Mother Su was quite surprised, but she soon regained her composure. "If he can't be cured, then either you adopt a nephew to raise as your own, or you divorce him."
Su Yuyao slumped into her chair, feeling depressed. "He already has a son of his own; he might not agree to that."
"If he doesn't agree, then divorce is your only option. Listen to me, a woman in the end still has to rely on her son."
Su Yuyao knew that not having children was a dead end. However, "He kept his second daughter here without even consulting me."
"What? Didn't they say she would go back with her grandparents after the wedding?"
Su Yuyao rubbed her forehead. "If he can't be cured, he's definitely going to bring his son here."
"How could he do that? Didn't you both agree not to bring them over?"
"He doesn't have much of a choice now, does he?"
Mother Su fell silent. After a long while, she finally spoke: "Go back and talk to him. See if he's willing. If he isn't, I suggest you divorce him."
"I can't bear to leave him." It wasn't easy to find a man in the military who had a promising future, was young, educated, and liked her.
Mother Su couldn't bear it either, but, "Do you want to live like a widow while he's still alive? Do you want to raise someone else's child? I’m only saying this because I care about you. If I didn't, I wouldn't be telling you to get a divorce."
"Listen to me, you're still young, you're educated, and you have a job. You can find someone just as good after a divorce. If you wait another three or five years, you'll end up being a stepmother to someone else's children."
"Mark my words, when it’s time to cut ties, you have to do it."
Su Yuyao was getting annoyed. "I’ll consider it. Do you know of any good doctors?"
"I'll ask around for you. But remember, you can't just hang yourself from one tree."
"I know. I'm going to the front to get some food and bring it back to appease that little girl."
"Go on then. But remember, if you can't bear to let go, you'll be living like a widow and raising another woman's child."
"I know. I'm leaving."
As Su Yuyao returned carrying the food box, she saw the "short-lived ghost" she had married in her past life running ahead with that wretched girl on his shoulders.
The man was shouting as he ran, "We're flying! We're flying!"
The wretched girl was laughing like a hen.
Su Yuyao grew even more frustrated. One of them had turned her into a widow, and the other had made her a stepmother.
Su Yuyao wanted to rush over and make them stop. Suddenly, she remembered something: the family of the regimental commander in the brigade where that "short-lived ghost" served had all been killed by the Japanese. Although that commander was a few years older than Tao Wenrui and hadn't been to school, he was eventually transferred to Beijing.
If she could marry him, not only would she be able to go to Beijing with him, but she could also have children of her own.
How could she have forgotten him?
She would give Tao Wenrui another half month. If there was no improvement in his condition by then, she would have no choice but to divorce him. She wasn't about to hang herself from one tree.
Besides, she couldn't just sit around idly for those two weeks. She had to find a way to get close to that regimental commander. His surname was Kou, and his name was Zhenbang. He should be in his early forties now.
She hadn't thought of him before, partly because she didn't want to think about anything related to that "short-lived ghost," and partly because Kou Zhenbang was not only old but also short.
But now, even if she hadn't slept with Tao Wenrui, she would still be a second-time bride anyway.
As she walked, Su Yuyao pondered how she might approach Kou Zhenbang.
Meanwhile, Wei Tiechui had already carried Xiao Yanyan home. Like Tao Wenrui, Wei Tiechui was also a deputy regimental commander.
Wei Tiechui set Xiao Yanyan down on the ground. "Are you happy?"
"Happy." Xiao Yanyan tilted her little head and asked in her milky voice, "Uncle Tiechui, do you have a wife?"
"No."
"Do you have a fiancée?"
"No."
"Then do you want a wife who is pretty, can cook for you, wash your clothes, and bear you babies?"
Wei Tiechui laughed as soon as he heard this. "Hahaha... are you trying to play matchmaker for your uncle?"
"Yes." Xiao Yanyan nodded seriously. According to her observations, he was a good person. "Let me ask you, do you want a pretty wife who knows how to care for you, or do you want some seductive little vixen?"
"Hahaha... do you even know what 'knowing how to care for you' means?"
Xiao Yanyan puffed out her little chest proudly. "Of course I do. My grandma always says so."
"Is that so? Tell me then, what does it mean?"
"It means when you come home after a long day, there’s food on the table. It means when you're tired, someone brings you foot-washing water. It means having clean clothes to wear, having shoes that fit right, and..."
Xiao Yanyan chattered on a whole list of things.
"Hahaha... you really know a lot."
"Of course I do." Xiao Yanyan sniffled. "I'm the smartest kid in our village."
"Hahaha... so, who are you planning to introduce to me?"
"My eldest cousin. Not only is she pretty, she's also very capable. My grandma always says my cousin could run a household all by herself. Don't you want a wife who can hold down the fort?"
He did.
Even though the country was liberated now, the enemy hadn't given up on their designs against them. He could sacrifice his life for the country at any moment.
"Is your cousin really that pretty and capable?"
"Of course she is." Although she wanted to build her own network, she wouldn't introduce someone unsuitable. "I'm a kid, and kids don't lie. Only grown-ups do."
That was true.
Seeing Wei Tiechui was tempted, Xiao Yanyan continued, "If you don't believe me, I'll take you to see her. When are you free? Let me tell you, my cousin is very popular. If you go too late, she'll be snatched up by someone else."
"How old is your cousin?"
"Nineteen. Things were chaotic before, and my grandma was afraid that if she married her off, she'd never see her again, so she held my aunt back from marrying her off. These past two years, my aunt has been too picky. You're not exactly young either, right? Your parents must be waiting for grandchildren?"
He was indeed not young anymore, and his parents were indeed pressing him to get married. "I'll go ask your father."
"Why ask my dad? My dad doesn't even know my cousin. I heard from Gou Dan, the regimental commander's dog, that you were once a scout. Why don't I just take you to scout it out for yourself?"
"You even know what scouting is?"
Xiao Yanyan sniffled again. "Of course. I'm the smartest kid in our village."
"Hahaha..."
"When are you free? If you go too late, my cousin will be snatched up by someone else."
Wei Tiechui thought about it; there was no harm in scouting things out. If that girl was really as good as Xiao Yanyan said, he could have a wife by the New Year. "I'll go ask for leave right now. As soon as I get it, we'll head out."
"Okay. Don't tell my dad. I don't want him to know; whenever he sees a little vixen, he forgets all about my mother."
Wei Tiechui also felt that what Tao Wenrui was doing wasn't right. But Tao Wenrui didn't start this trend, and he certainly wouldn't be the last. "Alright. This mission is a secret operation between the two of us."