Liu Wenjie’s days were filled with seeking out disreputable friends for lavish feasts and drinks. Recently, his requests for money from the accounts office were denied nine out of ten times. A little inquiry revealed that the family business was in trouble.
He had always been intimidated by his father, whose strict demands and disapproval of his conduct left him too afraid to voice his many suspicions.
Upon hearing that his father had visited his mother’s courtyard, he rushed over once he was sure his father had left, hoping to glean some information and see if his mother knew anything.
But what had he just heard? He wasn’t a Liu family child at all. He recalled how he used to look down on the Jiang family, boasting of being the young master of the Liu family while they were country bumpkins. Little did he know, he was actually the child of his rumored-to-have-died uncle.
Back in his own courtyard, he lay on his bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Memories of his childhood flooded his mind. He used to resent his father for valuing the two children born to concubine Bai more than him, his legitimate son. But now, all that resentment and grievance vanished.
Fear followed. He dreaded the day his father discovered the truth and kicked him out. Would he have to return to the countryside to farm?
Having been pampered for so many years, he felt he couldn’t handle such work. Moreover, farming depended on the weather. In good years, one could keep enough grain to eat and sell the rest for taxes. In bad years, it was a matter of feast or famine. He’d rather die than endure such hardship.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up. An idea struck him, and the more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He considered himself brilliant and decided to speak to his mother the next day.
Jiang Feng, who was drinking tea, was so startled by her son's words that her teacup clattered to the floor. "Who did you say you want to marry?"
"I want to marry my maternal uncle Jiang's second uncle's cousin," Liu Wenjie repeated, simultaneously trying hard to recall what his cousin looked like. He had only met her once over the years, and at the time, he had looked down on her, not bothering to examine her closely. He only remembered she was somewhat pretty, quiet, and well-behaved.
"I will not agree to this," Jiang Feng stated immediately. She had hoped to find a wealthy young lady for her son. Clearly, her husband favored the two brats more. If the family split were unfair, a daughter-in-law’s dowry would ensure their continued affluent life. What did Jiang Hanyue have? She would never agree to this matter.
Of course, she wouldn’t voice these thoughts, lest her son think her too materialistic and cold-hearted.
Liu Wenjie hadn't expected her refusal and asked with some confusion, "Mother, don't you usually like Cousin the most? You always brought her gifts when you visited the countryside. I thought you would be happy, but you’re actually against it."
"I felt sorry for her, having lost both parents and living a difficult life, so I took care of her to some extent. But I never intended to marry her into our family. Marriage has always been about matching social status. She is not worthy of you," Jiang Feng said after a moment’s thought, offering a reasonable-sounding explanation.
Liu Wenjie grew anxious. While he didn’t know what his mother was truly thinking, they were mother and daughter after all. From their complaints, he could see there were some conflicts between them. What if, one day, they reconciled and decided he, the imposter, was truly fake? Then he would have nothing left.
Besides, his son was fake, but his daughter was real. Even if his father discovered the truth later, he would already be his son-in-law, making it difficult for him to act too harshly.
"But I fell in love with her at first sight back then. I've decided I won't marry anyone else," Liu Wenjie lied through his teeth to achieve his goal.
"How old was she then?" Jiang Feng almost dropped her jaw.
No matter what was said afterward, Liu Wenjie insisted on marrying her, even threatening to go on a hunger strike.
Jiang Feng was both furious and anxious, feeling that her daughter shouldn't have been born. She had thought her daughter was well-behaved in the past, but she never expected her to be cunning. Now, her son's heart was completely captured by her.
She thought this was just the beginning, not realizing that more trouble lay ahead. From then on, Liu Wenjie would pester her daily, refusing to give up until he got his way.
Jiang Feng had reasoned with him, refused him, but none of it worked.
Even Master Liu heard about their affair. In normal times, he would have disciplined them, but at this moment, he had no energy for it.
The Liu family's businesses had suffered a severe blow. Far from making money, they were incurring significant losses.
Unable to sustain the shops, he intended to sell some, but they were being undervalued. The Liu household, originally a minor merchant family, saw its assets rapidly diminish.
He had initially been unaware of who was targeting the Liu family. But seeing the shops being sold and their deeds transferred to Master Ye's name, he understood everything.
He had tried numerous times to visit the Ye mansion and talk to Master Ye properly to see if there was any room for negotiation, but he wouldn't even see him.
Suspecting that the marriage between the Jiang and Ye families was the cause, he inquired further and learned that Master Ye was very angry about the Jiang family's actions. But why was the Liu family implicated?
He rushed home and demanded Jiang Feng tell him the truth. She was initially reluctant, but Master Liu threatened to divorce her and send her back home immediately if she didn't speak.
Seeing her husband's furious expression, which seemed genuine, and realizing that he already believed she had been caught in the crossfire, she knew he wouldn't believe anything else she said.
So, she recounted the entire sequence of events. Upon hearing it, Master Liu slapped her across the face.
Jiang Feng touched her face and watched her husband gnash his teeth, tears uncontrollably flowing. She never imagined she would be struck in her old age.
"The biggest mistake of my life was marrying you. My parents always said to marry someone of equal social standing. I didn't think so at the time, but now I realize how wrong I was. Women from the countryside truly lack foresight," Master Liu said bluntly, seeing her utter distress without any sign of remorse for her mistakes.
"You've finally spoken your mind. You've kept these words in your heart for a long time, haven't you? I also wished for a good background, but is background something we can choose?" Jiang Feng felt wronged as well. For so many years, she had strived to be a good Madam Liu, but everyone rejected her.
To fulfill the task assigned by her husband, she had even been willing to sacrifice her own daughter. Did she not feel pain?
Yet, the matter wasn’t handled well, and everyone blamed her. Truly, it was thankless work.
Master Liu did not deny her words, his eyes reddening. They say a man doesn't cry unless deeply hurt. The Liu family was practically ruined; their days of luxury were over. The thought alone made him feel suffocated. He couldn't be bothered to speak further with his wife, whose limited perspective he attributed to her upbringing.
Seeing his departing back, Jiang Feng felt a sense of foreboding. It was the first time she had seen him so dejected.