Doted By The Regent King
Chapter 444 Don’t Follow the Step Mother’s Path

Chapter 444: Chapter 444 Don’t Follow the Step Mother’s Path

Wufu agreed with Ah Jiu’s thoughts. If she didn’t acknowledge them, life would definitely be more comfortable than if she did. After all, it was just the two of them now—mother and daughter—running their own household and making their own decisions.

But to acknowledge a father meant deferring to others without the backing of a prominent family—something likely to put them in a lower position because of being concubine-born or born out of wedlock. Where would their freedom be then?

Being seen as inferior meant being under someone else’s thumb, and as a concubine, one was inherently considered lesser. With Madam Zhou’s timid nature, who knew how long she could survive in those great and noble households?

And the title of a concubine-born daughter was often synonymous with being raised by a ’young wife.’ Could she endure such a status?

Alright, even if she currently bore the stigma of being an illegitimate daughter, it wasn’t much better than being a concubine-born. As for Wufu’s temperament, she certainly wouldn’t stand for it.

However, no matter the reputation or title, without a clan, they were like rootless duckweed. In the future, when it came to marriage...

Ah Jiu hesitated before bringing up this point.

Upon hearing this, Wufu burst into laughter, "A clan? As long as I am powerful enough, I will be my own clan."

Ah Jiu was taken aback, looking at the young girl’s confident smile, which was dazzling and breathtaking.

He also smiled. The person before him, who had retaliated against his cousin in such a manner, was not someone bound by worldly conventions. He had recognized her true nature.

...

Wufu arrived at Madam Zhou’s room, where she was discussing matters of gifting etiquette with Qiu Xiang.

"Has Ninth Master left?" Madam Zhou beckoned to her.

Wufu sat on the Arhat bed, picking up a stack of patterns from the kang table and flipping through them. "Yes," she replied.

Madam Zhou slid a stack of candied fruits toward her, saying, "Try these. Madam Ma sent them over, claiming it to be her daughter-in-law’s secret recipe." She then inquired, "That Ninth Master, what did he come for?"

"He brought me a piece of jade." Wufu pinched a candied fruit and placed it in her mouth—mmm, sour and sweet, very appetizing.

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou felt a stir in her heart and, looking at her daughter’s face, cautiously probed, "Wufu, what does this Ninth Master do? Who is in his family? Looking at his age, he should be married by now, right?"

"Not yet..." Wufu answered nonchalantly, then paused and chuckled, "Mother, what are you thinking about?"

She couldn’t possibly be considering Ah Jiu, could she?

Madam Zhou said, "I find him well-favored and graceful, obviously from a distinguished family. A household like that would probably look for a wife who is virtuous and composed, gentle and stable. Wufu, don’t follow in your mother’s footsteps."

As she spoke, her eyes reflected a trace of worry and concern.

Her daughter was growing up and would reach the age of marriage next February. She should have been promised in marriage by now, but various delays had occurred due to her mother’s lack of ability.

Now, they had an estate and were contemplating opening a grocery store to sell produce from the estate. They were not worrying about their livelihood.

Setting aside external possessions, Wufu herself was capable. The dowry expected of a girl’s family, just the estate itself, was enough for her to carry by her side. With this, they could ensure a decent marriage for her.

Of course, if she were to marry into a high-ranking family, such assets would hardly be impressive, but Madam Zhou had never considered giving Wufu away to a prominent household.

Firstly, she knew their station and wouldn’t harbor such unrealistic dreams. Secondly, it was Wufu’s nature—wild and untamed like a horse without a bridle, especially with her demonstrated abilities and opinions. With such a character, how could she settle down in a great and noble household?

Without the support of a strong family background, marrying into nobility could save one from worries of food and clothing, but the bittersweetness of such a life was as personal as drinking water—only the drinker knows if it is warm or cold.

Therefore, even though it was said that marriage could elevate one’s status, she would rather her daughter marry below their station to a family that they could manage, to ensure that her daughter would not be wronged.