Bao Min didn’t finish his sentence, but Cai Damei understood. There would definitely be a third time.
"Why must you involve outsiders in matters between the two of you?" Cai Damei tried to persuade Bao Min. For the sake of an obsession, he was willing to marry an older widow and take care of her daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.
To be honest, Cai Damei truly thought Bao Min was out of his mind.
"Madam, you shouldn’t say that," Bao Min countered. "If I marry you, I won’t just gain grandchildren—I’ll also have a son and daughter-in-law. A big, happy family. Isn’t that wonderful?"
As he spoke, Bao Min’s eyes grew slightly damp. "I grew up without parents. My elder brother and his wife raised me. Seeing other families… I’ve always envied them. I want a family like that for myself."
"How can you be so sure Jiang Mingzhe will marry Yunniang?" Cai Damei had never once considered the possibility that Ye Yunniang would marry Jiang Mingzhe.
"Madam, I’m a man. I know what it looks like when a man falls in love with a woman."
Bao Min took Cai Damei’s hand and placed a wolf-tooth necklace in her palm. "Madam, give me a chance to take care of you, won’t you?"
Cai Damei’s eyes were fixed on the necklace in Bao Min’s hand, so she didn’t catch his last words. When she heard "won’t you," she instinctively replied, "Alright."
"Wonderful!" Bao Min embraced her again.
"No—I don’t agree!" Cai Damei snapped out of her daze and protested.
Bao Min pressed a finger to her lips. "Madam, don’t say things that will upset me, all right?"
His voice was gentle, but the coldness in his eyes sent a shiver down Cai Damei’s spine.
It dawned on her belatedly—the man she had been rejecting was none other than the prefect, the one who held the power of life and death over her family.
Bao Min’s lips brushed against hers. "Don’t be afraid, Madam. I won’t hurt you."
"Sir—" Cai Damei opened her mouth to speak.
And gave Bao Min an opening.
Boom—
Cai Damei’s mind went blank.
"Mother?" Ye Yunniang called out in concern.
Cai Damei snapped back to reality. "What is it?"
"Mother, your face is so red. Are you running a fever? Should I fetch Doctor Tong?" Ye Yunniang made to leave.
"No need." Cai Damei grabbed her hand. "Don’t call for the doctor."
"But—"
"Listen to me."
"Alright, no doctor." Ye Yunniang sat back down.
Cai Damei forced herself not to think about Bao Min.
"Yunniang, I want to discuss something with you."
"I agree."
"You don’t even know what it is yet." Cai Damei chuckled.
"No matter what it is, I’ll agree. Mother, you decide. I trust you completely." Ye Yunniang’s stance was unwavering—she believed Cai Damei would never harm her.
Her attitude pleased Cai Damei.
"I want to move Jun’er and your father’s graves to Jiangcheng." The two of them could no longer stay in Lijia Village.
Because of Li Nan’s incident, they could no longer interact with the village chief’s family.
Cai Damei thought that relocating her son and husband’s graves would make it easier to visit them in the future.
"Will they allow it?" Ye Yunniang worried about the villagers’ reaction.
"They will." Cai Damei spoke with certainty. If she and Yunniang couldn’t manage it, Bao Min certainly could.
Over the past few days, she had come to terms with it.
If Bao Min was interested in her, she would indulge him for a while—and secure some benefits for her daughter-in-law and grandchildren in the process.
As for the future… she would deal with that later.
Two days later, Ye Yunniang and Cai Damei took the children and set off for Lijia Village in a carriage.
Unlike their last trip, which had been lighthearted, this time, both women wore grim expressions.
The carriage didn’t stop at Li Wenkuo’s house. Instead, it went straight to the graves of Li Jun and Li Min.
Li Wenkuo and the village elders were already there, watching with suppressed resentment as Tong Mo directed workers to exhume the remains.
"Min’er’s wife, you won’t even let the dead rest in peace," a withered old man scolded Cai Damei.
"Third Uncle, when Min was alive, his greatest concern was his grandson. Taking him with me is what will truly put his soul at ease," Cai Damei retorted.
"You—shameless woman! Li Shan, as the eldest of your branch, speak up!" The old man turned to an elderly man who had been sitting with his eyes closed.
Li Shan was the elder cousin of Li Min and Li Wu.
Li Shan opened his eyes. "Uncle, Min’er is gone. His family affairs are entirely Cai Damei’s to decide."
"You—" The old man gaped at him. This wasn’t what they had agreed upon earlier.
Hadn’t Li Shan been the most opposed? What changed overnight?
The old man glanced at the other elders.
Some wanted to speak, but after spotting someone in the crowd, they shut their mouths.
They wouldn’t interfere in matters concerning the dead.
Tong Mo, overseeing the exhumation, smiled in satisfaction. His visits to each household the night before had not been in vain.
"Cai Damei, give me back my husband!" A woman’s shrill cry pierced the air as she charged at Cai Damei.
Cai Damei recognized her—Cai Hua. Fury surged in her chest. Li Wu had not only stolen her son’s belongings but had also tried to starve her to death.
Handing Li An to Ye Yunniang, Cai Damei lunged at Cai Hua.
She tripped Cai Hua with a swift kick, then rained down punches and kicks.
Cai Hua, pinned beneath Cai Damei, struggled uselessly. When she couldn’t fight back physically, she resorted to curses.
"Cai Damei, you man-crazy slut! Shameless widow! Mmm—mmph!" Her voice abruptly cut off.
"Li Min’s spirit has appeared!"
"Or maybe it’s Li Jun!"
The villagers recoiled in fear, afraid they too might suddenly lose their voices.
The withered old man, supported by others, retreated the farthest. Was it possible that the ghosts of Li Min and Li Jun were nearby?
Cai Damei’s eyes lit up. "Jun’er, is that you? Have you come to see your mother?"
No answer came.
Her hope faded.
"Cai Damei, digging up your husband and son’s graves will curse you with no descendants! Li Jun must hate you!" Cai Hua cackled.
Cai Damei, lost in grief, ignored her.
But Ye Yunniang couldn’t tolerate it. She picked up a clod of dirt and shoved it into Cai Hua’s mouth.
"Cough—cough—!" Cai Hua gagged, then vomited onto the ground.
Her trembling finger pointed at Ye Yunniang. "You bi—"
Ye Yunniang grabbed her finger and twisted.
"Ahhh—!" Cai Hua shrieked.
Ye Yunniang smirked. "Our family’s affairs are none of your concern."
She directed the words at Cai Hua first, then swept her icy gaze over the villagers.
Those who met her eyes shrank back.
Ye Yunniang’s ferocity stunned them. In their memories, she had been a shy, timid young bride. How had she become so formidable in just two years?
Cai Damei snapped out of it and glared at the workers, who had paused at the commotion.
"What are you standing around for? Keep digging! Don’t miss the auspicious hour!"
Her sharp tone jolted them back to work.
The villagers didn’t dare interfere further.
Cai Hua tried to speak again, but Li Wenkuo arrived with men to restrain her.
"Cai Hua, if you keep causing trouble, your husband will never see the light of day again."
