Shen Cheng averted his gaze with a hint of embarrassment and said stiffly, "I might have done wrong in this matter, but you brought it upon yourself. Given your circumstances, what kind of match could you have found? If you had been willing to marry someone of lesser standing, you would be a wife by now."
Hearing Shen Cheng's words, Madam Xu's eyes lit up. She looked up at Xu Xiao'e and said, "Exactly! It's all your own doing, how can you blame me and your father? If we hadn't married you off, you'd still be an old maid at home. You ungrateful wretch, we raised you for all these years for nothing."
Recalling past events, Xu Xiao'e felt a momentary pang of guilt. If she hadn't been so stubborn, perhaps her current fate wouldn't have come to pass.
But this sliver of guilt was as fleeting as a shooting star.
"What did I do wrong? What's wrong with me liking Zheng Wei? What's wrong with me pursuing him? It's all Shen Xiaoyan, that wretched slut's fault! If she had honestly yielded Zheng Wei to me, none of this would have happened."
Xu Xiao'e shrieked at the top of her lungs, the sound vibrating in Madam Xu's ears.
"Yes, but Xiao'e, it's come to this. You and Zheng Wei are impossible now, so just settle down and live your life..."
Madam Xu's comforting words were cut short by Xu Xiao'e's loud interruption.
"No, I won't live well, so why should she? I want her to be ruined, just like me." Xu Xiao'e said with intense hatred, then, without another glance at Madam Xu or Shen Cheng, she turned and strode towards the door.
Reaching the door, Xu Xiao'e turned back and said to Shen Cheng, "From this day forward, I no longer have parents like you. We are done."
With that, Xu Xiao'e walked out without looking back, her figure resolute and determined.
Madam Xu stared blankly as Xu Xiao'e walked away. She wanted to chase after her, but after a few steps, she found herself unable to move.
She had truly wanted what was best for Xu Xiao'e, hoping to give her a good life. Who would have thought it would turn out like this?
Shen Cheng stood with his head bowed, his gaze deep and complex.
Eighteen years ago, I wasn't as academically gifted as my elder brother. I went out to see the world and try my hand at business, but it was a pipe dream. The business failed.
I set off with high spirits and returned dejected. In my moment of despair, I met Shen Xiaoyan's mother, Zhen Shi, in a dilapidated temple.
Zhen Shi was only seventeen or eighteen then. She was incredibly beautiful, but simple-minded and foolish. She wouldn't say anything when asked. When asked if she was willing to come with me, she merely smiled and nodded.
A ruined temple in the wilderness, a beautiful but foolish woman.
Although Zhen Shi's clothes were intact, I still felt she must have suffered some misfortune, otherwise, why would she be alone in the wilderness?
However, I didn't care. I took Zhen Shi with me. On the road, I asked her name, and she only replied with "Ning" before falling silent.
We traveled for half a month and returned to Baiyun Village without any trouble, and no one came looking for us.
The moment I returned home, I was completely relieved. This beauty was mine.
I told my parents I wanted to marry Zhen Shi. Although they objected, I remained resolute. In the end, we didn't have a formal wedding ceremony. We just invited a few close relatives for a meal, and that was considered our marriage.
However, on our wedding night, Zhen Shi wouldn't let me touch her.
I thought she was shy, but no matter how many sweet words I spoke, she only smiled and shook her head.
I tried to force myself, but I found that Zhen Shi's strength was far greater than mine; she easily subdued me.
Only when I promised not to be reckless did Zhen Shi release me.
I rubbed my sore arm and looked at Zhen Shi again. She still had a smiling expression, showing no sign of anger.
I had no choice but to give up for the time being, thinking that once we were more familiar, she would eventually fall for me.
We slept in the same bed that night, and everything was peaceful.
But to my surprise, the next day, when my mother came to check the bridal veil, there was bright red blood on the handkerchief.
The specks of red stained the bridal veil, like blooming red plum blossoms.
If I didn't have such a vivid memory of the previous night, I would have almost believed that Zhen Shi and I had consummated our marriage.
I looked at Zhen Shi again. She appeared shy, lowering her head and smiling softly, with a faint blush on her face.
My mother happily took the bridal veil and left. I, however, was stunned. I asked Zhen Shi about it, but she just smiled and remained silent.
Not long after, my elder sister-in-law insisted on dividing the household, so we moved out of the old house.
After moving to our new residence, Zhen Shi and I slept in separate rooms. I thought about sharing a room with her to cultivate our relationship, but she refused, and I couldn't do anything about it.
Yet, from then on, Zhen Shi's belly began to swell, and after eight months, she gave birth to a daughter.
I was furious at the time, but my mother had the bridal veil, and I hadn't mentioned that I hadn't consummated the marriage with Zhen Shi.
Therefore, I could only tell my mother that Zhen Shi had given birth prematurely.
At the same time, I told myself that it was fortunate it was only a daughter. Once she grew up, she could be married off with a dowry. Besides, in this small mountain village, how much dowry would be needed?
If she grew up to be as beautiful as Zhen Shi, perhaps no dowry would be needed, and I could even make a profit.
I thought that Zhen Shi, having insulted me so greatly, must feel guilty and would at least be gentle and affectionate, begging for my forgiveness, or at the very least, agree to consummate our marriage.
After Zhen Shi recovered from childbirth, I went to talk to her about it, but she still shook her head.
When I tried to force myself again, the result was the same.
Once again, I was easily subdued by Zhen Shi, and I gave up hope.
Even though this beauty could only be looked at and not touched, it was still pleasant to behold.
Looking at Zhen Shi's face, which became even more beautiful after giving birth, no other woman caught my eye.
I was content just to be with Zhen Shi.
Although Zhen Shi rarely spoke to me, looking at her filled me with happiness.
Time flew by, and more than six years passed. Zhen Shi's face remained unchanged; instead, she became even more beautiful with age.
Even her daughter... Shen Xiaoyan... looked exactly like Zhen Shi.
Looking at the two faces, one large and one small, so identical, I was filled with emotion.
The villagers all envied me, saying I was blessed with great fortune, but they had no idea how helpless I felt.
That year, my elder brother Shen Shi was going to the county town to take the xiucai exam. I was supposed to go with him. Zhen Shi saw us off at the door with Shen Xiaoyan, smiling.
When we returned half a month later, Zhen Shi told me she was two months pregnant.
We had never consummated our marriage, so how could there be a child?
I was furious, shocked, disappointed, and heartbroken. All these emotions mingled, leaving me speechless for a time.
But Zhen Shi spoke before I could: "If you don't want to continue, I will take Xiaoyan and leave. You can marry someone else."
This Zhen Shi, without the usual smile on her face, showed anger and no longer seemed like a doll. She felt distant and unattainable.
However, this Zhen Shi was even more difficult for me to part with.
For a moment, I wanted to agree, but the word "good" was stuck in my throat and I couldn't utter it.
Later, Zhen Shi's belly grew again. My mother happily brought gifts to see Zhen Shi.
We had been married for seven years, and only had one child, Shen Xiaoyan. My mother was anxious. Now that Zhen Shi was pregnant again, my mother was hoping for a grandson.
Facing the congratulations from the villagers and my mother's joy, I felt a deep bitterness in my heart.
But this was my own doing. Zhen Shi had said she was willing to leave, but I couldn't bear to part with her, and begged her to stay.
I thought this life would continue, but who would have thought that on the day of childbirth, Zhen Shi would have a difficult labor and die after giving birth to a son?
Zhen Shi's sudden death left me in immense grief. I hated the newborn child with all my heart. If not for him, Zhen Shi would still be alive. How could she have died like this?
I mourned for a year. Looking at Shen Xiaoyan, who was exactly like Zhen Shi, and Shen Xiaoming, who had caused Zhen Shi's death, I was in turmoil.
Finally, I married Madam Xu.
I thought that since Zhen Shi was no longer here, there was no need for me to remain chaste for her. I should have my own life and my own children.