Chapter 149 Efficacy
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At Chang Ling’s home, the atmosphere was as heavy as ever today. The reason was simple: after ten years of marriage, they still had no children to bring joy to the family. Due to certain circumstances, the Yuan family had only one male heir. If Chang Ling could not bear a child, the family line would come to an end. Every day, Chang Ling’s mother-in-law used this as an excuse to mock and ridicule her, often urging for a divorce. Although Chang Ling’s husband, Yuan Yi, cared deeply for his wife, he was rarely home, so he could not protect her all day long. Relatives, friends, and neighbors constantly ridiculed her behind her back, calling her a barren old hen. Despite this, Chang Ling remained resilient, showing remarkable strength under pressure. It wasn’t until a few days ago that they discovered the reason for their childlessness was actually her husband’s issue—a revelation like finding a hidden path in a dark forest. Now, Chang Ling walked with a newfound confidence, unfazed by the gossip behind her back. Especially her mother-in-law, who had visibly aged ten years in this period, her spirit deflated. Before, the mother-in-law thought that once they divorced and Yuan Yi remarried, the family would soon have a grandson. But now, knowing the problem lay with her own son, even ten more wives wouldn’t bring a son. Truly, despair had aged her face by a decade. The elderly father-in-law sighed deeply, looking up at the sky. Chang Ling paid them no mind; in truth, her relationship with Yuan Yi was strong.
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That was why, despite ten years without children, they had never divorced. Today, as soon as her husband came home, Chang Ling remembered the medicinal wine that Xiao Weiguo had given her. She mysteriously urged her husband to wash his feet and face, then poured about a small bowl’s worth of the golden-hued liquid. The wine looked like amber and carried a faint, pleasant fragrance. Judging by its appearance alone, it was top-quality. Yuan Yi, a man who usually appreciated fine wine, saw it and drank it down without a word or question. Chang Ling felt frustrated, having wanted to explain but now unable to. She had thought he might be opposed to taking medicine. “Yi Ge, I heard this wine is quite effective,” she finally said. The next day, in the neighboring room, Yuan Yi said, “Ling’er, this medicinal wine is really good. If we really do have a child someday, you must thank your little brother.” “Yi Ge, I’ll be sure to,” she replied. Shi Guanglin had no overtime today and returned early to their home on Nanluogu Alley to have dinner with the women of the family. Unfortunately, he was the only grandson whose career was underwhelming. Almost thirty, he was still only a deputy section chief—hardly a source of pride in the family. While other male relatives were busy with their careers, he could only come home to keep his grandmother and mother company. Returning to his small courtyard, he found his wife playing with their three-year-old daughter.
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“Yuer, come here, daddy wants a hug. Were you a good girl today?” Shi Guanglin had been married and already had a three-year-old daughter. “Our Yuer is the most obedient. Guanglin, you better wash up; you smell all sweaty and stinky,” his wife, Xiao Mengdie, said while covering her nose. “Yeah, daddy smells stinky,” Yuer giggled in Shi Guanglin’s arms, pretending to cover her nose too. “Oh, so you dislike daddy? Smelly, smelly,” Shi Guanglin teased, blowing warm air on her little face. After some playful moments, Xiao Mengdie said, “It’s late, Yuer, you need to have Auntie put you to bed, or you’ll sleep in tomorrow.” Catching his wife’s gaze, Shi Guanglin suddenly remembered the medicinal wine Xiao Weiguo had given him. He wasn’t sure if it would work but decided to try it—after all, Weiguo was usually reliable. He handed their daughter over to the housekeeper, a distant relative who officially lived with them but mainly helped with childcare and housekeeping. Returning to the bedroom, Shi Guanglin took out the ceramic bottle, poured a small amount, and drank it down without hesitation. Medicinal wines usually worked gently and slowly, so he gave it some time. Unexpectedly, it backfired... The next day, Shi Guanglin’s precious medicinal wine was hidden away.