Chapter 2

Song Dingxiang took a few slow sips of honey water, savoring the soothing sensation as it slid down her throat, before speaking in a voice that was soft but filled with undeniable calm authority. "Mom, don't pin this on that young man from the Zhou family. He only helped us out of goodwill. It's not right to throw complaints at him for that."

Fang Shi was about to protest, ready to launch into another round of her typical ramblings about their family, but Song Dingxiang cut her off smoothly, her tone sharp and direct. "Mom, why don't I meet with him? I'll ask him what he wants straight from the source. How does that sound?"

Fang Shi, slightly irritated, huffed in frustration, but she couldn't ignore the unmistakable concern in her daughter's eyes. With a heavy sigh, she relented. "You're too soft-hearted, always giving people the benefit of the doubt. Fine, go ahead and meet him. Husband, call that Zhou boy in here."

Song Zhiyuan merely grunted in response before walking out.

It didn't take long before Zhou Tiezhu entered the room, still clutching the two wild rabbits like they were trophies-his stubbornness practically radiating off him.

Song Dingxiang lifted her gaze, locking eyes with the seventeen-year-old. She took him in with a sharp, almost calculating look, sizing him up with a mixture of curiosity and sharp intuition.

Zhou Tiezhu was tall, with a striking face, but he was oddly thin, likely a result of growing too fast and not eating enough. His skin had a faint yellowish tint, probably because of poor nutrition. Yet, his eyes stood out - clear and unclouded, with a purity that was rare in anyone from the Zhou family, lacking the usual scheming glint.

"Sit," Song Dingxiang said sharply, her finger pointing to the long bench in front of her. "Why are you still standing there?"

Zhou Tiezhu bit his lip, nerves bubbling up inside him, but he pushed it down and sat with quiet confidence, claiming his space.

He wasn't someone to cower, Song Dingxiang noted, her eyes flicking toward Fang Shi and then to Song Zhiyuan. Their thoughts were obvious - they saw Zhou Tiezhu as a decent enough young man, but unlucky to be tied to the mess that was the Zhou family.

But in truth...

A sly smile crept onto Song Dingxiang's face as she leaned back, eyes gleaming. "Young Master Zhou, now that I'm fully recovered, I can't help but think about how lucky I was to have you by my side back then. But I'm still puzzled... why do you keep coming back here?"

Fang Shi opened her mouth to respond, but Song Dingxiang shot her a look, her grip tightening on her arm, signaling her to remain silent.

Zhou Tiezhu hesitated again, his lips pressed tight, but after a long pause, he steadied himself and answered, "It's because of me that the Xu family called off your engagement and started spreading rumors about you. If you..."

Before he could finish, Song Dingxiang cut him off, her tone direct and cutting. "Do you want to marry me?"

Fang Shi, Song Zhiyuan, and Zhou Tiezhu were all taken aback, their eyes locking onto Song Dingxiang in unison, the tension thick in the air.

"What nonsense are you spouting now, girl?!" Fang Shi snapped, her patience already thin.

Song Dingxiang casually cleared her throat, taking a deliberate sip of honey water from the bowl by her side, and savoring it for a moment before offering a cool, knowing smile. "Mom, Dad, why the fuss? The Xu family's reputation is far from stellar, and now they've dragged Young Master Zhou into a mess of their own making. A woman's reputation is everything, and with the rumors swirling around, you think I'll be able to secure a decent marriage anytime soon?"

Fang Shi's face reddened with fury, her voice sharp, "But you can't marry into the Zhou family!"

Song Dingxiang's tone softened to a mockingly gentle whisper, "Of course, I won't. Even if Young Master Zhou had eyes to see, I'd never tie myself to a family like yours. Don't you know the state of your own house? Next year, when you head off to join the army, I'd be left holding the bag, stuck managing your mess of a family on my own? No thanks."

Zhou Tiezhu's face flushed with embarrassment, his mind scrambling for words, but none came.

With a sly smile that could cut through steel, Song Dingxiang continued, "My parents always tell me how good you are. If it were just you, maybe I could've considered it. But with the way things stand now? Not a chance. Do us both a favor and leave. My reputation may not be perfect right now, but I'll be damned if I let it sink any lower."

Zhou Tiezhu, unable to hold his ground any longer, abruptly stood, dropped the rabbit to the ground with a thud, and bowed deeply to both Fang Shi and Song Zhiyuan.

"I understand. I'm sorry..." He stuttered, wanting to say more, but stopped short when he caught the glint of amusement in Song Dingxiang's eyes. Without another word, he turned and fled.

Song Zhiyuan, never one to waste a meal, quickly scooped up the rabbit and followed after, grumbling under his breath. Even if the rabbits were small, they were still worth something.

They were still meat, right?

Once he left, Fang Shi couldn't help but let out another sigh, the kind that seemed to shake her whole body. "He's a good kid, sure, but what kind of life must he be living in that damn Zhou family? If it were just him, I wouldn't stand in the way of you marrying him. Our family has enough to support you, but that Zhou family... Forget it. Even if you never get married, I won't let you get caught up with those wolves in sheep's clothing."

She wasn't saying this because she had some grand progressive view on marriage or relationships. No, it was because she genuinely cared about her daughter's well-being. She'd rather be the one to take care of her than watch her suffer in a toxic, miserable marriage.

In Fang Shi's eyes, the best decision she ever made in her life was marrying Song Zhiyuan. Sure, he was a butcher, rough around the edges with his muscular frame and the lingering scent of pork on him, but he was a damn good man. A filial son, a caring husband, and a father who took charge of everything inside and outside the home. He knew what it meant to provide and protect.

"If you're going to marry, you need to marry someone like your father," she insisted, her voice firm with conviction. "With a man like him leading the way, how could I ever consider anyone else?" Fang Shi felt nothing but deep gratitude for having Song Zhiyuan by her side. He made everything manageable-her daughter's happiness, her peace of mind, all of it.

She brought up how Song Dingxiang's sister had married well. The woman's life was settled-helpful at home, taken care of by her mother-in-law, and with a husband who was responsible, caring, and present. Their life together had been smooth sailing for two years without any of the chaos that had plagued Song Dingxiang's situation. She couldn't help but compare and wonder if that was what her daughter deserved.

Song Dingxiang looked at her mother, a sharp, sultry gleam in her eyes, and said in a tone that mixed confidence with just a hint of daring, "Mom, let's be real here. They say life's a mix of ups and downs-good and bad always walk hand in hand. We've been hit with this mess, sure, but who knows what luck might come down the line? Remember that boy from the Zhou family? You think he's just some mistreated foster child, but I don't see it that way. If he can stand up for himself, and break free from the Zhou family's hold, then marrying him won't be an issue. Not in the least."

Fang Shi, ever cautious, quickly waved her hand dismissively, "You can't just throw that out there. They've raised him, taken care of him for years. If word gets out, it'll stir up trouble-big trouble."

With a soft, almost playful laugh, Song Dingxiang leaned in, her voice still sharp, "Mom, really? If that boy from the Zhou family actually cuts ties with them, would you turn your back on him too?"

Fang shi stopped short, taking a moment to think. Then she shook her head slowly, "But how did the Zhou family make it? They only prospered because they took him in. Without him, there's no way they could've built those big houses or sent their sons off to school. I'm sure when he first arrived, he brought in a lot of money with him. They had it good for a while... but somewhere along the line, something changed."

Song Dingxiang's eyes flickered with an understanding of the deeper truth, and she spoke again with calm certainty, "I think the Zhou family started to realize that his real family wasn't looking for him-no one knew where he came from, and they probably figured it wasn't worth keeping him around anymore. That's when things got ugly, and they started treating him like garbage."

Fang shi nodded, her face thoughtful. "I've considered that, too, but it's not something we can just talk about openly. Still, if that boy really has the guts to leave the Zhou family, it might be worth a second look. But you know, if he decides to join the military, that's a whole different ball game. And you're still so young. Who knows if he'll come back, or what could happen. It's risky, no doubt."

She paused, the worry creeping back into her tone, as her protective instincts flared once again.

Song Dingxiang was calm, almost dismissive as she spoke, "Look at where we are now-what difference does a little more or a little less make at this point? Honestly, I think putting some thought into the Zhou family boy might actually be worth it. Yeah, worth it. If he spends a few years serving and comes back with some cash, he'll still be young, and the future's long. Besides, I'm just fourteen. A few more years won't change anything, so what's the rush?"

Fang shi paused, a surprised look crossing her face as she looked at her daughter, "Second daughter, you've been acting a bit different lately. Why are you speaking in circles like this? You never used to talk like this..."

Not long ago, Song Dingxiang had been just a regular fourteen-year-old girl-how far could her worries have reached back then?

But now, the woman standing before her mother had lived through more than enough to make her unshakable. What had once seemed like a big deal was now nothing more than a minor footnote in the scheme of things.

Song Dingxiang didn't miss a beat, tossing a playful, almost teasing smile toward her mother as she hooked her arm around Fang shi's. "Mom, I've figured it out. No point in holding onto the small stuff. Why waste time on trivial things when it's better to live well and take care of the family?"

Fang shi, usually easy-going, didn't miss the playful tone. She let out a soft laugh, raising a hand to pat Song Dingxiang's head. "I'm glad you understand. When we arranged your betrothal to the Xu family, I said you were young-only fourteen-and that we should wait until you're sixteen before you get married. And now, barely a year later, I'm starting to think that family isn't as great as they pretend to be."

Fang shi and Song Zhiyuan had five children. Song Dingxiang had an older brother and sister, along with two younger brothers.

Her older brother, Song Junshan, worked with their father in the pig-slaughtering business, where he was skilled and respected. His wife, though plain and a bit darker in complexion, was hardworking and reliable.

Their two young children, just three years old, spent most of their time with their grandparents.

Song Dingxiang's sister, Song Jiaoxing, had married into a neighboring village, but that didn't stop her from coming back whenever she felt like it. The distance didn't matter; she was always close enough to return with ease.

As for the two younger brothers, they were eleven and seven-at that age when boys are full of energy and mischief. But thanks to the strict, no-nonsense upbringing from the Song family, the boys were already learning the ropes. They had their hands full feeding pigs and chickens, gathering firewood, and even picking up a few words from their grandfather. These kids were sharp, quick-witted, and impressively agile for their age.

Now, even though this large family lived under one roof, they had applied for separate residential plots due to the division of property. Song Zhiyuan had really put in the work, renovating his plot, building two solid brick houses, and a pigsty large enough to house over ten pigs. He wasn't about to cut corners-this was about setting up a future, and he was doing it right.

Aside from the usual daily chores and farm work, the family devoted their time to the pigs. It wasn't just about feeding them; it was an investment. These pigs weren't just pets-they were money. Taking care of them well meant selling them at market price for a solid profit. Song Zhiyuan and his older brother took turns minding the pigs, making sure every detail was in order, while the kids stepped up, handling the feeding and other needs of the animals. The village could talk all they wanted, but the people who lived nearby had nothing but admiration for the hardworking Song family.

For Song Dingxiang, this was the kind of love and care she hadn't known in years-something that felt like fate's way of making up for the past. Even when Fang shi wouldn't stop talking, she felt a strange sense of peace, a contentment that filled her heart.

Cuddled up in Fang shi's arms, Song Dingxiang couldn't imagine a more perfect moment. But then, just when she was feeling at her best, Madame Fang started grumbling again. "You, always so level-headed, so stable-how the hell did you end up in the river?"

With a deep sigh, Song Dingxiang gazed at her mother and replied, "Mom, it's not that I fell into the river by myself... someone pushed me."

---Author's Note: Writing this in the morning, going to the gym in the afternoon, and coming back to write more afterwards!

It's been a busy yet fulfilling day~

---T/Note: Song Zhiyuan x Fang shi [1] Song Junshan (first son, married) [2] Song Jiaoxing (first daughter, married) [3] Song Dingxiang (second daughter) [4, 5] Two younger brothers. [6] Youngest brother (will be born in a later chapter)