The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead-Chapter 403 - 392: A Chill in the Heart

"Today you’ve come back, the family is reunited, so let’s have a good meal. By the way, Xiao Cheng can call out ’Mom’ now, Great Grandfather and Great Aunt can too. I’ve been teaching him to call ’Dad’."

Jiang Nanzhou, leading the way with a smile, said, "He did call. When I came back, he pointed at me and called me ’Dad.’ It’s all thanks to you for showing him my picture often."

"Yeah, the little guy is quite mischievous now, likes to play chess with Grandpa. He’s not really playing chess, just fiddling with the pieces, and Grandpa indulges him. You’ll have to take over when you’re back, I’ll be at work every day from now on, and the kid will be your responsibility."

"Sure, from now on I’ll drop you off at your job with Xiao Cheng every day, how about that."

Lu Jingqiu laughed, that sounded good.

As opposed to the scene of family reunion,

the atmosphere at Gao Shu’s home wasn’t as pleasant when he returned.

Xia Lin came back very late today, and she had also been drinking. free𝑤ebnovel.com

Gao Shu, who already had a belly full of questions to ask, felt his anger rise a notch upon seeing her in that state.

He raised his voice and asked her, "Was it you who arranged for Lu Jingqiu’s job to be switched?"

Although Xia Lin had been drinking, she wasn’t drunk, just a bit fuzzy-headed. She knew it was only a matter of time before Gao Shu found out. Compared to her panic a few days ago, she was much calmer now because she had already taken care of things for Gao Shu and wasn’t afraid to admit it.

"Yes. Did she run to you and tattle on me?"

"Why, why would you do that?"

"Why? Of course, it’s because I can’t stand her. Why should she compete with me for everything, for men, for houses? Why does she get to have such good family members, so many relatives who can help her out? Even your uncle, your sister, your aunt, they all speak up for her when there’s trouble. What about me? Isn’t it just because I’m from the countryside that they look down on me?

What’s wrong with coming from the countryside? In a few decades, you city people will be envious of us country folks. She thinks she’s so superior with her many supporters? I wanted her to see that having many people doesn’t always mean they can help."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shu’s eyes flashed sharply as he looked at Xia Lin, "She may have many people, but you’re not without support either, right? Was it that Qi Anmin you turned to?"

"Yes, he is now a minister, with connections even higher up, and more in Capital City. If I don’t find someone with strong connections, how could I deal with her? I thought she would take revenge through work, and I didn’t care, but I didn’t expect her to plot against you too.

However, it doesn’t matter, today I met with Minister Qi, and he said the office position is pretty good. He suggests you stay there for three years, it could help you climb higher."

As Xia Lin spoke, she did not notice that Gao Shu’s eyes had turned from sharp to flaring with rage. His handsome face twisted abruptly, and, without warning, he slapped Xia Lin across the face.

With a sharp smack, the sound shattered the chirping of the insects around them, and the silence inside the house struck their hearts.

Xia Lin covered her face, disbelievingly staring at Gao Shu. In his eyes, the dark hatred was fully exposed, as terrifying as something from hell, sinking her heart with shock: "You hit me?"

"A slap to make you remember, I truly misjudged you over these years."

Xia Lin’s gaze turned viciously fierce as she glared back at Gao Shu, "Misjudged me? Ha, it took me two lifetimes to see through someone like you. I should never have married you."

Gao Shu, still furious, didn’t catch the meaning of her words, and said, "Ha, so you’re finally saying what’s really on your mind. You married me just to get out of Ten-miles Village, didn’t you? Now that you’ve got your wish and climbed into the arms of a higher-status man, you’re bored with me, aren’t you? Saying you’re taking revenge on Lu Jingqiu, in truth, you’re using her to keep me down.

Xia Lin, oh Xia Lin, you’re really ruthless. If I lived two lifetimes, I definitely wouldn’t marry you again."

Xia Lin thought about the slip in her own words that Gao Shu just might catch, but instead, he hurled back something even harsher.

For a moment, Xia Lin could no longer hold back, her grievances from these two lifetimes, and the efforts she had made over the years, were all trampled underfoot by Gao Shu, "What do you mean, Gao Shu? Since I followed you to West City, you know how your aunt treated me, how much I’ve suffered. Without the support of our families, I was studying and trying to make money at the same time. You, out of concern for your own reputation, wouldn’t help me, and that’s fine, but you were always there, constantly hindering me."

"Now, I’ve found a partner who can help me, and you still look at me this way."

"I, your wife, spent today helping you by speaking kindly to others for the sake of your job, drinking myself into this state, and you don’t have a word of concern for me. You just give me a slap in the face. You say I’m climbing up high, well, what if I am climbing?"

"Fine, fine, you’ve finally admitted it. You’ve been saying you were busy making money these past two years when you were really flirting with that Qi guy, weren’t you? Last year, you refused the factory space I found for you, rejecting the deposit, saying you had already bought a piece of land, but it was really Qi who had secured it for you, wasn’t it? I’ve been played like a fool by you two all these years.

"You’re reluctant to have children because of him too, aren’t you?" As soon as he mentioned children, Gao Shu was reminded of what Gao Qing had said, and added, "The child from back then, you miscarried on purpose, didn’t you? You dislike Qingqing, so you blamed it on her."

"Yes, I miscarried on purpose, who cares if I don’t want children? What’s the use of having them anyway? They grow up selfish and self-serving; none are filial. It would be madness for me to want any."

The couple was arguing, and Xia Lin spoke in anger; after saying her piece, she regretted it, her throat tightening.

On the other side, Gao Shu, in a fit of rage, flipped the table with a smack, shattering the water pitcher and glasses on it.

The noise was loud enough to startle the two neighboring courtyards.

Xue Jianian had already gone to bed when she heard the ruckus and hurriedly said, "Are they fighting again? I saw Jingqiu today."

Wei Jincheng, holding her, said, "Gao Shu has always been dealing with government units during his school days, and now he’s been assigned to the sub-district office; he must be struggling with that. Knowing it’s his wife causing trouble, he’d surely make a scene. Niannian, you really won’t go to the Agriculture Bureau you were assigned to by the school?"

"Do you want me to go?"

"Dry dad and dry mom don’t care, and the grandparents listen to you, so naturally, I dare not speak. A wife is impressive; I’ll have to rely on my wife for meals in the future."

Xue Jianian chuckled, "You’re such a smooth talker. Now that you’re the factory director, you shouldn’t let others see you make a joke."

"Who can see us here? It’s only you."

"Stop it, I want to hear more gossip."

"What’s there to listen to? Marrying a wife like that is enough to give Gao Shu bad luck; lucky it’s not me. If it were me..."

"If it were you? What if it were you? Speak clearly, Wei Jincheng, what do you mean?"

"No, no, I mean, if I met a woman like that, I would certainly not... let her off easy. Xia Lin deserves to be put in her place."

"You shouldn’t be the one to do it, though. I heard business has been picking up lately, and the factory has hired quite a few young girls?"

"Oy, my dear, no matter how good the young girls are, they can’t compare to you. Besides, the grandparents are watching over me; I wouldn’t dare. Niannian, no one measures up to you in my heart."

"Hmph, I don’t believe you."

"It’s true, your grandmother was right; we should have a child now. Forget about that store; just leave it. Even if you keep it, you’re just helping others make money; it pains me to see you work so hard.

"Helping who make money? It’s a partnership, and don’t you dare talk about my friend that way."

"Yes, yes."

Xue Jianian couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. She had already taken out quite a bit of money from the beef noodle soup store and the grain and oil store for Wei Jincheng to build his factory, and she didn’t plan to give him any more in the future—it was up to him now.

She was saving her own nest egg.