novelraw Chapter 602 - 492: The Stepmother Who Refuses to Be a Stepping Stone 80
Chapter 602 - 492: The Stepmother Who Refuses to Be a Stepping Stone 80
Wang Baozhu really didn’t dare to say too much at this moment.
She knew exactly what the Li brothers were like, especially Li Zhipeng, who could be ruthlessly indifferent to family ties once his heart hardened.
Moreover, Wang Baozhu had cuckolded Li Zhifang, not just once but twice.
Previously, Li Zhipeng had turned a blind eye to this for the sake of Li Jindong.
But now, knowing that Li Jindong was not actually a Li, it was uncertain how he would deal with Wang Baozhu.
Wang Baozhu knew that if she dared to leave Li Zhifang now, Li Zhipeng would definitely destroy her behind the scenes.
Li Zhipeng, with a cold gaze, watched Wang Baozhu for a long time before finally speaking, "Fine, since you’re willing to take care of Lao Si, it saves the money for hiring a nurse. From now on, you’ll take care of everything inside and outside the house. You must also serve Lao Si well. If I find out you’re mistreating him, see how I’ll deal with you."
Wang Baozhu hurriedly promised that she would definitely treat Li Zhifang well and serve him attentively.
Li Zhifang stayed in the hospital for over a month before he was discharged.
During this month, the Li Family had Wang Baozhu running in circles, cooking for Li Zhifang, bathing him, and handling his excretions—all these tasks fell to Wang Baozhu.
Wang Baozhu had gained weight over the past two years due to good eating, but she had lost all that weight this month, being tormented down to skin and bones.
She really couldn’t take it anymore, but the family members were watching. If she dared to refuse, her life might be on the line.
It was only when Li Zhifang was finally discharged from the hospital and the Li Family members took him home that Wang Baozhu felt a slight relief.
After all, the scrutiny from the Li family was not as strict at home.
During the same month, Li Jindong also suffered a lot.
The Li Family did not send him away but kept him around.
However, the Li brothers did not pamper Li Jindong as they did Li Zhifang. Li Jindong had no pocket money, his food quality dropped significantly, and he was forced to work when he came back.
Especially when Li Zhipeng was in the hospital, he would order Li Jindong around, and if Li Jindong refused, Li Zhipeng would beat him; if Li Jindong cried, Li Zhipeng would beat him even harder.
During this time, Li Zhicheng obtained Sun San’s hair and conducted a paternity test with Li Jindong, confirming undoubtedly a father-son relationship.
Yet, the Li Family did not inform Sun San about this.
Sun San’s wife had given him three daughters and no sons. If Li Jindong were sent to live with the Sun Family, Sun San would surely treat him well—something the Li Family did not want to see.
Why should it be so?
Why should it be that Li Zhifang, who raised Li Jindong well into his teens, ends up benefiting someone else?
Wang Baozhu initially thought that upon returning home, the Li Family would not come often, and she could be lazy. However, Li Zhifang’s attitude towards her changed drastically; he scolded and beat her daily. If the food wasn’t tasty, he would scold her; if anything wasn’t done right, he scolded and hit her even harder, making Wang Baozhu’s life miserable.
Zhang Fengfeng and Li Baolai knew about Li Zhifang’s injury as soon as they returned from Yun Gui.
Neither of them was particularly upset, nor did they suggest visiting Li Zhifang.
Indeed, over the years, Li Zhifang had deeply hurt these two old people.
Not to mention the incident years ago when Zhang Fengfeng nearly froze to death, even after so many years, Zhang Fengfeng and Li Baolai had always lived with Li Zhicheng, sometimes staying at Anning’s house for a few days. Their other sons and daughters-in-law would make time to visit the elderly, bringing food and clothes, and giving red envelopes to the children during the holidays.
But Li Zhifang, over these years, had never once visited the elderly, not even a phone call, as if he had no parents.
Zhang Fengfeng still cared for this son for the first year or two, but as the years passed, Li Zhifang became increasingly indifferent to his parents, truly chilling their hearts.
Zhang Fengfeng and Li Baolai, while not saying anything in public, cried privately.
After all, they still felt some heartache for Li Zhifang.
Zhang Fengfeng and Li Baolai did not force other sons to help him.
Anning later also heard some things about Li Zhifang, but she didn’t care.
What she cares about now is Li Jingyu’s dating.
According to Liu Qi, it seems that Li Jingyu has started dating, and the other party should be a teacher working in the same high school as Li Jingyu.
Liu Qi is busy with work and doesn’t have the time to manage Li Jingyu’s affairs, so Anning just mentioned it to Li Jingyan to probe.
Li Jingyan did not directly ask Li Jingyu, but went to have meals with Li Jingyu for several days in a row, then really saw some clues.
Li Jingyu was indeed dating, the other party was also a teacher at the school, Li Jingyu taught Chinese, and the other party was a math teacher, both taught senior years, they have interacted a lot, and over time, they developed feelings.
The man’s last name is Xu, named Xu Han, a local from the Capital, with both parents alive, being their only child, and his family’s conditions are quite good. Xu Han is also quite handsome, tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and has a very decent look, overall he really seems quite good.
After Li Jingyan found out this information, she immediately called Anning to report.
On hearing this, Anning didn’t say much, but she quickly went to the Capital.
After her arrival, she called a few girls to go shopping together.
Apart from her three relatives, she also invited Xiao Shiman and Li Jingfang.
She and the girls agreed to meet outside a store she opened in the Capital; Anning arrived quite early, after coming, she waited in a café on the first floor for a while before others arrived.
The girls were all quite busy, none of them arrived very early, but they probably synchronized their timings, and arrived almost at the same time.
Once they arrived, Anning first took them to shop in the mall, starting with buying clothes for everyone.
Buying clothes was something Liu Ru asked Anning to do, so Anning did it first.
Seeing Li Jingfang, Anning then understood what Liu Ru meant.
This girl really did not like to dress up.
Logically, Li Zhicheng’s house could afford it, and Li Jingfang was their only daughter, she had the means to dress up beautifully, but for some reason, she was dressed very plainly and was without makeup.
It’s a good thing the Li Family had good genes, otherwise, this girl would really not stand out.
Anning took Li Jingfang first to pick a few suits that suited her and bought her some cosmetics, and even said she would teach her how to do makeup.
Li Jingfang seemed quite shy: "Aunt Four, I... I don’t have time for makeup, I’m too busy with my studies, I really don’t have the time..."
"There’s always time if you squeeze it in."
Anning hugged Li Jingfang softly speaking: "Our Jingfang is already a Miss, it’s time to learn to dress up a bit, girls from your age group should look neat and tidy, it feels nice mentally too, not just for you, even I still dress up despite my age, listen to Aunt Four, learn to do makeup when you go back, we’re not talking about heavy makeup, just a simple light makeup will do."
Li Jingfang lowered her head and took quite a while before softly agreeing.
After buying clothes, Anning took the kids to eat.
She had business in the Capital and naturally knew some people, she even had membership cards for several restaurants, Anning then chose a very nice private club and took the kids there.
When they arrived at the club entrance, Anning had just parked the car, then saw several luxury cars parked nearby, from which a group of fashionably dressed young people alighted.
These people laughed and talked as they went into the club.
Anning clearly noticed a slight change in Liu Yuzhen’s expression when she looked at one of the young men.
She took note, but didn’t break the silence.
After getting out of the car, Anning took the kids inside, directly entering the VIP room she often used.
During the meal, Anning then asked Li Jingyu: "Jingyu, you’ve been working for a few years now, mom wants to ask you, do you have a boyfriend? If you haven’t got one, mom can introduce someone to you, I know a lot of people here in the Capital, and some of their children are quite nice and suitable for our Jingyu."