"Back then, I told you privately why I said that to outsiders. Since he wants to return to that wolf den of the Li family, let him go back. Let's see what a good end he'll have, just like his father, a wolf with a dog's heart."
Wang Mu looked at her daughter with a heart full of affection. "I only hope you'll open your eyes this time, choose the right person, and not suffer so much again."
Afterward, Wu Caiwei said many comforting words, but Wang's father and mother didn't believe her. They felt their daughter had poor judgment in people and left with heavy hearts.
Since Huang Shijie left, Xu Qiaoqiao's mood had been excellent every day, and she even found her son more agreeable. One day, as she was carrying a basket to buy groceries in the market, she overheard two elderly ladies gossiping.
Xu Qiaoqiao loved listening to such things and immediately perked up her ears. To her surprise, the subject of their discussion was her ex-husband. "Did you know? Huang Shijie is already engaged."
"Really? Who would want him? He has no house, no land, and after so many years of trying, he's still just a common scholar."
"I can't understand it either, but his aunt said the betrothal gifts have been exchanged and the other party didn't ask for anything."
"Is that person crazy? What does she see in him?"
...
Xu Qiaoqiao froze in place. She hadn't expected Huang Shijie to find a new love so quickly. Could he have been involved with that woman from the beginning, which is why he was so determined to leave empty-handed? The more Xu Qiaoqiao thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Her temper was already bad, and the thought that Huang Shijie had betrayed her long ago and found a replacement sent her anger soaring. She slammed the basket to the ground and rushed furiously to Huang Shijie's aunt's house.
Lying in bed, Huang Shijie hadn't even gotten up when he heard the roaring from outside. He couldn't help but frown. He had already left empty-handed; what more did she want?
He calmly dressed, then opened the courtyard gate, only to see Xu Qiaoqiao acting like a shrew, hands on her hips, cursing loudly. "Huang Shijie, you coward! I knew why you were so determined to divorce me; it turns out you had already hooked up with someone else. Tell me, is that woman surnamed Wang the mistress you've been seeing all along?"
A crowd had gathered outside the door. It was early in the morning, and people had nothing else to do, so they were here to watch the commotion. Seeing everyone whispering and pointing at him, Huang Shijie felt this woman was utterly unreasonable. He could no longer tolerate it. "We are already divorced, and I gave you everything. I can marry whomever I want; it's my freedom. I'm not going to remain chaste for a woman like you your entire life; you're not worth it. Don't think I don't know you've been with that other man for three years. Do you want me to name him?"
Xu Qiaoqiao immediately felt guilty upon hearing this. As the murmurs of the crowd buzzed around her, she felt her head start to rush with blood. Then she shouted, "What nonsense are you talking? Did you discover your own secret and now you're making things up about me? Look at him, everyone! Is he even a man? He's ruining my reputation; how am I supposed to live from now on?"
Huang Shijie had originally not wanted to expose her, but seeing her tantrum, and thinking that after he married Wu Caiwei, she would definitely cause trouble, he decided to end it once and for all to prevent future problems.
"Everyone, look! This man dares not say a word. It seems I guessed correctly. I said he didn't even want his son, but it turns out he was already involved with someone else. That woman surnamed Wang is ruining our marriage. As long as they get married, I'll come and make trouble every day." Xu Qiaoqiao had been throwing a tantrum for a long time. Seeing that everyone was on her side, and Huang Shijie had remained silent the entire time, she thought he had been scared into submission. Triumphantly, she declared.
"Are you finished? It's my turn to speak. Since you say you haven't done anything, let's report it to the authorities and let the county magistrate decide. I dare to say this because I have proof. You two have been together for years, and many people have seen it, otherwise, I wouldn't know. Moreover, you've already let your son call someone else 'father'; what do I need him for?" Huang Shijie said calmly.
He then looked at the surrounding crowd. "Is there anyone willing to come with me? I'm going to the county magistrate to file a complaint, accusing Xu Qiaoqiao and Liu Ziqing of plotting to seize my family property, and I even suspect the son is theirs. After all, I know my son; how could he so easily call someone else father and become estranged from me?"
When Xu Qiaoqiao heard him name names and mention things that outsiders wouldn't know, she began to panic. Did he really have evidence? Seeing his calm demeanor as he prepared to report her to the authorities, she instantly caved. After all, what he said was true, and regarding her suspicions about the woman surnamed Wang, although she didn't want to admit it, she knew that given Huang Shijie's character, it was indeed unlikely.
Seeing that the crowd, who had been on her side, unconsciously took a step back, she knew what they were thinking. At that moment, she found herself in a difficult position and resented Huang Shijie, feeling that he was forcing her and that she would have difficulty living in the county town from now on.
"I'll ask you, Xu Qiaoqiao, do you dare?" Huang Shijie challenged her.
Xu Qiaoqiao wanted to retort forcefully, but she lacked the courage. She knew that if she truly went with him, it would be a path to utter ruin. Although her reputation would be tarnished afterward, it wouldn't be known to everyone as it would be at the county yamen.
She turned around decisively, snorted disdainfully, and said, "The county magistrate is so busy every day; to bother him with such a trivial matter, you're too thoughtless."
As soon as she left, a nosy old lady walked up to Huang Shijie. "Shijie, is what you said just now true?"
Huang Shijie looked at her gossipy expression and said meaningfully, "What do you think?"
Then he walked into the courtyard and closed the door, shutting out all speculative gazes.
What Huang Shijie didn't say was that Xu Qiaoqiao's affair was true, and the son was indeed his. After all, when she married him, she wanted to be the wife of a scholar and firmly establish herself in the Huang family. Unfortunately, when she saw that her aspirations for success in the imperial examinations were hopeless, she got involved with someone else and gradually corrupted their son.
That ungrateful brat not only disrespected him but also seemed to resent the original owner for making him study every day. The son was already spoiled and beyond correction. Huang Shijie simply gave up on him, as the original owner's wishes did not include him at all.
Soon, the two got married with relatives as witnesses. Wu Caiwei sold the shops and the courtyard in the small town, converted them into silver as her dowry to bring to the Huang family. Then, using this silver, she bought a small courtyard in the county town. After all, they were married, and they couldn't live in someone else's house forever.
After settling down, Huang Shijie threw himself into his studies. This time, he was determined to fulfill the original owner's wish: to pass the imperial examinations, bring glory to their ancestors, and earn Wu Caiwei a phoenix coronet and robe.
Meanwhile, Wu Caiwei returned to her old profession. With no money, what could she do? She sold the Gao family's winemaking recipe from her previous life again, earning another thousand taels.
With this money, she bought two shops: one for general goods and another for women's cosmetics and perfumes.