"Is that so? If you don't want anyone to know, you shouldn't do it. Everything you do leaves a trace. We shall wait and see."
Zhang Tiehua watched her retreating back, her heart growing more uneasy the more she thought about it. She quickly went to the carriage rental and hired a carriage to head to the county town.
The incident from a while ago had a considerable impact on the small tavern's business, but she didn't care. After all, the tavern was too slow to make money, and she had no intention of living in the small town forever. She simply closed the shop.
Mother Yu looked at the woman blocking the carriage, utterly confused, and quite sure she didn't know her.
Wu Caiwei smiled and stepped forward, curtsying, "This is our first meeting, Madam Yu probably doesn't know me. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Gao Feixue, formerly Zhang Tiehua's sister-in-law. I wonder if you would be interested in having a chat with me."
Upon hearing this, Mother Yu looked at her scrutinizingly, unsure of her intentions. Seeing her confident demeanor, and considering that she herself strongly disliked Zhang Tiehua, she thought she might actually hear some inside information. She couldn't help but nod.
The two walked, one after the other, to the nearest teahouse. Mother Yu inwardly looked down on these women from the countryside, thinking they were very calculating. Once they were alone in the private room, she impatiently inquired, "What do you want to tell me? Hurry up and say it. I have a pile of things waiting for me to deal with back at the mansion."
Wu Caiwei saw her impatience and disdain but didn't care. She said nonchalantly, "Madam has likely already investigated me. My sister and brother, Zhang Tiehan, and I were so loving. The main reason I drove them out was that they are not siblings at all. They colluded to deceive me for ten years with the goal of killing me and then fleeing, yes, you heard me right, they are the childhood sweethearts."
Mother Yu stared at her, dumbfounded. She hadn't expected to hear such explosive content. She had thought Gao Feixue would say that Zhang Tiehua deliberately seduced her son, primarily because she was after their family's wealth. If what she said was true, Mother Yu couldn't imagine the consequences.
She forced herself to remain calm and said uncomfortably, "Currently, the Zhang young lady I see is learned, sensible, and gentle. What if this is slander, and I would miss out on a good daughter-in-law?"
Wu Caiwei could tell her words were insincere. She smiled and said, "I've said all I can. I've given you the reminder you need. I believe you will make your own judgment. It's not something we common folk can influence."
Just as Wu Caiwei had predicted, although Mother Yu didn't admit it verbally, she had already begun to guard against Zhang Tiehua. She had been dissatisfied with Zhang Tiehua before, finding her of no help to her son and even a burden.
Not long ago, she had taken a liking to a young lady from the Wu family. Miss Wu was the only daughter of Master Wu, shrewd and capable. Most importantly, she fancied her own son. Her dowry would undoubtedly be substantial, and when the family divided, Master Wu could also help promote her son in business. Mother Yu had already met her and was very pleased with her, only for Zhang Tiehua to appear out of nowhere.
That night, after her son returned, Mother Yu dismissed the servants and prepared to have a good talk with him, recounting everything Gao Feixue had said.
Yu Qiuyan fell into thought. In fact, Zhang Tiehua had already told him a few days prior that her former sister-in-law was indiscreet and had taken a liking to another man, driving them out to make room for him, and spreading rumors that she and her brother were not siblings, to make him believe her.
Yu Qiuyan had been very busy recently and hadn't had time to understand the grievances between them and Madam Gao. Hearing his mother say this today, he suddenly realized he indeed knew too little about her.
Although Yu Qiuyan liked Zhang Tiehua very much, his many years of life in the inner chambers had taught him that nothing could be taken at face value. Of course, he wouldn't believe Gao Feixue's one-sided account either, and decided to investigate it himself.
Thus, he deliberately went to the small town and investigated the rumors about the Gao family and the Zhang siblings. Although some people said Madam Gao was promiscuous, Yu Qiuyan smelled a different scent from this matter. Reason told him that Madam Gao was likely innocent. Her sudden drastic change must have been due to a great shock. Although his heart ached and he was unwilling to believe the truth, a voice in his heart told him this was the real story.
The next day, he found an excuse to invite the siblings out to play. When they were tired from walking, they stopped to rest at a pavilion by the lake.
Yu Qiuyan looked at Zhang Tieshan with some embarrassment, "You are Tiehua's brother, and you will be my brother in the future. In a while, I will be marrying Tiehua. You are all alone. Coincidentally, I have a distant cousin. Her parents passed away, and she is living with us, orphaned and alone. She has some savings and can afford to buy a courtyard. Why don't I introduce her to you? That way, you'll also have family, and Tiehua can worry less in the future."
Zhang Tieshan was stunned when he heard this. He hadn't expected Yu Qiuyan to talk to him about these matters. He immediately lowered his head and said sullenly, "Thank you for your kind intentions, but this matter needs to be discussed properly with my sister. After all, we depend on each other, and we must hear her thoughts."
Yu Qiuyan turned back, looked at Zhang Tiehua affectionately, and nodded, "Naturally. But I still want to remind you, this opportunity won't last forever. You need to consider it carefully."
Zhang Tiehua smiled insincerely and clasped his hand, grateful, "You think of us in every way, I don't know how to repay you."
Just as Yu Qiuyan was about to speak, his attendant hurried over and whispered something in his ear. Yu Qiuyan's expression changed as he heard it. He immediately stood up and said apologetically to them, "I've encountered some business issues and need to leave quickly. I'll accompany you for a good time another day."
"Go quickly, business is important," Zhang Tiehua said magnanimously.
Yu Qiuyan nodded, gave Zhang Tiehua a deep look, clasped his fists at Zhang Tieshan, and turned to leave.
Yu Qiuyan left in a hurry, disappearing from their sight in a flash. What they didn't know was that not far from the pavilion, in the bamboo grove, there was a rockery. As soon as Yu Qiuyan was out of their sight, he and his attendant quietly slipped back to the rockery.
The siblings looked around, and seeing no one, they began to talk with relief.
Zhang Tieshan grabbed Zhang Tiehua's hand, looking at her with a hint of grievance, "Sister, I think you've changed. Your gaze towards him is getting more and more affectionate. Are you falling out of love with me?" Sudang Xiao Shuo Wang
Zhang Tiehua hurriedly avoided his gaze, stammering, "How...how is that possible? I just think he's a very good person, and I don't want to hurt him."
Zhang Tieshan hugged her possessively, gritting his teeth, "You'd better remember what you said today. We are the ones who belong together."