Chapter 1331: Family Acknowledgment

Liu Lai followed Liu Laoda into the house; this was an opportunity. Cuihong was making cotton clothes inside the house. The youngest son still didn’t have a set, so she had to find the cotton from worn-out ones and make a small set for him.

Liu Lai saw Sun Cuihong as soon as he entered. It had been more than a month since he last worked. She looked quite different, and he glanced at the child lying on the bed.

Liu Lai was sure in his heart, this was his son, definitely. The resemblance was uncanny.

Liu Lai’s heart was on fire; he was over forty and now he had a son.

Liu Laoda looked at Liu Lai staring at the child, also feeling they looked very similar.

Although Liu Lai was a scoundrel, he was not foolish. He noticed Liu Laoda’s unfriendly gaze and immediately reacted.

"Laoda, why does this child look so much like me? Why don’t you just give him to me?"

"Give him to you?"

"Yes, we don’t have anyone besides this family, all are from the Old Liu Family. This child resembles me a lot, he must have a connection with me.

Look, I don’t have a wife or a family; in the future, when I’m gone, at least someone will be there to send me off."

"Wishful thinking. This is my youngest son. Give him to you? Dreaming?"

"Laoda, I’m serious. I have a hundred yuan with me, I’ll give it all to you, can’t let you raise this child for free, right?"

A hundred yuan is indeed quite a sum in the rural area. Liu Lai actually only had that hundred, but for his son, he thought even if he spent it all, so what? He could earn it back by working hard for a few years.

Liu Laoda didn’t expect Liu Lai to have a hundred yuan, greedy as he was, he didn’t speak immediately.

Liu Lai saw through Liu Laoda’s intentions. But he truly had no more, and being who he was, he couldn’t even borrow a penny from others.

"Laoda, don’t be dissatisfied. I really fell for this child at first sight. You know my situation. Frankly speaking, even if I try to borrow, I can’t scrape up a single coin.

This one hundred yuan is what I’ve saved over the years, meant for my future funeral expenses. But who asked me to fancy this child? I’m willing to spend it."

Upon hearing Liu Lai’s words, Liu Laoda looked at the child lying on the bed, noticing how much he resembled Liu Lai. Thinking about it, he already had two sons, missing one wouldn’t make much difference. Besides, if he kept this son, by the time he was in his sixties, he’d still have to build a house and find a wife for him?

Although having a younger son was joyful, in reality, it was really a burden.

Liu Lai could even provide a hundred yuan, plus, it’s his own biological son. Even if Liu Lai raised him, he would still be related. Someone else would be raising his own child for free.

Sun Cuihong listened to the two men without raising her head.

This child must be Liu Lai’s; ever since that time, Liu Laoda hadn’t touched her. She’s the only one who knows for sure.

The child would probably fare better with Liu Lai than staying in the family.

Although he wasn’t reliable or a good person, he would surely ensure the child was fed. Unlike in the Liu Family, survival wasn’t even a guarantee.

Liu Laoda was indeed thinking of getting more money out of Liu Lai. But he knew Liu Lai was telling the truth.

"Alright, then it’s yours."

"Fine, let’s go find the village head and write a document. Also, the child is still too young, your wife needs to take care of him for a while longer."

"That’s not possible."

"Laoda, this is your child too. How can you be so ruthless?

Forget it, I won’t take the child then. Can’t risk not living well with me, whereas at least he still has his mother in your family."

Liu Lai sighed after speaking, pretending to leave.

"Liu Lai, wait a moment. It’s not impossible for us to keep raising this child, but you need to add an extra ten yuan."

"Laoda, if I say I don’t have a single cent more, would you believe me?" After saying this, he continued to head towards the door. The room was small; just a few steps would take him out.

Liu Laoda, seeing that nothing more could be squeezed out of Liu Lai, said, "Fine, but by spring planting, you need to take the child away."

"Alright, let’s go find the village head to write the document. I’ll give you twenty yuan first, and by the time of spring planting, you’ll get your remaining eighty yuan, not a cent less."

"That won’t work, who knows if you truly have that much money?"

"Laoda, you’re too cunning. How about this, I’ll deposit the money with the village head. When I come to take the child, you can just go to him for the money."

Liu Lai was doing this to prevent the Liu Family from mistreating the child.

"Laoda, let me make it clear, once we write the document, this child will be mine, Liu Lai’s. In the few months under your care, don’t mistreat him.

If when I come to get the child and find anything wrong, I won’t take him, plus you’ll have to refund my money.

Don’t get upset; you’ll have to return the money whether you like it or not, believe it or not?"

"Rest assured, no matter what, this child is still my son. Even in the future, he’ll still call me uncle, won’t he? Rest assured, the child won’t be mistreated."

"Mm, make sure he’s fed; there must not be any shortage.

Also, I should inform my aunt about this. If the elder doesn’t agree, whatever we say is in vain."

"Let’s go, we’ll discuss this with my mom."

Only after the two men left did Sun Cuihong lift her head, feeling utterly powerless. Her own child was being given away without anyone asking her opinion.

At that moment, the child lying down woke up and started moving. He had either wet or soiled himself.

No matter what, he was her son. Sun Cuihong couldn’t be as heartless as the Liu Family. She took good care of this child.

Liu Laoda and Liu Lai found Old Mrs. Liu. "Auntie, I’ve taken a liking to Laoda’s young son, can I raise him? You wouldn’t want to see me die without someone attending to me, right? This child resembles me, my grandfather used to say I resemble our old Liu Family’s ancestor. This child seems to be reverting to the ancient.

It’s rare for the Old Liu Family to have one like me. I discussed with Laoda, I’ll give him a hundred yuan, and come spring planting, I’ll take him home."

Old Mrs. Liu was about to lash out, but when she heard about a hundred yuan, immediately thought about building a new house for her youngest son’s family.

"That money has to be given to me."

"Mom, not a single penny for you; we’ve already divided the family. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. You just want to give it to the Third, right?

If you treat me like this, aren’t you afraid of the future? They are all your sons; you should treat us fairly. Don’t make me hold a grudge in my heart."

Old Mrs. Liu was momentarily stunned. Just about to start wailing, she saw her eldest son’s menacing look and cowered.

True, how many more years did she have left to live! If the eldest stopped caring for her, relying solely on the youngest wouldn’t work.

The younger daughter-in-law was fierce. Disobedient, not as docile as the eldest’s.

"Laoda, I’m your real mom. What’s wrong with me getting the money?"