Chapter 2
After Gu Shi left, Luo Zhengzheng got up, washed, and changed her clothes. At this time, the internet wasn't as developed as it is in later years. Her parents were farmers and she grew up in the countryside. During university, her family shouldered a heavy financial burden and her living expenses were only enough for daily expenses. There was no financial support for her to pursue material things. Her only cell phone was secondhand. She married into the Gu Family immediately after graduation, and her understanding of wealthy life came only from idol dramas; her experience was limited.
Clothing, bags, jewelry, and cosmetics—she knew nothing about any of the brands. After getting married, she became pregnant and had a child, leaving her with neither the time nor the energy to learn how to be a wealthy wife.
At banquets, Gu Shi would have her outfits and jewelry carefully chosen. Though her walk-in closet was large, it was overflowing with everyday clothes. During her school years, she mostly wore school uniforms, jeans, sweatpants, T-shirts, and shirts. Dresses were rare. She wasn't very good at dressing herself. With so many clothes, she had no idea how to coordinate them.
In her past life, afraid of embarrassing herself, she often chose dress pants and shirts, thinking it would always be a safe bet. Later, she overheard people gossiping about her, saying she dressed like a secretary.
She had a very strict upbringing. Her parents feared that she would date early and never bought her dresses. Actually, she liked wearing dresses. Later, when she learned to dress well, she realized how insecure she had been before.
She was tall and slender and had fair and translucent skin. Any dress in her wardrobe would look good on her, especially since these clothes were custom-made for her figure and wouldn't look out of place on her.
She found a light blue dress, a necklace from her jewelry box, and secured her slightly long bangs with hair clips. She did some simple makeup before going out.
The father and son sat on the sofa. Little Chengjia swung his legs. His head half-rested on his father's lap as he picked at his fingers. Seeing his mom come downstairs, he got off the sofa and ran towards her, calling out, "Mommy!"
Luo Zhengzheng's eyes softened.
"Slow down," she said, taking a few steps forward and picking him up in her arms.
The little boy touched the sparkly necklace around his mother's neck, tilting his head. "Mommy, sparkly."
Luo Zhengzheng asked him, "Is it pretty?"
The little boy hugged his mother's neck, looking very happy. "Rui Rui's mommy has, Mommy has."
Luo Zhengzheng pinched his little bottom, knowing he was referring to the pretty, sparkly necklace Rui Rui's mommy wore every day, which she didn't wear. The little boy was very clever. He might have heard someone say that she didn't wear much jewelry and wasn't valued in her in-laws' family. He didn't understand, vaguely assuming she didn't have a necklace. Today, seeing her wearing one, he was very happy—other people's moms have one, so his mom had one too.
Smiling, she said to him, "Rui Rui's mommy is your Eldest Aunt, you should call her Eldest Aunt."
But the little boy was stubborn: "Rui Rui's mommy." That was Rui Rui's mommy, so it was Rui Rui's mommy.
"You little rascal!"
Gu Shi stood up. Though somewhat surprised by his wife's attire, a smile appeared on his face. "Not bad."
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him. "Your son thinks it's nice too."
The little guy understood his mommy's praise, looking happily at his daddy and touching the necklace around his mommy's neck. "Sparkly, buy it, Dad, buy more, Mom have it."
Gu Shi picked him up and said, "Okay, buy more."
Luo Zhengzheng laughed. "My son is so filial." Even at such a young age, he already knows how to get things for his mommy.
Gu Shi glanced at her. Seeing the smile in her eyes, his face brightened with joy.
Nanny Wang prepared breakfast and the family of three ate breakfast before Gu Shi went to work.
Luo Zhengzheng held her son's little hand and strolled outside. They met Eldest Sister-in-law, Wang Yaning, who was also taking her son, Gu Chengrui, for a walk.
Gu Shi's mother, Ye Li, was Gu Boyuan's second wife and she only gave birth to Gu Shi. Ye Li was the heiress of the Ye Group. The two’s marriage was a powerful union. Gu Shi had three older brothers and one older sister. His eldest brother, Gu Ming, and second brother, Gu Xian, and Eldest Sister were from the first marriage. While third brother, Gu Ling was an illegitimate child. His mother went abroad after giving birth to him, placing him in a somewhat awkward position within the family.
All the elder brothers were married.
The eldest sister-in-law glanced at Luo Zhengzheng's clothes, thinking that this woman had finally decided to change her attire. She looked at her hair and said, "You should put your hair up and choose shoes with heels to better complement your style."
She looked at her again and had to admit that this woman had both beauty and a great figure; even in a simple dress, she looked ethereal.
Luo Zhengzheng had now returned to simplicity, dressing however she liked. She laughed and said, "Even if someone from a family like ours went out wearing a burlap sack, people might think it was made of gold. Comfort is all that matters. Don't you think I look even more youthful with my hair down, flowing?"
Wang Yaning looked at her in surprise, unable to resist retorting, "Your skin is really thick."
Luo Zhengzheng wasn't very old to begin with and with her child over a year old, she looked almost twenty. She was truly blessed with good looks. No wonder Gu Shi didn't marry Su Zhilan but instead married a farm girl.
Little Chengjia, seeing his mommy talking to eldest aunt, ran off to play with his elder cousin brother.
Luo Zhengzheng felt quite innocent: "Elder Sister-in-law, I'm telling the truth."
Wang Yaning rolled her eyes at her, tugged at her arm, and whispered, "I heard your third elder sister-in-law is pregnant again."
Luo Zhengzheng knew this from her past life. Third Elder Brother, Gu Ling, was an illegitimate child. When Eldest Brother, Second Elder Brothers, and Gu Shi got married, Father-in-law gave them shares, funds, and real estate, but Gu Ling only received tens of millions in cash. Since they were all old Master's sons, this favoritism naturally created some resentment.
Chengrui had just turned one when old Master transferred some shares to Elder Sister-in-law.
Following the trajectory of her past life, old Master would likely transfer some shares to her around this time as well, but she foolishly refused them in her past life.
After Third Elder Brother's son, Chenghui, turned one, he fully expected old Master to transfer some shares to them, but instead, he only gave them some cash and jewelry, nothing else. Third Elder Brother thought old Master didn't care because he had a daughter and was trying hard to have a son, which was why she was pregnant with her second child so quickly. Wang Yaning asked again, "Do you think Yu Shuang's baby is a boy or a girl?"
Luo Zhengzheng laughed, "How would I know?"
As a reborn person, she actually did know, but would she tell Wang Yaning?
Wang Yaning pouted, "Old Third couple still haven't figured out their own place yet."
He was an illegitimate child. It was good enough that he grew up in the family without any worries about food or clothing, yet he dared to covet the family fortune. Simply too greedy. Didn't he see what kind of life other illegitimate children live?
Luo Zhengzheng smiled but didn't speak. The Ye Group wasn't inferior to the Gu Group. Gu Shi was the president of the Ye Group and would inherit the Ye Group in the future. Obviously, even if their branch received some shares in the Gu Group, they wouldn't compete with the first and second branches for the heirship. The third branch was a different story.
Looking at the smile on Luo Zhengzheng's lips, Wang Yaning couldn't help but feel envious: "Your branch is so lucky." No one was competing with them.
"We also have our share of troubles," Luo Zhengzheng said.
Being constantly envied easily breeds resentment. Better focus on our shortcomings.
Thinking of Mother-in-law's cold face, Wang Yaning couldn't help but sympathize with her: "That's true."
Mother-in-law wasn't the biological mother-in-law and didn't pay much attention to the other three daughters-in-law. Luo Zhengzheng, however, was different—her own daughter-in-law. Every move she made was scrutinized by Mother-in-law. How could she not be miserable?
Luo Zhengzheng knew she was overthinking things, but she didn't explain.
That evening, the whole family returned, and all the families dined at the head of the household.
Gu Boyuan looked at his children and grandchildren and his face was full of smiles. As he grew older, what he wanted most was to be surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
Ye Li gradually handed over the company's affairs to Gu Shi and wasn't as busy as before. She changed into her home clothes and went to hold little Chengjia. Her favoritism was blatant; she only doted on her own grandson.
Gu Boyuan sat beside the grandparent and grandchild, gently squeezing Chengjia's little hand. Remembering something, he looked at Luo Zhengzheng and said, "I have a document here; you'll need to sign it later."
Luo Zhengzheng knew the document he was referring to was a share transfer agreement. She glanced at Gu Shi and nodded, "Okay, Dad."
Gu Shi looked at his wife and smiled slightly.
The second son, Gu Xian, asked with a smile, "Dad, what document needs Fourth Younger Sister-in-law's signature?"
Gu Boyuan snorted, "Why ask so many questions?"
The second son's wife, Liu Hanyue, was Gu Xian's childhood sweetheart. The Liu and Gu families were old friends. Although her family wasn't as wealthy as the Gu Family's, it wasn't bad either. She often played at the Gu Family's house as a child and wasn't afraid of Father-in-law. She smiled and said, "Dad, just tell me!"
Gu Boyuan glanced at her, "After Chengrui turned one, I gave your elder sister-in-law some shares. Chengjia is over a year old now; she won't be shortchanged."
Gu Ling clenched his hands, sitting quietly at the side in silence. He couldn't get a word in edgewise.
Filled with envy, Yu Shuang touched her belly, wondering if her baby was a boy or a girl—no, it was definitely a son.
As for the first branch couple, they already had shares, so they could accept it.
Liu Hanyue pouted slightly and then suddenly looked at Luo Zhengzheng: "Luo Zhengzheng, you didn't want the shares Mom offered you back then, so you won't want them from Dad this time, will you?"
She relied on being watched by her in-laws growing and always spoke without restraint in the Gu Family.
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the room looked at Luo Zhengzheng.
Luo Zhengzheng smiled: "How can it be the same?"
Liu Hanyue glared at her: "How is it different?"
Luo Zhengzheng smiled and said: "Before Jiajia, it didn't matter, but now that Jiajia is here, as a mother, I have to think about my son."
These words were very pleasing to hear.
Gu Boyuan was also very satisfied. He wasn't worried about his daughter-in-law having ulterior motives. Giving her shares was mainly to let them raise their grandson. Only when mothers have confidence will their children not be timid and hesitant. The fourth son's wife had done a good job in this regard.
Liu Hanyue snorted. She was afraid that pregnancy and childbirth would affect her figure and had always been reluctant to have children. She hadn't expected this country girl to benefit before her.
Ye Li glanced at Liu Hanyue and then looked at Luo Zhengzheng with satisfaction, "Gu Shi said you're going back to your parents' home tomorrow?"
Just take the things given by elders. Pushing around would seem small-minded. Daughter-in-law handled this very well.
Luo Zhengzheng nodded and smiled, saying, "Mom, I must trouble you to look after Jiajia for the next few days?"
Ye Li nodded, "Sure. I have a few boxes of bird's nest, donkey-hide gelatin, and tea here. Take them back to your parents."
Luo Zhengzheng didn't refuse, "Thank you, Mom!"
Liu Hanyue's eyes widened. Luo Zhengzheng actually dared to entrust the child to Mother-in-law? Wasn't she afraid of Mother-in-law's cold shoulder? Of the four daughters-in-law, she considered herself closest to Mother-in-law. After all, Mother-in-law had a good relationship with her mother and had watched her grow up. Even she didn't dare to be disrespectful in front of Mother-in-law, yet Luo Zhengzheng, this country girl, was so at ease in front of her. She felt a little resentful.
After dinner, Luo Zhengzheng held the share transfer agreement and the family left her in-laws' villa.
Liu Hanyue quickly caught up with Luo Zhengzheng, looking at her: "You're really cunning, having a child so early after getting married. I thought you truly valued money like dirt, but I didn't expect you to be so vulgar."
Luo Zhengzheng looked at her and said, "Dung can't buy gourmet food and fine clothes. We're all human, being a little vulgar isn't a big deal, right? If you're not satisfied, you can have a child early."
She turned and left.
Gu Shi glanced at the couple before carrying his son into the night.
Liu Hanyue looked at her husband, pointing ahead: "Look at them, they don't respect us at all."
Gu Xian looked at his wife: "I think Fourth Sister-in-law is right. Instead of being envious and jealous, why don't we have a child early? Don't you understand old Master’s meaning? Want shares? Have a child."
Liu Hanyue's eyes widened and she angrily fumed, "Dream on!"
It was not like she was short of money. She wouldn't suffer for those shares.
She turned back and rolled her eyes at him, saying, "Besides, I'm not jealous of that farm girl at all!" Then she strode away.
Gu Xian muttered under his breath, "It's clearly jealousy."
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