Chapter 9

Since she had decided to return and live a good life with Li Chen in this lifetime, Shen Yiyi naturally had to maintain good relationships as well. She then said: “Mom, we are having a meal right now. Would you like to stay and eat with us?”  

Upon hearing this, Mother Li instinctively glanced at the dishes on the table in the main hall. Of course, besides being shocked by the abundance of food, what startled her even more was the multiple sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table.  

This… from the looks of it, was her second daughter-in-law eating together with her second son and the Three Baos?  

Mother Li was so stunned that her mind could not process it for a moment. She instinctively replied: “No, the food at the old house is already prepared…”  

The next second, she suddenly widened her eyes and stared at Shen Yiyi. “You… what did you just call me?”  

Not only Mother Li but also Eldest Sister-in-law Li, who had yet to leave, and Li Chen were all equally shocked.  

“Mom.” Shen Yiyi responded under their gazes, looking at them with a puzzled expression. “Isn’t that right? I am already married to Li Chen. You are his Mom. Shouldn’t I call you Mom?”  

Yes, yes, that was how it should be.  

But she had never called her that before!  

Mother Li looked at Shen Yiyi with a complicated expression.  

In the past, Shen Yiyi had even despised Li Chen, let alone acknowledged her as his Mom.  

When Shen Yiyi had first married into the family, Mother Li had felt that her son had wronged her and had wanted to step forward to offer some words of comfort. However, Shen Yiyi had avoided her as if she were the plague.  

Who would have thought that one day, she would actually call her “Mom”?  

Mother Li could not help but look at her son, her bewildered gaze seeming to ask, Did your wife get possessed by something unclean?  

Li Chen also looked at the woman before him, his expression just as complicated.  

This was indeed his wife—Li Chen was certain of that. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were clear as water yet deep as an abyss. When she spoke, the corners of her eyes would lift slightly, carrying a complex mix of liveliness and cold aloofness that no one else could imitate.

So, what exactly was she trying to do?  

Shen Yiyi naturally noticed their confusion, so she simply said: “I know I was reckless in the past. Mom, from now on, I will live a good life with Brother Chen.”  

“Brother Chen, don’t you agree?” Shen Yiyi looked at Li Chen.  

Li Chen stared at her. “You’d better truly think that way.”  

Otherwise, if she was still planning on divorcing him and running back to that Lin bastard, she was bound to be disappointed.  

He would never divorce her.  

“Mm!” Shen Yiyi responded. She knew that Li Chen still did not believe her, but she would take it one step at a time.  

She then turned to Mother Li. “Mom…”  

Mother Li had spent little time with Shen Yiyi and naturally did not understand her as well as Li Chen did.  

Seeing how sincere she seemed, and with no sign of deception in her expression, Mother Li was instantly overjoyed. “Yiyi, I’m really happy to hear that. Li Chen has wronged you in the past and made you suffer so much, but I’ve seen with my own eyes how much he has changed over the years. He must know he was wrong. From now on, the two of you should live well together…”  

Mother Li rambled on and on, making Shen Yiyi feel a little awkward.  

The reason she had married Li Chen, according to the original story, was that she had wanted to consummate her relationship with Lin Jiadong.

However, she had mistakenly ended up with Li Chen instead and had no choice but to marry him.  

To clear herself of blame, she had claimed that Li Chen had forced himself on her. Given Li Chen’s former reputation as a “tyrant.” everyone had believed her—including Mother Li.  

It was she who had wronged Li Chen.  

Thinking of this, she wanted to explain. “Mom, actually…”

“Mom, don’t worry. As long as Yiyi is willing to live a good life with me, I will treat her well and make up for the mistakes I made in the past.” Li Chen interrupted Shen Yiyi.  

Shen Yiyi looked at Li Chen, but the man did not look at her.  

Mother Li was overjoyed upon hearing this. “Good, good! Then you two hurry back and finish your meal. I won’t stay and eat with you—I’ll be heading back now.”  

“Grandmother, are you really not eating with us? Mom made lots and lots of meat.” Da Bao asked.

Mother Li often took care of them and treated them well, so he remembered her kindness.  

Mother Li’s face was full of warmth. “Grandmother won’t eat. I’ll leave it for my Three Baos. Eat more meat so you can grow taller.”  

“Then, Mom, wait a moment.” Shen Yiyi called after Mother Li. She then returned to the main hall, scooped half a bowl of cured meat and two pieces of fish, and handed them to Mother Li. “Mom, take these back and eat them with Dad.”  

As for the others, there was nothing left for them.  

“Oh, how could I?” Mother Li saw the amount of meat she had taken and immediately clasped her hands behind her back, urging her to take it back for the Three Baos.  

Shen Yiyi directly grabbed her hand and firmly placed the food in her palm. “The fish was caught by the children’s Dad, and the cured meat was sent to me by my family. I made too much, and it’s a bit salty. The Three Baos are still young, so eating too much wouldn’t be good for them. Just take it and eat it.”  

“Yes, yes, Grandmother, just take it.” Er Bao chimed in.  

Since they insisted, Mother Li accepted it and waved her hand. “Alright, then. You all hurry back and eat. I’ll head back too—I still have work to do later.”  

With that, Mother Li called Eldest Sister-in-law Li and left.  

Shen Yiyi met Eldest Sister-in-law Li’s gaze, nodded slightly without saying anything, and then turned to the Three Baos. Looking at Li Chen, she said: “Brother Chen, let’s go back and eat.”

Li Chen looked at her with a complicated expression. Following her steps back to the main hall, he remained silent for a moment before stiffly saying: “Thank you.”  

Shen Yiyi knew he was thanking her for giving the meat to Mother Li, so she simply nodded.  

Since he treated her so well, she naturally had to be kind to his parents too.  

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Meanwhile, at the old house, Jiang Ailing returned, carrying a wailing Li Tiezhu in her arms, startling the entire family.  

Li Sanhong, irritated by the incessant crying, snapped: “Crying, crying, crying! You’re already so big—who hit you?”  

“And you have the nerve to say that?” Jiang Ailing scolded. “Wasn’t it your wonderful second brother? You didn’t even bother going over to help your son, and now you’re sitting here making sarcastic remarks. Are you even Li Tiezhu’s real Dad?”  

“My second brother?” Li Sanhong was shocked. “Why would my second brother hit Tiezhu?”  

“That man is so fierce, who knows—”  

“Jiang Ailing!” Mother Li’s stern voice rang out from afar. “What nonsense are you spouting again? Do you think this old woman doesn’t know what’s going on?”  

Jiang Ailing immediately lost her nerve and mumbled: “You always favor your second son. Your eldest grandson was nearly beaten to death, and you didn’t even say a word!”  

Mother Li stepped inside, carrying the bowl of meat. Just as she heard this, she swung her foot and kicked Jiang Ailing. “You wretched thing! Your son bullied Xiao Bao, and you didn’t bother disciplining him. And yet, you have the audacity to bring him over to settle scores?”  

Jiang Ailing took the kick without protest, holding back her anger and saying nothing more.  

Meanwhile, Li Tiezhu, who had been crying nonstop, suddenly caught a whiff of the fragrant meat. Turning his head, he saw that his grandmother was holding a bowl of meat. In an instant, he jumped to his feet and snatched the bowl right out of Mother Li’s hands. “Meat! I want to eat meat!”  

Caught off guard, Mother Li watched as Li Tiezhu darted away in the blink of an eye. She quickly called out: “Tiezhu! Leave some for Goudan and your grandfather!”