Chapter 27 The stepmother’s bad luck began.

Liu Shi tossed the newborn baby aside without even sparing it a glance.

Du Dajiang stood nearby, trembling with rage. “This child came from your womb, so it’s yours! Or are you thinking of abandoning it?”

Liu Shi clutched her blanket and burst into loud sobs. “The doctor clearly said it was a boy! How did it turn into a girl? Heaven must have made a mistake!”

The only reason Du Dajiang had been lenient with her was because of the child she was carrying. Now that the baby was born—and worse, a girl, which he had never wanted—he saw no reason to continue treating Liu Shi well.

His voice turned harsh. “Whether you raise this child or not is up to you. If you don’t want to, I’ll take her to my elder sister!”

Liu Shi glared at the baby with deep resentment and gritted her teeth. “Then take her away!”

Du Dajiang was already furious. He immediately picked up the baby and turned to leave. Before stepping out, he added coldly, “And don’t just lie there in bed! Get up and do some work!”

Liu Shi was stunned. Her eyes were red with anger as she glared at Du Dajiang. “You heartless man! Can’t you see I just gave birth? I haven’t even started my postpartum recovery!”

Du Dajiang let out a disdainful snort. “You gave birth to a girl—what’s the point of a recovery period? Stop lazing around! The crops in the field need harvesting!”

“Du Dajiang! This isn’t how you treated me when you married me!” Liu Shi screamed at him in fury.

Du Dajiang shot her a fierce glare. “You were the one who insisted on marrying me! And now you regret it? Too late!”

With that, Du Dajiang kicked the door in frustration, holding the baby tightly as he stormed out.

His elder sister, Du Damei, lived in Changliu Village. She had been married for years but had never had children. She had always been kind to Du Wanchun, so when Du Wanchun got married, Du Dajiang deliberately didn’t inform his sister, fearing she would cause trouble.

Now, carrying the newborn, he decided to take the child to his sister.

Meanwhile, Liu Shi lay in bed, her face pale with rage, cursing at him. “Du Dajiang, just you wait! I’ll make you pay for this!”

Du Dajiang couldn’t be bothered to listen to her ranting. He found an ox cart, climbed on with the newborn, and left.

Liu Shi, having just given birth, lay alone in bed, helpless. No matter how much she cried out, no one came to help.

The midwife who had assisted with the delivery couldn’t stand it any longer and spoke up in her defense. “Your husband is truly heartless. How could he abandon you like this right after childbirth?”

Liu Shi shot her a glare. “Mind your own business! He’s my husband, not yours. Now that you’ve done your job, get lost!”

The midwife’s face turned red with anger. She pointed at Liu Shi and snapped, “Serves you right!”

“Get out!” Liu Shi grabbed a pillow from the bed and hurled it at her.

The midwife had had enough. Without another word, she turned and ran out of the house.

Liu Shi snorted coldly. Forcing herself up from the bed, she muttered, “Du Dajiang, I don’t need you. I can survive just fine on my own!”

Determined, she struggled to her feet and made her way to the kitchen to prepare some brown sugar water.

But luck was not on her side. As soon as she stepped out the door, she nearly tripped and fell. Then, while trying to light the stove, she burned her fingers. And when she went to pour the sugar, it spilled all over the floor.

After all that effort, she didn’t get a single sip of brown sugar water, and the kitchen was left in a complete mess.

Her body ached terribly, forcing her to return to her room to rest. Still, she grumbled under her breath, “What kind of terrible luck is this?”

Ever since Du Wanchun got married, Liu Shi had been facing constant misfortune. She had thought it would pass in a few days, but little did she know—this was only the beginning.

Meanwhile, in Changliu Village, Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruizhen made it home before lunch.

Seeing them back so early, Zhou Daniu immediately went up to them, concerned. “What happened? Did that wicked stepmother of yours bully you again? She didn’t even let you stay for a meal?”

Du Wanchun chuckled. “It’s not that she didn’t invite us to eat—it’s that we didn’t want to eat what she cooked.”

Saying this, she helped Zhou Ruizhen sit down. He had forced himself to stand several times that day, and she couldn’t bear to let him strain himself any further.

Zhou Daniu quickly turned to fetch the food, reminding Du Wanchun as she walked, “Wanchun, don’t ever be afraid of that vile stepmother of yours again. If she dares to bully you, I’ll beat her so bad she’ll be crying for her ancestors! And as for your father, if he won’t love you, then I will!”