Chapter 1000: Broken Family

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Lin Miao was meticulously avoiding the Gong family these days. As long as she didn’t meet them, they wouldn’t have a chance to bring up the subject of divorce. Despite this avoidance, she kept a sharp eye on all developments in the Gong household.

Recently, she learned they were in need of a housekeeper. It was the perfect opportunity to plant a spy. She had been racking her brain over who to send until, just moments ago, an ingenious idea struck her.

During her time in prison, Lin Miao had learned the art of survival and manipulation. One golden rule stood out: everything and everyone could be used as a tool. So what if Li Li was her father’s mistress? If Li Li was the ideal candidate to deal with Mo Li, then Lin Miao wouldn’t hesitate to use her.

She wasn’t worried about Li Li turning into a threat. Gong Zhan, no matter how much of a man he was, had his pride. There was no way he would fall for a middle-aged, countryside woman like Li Li—especially one carrying Gu Shan’s child. That alone rendered her utterly harmless in Lin Miao’s eyes.

After coming to an agreement with Li Li, Lin Miao finally felt a semblance of control over her precarious situation.

Now, the only hurdle left was convincing Zhang Mei. If she could get Zhang Mei on board and place Li Li in the Gong household to handle Mo Li, she could breathe easy, focus on her upcoming college entrance exams, and secure a bright future. Once she was admitted to a prestigious university, what could Mo Li possibly have to compete with her?

Lin Miao returned to the city and, with great reluctance, took fifty yuan from the four hundred she had painstakingly saved. She purchased a high-quality outfit for Zhang Mei, then headed home.

Watching Zhang Mei’s face light up as she tried on the new clothes, Lin Miao seized the opportunity to propose her plan.

“Mom,” she began gently, “you can’t divorce Dad, not now. Keeping Dad’s reputation intact is the only way to protect the Gu family and secure our future.”

Zhang Mei frowned but didn’t interrupt, so Lin Miao pressed on. “What’s done is done with Dad and Li Li. She’s just a simple country woman; she can’t stir up much trouble. But if we use her to deal with Mo Li, half the battle to secure my place as Mrs. Gong will already be won. Mom, you know how painful it is to have your husband taken from you. You’ve been through it—can you really bear to watch me go through the same thing? I’ve suffered so much already. All I want is a smoother path moving forward.”@@novelbin@@

Zhang Mei was initially furious, her chest tight with indignation. Did Lin Miao even consider her feelings as her mother?

But when Lin Miao brought up her difficult past, Zhang Mei’s anger wavered. It was true—they had switched the babies at birth. It was their mistake that had caused Lin Miao so much suffering. How could she deny her daughter’s simple wish for a better life?

Though Zhang Mei didn’t agree immediately, she spent a sleepless night wrestling with her emotions.

By morning, she relented. With a heavy heart, she chose to endure the pain and accept Li Li. Together, they approached Mrs. Chen, the mistress of the Gong household, to plead their case.

“Mrs. Chen,” Zhang Mei began, her voice humble, nearly pleading. “I know the rumors about my family are everywhere, and I’ve already lost all my dignity. But for the sake of our long-standing relationship, I beg you to do me a small favor. Please take Li Li in. She’s hardworking and innocent—she’s been wrongfully maligned by these rumors. It’s no longer appropriate for her to stay in my home, but her family is struggling, and she desperately needs this job.”

Mrs. Chen had initially resolved not to hire Li Li. If the rumors were true—that Li Li had an improper relationship with Gu Shan—then Li Li was undoubtedly a troublemaker. Such a person had no place in her household.

But Mrs. Chen was softhearted, and Zhang Mei’s pitiful plea made her waver. The way Zhang Mei painted Li Li’s situation was so tragic that Mrs. Chen couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. And besides, she reasoned, if the rumors were true, why would Zhang Mei, the most offended party, be helping Li Li find a new job?

Doubt crept in, and she decided to ask, “So, you’re saying the rumors are just baseless gossip?”

In the background, Gong Xin, Mrs. Chen’s daughter, overheard this and sighed in exasperation. She knew her mother’s bleeding heart would get them into trouble again.

Covering her face with her hands, she left the room, muttering under her breath about her brother’s unfortunate entanglement with Lin Miao. ‘That woman’s more tenacious than gum on a shoe,’ she thought. ‘And now she’s got even more tricks up her sleeve after her time in prison.’

As expected, Li Li was hired to work at the Gong household.

Zhang Mei, determined to protect Gu Shan’s reputation, swallowed her pride and publicly insisted that the rumors about him and Li Li were unfounded.

Gu Shan, touched by Zhang Mei’s magnanimity, expressed his gratitude. On the surface, harmony returned to the Gu family, but behind the scenes, the fractures remained. The family was broken, irreparably so, held together only by a facade of normalcy.