Chapter 113: Limitless Pampering

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Limitless Pampering

Yao Yuzhen was making a scene to stand up for her. If she were to shrink back and act like it had nothing to do with her, wouldn’t that be cold-hearted?

Besides, without Yao Yuzhen’s support, she couldn’t even have a bowl of hot soup in peace in the Shen family.

The moment Shen Songyao walked in the door, the looks the elders gave her immediately soured.

She wasn’t a fool. Why would she eagerly go over there just to be disliked?

She knew better than anyone who the pillar of support was and who needed to be revered.

After packing their things neatly, the mother and daughter took a taxi straight to the Shen family’s Western-style house.

But when they arrived, they found the house was deathly quiet. There wasn’t a soul in sight.

It turned out that Shen Zhenwu’s family was all busy at the courtyard house.

Yao Yuzhen and Shen Shuangshuang just waited in the living room until the sky was completely dark.

In the end, it was Shen Shuangshuang who made two bowls of dried noodles, and the two of them made do to fill their stomachs.

After eating, Yao Yuzhen didn’t move from her spot, simply sinking into the sofa.

Shen Shuangshuang flipped through the TV channels for a while, but finding it boring, she whispered.

"Mom, I’m heading up."

Yao Yuzhen answered softly.

Shen Zhenwu and the others returned late, not getting home until almost nine.

As the car turned into the courtyard, Shen Rongdan spotted the living room light on and muttered casually.

"Huh? Why is a light on? Did someone forget to turn it off?"

Aunt Zhang immediately chimed in.

"Impossible! I checked every room three times before I left. I flipped all the switches off!"

Shen Rongjing, however, adjusted his glasses and said coolly.

"Mom and Shuangshuang are probably back."

Beside him, the smile on Guo Shushu’s face instantly faded.

She disliked Shen Shuangshuang from the bottom of her heart, and by extension, she always felt something was off about Yao Yuzhen, too.

’She spoils her child too much. Her indulgence knows no bounds.’

They pushed open the door and saw that it was indeed Yao Yuzhen sitting there.

But before anyone could even say hello, she glanced up at them, then stood up and went upstairs without a word.

The group stood blocked in the entryway, looking at each other, all rendered speechless.

Only after the sound of Yao Yuzhen’s footsteps disappeared around the second-floor landing did Shen Zhenwu speak in a low voice.

"It’s late. Everyone, wash up and go to bed."

Seeing the situation, Shen Rongdan and the others immediately shut their mouths and tiptoed upstairs.

Shen Zhenwu stood in place, pondering for a few seconds, but in the end, he also turned and went back to the master bedroom.

To be honest, Yao Yuzhen was a little unnerved.

’Spend the rest of my days as a meek and subservient wife in the Shen family?’

’She’d rather tear up their marriage certificate.’

’But if she really divorced Shen Zhenwu...’

Her heart, long hardened by the trials of life, actually trembled slightly.

’To cast off this marriage that had shackled her for half her life?’

’It seemed...’

’...like it wouldn’t be such a bad thing.’

But before she left, there was one thing she had to take care of first.

The next morning, when Yao Yuzhen was heading out, everyone in the Shen family was gone except for Shen Rongdan, who was still sitting in the downstairs living room.

Song Yao’s family reunion banquet was long over, and he was due to return to Ning City in a few days.

Before leaving, he just wanted to spend a little more time with his mom.

He had always craved whatever he lacked growing up. And the more he had gone without a mother’s love, the more he yearned for it.

"Mom!"

The moment Yao Yuzhen appeared, Shen Rongdan shot to his feet and called out.

She glanced at him and gave a perfunctory hum of acknowledgment.

’If this had been before?’

’She would have flipped the table long ago.’

’But she couldn’t do that now.’

’She had to grasp at every last straw to completely pull out that thorn in her side, Shen Songyao.’

"Are you going to the courtyard house later?" she suddenly asked.

Shen Rongdan had been holding back a stomachful of words, but when Yao Yuzhen brought up the courtyard house on her own, something clicked in his head. Thinking his mother had finally remembered Song Yao, his heart warmed, and he nodded eagerly.

"Yes! I’m definitely going!"

"Mom, Song Yao is pregnant."

He was smiling so wide his eyes narrowed into slits, eager to share the news.

Those words hit Yao Yuzhen like a ton of bricks.

She suddenly remembered that rainy day. Song Yao had just turned one month old, wrapped in an old swaddling cloth.

Her little arms and legs were soft, her skin a faint pink.

When she was taken away, she wasn’t old enough to recognize anyone, yet she cried her heart out, her tiny hand clutching tightly to Yao Yuzhen’s thumb.

That day, she had personally pried Song Yao’s fingers open, one by one.

The can of milk powder, the ration coupons for rice and cloth, the money...

She had stuffed it all into Ruan Yongxing’s arms.

She had said drily.

"Make sure she eats well. The money... I’ll send it on time every year."

Ruan Yongxing looked at her and asked hesitantly.

"How about we forget it? Shuangshuang is with me, and even though times are tight, at least she’s alive and kicking. This child..."

She immediately turned her back to the door.

"Just take her. The countryside isn’t the King of Hell Hall. With all this, and the milk powder, is she going to starve to death?"

The crying grew fainter and more distant, until it was gone.

When she turned back around, they were long gone.

She collapsed onto the concrete floor as if her bones had been removed, unable to move for a long time.

Finally, she dragged herself back to the Shen family and forced out just four words.

"The child... is lost."

It felt like it had only happened yesterday.

And now, today, Shen Rongdan was cheerfully telling her that the girl who was taken away all those years ago now had a new life growing inside her.

Yao Yuzhen’s nose wrinkled in disgust as she blurted out.

"Pregnant at such a young age? Has she no shame?"

Shen Rongdan was stunned speechless. He stared blankly at his mother, wondering if he had heard her correctly.

Yao Yuzhen also realized her words had been too harsh and turned to look at the windowsill.

"In my entire life, I have never seen anyone become a mother at twenty."

"Never mind anyone else, just look at Shuangshuang. Where’s her boyfriend? She doesn’t even have a prospect in sight!"

"But her? She gets married quick and pregnant even quicker. This..."

The word ’slut’ almost slipped through her teeth.

"Do you think she wanted to?!"

Shen Rongdan suddenly roared.

Yao Yuzhen froze, her breath catching for half a second.

In all his life, this was the first time her son had ever yelled at her like that.

Shen Rongdan’s eyes were red-rimmed, his voice trembling.

"It wasn’t her choice! That family treated her badly—really badly, Mom..."

His throat tightened, and his shoulders slumped slightly.

"They pulled her out of school in the second grade. Once she came of age, they took the highest bride price they could get and sold her off to Li Hanchen’s family."

"She never even got to wear the new clothes made from the fabric Li Hanchen’s family gave her. Her relatives over there snatched it all and gave it to their own daughters and daughters-in-law."

"They even demanded the small allowance Li Hanchen sent, taking every last cent."

"The public housing unit assigned to her is now occupied by that family’s son and his whole family, with kids running all over the place."

"Believe it or not, the first time I saw her, she was so thin she was like a skeleton. I can’t even imagine how hard her life was! If she hadn’t met Li Hanchen, her family would have traded her like livestock for a bride price or to pay off a debt—who knows where she would’ve been sold. So no, this was absolutely not something she wanted!"

"Mom, how could you... how could you say that about her!"

After hearing Shen Rongdan’s tirade, Yao Yuzhen’s brow furrowed, and her expression suddenly darkened.

’She didn’t go to school?’

’And she was almost sold?’

’Didn’t I send a lot of money back every year?’

’It wasn’t just for living expenses—it was supposed to cover her tuition, too!’

But right now, she couldn’t be bothered to dwell on the details.

Shen Rongdan had yelled at her, and a knot formed in her chest.

’Her own son had actually talked back to her?’

’How could she maintain her dignity?’

Her face immediately hardened, and she threw out an icy retort.

"What did I say that was wrong? At her age, she’s already wrapped up with a man? And she’s pregnant? Is that what you call self-respect?"

"And she claims she’s been wronged? If she was really pushed to the brink, why didn’t I see her bash her head against a wall and die?"

"There are ropes, there are wells, and the river is right at the village entrance. She could have just jumped."