Chapter 3: Leverage

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Jiang Ruochu had given birth to a grandson for her, hadn’t she?

And now she was carrying another one!

But the problem was, if she wanted to openly and legitimately be a grandmother, she had to first get Jiang Ruochu to agree to divorce Lu Yusheng. Otherwise, the child Jiang Ruochu was carrying would end up like the last one—as an illegitimate child.

That previous illegitimate child, Qiangqiang, could be adopted by Lu Yusheng’s third sister, be called her grandmother in public, and privately, she could still pamper him like a proper grandson.

So her demand that Lu Yusheng kneel and beg her wasn’t without reason.

She had caught him at a weak spot, giving her direct control over Jiang Ruochu’s life.

After all, Jiang Ruochu’s pregnancy couldn’t be hidden for long.

The ones anxious for her to sign the divorce were them, not her.

As for Lu Yusheng, if he truly loved Jiang Ruochu, then for the sake of his beloved woman and his son, the saying “a son under your knees has gold” should just be empty words.

If he wanted something from her, he would need to show the proper attitude of someone begging.

Not wanting to kneel? Too bad—kneel anyway.

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“No. This house isn’t yours,” Lu Yusheng’s mother said coldly. “Shen Zhiyi, you’re not only a labor reform inmate, but a woman with a heart of a viper. Our Lu family is upright and proper—we cannot tolerate a lawless daughter-in-law like you.”

“Upright and proper?” Shen Zhiyi smiled. “If your family were truly upright, where would Lu Yusheng have the audacity to flirt with another woman while already married?”

“Mom, if the Lu family were truly upright, Dad should have applied the family law—first beat Lu Yusheng until he’s all bruised, then throw Teacher Jiang into the reservoir. If that could be done, I’d be willing to sign the divorce with Lu Yusheng. He wouldn’t even have to kneel.”

The Lu family and Jiang Ruochu’s faces darkened.

Especially Lu Yusheng. He never expected Shen Zhiyi would openly confront him and Ruochu in front of the entire village.

“Zhiyi, you’ve misunderstood. Brother Yusheng and I are completely innocent. We grew up together, and our families have always been close—that’s all.” Jiang Ruochu stepped forward, eyes red, pitiful and weak, trying to explain to Shen Zhiyi.

“Is that so?” Shen Zhiyi didn’t bother responding. “Do you dare to go with me to the hospital for a gynecological check-up right now?”

As she spoke, her eyes tracked Jiang Ruochu’s belly.

“To prove to everyone how ‘innocent’ you really are with Lu Yusheng, hmm?”

“….”

Jiang Ruochu’s tear, hanging pitifully at the corner of her eye, hadn’t fully fallen, and Shen Zhiyi’s words stunned her.

Her rationality evaporated. Her scalp tingled, her back went cold. What did Shen Zhiyi mean by this?

She didn’t dare touch her own belly in response to Shen Zhiyi’s gaze.

Shen Zhiyi had been in labor reform for three years. Not once had Lu Yusheng or his family visited her in Nancheng Prison, so they could not possibly know this.

Currently, only she, Lu Yusheng, and her mother knew about it. Not even Lu Yusheng’s mother had been told.

Her mother had advised, “Don’t tell anyone yet; maybe you can get more betrothal gifts from the Lu family.”

If she revealed it now, the dowry might be halved.

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“Why? Afraid?” Shen Zhiyi stepped closer, pressing the issue.

Lu Yusheng couldn’t stand seeing Shen Zhiyi bully Jiang Ruochu, so he stepped forward to shield the delicate woman behind him. “Shen Zhiyi, don’t go too far. Do you know what day it is? Are you trying to cause trouble?”

“Hah, quite the hero, huh, Lu Yusheng. Back then, when I—your wife—was framed and sent to labor reform, you, as my husband, never once stood up for me. Tell me, were you involved in that framing too?”

“Shen Zhiyi, what nonsense are you talking? Who framed you? There’s eyewitness testimony and physical evidence—you can’t deny it. Be grateful Tongtong is safe. If anything had happened to her, you’d never have gotten out.” Lu Yusheng growled, furious.

He was utterly shocked. Shen Zhiyi actually had the audacity to spout this in public.

Did she not realize the occasion? How could she openly bring up old grievances in front of the entire village?

Not leaving anyone any face, huh?

“Is that so?” Shen Zhiyi arched a brow. “But what can be done? Lu Yusheng, I’m out now. In the past, no one defended me, but now, I have myself. I can defend myself.”

“Hmph, the case has been judged. You’ve completed labor reform and are out. How do you plan to defend yourself?” Lu Yusheng snorted coldly.

He couldn’t believe a labor reform inmate, a nobody rural woman, could even have the ability to do this.

And why would she come to him for justice?

The man who arrested her was Zhou Muxuan, the one who judged her was the Nancheng court. If she had the capability, she could seek justice from them. Why come to his home and challenge him?

“Dr. Lu, you’ve studied all these years—you can’t have studied in vain. Maybe the illiterate villagers of Lu Village don’t know, but surely you understand what it means to overturn a case, right?” Shen Zhiyi said.

“You want to overturn the case?” Lu Yusheng’s expression changed abruptly. He turned to Zhou Muxuan. “Officer Zhou, you’re allowing her to act this way?”

“Dr. Lu, according to regulations, Comrade Shen Zhiyi has that right,” Zhou Muxuan replied, entirely in a businesslike tone.

“No, Officer Zhou, how does she have this right? Back then, there was eyewitness testimony, physical evidence—it was a solid case. How could she possibly overturn it?” Jiang Ruochu panicked, face flushed and voice sharp.

“Follow procedure. First, apply. Wait for approval. If the higher authorities agree, then follow the normal process,” Zhou Muxuan answered calmly, unaware of Jiang Ruochu’s anxiety.

Jiang Ruochu was stunned. Three years of labor reform had ended, and the case had been finalized. It could really be reopened?

“Jiang Ruochu, who pushed Tongtong into the reservoir? We’ll talk about that later.”

“….”

Looking at Shen Zhiyi’s cold, warning-filled eyes, Jiang Ruochu felt a sudden chill, as if the warmth of the sun had vanished.

Shen Zhiyi still refused to admit she had pushed Tongtong? So stubborn?

No. She simply couldn’t produce evidence that she hadn’t been at the reservoir that day—if she could, she would have done it three years ago.

Once Jiang Ruochu realized this, she steadied herself, no longer panicking.

She couldn’t believe Shen Zhiyi could really overturn an ironclad case.

And if Shen Zhiyi succeeded, the ones in trouble would be many—starting with Zhou Muxuan by her side.

She couldn’t believe he would actually help her overturn the case.

Perhaps he was only pacifying her, so she wouldn’t cause trouble, deceiving her?

If she believed Zhou Muxuan like that, she would be as foolish as she was three years ago.

And this Shen Zhiyi—did she still need to fear her?