Chapter 32 Change of Appearance

"Mum, it's all about food and clothes, but can they be the same?" Gao Yongfang said.

Gao Jiazhi sneered, "The main thing is that your brother-in-law can get promoted, right?"

"Yes, this time your brother-in-law's promotion depends on you, Jiazhi. I've seen the daughter of the deputy factory director; she's truly beautiful and a great match for you," Gao Yongfang said, seemingly trying to sway Gao Jiazhi.

Gao Guoqiang and Gao Jiaxing frowned deeply, while Zheng Xianghong had already exploded, "Gao Yongfang, have you no conscience? Can you really suggest your brother marry into another family? Are you even human?"

"Mom, one of your sons marrying into another family, so what? Even if he does, he's still your son. Marrying the deputy factory director's daughter, that would be a significant advantage for us. We can't just look at the short-term; we need to think long-term. Jiazhi has stopped studying, just staying in the production team, with his face toward the soil and his back to the sky; what future can he have? But if he marries into their family, he'll be set for life."

"Get out!" Gao Jiaxing hurled the porridge bowl from the head of the bed towards Gao Yongfang, grunting heavily.

Gao Yongfang screamed as the porridge splattered all over her and glared at Gao Jiaxing, "You little brat, daring to hit your sister like that, do you need a lesson?"

But at that moment, no one was paying attention to Gao Yongfang; they all crowded around Gao Jiaxing instead.

Gao Guoqiang immediately said anxiously, "Jiaxing, does your wound hurt again?"

Gao Jiaxing nodded. Gao Guoqiang then addressed Gao Yongfang, "You should go back. Don't come here again and don't go back to your marital home, either. Tell Zhiguang that I don't agree. If he's capable, let him rely on himself, do honest work, and not think of crooked ways. Relying on a woman for success is not respectable, living off a woman forever, how can anyone look up to him? I, Gao Guoqiang, have always stood tall and sat straight, never owing anyone anything. Even if your two brothers achieve nothing in life, they won't come begging at your place. Go on, hurry up and leave, don't disturb your brother's recovery."

"Dad," Gao Yongfang looked at Gao Guoqiang with a hurt expression. Seeing his stern attitude, she looked at Gao Jiazhi, but he didn't even give Gao Yongfang a glance, showing deep disappointment.

"Why won't any of you think about me, about Zhiguang..."

Gao Yongfang hadn't finished speaking when Zheng Xianghong pulled her out the door, "Go on, hurry back. Xiao Mei is waiting for you. As for marrying into another family, don't mention it again. Not to your dad or Jiazhi, and mom would never agree to it, not even if it killed her."

"Mum, it's such a good opportunity, you all should really think about it. Marrying into the deputy factory director's family would bring so many benefits, they have money, and even relatives who are high-ranking officials..."

"Go on, leave." Zheng Xianghong pushed Gao Yongfang out and closed the door, deeply disappointed in her daughter.

Gao Yongfang looked at the closed door, feeling utterly frustrated, and finally had no choice but to leave helplessly.

Inside, Zheng Xianghong had already buried her face in her hands and started sobbing, "Why has Yongfang turned out this way?" She bitterly reproached herself, regretting how her daughter was raised.

"Mom, it's not your fault. It's the kind of people she married into; she has been assimilated by them. Don't take it to heart. Your eldest and second daughters are still good," Gao Jiazhi comforted Zheng Xianghong.

"If I had known she would turn out this way, I would not have cared about my life and never let her marry into that family," Zheng Xianghong said, genuinely pained by her daughter's situation.

Inside the room, Gao Guoqiang and Gao Jiaxing remained silent; what could be done once she was already married?

Meanwhile, He Xuegang, He Xuebing, and Wang Aihua had indeed run into Li Shengmei on their way back. Li Shengmei looked over her two sons anxiously, and seeing that they were not seriously injured, but bruised, was enough to distress her.

"Mum always said that Zheng Xianghong's two sons were troublemakers just like their mother. You guys insisted on hanging out with those brothers, and look how you're hurt now. You were lucky this time, but what about next time? Listen to mum. Keep away from those two sons of Zheng Xianghong, or nothing good will come of it."

"Mom, Jiaxing is still lying in the hospital, can't you stop saying those things? Our families are related, and you grew up in the Gao family. If we're talking about blood relations, Jiaxing should be calling you 'Auntie'."

"Pah!"

Before He Xuebing could finish speaking, Li Shengmei spat on the ground, "Which auntie am I to him? My surname is Li; I have no blood relation to the Gao family."

Right now, what Li Shengmei hated the most was the issue of surnames. She was an adopted daughter of the Gao family, brought over when her mother remarried, but the blood that flowed in her wasn't that of the Gao's.

In the past, to marry Gao Guoqiang, she had reverted to her original surname, but the marriage didn't happen, and Li Shengmei held a grudge against the Gao family. He Xuebing's words almost made Li Shengmei explode.

He Xuegang tugged at He Xuebing, signaling him not to bring up the past, otherwise, even if they were right, in front of their mother, they would seem wrong.

He Xuebing closed his mouth but his expression was somewhat helpless.

"Director Li." Dong Meihua waved goodbye to Wang Aihua and Yang Xuehua and approached the He family mother and sons to call out.

"Educated Youth Dong." Li Shengmei's expression changed, and she forced a smile, "Where are Educated Youth Wang and Educated Youth Yang?"

"They've already left, I'm waiting to go with Director Li," Dong Meihua said with a slight smile.

"Well, alright then, it's good to have you accompany me. It's too bad I couldn't have a daughter. What's the use of these boys?" Although Li Shengmei said this, she didn't really think that way; it was having sons that gave her confidence. If it wasn't for the sons she bore, would He Hongjun be so obedient to her?

Zheng Xianghong was precisely unappreciated because she birthed several daughters, even after having two sons later on, it didn't improve much.

"Brother He, Second Brother He." Dong Meihua called out to He Xuegang and He Xuebing.

He Xuegang and He Xuebing nodded slightly to Dong Meihua, and seeing them standing together with Dong Meihua, Li Shengmei thought any pairing would be suitable. She immediately took Dong Meihua's hand and started inquiring about the Dong Family's affairs.

On the other side, Xia Xiao, having eaten and drunk his fill inside the space, relaxed against the ice-blue wall, muttering, "I need to prepare a bed to bring in here next time. It wouldn't be bad to have a nap in here either."

"Xiaoxiao, let's go find an energy stone. With an energy stone, I can be even more useful," Shitou said.

"Apart from upgrading the space to make it bigger and reach farther places, what other uses are there?" Xia Xiao asked.

"I can also help you transform," Shitou said.

Transform? Xia Xiao looked at Shitou with a puzzled expression, "How would I transform?"

"Like, change your appearance."

"Into what? From a human appearance to a ghostly one?" Xia Xiao asked, "Is it like disguising oneself as in the novels, or transforming into a table, a stool, or a little pig, a little dog, a little cat as in fantasy tales?"

"None of what you're saying. It's like turning into a different person, but not yourself, and not necessarily someone else either. Xiaoxiao, you're really slow; talking to you is such an effort," Shitou said with disdain.

Xia Xiao's eyes brightened, thinking that if she could transform, that would be great.