Shen Tan and the others immediately rushed over, shielding Li Yue Shu in their embrace. Shen Chi even held a hoe as tall as she was.
Seeing this, Li Yue Shu's initial anger was instantly replaced by warmth.
She looked coldly at Shen Can, "Take them away quickly before I lose my temper!"
Shen Can's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to leave.
But those men clearly had no idea what they were about to face, and they started laughing, "Oh, this little madam has quite a temper. I wonder if she's just as fierce in bed."
A companion next to him chimed in, "I heard her husband is an idiot, probably doesn't even know how to take off clothes!"
"Hahaha, it's okay, I do! Little madam, you haven't tasted a man before, why don't I help you?"
Obscene language spilled from the men's mouths. Even Old Man Liu, a grown man, blushed upon hearing it.
"Shut up!"
Shen Can couldn't help but scold, her face flushed, whether from anger or shame, "You... you..."
She pointed at them with trembling fingers, too furious to speak.
Li Yue Shu watched coldly, a murderous glint in her eyes, "I gave you a chance. You chose to court death."
She walked out from behind them, looking at the men before her with an imposing aura like a killing god, sending shivers down their spines.
Before anyone could react, Li Yue Shu darted out like an arrow released from its string.
"Madam!"
Everyone panicked and rushed to help.
But in the next moment, they saw Li Yue Shu's fist land on the man who spoke first. Her movements were as agile as an eel, and the men couldn't even touch her clothes.
"Bang bang bang!"
The sounds of flesh meeting flesh made everyone wince.
In no time, the men who had been standing there arrogantly were all lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
The maid's face turned ashen, and she retreated in fear, yet still puffed out her chest, "You... do you know who we are! If you offend the Li Mansion, you... you will never have a good time!"
Li Yue Shu's eyelids flickered. Without making any visible move, she terrified the maid so much that she collapsed onto the ground.
Li Yue Shu sneered, her gaze like that of someone looking at lowly ants.
"Scram!"
As the words fell, the men on the ground felt as if they had been granted a great pardon. They scrambled away, not even bothering with Shen Can, who was still stunned.
The first to recover was Mother Mo. She hurried to Li Yue Shu's side, "Madam, are you alright?"
Li Yue Shu shook her head and smiled gently at their worried faces, "I'm fine. It's getting late, I'll go prepare dinner."
From beginning to end, her gaze never lingered on Shen Can.
Shen Can clearly knew she had crossed Li Yue Shu's line and tried to make herself as small as possible in the corner.
Li Yue Shu went straight to the kitchen.
With many people in the family, the cold weather, and a special occasion, Li Yue Shu decided to make hot pot.
The ingredients were all prepared beforehand and only needed simple processing, which Aunt Liu and Mother Mo could handle.
Li Yue Shu, meanwhile, began to make a cake.
The cream and cake layers were made in her space and could be used directly.
Li Yue Shu had made cakes with her best friend a few times, knew all the steps, but had only made them a handful of times. She didn't know many designs and was best at fruit and chocolate combinations.
Simple and beautiful!
When a twelve-inch birthday cake was brought out, everyone was stunned.
Li Yue Shu had made cakes for the children as treats before, but they were all small pastries. She had never made such a large birthday cake.
To enhance the atmosphere, she also brought out a few candles and birthday hats.
Shen Zhi Yu was the first to run over, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the cake on the table, "Mother, is this a snack for A Yu?"
Li Yue Shu affectionately patted his head, "Today is your father's birthday. This is the birthday cake I made for him. After he makes a wish, we'll share it."
As she spoke, she placed a birthday hat on Shen Wei's head.
Shen Wei looked bewildered.
This was not an act. He genuinely didn't know it was his... or rather, "Shen Wei's" birthday.
He had investigated when he took on the identity of "Shen Wei" and found that the man never celebrated his birthday.
Li Yue Shu noticed his expression and suddenly thought of something, her heart stirring.
Shen Wei was abandoned by the Shen family at birth due to his bad horoscope, so his birthday was never a good day for him.
Even after becoming foolish, this deep-seated issue from his childhood hadn't dissipated.
Li Yue Shu felt a pang of sympathy. She gently patted his head as if comforting A Yu, "The meaning of a birthday is to thank heaven for sending us into the world and to celebrate another year we've grown up safely. Those who truly love you will be happy for you on this day, and you should also be happy."
Each word, each sentence, felt like something exploding in Shen Wei's heart. He suddenly heard a voice from many years ago: "Every year on your birthday, Imperial Brother will prepare a gift for A Yuan."
Imperial Brother had indeed kept his promise, and the gifts had become more and more precious, but...
"Mother, A Yu wants a cake this big for his birthday too!" Shen Zhi Yu suddenly said, using his hands to gesture.
Looking at the fourth child's sparkling eyes, Li Yue Shu ruffled his hair again, "Okay, Mother will make one for you then."
Then, as if thinking of something, she looked up at Shen Yi Min and the others, smiling gently, "Every year on your birthdays, Mother will make you cakes."
Shen Yi Min's eyes flickered, but he didn't reply.
He always held grand celebrations for his birthdays and shouldn't have been interested in something like this.
However, looking at the unprecedented "birthday cake" before him and at his fourth brother's delighted face, he felt a flicker of anticipation.
Li Yue Shu, unaware of his subtle thoughts, glanced at Shen Tan and the other seven sitting on the side.
Although they said nothing, the envy in their eyes was unmistakable.
Her heart stirred, and she suddenly said, "Shen Tan, Shen Chen, do you remember your birthdays?"
Suddenly called upon, Shen Tan and the others were startled, not understanding her meaning for a moment.
It was Shen Chen who reacted first and quickly replied, "We were born as slaves and don't know our birthdays. We even change our names with every master."
The others remained silent, but their expressions were noticeably dejected.
No one wanted to be born a slave. Before meeting Madam, they lived day to day, and even after following a master, they were treated as mere possessions.
When survival itself was a struggle, who would care about birthdays!
Sensing the low mood radiating from the children, Li Yue Shu felt a sense of helplessness.
The setting of this world dictated inherent social hierarchies. She couldn't change everyone, but she could change the destinies of the children before her.
"From now on, your birthdays will be celebrated on the first day you came to this home, August 19th each year."