Ouyang Xue lived a life steeped in bitterness, bearing the blame for Chen Yan's infertility. For years, he'd unjustly accused her, turning his family against her while her own kin urged her to endure.
Her marriage to him was a tragic misstep. To hide his own barrenness, he bribed a doctor to declare Ouyang Xue infertile, making her an object of scorn for the entire Chen family. When his true love appeared, he readily claimed her unborn child as his own. Together, they conspired to drive the original Ouyang Xue to her death.
The original Ouyang Xue was once spirited. Upon learning of her infertility, she realized no family would accept her, nor could she return home. With nowhere to turn, she grew increasingly withdrawn, resorting to constant appeasement and retreat.
"Some people lay no eggs yet are lazy every day. How can there be such a lazy woman in this world? Our Chen family had the worst luck to get such a daughter-in-law," Chen's mother grumbled, her temper flaring as she failed to spot Ouyang Xue busy at work.
"It's I who had the worst luck marrying into your Chen family. If you want me out, fine. Have Chen Yan divorce me. Let's see if he dares?" Wu Caiwei, acting on behalf of the original Ouyang Xue, was not there to be mistreated. She flung open the door and retorted without reservation.
"Aren't you just relying on my son's reluctance to leave you? What sort of charm have you put on him? He doesn't even consider continuing the family line. You're a complete vixen!" Chen's mother's fury ignited at the mere mention of it. This was a sore point, often exploited by her rivals in arguments, leaving her defenseless.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Does Chen Yan not want to leave me? He doesn't want to lose face. If he divorces me, the truth he's desperately trying to conceal will be exposed to everyone." Wu Caiwei truly disdained men like him, who expected women to shoulder all burdens while presenting a false image.
"What do you mean?" Chen's mother, sensing hidden meaning in her words, pressed for details.
"Go ask your son. A coward hiding behind a woman." Wu Caiwei refused to get involved in a mother-son dispute. Let them sort it out themselves.
Chen's mother watched as Wu Caiwei slammed the door shut and closed it with a "bang." She fell into thought. This was the first time Ouyang Xue had ever directly addressed the issue.
For years, she had been puzzled. Ouyang Xue was plain, and her son clearly wasn't infatuated with her. Yet, for reasons unknown, he refused to divorce her.
After all, in the eyes of the world, continuing the family line was paramount. Yet, her son seemed remarkably unconcerned.
Though she was reluctant to admit it, a voice in her heart whispered that Ouyang Xue might be telling the truth. She hadn't considered her son's infertility, instead suspecting he had done something improper, something his daughter-in-law now held over him. Su Dan Novel Network.
The rest of the afternoon was considerably more peaceful for Wu Caiwei, free from veiled insults.
The original Ouyang Xue hadn't had a proper rest in a long time, sometimes waking from nightmares, weeping alone until dawn. Soon, she drifted off to sleep.
That evening, when dinner was served, everyone sensed something was amiss. Wu Caiwei was invariably the one who cooked. Today, remarkably, Chen's mother took the helm, working quietly, devoid of her usual bickering.
Chen Yan felt a strange sensation. He glanced between his mother and Ouyang Xue, wondering why they were getting along so harmoniously. Previously, his mother would berate Ouyang Xue at every meal, while she would silently endure.
But today, Ouyang Xue was piling meat into her own bowl, yet his mother's expression remained unchanged.
Wu Caiwei was aware of Chen Yan's gaze but chose to ignore him.
After the meal, Chen's mother subtly signaled her son, who understood and followed her.
In his room, she closed the door and led him to the table, taking his hand.
"My son, we are mother and son. No matter what you've done, I will protect you. Tell me honestly, have you done anything wicked outside?" Chen's mother looked at him earnestly.
Chen Yan rubbed the back of his head, looking at her in bewilderment. He had expected his mother to reveal some important secret, only to be stumped by her question. Had she overheard some gossip? He had been behaving himself lately. "I haven't done anything," he replied truthfully.
"Then it's strange. Why would Ouyang Xue say you dare not divorce her and that you're trying to conceal something? I thought she had some leverage over you?" Chen's mother asked, a hint of relief in her voice.
As soon as Chen's mother finished speaking, Chen Yan's expression changed. A pang of unease struck him; he hadn't expected his years of effort and bribing doctors to be discovered by her.
"You haven't really done anything, have you?" Chen's mother's relief vanished, her anxiety returning as she observed her son's expression.
"Mother, what are you thinking? Don't you know your son? Do I have the guts to do bad things?" Chen Yan adjusted his expression, smiling at his mother.
A mother knows her son best. Her son's expression had clearly faltered, indicating something unknown had occurred.
Chen Yan lost his appetite for conversation. He wanted to return and ascertain how much Ouyang Xue actually knew.
He placated his mother briefly and made a hasty departure. Chen's mother watched him go, lost in thought.
The Chen family was quite prosperous, owning several shops. Chen Yan was their only son. He had attended private tutoring in his youth but lacked the aptitude for scholarly pursuits, so he took over the family business.
Despite this, he considered himself a man of letters, with several books displayed in his room. Wu Caiwei, with nothing else to do, idly flipped through them when a piece of paper fluttered out. Curious, she picked it up.
Just then, the door opened, and Chen Yan entered. Seeing the scene, he rushed forward, snatched the paper, grabbed the book from her, and carefully tucked the paper back inside. "How many times have I told you not to touch my books? You can't read, what would you understand?"
Wu Caiwei observed him suppressing his anger. She felt he was acting guilty. Though she hadn't seen clearly, only catching a glimpse, she suspected it was a love letter.
Perhaps the original Ouyang Xue's memories were incomplete, and there was much she didn't know. In her recollection, Chen Yan hadn't acted suspiciously during that period. Yet, when a heavily pregnant woman appeared, he had unhesitatingly claimed the child as his. It was highly probable they had known each other for a long time, unbeknownst to Ouyang Xue.