The two felt increasingly that the idea was feasible and engaged in a heated discussion.
As they talked, they suddenly realized something was amiss. Glancing around, they saw no one else in the room; Wu Caiwei had already left.
Their anger flared up, and by the time they wanted to find her, they discovered she was already out. Their objective for the day unmet, they had no choice but to seek out Father Chen and plead with him.
Father Chen had only one demand: that they persuade Ouyang Xue to stay willingly with the Chen family and cease demanding money from him.
They inwardly resented Ouyang Xue's lack of discretion and decided to seek her out again the next day.
The original owner rarely ventured out, wishing to avoid gossip. Every time she stepped outside, she felt people pointing fingers and murmuring behind her back, adding to her already wounded heart.
Wu Caiwei's sole purpose in leaving was to inquire about Liu Wenyu, whom her mother had mentioned.
She arrived at a small teahouse and casually struck up a conversation with the proprietress. "How long have you been in town, Madam?"
"About twenty years, perhaps. Are you from out of town, Madam? I don't recall seeing you before," the proprietress replied warmly, being quite talkative.
"I'm from a nearby village and don't get out much. Since you've been here so long, Madam, could you help me with something? Do you know Liu Wenyu?"
"I can't say I 'know' her, but I've heard of her. Why are you asking about her, Madam?" the proprietress asked, looking at her with some confusion.
"To be honest, Madam, the Liu family is a distant relative of mine. We haven't been in touch for years, and I wanted to learn about their situation to reconnect," Wu Caiwei said, appearing hesitant as if burdened by unspoken difficulties.
"Oh, I see. The Liu family used to live next door to the Chen family, the one whose wife couldn't have children for over a decade. Their daughter was named Liu Wenyu. I heard that young lady was once betrothed to the Chen family's young master, but something happened, and she ended up marrying into the Li family in the prefectural city as a concubine. I've heard the Li family is quite prominent there. I don't know much more," the proprietress explained as best she could. The matter had caused quite a stir back then, becoming a topic of discussion throughout the town.
After a moment's thought, she added, "The Liu family now lives in the prefectural city, supposedly a street away from the Li family. I'm not entirely sure if this information is accurate, as I only heard it from others. If you wish to reconnect with them, you could go and see."
"Thank you so much." Wu Caiwei expressed her gratitude.
The proprietress modestly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn't do much. Most people probably know this. You don't need to be so polite."
Despite her words, Wu Caiwei was immensely grateful.
She then made further inquiries about the Liu family and found that people knew roughly the same amount as the proprietress. She decided she would go to the prefectural city when she had the chance to find out exactly what had happened. However, there was no rush; she would be returning in a month.
Fearing that Wu Caiwei might leave again, the Ouyang couple arrived early.
Wu Caiwei looked at them with annoyance. "Stop coming to see me. I am determined to leave."
"What's wrong with the Chen family? Let me be blunt: you have no place to stay at home, nor can you expect me to divorce or recall a daughter who has left." Ouyang Ming threatened her.
"Rest assured, even if I have to beg on the streets, I won't return to the Ouyang household. If you doubt me, we can write a formal document of severance and have it registered with the authorities." Wu Caiwei stated calmly, eager to sever ties with them immediately.
Li Chunlian looked at her in surprise, unable to comprehend why she wasn't afraid. In the eyes of the world, no matter how wronged a woman was, she should maintain close ties with her maternal family, as they might offer support if she faced hardship in her marital home. Furthermore, without a maternal family, one felt like a rootless duckweed.
Seeing her fearless demeanor, Li Chunlian couldn't help but recall past events. Whenever she was in a bad mood, Ouyang Xue was her outlet. She had once asked why, and what had Ouyang Xue said at the time? She had said that in this house, Ouyang Xue was an outsider and had to learn to endure. She couldn't hit other children, so she could only hit her.
At the time, seeing her indignant expression, it hadn't seemed like much. But now, looking at her, did she even disregard herself? She was her own biological mother, how could she calmly utter such words? The phrase "severing ties" was too hurtful.
"Is this about severing ties or not? The Chen family won't let the Ouyang family off the hook. If you have any thoughts of leaving, they will target us. Do you want our family business to collapse and everyone to starve?" Ouyang Ming asked, looking at her somewhat angrily.
"What does that have to do with me?" Wu Caiwei asked them, looking puzzled.
"We are all your family. Shouldn't you consider us?" Ouyang Ming felt that anyone who asked such a question was ungrateful.
"You call us family now? When I worked like a slave in the Ouyang household, did you ever consider us? When I was a child, everyone else had food, but I was the only one starving, and you didn't say we were family then? So-called family meant you all sat around, and only I worked tirelessly, getting beaten now and then. In the end, you sold me for a good price." Wu Caiwei poured out the original owner's grievances, tearing away their fig leaf.
"But no matter what, I raised you. You should be grateful," Ouyang Ming said righteously.
"Yes, that's why I was a maid for so many years and married as you wished. Because of that, the Chen family has looked after the Ouyang family. I endured over ten years of hardship in the Chen family. This is enough to repay your kindness. We are now even. From now on, you walk your plank road, and I'll cross my single-plank bridge." Wu Caiwei wanted to settle accounts with them clearly, so they wouldn't always feel she owed them. Thirty years could settle it.
"Fine, fine. I, Ouyang Ming, say this: I want to see what kind of good end Ouyang Xue can have." With that, Ouyang Ming left in a huff.
Li Chunlian, lost in her sorrow, was pulled back to reality. Looking at her stubborn daughter, she said earnestly, "Mother knows you've suffered much over the years, but things have come to this point. You've left the Chen family, how will you live? Remarrying isn't impossible, but can you guarantee that your next husband will treat you well?"
"Why must women rely on men? Can't I establish my own household and do business myself?"
"You are still too young. You don't know how difficult it is for women to survive in this world. Besides, do you think doing business is that simple? One must learn to be tolerant, to muddle through, and not be too stubborn, or you'll suffer later..."
Wu Caiwei felt a headache coming on as she listened to her incessant chatter and directly showed them the door.