Wu Caiwei agreed, and when Li Yuheng mentioned it to his father's manor, his stepmother disagreed, fearing shame and that people would say the Li family couldn't afford a wife and had married a divorced woman with a child.
"It doesn't matter if you disagree. I'll find someone else. Anyway, Yuanyue doesn't care about such things," Li Yuheng employed a strategy of provocation, which had always worked.
"Who will you find? And who wouldn't be afraid of losing face?" Li Qingyuan was truly at his wit's end with this son. He regretted leaving his son in the back courtyard and neglecting him. He only brought the boy out to study when he was over ten. After just a few years of schooling, he passed the imperial examination for Xiu Cai. If he had kept him by his side and educated him properly from childhood, how wonderful that would have been. He would undoubtedly have been a renowned prodigy far and wide. Now, it was too late to say anything.
"What I need to emphasize is that we didn't steal or rob. How is it shameful? Wasn't it shameful for you to be involved with her before you were married?" Li Yuheng couldn't stand his preachy tone.
*Slap!* Before Li Yuheng could react, his face was slapped. His father looked at him in a furious rage, having used all his might in this slap.
Although Li Yuheng was very resentful, he had investigated for a long time and had some leads. He didn't want to alert them and ruin his efforts, so he deeply endured the slap.
He touched his lip, and blood had already seeped out.
"I'll say this: if you don't propose, I'll find someone else. If you say something too harsh during the proposal, or offer too little in gifts, I'll marry into the Sun family. No matter what, we two will definitely be together." As he spoke, Li Yuheng left, showing no attachment to this home.
Seeing his son repeatedly defying him, Li father felt weary. If he could speak like this now, when he was still in charge of the Li family, what would their situation be like in the future when his son took over?
At this moment, he thought of his younger son. So well-behaved, so obedient, so intelligent, but he died young. The old man sent the young one off. If he were still alive, Li father wouldn't be in such a predicament.
"Master, please calm down. If he can investigate these matters, does that mean he knows about that incident too?" Madame Li was genuinely worried now. She felt that her stepson knew much more than she had imagined. Could the Li manor dare to entrust itself to such a person?
"Impossible. We were so discreet, and no third person knew." Although Li Qingyuan comforted his wife this way, he knew in his heart that even if his son didn't know, he might have guessed. Otherwise, why would he have such an attitude?
"Master, I'm afraid. We've finally come together and joined hands for so many years. I fear that when we get old, our later years will not be secure." These words from Madame Li were sincere. If she weren't too old to bear children, she would have wanted to have another one.
Master Li tightly held her hand, patting it gently, offering silent comfort.
However, he began to ponder. It's better to be safe than sorry. It seemed he needed to make preparations for both eventualities.
Li Yuheng was unaware of his father's thoughts. Even if he knew, he wouldn't care. He had a strong, certain voice in his heart telling him that if he married into the Sun family, Sun Yuanyue would certainly be all for it.
He recalled that not long ago, just after leaving the academy, an old woman with patched clothes and graying hair walked towards him.
Seeing him, she wept with joy and kept calling him "young master." She claimed to be his mother's wet nurse and told him many stories about his mother's youth. In a voice only they could hear, she told him that before his mother and Li father were married, his stepmother had already gotten involved with his father.
To be together, the two had bribed the midwife during his mother's labor, getting rid of the mother and keeping the child. After this incident, the midwife's family moved away, leaving no trace, and lost contact with everyone.
The old woman also said indignantly that if he didn't like her young lady, he could have not married her. Why, after marrying her, did he have to harm her life?
She spoke through clenched teeth, but lacking evidence, she had never reported Li Qingyuan. She felt that he was old enough now and could be told, so he could investigate thoroughly and avenge her young lady. Li Yuheng, seeing how agitated the old woman was, couldn't help but doubt the truth of the matter.
Today, he had merely made a tentative statement, and he hadn't expected his father to react so strongly. It made him think more. Perhaps the old woman was telling the truth.
Li Yuheng didn't care what they thought. He had a small courtyard outside and some spare money. He found a matchmaker himself and went to propose.
He had originally expected that his going to propose himself would reach his father and stepmother's ears, and there would be another storm at home. However, to his surprise, it was as if nothing had happened. The manor remained unusually calm. He quickly ordered his attendant to monitor their every move.
A few days later, two concubines arrived at the manor. This might be common in other noble families, but in the Li manor, it was like a drop of water splashing into a pot of boiling oil.
Other families advocated for many offspring. For so many years, the stepmother had only given birth to one son for his father, and they had remained as affectionate as ever. Now, in their old age, he had taken two concubines, and the stepmother had no reaction. It seemed they had reached an agreement to have another child.
Li Yuheng clenched his fists tightly, extremely angry. He wasn't angry about the division of the Li family's assets, nor was he angry that they had abandoned him. Instead, like that old woman, he felt that if Li Qingyuan didn't like his mother, he shouldn't have married her. But why, after marrying her, did he cruelly end her life, leaving him to lose his mother at such a young age?
No matter what, he had to avenge this. Otherwise, he would be unworthy of being called a son.
Liu Yu had been having a terrible time lately. When Wang Yougen was around, he did all the laundry, cooking, and cleaning at home, never letting her suffer any hardship.
But now, it was a different story. The money was gone, and Li Youcai was not home. She had to manage everything in the household herself. Chopping firewood, splitting wood, and carrying water up the mountain—tasks she had never done before—she had done them all recently. She felt her hands were starting to crack.
Even with such hardship, these village women still thought she was slacking off every day. They complained that she carried so little water and chopped so little firewood. With Li Youcai away and no source of income, she couldn't even improve their living conditions. Returning to the city was also hopeless. She was determined that when Li Youcai returned this time, she would make him marry her.
After half a month, Li Youcai finally returned. He ran a business where he used a little money to buy local specialties in this county, then transported them north to sell. After that, he would buy goods from the north to sell, earning the difference. Although it was hard and he slept under the stars, the money he earned was definitely better than toiling in the fields.
Upon returning home, he deliberately avoided Liu Yu. However, since their houses were close, there were times when they would inevitably meet, no matter how much he tried to avoid her. This time, as soon as Li Youcai stepped out, Liu Yu's door opened. Li Youcai turned and ran.
"Brother Youcai, I have something to tell you." Liu Yu's shout made him stop. He was afraid that if her voice got any louder, it would attract others' attention.
"Little Rui's mother, men and women should keep their distance. Tell me quickly whatever it is," Li Youcai truly regretted it now. He wanted to get rid of this woman as soon as possible.
How could Liu Yu comply with his wishes? She walked a few steps closer. "Brother Youcai, I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant with what?" Li Youcai didn't react immediately and asked casually. He paused for a moment, his eyes widened. Could it be what he was thinking?