He Ziqing.

"So, you’re dating someone?"

He Ziqing froze at his words.

"Dad..."

He Nan said, "I’m not scolding you. I just want to have a little chat."

He Ziqing nodded. "Okay."

"So why didn’t you tell us sooner? He just showed up out of the blue, and we weren’t prepared at all."

He Ziqing was at a loss for words. She hadn’t been prepared either.

"I didn’t know he was coming."

He Nan said, "Since you’re dating, it’s not strange for him to visit. He seems like a decent young man. But do you know what his family does for a living?"

He Ziqing shook her head.

"Has his family met you?"

"No."

’Their relationship hadn’t reached that stage yet. She had no idea what Qi Mingyang was thinking, insisting on coming all this way just for a short visit.’

He Nan thought for a few seconds. "Since you’re already dating, you’ll have to meet them sooner or later. I just want to tell you, even though we’re from the countryside, we have to have integrity and carry ourselves with dignity. If you meet his parents, don’t act inferior. My daughter is a great catch."

"I know, Dad."

Then, He Nan looked at He Ziqing and sighed.

"You’re all grown up now, at the age where you’re thinking about marriage. And you’re in Beijing City, so I can’t always be there for you. If there’s ever anything you can’t handle on your own, you can go to your third uncle and aunt."

"Okay."

Back in their room, Wang Hui Fang asked He Nan, "That young man who came today... is he Ziqing’s boyfriend?"

He Nan looked at her. "You could tell too?"

Wang Hui Fang smiled. "His eyes never left Ziqing. It’d be hard not to notice. What did Ziqing say?"

"She admitted it. But she didn’t know he was coming either."

Wang Hui Fang nodded. "He’s from Beijing City and came all this way just to pay a New Year’s visit. That kind of sincerity is rare."

"Our daughter’s grown up and has a mind of her own. There’s not much we can do to help, so we’ll just have to let her handle it."

That night, He Ziqing tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

’I wonder if he’s gotten on the train yet?’

’He’s really something else, coming all this way. Doesn’t he find it a hassle?’

’I just came to see you,’ he’d said. ’We haven’t seen each other in over ten days.’

He Ziqing muttered aloud, "What was there to see? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were deeply in love with me or something."

Still, He Ziqing was now certain of one thing: Qi Mingyang was serious about her.

’Well, she’s at that age. She has to get married sooner or later anyway. Maybe Qi Mingyang really is a good choice.’

「Two days later.」

The family went out for a day on the town.

That’s how the New Year holiday was. Besides visiting relatives, there wasn’t much to do. Back when they lived in the village, it was better; they knew everyone and could run around anywhere. But here in town, they were pretty much stuck at home every day.

He Nan had also planned the outing so the children could spend more time with Wang Hui Fang.

They went to see a movie.

And they went to the park.

They just never expected to run into Wang Hui Fang’s ex-husband there.

He wasn’t alone, though. A woman stood beside him, holding his arm and sizing up Wang Hui Fang with a disdainful expression.

Wang Hui Fang felt a pang of humiliation and wanted to leave.

"Hui Fang, I didn’t realize you’d remarried. Is this your new man? Does he know you can’t have children?"

As the man spoke, he glanced at He Nan, his eyes filled with scorn.

Wang Hui Fang snapped, "What does that have to do with you?"

The man smirked. "I’m just looking out for you, aren’t I? If you haven’t told him, once you’re married and he finds out you can’t have children, you’ll be kicked to the curb sooner or later."

"Zhao Qian—"

He Nan took Wang Hui Fang’s hand, comforting her. "It’s okay. Why stoop to his level?"

Then, He Nan faced the man. "I’m Wang Hui Fang’s husband. So what if she can’t have children? You already gave up on her, so you have no right to discuss her life. We’re human beings, not livestock. There’s more to a relationship than just bearing children; there are feelings involved."

Wang Hui Fang tugged at He Nan’s arm. "Let’s just go."

Then she looked over at He Ziqing and Xiao Nian. "Come on."

Xiao Nian answered, "Coming."

He gave the man one last, complicated look before running to catch up.

"What are you looking at? They’re long gone. Seeing her remarried, you’re not having regrets, are you?"

"What are you talking about? She can’t have children. I can’t let the Zhao family line end with me. Speaking of which, did you drink your medicine today? It’s a special fertility remedy my mother went to great lengths to find for you."

"I drank it. Your mother watched me drink it. That stuff is disgusting, how could I not drink it? Can’t we just let nature take its course?"

"It’s been two years, and you still want to ’let nature take its course’? If you don’t get pregnant soon, you’ll be thrown out too." With that, the man turned and strode away.

The woman stomped her foot angrily, but still chased after him.

"Wait for me!"