After a few seconds of silence, Song Zhilan forced a smile. She was just about to say a few tactful words on Song Zhizhu's behalf when her eldest uncle, Song Zhulin, spoke beside her.
"Zhuting, why get yourself so worked up?"
Song Zhulin adjusted the glasses on his nose, his expression all smiles. Behind the thick lenses, his eyes gleamed with shrewdness.
Though he was old enough that half his hair should have been gray, he had dyed it a glossy black-he had always taken great care with his appearance.
"Just because we can't persuade Zhizhu doesn't mean we can't persuade her husband. Jiangshu strikes me as an honest boy. That's why he lets Zhizhu's views lead him around. But he's a man, isn't he? How could he not want a child?"
"If you ask me, you don't need to keep arguing with Zhizhu about having children. Have Zhibo visit his brother-in-law sometime and talk him around. Once he understands, he'll know to persuade Zhizhu himself."
"You're just too stubborn. You never know how to take a different approach! There are always more solutions than problems. Listen to me on this. Zhibo and Jiangshu are of the same generation, so there's less of a generation gap. A few words from him will do far more good than anything we elders say."
"Even if Zhizhu really resists, Jiangshu can placate her first. If necessary, he can secretly tamper with their contraception. Once she gets pregnant, he can persuade her to keep the baby. Surely she wouldn't still insist on an abortion at that point? An abortion is just as painful as childbirth, so she might as well choose the latter. Don't you agree?"
After hearing Song Zhulin out, Song Zhuting looked considerably less upset. "That makes sense. You always know what