Chen's mother stared at the person who appeared before her, thinking she was hallucinating. After confirming it was indeed her, and remembering that the Chen family had no descendants because of her, she asked unceremoniously, "Why are you here? You are not welcome in our home."
"I heard that Brother Chen Yan was injured, so I came to see him," Liu Wenyu said, sounding a little hurt.
"Don't put on that act. I'm not a man, so go cry to a man. You won't gain any pity from me; instead, you make me find you extremely annoying, like a vixen." As soon as Chen's mother saw her demeanor, she felt a surge of anger, as if she herself had wronged Liu Wenyu.
"Mother, is that Wenyu who's arrived?" Chen Yan, residing in the front courtyard, heard the voices at the gate and asked excitedly.
Just as Chen's mother was about to reply no, Liu Wenyu, bypassing her, walked directly into the courtyard, calling out loudly as she did, "It's me, Brother Chen Yan, I've come to visit you."
Chen's mother stood there, stomping her foot in frustration. Resigned, she closed the courtyard gate.
"Brother Chen Yan, how did you get so badly injured? Who beat you? I will surely get revenge for you." Liu Wenyu looked at him with a heart full of concern. This was the man who had always been infatuated with her, and if nothing unexpected happened, they would spend their lives together. Seeing him so badly beaten naturally caused her some heartache.
"It's nothing, it's all in the past. When did you arrive?" Chen Yan gazed at her with adoration.
"I just returned this morning and couldn't wait to see you this afternoon," Liu Wenyu said, her face flushing with shyness.
"A woman eagerly waiting to see a man, I'm embarrassed for you. You couldn't stay at the Li family's and now you've come to stir up trouble for my son. What do you think the Chen family is, a place you can come and go as you please?" Chen's mother was a thousand times unhappy. Seeing their conversation becoming increasingly ambiguous, she quickly interrupted.
Before Liu Wenyu could speak, Chen Yan retorted first, "Mother, she came with good intentions to visit me. Saying that, is it appropriate?"
"Shut up! She has brought you to this state, and you still defend her?" The more her son defended her, the angrier Chen's mother became. She absolutely did not want Liu Wenyu to enter their home.
"I... I don't know what I did wrong," Liu Wenyu said plaintively.
"You did nothing wrong. It's my mother who misunderstood. Once I explain it clearly to her, everything will be fine," Chen Yan quickly comforted.
"I have no misunderstanding. I'll state this clearly: as long as I am here, you will never enter the Chen family home in this lifetime." Chen's mother turned and left, not wanting to see their affectionate display any longer. Before even entering the house, she was already sowing discord between son and mother. If she got in, would they have any peace?
Although Chen's mother left in a huff, she kept her ears tuned to the sounds in the courtyard. About an hour later, Liu Wenyu finally left. Chen's mother inwardly cursed her for being shameless.
When she went to see her son again, Chen Yan uttered the words she most dreaded hearing, "I want to find someone to propose marriage to the Liu family."
Chen's mother looked at her son deeply. Truly, he had forgotten his mother the moment he had a wife. She and Liu Wenyu could never coexist harmoniously. Judging by today's display, if there was any conflict between the two, he would undoubtedly side with Liu Wenyu. Chen's mother would not tolerate anyone challenging her authority in this household.
"You disappoint me so much. You are lying here, and your father is over there. Have you ever thought that the cause of all this is Liu Wenyu? If you hadn't gotten involved with her, how would you have been injured? And how would you have become infertile? Your father and I would have smoothly become grandparents, and there wouldn't be so many troubles. Do you know how much I hate her?" Chen's mother looked at him with disappointment.
"I know Mother cannot accept her immediately, but please believe me this time. She is a good woman. Everything that happened was beyond her control, and she didn't want it to be that way. Wasn't it all an accident? As long as she marries into our family, I will live a good life with her and be filial to you both." Chen Yan knew he was being somewhat unfilial, so he could only try his best to persuade her.
"Son, I can satisfy you in any other matter, but I cannot agree to this. I cannot get past this hurdle in my heart," Chen's mother stated firmly.
"Just consider it me begging you, okay?"
"Impossible. Don't even think about it."
Chen Yan had anticipated his mother's disapproval, but he never expected her to be so resistant. He found himself in a dilemma. Deep down, he wanted to be with Liu Wenyu, especially after waiting for so many years and finally getting this opportunity.
However, he couldn't bear to fall out with his mother. After all, his mother loved him the most in this family. He could only sigh, "I hope you will consider it carefully. If I don't marry her, I will regret it for the rest of my life."
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he added, "It's not like I have a choice not to marry her. After all, she's carrying my child. I'm infertile for life, and that's my only bloodline."
Chen's mother shot to her feet, "You... what did you say? I'm going to have a grandson? You're not lying to me, are you?"
"Why would I dare to lie to you about such a big matter? Go and inquire if you don't believe me. Old Master Li has been seriously ill for three months, and she's only been pregnant for two months. If it's not mine, then whose could it be?" Chen Yan's words flowed more smoothly, and afterward, he would have to find a way to bribe a doctor to alter the due date.
"If it is indeed our family's child, then of course we must bring her home to marry and not let him be exposed to the world. But if it's not our child, aren't we making ourselves out to be fools?" Chen's mother looked at her son suspiciously. She was pregnant, and why hadn't her son mentioned it earlier? Knowing how much she valued a grandchild, he wouldn't have fabricated a reason just to get Liu Wenyu into the house, would he?
Chen Yan smacked his forehead, regretting his oversight. If he had brought this up earlier, his mother wouldn't have had such a strong reaction.
"I thought you didn't like her, and therefore didn't like the child in her belly either," Chen Yan quickly fabricated an excuse.
"Didn't the doctor say you couldn't have children?" Chen's mother felt uncertain and wanted further confirmation.
"The doctor only said the chance of fertility was very small, not that it was impossible. After all, I've been secretly seeking treatment from doctors for twenty years. If it weren't for this injury, your grandchildren would have been arriving one after another." Once the first lie was told, the second came easily. Now, Chen Yan spoke without batting an eye.
Chen's mother couldn't help but burst into tears, thinking of all the grandchildren she had lost.
However, she believed that her son wouldn't lie to her about such a significant matter. Although she disliked Liu Wenyu, she loved grandchildren. She could only grit her teeth, go back to prepare the betrothal gifts, and arrange for a matchmaker to visit the Liu family the next day.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yan grinned from ear to ear, even smiling in his sleep.