232 New Life
Madam Qin said slowly to Li Yu, “Madam, my family has been operating an escort agency in Qingzhou since the time of my ancestors. The largest Guangsheng escort agency in Qingzhou was opened by my family. The marriage between me and County Lieutenant Yu was decided by my grandfather’s generation.”
“Originally, the two families were considered to be of equal status. Later on, his grandfather passed away, and the Yu family declined after his father took over. Seeing that his family’s life was difficult, my parents brought him to my house and taught him martial arts to support his studies. We grew up together under the same roof.”
“The first few years after we got married were quite blissful. He changed when he took the martial arts examination and my brother got someone to get him into the Qingzhou Prefecture to be a constable. He went to a brothel when I was pregnant with Xin’er. He then hooked up with Yang Meiniang and Yu Yan was conceived.”
“After the pregnancy was discovered, County Lieutenant Yu begged me to give Yang Meiniang a status on his account. I didn’t listen to my brother and sister-in-law and helped him redeem Yang Meiniang. I didn’t expect that I would be leading a wolf into the house.”
“In the first few years after I redeemed her, Yang Meiniang was humble and respectful to me. It was only when she gave birth to a son a few years ago that she felt that she had someone to rely on and started to stir up trouble at home. She even caused Lieutenant Yu to lose his job as the Chief Constable of Qingzhou.”
“A few months ago, when the post of County Lieutenant was available in Qingchuan, my brother pulled some strings and got him to Qingchuan. A few days after he arrived, he was persuaded to put her two children under my name. In a fit of anger, I stopped her and her two children from using my resources. Angered, she bribed Old Madam Yang at the stove to drug my tea. Madam, tell me, have I sought trouble and almost lost my life to her?”
So Lieutenant Yu was a phoenix man who lived off a woman! Li Yu looked at Madam Qin with some sympathy, but she couldn’t identify with her grievance. She didn’t know what she was planning now, so she could only comfort her. “Now you know her true colours, it’s not easy for her to harm you.”
Madam Qin shook her head and said with a bitter smile, “Madam, there’s no future. Yang Meiniang’s contract with the brothel is still in my hands, but she dared to plot against me. It can be seen that she’s vicious by nature. When my brother comes, I’ll get someone to send her to the government office with evidence. For the sake of my three children’s reputation, I’ve decided to split up with County Lieutenant Yu and never give him a chance to hurt me again.”
Li Yu thought for a moment and felt that this was a desperate but necessary measure. Not only could she protect her own interests, but she also did not have to live with disgusting people.
“The extent to which you went for your children is admirable.”
Madam Qin thought of the three children and revealed a loving gaze. “Madam, my children are very obedient and filial. They are the source of courage for me to live on. Besides, I gave birth to them and should think for their sake.”
Li Yu looked at Madam Qin’s benevolent eyes when she mentioned the children. She gently stroked her protruding abdomen and felt the baby in her stomach. Joy and happiness surged in her heart.
Li Yu had just sent Madam Qin away when Xiaoyu held her stomach and groaned. Yuniang said to Xiaoyu worriedly, “Xiaoyu, what’s wrong? Does your stomach hurt?”
Xiaoyu nodded. Aunt Zhang said anxiously, “Madam, Xiaoyu is about to give birth.”
Li Yu quickly walked up to Xiaoyu and saw that her face was pale from the pain. “Oh no, the midwife is waiting at the manor! Quickly send her to the room and bring over the things I prepared for her. Yu Niang, get someone to ride a horse and call the midwife.” “Yes.” Yu Niang turned around and ran to call for someone.
Li Yu said to Xiaoyu, “Xiaoyu, can you still walk?” Xiaoyu nodded. “Auntie Zhang, let’s help her in.” Li Yu and Auntie Zhang helped Xiaoyu, who was bent over in pain, into the room. Auntie Zhang took the tools Li Yu had prepared to the room and said to Xiaoyu, “Madam, I’ll cook a bowl of sugar eggs for Xiaoyu. She’ll only have the strength to give birth after eating them.”
Li Yu nodded in agreement. After a while, Xiaoyu said to Li Yu, “Madam, you’re still pregnant with Young Master! I’m not in so much pain now. You don’t have to watch over me.”
“There’s no need to be so polite. I’ll leave when Auntie Zhang comes.”
Auntie Zhang cooked the eggs for Xiaoyu to eat. Ruyi ran into the delivery room with the midwife anxiously. Xiaoyu looked at Ruyi with red eyes. “Ruyi, you’re here! I’m so scared!”
Ruyi held Xiaoyu’s hand and wiped the tears from her eyes. He comforted her gently, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll stay here with you.”
The midwife smiled and said to Ruyi, “Men should not be guarding the delivery room. I’ve been a midwife for decades. With me watching over her, you can rest assured.”
Xiaoyu endured the pain and said to Ruyi, “Ruyi, the midwife has already said that you can go out! I’m not afraid knowing that you’re here.” Ruyi wanted to say something, but he was chased out of the house by the midwife. After a while, Xiaoyu’s soft moans came from the room.
Seeing that Ruyi was restless, Li Yu also looked worriedly toward the delivery room. After an hour, Li Yu heard Xiaoyu’s increasingly frequent cries of pain. He saw Ruyi rushing into the delivery room in a hurry and was chased out by the midwife.
Li Yu’s heart tightened. Auntie Zhang said to Li Yu, “Madam, you don’t look good. You should go back to your room! Ruyi and I will stand guard.”
Li Yu also felt a little uncomfortable. “Alright, inform me immediately after she has given birth.”
After four hours, Xiaoyu had still not given birth. Zhou Jia returned from the government office and saw Ruyi pacing around the delivery room anxiously. He comforted him. “Don’t worry. Sir took Xiaoyu’s pulse and said that Xiaoyu and the child are very healthy.”
Li Yu returned to the room and sent the ginseng slices prepared by Mr. Wen to the door of the delivery room. She told Auntie Zhang, “Auntie Zhang, send the ginseng slices in and put them in Xiaoyu’s mouth.”
“Yes.” Aunt Zhang took the ginseng and placed it in Xiaoyu’s mouth. She said to Xiaoyu, “Xiaoyu, endure it. Don’t use up all your strength.”
The midwife also said, “Try harder. The child is already emerging. Some women have endured for a day and night before giving birth! You’re already considered fast.”
Xiaoyu gritted her teeth and cried. She felt that her stomach had suddenly become empty. She heard the child’s loud cries and the midwife smiled. “Congratulations, congratulations. You gave birth to a fat boy. He weighs seven catties!”
Xiaoyu stuck her head out and looked at the child that the midwife handed to Auntie Zhang. She lay back down exhaustedly. Auntie Zhang wiped the child clean and reported it to Xiaoyu. “Xiaoyu, take a look. This child is really handsome. He’s as good-looking as you!”
Li Yu and the others were outside the delivery room. When they heard the loud cry of a baby, they all smiled happily. Ruyi collapsed into a chair. “I’m finally relieved.”
Aunt Zhang carried the child to the door and said to them, “Come and take a look. She’s given birth to a fat boy. He doesn’t look like Ruyi but Xiaoyu.”
After Li Yu and Zhou Jia saw the baby, they nodded and smiled. “Yes! He’s a smart child. He knows that his mother is good-looking, so he chose a good-looking parent to take after.”
232 New Life
Madam Qin said slowly to Li Yu, “Madam, my family has been operating an escort agency in Qingzhou since the time of my ancestors. The largest Guangsheng escort agency in Qingzhou was opened by my family. The marriage between me and County Lieutenant Yu was decided by my grandfather’s generation.”
“Originally, the two families were considered to be of equal status. Later on, his grandfather passed away, and the Yu family declined after his father took over. Seeing that his family’s life was difficult, my parents brought him to my house and taught him martial arts to support his studies. We grew up together under the same roof.”
“The first few years after we got married were quite blissful. He changed when he took the martial arts examination and my brother got someone to get him into the Qingzhou Prefecture to be a constable. He went to a brothel when I was pregnant with Xin’er. He then hooked up with Yang Meiniang and Yu Yan was conceived.”
“After the pregnancy was discovered, County Lieutenant Yu begged me to give Yang Meiniang a status on his account. I didn’t listen to my brother and sister-in-law and helped him redeem Yang Meiniang. I didn’t expect that I would be leading a wolf into the house.”
“In the first few years after I redeemed her, Yang Meiniang was humble and respectful to me. It was only when she gave birth to a son a few years ago that she felt that she had someone to rely on and started to stir up trouble at home. She even caused Lieutenant Yu to lose his job as the Chief Constable of Qingzhou.”
“A few months ago, when the post of County Lieutenant was available in Qingchuan, my brother pulled some strings and got him to Qingchuan. A few days after he arrived, he was persuaded to put her two children under my name. In a fit of anger, I stopped her and her two children from using my resources. Angered, she bribed Old Madam Yang at the stove to drug my tea. Madam, tell me, have I sought trouble and almost lost my life to her?”
So Lieutenant Yu was a phoenix man who lived off a woman! Li Yu looked at Madam Qin with some sympathy, but she couldn’t identify with her grievance. She didn’t know what she was planning now, so she could only comfort her. “Now you know her true colours, it’s not easy for her to harm you.”
Madam Qin shook her head and said with a bitter smile, “Madam, there’s no future. Yang Meiniang’s contract with the brothel is still in my hands, but she dared to plot against me. It can be seen that she’s vicious by nature. When my brother comes, I’ll get someone to send her to the government office with evidence. For the sake of my three children’s reputation, I’ve decided to split up with County Lieutenant Yu and never give him a chance to hurt me again.”
Li Yu thought for a moment and felt that this was a desperate but necessary measure. Not only could she protect her own interests, but she also did not have to live with disgusting people.
“The extent to which you went for your children is admirable.”
Madam Qin thought of the three children and revealed a loving gaze. “Madam, my children are very obedient and filial. They are the source of courage for me to live on. Besides, I gave birth to them and should think for their sake.”
Li Yu looked at Madam Qin’s benevolent eyes when she mentioned the children. She gently stroked her protruding abdomen and felt the baby in her stomach. Joy and happiness surged in her heart.
Li Yu had just sent Madam Qin away when Xiaoyu held her stomach and groaned. Yuniang said to Xiaoyu worriedly, “Xiaoyu, what’s wrong? Does your stomach hurt?”
Xiaoyu nodded. Aunt Zhang said anxiously, “Madam, Xiaoyu is about to give birth.”
Li Yu quickly walked up to Xiaoyu and saw that her face was pale from the pain. “Oh no, the midwife is waiting at the manor! Quickly send her to the room and bring over the things I prepared for her. Yu Niang, get someone to ride a horse and call the midwife.” “Yes.” Yu Niang turned around and ran to call for someone.
Li Yu said to Xiaoyu, “Xiaoyu, can you still walk?” Xiaoyu nodded. “Auntie Zhang, let’s help her in.” Li Yu and Auntie Zhang helped Xiaoyu, who was bent over in pain, into the room. Auntie Zhang took the tools Li Yu had prepared to the room and said to Xiaoyu, “Madam, I’ll cook a bowl of sugar eggs for Xiaoyu. She’ll only have the strength to give birth after eating them.”
Li Yu nodded in agreement. After a while, Xiaoyu said to Li Yu, “Madam, you’re still pregnant with Young Master! I’m not in so much pain now. You don’t have to watch over me.”
“There’s no need to be so polite. I’ll leave when Auntie Zhang comes.”
Auntie Zhang cooked the eggs for Xiaoyu to eat. Ruyi ran into the delivery room with the midwife anxiously. Xiaoyu looked at Ruyi with red eyes. “Ruyi, you’re here! I’m so scared!”
Ruyi held Xiaoyu’s hand and wiped the tears from her eyes. He comforted her gently, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll stay here with you.”
The midwife smiled and said to Ruyi, “Men should not be guarding the delivery room. I’ve been a midwife for decades. With me watching over her, you can rest assured.”
Xiaoyu endured the pain and said to Ruyi, “Ruyi, the midwife has already said that you can go out! I’m not afraid knowing that you’re here.” Ruyi wanted to say something, but he was chased out of the house by the midwife. After a while, Xiaoyu’s soft moans came from the room.
Seeing that Ruyi was restless, Li Yu also looked worriedly toward the delivery room. After an hour, Li Yu heard Xiaoyu’s increasingly frequent cries of pain. He saw Ruyi rushing into the delivery room in a hurry and was chased out by the midwife.
Li Yu’s heart tightened. Auntie Zhang said to Li Yu, “Madam, you don’t look good. You should go back to your room! Ruyi and I will stand guard.”
Li Yu also felt a little uncomfortable. “Alright, inform me immediately after she has given birth.”
After four hours, Xiaoyu had still not given birth. Zhou Jia returned from the government office and saw Ruyi pacing around the delivery room anxiously. He comforted him. “Don’t worry. Sir took Xiaoyu’s pulse and said that Xiaoyu and the child are very healthy.”
Li Yu returned to the room and sent the ginseng slices prepared by Mr. Wen to the door of the delivery room. She told Auntie Zhang, “Auntie Zhang, send the ginseng slices in and put them in Xiaoyu’s mouth.”
“Yes.” Aunt Zhang took the ginseng and placed it in Xiaoyu’s mouth. She said to Xiaoyu, “Xiaoyu, endure it. Don’t use up all your strength.”
The midwife also said, “Try harder. The child is already emerging. Some women have endured for a day and night before giving birth! You’re already considered fast.”
Xiaoyu gritted her teeth and cried. She felt that her stomach had suddenly become empty. She heard the child’s loud cries and the midwife smiled. “Congratulations, congratulations. You gave birth to a fat boy. He weighs seven catties!”
Xiaoyu stuck her head out and looked at the child that the midwife handed to Auntie Zhang. She lay back down exhaustedly. Auntie Zhang wiped the child clean and reported it to Xiaoyu. “Xiaoyu, take a look. This child is really handsome. He’s as good-looking as you!”
Li Yu and the others were outside the delivery room. When they heard the loud cry of a baby, they all smiled happily. Ruyi collapsed into a chair. “I’m finally relieved.”
Aunt Zhang carried the child to the door and said to them, “Come and take a look. She’s given birth to a fat boy. He doesn’t look like Ruyi but Xiaoyu.”
After Li Yu and Zhou Jia saw the baby, they nodded and smiled. “Yes! He’s a smart child. He knows that his mother is good-looking, so he chose a good-looking parent to take after.”
