Ch7: Only 'Alive' Daughter

Feeling the tender gaze of his wife, Qi Shou felt a bit awkward and absentmindedly rubbed his nose.

However, Qin Hanliu kept her gaze focused on him.

She wasn't sure if he heard of her infertility or not but she knew he had impulsively suggested not having anymore children after her difficult labour.

It wasn't that she didn't want to be a mother, it was fate playing tricks on her.

Her husband had even decided to live the rest of their lives in celibacy, something that might make people look down on him or mock him.

Yet he didn't hesitate.

In her eyes, she truly saw the real Qi Shou, the one she fell in love with.

Over time, they did have their share of quarrels and disagreements, but nothing major.

To add more, her mother-in-law was more pleased with her than her own son.

Remembering her worried, tender gaze made a chuckle escape Qin Hanliu's lips.

"Hm? What happened?" Qi Shou asked, not realising his words brought his wife back from her memory lane.

Truly, a blockhead when it came to women.

But it was also worth smiling at.

Seeing her smile at him, Qi Shou was confused at first before be blushed slightly.

Which man could bear such a tender gaze from his wife?

What of it that she was still lying in bed and couldn't properly exert her strength?

Her heart was laid bare on her face, and seeing the small dimple on her chin reminded Qi Shou of their daughter.

Suddenly, his heartstrings seemed to have been tugged at as he decisively told her his reason for coming.

"Wife, Mingzhu is growing beautifully and might say her first words anytime soon. You wouldn't want to miss that moment, yes?"

Seeing her eyes full of longing as she nodded, Qi Shou added, "Then, let's go home?"

He seemed to be asking her opinion and not forcing her a choice.

Although a bit coercively manipulative, it was all laid bare and even someone with a single brain cell could probably understand it.

Understandably, Qin Hanliu didn't agree immediately.

This was her natal family and they had always doted on her.

She was well-aware of the money, effort, care, love spent on her and she couldn't help but feel regretful.

Could she ever repay her parents and elder brother back?

Could any child ever do that?

She pondered over it and finally shook her head.

It was impossible.

No amount of filial piety could ever be enough.

At least, she thought so.

Thus, she wanted to ask her family before agreeing first.

If it were some other man, he would definitely get impatient with her.

After all, it was common knowledge that a daughter married was water splashed out.

However, Qi Shou only smiled and said, "Sure. I must definitely thank them as well."

As a modern soul, he saw little difference and even without it, he would've definitely agreed.

In his past memories, he'd always felt guilty and wanted to thank them many times.

Now that a opportunity presented it, he would seize.

There was also the chicken and tael of fabric he prepared...

Remembering the gifts, he froze mid-step.

'Where did I put it?'

His mind didn't seem to recall anything after focusing on his wife's condition and coming to meet her.

Thankfully, he saw his brother-in-law, Qin Jiyue, holding the chicken from its neck in one hand and the tael of fabric another.

"Brother-in-law, you left them earlier, so I made sure to safeguard it."

Although older than Qi Shou, he didn't put on any airs, but remained humble and calm.

A characteristic that put him above many scholars that came to visit.

Ever since he got to know Qin Jiyue, he'd always wanted to ask if he was secretly a scholor.

But he stopped himself.

'However, if this world is strapped with cultivators, then it would make sense.'

Musing so, he smiled at his brother-in-law and chose to come clean.

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, thanks for keep it!" He said with clasped fists, his gratitude evident in his actions.

"I got this for you and mother-in-law and father-in-law. So please accept it."

As accepted, Qin Jiyue was about to refuse when he heard Qi Shou's next words.

"I already feel sorry for making Hanliu suffer and have to part with her own daughter. It's been hard on you to take care of her."

No matter how reluctant Qin Jiyue inwardly felt, he couldn't outright refuse his eager brother-in-law as that would seem rude and disrespectful.

Qin Jiyue pursed his lips and reluctantly put them away.

Meanwhile, Qin Hanliu was talking to her parents inside the room who immediately came to visit her after seeing their son-in-law exit.

They wanted to ask her about her current relationship with Qi Shou and his reaction to hearing about her infertility and weakness.

Qin Hanliu was touched by their concern and answered every question truthfully before saying her opinion about wanting to leave.

"Absolutely not!" Mother Qin rejected directly, unwilling to budge.

Her eyes sported small tears, refusing to let her daughter go out before a full recovery.

Contrary to her, Father Qin took a few seconds to think before asking Qin Hanliu, "Do you wish to go? Why not just bring Mingzhu back?"

"Yes, yes. That's right!"

His words got the immediate approval of Mother Qin.

"Mother, Father, you don't want to part with me even now and want me to make Mingzhu part with her grandparents and father?"

Her smile was bitter as she tried explaining them in a way they would understand.

Although they hadn't spent much time with this granddaughter of theirs, they had to agree she was pleasing to the eyes and was definitely going to be a cute little darling doted upon by everyone in their families.

So their request did contain some personal greed to easily dote on their cute granddaughter, they felt it was really reasonable.

After all, many families disliked daughters-in-law giving birth to daughters and they couldn't be sure how Hanliu would be treated when she returned.

No matter how well appearances one kept, who knew about their darkness deep inside their hearts?

The Qin couple simply didn't want their daughter to suffer any kinds of hardship.

She was the apple of their eye, even more loved and pampered than her brother.

"Mother, you've known them for years, do you think the Qi Family is like that?" Qin Hanliu countered their concern with a direct question, urging them to think of the tangible and obvious reason.

However, it only heightened their concern for their only 'alive' daughter, though Qin Hanliu remained unaware of their true thoughts.