195: I am not afraid of criticism

After the auction ended and Wu Fan finished the paperwork, it was already close to lunchtime.

Ying Xiaomei kept hinting to Wu Fan that they should go to the Village Committee Office Building together.

However, Wu Fan refused. That place had cameras, and he certainly couldn't go there to "play" anymore.

It wasn't that he was afraid of being exposed; he just didn't want extra trouble to arise.

Wu Danyan had been waiting beside him. Only after Wu Fan was done did the two of them slowly chat their way home.

"Wu Fan, you were so dominant just now! You subdued Wu Zhengkun in just a few moves. I'm impressed."

Wu Fan waved his hand, "The bidding price was too high; I won't make much money."

Wu Danyan was surprised, "Then why did you raise the price so high?"

Wu Fan said, "The price doesn't matter. This money all goes to the Village Committee; consider it welfare for our village."

Wu Danyan looked at him admiringly, "I didn't realize you were so charitable."

Wu Fan laughed and said, "If a person achieves success and fame but doesn't contribute to his hometown, heaven will not tolerate it, haha."

"Next time I return to the village, I plan to turn every household's house into a new one."

Wu Danyan giggled, "Wu Fan, you are really interesting."

"When others get rich, they frantically invest and save money. But you, you frantically spend it."

Wu Fan burst out laughing, "I can't spend it all, I simply can't!"

Wu Danyan gave him a beautiful side-eye, "Just keep showing off."

When they reached the intersection, Wu Danyan's father, Wu Zetao, was waiting with a stern expression.

His face looked particularly awful and gloomy.

Upon seeing him, Wu Danyan quickened her pace, walked over, and asked, "Dad, what's wrong? Why do you look so terrible?"

Wu Zetao gave her a cold, dark look, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped her across the face.

Wu Danyan cried out "Aiyo," and tears instantly streamed down her face.

She completely failed to understand why her beloved father would hit her.

To take care of her father, she had not only quit her job but also endured hardship living with him in the countryside.

Why would he still hit her?

Why?

The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she cried.

Seeing this, Wu Fan immediately stepped in front of Wu Zetao.

If it weren't for the fact that he was Wu Danyan's father and disabled, a slap would have flown across his face already.

"Uncle Wu, why did you hit her? Do you know how much Wu Danyan has sacrificed to take care of you? Why don't you cherish her?"

Wu Zetao's eyes were red, and he actually started sobbing softly.

He pulled Wu Danyan's hand and started walking toward the house.

Wu Fan followed, but Wu Zetao stopped him, "Wu Fan, this is our family business. You had best stay put."

Wu Fan said, "You can't lay a hand on her! If you dare to hit Wu Danyan again, watch out, or I'll break your leg."

Wu Zetao ignored him and walked straight toward the house.

Wu Danyan looked back at Wu Fan, waved her hand at him, and signaled for him to go home.

Wu Fan was still worried, so he could only follow silently.

After Wu Zetao pulled Wu Danyan into the house, he slammed the door shut with a bang.

Wu Fan felt completely baffled. What had happened to the usually good-tempered Wu Zetao?

In the past, he had been extremely dedicated and protective of his precious daughter.

In Wu Fan's impression, Wu Zetao couldn't bear to harm a single hair on Wu Danyan's head, so why would he suddenly hit her?

Wu Fan glanced at the tightly locked door and sat down on a small bamboo chair near the entrance.

He was still uneasy, so he guarded the door, figuring he could at least listen to the commotion inside.

He pulled out a cigarette, lit it silently, and smoked with a deep frown.

Wu Zetao pulled Wu Danyan into the inner room, took a hospital diagnosis report from his pocket, and demanded, "Whose child is this?"

Wu Danyan was startled.

She hadn't expected her father to find this pregnancy report.

She had originally planned to wait until the child in her belly was four or five months old and completely stable before telling Wu Zetao.

She hadn't expected him to discover it.

Wu Danyan pursed her lips, "Dad, please don't be angry. I didn't mean to hide it from you; I just wanted to wait until the baby was stable before telling you."

Wu Zetao's face turned green, "Danyan, are you crazy? You aren't even married yet! Unmarried pregnancy—do you know what that means?"

"Are you going to let this Old Man live in the village? The villagers will point fingers at me and laugh, and I'll be drowned in their spit."

Wu Danyan said firmly, "Dad, I must give birth to this child."

Wu Zetao nearly jumped up, "What did you say? Give birth to it? Are you out of your mind? Do you even want to get married anymore?"

He immediately fired off a series of rhetorical questions.

In the countryside, once news of an unmarried girl's pregnancy spread, she would become the laughingstock of the entire village and fodder for after-dinner gossip.

And she actually wanted to give birth to the child? She would definitely become the prime example of an indecent girl in the village.

She would be cursed for generations.

Wu Danyan's attitude was resolute, "Dad, I don't want to get married in this lifetime. I only want this child in my belly."

Wu Zetao was stunned. Were those the words of a sane person? Was this the thought process of a normal girl?

He asked hysterically, "Wu Danyan, tell me, whose child is it?"

Wu Danyan reached out and touched her belly, inwardly debating whether she should tell the truth.

She worried that her father would cause a scene with Wu Fan, which would be truly awkward.

It wouldn't be good for this matter to become public knowledge.

The best scenario would be to secretly give birth to the child and then find a casual excuse to gloss over the matter. That would be perfect.

The key point right now was convincing Wu Zetao to agree.

But judging from the current situation, Wu Zetao would never agree, even if it killed him.

She thought for a moment and said, "I can tell you who the father is, but before I do, I want to discuss a few things with you."

"First, the prosthetic limb you had fitted cost over 100,000 yuan. Do you think I have that much money?"

"Second, your daily expenses at the rehabilitation hospital were huge. Did you ever consider where that money came from?"

"Third, I quit my job and stayed in the countryside to take care of you and keep you company. Have you ever thought about my future?"

"If there is a person who is willing to take responsibility for my future, and he is someone I love, do you think I should have a child for him?"

When Wu Zetao heard this, he instantly froze.

Every word Wu Danyan said was reasonable. He began to question and blame himself.

As a father, he was indeed unqualified.

He had only thought about himself and had never properly considered Wu Danyan's life.

Now, every single word Wu Danyan spoke stabbed him in the heart, hitting his weak spot.

He actually covered his head and began to weep bitterly.

"Danyan, Dad is sorry. Dad especially shouldn't have hit you. Dad was wrong."

"But Danyan, do you really want to give birth to the child? You must prepare yourself mentally for the gossip and criticism."

Wu Danyan said very firmly, "Don't worry, Dad. I'm not afraid."

...