CHAPTER 545: CHAPTER 540: THE MANTIS STALKS THE CICADA, UNAWARE OF THE ORIOLE BEHIND

Duan Fenghua listened to her and came to believe that Luo Zhiyong and his wife had indeed divorced.

If they had divorced, she actually found Xu He’s idea quite viable, but still felt a nagging sense of insecurity, "If that’s the case, what do you plan to do about Luo Zhiming?"

Speaking of Luo Zhiming, Xu He sneered contemptuously, "No matter what he does, he’s just a useless man."

"But after all, he is your husband, and even if you really get together with Zhiyong, he will still be your brother-in-law," Duan Fenghua said and felt her own head throb from the confusing relationships, supporting her forehead with her hand.

Xu He, however, was indifferent and even discussed her plan with great enthusiasm, "For now, I won’t say anything. I’ll go back and urge Zhou Yunmei to handle this matter. Once things are settled with Luo Zhiyong and everyone acknowledges the child as Luo Zhiyong’s, I’ll then propose to separate from Luo Zhiming and be with Luo Zhiyong."

"What if Luo Zhiyong doesn’t agree?"

Xu He had already thought of every contingency, "He’s a soldier. If he dares not acknowledge this, I’ll threaten to report him to his military unit. I don’t believe he could value anything more than his job."

"That does seem workable," Duan Fenghua shifted her view immediately after hearing about Luo Zhiyong’s military job, thinking the messy relationships didn’t matter much compared to her daughter marrying well, and she nodded, "Honestly, Luo Zhiyong is a hundred thousand times better than Luo Zhiming."

"Mom, I feel the same," Xu He showed a trace of bashful joy upon hearing Duan Fenghua’s words, and said softly, "Actually, I’ve always liked Zhiyong, since we were kids, and even after I married Luo Zhiming, I still liked him. My dream has always been to marry him, to have children with him, and to be together forever."

Having lived life herself, Duan Fenghua was well aware of her daughter’s desires, uncertain what to say, she simply patted her and chided with a laugh, "Silly child."

Seeing that Duan Fenghua also supported her view, Xu He said, "Mom, then I’ll go back and talk to Zhou Yunmei about this matter."

"Ah," Duan Fenghua sighed, "Go then."

After finishing their conversation, the mother and daughter left the woods.

Little did they know, their conversation had been overheard by a person who was very familiar with them. Watching their departing figures, their eyes narrowed slightly, their expression one of great smugness.

Upon returning to the village, Xu He and her mother each went to their own homes.

When Xu He returned home, Luo Zhiming and Luo Dashan had gone out to do farm work and had not returned yet; only Zhou Yunmei was at home twisting straw ropes in the courtyard.

Looking at Xu He, Zhou Yunmei’s face clouded over, "You vanished after breakfast, did you go back to your parents’ home again?"

Xu He glanced at Zhou Yunmei, lazily sat down opposite her, and said, "Where else could I go if not visiting my mother?"

Zhou Yunmei had never been fond of doing chores, especially laborious ones, and felt extremely resentful when her daughter-in-law went out to enjoy herself.

The two had quarreled countless times over various issues while living in her old home.

Seeing Xu He not helping out and just sitting opposite her, watching her work nonchalantly, Zhou Yunmei was so infuriated that she yelled out, "You don’t do any chores at home, always running to your parents’ house. As if that’s going to generate any money!"

"You think I actually enjoy going back to my parents’ home so much? I just feel suffocated at home, and I need to go back to my parental home to unwind." Xu He was incredibly cunning; she knew that bringing up this matter for no reason would arouse Zhou Yunmei’s suspicion, so she proceeded cautiously step by step.

Zhou Yunmei didn’t even consider that angle and glanced at her, scolding, "What are you feeling suffocated about? Is the family short of food or clothes for you?"

Upon hearing this, Xu He deliberately sighed, and then looked at Zhou Yunmei with a gloomy tone, "What’s missing is a man who’s like a man, and a child; life feels suffocating without them."

Zhou Yunmei, upon hearing her say this, roughly understood what kind of suffocation Xu He was referring to, her expression was no longer as domineering as before, but was a bit impatient, "What are you trying to say now?"

Seeing the conversation turn this way, Xu He also pretended to be at her limit and blurted out, "Mom, about the thing you mentioned before, how do you plan to handle it? We can’t just keep dragging it out day by day. If we keep dragging it, I’ll get older, and then I might not be able to have children at all."

"Why are you in such a rush?" Zhou Yunmei asked, and kept her eyes fixed on Xu He, seemingly suspicious of Xu He’s intentions.

Regardless of whether Zhou Yunmei was suspicious or not, Xu He felt guilty because she had ulterior motives, so she hurriedly averted her gaze, deliberately choosing to advance by retreating, "Fine, I’m not in a hurry. Then I’ll go to the village head right now and explain to the villagers why Luo Zhiming and I have been married for so long without a child."

After saying that, she got up and pretended to head out the door.

But she had only taken a couple of steps before she was pulled back by Zhou Yunmei.

Zhou Yunmei thought it over and spoke in a lowered voice, "Alright, I’ll call Zhiyong later and figure out a way to get him to come back once. This time when he comes back, no matter what, we’ll arrange something for you two."

Upon hearing this, Xu He was thrilled beyond words, but she controlled her expression, barely showing too much emotion, and only responded with, "Okay."

While the two were talking, Luo Cuilan came over with her son Da Wei in her arms. Luo Cuilan smiled and glanced at the two, "Mom, what are you two talking about? What’s this about getting Zhiyong to come back and arrange something?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunmei immediately waved her hand, "It’s nothing, just saying your eldest brother hasn’t been back for a long time."

Luo Cuilan, with a smile brimming on her face, didn’t speak for a while as she looked at Zhou Yunmei and Xu He. When both of them became somewhat flustered under her gaze, she suddenly exclaimed as if she had just realized, "I know now."

Her exclamation startled Zhou Yunmei and Xu He, who were already feeling guilty. They exchanged looks, fearing Luo Cuilan might have overheard their conversation.

But the next moment, Luo Cuilan said, "You meant the engagement of Hong Lan with that young man from the city."

They both sighed in relief upon hearing this.

But then Zhou Yunmei reacted to Luo Cuilan’s words and asked loudly, "Hong Lan is getting engaged?"

"Do you not know?" Luo Cuilan first deliberately furrowed her brow and counterquestioned, then she acted as if she was quite delighted and nodded, "But also, yes, my dad already told me, and even said it’s best not to tell you all. Each and every one of you going would just embarrass Hong Lan."

Zhou Yunmei, upon hearing this, was furious and glared with widened eyes, "Did your dad really say that?"

Luo Cuilan thought for a moment; she knew Zhou Yunmei’s temperament well, and saying it was all from Luo Dashan could possibly lead to Zhou Yunmei causing a commotion at home.

She giggled at Zhou Yunmei, "The first half is my dad’s exact words; the second half is what I said."