Xu Caishan looked at him with tearful eyes. “Cousin, is everything you said true?”
“I swear, in this lifetime I will only recognize you as my one and only wife, the mother of my children.”
Only then did Xu Caishan feel satisfied. She leaned over and kissed him, then rested against his chest. “I still want to give you more children.”
Chen Lang was overjoyed. “Alright, alright. Have as many as you want, I’ll agree to everything.”
“You’re so annoying.”
This meal used up all of Chen Lang’s money. Before leaving, he only packed up some leftover duck meat, saying he would take it home to feed the dog. The waiter packed it for him.
When he returned home, the two children were so hungry their stomachs were growling, waiting for him.
When Chen Xuan saw him bring food back, she happily ran over. “Father, what did you buy?”
“I brought duck meat for you. You must be hungry, come eat.”
Chen Lang placed the duck meat on the table and called Chen Jue over to eat.
Chen Jue picked up a duck leg. Thinking there should be another one, he searched but couldn’t find it. “Father, is there only one duck leg?”
“Oh, I already ate one.”
Chen Jue nodded and casually took a piece of meat. Thinking about how his father went to see the courier today, he asked, “Father, has the letter from the capital arrived? What did it say?”
At the mention of the letter, Chen Lang’s expression darkened. He sat down dejectedly and said calmly:
“The courier said it was already taken. But with so many letters every day, he can’t be sure whether it was never received or taken by someone.”
“That’s strange. Normally, letters from the capital arrive in five or six days. It’s already been seven or eight days this time. Even if delayed, it should have arrived,” Chen Jue analyzed carefully before adding, “Could it really have been taken by someone?”
Chen Lang looked at him. “You think it was taken too?”
Chen Jue nodded firmly.
With his mouth greasy from eating, Chen Xuan said, “Could it be Mother who took it?”
Both father and son looked at her, puzzled.
“But your mother is injured. And how would she know my identity? Did you tell her?” Chen Lang asked.
Both children shook their heads in unison. “We didn’t say anything.”
Chen Lang sighed. Chen Jue said, “Even if Mother is injured, Grandfather and Grandmother could help her take the letter.”
“That still doesn’t make sense. There’s no solid proof it was her. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve already written another letter and tipped the courier. He’ll pay extra attention next time. I don’t believe she can take it once and still take it a second or third time.”
Chen Jue agreed. “Mm.”
Meanwhile, Li Xianglian was indeed holding the letter and reading it. It seemed to be written by Chen Lang’s mother. The handwriting wasn’t as good as hers, but it was barely legible.
The letter expressed longing for Chen Lang and the two children, telling him to take better care of himself and to never reveal his identity.
It also mentioned that twenty taels of silver had been sent to him, and that he could withdraw it from the bank in two days by reporting the Zhao family business.
“The Zhao family business?” Li’s father frowned. “We don’t know which one that is.”
Li Xianglian handed the letter to him. “Burn it.”
Li’s mother was cooking, and Li’s father tossed the letter directly into the fire.
Li Xianglian went over everything from her past life but still couldn’t recall anything about the Zhao family business.
During the meal, she asked, “Father, when you took the letter, did the courier say anything?”
Li’s father shook his head. “I originally asked if there was a letter for Chen Lang. The courier searched and said there was none, only one for Zhao Lang. So I took that. I heard Chen Lang went out today without the children.”
“Did you ask where he went?”
Li’s father shook his head. “I only wanted to get the letter back quickly. I didn’t ask anything else.”
“Let’s eat first. We’ll think after eating.”
Just as they were eating, Qinglan called from the door, “Xianglian, I have something to tell you.”
The family looked at each other. Li’s father put down his bowl and went to open the door.
Qinglan hurried inside. “Xianglian, I heard Chen Lang took a man to a restaurant today.”
Li Xianglian quickly asked, “Was the man short, with delicate features, almost like a woman?”
Qinglan thought for a moment. “I think so. But they seemed very close. That man’s eyes were red from crying, and Chen Lang seemed to be comforting him.”
“That’s a woman. The doctor Chen Lang brought the day I was injured—Doctor Xu. He said she was the county magistrate’s physician, but she’s actually the magistrate’s younger sister.”
Li Xianglian sneered, angrily pounding the armrest of her wheelchair.
“Chen Lang, what a nerve. We haven’t even divorced yet, and he’s already meeting another woman. All the money in the household was probably spent on her!”
Li’s father suddenly stood up. “That bastard! I’m going to kill him!”
Li’s mother quickly grabbed his arm. “Husband, killing is a crime. What will happen to me and Xianglian afterward?”
“Uncle, don’t be impulsive,” Qinglan advised.
Li’s father shouted, “Should we just let him fool around outside like this?”
“Father, sit down.” Li Xianglian gradually calmed herself.
“Even if you kill him, what would it change? You might lose your own life before even harming him. It’s not worth getting angry over someone like him.”
“I just can’t swallow this anger,” Li’s father said, sitting down angrily.
Li’s mother sighed and invited Qinglan to sit.
Li Xianglian spoke slowly, “If Chen Lang dares to keep a woman outside, why can’t I keep a pretty boy?”
Li’s parents: “…”
Qinglan: “…”
Li’s mother looked embarrassed. “Xianglian, what are you saying? He is a man. It’s normal for him to have concubines…”
Li’s father quickly said, “Only wealthy families can afford concubines. Poor families don’t have the money for that. The money Chen Lang spends was all earned through our daughter’s hard work. My poor Xianglian, she lived honestly and diligently, yet ended up like this.”
His eyes reddened with heartache as he turned away to wipe his tears.
Li’s mother placed her hand over his, silently comforting him.
Although Qinglan felt that a woman keeping a pretty boy was indeed bold—since a woman’s reputation mattered—she knew Xianglian was speaking out of anger. She asked, “What will you do next?”
Li Xianglian took a deep breath and shook her head.
“What else can I do? Chen Lang… I will make him unable to hold his head high. I will make him unworthy of his scholar status. I will let everyone know that it is he who wronged me—not me who wronged him!”
“No matter what you do, I will support you.” Qinglan held her hand, knowing she was hurting. “After the divorce, you can still marry a better man. Don’t be sad.”
Sad?
Heh.
She had long seen through Chen Lang.
She would never waste her feelings on him again.