Chapter 129: When Are You Planning for a Second Child?

"Who told you that?"

Lu Tao'er felt a shock, her eyes flickering with unease. "Zhujun, don't listen to the nonsense of outsiders. Your parents have been dead for a long time. Why else do you think your aunt would have remained unmarried just to raise you?"

"Aunt, I know, you've sacrificed so much for me. I..." Fang Zhujun's eyes brimmed with tears. "Even if my parents were still alive, I would never abandon you. In the future, I will definitely provide for you and see you through to the end. But I really want to see him just once... I just want to ask him to his face why they were so heartless! If they didn't want me, why did they give birth to me?"

Lu Tao'er felt a pang of sorrow, her own eyes growing moist, but she quickly composed herself. "Zhujun, don't listen to rumors. Your parents have truly been dead for many years. Your aunt isn't lying to you. Look, don't you go to visit their graves every year?" She stroked Fang Zhujun's hair, feeling a mix of heartache and firm resolve.

"Forget it, I'm tired. I'm going to rest." Fang Zhujun wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and stood up to head toward her room.

Lu Tao'er's hand remained frozen in the air. She could feel Fang Zhujun's lack of trust. Sensing the pain in the girl's heart, she felt deeply distressed herself. Having raised Fang Zhujun through all these years of hardship, she had long since come to view her as her own daughter. At this moment, she desperately wanted to tell her the truth, but thinking of the Fifth Master’s warnings, she opened her mouth, yet not a single word emerged.

***

Juxian Manor.

"Zhujun already knows you exist. Exactly how much longer do you intend to hide it from her?" Lu Tao'er asked, staring at the Fifth Master before her, her voice low.

The Fifth Master picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip, though he did not pull the cup away from his lips. He knew, of course, that Fang Zhujun would eventually press Lu Tao'er for answers. Since Du Shisan had exposed his identity last time, he had known this day would come. He was conflicted and torn. His daughter was currently on the right path, building a wonderful life for herself as the future planning director of the pharmaceutical factory. That factory was the hero of Qian City, a model enterprise; her future was bright. Yet, he was a member of the underground forces defeated by those heroes—the villain who served as the foil to their glory. He didn't want his daughter to feel inferior or disappointed once she discovered his true identity.

"I have failed her and her mother..." The Fifth Master set down his cup and looked up at Lu Tao'er. "And I have failed you, too..."

"Enough, Fang Wenshan. Please, spare me your hypocrisy." Lu Tao'er’s face darkened, and she said bitterly, "I have waited twenty years for you, and I went to great lengths to raise your daughter as if she were my own. For this, I underwent two abortions, and in the end, I can never bear children again..." Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. "Not only are you too cowardly to acknowledge your own daughter, but you try to dismiss me with a mere 'I'm sorry'... Fang Wenshan, you are not a man!"

Tears burst forth as she spoke, and once the words left her lips, she turned and stormed out of the room. A loud *bang* marked her exit, expressing the depth of her anger and regret.

The Fifth Master stared at the slammed door, a look of agony in his eyes. "Tao'er, it's not that I don't want to give you a title... It's just that if I do, Zhujun will eventually find out who I am... I am truly... so sorry!" He covered his face with his hands, his expression twisted in pain, his heart in turmoil. "I truly am not a good man... and even less of a good father!"

***

"Can you two find the time tomorrow?" During dinner, Xu Fang looked at Li Xiande and then at Li An'an.

"What's the matter?" Li Xiande asked.

"My older brother called me today saying they are going to re-inter my father's grave tomorrow and want us to come along," Xu Fang explained.

"You should take Xiaohan and An'an with you. I have to meet a big client tomorrow," Li Xiande said, looking at Li An'an. "An'an, go with your mother to pay your respects to your grandfather. It’s only right that our family attends."

Li An'an thought for a moment. "Alright, I don't have much on my schedule tomorrow." She turned to Mo Han, "Shall we go to my maternal grandmother's house tomorrow?"

Mo Han smiled. "Of course. You are my dearest wife; I will support whatever you want to do."

Li An'an felt a bit embarrassed and shot Mo Han a look, thinking to herself, *That’s enough, being this cheesy in front of my parents.*

Xu Fang and Li Xiande kept their heads down, eating as if they hadn't heard the exchange. The family atmosphere was harmonious and happy. While doing the dishes, Xu Fang entered the kitchen and asked in a low voice, "An'an, when are you two planning on having a second child?"

"Mom, these things can't be rushed. Let nature take its course," Li An'an whispered.

"Nature my foot! If Mo Han isn't being proactive, why don't you take the lead? Honestly, you're a grown woman and I still have to worry about these things. A family isn't complete without a son," Xu Fang scolded, glaring at her daughter.

"That's enough. It’s a different era; why hold onto those outdated ideas? Aren't sons and daughters the same? Just go out, don't disturb my dishwashing," Li An'an said, nudging Xu Fang's arm with her elbow.

"Fine, fine. I'll go find a nanny in a few days. Don't do this manual labor anymore; take good care of your health," Xu Fang said, suspicious that her daughter’s petite frame and constant kitchen work were hindering her fertility. Otherwise, why hadn't there been a second child after all these years?

"There are only a few of us eating; why get a nanny? Besides, I only have time to cook in the evening." Even though the pharmaceutical factory was making a fortune and she had become a multimillionaire, Li An'an knew Mo Han still had many things to do and needed to spend a lot of money, so she didn't dare to be extravagant. She was afraid that one day Mo Han would need funds and she wouldn't be able to provide them.

"You, oh, I don't even know what to say to you," Xu Fang sighed and walked out.

That night, lying in bed, Li An'an thought about what Xu Fang had said and felt a twinge of concern. She didn't know why she hadn't been able to conceive in the last few years. She hesitated, wondering if she should go to the hospital for a checkup.

The night passed without incident. The next day, Mo Han drove the A8, taking Li An'an and Xu Fang toward Xiuwen. Since Xiao Xiao’s corneal surgery hadn't fully healed, they decided not to bring her along to avoid unnecessary questions.

Xiuwen was a county town under the jurisdiction of Qian City, about an hour away. However, they were stuck in traffic for over twenty minutes leaving the city, and by the time they reached Xiuwen, it was already 10:30. The Xu family were ordinary working-class folks in Xiuwen with no real influence. Their house was an old, two-story structure, though it was quite spacious. However, the small road leading to the Xu residence was blocked.