That day on the boat, Cai Damei overheard the conversation between Bao Min and Tong Mo. She felt a deep disgust toward Bao Min’s behavior.

“I’m sincere,” Bao Min said without a hint of embarrassment after being caught, his eyes filled with a tenderness that seemed to look down on dogs.

“If you were truly sincere, you wouldn’t have acted so recklessly toward me, nor been so single-minded in your desires.

I, Cai Damei, am an uneducated peasant woman who doesn’t understand those official rules and customs. But I’ve lived my life honestly and uprightly since I was a child. The man I marry is one whom the matchmaker properly came to ask for, with both families’ consent. I, Cai Damei, would never engage in any shameless, unmediated affair.” After speaking, Cai Damei turned to leave.

Bao Min grabbed her hand, “I don’t accept your reproach, Madam.”

He tightened his grip and pulled Cai Damei into his arms, holding her waist firmly.

“Madam, you say your daughter-in-law has no choice in her fate. So you encourage her to half-heartedly submit to Jiang Mingzhe.

Now I, Bao Min, the magistrate of Jiangcheng, a city’s fatherly official, extend my hand to you. Why won’t you half-heartedly yield to me?

If you follow me, you and your mother-in-law won’t just walk tall through Jiangcheng—no one would dare to bully you.

Even the once-rich Jiang Family would have to show you the utmost respect.”

Bao Min’s voice was seductive.

Cai Damei struggled, “Let me go.”

Bao Min held her tighter, his chest pressing against hers.

“Madam, you agreed to Ye Yunniang’s situation out of pity for her youth, her widowhood, her lack of a man’s love, right?

Madam, you’re a widow too. You need a man’s warmth as well. I, Bao Min, am willing to be your honored guest behind the curtain, your devoted servant beneath your skirts. Why won’t you agree?

You say you’re pure and upright, refusing to engage in shameless, unmediated affairs. I’m willing to marry you properly—with a grand bridal sedan chair carried by eight men, bringing you into the Bao family home.

Why won’t you agree?

Or is it that you want to keep your reputation as a chaste and loyal woman? You know Ye Yunniang is young and will surely remarry. So you let her use her body to earn benefits before she remarries, to support your family’s good life,”

Smack! Panting heavily, Cai Damei gasped for breath.

“Shut up.”

Bao Min didn’t mind being slapped; he smiled, “I’ve hit the mark on your true feelings, Madam.”

“Nonsense! I don’t!” Cai Damei shouted back.

“Are you really so innocent, Madam?” Bao Min doubted.

Cai Damei stared at Bao Min, speaking each word carefully, “I truly care for Yunniang. I have a clear conscience.”

She didn’t want to argue further with Bao Min—what was the point?

She ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‍knew she genuinely wished Ye Yunniang well.

Cai Damei pushed Bao Min away forcefully, then limped down the mountain path.

“Madam, aren’t you going to take the Wolf Fang?” Bao Min’s words made Cai Damei stop in her tracks.

“Give it to me.” Cai Damei reached out; she wanted to retrieve her son’s keepsake.

“Madam, let’s make a deal,” Bao Min proposed.

“I refuse.” Cai Damei rejected without hesitation.

She couldn’t see through Bao Min and didn’t want to get involved with him any further. She always felt she might be persuaded by his words.

“Madam, you don’t truly care about your daughter-in-law either.”

“What do you mean?” Cai Damei asked.

“Ye Yunniang is almost four months pregnant. Her belly will soon be impossible to hide. Have you thought about how you’re going to explain the father of the child to the outside world?” Bao Min asked, raising a very practical question.

Cai Damei had thought about this issue before. She originally planned that after handling the graves of Li Min and Li Jun, the four of them would stay in Lin City, waiting for Ye Yunniang to give birth before returning to Jiangcheng.

To the outside world, they would say the child was adopted, hoping to find a younger brother for Pan’er.

That was exactly what Li An had said back then, and the neighbors all accepted it. Having one more child shouldn’t be a problem.

Bao Min nodded after hearing this. “Madam’s idea is quite good. However,” Bao Min left a cliffhanger, not continuing.

“However what?” Cai Damei couldn’t help but press for an answer.

“The child’s appearance.” Jiang Tingjun wasn’t like Ye Yunniang—he could accept such an explanation. But the child in Ye Yunniang’s womb was another matter.

If it was someone like Ye Yunniang, it could be explained that the child was related to her family.

But what about Jiang Mingzhe?

Jiang Mingzhe was a household name in Jiangcheng, known by everyone.

If the child resembled Jiang Mingzhe, people would definitely investigate.

If they found out the child was Jiang Mingzhe’s…

Jiang Mingzhe’s enemies would crush Cai Damei and her family like killing ants.

“You’re lying.” Cai Damei said she didn’t believe it, but the worry in her eyes betrayed her.

“Madam, since you married me, none of this will be a problem.” Bao Min kept circling back to persuading Cai Damei to marry him.

“Sir, do you want to see a doctor?” Cai Damei felt Bao Min wasn’t understanding a word she said.

“Madam, only you can cure my illness.” Bao Min’s words gave Cai Damei goosebumps, making her shiver.

“Can you please speak normally?”

“Madam, don’t you like it?” Bao Min glanced at his brother, who spoke to his sister-in-law like this. His sister-in-law loved listening to him; she obeyed everything he said.

“No, I don’t. Please speak like a normal person, sir.” Cai Damei felt like she was going to throw up if Bao Min kept talking like this.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you, madam.” Bao Min went back to his serious tone.

“Even if I marry you, the matter of Ye Yunniang’s child is still difficult to explain.” Cai Damei followed Bao Min’s words and thought it through, realizing it wouldn’t work.

Bao Min’s status inevitably attracted more attention.

The risk of Ye Yunniang and her unborn child being exposed was even greater.

Cai Damei thought her original plan was still better.

“They wouldn’t dare.” Bao Min said confidently. After all his efforts, Jiangcheng was already under his control.

Even the prime minister’s Lin family had to show him some respect.

His current sister-in-law’s brother was a great general.

His former sister-in-law’s husband was a member of the imperial family.

Others feared the Lin family, but Bao Min wasn’t afraid at all.

“I understand your intentions, sir.” Cai Damei politely declined once again.

The more confident Bao Min was, the more uneasy Cai Damei felt.

Someone so powerful, now interested in her because of Jiang Mingzhe, showing all kinds of tenderness.

If things turned sour, Cai Damei and her family might not even know how they would die.

“Madam, are you really not considering me?” Bao Min looked disappointed. “Madam, I, Bao Min, swear that you will be the only one in my life.”

“Sir, you really would do anything to become Second Master Jiang’s father.” Cai Damei was speechless.

“That bastard Jiang Mingzhe actually made me call him ‘dad’.” Bao Min clenched his fists. Making Jiang Mingzhe call him father had become his obsession.

After Bao Min passed the provincial exam, with the support of his brother, sister-in-law, and former sister-in-law, he went out to study abroad.

On the road, Bao Min was ambushed by bandits and taken up into the mountains, treated like livestock and forced to plow fields and farm every day.

Jiang Mingzhe was escorting a shipment when he was waylaid by these bandits.

With many skilled men under his command, Jiang Mingzhe quickly subdued the bandits and led his men up the mountain.

He gathered everyone from the bandit hideout into the main hall for questioning.

Those confirmed to be troublemakers were sent to the county magistrate’s office, while those like Bao Min, who were innocent, were given silver coins and sent on their way.

This experience left Bao Min deeply grateful to Jiang Mingzhe, vowing to remember his kindness for life.

After bidding farewell to Jiang Mingzhe, Bao Min set off once again to continue his travels and studies.

The second time, Bao Min encountered bandits again and was taken to the mountains once more. Once again, Jiang Mingzhe came to his rescue.

The two shared a knowing smile, sensing that fate had brought them together.

Jiang Mingzhe joked that if there was a next time, Bao Min would have to call him “Dad,” since he had already saved his life twice—essentially giving him two chances at life.