Li Youcai rushed to look at Liu Yu, but to his disappointment, Liu Yu nodded slowly. However, he quickly reconsidered; having someone to carry on the family line was ultimately a good thing.
"We're having a son, aren't you happy?" Liu Yu's eyes welled up.
"Happy, of course, I'm happy." Li Youcai genuinely cherished the idea of having a son. In the village, not having one meant being the subject of gossip and shame, a dishonor to his ancestors. Even though Sun Yuanyue was perfect in every way, his family had long considered finding him a new wife.
For years, he had dreamed of a son, and now his dream was coming true. Despite his occasional impatience with Liu Yu, he was quite looking forward to this child.
With a grandson on the way, his mother would likely not object. Furthermore, given their current unfavorable reputations in the village, he felt compelled to hasten the marriage proposal for the sake of the child.
"You stay home and take care of yourself. I'll find someone to propose marriage tomorrow," he said, handing her a handful of copper coins.
Liu Yu returned to her courtyard and closed the door, a subtle smile playing on her lips. Having grown up in the complex inner courtyards of wealthy households, she was well-versed in various schemes. Deceiving this unsophisticated country bumpkin was child's play.
In reality, nothing had happened between them last time; there was no child. Her plan was simply to secure him for now. As for what would happen if the child wasn't born, Liu Yu already had a solution in mind.
When Li Youcai quietly shared the news with his mother, despite her initial dislike for Liu Yu, she became ecstatic at the thought of her soon-to-be-born grandson.
Forgetting to wash her clothes, she hurried off to find a matchmaker. Since Liu Yu had severed ties with her in-laws, the matchmaker didn't need to approach her mother-in-law; she could directly propose at Liu Yu's courtyard.
The arrangements progressed smoothly, and the news of their engagement spread throughout the village that very day. Wang Yougen's parents reappeared, demanding that the courtyard be left behind and not taken to the groom's home.
Liu Yu negotiated with them for a long time, insisting on taking Xiao Rui with her, but without changing his surname. She promised that he would return to inherit the courtyard when he grew up. Wang Yougen's parents, considering their eldest son's family's hardships and the difficulty of raising another child, reasoned that since they were all from the same village and aware of each other's situations, they could always take him back and raise him if he ever fell on hard times. After much deliberation, they agreed.
Li Youcai, concerned about Liu Yu's pregnancy becoming apparent and raising suspicion, hurried the wedding preparations. He told people that it was because he was getting older and Liu Yu was a second-time bride, hence the simple ceremony.
He never doubted Liu Yu's pregnancy; such matters were not spoken of lightly in farming families. He also lacked the experience of the cunning schemes within the inner courtyards of affluent households, believing his good fortune had blessed him with a son in a single attempt.
Upon hearing of their impending marriage, Wu Caiwei, while surprised, was pleased with their union. Two ruthless individuals joining forces meant they would likely spare others from their machinations.
Meanwhile, the formal betrothal rituals proceeded as planned. As Li Yuheng hailed from the prestigious Li manor, a prominent family in the region, and Wu Caiwei was a well-known and successful businesswoman in the city, their union became the talk of the town.
After all, Li Yuheng was a scholar destined for an official career. Regardless of Wu Caiwei's business acumen, she was a divorced woman with a child. These two seemingly mismatched individuals were to be wed.
Initially, the Li family paid no attention to the gossip. However, when one of the concubines became pregnant, Old Master Li, feeling his vitality undiminished and that he had an heir, declared that if they persisted with the marriage, Li Yuheng would be disowned.
Li Yuheng and Wu Caiwei remained unfazed, continuing their relationship as they pleased, indifferent to any pronouncements.
It's worth noting that Li Yuheng's mentor also advised him, suggesting that their marriage might have some repercussions on his future official career.
Li Yuheng stated he didn't care, which led his mentor to treat him with less regard than before. Li Yuheng did not share these details with Wu Caiwei, but she sensed the change. Nevertheless, she believed they could still be together and that she would not be a burden to him.
Eager to break free from the Li manor, Li Yuheng deliberately had a heated argument with his father upon returning home, demanding to split the family assets and seeking a significant portion of the inheritance.
His stepmother and father vehemently disagreed. They had already planned to cultivate another heir and retain control of the family fortune, never intending to hand it over to Li Yuheng. Moreover, they feared his retaliation if he learned about a certain matter.
Now that he was demanding a share of the assets, Old Master and Madam Li were displeased and summarily dismissed him.
The next day, they publicly announced that Li Yuheng, having disobeyed his family and insisted on marrying Sun Yuanyue, had been disowned, and all his future endeavors would be unrelated to the Li family.
Li Yuheng was indifferent to being disowned but wished to sign a formal renunciation of kinship with Old Master Li.
He returned to the Li manor that day and, disregarding the servants' attempts to stop him, insisted on seeing Old Master Li. Fearing his son might try to seize the family fortune, Old Master Li readily signed the document.
Within a few days, their wedding date was set. Wu Caiwei transferred her steamed bun shop to Li Zhutao's name, using her remaining businesses as dowry.
Although Li Yuheng was disowned by the Li family, Wu Caiwei, having run her businesses for so long, had connections with many prominent families. Many people came to support their wedding, and with the neighbors in attendance, the ceremony was exceptionally lively.
On their wedding day, as the veil was lifted, they exchanged a knowing glance and smiled. This time, she had married him again.
Li Zhutao, who had initially been apprehensive about living in the small residence with her mother, was now at ease. He had indeed kept his word, treating her with great care and affection, like his own daughter. She experienced the fatherly love she had never felt from Li Youcai.
Furthermore, with the steamed bun shop in her name, all her earnings were her own. With financial security and paternal affection, her heart felt truly settled.
Concurrently, Li Youcai and Liu Yu finally tied the knot.
After their marriage, Liu Yu, leveraging her pregnancy, did no chores. Although Li Mu grumbled, the thought of the grandson in her womb led her to endure it, planning to deal with Liu Yu properly after the child's birth.
However, she was not as lenient with Xiao Rui, who was not her biological grandson. He was treated even less favorably than Li Zhutao, who was at least of Li family blood.
Li Mu frequently ordered Xiao Rui around, and Liu Yu would always find excuses to decline.
Li Mu's words grew increasingly harsh: "This baggage thinks he's a part of the Li family? It's good enough that we provide him with food and shelter."
Liu Yu had become immune to her barbed remarks. No matter how unpleasant Li Mu's words were, she refused to comply.
Every time Li Youcai returned home from his travels, Li Mu would complain about Liu Yu, and Liu Yu would complain about Li Mu. Li Youcai deeply felt that the household had been much better when Sun Yuanyue was around, at least it had been peaceful and harmonious.
When he grew frustrated, his preferred solution was to embark on a trade journey. However, this particular trip was different from the others.