CHAPTER 564: CHAPTER 557: UNEXPECTEDLY PREGNANT

Brother Li and He Shishi’s wedding ended, and the two of them disappeared somewhere on their honeymoon. Boss Qiao kept reminding them on the phone to just have fun nearby, saying they could take a proper honeymoon after they have a child and then do whatever they want.

After hanging up the phone, Boss Qiao complained to Mu Xiulan, "Young people these days really don’t give you peace of mind. With a big belly, they don’t stay home, and actually ran off to Australia for a honeymoon? How restless they are!"

After the complaint, he asked Mu Xiulan with great interest, "Xiulian, do you think Miss He’s baby is a boy or a girl?"

They jovially discussed the question of whether Brother Li would have a son or a daughter, with Mu Xiulan insisting it was a girl and Boss Qiao thinking it was a boy, each sticking to their own opinion and refusing to give in.

Sisi looked at Boss Qiao, whose demeanor had changed in a blink, feeling a bit sour in her heart. It seems that Boss Qiao really longs for a child, doesn’t he?

Last time, the Qiao Family gathered in the living room looking unhappy, and Sisi quietly asked Mu Xiulan about the reasons, which indeed left Sisi feeling down for a long time.

It turns out that the reason Qiao Zhenbang cannot have children is not only because he has oligospermia, but also because his sperm vitality is very low. Several attempts at artificial insemination in local Hong Kong hospitals were unsuccessful. Last time, he and Luo Linglong went to the United States hoping that the advanced medical technology there could optimize his sperm and successfully impregnate Luo Linglong.

But even the United States was of no help. The American doctors suggested Qiao Zhenbang use someone else’s sperm, but Qiao Zhenbang disagreed, saying it would be better to adopt a child from an orphanage!

So, the doctors in the States offered another idea: to use the healthy sperm of his own brother for artificial insemination, so that he could have a child with a blood relationship to himself.

Qiao Zhenbang thought this was a good idea, but Luo Linglong disagreed, and Qiao Xingbang also disagreed. Having a child in his sister-in-law’s belly from his little brother—even if there’s no real relationship, it just does not feel right!

And what about the child’s status in the future? Would the child be considered a son or a nephew?

That’s also why Qiao Xingbang’s face was so dark!

In Sisi’s opinion, this was actually the best solution, and it wasn’t traditional surrogacy per se, but merely using the sperm of Qiao Xingbang.

If it were in the twenty-first century, perhaps this method would be more acceptable. Or maybe the cultural atmosphere of Western countries would make it much easier to accept.

Sisi remembered seeing a report in her previous life, about an American couple where the wife was too weak to bear children, and they actually asked the healthy mother-in-law to be a surrogate. The mother-in-law carried her daughter and son-in-law’s child, which may seem bizarre, but the Americans calmly accepted it and even encouraged their citizens to use this method.

So, in the end, it all comes down to a conceptual issue. After all, it’s the Chinese with very strong ethical concepts, and it’s still the conservative 1980s, so it’s normal for Qiao Xingbang and Luo Linglong to be unwilling.

However, according to Mu Xiulan, Luo Linglong has been tempted by Qiao Zhenbang’s persuasion; mainly because she really wants to be a mother. But Qiao Xingbang adamantly refuses to consent, and Boss Qiao can’t force his younger son to donate sperm, mainly because he himself also feels uncomfortable about it.

The two brothers became somewhat alienated over this matter. Every time Qiao Zhenbang saw Qiao Xingbang, he would bring it up, and as they talked, tears would flow. This made Qiao Xingbang feel bad too. He was inclined to agree with his older brother, but his heart just couldn’t accept it!

Sisi thinks that Qiao Xingbang will eventually be unable to resist Qiao Zhenbang. Qiao Zhenbang is way craftier than Qiao Xingbang, who can’t outplay his older brother.

Tian Xinhua and Mr. Yun have communicated, and he managed to apply for an extra month of leave. Primarily because the person above heard that Sisi was almost killed by the Dan Yu Family seeking revenge and felt quite guilty; hence, they generously approved Tian Xinhua’s leave, allowing Sisi to fully recover from her injuries before returning.

Originally, Sisi intended to return to the Capital City to recuperate, but Mu Xiulan couldn’t bear to see her daughter and grandson leave, of course, she wouldn’t let them go.

Soon it was the end of August. Sisi noticed that Qiao Zhenbang’s mood had improved greatly during this time, completely different from his previous gloominess. Luo Linglong also seemed to be all smiles and even told Mu Xiulan she wanted to stay at her parents’ home for a few days, to which Mu Xiulan naturally had no objections.

What’s with this couple?

They’re beaming like they’ve won the lottery!

Sisi muttered to herself, always feeling that Qiao Zhenbang must have done something awful again. This guy only ever looked this happy when he was up to no good.

As expected, just a few days later, Sisi and her parents came back home to find Qiao Xingbang furious, staring at Qiao Zhenbang with a rage that seemed to burst through the heavens, and Qiao Zhenbang had two black eyes to show for it.

Sisi quietly pulled Tian Xinhua to a corner to sit down, trying to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

"Qiao Zhenbang, you are truly despicable and shameless to do such a thing? You... you... you’ve really made me angry to death," bellowed Qiao Xingbang hatefully at Qiao Zhenbang.

"How am I despicable and shameless? It’s not my fault you refused to help me, so I had to take matters into my own hands," retorted Qiao Zhenbang with the obstinacy of a cornered man.

Qiao Xingbang, infuriated by his shameless attitude, grabbed Qiao Zhenbang’s collar and punched him yet again.

Blood gushed from both nostrils! It flowed like two red earthworms, and Sisi couldn’t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.

Qiao Zhenbang wiped his nose, saw the blood!

He shamelessly played the victim, "Xingzai, go ahead and kill me then. If you do, your sister-in-law will have to live as a young widow. Do you have the heart to let the child in your sister-in-law’s belly be left fatherless?"

A posthumous child?

Everyone in the living room was shocked. When did Luo Linglong get pregnant?

Boss Qiao, who had been watching from the sidelines, immediately intervened, lifting his two sons apart, and asked excitedly: "Zhenbang, is Linglong pregnant?"

"Yes, she’s been pregnant for two and a half weeks now. Old Dou, you’re going to be a grandfather in nine months!"

Boss Qiao was grinning from ear to ear. Then, seeing his eldest son sporting nosebleeds but smiling like a fool, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness for him. Why was having a child this difficult!

"No, this cannot happen. Tell sister-in-law to get rid of the child," Qiao Xingbang was in shock. After a ten-second daze, he immediately reacted and protested loudly.

By now, Boss Qiao knew that his younger son must have been tricked by his older one, but since things had already progressed this far, it was definitely not okay to terminate the pregnancy.

"Xingzai, dad knows you’ve been wronged, but the matter is already settled. Can you act as if it never happened, please?" Boss Qiao played up the heartwarming persuasion to soothe Qiao Xingbang.

With Boss Qiao stepping in, Qiao Xingbang, despite his numerous grievances, couldn’t lash out. Instead, he decided to move out and live at the gang’s place, unwilling to see Qiao Zhenbang, that annoying guy.

And Luo Linglong moved back home in broad daylight. Her barely two-and-a-half-week-old belly wasn’t showing at all, but Qiao Zhenbang and his wife acted as if she was seven or eight months along, being so overly careful that they were even afraid of stepping on an ant when walking.

It was both funny and sad to onlookers!