How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Chapter 234 Zhang Yan Gives Birth

The banquet began immediately, with Qingru serving as a guest, while the main banter was between Commander Guo and Young Master Long.

The banquet featured local products common in the Jiangnan region, and also included several special dishes from the southwest.

Qingru focused on eating and paid no attention to what Commander Guo and the others were saying.

Commander Guo took a sip of soup before speaking, “Your father is a busy man, and I haven’t seen him in a long time.”

Long Jinzhi said, "The border has always been unstable. As you know, my father has spent a lot of energy just to keep the border stable. The chieftains in the southwest are also not behaving themselves. It's really a lot of worry for him."

Guo Dashuai picked up some food and said, "I've often heard your father say that your uncle went to Wuhan last time, but I didn't see him."

Long Jinzhi ate his food and smiled bitterly upon hearing this. "To my shame, my father was injured at the time. He originally said he would go by himself, but no one in the family was at ease, so in the end, my uncle went. In the end, he didn't get anything out of the situation."

Commander Guo suddenly sighed, "Yunnan is still the best, with birds singing and flowers blooming all year round. I heard that a few people have gone to the north as well? They certainly know how to find a place."

Long Jinzhi said, "The north is in chaos, and many people have fled south. Those who have made it to Yunnan are extremely rare."

After that, Commander Guo stopped talking about it, and Long Jinzhi also wisely kept quiet.

The rest of the group was completely bewildered, except for Qingru, who frowned. The North? Shandong is also in the North, so her father...

"Young Master Long, is the North in chaos?"

Long Jinzhi asked, "Where do you want to ask?"

Qingru said, "My father went to Shandong to visit relatives and hasn't returned yet."

Long Jinzhi thought for a moment, "These days, nowhere is safe and secure. It's more reassuring to stay at home."

Qingru seemed to understand something, then smiled and nodded, "You're right."

The meal was eaten in a daze, and since Long Jinzhi was being treated to a good meal by Commander Guo, he naturally stayed at the Guo family's house.

Before Qingru left, Long Jinzhi came to see her off, saying, "Miss Lü."

Qingru turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"

Long Jinzhi smiled apologetically, "Qin San'er is indeed one of my men. I didn't expect him to offend you. I'm sorry."

Qingru shook her head. "It's all in the past, no need to worry about it. But Young Master Long, you should take care of your health. These stolen flowers are not good to eat; they might be poisonous."

Long Jinzhi was intrigued and about to speak again when Guo Zixing squeezed in, "Young Master Long, aren't you going back to rest? I'll take Qingru back."

Long Jinzhi hadn't really meant anything by it, but seeing Guo Zixing's nervous expression, he suddenly felt a surge of interest and said, "Great! It'll be good for me to familiarize myself with the place. I'll visit Miss Lü's house tomorrow."

Qingru ignored her and walked away.

Long Jinzhi and Guo Zixing followed behind, looking more like two bodyguards.

Fortunately, the Lü family lived not far away, and Qingru arrived home in no time. At the door, Qingru shooed them away, saying, "I've arrived. Thank you both. Please go back."

Guo Zixing was about to speak when Qingru immediately interrupted, "A lot has happened in just one day. I need to go home and rest. Young Master Guo, how about giving me a day off tomorrow?"

Guo Zixing nodded, "Of course, thank you for your hard work."

"It should."

She slammed the door shut as soon as she finished speaking. Long Jinzhi chuckled and said, "She doesn't seem to welcome you."

Guo Zixing sneered, "She doesn't welcome you. I've known her for a long time, and it's not a matter of momentary anger."

Long Jinzhi stared at the gate of the Lü family mansion, something suddenly flashing through his mind, but he couldn't quite grasp the point. "The Lü family?"

Guo Zixing didn't hear clearly, "What did you say?"

Long Jinzhi shook his head. "It's nothing. Aren't you going back to rest? I've had some drinks today too."

Guo Zixing gestured for him to come this way, saying, "This way, please."

"it is good."

After saying this, the two walked side by side, escorted by guards, back to the Guo family.

In Guo Ziyou's courtyard, Zheng Peilan was throwing a tantrum. Before the door was even closed, she had already started cursing.

"You're really useless. That Long Jinzhi is obviously not simple. Why don't you try to get closer to him? All you do is eat. Do you think we're short of food?"

Guo Ziyou, looking impatient, stood up abruptly. "Can't you look at yourself now? You're nothing like the most refined young lady in Sifang City. You're no different from a shrew on the street!"

Zheng Peilan was consumed by anger, especially after seeing Guo Zixing return from his trip looking even more radiant, which made her even more resentful.

"Shrew? I also want to sit here and be a lady of leisure, but you'd better have the ability. Guo Zixing is at least a bureau chief, but what about you? I've been married to you for so long, and you're still a nobody. People call me 'Second Young Mistress' to sound nice, but in reality, I'm just the wife of a nobody. When I go out and socialize, this person is the wife of a division commander, that person is the wife of a director, but what about me? I'm nothing, not even as good as before we were married, and you still expect me to be gentle and tender?"

Guo Ziyou stood up irritably. "Then what do you want? I really regret marrying a woman like you."

Zheng Peilan was furious. "Regret? You regret it now, but wasn't it the time when you tried every means to marry me?"

Guo Ziyou sneered, "I know why you're acting crazy today. You only married me because you thought my brother was dead. Now that he's back, you're not happy about it? You're even older than me. I'm just a student. You've made a profit, haven't you, big sister?"

A woman's biggest pet peeve is having her age mentioned, especially when Guo Ziyou has this attitude. Her anger, already like a smoldering ember, was instantly ignited and exploded.

"Good, you're really something. What did you promise me back then? Let's go and explain it to Father right now."

Guo Ziyou was equally unwilling to back down. He had been pampered since childhood, and his only setback was Guo Zixing. He would certainly not tolerate Zheng Peilan this time.

"You're crazy, I can't be bothered to talk to you."

After saying this, Guo Ziyou was about to leave, but Zheng Peilan stopped him and grabbed his arm.

During the struggle, Guo Ziyou shoved her to the ground, saying, "Get away from me."

Zheng Peilan lost her footing and fell to the side. She immediately felt a pain in her lower abdomen, and a bad premonition welled up inside her.

"My child, my child!"

Guo Ziyou was startled when he saw the red blush on Zheng Peilan's body. He immediately sent someone to fetch a doctor, causing a great commotion.

On the other side of Sifang City, there was a detached small building where a young girl was biting a towel tightly, the pain from her lower body rising and falling in waves, with only an old woman helping her.

"Push harder, push harder!"

Zhang Yan spat out the towel from her mouth, drenched in sweat, her face plastered with greasy hair. She endured the pain and said, "Aunt Liu, I can't take it anymore! Go get the second young master, go quickly..."

Aunt Liu said with difficulty, "Oh dear, please stop talking. The second young master already said that you are not allowed to leave this courtyard. You still won't give up."

Zhang Yan endured the unbearable pain, her lower body feeling as if it were being torn apart, with something desperately trying to escape.

"No, Second Young Master, Second Young Master..."

Zhang Yan screamed in pain, as if only in this way could she relieve her physical suffering.

Aunt Liu was extremely anxious. "Please stop calling. It's important to save your energy for childbirth. I didn't know you would have a premature birth. We didn't have a midwife ready. Here's what we'll do: you just say you're going to give birth, and I'll go find a midwife for you. You wait here."

"No, Aunt Liu, Aunt Liu, ah..."

A piercing scream echoed throughout the house, and sure enough, Liu Ma abandoned her and ran away, fearing she would be implicated.

Only then did Zhang Yan realize that she had nowhere to turn for help. She shouldn't have done that; she shouldn't have ignored her brothers' advice and foolishly become someone's mistress without any status or recognition.

Before she could grieve, Zhang Yan screamed in pain, her survival instinct driving her to force the baby out of her womb.

"Wow..."

The newborn baby was finally born, and Zhang Yan was exhausted.

Aunt Liu hadn't returned yet, and the child was still connected to Zhang Yan. She forced herself to lift the child up for a quick look, then collapsed in despair, tears streaming down her face...

"It's a daughter, so why is it just a daughter?"

No one cared about Zhang Yan's moods, nor did anyone care about their lives. Just like that, Zhang Yan finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a deep sleep, unable to even take care of her child.