Living like a widow? My rough neighbor is coaxing me to have a baby every night.

What exactly is the origin of Chapter 57?

The atmosphere in a small red brick building behind the county committee compound was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Yan Xiujuan sat on the dark red velvet sofa, her face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

She held the cup of tea that had long since gone cold in her hand, her knuckles slightly white from the force she exerted.

A muffled sob could be heard coming from the bedroom; it was Wang Lili.

"Cry, cry, cry! All you do is cry! Take that cat pee back!" Yan Xiujuan slammed her teacup down on the coffee table with a loud "bang," startling the crying in the bedroom.

Wang Lili walked out of the house with red and swollen eyes, and her red dress with white flowers looked particularly jarring at that moment.

She clutched her slightly protruding belly, sitting dejectedly in the corner of the sofa, sobbing, "Mom... I don't want to cry either... but that bastard Zhao Gang, how could he lie to me like that..."

Yan Xiujuan looked at her good-for-nothing daughter and poked her forehead in exasperation: "You! I always tell you to be more careful, but you just won't listen! A few sweet words from someone and you lose your head, you didn't even know their background before you got yourself into trouble! Now look what happened, their wife came to your door to embarrass you, don't you have any shame?"

Wang Lili was scolded and dared not talk back, only biting her lip and shedding tears: "Then...what do we do now? Mom, I'm in this state...we can't just go to the hospital...this is twins!"

When the word "twins" was mentioned, Yan Xiujuan's anger, which was about to erupt, was suppressed by half.

These days, family planning is strictly enforced, but cases like this, where the firstborn is twins, are still quite rare.

What's more, these are two lives.

Yan Xiujuan sighed, her gaze falling on her daughter's belly, her expression complex.

"If it weren't for these two kids, I would have had Zhao Gang's leg broken today!"

Yan Xiujuan cursed angrily, "Although Zhao Gang is a scoundrel, his wife... I don't think she's any better."

Wang Lili was taken aback, then sniffed, "Mom, you mean that country woman? She looks so rustic, she doesn't even dare to say a word, what could she possibly be up to?"

"earth?"

Yan Xiujuan sneered, "If you really think she's unsophisticated, then you're the real fool! Don't you think about it? Zhao Gang hasn't gotten into any trouble in the county town for the past few years, so why did these people conveniently come knocking on your door just when you were heavily pregnant and couldn't hide it anymore? And the first thing they said was divorce, even pulling out that marriage certificate—they clearly came prepared!"

She stood up and paced back and forth in the living room, her high heels clicking crisply on the floor.

"That Li Xianglian, although she's dressed in rags, has a composure a hundred times stronger than yours! Her outburst today, seemingly just a tantrum, has actually blocked all of Zhao Gang's escape routes. Now the whole supply and marketing cooperative knows that Zhao Gang is a heartless man. If he wants to protect his future and clear his name, the only way is to get a divorce as soon as possible, marry you, and tell everyone that they've been separated for a long time due to incompatibility."

Yan Xiujuan was a shrewd person who had worked in government offices for many years. She could figure out the tricks of the trade as long as she calmed down and thought about them.

"Isn't this...perfect?"

Wang Lili was a little confused, even secretly pleased. "Once he gets divorced, won't I be able to marry him legitimately? Mom, I just want to live with him. He's really good to me..."

"You idiot!"

Yan Xiujuan was so angry she almost fainted. "You're being used as a pawn and you don't even know it! They're using your pregnancy to force Zhao Gang to pay for a divorce! They'll squeeze Zhao Gang dry and then kick him to the curb! And you've become the one left holding the bag!"

Wang Lili was stunned by the scolding and blinked, not daring to speak.

Yan Xiujuan took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

The current situation, though disgusting, is indeed a dead end.

My daughter's pregnancy can't wait, and her reputation can't wait either. If Zhao Gang really gets thrown in jail, my daughter's life will be ruined, and those two children will become fatherless bastards.

"This matter is not that simple."

Yan Xiujuan narrowed her eyes, a calculating glint in them. "Zhao Gang thinks he can get away with this so easily? Dream on! What country woman wants money? She'll have to see if she's even alive to take it!"

"Mom, what should we do now? Zhao just called me from the door and told me to wait for his explanation..." Wang Lili asked, completely at a loss.

"Explanation my ass!"

Yan Xiujuan interrupted her, "Let him wait! Let him get anxious! Let him fight with that country woman! We'll step in after he's finished all the paperwork you need to do."

"This is a huge matter, I can't make a decision on my own."

Yan Xiujuan sat back on the sofa, her tone becoming serious.

Your dad went to a meeting in the provincial capital; he should be back in the next day or two. Once Old Wang gets back, let him decide. He's very concerned about his reputation; Zhao Gang dared to mess with our family like this—he'll be in deep trouble, if not dead!

Wang Lili flinched when she heard her father's name.

She knew her father's temper; he was notoriously strict.

If they knew she was pregnant out of wedlock and carrying another man's child, and that man was a bigamist...

She dared not think about the consequences.

"Alright, go back to your room and lie down! Don't upset the baby!"

Yan Xiujuan waved her hand impatiently, "You're not allowed to go anywhere for the next two days. You're staying home! Don't open the door for anyone!"

Wang Lili felt like she had been granted a pardon and quickly slipped back to her room.

Yan Xiujuan was left alone in the living room. The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the light inside the room became dim and unclear.

Yan Xiujuan leaned back on the sofa, rubbing her throbbing temples.

Who exactly is Li Xianglian? Is she really just an ordinary rural woman?

She always felt it wasn't that simple.

Just as Yan Xiujuan was about to catch her breath, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock!"