Li Yueniang looked up at Su Yi, her eyes filled with unbearable sorrow.

Su Yi avoided her gaze, not daring to meet her eyes. "You, you shouldn't be like this. What happened back then was an accident. Nobody wanted it to happen."

“It’s good that Changzhi is back now. Don’t worry, I won’t abandon him. They are all my children, and I will treat them all the same. What Changqing and Chang’an have, Changzhi will definitely have too.”

Su Yi lowered his head and asked softly, "Is he... is he alright? Where has he been all these years? Back then..."

Li Yueniang breathed a sigh of relief. "He's not well. His body is severely depleted. He just came back from Tongrentang this morning. His health is even worse than mine."

As Li Yueniang spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again. "I get out of breath after just a few steps. My body is completely drained. If it weren't for Qingci, I probably wouldn't have lasted two more years."

"Waaah~ He looks at least ten years older than Changqing. Those children look like refugees from the past, so thin and emaciated, their little wrists as thin as matchsticks. The eldest one was not even fourteen years old when he went out to do hard labor to support the whole family, waaaah~"

Su Yi's head drooped even lower. Listening to the sobbing, his heart felt heavy and he felt extremely uncomfortable. He would rather Li Yueniang hit him than hear her cry.

"Don't cry, it'll be alright, it'll be alright. What did Tongrentang say? They said they'd find the best doctors and use the best medicine, no matter the cost. Don't worry about the money, I... I'll figure something out..."

"If that doesn't work, I'll try to find someone, a skilled doctor," Su Yi stammered, trying to comfort him.

Li Yueniang wiped away her tears. "Changqing will be back soon, and you won't have to worry about Jindong and Qingci anymore. As for Meifang and Chang'an on your side, they've been born with silver spoons in their mouths and have enjoyed a lifetime of happiness with you."

“Only my Changzhi has never eaten a single grain of rice or drunk a drop of water from you in his entire life. Instead, he has suffered a lifetime of hardship because of you. What I want is not for you to treat the children equally. Not to mention Chang'an and Meifang, even Changqing is not qualified to treat me, Changzhi, equally. The rest of them have good health and good futures. What does my Changzhi have? What does he have?”

“You should give him your special favor. You owe him this. You gave birth to him, but you never raised him for a single day. You have never fulfilled all the responsibilities a father should have.”

Li Yueniang looked at the man with slumped shoulders, a flash of resentment in her eyes.

"Su Yi, do you know what Changzhi told me when he came back?"

Su Yi slowly raised his head, and Li Yueniang looked at him and said word by word, "Changzhi said that he was waiting for me at the alley entrance that day and saw Qin Xiangxiang walking towards him with her belly in pain. Qin Xiangxiang lied to him and said that there was a commotion on the street ahead and that I was blocked somewhere. Changzhi ran to find me because he was worried about me."

"Changzhi said that she had already bleed at that time. Su Yi, is the child in Qin Xiangxiang's belly really yours? I have carried this accusation for decades. I really can't understand what kind of mother would use her almost full-term child to frame someone else."

"Open your dog eyes and see what kind of viper you've married all these years!"

Su Yi kept his head down and remained silent. After Li Yueniang finished cursing, he weakly asked, "Can I go and see them?"

Li Yueniang sneered, "Do you even have the nerve to go?"

Su Yi forced himself to argue, "I am his father and the children's grandfather."

Li Yueniang gritted her teeth, "Have you ever done anything a father or grandfather should do for them? Do you even remember that you are a father or a grandfather?"

The two looked at each other in silence. After a while, Li Yueniang sighed and said, "Take care of the things I asked you to do. I will take Changzhi to Tongrentang every three days. If you want to go, go secretly. Just don't show up in front of him for now."

"Once the child is feeling a bit better..."

Su Yi nodded repeatedly, his face full of flattery, "Okay, okay, I'll watch secretly, I promise I won't let him see me. Don't worry, I'll make sure I handle all the things you asked for perfectly."

Li Yueniang gave him a complicated look, then stood up, turned around, and left.

After watching Li Yueniang leave, Su Yi sighed. He didn't know how things had turned out this way.

He never intended to harm Li Yueniang and her child.

He admitted that he did owe the mother and her two children a debt, but he did not think that he had done anything wrong in his position back then.

His upbringing and surroundings never taught him that a man should remain faithful to one woman.

Not to mention his uncles and grandfathers, even his biological father had several concubines, and when he was with Qin Xiangxiang, taking concubines was still legal.

However, when he had to choose between two people later on, he gave up on Li Yueniang.

But there was nothing he could do. In those war-torn times, he and Li Yueniang hadn't seen or contacted each other for so many years. He didn't know what was going on at home, or even if Li Yueniang was still waiting for him. Besides, Qin Xiangxiang was pregnant at the time. No matter which one he was with, he would have to let one down.

Compared to his wife and mother whom he hadn't seen for over a decade, and his gentle, kind, and like-minded revolutionary comrade beside him, anyone would choose the latter.

Su Yi felt a heavy weight in his heart, unable to breathe. Even though he had chosen Qin Xiangxiang, he had never thought of abandoning Li Yueniang and her son. He just didn't understand why things had turned out this way.

Qin Xiangxiang harbored resentment, as did Li Yueniang. Changqing and Changzhi hadn't had a good relationship, and Chang'an and Meifang also resented him. For so many years, he had been completely open and honest with everyone, but in his old age, he was abandoned by everyone and ended up with no good outcome.

What did he do wrong? Was he idle away his time drinking, gambling, and womanizing, or did he neglect his duties and beat his wife and children?

Has he stopped contributing money to support his family? Or has he abandoned his wife and children to enjoy his own life?

Whether they were born to Qin Xiangxiang or Li Yueniang, he did his best to raise each child with care. He tried his best to meet any conditions that Li Yueniang or Qin Xiangxiang made. Why did he end up like this?

Su Yi grew angrier the more he thought about it. He had lived up to the country, the Party, and everyone else!

He has a clear conscience!

He raised his hand and touched the large bump on his forehead, hissing in pain.

That old hag, she's never been gentle with her. If he hadn't divorced her back then, he might be dead by her right now.

"Little Liu, Little Liu~"

"Commander Su, I'm here!"

"Hurry up, go check out the schools around Liuhuai Lane this afternoon, preferably nearby ones with good teaching quality. My grandson and granddaughter have transferred here, so go and take care of it."

"Yes, yes, household registration, and household registration too." And work, house...

Good heavens, how many years will that old hag have to eat salted vegetables and porridge?

Su Yi wore a bitter face. Who's really suffering? He's the one who's suffering the most!