When she gets married, she'll just pack her bags and leave, leaving two old people to watch over an empty house. What's the point?
Even if you're going to adopt, you should pick a strong boy!
At least then you'd have a helper in the future, someone you could count on for farm work and to care for you in your old age.
A woman who was usually close with Zhang Yunhua quietly tugged her sleeve and advised in a hushed tone, "Yun Hua, I don't mean to say anything unpleasant. The child is certainly pretty, and her little face is charming. But her food, her clothes—doesn't everything cost money? When she grows up, you'll have to prepare a dowry and worry about her marriage... Once she's married and gone, you and Dapeng get nothing. What's the point in that?"
Another woman squatting nearby chimed in, speaking earnestly, "Exactly, Yun Hua. Don't make such a big decision just because you feel sorry for her. There are plenty of unwanted children in the village. If you two really want to raise a child, take your time and choose carefully! You don't have to take in this little girl from who-knows-where."
Zhang Yunhua's brows furrowed when she heard this.
But she suppressed her anger and pulled her sleeve away.
She looked down, dusted off the corner of her clothes, and forced a smile at the two women.
"I appreciate your good intentions, but I truly love this child, Shanshan, from the bottom of my heart. I absolutely adore her. Captain Cao claims she's a jinx, that she caused her mother's death and brought her father endless bad luck... But I think she's incredibly lucky! Exceptionally lucky!"
As she spoke, her voice suddenly rose several octaves, and she slapped Yang Dapeng hard on the leg.
The force of the blow made Yang Dapeng cry out, "Ouch!"
"Open your eyes and take a good look! How long has Shanshan been living with us? Forty-eight whole days! Now look at Dapeng! He can get out of bed and walk, he doesn't cough at night, and he can eat a bowl and a half of rice at every meal! Before this, he'd lie in bed for a month without moving, and we always had a pot of medicine brewing on the stove!"
The villagers, who had been murmuring amongst themselves in small groups, all turned their heads in unison.
Sure enough, though he was still thin, his back was straight and his eyes were bright with life.
Even Cao Daqiang, who had been standing aside with a cold expression, couldn't help but narrow his eyes and look over at Yang Dapeng.
Zhang Yunhua puffed out her chest, growing more impassioned as she spoke. "Isn't there a saying? Something like, 'What's poison to you is sugar to me.' You say she's a jinx? I don't believe it! I say she's a lucky star sent down from heaven! She's a treasure delivered right to our doorstep by the gods themselves!"
She thrust a finger at the crowd.
"You were all unkind to her, so of course you ran into trouble! But if you treat her with a sincere heart, dote on her like your own daughter, she will repay you a hundredfold! Believe it or not, I do!"
Hearing Zhang Yunhua talk about her this way, Shanshan immediately held her little head high.
'That's right!'
'Even though I can't tell these ordinary people my true identity, I'm a real-life Little Golden Dragon!'
'I was born with an auspicious aura. Wherever I go, the weather is favorable and good fortune follows.'
'It's just that I'm still young and my Mana hasn't fully awakened, so I'm only a "little lucky star" for now.'
'When I get a bit older, my Dragon Scales will be fully grown, and my Dragon Energy will be complete.'
'Then won't I become a "great lucky star," radiating a dazzling golden light that'll blind everyone?'
'Hmph!'
'That heartless father who abandoned me doesn't deserve any good luck at all!'
Cao Daqiang stared at Shanshan, a complex look in his eyes.
The other villagers began to whisper among themselves again.
"You know, she has a point... Dapeng really is doing much better."
"That's for sure! He used to walk with a cane and would get winded so easily. Just the other day, I saw him carrying buckets of water into his yard with my own two eyes."
"And get this, I heard he went to the hospital for a follow-up, and the doctor said it was a miracle. All his tests came back normal, as if he were a completely different person!"
"You don't think... this child could really be a reincarnated lucky star, do you?"
"Wow, I'd say there's a good chance that girl, Shanshan, is a little lucky charm who brought good fortune to the Yang Family!"
Shanshan's little face was rosy, and her eyes sparkled.
Even though her clothes were a bit ragged and her hair was unkempt, her innate Spiritual Energy couldn't be concealed.
The villagers believed in fate, and they believed in fortune.
Seeing that everyone's attitude had completely changed, they began praising Shanshan, one after another.
Liu Yingzi's heart skipped a beat.
She shot a secret glare at Cao Daqiang, only to find his head bowed and his brow deeply furrowed. Something was clearly wrong with his expression.
'Why isn't he saying anything?'
'He's not thinking of taking the child back, is he?'
'No way!'
Fearing she was losing control of the situation, Liu Yingzi suddenly blurted out, "Fine! Those were your words, so from now on, she's your family! If she ends up jinxing your family to ruin someday, don't say we didn't warn you! Daqiang, let's go!"
She reached out and tried to pull Cao Daqiang's arm.
But after several tugs, Cao Daqiang hadn't moved an inch.
"Cao Daqiang! What do you think you're doing?"
She lowered her voice, her face almost touching his ear.
"Let me make this perfectly clear. I, Liu Yingzi, would sooner jump in the river than let that little brat set foot in my house! Do you hear me? Not a single step!"
"If you even think about it, I'll take Jiajia and go back to my parents' house tomorrow!"
She enunciated every word, her eyes filled with cold resolve.
"And I'll never come back! You believe that? I always keep my word!"
"Yingzi, what are you talking about?"
Cao Daqiang grew frantic. He turned and stared fiercely at her, grabbing her arm.
"When did I say I was taking her home? When did I nod or agree to anything? You're seeing things!"
His voice was trembling—not from fear, but from anger.
He was angry that she wouldn't listen to his explanation, and angry that she immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion.
"That child is a jinx. She's caused the death of her own relatives."
He paused, his expression complex as he looked at Shanshan, who stood in the distance with her head bowed in silence.
"But since she arrived, she's brought good luck to others instead. You call her a harbinger of disaster, but the Yang Family's life has only gotten better."
"But what if she really is a curse? What if, by staying with the Yang Family, she uses up all their good fortune? The child is innocent, but fate is cruel. If the Yang family falls on hard times one day, won't she be blamed all over again? They're not well-off to begin with; they can't afford that kind of upheaval!"
"I'm not afraid for myself. But you and our daughter are the most important people to me. Jiajia is still so young, and you're my wife. I'm a man; I have to protect you. I can't let you be exposed to the slightest bit of risk! Not even a little! Do you understand?"
Hearing that he was saying all this for his family, out of concern for their safety, Liu Yingzi's tense expression finally softened, and her shoulders relaxed without her realizing it.
"I'm sorry... I misunderstood you," she murmured, her voice softening as a trace of guilt flashed in her eyes.
"But this is all just too ridiculous, isn't it? Couldn't it just be a coincidence? Maybe the Yang Family's fortunes turned around because the weather has been good for farming and they had a good harvest?"
But Cao Daqiang shook his head, his expression grim.
"Even if there's only the slightest possibility, I can't take that risk. Danger must be nipped in the bud!"
This was his nature: always choosing extreme caution over the slightest risk.
"So what are you going to do?"
Liu Yingzi glanced back at Shanshan, her face filled with disgust.
"Send her back to our ancestral hometown," Cao Daqiang said in a low voice.
"She can't stay here. The farther away, the better. It would be best if she never returns for the rest of her life."
As he spoke, his gaze remained locked on Shanshan.