Chapter 7

Yumei Lin walked towards Li Zian, her beautiful face devoid of any expression, and her eyes were calm, showing no ripples as she looked at Li Zian.

Li Zian sighed inwardly, thinking to himself, "Is there any point in maintaining this marriage? I'll bring it up today when she comes back. If she agrees, I can leave with a clean conscience."

Another woman got out of the helicopter, in her early twenties, with a short men's haircut, delicate features, wearing a tight tank top and multi-pocket pants, and clearly visible muscle lines on her arms, exuding a heroic and spirited demeanor, clearly not an ordinary woman.

The woman in the short hair was holding a little girl, about three years old, with an apple-shaped face and big, bright eyes, very cute.

Li Zian had always dreamed of Yumei Lin giving him a daughter; he liked girls because daughters are a father's little coat. However, Yumei Lin wouldn't even let him touch her, let alone have a child with him. He liked this little girl, but he didn't even know who her father was.

The little girl also stared at Li Zian, her big, black, and shiny eyes full of curiosity.

Li Zian sighed inwardly. He was too lazy to guess who the short-haired woman and the little girl were; anyway, he was going to have a talk with Yumei Lin today.

Yumei Lin stopped at the village office entrance and said from a distance, "Zian, let's go home. I have something to talk to you about."

Li Zian nodded and walked towards Yumei Lin, thinking to himself, "She might bring it up too. Fine, whether it's me or her, a clean break is all we need."

The village chief, Lin Deshan, came out of the village office, "Meilin, why did you park the helicopter in the field? The crops in the field..."

The little girl said in a childish voice, "The field won't be damaged, and we don't have money to compensate. Our family is in trouble."

Lin Deshan's words were stuck in his throat, and his face showed a strange expression.

He didn't expect a child being held in someone's arms to interrupt him.

Moreover, if you can afford a helicopter, how can your family be in trouble?

Li Zian couldn't help but laugh. This little girl was really interesting. He wondered who taught her to be so sharp and clever.

Yumei Lin glared at the little girl.

The little girl stuck out her tongue at Yumei Lin.

Yumei Lin looked at Lin Deshan and said apologetically, "Village Chief Lin, I came suddenly, and there's no helipad in the village, so I had to park it in the field. I'm really sorry. But don't worry, I'll compensate you double. Also, I'll donate 200,000 yuan to the village for road repairs."

Lin Deshan's face, which had no smile, instantly lit up with a broad grin when he heard about the 200,000 yuan donation. "That's great. Let's go to the office and have a cup of tea. We can talk more."

Yumei Lin said, "I have something to discuss with my husband. I'll let my assistant talk to you about the donation." She glanced at the short-haired woman holding the child and added, "Kunli, give me the child. You go talk to Village Chief Lin and transfer 200,000 yuan to the village."

So, she was her assistant.

Kunli walked over, handed the child to Yumei Lin, glanced at Li Zian, and then said, "Village Chief Lin, I'll go to the village office with you."

"Sure, please, please," Lin Deshan led the way.

"Zian, let's go," Yumei Lin said.

Li Zian nodded and followed Yumei Lin.

Just then, Chen Gang suddenly ran over, shouting, "Yumei Lin, your husband injured me. You have to pay for my medical expenses!"

Yumei Lin stopped, frowned slightly, and said, "Zian, why did you fight with that kind of person?"

Li Zian glanced back at Chen Gang, wanting to rush over and beat him up, but it wasn't appropriate in front of Yumei Lin and the child. However, he didn't want to explain; he didn't want Yumei Lin to hear those vulgar words.

He didn't want to explain, but Chen Gang did.

"Heh, acting all high and mighty. You made money outside and even came back in a helicopter. You think you can get away without paying for my medical expenses?" Chen Gang sneered.

Yumei Lin's expression turned cold. She now understood why Li Zian had beaten up this ruffian.

The little girl also glared at Chen Gang, her eyes full of anger.

Lin Deshan scolded, "Chen Gang, shut your dirty mouth!"

Chen Gang sneered, "What, just because she donated 200,000 yuan, you're taking her side? Li Zian injured me, and that's a fact. I don't care. I must get my medical expenses today. I keep saying, she's just a..."

Kunli suddenly sprinted a few steps, leaped up, and did a 180-degree spin in mid-air. Her long leg, powered by the momentum, struck Chen Gang's face with a forceful kick.

Bang!

Chen Gang fell to the ground with a thud.

Kunli landed, and dust flew up from her Martin boots.

Li Zian was surprised. How could Yumei Lin have such an assistant?

"Ah, Gangzi!" Ma Xiaorong cried, rushing to Chen Gang, "Villagers, you must stand up for us. This is too much..."

"Shut up, you deserve it!" someone said.

"Right, we all know what kind of person your husband is. If he didn't slander others, why would he get beaten? Why don't they beat me?"

"Exactly, how can someone like Yumei Lin be that kind of person? It's nonsense."

"Defamation should be punished!"

"The village roads have needed repair for a long time. We've been waiting for this. If you and your husband try to ruin it, I, Old Wang, won't agree!"

"Right, we should ask Yumei Lin to donate more. The village irrigation channels also need repair..."

Ma Xiaorong was stunned. Her husband had been beaten in front of the whole village, but no one was speaking up for her. Instead, she and her husband became the target of the villagers' criticism.

Yumei Lin didn't even want to look at Chen Gang and Ma Xiaorong. She said calmly, "Zian, let's go home."

Li Zian followed Yumei Lin towards the old family home. He occasionally glanced at the little girl in Yumei Lin's arms, wanting to ask who her father was, but the words died on his lips.

He and Yumei Lin had been married for four years, and they hadn't even held hands. If this child was Yumei Lin's with some rich businessman, it would be too awkward to ask.

Moreover, it was highly likely. Otherwise, where did she get the helicopter? Could working buy a helicopter? Clearly not.

The little girl also occasionally glanced at Li Zian, sometimes even smiling at him, looking very mischievous.

The old family home was getting closer.

The little girl in Yumei Lin's arms spoke, "Mom, where are we going?"

Mom?

Li Zian felt as if he had been slapped. He had just been wondering if this little girl was Yumei Lin's with some rich businessman, and now she called Yumei Lin "mom."

A wave of sadness washed over him, but he couldn't help but laugh.

Damn, what a green hat!

Her child with another man was already this big, and he only found out now!

Even more infuriating, she brought the child home!

Yumei Lin showed no intention of explaining. There was not even a hint of guilt in her eyes. She said calmly, "This is Mom's hometown. Mom is bringing you to see Great-Grandma."

"Where is Great-Grandma?" The little girl's voice was very innocent.

Yumei Lin said, "In the ancestral house up ahead. You'll meet Great-Grandma soon."

"Who is this uncle?" The little girl looked at Li Zian, her big, black, gem-like eyes full of curiosity.

Yumei Lin paused before saying, "He is your father."

"Father?" The little girl stared at Li Zian, her face full of surprise, "Mom, didn't you say Father went to Mars to dig coal? Is he back so soon?"

Li Zian almost choked.

She actually told the child he went to Mars to dig coal!

He really wanted to slap Yumei Lin for being so outrageous, but seeing the child in her arms, he suppressed his impulse. It wasn't good to argue in front of such a cute little girl. He would talk to her later.

Yumei Lin didn't explain to the little girl, just carried her and walked.

The little girl leaned on Yumei Lin's shoulder and asked curiously, "Is he my father?"

Li Zian didn't know how to answer. He really wanted a cute daughter like this, but since the girl was from another man, how could he be her father?

The little girl asked again, "Is there a lot of coal on Mars?"

Li Zian: "..."

"Are there flowers and butterflies on Mars?"

Li Zian covered his forehead.

The little girl stuck out her tongue at Li Zian and made a face, "Lalala!"

Li Zian knew she was making a face because he ignored her, but he couldn't be angry with such a cute child.

The two adults and the child entered the courtyard. Lin Shengnu, with a face full of wrinkles, smiled broadly, "Oh, Meilin, I've been waiting for you to come back."

"Grandma." Yumei Lin quickly walked over to Lin Shengnu, put the child down, and they embraced.

The little girl looked at Li Zian again, then lifted her small hands and pulled down her eyelids, making another face at him.

Li Zian couldn't help but ask, "What's your name?"

"I won't tell you. You didn't tell me if there are flowers and butterflies on Mars." The little girl turned away, ignoring Li Zian.

Lin Shengnu picked up the little girl, kissed her cheek, and said happily, "Meimei, you're so good, you look like your mom."

"Meimei, call Great-Grandma." Yumei Lin said.

The little girl called out in a clear voice, "Great-Grandma."

"Good, good." Lin Shengnu kissed the little girl again.

The little girl seemed a bit reluctant, turning her head away, but she couldn't escape Lin Shengnu's kisses.

A faint sadness welled up in Li Zian's heart. The three generations of the family were enjoying a happy moment, while he felt like an outsider.

"Meilin, I want to talk to you." Li Zian said, deciding to have it out.

"Let's talk here." Yumei Lin said.

Li Zian glanced at the little girl and said, "It's not appropriate here. Let's go to the room to talk."

Yumei Lin said, "This is the first time you've met the child. Don't you want to hold her?"

The anger in Li Zian's heart almost burst, but he suppressed it. It wasn't appropriate to argue or talk about divorce in front of the child.

Yumei Lin said to the little girl, "Meimei, call Father."

The little girl hid her head behind Lin Shengnu's neck, "No."

Yumei Lin frowned, "Are you being disobedient? What did Mom tell you on the way?"

The little girl turned her head, pouted, and reluctantly called, "Father."

Li Zian didn't want to respond, but he did.

This was his conflict with Yumei Lin, and the child was innocent. He couldn't take it out on a three-year-old.

"Let's talk. I'll take the child to see the fish." Lin Shengnu carried the child away.

"Great-Grandma, what fish?" the little girl asked.

"Big fish." Lin Shengnu carried the child away.

After Lin Shengnu left, Li Zian said, "Yumei Lin, what's your intention?"

"What do you want to say?" Yumei Lin asked.

Li Zian, angry to the point of laughter, said, "Whose child is she?"

Yumei Lin said, "Of course, she's your child. What do you mean?"

Li Zian was stunned.