Chapter 252: Pressuring for Children

Chapter 252: Pushing for a Baby

Zhao Hongxia reassured Hao Yanyan, "Even though working for yourself isn’t stable, we still have Jianwen to rely on. You can just run a small business."

Actually, the Xu family was already doing better than most.

Both Xu Guochang and Zhao Hongxia had salaries and various benefits.

But who doesn’t want more money?

Once she saw Hao Yanyan could make money, Zhao Hongxia became less resistant to her running a business.

But she still added, "Unless there’s some health problem, you should hurry up with having a child."

Hao Yanyan nodded grimly.

The meal tasted like cardboard.

After leaving the Xus’ place, Hao Yanyan confronted Xu Jianwen.

"Mom said she wanted to take me to the hospital. Why didn’t you object?"

Xu Jianwen didn’t see the point. "You know how Mom is. If you don’t humor her, we’ll never hear the end of it. Think of it as just a checkup."

Hao Yanyan was angry. "Fine, then let’s both go for a checkup."

It made sense to suspect that Xu Jianwen might also have issues. They hadn’t been using contraception, so how could there still be no child?

Hearing his wife’s words, Xu Jianwen frowned.

"What makes you think *I* have a problem?"

Hao Yanyan retorted, "You went to college—how can you be this clueless? Even I know both partners could be at fault for something like this."

Xu Jianwen shook off Hao Yanyan’s hand. "If you don’t want to go, forget it. Don’t rope me into this."

Hao Yanyan watched as Xu Jianwen walked ahead without her, tears stinging her eyes.

How could he be so heartless?

Sure, he wasn’t as bad as the abusive man from her past life, but this kind of marriage wasn’t what Hao Yanyan wanted either.

All she wanted was real love—why was that so hard?

Living together meant constant arguments.

Every time, Hao Yanyan caved first to patch things up.

This time, Hao Yanyan held out for days, and the two remained in a cold war.

She had to collect a new shipment, so she left home early.

She didn’t finish until 4 p.m.

She locked up and stepped outside.

*I’ll cook more of Jianwen’s favorites tonight,* she thought to herself. *I still want to make this marriage work.*

Out of nowhere, someone darted out beside her.

The assailant went straight for Hao Yanyan, dragging her into a narrow alley beside the shop.

Mmph—mmph!

Hao Yanyan thought she had encountered a human trafficker and began struggling violently.

"Ye Yanyan, I've looked everywhere for you. You really know how to run."

Li Deshu's grim voice rang in her ears.

This nightmarish figure made Hao Yanyan struggle even more fiercely.

She stomped on Li Deshu's foot, causing him to hiss in pain and loosen his grip.

Once he released her, she sank her teeth into his wrist.

She would never forget that voice, even in her dreams.

Seizing the chance, she took off running, glancing back as she ran.

All she saw was Li Deshu's flustered, furious face.

"Shit..."

Li Deshu hadn't expected her to get away again.

By the time he looked up, Hao Yanyan had already reached the busy street.

With so many people around, he couldn’t try anything.

Today’s encounter had been an accident—Li Deshu had been forced to leave home because of debt collectors.

He’d divorced his (current) wife.

She had given him two grand as a divorce settlement, so he had agreed.

That money could have lasted him years in the village.

But Li Deshu used it for train fare and moved to the capital instead.

He just wanted to find out what had become of Ye Yanyan.

However, while searching for her, he hadn’t been idle—using memories from his past life, he ran small hustles, living an easy life.

Unfortunately, a gambler never quits for good.

Li Deshu relapsed into gambling, losing every last cent he had.

To survive, he became a dockworker, hauling cargo—a day-labor gig.

Sporadic and half-assed, Li Deshu lived hand-to-mouth in the capital.

After finishing work today, he spotted someone eerily familiar.

He stared hard before confirming—it was his wife.

His wife from his past life—Ye Yanyan.

But the difference between her and the Ye Yanyan from his past life was too stark. The Ye Yanyan of his past life was unkempt and worn-out, a complete haggard housewife.

But the current Ye Yanyan had styled curls, wore dresses, had a slim build, and exuded a refined air—she was now completely transformed into a city sophisticate.

Though her looks weren’t the most stunning, she outshone anyone from a small town.

Li Deshu gazed at the shop entrance.

He could probably catch her here.

……

Hao Yanyan bolted in fear, only stopping to sit down in a crowded place once Li Deshu was nowhere in sight.

Why was Li Deshu here?

He had just called her Ye Yanyan—a name no one had used in a long time.

*What exactly did Li Deshu want?*

In this life, she was certain she had no entanglement with him. Even if he was looking for someone, it shouldn’t be her.

His frantic behavior just now reminded her of what had happened after their marriage in their past life.

Once Hao Yanyan calmed down, her panic subsided.

She wasn’t the Ye Yanyan of the past. In a place like the capital, how hard could it be to deal with a country hick like Li Deshu?

Her earlier fear was just muscle memory from her past life.

When Hao Yanyan returned home, her husband, Xu Jianwen, wasn’t back yet.

She picked up the phone and called her mother-in-law, He Qiaoxiang, at the family compound.

"Mom, I need your help with something. I may have crossed someone in my business recently. Could you arrange for some people to protect me?"

This was an easy task for He Qiaoxiang.

With her years of connections in the capital, finding a few bodyguards was no trouble.

Upon hearing Hao Yanyan’s request, He Qiaoxiang immediately said, "I’ll arrange it right away. When you go out, stand your ground—don’t disgrace the family."

Hao Yanyan smiled. "Thanks, Mom. I understand."

He Qiaoxiang was curious. "That rinky-dink business of yours actually has competitors?"

Hao Yanyan: "I’ve already started expanding."

He Qiaoxiang: "Alright then, don’t screw it up. I’ll send some bodyguards to you tomorrow."

Hao Yanyan thanked her again.

After hanging up, all traces of panic had vanished from her face.

She was sure Li Deshu didn’t know who she’d become.

The Ye family definitely hadn’t let slip any information about her either.

Dealing with Li Deshu? Piece of cake.

She was determined to get revenge for all the wrongs from her past life and make sure Li Deshu wouldn’t dare provoke her again.

Meanwhile, Li Deshu was still wallowing in his delusional daydreams of mooching off women, completely unaware of what awaited him.

The next day, Hao Yanyan met the three bodyguards He Qiaoxiang had arranged for her—all tall, muscular, and well-trained.

Hao Yanyan led the three men toward her shop.

They separated before getting to the store, with the bodyguards instructed to follow shortly after.

As expected, Li Deshu was waiting in the same spot. The moment he saw Hao Yanyan, he planned to snatch her away like yesterday—after all, they hadn’t talked properly yesterday.

Li Deshu pounced at his chance and lunged forward.