"I'll give you a chance, but I'm afraid my son will have an opinion. Oh, right, I haven't introduced you to my son yet. We're not planning to have any more children, so we adopted one. You know him, it's Wang Ergou," Wu Caiwei said with a look of regret.
"He's just a beggar, eating handouts from everyone. He's never even set foot in a school. How can he fit into a scholarly family like yours? Won't people laugh their heads off if he inherits the Huang family?" Li Changqing was extremely surprised. Back in the town, his mother used to help him often, and he even complained, thinking his mother was being overly kind.
He couldn't understand why, with the Huang family's current trajectory, so many people would want to be adopted into their family, yet they chose him.
"Mother, I'm back." Wang Ergou, who had since changed his name to Huang Chusheng, his voice announcing his arrival before he was seen. From his voice alone, one could tell he was in a very good mood.
Upon entering and seeing Li Changqing, an embarrassed expression involuntarily appeared on his face. He stopped, unsure whether to continue forward.
Wu Caiwei smiled and stepped forward, taking his hand and pulling him into the house. She took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and chided him, "It's so hot today, and no one found you an umbrella. Look how red your face is from the heat. Drink more bowls of mung bean soup later."
Huang Chusheng looked at her with emotion, then lowered his head, sneaking a glance at Li Changqing's expression. Seeing Li Changqing looking at him with a dark face, he was a bit frightened. Wu Caiwei quickly patted his hand to comfort him.
Then she pulled him to the main seat and had him sit beside her, introducing him, "This is your elder brother Changqing. I wonder if you still recognize him."
Huang Chusheng quickly nodded. Although he was curious about what he had experienced recently, making him look so much older, he recognized him at first sight. After all, he had envied him greatly when he was young, having such a devoted mother. Every time he took food from the Wang family, he could see disdain and disgust in his eyes. He also wanted to live with dignity, but he couldn't. To survive, he had to shamelessly ingratiate himself with Madam Wang.
Although he didn't interact much with Madam Wang, in his heart, Madam Wang was incredibly kind and loving. Late at night, he could dream of Madam Wang being his real mother, and after waking up, he couldn't help but weep, wishing he could live in his dreams every day.
She, who had now become Madam Huang, found him and made him her son. He felt like a pie had fallen from the sky. He pinched his thigh hard, wincing in pain, and only then felt that it wasn't a dream. He quickly nodded, tears of joy streaming down his face.
Since coming to the Huang family, he felt like he was living in paradise, with loving parents, maids and servants attending to him, and endless feasts. Wasn't this the scene from his dreams? Yet, alongside happiness, there was a sense of fear. After all, he knew Li Changqing was her biological son. If he ever returned, would he lose this feeling of home? Thus, he prayed every day for time to slow down, so his happy moments would last longer.
Seeing him today, he felt a sense of inevitability. The happiness he had stolen would eventually have to be returned. He never expected his mother to personally take his hand and comfort him, showing him such care in front of Li Changqing. This was different from what he had imagined. In his memory, she always revolved around Li Changqing, her joys and sorrows all tied to him. He never expected heaven to favor him sometimes.
Watching the two of them perform their mother-son affection as if no one else was present, Li Changqing was consumed by jealousy. In the past, he would have flipped the table and argued with them. Now, he had lost that right. He clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on his hands.
When it was time for dinner, the maids set the table. Wu Caiwei politely said to them, "Young Master Li, Young Madam Li, please stay for a meal before you leave."
The couple sat there without a word. They didn't just want a meal; they wanted to stay for good. They didn't know how to respond to Wu Caiwei's invitation, nor how to bring it up, fearing rejection. From Sudan Novel Network.
Since they remained silent, Wu Caiwei assumed they had agreed. At the dinner table, she constantly served Huang Chusheng his favorite dishes, and Huang Chusheng also kept serving her. Although they hadn't been together for long, Huang Chusheng was attentive. He had observed her closely in the past and knew her preferences, and they ate with great joy.
There was a reason Wu Caiwei chose Huang Chusheng as her son. In the previous life of the original owner of this body, besides the Wang family, he was the one who truly cried for her after her death. He remembered that when the original owner was alive, she often helped him, and he would visit her grave during festivals.
It was unfortunate that this child had a difficult fate. His parents died early, and his family's house and land were seized by relatives. He lived alone and without support. The original owner's life was a bit better, as she provided some assistance. After the original owner died, he worked as a laborer from a young age, injuring his health, and died in his thirties. Because he was poor, he never married, had no children, and died alone of illness in a dilapidated temple.
Wu Caiwei knew he was a grateful child and couldn't bear to see him fall into the same plight as his previous life. Since she had no children of her own, she decided to adopt him.
After the meal, they naturally fell into casual conversation. "You've reached the age of marriage, and many people have approached me. I'm thinking your father can advance further. Once he becomes an official, we'll have more options. The Huang family will be yours in the future, and your future wife will be the mistress of the household. Regardless of her family background, she must be sensible and capable of managing the household. Of course, this is my idea. If you have any different opinions, you can voice them."
Upon hearing this, Huang Chusheng's face instantly turned red. Not wanting to see his mother's teasing gaze, he quickly lowered his head. "Everything is up to Mother. Anyone chosen by Mother must be a good person. As a man, I haven't interacted with young ladies and can't tell who is good or bad. I have no other thoughts."
Wu Caiwei nodded with satisfaction, feeling she hadn't misjudged him. "Since you trust my judgment so much, I will definitely choose a good one for you. However, living together is a matter for two people. Before the engagement, I will arrange for you to meet. We will proceed only if you agree."
Huang Chusheng immediately looked up, his eyes welling up with tears. "Thank you, Mother. But I think the most important quality she must possess is filial piety. She must be filial to you and respect you from the bottom of her heart. Otherwise, no matter how good she is, I cannot accept her."
Although neither of them mentioned him, Li Changqing's heart was in turmoil. This reminded him of the time he insisted on marrying Liu Wenwen.