Li Changqing didn't overthink it. Recalling his mother's love for him over the years, he felt his wife was right. Although he didn't want to go out and face pitying glances, the thought of money made him decide to try.
In truth, Li Changqing knew that passing the Xiucai examination had been his utmost effort. The tutor had told him he wasn't very talented and might stop there for his entire life. Even if his leg wasn't lame, he couldn't bring glory to the Li family. Now, his father had taken two concubines and planned to have sons, which gave him a sense of urgency. Regardless, making money was the most important thing. When his father passed away, he would definitely separate the family. Having assets would ease his worries.
The next day, Wu Caiwei was busy when Li Zixin entered the shop. She couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind. Li Zixin suppressed his anger and forced a smile, saying, "Mother, we haven't seen each other for so long, don't you miss me? I've missed you terribly."
Wu Caiwei glanced at him and said curtly, "If you don't want to smile, you don't have to. Your smile is uglier than crying. Miss me? If you miss me, why aren't you dead yet?"
Li Zixin was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond. He had never realized his mother could be so sharp-tongued. He felt an urge to leave immediately.
The thought of the money in her hands made him endure it. He said helplessly, "I didn't know that would happen that day. If I had, I promise I would have dodged faster than anyone. Would I have ended up lame?"
Wu Caiwei looked at him with a half-smile, "I'm not as foolish as you think. The truth is, you know it, and I know it. Also, let me tell you a secret. Do you know why I divorced your father and took you with me back then? It's because your father said if I didn't take you, he'd take you back and kill you, to make way for his child with Wu Lian'er, fearing you'd take their position."
Li Changqing took a step back in disbelief, murmuring, "How is that possible? You volunteered, and everyone, including Father, tried to persuade you for a long time. You insisted on taking me with you."
Wu Caiwei sneered maliciously, "That's because they wanted to get rid of us, the mother and son, and feared ruining their reputation. He privately threatened me, saying if I didn't comply, the Wang family would be ruined. Do you think I, a woman, stood a chance against him?"
Li Changqing considered it and found it plausible. He forced a smile, "Even if what you're saying isn't true, what does it matter? I am the sole son of the Li family. I will be the head of the household in the future."
Wu Caiwei tidied the shelves, saying indifferently, "Don't deceive yourself. Since the Li family will be yours in the future, why do you care about my two small shops? Can't we all just live in peace?"
Hearing her words, Li Changqing's face gradually showed a guilty expression. It was the first time he had been exposed so directly.
This was also the first time Li Changqing truly understood his mother in many years. He used to think she was foolish and an ignorant country woman, but now he realized he was wrong. She knew everything but chose not to speak.
"I don't know why Mother would say I'm after your shops. I just haven't seen you in a long time and wanted to visit. Since you don't welcome me, I'll leave. If you want to see me someday, send word, and I'll come immediately." Fearing she would say something harsher, he left quickly.
Wu Caiwei shouted directly, "No need. I don't have a ungrateful son like you. From now on, we'll pretend we don't know each other if we meet."
Li Changqing, who had already walked outside the shop, stopped abruptly. After a moment, he forcefully flung his sleeves and strode away.
Upon returning to the Li mansion, he immediately found Li Zixin. Since she no longer cared about their mother-son relationship, he wouldn't let her off easy.
Li Zixin frowned involuntarily when he saw him. He had been preoccupied with his two concubines lately, eager to have a son. He planned to send this son, who had no further use, away with two shops once the time came. He found even looking at him annoying.
Li Changqing could see his father's impatience. Although he hadn't agreed with his mother's account of past events, he knew she wouldn't speak carelessly. Moreover, it was something his father was capable of. He couldn't help but feel resentful. Su Dan Novel Network.
He quickly lowered his head, hiding his expression, and calmly said, "Your son greets Father."
"You don't come without a reason. Speak, what is it?"
"Your son has come to verify something. Mother told me that she divorced you back then because you threatened her, and you even wanted my life. I want to know if this is true."
Li Zixin fell silent upon hearing this, and he was also very angry. He hadn't expected that woman to challenge his authority even now, telling their son such things. Wasn't this meant to sow discord between them? While he didn't care about this son, if the son came to hate him because of it, wouldn't that be like raising a wolf nearby? He found the thought dangerous.
"You believe her words? It's all because you resent the matter of acknowledging your ancestors and want to sow discord between us, so you'll side with her. Don't you think about it? You were just a child back then. Did the Li family lack food for you?" Li Zixin quickly denied it.
"If Father tells me personally, I'll be relieved. It's precisely because I didn't fall for it that I've come to ask you frankly. Father probably doesn't know, but Mother has arrived in the city and opened two shops, marrying a Tong Sheng." Li Changqing wisely chose to stop there, informing him of his mother's current situation.
"She's arrived in the city? Why is she so close to us?" Although many years had passed and no one mentioned it, Li Zixin instinctively didn't want to live in the same place as her. After all, he hadn't acted honorably back then. Thinking of her reminded him of his own sordid thoughts and his actions back then.
"Your son doesn't know, but Mother's business is quite good. Although her husband has taken many years to not pass the Xiucai exam, I heard that the tutors at the academy have been praising him to everyone recently, saying he has finally awakened and will surely be on the list." Li Changqing said as if unintentionally.
Li Zixin frowned even more tightly after hearing this. This was news he did not want to hear. Wang Yumeng had lived an unsatisfactory life in the countryside, always being stepped on by him, unable to rise. Only then could he rest easy. If, one day, her life improved, he would feel uneasy, fearing she would seek revenge and expose what happened back then.
Seeing his father lost in thought, Li Changqing knew he had achieved his goal and felt a hint of smugness.
After a brief exchange, father and son parted ways. Li Zixin decided to send someone to inquire about her current situation first.
Meanwhile, Wu Lian'er sat arrogantly in the courtyard of the two concubines, who knelt on the ground trembling.
Wu Lian'er played with her fingernails, looking at them with a half-smile, "I heard you mocked my maidservant yesterday? Today, I'll teach you how to behave, especially as concubines, and how to respect the principal wife."