CHAPTER 672: CHAPTER 667: BLACKMAIL

Luo Cuilan remembered, when she first suspected that Zhang Xuehua and Zhang Jianguo had an affair, Zhang Xuehua explained to her in such a pitiful manner, claiming that her relationship with Zhang Jianguo was purely fraternal and nothing more, and Luo Cuilan naively believed her.

So when she saw Xu He also putting on the same pitiful act, like a classic "green tea bitch," Luo Cuilan lost her rationale completely, grabbed Xu He’s hair, and repeatedly slapped her across the face. She treated Xu He as if she were Zhang Jianguo, cursing while she hit her, "You whore, do you even have a conscience? When I married into the Zhang family, I endured so much hardship. I tolerated everything for your sake, and in the end, I risked my life to give birth to a son for you..."

Xu He’s cheeks were almost numb from Luo Cuilan’s beating, wishing she could kill Luo Cuilan, but allowed her to continue hitting without moving an inch.

She knew, at this moment, she couldn’t afford to confront Luo Cuilan head-on, or she’d end up worse off. So she could only endure it, letting Luo Cuilan vent her anger.

However, from Luo Cuilan’s words, Xu He could also hear her bitterness. After Luo Cuilan stopped, out of breath, Xu He touched her swollen cheeks, bit her lip, and then forced herself to ask softly, "Big sister, did you and brother-in-law have some trouble?"

Seeing Luo Cuilan remaining silent, Xu He tentatively added, "If so, just tell me slowly, I’ll ask Zhiming to stand up for you. I only ask you not to tell Zhiming and your mom about my issues, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Cuilan glared at Xu He with bulging eyes, her face full of sarcasm, and said, "Xu He, who do you think you are? Why should I cover up for you with my own younger brother and my mother? I’ll tell them everything right now, including your sneaking around with Shuanzi in Luojia Village, and about the child in your belly."

Xu He, terrified that Luo Cuilan knew so much, turned pale and dared not speak further, only to watch Luo Cuilan and stammer, "You..."

Seeing Xu He’s surprise, Luo Cuilan curled her lip and said with extreme scorn, "Xu He, you’re really low, actually wanting our Luo family to raise someone else’s bastard child."

Luo Cuilan’s words were too much for Xu He to bear, and her tone became harsher, though she dared not turn it into a blatant quarrel. She looked at Luo Cuilan and said, "Big sister, what do you know? Do you think this is what I wanted? If your younger brother Luo Zhiming could act like a man, would I have to resort to this?"

Luo Cuilan sensed something amiss in her words and looked at Xu He uncertainly, "What... what do you mean?"

Xu He looked at her, coldly replied, "Haven’t you heard the gossip in the village before? They said your brother can’t produce children, that he’s not a real man."

"Is it true?" Luo Cuilan remembered that when she was home taking care of children, because Luo Zhiming and Xu He had been married for a long time without having kids, there indeed had been rumors in the village. She had secretly asked Zhou Yunmei about it, but Zhou Yunmei never admitted it, so she thought it was just the villagers gossiping and didn’t pay much attention.

Xu He nodded at her and then sighed, somewhat helplessly, "If he could have children, none of this would’ve happened."

Hearing this from Xu He, Luo Cuilan said, puzzled, "So you mean, my mom and Zhiming knew that this child belongs to someone else, but still acknowledged it?"

Xu He was momentarily stunned. In her mind, she had contemplated going along with Luo Cuilan’s story, but she knew such deceit would only appease Luo Cuilan temporarily. If Luo Cuilan happened to inquire with Luo Zhiming and Zhou Yunmei later on, the truth would be immediately exposed, so she didn’t confess.

"That’s not exactly it; it’s all a twist of fate that led me to become pregnant with another man’s child. I didn’t want to disappoint your brother and your mother, so I claimed it was your brother’s. Considering he can’t have children in this lifetime, he might have to adopt to continue the family line eventually. Given that, why not let everyone believe the child in my belly is his? After all, only a few people know the truth, and it also alleviates the worry in Zhiming’s heart."

Luo Cuilan was no fool. Despite Xu He’s eloquent explanations, Luo Cuilan understood the convoluted truth instantly. She looked at Xu He and scoffed, "Xu He, don’t candy-coat it. In the end, you just want to keep this a secret. Plus, you’re at your wit’s end. You went to see Shuanzi just now with the intention of seeking refuge with him, right? If Shuanzi took you in, you would kick our Zhiming to the curb without a second thought. Now that Shuanzi won’t even give you the time of day, you can only rely on our Zhiming. So that’s why you’re begging me like this, isn’t it?"

Since Luo Cuilan had laid it all out, Xu He had no grounds for rebuttal. Her only remaining tactic was to play the sympathy card.

She looked at Luo Cuilan and suddenly fell to her knees with a "thump" in front of her, crying and pleading, "Big sister, I know I’m in the wrong, but I implore you, for the sake of my condition and considering your own brother indeed cannot have children, please keep this matter secret."

Seeing Luo Cuilan appeared to be moved, Xu He’s eyes darted around, swiftly finding a point of leverage, and said to Luo Cuilan, "Big sister, if you help me keep this secret, no matter what you ask for, I’ll agree to it."

"In that case..." Luo Cuilan was indeed tempted. She pondered for a moment and felt that exposing this wouldn’t bring her any benefits. On the contrary, there might be something in it for her. She thought for a bit and then nodded at Xu He, saying,

"Fine, you go back now and tell Zhiming that Zhang Jianguo has bullied me in the city, and he needs to come and stand up for me. I’ll wait here for you. And you also need to find a place for me to stay temporarily. You look for the apartment, you pay the rent, I won’t deal with it."

Xu He gritted her teeth and agreed, "Alright."

Xu He knew Luo Cuilan was extorting her, and even if she agreed to her demands, she had no idea when Luo Cuilan might spill the beans. The promises of someone like Luo Cuilan were unreliable.

But what choice did she have? At someone else’s mercy due to her own incriminating secret, even knowing that Luo Cuilan could reveal it all the very next moment, Xu He still had to comply with Luo Cuilan’s demands.

As for Luo Cuilan, she also had her considerations.

Now that things with Zhang Jianguo had turned sour, it might be difficult to carry on. Thus, her only way out was to return to her parental home.

If it were just her going back, she wouldn’t be worried. Still young and able to earn money, a single trip back with some cash for Zhou Yunmei would surely not lead to her being expelled. However, she also had a son.

What she feared was that upon returning home, Zhang Jianguo would fight to take her son. On her own, she certainly couldn’t contend with the Zhang family.

Therefore, she had to rely on her parental family’s support to fight for her son, and naturally, that support would come from her two brothers and parents.