Chapter 26: The Stepmother Gave Birth

Young Master Li watched as Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan left, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. With a cold snort, he turned and stormed back inside.

Inside the house, Liu Lanzhi was lying on the table, sobbing. As she cried, she complained, “Mother, this is all your fault! If it weren’t for you, would I have ended up marrying into the Li family?”

Liu Shi sat beside her, trying to console her. “Silly child, what’s so bad about the Li family? Look at you—if you hadn’t married into the Li family, would you be wearing such fine clothes and adorning yourself with such exquisite hairpins?”

As she spoke, she reached out and touched the golden hairpin in her daughter’s hair.

Liu Lanzhi continued to sob. “If you ask me, I would’ve been better off marrying into the Zhou family. The Zhous may be poor, but Zhou Ruiyuan is a handsome man, and he treats his wife with such warmth and care. That’s much better than the suffering I endure in the Li household.”

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. “Mother, you have no idea! I’ve only been married for three days, and my husband is already eager to take a concubine! How am I supposed to live like this?”

Liu Shi tried to reassure her, “It’s normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines. As long as you give Young Master Li a healthy son, you’ll secure your place in the family.”

But Liu Lanzhi only cried harder.

“Hmph! If you think marrying me was such a mistake, then I’ll write you a divorce letter right now!”

Young Master Li strode into the room, his face dark with fury. He had overheard everything from outside.

Liu Lanzhi immediately stopped crying. If she were truly divorced, how would she ever find another husband?

She quickly sat up and softened her tone. “Husband, I was only speaking out of anger. If you want to take a concubine, then go ahead.”

Young Master Li let out a cold snort. “That’s more like it.”

Seeing that the two had reconciled somewhat, Liu Shi let out a sigh of relief. She quickly turned toward the kitchen and said, “Son-in-law, let’s not bother with them anymore. Come, let’s have dinner.”

Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt a warm liquid trickling down her legs.

Clutching her stomach, she let out a shrill cry. “Ah! My stomach!”

Originally, Du Dajiang was still feeling melancholy, but upon hearing Liu Shi’s cries, he immediately rushed over.

“Dear wife, what’s wrong?”

Liu Shi clutched her stomach and groaned, “I think I’m about to give birth!”

Upon hearing this, Du Dajiang panicked. He quickly supported Liu Shi into the house, saying, “You go in first, I’ll go get the midwife right away!”

With that, he hurriedly ran off.

Young Master Li glanced at the puddle of water on the floor, his face turning pale. “What bad luck! Coming back to visit the family and encountering something like this!”

With that, he lost his appetite and immediately flung his sleeves, leaving without eating.

“Husband!” Liu Lanzhi called out after him. She looked at her mother, who was about to give birth, then hesitated for a moment before ultimately deciding to follow Young Master Li.

“Zhi’er! Zhi’er!” Liu Shi lay alone on the bed, crying out in pain.

By the time Du Dajiang returned with the midwife, Liu Shi had already fainted from the pain.

Half an hour later, the child was born.

The midwife looked at the newborn in her hands and was utterly shocked. “Heavens! What kind of retribution is this? How could you give birth to such a child?!”

“What’s wrong with my son?” Du Dajiang anxiously rushed over to see.

The midwife held the child awkwardly and said hesitantly, “Dajiang, this is not a son—it’s a daughter. And…”

“And what?!” Du Dajiang ignored the midwife’s hesitation, immediately pulling open the swaddle to take a look. What he saw made his whole body tremble—

The tiny baby had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.

In the village, it was believed that being born with six fingers was a sign of misfortune. This child not only had six fingers but six toes as well—an omen of the worst kind.

Du Dajiang was completely stunned, as if struck by lightning. He didn’t even bother to hold the baby. Instead, he turned to the weak and exhausted Liu Shi and furiously berated her, “When you first got together with me, you swore you’d give me a son! Look at what you’ve given birth to! After all these years of treating you well, this is how you repay me?!”

Liu Shi had just given birth, her body weak and drained, but upon hearing his angry scolding, she suddenly found the strength to grab the child and take a look.

When she saw the six fingers, she was completely dumbfounded. “No! This isn’t my child! My baby was supposed to be a boy! This wretched girl isn’t mine!”