Chapter 999: 238: Total Outbreak!_4

Zuo Ling made up the story about the past pregnancy; his goal was simply to make Shangguan Xi believe him.

After all, the Zuo Family had only moved to Beijing twenty years ago, and many old neighbors weren’t clear about their old affairs, so even if Shangguan Xi had the intention to inquire, she wouldn’t find out anything.

Shangguan Xi nodded, “Oh, I see.”

Zuo Ling continued, “My mother still remembers my unborn sister to this day. Every year on Tomb Sweeping Day and the Cold Clothes Festival, she burns paper money for her. Xiaoxi, you must remember never to bring this up in front of my mother; I don’t want to resurrect her grief.”

He knew Shangguan Xi too well; she was simple and kind-hearted. Considering his mother, she would not ask his mother to verify this.

“Mmm, I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”

“That’s good then.”

As the conversation ended, Shangguan Xi added, “By the way, Zuo Ling, there’s another thing I want to make clear to you.”

“Go ahead,” Zuo Ling said with a smile, “I’m all ears.”

Shangguan Xi said, “Nowadays, birth planning is so strict. If we were to get married in the future, regardless of whether our first child is a boy or a girl, I will not have a second child, and even your parents cannot interfere with our decision. If you agree, then we can continue our relationship; if you don’t, then let’s just end things here!”

Some things needed to be made clear in advance.

Having been advised by her family, Shangguan Xi didn’t want to end up in an ugly dispute over such matters!

This… this was absolutely unacceptable!

Even though birth planning was strict, if one spouse could resign from work, not both being in employment would allow a second child.

Besides, wasn’t it a woman’s duty to carry on the family line?

Would a woman who couldn’t bear children be brought home just to be revered like an ancestor?

But of course, Zuo Ling would never speak these thoughts aloud. He was, for now, quite content to revere Shangguan Xi like an honored ancestor.

Shangguan Xi was beautiful and well-educated, and they shared deep feelings. Zuo Ling did not want to part ways over the issue of children.

People change. Shangguan Xi, not yet married and still a young woman, was unaware of a woman’s duties and mission. Perhaps after getting married, she would understand!

By then, she might even be clamoring to have a second, third, or fourth child!

Yes!

That would definitely happen!

Thinking this, Zuo Ling said with a smile, “Yes, yes, I’ll listen to you. Xiaoxi, don’t worry, in the future, whatever you say goes in our family. As for children, you can have as many as you want, and if you don’t want any, then we won’t have any at all!”

“Really?” Shangguan Xi looked at Zuo Ling somewhat surprised, as she had not expected him to be so open-minded!

Because her birth mother, Xu Fen, had died in childbirth on the operating table, Shangguan Xi harbored some fear of giving birth.

“Zuo Ling, I’ll just tell you the truth. My biological mother died from complications during childbirth, and I am actually quite afraid of giving birth,” Shangguan Xi continued. “And I’ve heard from Xiaolin in the workshop that giving birth is incredibly painful, and that during birth, the child and feces might come out together…”

What had Xiaolin said at that time?

Xiaolin said she lost all her dignity on the operating table.

Ever since having a child, Xiaolin had become a different person, treating her own mother with special kindness and filial piety, because she had experienced the agony of childbirth. A woman only understands a mother’s sacrifices and greatness once she becomes a mother herself.

One only understands parental grace after raising children.

Zuo Ling said with a smile, “Then let’s not have children. By the way, Xiaoxi, what do your uncle and aunt, grandparents, and grandmother think of me after yesterday?”

He knew without asking that Shangguan Xi’s parents must have a very good impression of him!

After all, finding a man like him in Beijing was incredibly difficult!

Zuo Ling was very aware of Shangguan Xi’s family circumstances.

Shangguan Xi’s father was just a teacher; how much could a teacher earn a month, at most 20 yuan? Not even as much as their family nanny made! And her stepmother just ran a small business, the least prestigious occupation. If it weren’t for his affection for Shangguan Xi, he wouldn’t consider marrying the daughter of a small business owner!

Shangguan Xi’s brother worked at a bank, probably just doing menial tasks…

As for that sister, except for being the top scorer in the college entrance exam, she was utterly useless. The sister’s boyfriend didn’t even have a proper job!

He guessed that the total income of Shangguan Xi’s entire family might not be higher than his salary alone!