Things were becoming more and more interesting. His careful demeanor suggested he cherished it greatly. Perhaps before they were married, he had loved another woman but was unable to have her, which led him to marry her.
There was another matter Wu Caiwei was very curious about: was Chen Yan's infertility congenital or acquired? It seemed she needed to find a way to feel his pulse.
After tidying up, Chen Yan remembered his original purpose and looked at her disapprovingly, "What did you mean by what you said to Mother today?"
"Exactly what you're thinking," Wu Caiwei shrugged, looking at him with an expression of naturalness.
"What am I thinking? Mother is old. Don't say ambiguous things to her and make her overthink," Chen Yan said, unsure if she was referring to that matter. He didn't want to incriminate himself and tried his best to avoid those words.
"Alright, I won't talk to your mother next time. I'll go outside and tell the neighbors," Wu Caiwei said meaningfully.
"Xue'er, how do I feel like you've changed recently? You used to be gentle and virtuous, but lately, it's as if you're covered in thorns, always wanting to prick someone," Chen Yan said, looking at her with his usual gentle and doting eyes, sounding hurt.
"Don't be so disgusting. Am I not changing because you're forcing me? What was my personality like when I first married into the Chen family, and what is it like now?" Wu Caiwei posed several questions in a row, leaving Chen Yan speechless.
To be honest, Chen Yan really couldn't remember what she was like when she first came to the Chen family. After all, he didn't love her and had never paid attention.
"Also, I was just teasing you on impulse today to see if you were honest. It seems I overestimated you. You clearly know what I know, but you refuse to say it. So, I'll tell you clearly: I know that you are infertile. For so many years, you haven't shown any manliness and have pushed all the blame onto me. I truly look down on you," Wu Caiwei revealed all his lies in a voice that was frighteningly calm.
Chen Yan's last bit of hope vanished. The doting in his eyes slowly turned to pain and ferocity, "Do you think I want this? As a man, I need to maintain my dignity when I go out. If people knew I was infertile, how would they look at me?"
"Do I not need dignity? Besides, you talk about dignity in front of outsiders, but what about at home? How does your mother treat me every day? Don't you see or hear it? Anyone who encounters you will become unhappy," Wu Caiwei finally saw him for what he was: truly selfish. Su Dan Novel Network
"Fine, next time, I'll tell Mother to restrain herself and act as if nothing happened. I heard that childbirth is very painful for women. Isn't it good not to have to endure that pain?" Chen Yan tried his best to persuade her, wanting things to go back to how they were, with him doing business outside and her bearing all the pressure.
"Alright, as long as your family says one more word to me, I'll go outside and ask others to judge. Also, give me ten taels of silver every day, or I won't mind making a scene. It's not like I'll be the one losing face anyway. It'll just be a release, and I can find someone to live a normal life with," Wu Caiwei threatened him. The original owner had been in the Chen family for so many years, yet her hands, having worked like a servant, had no silver. If she wanted to leave, she needed compensation.
"Fine, here's today's," Chen Yan said, taking out ten taels of silver from his pouch. His idea was simple: first, appease Ouyang Xue. He had gone out to collect debts that day, so he gave it to her directly. She didn't go out much anyway, and the money was still within the family.
Wu Caiwei took it without a word. Seeing him still standing there, she said, "It's so late, why aren't you leaving? I want to sleep."
"Where should I go? This is our room," Chen Yan didn't react immediately. He thought that since he had given the money and made promises, they could have a normal rest.
"What I need to warn you is, don't enter this room again. Live wherever you want, just don't let me see you, because seeing you makes me sick."
"That's too much. No matter what, we are husband and wife. If I don't sleep in the same room as you, who will I sleep with? Aren't you afraid I'll find someone else outside?" Chen Yan said pointedly.
"If you don't leave now, don't regret it. You finding someone else would be even better. I want to leave this wolf's den as soon as possible." As she spoke, Wu Caiwei picked up a stool and acted as if she would throw it at him.
Chen Yan had never seen her so fierce and violent. He quickly retreated, unknowingly backing out the door. Wu Caiwei quickly shut it.
Chen Yan felt that Ouyang Xue was very strange today and secretly regretted pushing her too hard. He touched his nose and uninterestingly went to the guest room to spend the night.
The Chen family's courtyard was actually quite large and always had a guest room prepared. When Wu Caiwei first married in, there were maids and servants to attend to her. Because she hadn't conceived for years, Chen's mother, to humiliate her, dismissed the maids and servants, making her do all the work alone.
Chen Yan saw this and always comforted her, telling her to be patient. The original Ouyang Xue still had some hope; although her life was difficult and she couldn't get pregnant, she had a good husband. Later, when she learned the truth, her heart truly turned to ash.
The next morning, surprisingly, no scolding sounds were heard in the courtyard. Wu Caiwei slept until she woke up naturally. The kitchen was spotless, just as she had imagined; no one would leave food for her.
There was nothing good to eat in Pingzi, and Chen's mother kept all the good things in the house locked up, holding the key herself to prevent Ouyang Xue from stealing food. Wu Caiwei didn't care about that. She found a hammer and directly broke the lock, took out two eggs, and boiled them to eat.
When Chen's mother returned from buying groceries, she saw the broken lock at a glance. Without a doubt, she knew who had done it. If it were in the past, she would have already cursed loudly, but today she held back her anger.
The days passed uneventfully. Within a few days, a wet nurse and a maid were added to the household. The wet nurse was responsible for cooking and laundry, and the maid for serving tea and water and cleaning.
Wu Caiwei sneered inwardly. After only a few days, she couldn't stand it anymore. She quickly summoned the wet nurse and maid. She didn't consider how the original owner had lived for over ten years.
Chen Yan looked at his shrunken purse with some distress. Every day when he returned home, Ouyang Xue would unyieldingly ask him for money. As soon as he said he didn't have any, she would immediately rush outside.
Originally, he thought Ouyang Xue was just trying to scare him. Who knew that one day, when he intended to be completely unreasonable, Wu Caiwei directly rushed to the door and loudly exclaimed, "Neighbors, come and judge for me! Their Chen family says I haven't conceived for over ten years. Now I'm going to tell everyone the truth..."
Before she could finish speaking, Chen Yan covered her mouth and said in exasperation, "I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you! Isn't that enough?"