22 Cesarean Section: Two-in-One

Li Hualin did not want to die, and at this moment, he trusted no one.

The people beside him tried to subdue him, and he struggled frantically. The harder he struggled, the heavier the hands of those binding him became. By the time Li Hualin was tied to the bed, unable to move, he was drenched in sweat and panting heavily. To him, the terror of being disemboweled far outweighed the physical pain he was enduring.

He watched the stout man approaching with a knife, the pain in his body seemingly fading into the distance, leaving his heart filled with the despair of imminent death.

"Father! No... don't..."

His cry was shrill, sounding exactly like a pig being slaughtered.

However, Li Hualin had truly misunderstood. No matter how much Father Li hated him for his lack of ambition or how angry he was that he had brought disaster upon the family, he had no intention of taking his son's life. Bringing the doctor was a genuine attempt to see if his severely injured son could pull through.

The doctor stepped forward, felt the wounds all over his body, and said, "It looks quite serious, but they are all superficial injuries. If he has the constitution to pull through, he should survive. It’s just... to what extent must the belly be opened?"

"Just... just like delivering a baby." On such matters, the Li family dared not play any tricks, fearing that Luo Meiniang might, in a fit of rage, send Li Hualin back to prison.

The doctor frowned. "Fine. Since he is already tied up, we shall begin now. Find me two stout-hearted matrons to assist." He paused, adding, "Before I start, you must pay me more than half of my fee!"

This money would have to be spent sooner or later, so Father Li did not object. He was only slightly bothered by the rush, but since it had to be done eventually, he hesitated only for a moment before taking out the banknotes and offering them with both hands, his tone exceptionally gentle. "Doctor, my son's life is in your hands."

The doctor nodded and produced a piece of paper covered in dense text. "You must put your thumbprint on this first."

Father Li glanced over it briefly. It stated that the Li couple suspected a foreign object in their son’s abdomen and had invited the doctor to open his belly to investigate; life and death were determined by fate, and if Li Hualin died as a result, the doctor could not be blamed.

Mother Li saw it too and said with dissatisfaction, "We paid you so much money, yet you cannot guarantee my son's life..."

"I didn't force you," the doctor said, taking back the paper and putting away the banknotes. "I didn't want to do such an immoral thing either. If it weren't for my youngest son needing money for medical treatment, I wouldn't have made this trip... You may find someone else!"

Seeing this, the couple panicked. They immediately began to apologize and offer kind words, repeatedly promising not to cause the doctor any trouble, and it took a while before they managed to soothe him.

On the bed, Li Hualin watched the scene with an indescribable expression. Were his parents actually begging someone to kill him? Moments ago, they said they were only tying him up to take a look, but now they were ready to proceed. Infuriated, he cursed, "You are all liars!"

"Stuff his mouth," the doctor said impatiently. "His howling is affecting my blade. If my hand slips, that would be a matter of life and death."

Father Li immediately complied.

And so, Li Hualin realized he had become meat on a chopping block, unable to do anything but wait for his abdomen to be cut open.

The Li family then exited the room. Although they had made up their minds, they dared not watch Li Hualin suffer with their own eyes.

Standing outside, the group listened to the muffled cries of pain from within, cries so stifled they couldn't even be screamed out. Mother Li’s tears fell like rain, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Luo Meiniang is too cruel. If anything happens to my son, I will never let her go!"

Father Li pulled her into his embrace. "Everything will be fine."

Though he said this, his heart remained heavy. By contrast, Li Huaping and his wife were much more composed. While they wore expressions of concern, they secretly hoped Li Hualin would not survive. Yang, keeping her head low, leaned against her husband as if frightened. Occasionally, the couple exchanged meaningful glances.

The smell of blood in the room was thick, drifting out through the door. The Li couple turned pale. Mother Li asked in a low voice, "How long will this take?"

Father Li shook his head. Recalling something, he turned his head and ordered, "Go to the Luo residence. You must invite both the father and daughter here."

He could not let his son suffer this trauma in vain. Today, he would settle the grievances with the Luo family, and from then on, they would go their separate ways, each minding their own business.

Chu Yunli had not expected the Li couple to move so quickly. When she heard the news, she was stunned and blurted out, "They actually went through with it?"

The Li family servants were full of resentment toward her, not because they were righteous, but because their masters were miserable, and they, as servants, often suffered the consequences. Three of them had been beaten recently, some even sustaining internal injuries. Unhappy, the servant’s face showed a hint of it. "Isn't this what you wanted? Go and take a look quickly. Oh, and my master said you should bring a doctor to see if you are satisfied."

Chu Yunli, of course, had to go. She rose abruptly, ordering someone to fetch a doctor while she hurried toward the Li residence.

She entered the house without resistance and was led to Li Hualin’s courtyard. Mother Li was weeping like a fountain, and when she saw her, her eyes were filled with hatred.

Father Li looked unwell. He glanced behind her, and seeing only a maid, asked suspiciously, "You didn't bring a doctor?"

Nearby, Li Huaping stood with his hands behind his back, looking solemn. Yang, looking as if she had been terrified, was deathly pale. A wave of blood scent drifted over, and she rushed to a flower tree and retched repeatedly, as if trying to vomit out her own internal organs.

Chu Yunli looked at the scene in the courtyard and sighed, "I didn't think you would truly have the heart to go through with it."

Mother Li was stunned, then, thinking of something, she looked at her in disbelief. "Don't pretend! This was all forced by you!"

"I did pressure you, but did I force you to do it today?" Chu Yunli challenged. "I said some angry things in a moment of rage, who knew you would..."

Things like disembowelment were a criminal offense. Chu Yunli wanted Li Hualin to taste the suffering Luo Meiniang had endured, but she had not intended to implicate herself.

Father Li had not expected his former daughter-in-law to say such things. First surprised, he then angrily replied, "Luo Meiniang, if anything happens to my son, I will never let you go!"

Chu Yunli was entirely unafraid. "Something happened to me earlier, did my father come to trouble you? One should be magnanimous. I could forgive Li Hualin for cutting my belly, yet you misunderstood the situation and harmed someone, and instead of thinking of how to remedy it, you come to blame me? Where in this world is there such logic?"

Right! Remedy!

Father Li flew to the door and began to pound on it. "Doctor, stop immediately! We have changed our minds!"

Mother Li’s tears fell even more violently. The doctor had been inside for nearly half an hour; by now, he had already... Sure enough, a quarter of an hour later, the door opened. The doctor raised his blood-stained hands and said impatiently, "I said before, this is a matter of life and death, do not disturb me!"

Father Li asked expectantly, "How is my son?"

The doctor raised his hands. "He's fine, I've sewn him up. Didn't you say a doctor was coming to check? Let him come. I guarantee the mastermind will be satisfied."

But the mastermind had never wanted to cut his belly open at all!

Father Li’s heart turned cold. He asked with a trembling voice, "Is there a danger to his life?"

"Fifty-fifty!" The doctor frowned. "Did you prepare my clothes? My son is waiting for the money to save his life. Once I change, I must return today."

Mother Li gritted her teeth. "You cannot leave."

The doctor’s expression turned cold instantly. "What? Are you planning to settle scores with me?" He reminded them, "Don't forget, you were the ones who invited me to do this, and we even signed a statement. Even if we go to court, I have my defense."

Mother Li was speechless.

On the bed, Li Hualin had long since fainted from the pain. He was pale, and even in his unconscious state, his body trembled from the agony. Even without the wounds, the pain alone was something most people could not endure.

Chu Yunli glanced through the window. Smelling the scent of blood in the air, she sat down idly.

The doctor she had brought arrived quickly. After examining him, he sighed, "The injuries are too severe; there is no guarantee he will survive. If he doesn't develop a high fever, he might be fine, but if he does... prepare for his funeral."

Hearing this, Mother Li screamed and fainted. Yang had been frightened earlier and had already gone to rest. Li Huaping stood by the window, his expression heavy, saying nothing.

Father Li seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. He ordered someone to carry his wife back to her quarters, then looked at Chu Yunli with sharp eyes. "You intentionally misled us, didn't you?"

"How can you call that misleading?" Chu Yunli looked puzzled. "Put yourself in my shoes. If you were betrayed by your spouse and had your belly cut open, suffering to the point of near-death, wouldn't you want an eye for an eye?"

Before Father Li could answer, she continued on her own. "At least, I would. But I only thought about it. I am a frail woman, I've never even dared to kill a chicken since I was young. I would just give someone a beating to vent my anger. Killing... I would never dare. It was just talk."

Regardless, she would not admit that she had forced the Li family to perform the disembowelment. Even if she had, it was just harsh talk, not her true intent.

Father Li emphasized, "You are lying! If you had truly forgiven us, we begged so many times, why wouldn't you relent?"

"I am not lying," Chu Yunli shouted back. "I didn't want anyone's life, but I didn't want to forgive either. How did you know that if you had begged a little more, I wouldn't have softened? Besides, your family had no sincerity at all. You spoke of knowing you were wrong, but you never mentioned compensation... Even if you did, you asked me to set the terms. How could I have the nerve to ask? I nearly lost my life; life is priceless. How much is appropriate to ask for? How much is your family willing to give?"

Father Li: "..." That was not it!

Having spent half a lifetime in the business world, he had seen many people. He could feel that Luo Meiniang had no intention of reconciling. Coupled with the fact that it wasn't easy to get a doctor from out of town, he had wanted a quick resolution to finish off his son’s situation and end the feud.

He gritted his teeth. "You say all this just to distance yourself from the matter."

Chu Yunli said indignantly, "Li Hualin nearly took my life, and now you are accusing me. You Li family members are truly unreasonable. Whoever marries into your family is doomed!"

She rose abruptly and started to leave.

Li Hualin was in too much pain to sleep soundly. Awakened by the commotion, he heard Chu Yunli’s words, and his chest heaved with rage.

He had said long ago that Luo Meiniang was a businesswoman; if they gave her enough benefits, there would be room for negotiation. But his family didn't believe him... even if they had just stalled for time! The excuses were ready-made; he was severely injured from the beating Luo Meiniang’s people had given him, so they could have said he needed to recover first.

Perhaps by then, Luo Meiniang wouldn't be so hateful?

He could have begged more, offered more compensation, and the matter would have been resolved! Instead, his belly was already cut open, and the pain made his vision go black. He truly felt that if he closed his eyes, he would never wake up. The pain made him mute, and his words were unintelligible to others. Seeing Chu Yunli about to leave, he grew anxious.

In his anxiety, he emitted a hideous "he-he" sound. It was an unpleasant noise, but it finally caught the attention of those around him.

"Meiniang..."

Father Li understood what his son meant and immediately called out, "Meiniang, Hualin wants to speak to you."

Chu Yunli stopped. She had only glanced at Li Hualin’s wretched state from afar and hadn't approached. She was quite willing to chat with him about the pain of disembowelment.

She turned around, and Father Li sighed in relief. She walked straight into the inner chamber, stood before Li Hualin, and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Li Hualin: "..." It hurt so much he was dying!

Saying he was dying of pain was not an exaggeration at all. He nodded slightly.

Chu Yunli nodded. "I was in great pain too, but my heart hurt even more. I never expected the person beside me to commit such a heinous act... Speaking of which, the ones who did this to you are your own parents; you must be heartbroken too, right?"

Li Hualin nodded again. He didn't even dare to breathe too deeply, for even a light intake of air tugged at his internal organs. He gritted his teeth and asked, "Do you still... hate... hate me?"

Chu Yunli retorted, "Do you hate your parents? Seeing you like this, you should. Then why do you think I wouldn't hate you? However, since you have suffered this pain, we are even! From now on, take care of yourself!"

Hearing this, Li Hualin was relieved and fainted completely.

As Chu Yunli approached the door, she suddenly caught a whiff of medicine. Doctors were particularly sensitive to the smell of herbs. Her eyes swept around, and she immediately noticed a maid brewing medicine under the corridor.

She sniffed and walked straight up to the maid. "Who is this medicine for?"

The maid was full of vigilance, looking as if she wanted to throw herself over the pot to protect it. "For the Second Young Master." She emphasized, "Miss Luo, the Second Young Master is already in such a miserable state, please let him go! I will absolutely not help you change the medicine!"

Chu Yunli’s gaze was meaningful. "It would be better if you did change it."

Li Hualin’s wounds were so severe he wouldn't last a few days, but if he drank this medicine, he would likely be meeting his maker immediately.

The maid was shocked. "I would rather die than betray my master!"

She said this loudly, intending to send a signal. In fact, she didn't need to; Chu Yunli’s status was too special to the Li family, and she was watched wherever she went. Her arrival had already been reported to the Li father and son.

This was the medicine Li Hualin was supposed to drink. He was severely injured, and the slightest thing wrong could cost him his life. Father Li hurried over. "Owner Luo, what are you doing?"

Chu Yunli pointed at the medicine pot. "I think this medicine is wrong; it's not the same as what I drank!" She said unhurriedly, "The decoction I had allowed my wounds to scab over in ten days and walk within half a month."

To Father Li, she was implying that this medicine was not as good as what she had taken. He pondered for a moment. "Which doctor did you consult?"

Chu Yunli was surprised. "You believe me?"

Father Li: "..." Better not to ask. Even if Luo Meiniang told the truth, he probably wouldn't dare believe it.

"Don't talk nonsense. This was prescribed by the doctor just now." Li Huaping, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Father, this woman has ill intentions. My brother is in extreme danger and is waiting for this medicine to save his life. If there is a delay, he might..."

Father Li found this logical. "Let him drink it first, then send someone to invite a better doctor."

Chu Yunli raised an eyebrow. "I'm offering a kind warning; this medicine is a death warrant. Someone is trying to harm Li Hualin!"

"No one is harming him except you," Li Huaping said, gesturing. "Guest, please leave!"

Chu Yunli looked him up and down. "You are in such a hurry to chase me away, could it be that you are the one who tried to poison him?" She sniffed. "Li Hualin has such large wounds; he should be drinking medicine to stop the bleeding, yet there are several herbs in here that promote blood circulation. Are you trying to make him bleed to death?"

Seeing her speak so convincingly, Father Li began to doubt.

Li Huaping’s expression turned unnatural for a fleeting moment before he sneered, "You are sowing discord again."

Seeing that Father Li was already suspicious, Chu Yunli laughed happily and waved her hand. "Think what you want, I'm leaving!"

A father knows his son best; Father Li had also noticed the anomaly in his eldest son. He stared at the steam rising from the medicine pot and ordered, "Invite Doctor Liu from the front courtyard."

Li Father was a man who knew how to live frugally. By chance, he had saved Doctor Liu, who was a loner. His medical skills were unorthodox, limited to treating minor ailments. For serious injuries, one would go outside. In the matter of Li Hualin’s disembowelment, Father Li had never considered him and hadn't even intended to let him know.

Logically, Li Hualin should have had a doctor standing by, but disembowelment was not a good thing, and the fewer people who knew, the better. Thus, Father Li hadn't invited another doctor, intending for the one he hired to stay for half a day... but the doctor was so anxious he wouldn't even wait that long. As for the two brought by his former daughter-in-law, he didn't dare use them!

At this moment, only Doctor Liu was nearby.

Doctor Liu arrived quickly. While his skills were limited, as a doctor, the first thing he learned was to identify herbs. He smelled the thick scent of blood in the courtyard and knew before seeing the patient that a lot of blood had been lost. Upon smelling the medicine, he frowned. "This promotes blood circulation... is that appropriate?"

Father Li was a layman, but he understood the meaning of "promoting blood circulation."

If there was anyone who hated the younger son, it was the Luo father and daughter. But the person who pointed out the problem was Luo Meiniang. She shouldn't be bored enough to harm someone and then come to save them. Therefore, the person who changed the medicine had to be someone else.

The eldest son and his wife had complained more than once about the trouble the younger brother had caused. Father Li had already seen it in their attitude and words... Surely it couldn't be his wife? Since the younger son’s incident, his wife had been the most worried and attentive. It couldn't be her.

Other than her, only the eldest son remained.

Father Li felt a chill run through his entire body. He closed his eyes and scolded, "Huaping, kneel down!"

Li Huaping had known things would go wrong the moment his former sister-in-law pointed out the medicine and brought his father over. He had harmed his brother, and it was normal for his father to be angry. He could have pleaded guilty and accepted his punishment, but in front of an outsider, he refused to admit it!

Many things could be done but not said. Brothers fighting, poisoning one's own brother—the fewer people who knew, the better.

Chu Yunli did not feel that she was an outsider who needed to avoid the scene. She shook her head. "I said it before: Li Hualin killing his wife was definitely because the upper beam of your Li family is crooked. Now it seems I was right. Li Hualin could harm his wife, so it’s no surprise you would harm your brother." She tilted her head and asked curiously, "If one day you feel your parents are blocking your path, will you kill them too?"

Li Huaping, of course, did not admit it. "Stop trying to sow discord in our family." He turned to his father to explain. "It really wasn't me. Even if I hate my brother, I wouldn't harm him. It must be this woman who had the medicine changed and then exposed it to disrupt our family. Father, if you believe her and suspect your son, you have fallen into her trap."

Chu Yunli chuckled. "You are father and son, so you must believe each other. I've become the villain." She flicked her sleeves and started to walk away. "I shouldn't have opened my mouth; I should have let Li Hualin die as soon as possible!"

Father Li: "..."

He did want to blame the medicine-changing on his former daughter-in-law... No matter who did it, the family could no longer endure such turmoil. Some things didn't need to be rooted out; turning a blind eye was better.

Chu Yunli took two steps, then remembered something and looked back. "By the way, you don't really think I was the one who changed the medicine, do you? I'll say it again: I wouldn't dare kill anyone, but today I must find the culprit."

She walked back and stood under the corridor. "I won't leave until this is cleared up!"

Li Huaping’s scalp tingled. "It was clearly you who changed the medicine."

Chu Yunli was not angry. "You really think so?" She asked Father Li, "And you think so too?"

Neither father nor son answered, which was equivalent to an admission. Even though Father Li knew his son was the culprit, he didn't want to pierce this veil. Otherwise, how could the family get along in the future?

Chu Yunli nodded. "It seems I must find a way to clear my name."

Li Huaping refused to admit he had harbored thoughts of killing his brother. "The person who hates my brother the most is you; no one else would harm him."

"That makes sense. If word gets out, outsiders will think the same." Chu Yunli said solemnly, "Then I have all the more reason to clear my name."

She turned to her maid. "Go, go to the magistrate and ask the official to come and investigate thoroughly."

Father Li: "..." No! If the official came, the fact that his son had been disemboweled could not be hidden! If word of this spread, the Li family would once again become the talk of the town.

Li Huaping could no longer sit still, his heart filled with panic. "Stop that maid! Don't let her go!"

Even though Father Li hadn't asked, and even though he kept claiming Luo Meiniang had changed the medicine, his panic alone revealed everything. For a moment, Father Li felt a profound sense of sorrow. How had his family become like this?

He wanted to reflect, but this was not the time. He looked at Chu Yunli and said, "We won't pursue this, and we won't trouble you in the future. You may leave."

Chu Yunli rested her chin on her hand. "I forgot to mention, I told my carriage driver to wait outside. If I don't come out for a long time, he will report this to the authorities!"

Father Li: "..." He didn't have time to ask why Luo Meiniang had given such an order, and he turned and shouted, "Hurry and chase him down!"

Chu Yunli smiled. "It's too late!"