Old Wu’s external injuries were easily treated. A doctor’s quick snap restored his hand, and he was told to rest well and avoid heavy lifting. A cream for swelling was prescribed. After applying the medicine, he waited in the corridor.
As for Mrs. Wu, she was examined repeatedly, but no cause was found for her sudden muteness. Wu Chuanbai dared not reveal that she had been drugged, only pleading with the doctors to help.
After a whole night without results, even the doctors were puzzled. Wu Chuanbai paid the medical fees and took the elderly couple home.
With his hand healed, Old Wu’s temper flared instantly. Seeing his tall, strong son standing behind him, he regained his courage.
He angrily stormed towards the door to pound on it, but Wu Chuanbai quickly grabbed him.
“What are you doing? Are you still protecting her? She’s just a country woman, what are you afraid of? Look at what she’s done to your mother.”
Mrs. Wu’s eyes were swollen red like walnuts from crying, her whole being slumped like a wilted cabbage. For someone who used to scold and gossip incessantly to be rendered speechless was truly frustrating.
Normally, she would have been verbally attacking the original host by now. Now, she could only gesture, and no one understood her. What karma was this?
However, her most beloved son clearly couldn’t empathize with her suffering, only concerned with his own reputation and that of his beloved.
“Dad, Mom is already this age. It’s no big deal that she can’t speak. It’s different for me. If this gets out, what will happen to your son? My future will be ruined.”
Mrs. Wu looked incredulous. Crying, she covered her eyes and ran past the father and son. She went back to her room, grabbed the ashtray from the bedside table, and intended to smash it to vent her anger.
She raised her hand, but still dared not. Trembling, she put the item down. Her body weakened, and she sat on the floor, tears streaming down her face.
She clutched her mouth tightly, afraid that her loud sobs would provoke Old Wu’s beating. Then, she heard the voices of the two outside.
“She dares? She, Zhao Xiaoni, doesn’t have the guts. If she really dares, I’ll beat her to death.” He then prepared to charge forward again.
“Dad, wake up. She even dared to hit us. What won’t she dare to do? Can you beat her to death right now if you charge forward? If not, give up this idea.”
“You are my son! Your father is so angered, and you’re telling me to let it go? You’re unfilial!”
“If you want to think that way, I can’t help it. I’m just thinking about my own future. Dad, just consider me unfilial. Do what you think is best.”
With that, Wu Chuanbai returned to his guest room to rest. He believed his father knew how to choose. He had to go to work tomorrow, and the family could only rely on his father to manage Jun Jiuli.
Everyone in the house, except for Jun Jiuli, tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
The next day, Wu Chuanbai tidied himself up and repeatedly instructed his parents not to provoke Jun Jiuli. He slipped a letter of apology under the door and then, with a worried heart, left for work.
He wished he could take leave too, but his team was busy with an important project. Everyone in the department was practically working twice as hard. Taking leave now would surely offend his superiors.
He constantly comforted himself, telling himself that Zhao Xiaoni was soft-hearted and easily deceived. Everything would pass. As long as the whole family treated her a little better, she wouldn’t cause trouble.
Jun Jiuli slept until late morning. Under Old Wu’s pressure, Mrs. Wu prepared a table full of delicious dishes, waiting for her. Seeing that Jun Jiuli had finished washing up, Old Wu called out solicitously.
“Xiaoni, come and eat quickly. Eating late is bad for the stomach. Your mother made all your favorite dishes today.”
Not taking advantage of a good offer would be foolish. Jun Jiuli sat down to eat naturally.
Seeing Jun Jiuli’s softened attitude, Old Wu felt smug but hid it. This uncultured girl was so easy to fool. A small favor or two could control her.
When Old Wu saw Jun Jiuli had finished eating, he winked at Mrs. Wu. Mrs. Wu quickly went to the kitchen, washed the fruit, cut it into pieces, arranged it on a plate, and solicitously brought it to the coffee table.
“Xiaoni, come and watch some TV. Leave the dishes there, and your mother will clean them. You don’t need to worry about it. Your mother washed some fruit; just have a little. Later, I’ll have her go to the supermarket and buy some snacks that young people like.”
“Don’t call me that, it’s disgusting,” Jun Jiuli said as she sprawled on the sofa.
“Then what should I call you?” Old Wu’s smile was as wide as a chrysanthemum. Jun Jiuli felt goosebumps all over. This was vastly different from the Old Wu in the original host’s memories.
“Let’s not call me anything.”
“Alright, alright, we’ll listen to you.”
“Uncle here would like to apologize to you on behalf of my son. It was all his fault. He shouldn’t have hidden his issues and deceived your feelings. You can hit or scold me, but can you please not publicize this matter?”
“That depends.”
“There’s a saying, ‘One day as husband and wife, a hundred days of kindness.’ You two have accumulated so much fate over lifetimes to be together. Although Chuanbai has issues, you know in your heart how he’s treated you over the years. For you, he even dared to defy us old folks. Our family hasn’t done anything wicked to you. Look…”
“Look at what? You know who he did it for. You’d better show some sincerity and don’t try any tricks. If anything happens to me, your son’s scandal will surely be spread everywhere.”
“Don’t be like that. Just state your demands. Let’s discuss everything amicably. Uncle is willing to compensate you. How much do you think is appropriate?”
As Old Wu said this, his heart was bleeding. He had mentally estimated it at 200,000 yuan. This foolish son didn’t even know how to be discreet when doing things. If Zhao Xiaoni had a child, she would be easier to control.
Now, the shoeless feared not the shod. Their family was at everyone’s mercy. Thinking of his saved retirement funds, he wished he could strangle Wu Chuanbai, that useless good-for-nothing.
He, Old Wu, had been wise his whole life, so how could he have produced such a useless, soft-willed creature? It was truly a sin. He didn’t like playing with girls when he was young, and he thought he would grow out of it. If only he had discovered this earlier.
Jun Jiuli didn’t care what he was plotting. She held up five fingers. “I want 500,000, no negotiation. Once the money is in hand, I will divorce your son and guarantee not to say a single extra word.”