16 Cesarean Delivery

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Father Li had no time to argue with the two of them and hurriedly explained to his wife, “That time I was drunk and mistook Ai Cao for you. She couldn’t resist my strength, and just that once, she got pregnant…”

Mother Li was furious. “She couldn’t speak up? I remember the Yao family had several servants—were they all deaf? Li Yuan, oh Li Yuan, what can I say to you? You were conned and yet you pity the schemer.”

Yao Qiushan couldn’t bear it any longer and frowned. “My mother is not that kind of person. She must have been unwilling. Why didn’t she cry out? It must have been for Uncle’s reputation. Besides, my father and Uncle were extremely close. If this caused a rift between them, it wouldn’t be her fault…”

He wasn’t born yet at the time and knew nothing of the truth—he was only guessing.

Mother Li turned and glared. “No matter how close men are, they would never hand over their wives to others. Your mother didn’t do it to strengthen brotherly bonds—she deliberately sowed discord between them! To make them enemies!” The facts were right in front of them, yet these two still tried to deny it. The more she spoke, the angrier she became, shouting, “Was that really the only time between you two?”

Of course not. After Yao’s father died, Li Yuan had taken care of the mother and child, often visiting them. Feeling awkward, he said, “Later, the mother and child were grateful for my care, so I…”

Mother Li cut him off, accusing, “She seduced you again, didn’t she?”

Father Li hurriedly denied it. “No, it was all coincidental.”

Seeing this, Mother Li’s heart ached even more. The man was clearly being conned but accepted it willingly, even defending the real culprit. What was she to him?

What hurt most was, despite everything, Mother Li couldn’t leave him. She had to swallow her anger and endure. If she returned to her parents’ home and divorced Li Yuan, not only would her reputation be ruined, but she wouldn’t be willing to cede space to that woman. Besides, if she left, everyone would say that with a stepmother comes a stepfather. It was uncertain whether the family business would ever be entrusted to her son. Thinking of all this, she wept bitterly.

“You’ve gone too far!” Mother Li gritted her teeth, her eyes bloodshot with hatred. “Li Yuan, if you see that woman again and continue to care for them, I will never let you off!”

Father Li wanted to promise not to see them again, but the truth was otherwise. Now that his wife knew, secretly caring for them was almost impossible. He looked troubled. “Madam, I owe a great debt to that mother and child…” Seeing Mother Li’s furious face, about to curse, he quickly said, “I promise, I will no longer associate with Ai Cao.” But he couldn’t change the fact that he would care for the mother and child.

Mother Li caught his hidden meaning and felt utterly disgusted. Whether or not they had slept together was no longer important. What mattered was that this man’s heart was already with Ai Cao. Despite his wrongdoing, he now played the martyr, as if he had sacrificed much for the family.

Chu Yunli spoke up, “Aunt, you could find yourself a pretty young man too. Find someone handsome and obedient. There are plenty of men; if one doesn’t work out, just switch.”

“Silence!” Father Li was furious, practically steaming. “What nonsense is that? That woman has no shame! She’s unfaithful, and my son…”

Chu Yunli blinked, cutting him off. “Then Aunt can just keep him around for company, nothing more. Anyway, as long as there’s no bed involved, it’s not betrayal.”

Father Li was left speechless once again.

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Mother Li’s tears streamed down. The thrill of newlywed days was long gone. Especially after recent events, she was utterly disappointed in this man, yet she couldn’t be as carefree as her former daughter-in-law suggested. Having a man by her side sounded good, but what about her reputation? How could her sisters and nieces arrange marriages for her in the future?

No matter how she calculated it, she could only grit her teeth and swallow this bitter injustice.

“Make them return all the benefits they’ve taken over the years, or else…” Mother Li’s voice turned icy. “I’ll make sure everyone in this city knows you’ve taken that widow to bed. You shameless man, I won’t spare you!”

With that, she swept away in anger.

“Oh snap,” Chu Yunli gloated. “What now?”

Meeting the angry stares of father and son, Hu Yian stepped forward, shielding her. Calmly he said, “Mr. Yao Dong, I got injured working for you. Shouldn’t you compensate me? Also, you handed my IOU over to the gambling house—that’s not very fair, is it?”

Yao Qiushan glared fiercely. “If you’re unhappy with my decisions, come talk to me. Why do these underhanded things behind my back?”

Hu Yian feigned surprise. “So you admit it’s disgusting?”

Yao Qiushan was speechless.

He meant Hu Yian’s complaint, clearly mocking his secret acceptance of benefits from the Li family over the years.

Hu Yian tugged Chu Yunli’s sleeve. “We still have a lot to do at the shop. It’s getting late—let’s go.”

The two laughed as they went downstairs.

Behind them, Father Li’s eyes were like poisoned daggers. The family was already troubled enough; now his wife knew the long-hidden secret. If others left, she would surely cause more trouble later.

Suddenly realizing something, Father Li panicked. “Not good, Qiushan, hurry home!”

Yao Qiushan also guessed Mother Li might be causing a scene at home and hurried down the stairs.

The two men ran swiftly as if chased by dogs. Chu Yunli exchanged a glance with Hu Yian and told the coachman to follow them.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived outside the Yao family gate. Mother Li seemed furious after being turned away, hands on her hips, shouting at Mrs. Yao for shamelessly seducing a married man.

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Father Li arrived, seeing the scene, his head spun with anger. Without thinking, he rushed forward to stop her. “You said to return what’s owed. I’ll make sure they do, but this isn’t the place to insult people.” He pulled his wife into his arms, whispering, “Madam, family shame mustn’t be aired in public.”

“Return what?” Mother Li’s eyes were red with fury, trembling with rage. She shoved him away and shouted, “That mother and child have relied on our family to do business all these years. Everything belongs to us. If they really returned it all, they’d be left with nothing and still have to rely on you in the end! Return or not, what’s the difference?”

Li Yuan looked helpless and tried to explain to those around, “Madam, you misunderstand the relationship between me and Mrs. Yao…”

Mother Li looked at the crowd. “It’s no misunderstanding! Those two are wicked. If you ever see him here again or see him alone with Mrs. Yao outside, they’re definitely meeting in secret.” She pointed at Yao Qiushan. “Their illegitimate son is already this big. If Yao Qiushan’s father were alive, he’d probably be furious enough to come back from the grave.”

Yao Qiushan’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

He didn’t care about acknowledgment of paternity but hated his origins being exposed to the world.

At this moment, the people inside the Yao mansion grew restless. Mrs. Yao felt too embarrassed to appear. The door was opened instead by Yao Qiushan’s wife, Lady Kong.

Without speaking, tears streamed down her face. “Aunt, I don’t understand why you say such nonsense. My mother fainted after hearing your words. We were just sitting at home quietly… This is a disaster from the heavens. Please, someone help and call a doctor. My mother is still lying on the floor.” She looked to her husband. “Husband, mother hasn’t been close to any man these years. Luckily, strong Li Pozi came home to help with the confinement, so no one else can move her. Please lift her up quickly. It’s cold on the floor. What if she falls ill?”

She wiped away her tears as she spoke.

Hearing this, Father Li couldn’t sit still. Before Yao Qiushan entered, he burst inside with a single leap.

Yao Qiushan was speechless. This was bad.

The onlookers thought, “If these two had no relationship, who would believe it?”

Mother Li was so angry her vision blurred, nearly losing the strength to stand.