Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 43_1

Chapter 43: 43_1

Looking at the wet fish basket, Nanzhi was inspired. She had seen the uncles in the village fishing for lobsters and crabs before. They would usually take two long strips of bamboo and cross them over a piece of cotton cloth. Then, they would tie a string to the bamboo strips and sew a piece of meat onto the center of the cotton with needle and thread. After putting this in the water and waiting for two hours, they would be able to catch many crabs and lobsters.

With a plan in mind, Nanzhi went to rummage around and prepare the necessary items.

Realizing it was noon already, she decided to cook. After glancing at her blissfully content dog, Gougou, Nanzhi entered the kitchen.

The only food left in the house was chestnuts and potatoes. Given the weather that day, Nanzhi decided to make coarse grain pancakes and river clam soup.

Knowing that clam meat can be tough, Nanzhi carefully pounded it with the back of a knife before coating it with flour for later use.

As the water in the pot began to boil, Nanzhi added some salt and sesame oil for seasoning before sliding the clam meat into the pot.

After the soup was ready and all the pancakes were cooked, Nanzhi wiped the sweat off her face and called Gougou over to eat.

After they finished eating and she had coaxed Gougou to sleep, Nanzhi took a pair of scissors and started sizing up some old clothes. She pondered for a while before selecting a grey, coarse cotton blouse. The sleeves and collar of the blouse were torn, but she could salvage two same-sized pieces of fabric from the sides.

After about an hour of fussing, two rudimentary lobster traps were finally ready.

All she needed to do now was to sew on the leftover clam meat that she had kept from earlier. Once Gougou woke up, they could put these traps in the river. Once night had fallen, they would see if the traps worked or not.

If this really worked, she and Gougou wouldn’t have to venture out under the fierce sun anymore.

After tidying up, Nanzhi laid down to rest.

Meanwhile, over at the Li family compound, Ms. Wu was on her knees, sobbing.

The Li family’s house was built over thirty years ago by the old Li couple when they settled in Lihua Village, and hadn’t undergone extensive repairs since then. When the earthquake occurred, the house had collapsed completely. The two rooms now accommodating the old Li couple were nothing more than makeshift shelters in the yard.

Now, the old Li man’s face turned as dark as a burnt pot. In the morning, Ms. Wu insisted on taking Shi Tou to fish in the river, claiming it’d be for his nourishment. He thought she was just sucking up to him so she wouldn’t be abandoned by his eldest son. But instead of any fish, Shen Dazhu showed up proclaiming his grandson was nearly drowned to death.

Initially, he didn’t believe it, but Shen Dazhu insisted that he come along with the consultation fee to fetch Shi Tou, leading to the present situation.

"Ms. Wu, tell me, what exactly happened?"

Old Li glared derisively at Ms. Wu prostrate in front of him, sobbing hot tears. There was a saying that even a tiger does not eat its young, although he knew his wife was heartless. It seemed like his son was determined to follow in her steps.

"Father-in-law, I was wrong and I won’t do it again. I’ll be careful in watching over Shi Tou from now on," pleaded Ms. Wu, her eyes swollen from crying, her face slick with mucus and tears.

She was genuinely scared as she was afraid that she would be cast aside like her mother-in-law.

"Only now you realize that you were wrong?" sneered old Li, "It’s too late! Shi Tou is the only scion of the illustrious Li family. Previously, I was tolerant towards you because I thought you had a hard time taking care of Shi Tou. But now, look at what the child’s mother has done! You’ve nearly killed your own son!"

Ms. Liao, hearing the old man’s words, instinctively tightened the grip on her sleeve, quietly shielding her two daughters behind her.

"Father-in-law...father-in-law, I swear I will never do it again," vowed Ms. Wu, shaking her head while kowtowing on ground.

Noticing that old Li was ignoring her pleas, she quickly cast a desperate look at her husband, Li Tian, hoping he would intercede. If her husband spoke up for her, surely her father-in-law wouldn’t harbor resentment against her anymore.

"My husband, my lord, please speak for me," pleaded Ms. Wu, her eyes swollen from crying as she knelt at Li Tian’s feet, begging him to take her side.

Li Tian looked at his wife of more than ten years, who was now in a pitiful state, with a cold laugh in his heart. How could he forget the malicious ways she had treated him? Though he despised her, his face showed a sign of sympathy.

"Father, this..."

Seeing the sympathy in his eldest son’s eyes, Mr. Li’s temper flared, his hand trembling as he pointed to Ms. Wu, "Look at her! Because of this wicked woman, your son almost drowned! Now, just because she cries a little, you are going soft? If you don’t divorce her, you might be the one to die next!"

Li Tian kept his head down and accepted the chastisement without retort.

Upon hearing Li Tian stand up for her, Ms. Wu felt a glimmer of hope. Looking at him with hopeful eyes, she pleaded in a voice she thought was most pitiful, "Li darling, I’m Xuanyi. I’ve been married to you for over ten years. Look at me, I really admit my mistake, I will change, I will, I promise. From now on, I’ll be a good wife and a good mother!"

Looking at Ms. Wu’s face covered with snot and tears, as she acted like a demure maiden, Li Tian shivered with disgust, doubting whether this woman was still the gentle and considerate Ms. Wu he knew.

"Li darling, believe me! I really will change!"

Upon noticing that Li Tian was ignoring her, Ms. Wu felt aimless. She’d loved this man, who had promised to take care of her for a lifetime. When they were married for twelve years without a child, this man never stood up for her, despite his mother’s insults and humiliations. She had swallowed countless bitter pills and tried numerous remedies just to conceive Shi Tou.

"Mommy! I want Mommy!"

Shi Tou had been placed on a wooden board to rest after nearly drowning. He was awakened by the commotion made by Ms. Wu and saw his mother kneeling in front of his father with blood on her forehead. Instantly, he wanted to rush over to her.

"Shi Tou, be good, don’t go." Li Liang stopped Shi Tou who wanted to rush over, speaking softly.

He did not wish for his sister-in-law to stay in their home any longer, both for his brother’s sake and his wife and daughter’s sake.

"Let go!" Shi Tou bit Li Liang’s wrist hard when he saw that his uncle was preventing him from going to his mother.

It was not until Li Liang felt the bite that he let go of Shi Tou’s hand, revealing a deep bite mark.

"Mommy, Mommy what’s wrong?" Shi Tou ran to Ms. Wu, ready to wipe her tears using his sleeve.

"Shi Tou, be good, Mommy did something wrong and needs to be punished." Ms. Wu looked at Shi Tou with affection. She regretted that she had allowed him to play near the river due to her greed. If it wasn’t for her, Shi Tou would not have to bear such suffering.

"So does that mean if Mommy kneels, everything will be fine?" Shi Tou asked, looking at his mother.

Seeing that nobody responded and that even his mother had lowered her head, Shi Tou became angry. He ran back to his grandfather and demanded, "Grandpa, let my mother stand up! Otherwise, I won’t eat!" He was using his own refusal to eat as a threat as he knew his grandfather always worried about his meals.

Looking at Shi Tou acting fearlessly, Mr. Li couldn’t help but sigh. After all, Shi Tou was a child he had spoiled. His tone softened slightly, "Shi Tou, she can’t be a good mother to you."

"She is my Mommy! Grandpa, you’re bad, you’re bullying my Mommy!" Shi Tou stomped his foot. "If you won’t let my Mommy stand up, I will disown you as my Grandpa!"

"Father..."

Hearing his beloved grandson’s words, Mr. Li’s heart turned cold. Noticing that his eldest son had also opened his mouth to speak, many words became just a sigh.

"Do as you please. This family is bound to fall apart sooner or later."