Some things, once the moment passes, might never be discovered again.

— For example, what exactly Chen Lanfen had done wrong.

Yesterday, Bai Taotao went to the back mountain. She exhausted her spiritual energy and fell into a semi-conscious state. When she woke up, the family had already become tight-lipped about Chen Lanfen.

Everyone avoided the topic, and some even treated Chen Lanfen like she was the plague. Bai Taotao managed to dodge the others and questioned Hongdou, but the little girl kept her mouth shut and refused to say anything.

What about asking Huangdou?

Huangdou didn’t know what had happened either.

It seemed that the only ones in the family unaware of what Chen Lanfen had done were Bai Taotao and Huangdou.

Although everyone deliberately avoided Chen Lanfen and kept their distance, Bai Taotao could see that the family seemed rather wary of her.

— A few days ago, the Bai family’s women hadn’t gone to work due to special circumstances. By now, Tang Liren, Bai Lili, and Bai Xingxing should have resumed their work, but they didn’t. They stayed home instead.

Based on Bai Taotao’s guess, her mother and sisters were probably on guard against Chen Lanfen?

However, for Bai Taotao, there was something more important—she had to absorb Song Zhi’s spiritual energy diligently and thoroughly!

Currently, Song Zhi was eating all three meals a day at the Bai family’s house. As long as he was there, Bai Taotao would constantly draw on his spiritual energy. Moreover, she didn’t dare to use her spiritual energy when Song Zhi wasn’t around. Of course, whenever Song Zhi was at her house, she would press one hand against his back while holding the potted grapevine with the other, inquiring about “the oldest elder in the forest” until she had a clear picture.

Little Grape told Bai Taotao:

[That’s our Grandfather! No one knows how old he is. He might already be tens of thousands of years old! Grandfather is a ginkgo tree, standing in the farthest depths of the forest. We can’t move, so no one has ever seen him…]

[Grandfather is really kind. He’s old, experienced, and knows everything. According to the other elders in the forest, Grandfather has helped us overcome many hardships… forest fires, severe droughts, floods, and landslides. Thanks to him, we’ve survived them all. Taotao, will you go to see him?]

Bai Taotao replied, [Not yet. Yesterday, just a few words with Grandfather drained my spiritual energy, and I fainted. I think I may not be able to go to see him anytime soon. If I do, I’d have to find an excuse to bring Song Zhi along.]

Little Grape didn’t respond immediately. After a long pause, it said, [Taotao, I’ve already relayed your words to Grandfather. Grandfather says not to force yourself. Wait until you find the opportunity. If you need any help, let me know. I’ll contact Grandfather for you. I won’t faint when talking to him.]

Bai Taotao smiled as she stroked the grapevine’s leaves. [Then grow up quickly. I want to eat sweet grapes.]

Little Grape froze. [Huh? But I’m too young. It’ll take a long time before I can bear grapes. Taotao, are you hungry?]

Bai Taotao’s smile faded. She looked a bit melancholic. [Yes, not just me. My family is hungry too… it feels like we’re never truly full.]

Little Grape said, [Got it, Taotao. I’ll help you! Um, just give me two more days!]

Bai Taotao couldn’t help but laugh.

While Song Zhi was at home, Bai Taotao focused on absorbing spiritual energy. When he wasn’t, she concentrated on learning to read.

However, Bai Zhengqian, who was teaching the children to read newspapers, seemed distracted as well.

This only made Bai Taotao more curious—what exactly had happened?

She soon found out.

Because two days later, her second brother, Bai Nansheng, hurriedly returned home from the military camp.

It was Bai Taotao’s first time seeing her second brother.

— Bai Nansheng bore a strong resemblance to their eldest brother as both inherited their father’s thick eyebrows and large eyes, as well as a righteous spirit. But their temperaments were entirely different. The eldest brother was gentle, while the second brother’s gaze was sharp. Only when he saw Bai Taotao, Huangdou, and Hongdou did his eyes soften.

When Bai Nansheng entered the house with his bag on his back, he saw that everyone in the family was there.

He dropped his bag, glanced around at everyone, and greeted his parents first. “Dad, Mom… Elder Brother, Sister-in-law!” Then, he walked over, ruffled Bai Taotao’s hair, and said with a smile, “I heard our little fool has become smart?”

Bai Taotao pouted.

Bai Lili quickly interjected, “Second Brother, don’t call Taotao a fool. If she gets upset, she’ll ignore you!”

“You’re the fool!” Bai Taotao’s peach blossom eyes widened as she angrily shouted at Bai Nansheng.

Bai Nansheng stared at his once-silly little sister in surprise for a moment before grinning. “She really isn’t a fool anymore!”

Hongdou and Huangdou ran over. “Hello, Second Uncle!”, “Second Uncle, I missed you so much!”

Bai Nansheng lifted a child in each hand as if they were little chicks and spun them around in the courtyard. The two children squealed with excitement…

All the while, he completely ignored his wife, Chen Lanfen.

Tang Liren said, “Alright, alright! Xing’er, fetch a basin of hot water for your Second Brother to wash his face. Lizi, go to the kitchen and make a bowl of noodles for your Second Brother, and crack an egg into it! Hongdou, pour a glass of cooled boiled water for your Second Uncle! Huangdou, go fetch him a pair of slippers!”

Everything was arranged methodically.

Bai Nansheng set the two children down, and his gaze finally landed on his wife, Chen Lanfen.

Chen Lanfen cowered in the corner, looking as though she was about to cry. Her face was pale, and her belly was enormous.

Bai Nansheng stared at her for a long time but ultimately said nothing.

“Dad, Mom, why did you call me back in such a hurry? What’s the emergency at home?” Bai Nansheng turned to ask his parents.

Bai Zhengqian remained silent.

Tang Liren replied, “Eat your noodles first, and then we’ll talk.”

As they spoke, Little Hongdou brought the water, Little Huangdou fetched the slippers, Bai Xingxing carried over a basin of warm water and a towel, and Bai Lili hurriedly served the bowl of noodle soup.

The family gathered neatly and all stared at Bai Nansheng.

Bai Nansheng realized that the family emergency… might indeed be significant.

He glanced at Chen Lanfen, picked up the bowl of noodles, and began eating. He didn’t savor it but, under the watchful eyes of his family, finished every last drop of the soup.

After finishing, Bai Nansheng set the bowl and chopsticks on the table, grabbed the towel to wipe his face roughly, and said, “Tell me, what’s going on?”

Bai Taotao sat curled up in a corner of the kang and watched the family without blinking.

Chen Lanfen finally began to cry, “Nansheng, I…”

Tang Liren said calmly, “Chen Lanfen’s due date is tomorrow, May 9th, and it’s a full-term pregnancy.”

Bai Nansheng froze. “Tomorrow? Full-term?!”

He stared at his mother suspiciously for a moment before his gaze slowly shifted to Chen Lanfen.

Chen Lanfen’s face was ashen.

In her previous life, Bai Taotao had been a fairy. The immortal world always had more men than women, and most people weren’t interested in romantic relationships. Ninety-nine percent of them were single. She had never seen anyone get pregnant before, so she knew absolutely nothing about pregnancy, childbirth, or due dates.

But a few days ago, she had heard her eldest sister-in-law say she was due to give birth on June 27th. As for her second sister-in-law, Chen Lanfen, her due date wasn’t for another two months—in August.

Today was May 8th.

So???

Bai Taotao heard her second brother speak coldly, “Chen Lanfen, whose child is it?”

Chen Lanfen burst into tears. “Nansheng, your mother is talking nonsense…”

As soon as she said this, everyone glared angrily at her.

Chen Lanfen was so frightened that she started hiccuping.

“It—it’s not full-term! Really, it’s not… this is a premature birth! Wuwuwu¹… babies can be born at six months. It’s mainly because I’m healthy, so the baby will be born… healthy too, and look just like a full-term baby!” she sobbed.

The room fell into silence.

Bai Taotao couldn’t help asking, “But you haven’t given birth yet? How can you be so sure your baby is premature and still as big as a full-term baby?”

Someone snickered softly.

Chen Lanfen: !!!

She lowered her head and touched her enormous belly, her face full of terror.

Bai Nansheng’s sharp features gave people the illusion of a “righteous youth,” especially when he didn’t speak.

In reality, he was a prickly young man with a bad temper and impulsive personality.

Tang Liren had tried her best to find him a good wife, but none of the girls could stand his domineering personality after spending a few days with him. Every relationship fell apart.

As time passed, his eldest brother Bai Dongsheng married and had children, and Tan Fenghui was already expecting her third baby…

Yet Bai Nansheng still hadn’t found a wife.

A few months ago, he and Chen Lanfen had sneaked into the cornfield and done something that humiliated the Bai family. Soon after, Chen Lanfen became pregnant. Even though Bai Zhengqian and Tang Liren didn’t like Chen Lanfen, they had no choice but to accept her.

Bai Zhengqian was furious. He hastily arranged their marriage and then sent Bai Nansheng off to join the army—hoping the military would smooth out his rough edges.

Who would’ve thought…

“Bang!”

Bai Nansheng slammed his palm against the table, the sound so loud it made everyone freeze.

Chen Lanfen was so scared she stopped crying and shrank into a corner, trembling.

Through gritted teeth, Bai Nansheng asked, “…Are you deaf? Do I have to cut off your ears so you can hear clearly?”

“Speak!!!”

He roared, making Chen Lanfen nearly jump out of her skin.

“Whose child is it?!” Bai Nansheng’s patience ran out, and his eyes flashed with a violent, menacing light.

Chen Lanfen stammered, “M-my brother’s…”

The Bai family gasped.

Bai Nansheng frowned. “Which brother?” Chen Lanfen had three brothers.

Chen Lanfen cried, “I—I don’t know!”

The Bai family gasped again!

Bai Nansheng stood up and stepped toward Chen Lanfen.

Tang Liren, afraid something might happen, hurriedly stopped him. “Son, what are you doing?”

Bai Nansheng sneered. “Didn’t you call me back to deal with this humiliation? Then I’ll… cut open her belly and see which of her brothers the baby looks like!”

Chen Lanfen was so terrified that she soiled herself. “No! No! Help! Help…”

“What right do you have to call for help?” Bai Nansheng roared. “You put this huge green hat² on my head, and you still have the face to cry for help? You seduced me into the cornfield when you were already pregnant with someone else’s child, didn’t you? Didn’t you?!”

Chen Lanfen sobbed uncontrollably. “I-I didn’t want to… it was—they forced me…”

“What did they force you to do?” Bai Nansheng demanded.

Chen Lanfen, her eyes filled with tears, looked at him weakly. “Nansheng, be reasonable. I—I’m just a weak woman. They forced me… Nansheng, I’m begging you. Please, after the baby is born, let’s move on and live a good life together, okay? If you don’t want to see this baby, I’ll send it away. I…”

Bai Nansheng pointed at her in rage. “Stop acting pitiful! If you really wanted to live a good life with me… would you have kept it until now?! You only started begging when my mom exposed you?! And you expect me to believe you want to live a good life with me?!”

“Chen Lanfen, I’m telling you! If you don’t want to say it, then shut up! I’m going to the Chen family for answers!” Bai Nansheng roared.

Chen Lanfen sniffled and cried softly, “They said I was adopted. At first, they were worried about the cost of marrying a wife, so they wanted me to marry my eldest brother. But after I kept miscarrying, they took me to the hospital in the neighboring county. The doctor said… even if I gave birth this time, I wouldn’t be able to have more children.

“Then they started hesitating. They didn’t want me to marry my eldest brother because they were afraid I’d have a daughter and couldn’t continue the family line.

“So they discussed it with Aunt Chen Juxiang. She was the one who suggested it. She said your parents were kind and well-off. Your dad is the village chief, an official. Your family has both money and power… so they agreed.

“They forced me to approach you again and again, and they said if I didn’t lure you into the cornfield… they’d beat me to death.”

Bai Nansheng’s anger boiled over. “I emptied my family’s savings to marry you… and it was all because of that old hag Chen Juxiang?! Hahaha… when I went to propose, your brothers were laughing so happily! Hahaha!”

Bai Nansheng laughed bitterly. “They were laughing at how stupid I was! Dragging my whole family down to support your Chen family! Even raising your child! You…”

Tang Liren rushed to hug Bai Nansheng’s waist. “Son! Son… calm down!”

“You want me to calm down after being humiliated and dragging my whole family into this mess? You calm down and show me how!” Bai Nansheng roared.

He was a strong young man, while Tang Liren was over fifty and couldn’t hold him back. He dragged her along step by step toward Chen Lanfen.

The Bai family panicked.

Bai Zhengqian couldn’t move, so he could only sit on the heated brick bed and scold Bai Nansheng for being disobedient. Bai Dongsheng stood in front of Chen Lanfen, repeatedly trying to persuade his brother to calm down. Bai Lili pulled Chen Lanfen aside to hide, while Bai Xingxing and Tan Fenghui each held one of the twins, Hongdou and Huangdou, and also stepped back.

But Bai Nansheng, blinded by rage, had eyes blazing with fury, as if he wanted to tear Chen Lanfen into pieces.

Bai Taotao couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

She rushed forward and gently grabbed her second brother’s hand, carefully transferring a tiny bit of spiritual energy to him.

—It could only be a tiny bit. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be terrible if she fainted again?

“Brother, don’t get angry. You can’t solve problems when you’re angry,” Bai Taotao said.

Her soft and sweet voice instantly calmed Bai Nansheng down.

Of course, he had no idea that it was actually because his sister had transferred a trace of spiritual energy to him.

“Dad, Mom, what do you think… we should do?” Bai Nansheng stood still, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Chen Lanfen. He still looked like he wanted to kill her, but at least he had stopped moving forward.

Tang Liren’s tears flowed as well. “Back then, when you insisted on marrying her, if you had just listened to me and your dad, would things have ever gotten this far?”

Bai Nansheng clenched his fists again.

Bai Taotao let out a quick “Ah!” and cried, “Brother, you’re hurting me!”

Bai Nansheng suddenly realized he was still holding his sister’s hand and immediately let go.

But by then, he had completely calmed down. “I was too foolish before. This time… Dad, Mom, whatever you decide, I’ll listen to you!”

Tang Liren sighed in relief. “Alright, then it’s settled! You said it—everything will go according to what I say!”

Bai Nansheng nodded grimly.

Tang Liren continued, “Right now, we’ll send Lanfen to the hospital immediately to prepare for the delivery. Then, we’ll call everyone to gather at the hospital! That includes your grandmother, the Chen family, and everyone from Production Teams One, Two, and Three!”

The Bai Clan members in Ruyi Village were mostly in Teams One, Two, and Three.

Bai Nansheng took a deep breath. “Alright!”

1. The sound of crying. ↩︎
2. To put a green hat on a guy’s head is to cuckold him. ↩︎

T/N: Ok we’ve arrived to the part where I stopped reading so I’ll finally start enjoying the new chapters with you guys!! Chen Juxiang is a real piece of work. You married a man with children, if you were going to hate your step kids maybe just don’t marry a man with kids then??!!!