Establishing Another Gateway

"Sever the family ties?!"

Li Qilang widened his eyes, "How can we sever them?"

Li Wuya didn't reply immediately; instead, she pondered with her hand on her chin.

In the borderlands, due to frequent wars and difficult living conditions, people needed to stick together to survive better. As a result, almost every family lived together for generations, and very few chose to separate.

The idea of separation would cause a sensation, and at the same time, it wouldn't be understood or supported by others.

If separation was already challenging, breaking family ties would be even more unthinkable.

Breaking family ties challenged the familial order established by blood relations in this era.

This matter wasn't easy to accomplish unless they could provide evidence that her father was not a biological son of the Li family.

Evidence?

Li Wuya suddenly remembered the blood recognition method mentioned in novels from her past life. Although this approach lacked a scientific basis, people believed in it.

Perhaps she could arrange a blood recognition ceremony.

As long as she could prove that her father was not a biological son of the Li family and coupled with how the Li family had mistreated him over the years, the severance of ties would be justified.

However, this matter required careful planning; otherwise, given the shamelessness of the Li family, they would undoubtedly cling to her father as a free labourer.

There needed to be witnesses to establish irrefutable evidence against the Li family.

How should she find these witnesses? Whom should she invite to witness the event? She needed to think carefully.

Yes, public opinion should not be overlooked either.

"Qilang, you continue to find your little friends and have them continue spreading the rumour about my father not being the biological son of the Li family in the village."

"Is this enough?"

"Of course not, but this matter cannot be rushed. We need to plan it carefully."

Li Sanlang obtained a written document from the village head, stating that Li Changsen, as the eldest son of the Li family, would provide a monthly allowance of three hundred men for his parents in their old age.

Seeing the village head's signature, Li's father felt relieved and followed Li Sanlang to Xining City to change their household registration.

That evening, Li Sanlang returned home with a relaxed expression. As soon as he entered the house, he happily said, "Father, mother, our household registration has been changed. Now we are ordinary commoners."

Li Changsen, lying motionless on the kang, smiled, "Great!" It was worth the risk he took.

Li Sanlang continued, "Father, I followed your instructions and agreed to their request."

Before he could finish his sentence, Li Changsen interrupted sternly, "In the future, you are not allowed to call them 'father' and 'mother.' That family has no relationship with our family whatsoever!"

Li Changsen's emotions were a bit agitated, and his eyes were filled with intense resentment.

This version of him was someone that Jin Yue'e and Li Wuya had never seen before, and it scared them a bit.

"What's wrong, head of the household?" Jin Yue'e quickly stepped forward to ease Li Changsen's mood.

Taking several deep breaths, Li Changsen finally calmed down, "I'm fine. You all go rest. After a couple of days of recuperation, when I'm feeling better, we will completely sever ties with that family."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of Li Wuya and the others brightened.

It seemed like their father was determined to cut all ties with the Li family.

Li Changsen didn't disappoint his family. On the fourth day after the household registration was changed, he had Li Sanlang invite several highly respected elders from the village, even the stationmaster, to gather at the Li family's courtyard.

Before these people arrived, Li Changsen lay on a wooden plank and was carried to the Li family by Jin Yue'e, Li Qilang, and Li Er'ya.

Li's father and mother were surprised to see Li Changsen's family suddenly arriving. "Why have you come?"

Li Changsen looked indifferent as he replied to the two, "I've come to establish a separate household and sever family ties."

"What did you say?!"

"Have you gone mad?!"

Li's father and mother exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with shock and panic.

"Eldest son, have you lost your mind? How could you deny your biological parents? You were conceived in your mother's womb for ten months and born through great effort. How can you sever the bond of blood relationship and family affection?" Li's father's expression was stern and sorrowful, portraying Li Changsen as a disobedient and unfilial child.

Li Changsen looked at his father with a cold expression and said, "I know, and I'm certain that I am not the son of the Li family. We have no blood ties whatsoever."

This statement left everyone, including Jin Yue'e, stunned.

Only Li Wuya, who was waiting at the courtyard gate for the village head and others, showed an understanding expression.

No wonder her father acted so resolutely; he must have confirmed his true identity.

However, how did her father confirm his true identity?

Li Changsen's words startled both his father and mother.

Trembling, Li's father said, "Eldest son, it seems like you've lost your mind. When your mother was pregnant with you, everyone in the entire military village saw her belly grow day by day. This can't be true."

Li Changsen interrupted him, "I went to Rongcheng." He then stared directly at his mother, "Do you still remember that noblewoman who gave birth at the same time as you back then?"

His mother's face turned pale, and she vigorously denied, "I don't understand what you're talking about."

Li Changsen sneered, then looked at his father, "You shouldn't have forgotten either. After all, when you returned to the military village, you mentioned this matter to many people."

Li's father, facing Li Changsen's determined gaze, swallowed hard. Although he was panicking inside, his mind was racing.

He thought that as long as they insisted that Li Changsen was their son, he wouldn't be able to separate and sever family ties. They would have to keep supporting him forever. So he said firmly:

"You are our son. I know we have become a burden to you in our old age, and you no longer want to recognize us. However, the fact that we are your biological parents can never be changed."

Li Changsen looked at his father as if he were a stranger as if he had just met him today. "I used to think that the most ruthless person in this family was the person who shared your bed. But now, it seems that you are the cruellest one."

"Whether it was when I was a child, and you made me take your place to serve in the military, or today when I have made my intentions so clear, you still manage to twist the truth. Who else in this world has a heart as cold as yours?"

Li's father stiffened his neck and persisted, "Eldest son, you've always been rebellious since you were a child. You didn't listen to your mother, and now you've gone mad, wanting to separate and sever ties with us. You're beyond redemption!"

"I'm telling you, no matter who comes, we are your true biological parents!"

Li Changsen looked coldly at his father, "Is that so? You are my biological parents, then who is the general in Rongcheng who bears a striking resemblance to me?"

With this question, Li's father was left speechless.

Li Changsen stared coldly at his mother, "I have no energy to waste on pointless arguments. When the village head and the others arrive, we will properly establish separate households and sever family ties. Otherwise, I'll go directly to the general's house, and then you'll have to face the fact that I am not your true son!"

"You dare!"

Li's mother suddenly roared.

Li Changsen chuckled, "No more pretences? I always thought you were cold-hearted, but now I understand that it's not because you are cold-hearted but because I am not your son. That's why you treated me with such a heart of stone."

"In your eyes, I'm just a hardworking beast for the Li family, right?"

Trembling, Li's mother looked at Li Changsen's eyes filled with hatred. Her heart tightened, but she still forced herself to say, "We can separate and sever ties, but you must swear never to visit that family's home and never disturb my son!"

"So, you admit that my father is not your biological son, right?"

Li Wuya suddenly walked in, looking at Li's mother with a face of absurdity, "Who do you think you are to demand that my father can't recognize his own family?"

"How can there be such a venomous person in this world? Where do you get the nerve to say such shameless things?"

"My father was originally from a good family, but you maliciously swapped him out. Not only did you swap him, but you also mistreated him since childhood."

"Your mistreatment wasn't enough; you even sent my brother to the battlefield to continue serving the Li family. Your whole family is a den of poison!"

Li's mother's mental resilience was not as strong as Li's father's, and the matter regarding her first son had already caused her to be in chaos. When provoked by Li Wuya like this, she directly panicked and shouted, "Since you want to sever ties, you must swear not to ruin my son's future!"

Why did she exchange her son with someone else's?

Wasn't it to give him a splendid future?

For over thirty years, she had suppressed her yearning for her eldest son, endured her disgust, and had to raise someone else's child as her own. She absolutely would not allow Li Changsen to ruin everything.

Listening to Li's mother's words, Li's father wanted to rush out and cover her mouth.

Unfortunately, Li Er'ya stood in his way.

Li's father looked sorrowfully at Li's mother. This foolish woman had managed to reveal the fact that Li Changsen was not their son in just a few words! Did she not realize that as long as they kept insisting and never backed down, no matter how fierce Li Changsen's family was, the village head would never agree to separate and sever family ties?

Now, everything was ruined by this foolish woman.

Li's mother couldn't think that far. At this moment, she still looked at Li Changsen with hatred, "Since I brought you to the Li family, this is your fate. You have become the Li family's son, and you must accept your fate."

"You say I treated you poorly, but have you ever looked at what kind of person you are? You're nothing but a thankless wretch. I allowed you to take all the salary back home, but you used it to support some martial arts master."

"I just wanted you to marry after your two younger brothers, slightly delayed in finding a wife for you. Yet, you dared to bring a wife back on your own. Do you have no regard for me, your mother?"

Hearing these words, Li Wuya was so angry that he fumed. How could there be such a despicable person in this world!

Seeing Li Changsen trying to suppress his anger, afraid that he might get into trouble, Li Wuya immediately shouted towards the courtyard gate, "Seven, let the village head and the others in!"

With this statement, both Li's father and mother stumbled, looking frightened as the village head and the stationmaster walked in with displeased expressions.

"Village head, you must speak for my father!"

Li Wuya immediately burst into tears. He had a powerful voice, and when he spoke, his voice could be heard dozens of meters away.

Soon, the Li family courtyard was filled with onlookers. Li Wuya tearfully told the crowd about the persecution their family had endured at the hands of the Li family. "Look at my father, see how they have persecuted him!"

As they looked at Li Changsen lying on a wooden board, wrapped in bandages all over his body, many people showed sympathy.

"And my elder brother, last time he broke three ribs, and the doctor said it might leave hidden injuries. My brother is only fifteen years old, how will he live the rest of his life?"

"Village head, my father is not their son. Today, we must separate and sever family ties. Please help us!"

Seeing the condemning looks from the crowd, Li's father could no longer remain calm. "No, no, Changsen is our son. He just resents us and doesn't want to support us in our old age, so he wants to separate from us."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Wuya grabbed his hand, holding a dagger that emitted a chilling light. With a swift motion, she cut a gash on his finger.

Then, Li Er'ya quickly brought a white porcelain bowl, catching the blood drops from his finger.

The siblings moved quickly, and by the time they reached Li Changsen, they had also cut his finger. It was only then that the crowd realized what they were doing.

Li's father turned pale instantly and sat down on the ground.

"Blood blends if there is a blood relation; blood doesn't blend if there is no relation."

"Everyone, see for yourselves."

Li Er'ya placed the white porcelain bowl on the ground for everyone to examine.

In the bowl, two drops of blood were clearly separate, showing no signs of blending.

"Oh my, Li Changsen is really not the biological son of the elderly couple!"

"That's right! I said it before; I knew Li Changsen wasn't their son. But you all didn't believe me. Look carefully; does Li Changsen look anything like the elderly couple?"

"Also, which father would be willing to let his only thirteen-year-old son go to the battlefield?"

"That's right! Li Changsen is the eldest son, yet he was the last one to get married among our families. In other families, the eldest son would be the first to go to the battlefield, but the Li family did the opposite. It turns out he wasn't their own son, so they didn't care about him!"

"Unbelievably ruthless!"

As everyone discussed, Li Wuya took out the previously prepared documents for separating and severing family ties and handed them to Li Sanlang, asking him to find the village head and the witnesses to oversee the process.

With Li's mother's confession and the subsequent blood test, even the village head and others who were initially against the separation and severance couldn't say anything in opposition.

Despite Li's father's reluctance and Li's mother's tears and pleas, Li Changsen's family officially separated and severed family ties with the Li family. It was an irrevocable decision witnessed by the entire village.

That day, Li Sanlang took the documents and went to Xining City to establish a new household registration.