He didn't think much of it at the time. Stepping out of the gambling house into the darkness, the wind blew, chilling him to the bone. His mind cleared, and Old Master Zheng couldn't help but slap himself hard, tears welling up in his eyes.
Those who frequented gambling houses knew their methods. Losing a hand or a leg was common. Some, unable to change their ways, died there, owing substantial sums. Their families dared not even mourn.
In the past, he wouldn't have been afraid. Three hundred taels was less than he’d lose in one night. But the Zheng family was now destitute. Where would he find three hundred taels?
If he couldn't find it, the thought of the gambling house enforcers coming to chop off his hand sent shivers down his spine.
Returning home that night, the house was silent. Knowing his son was asleep, Old Master Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. His son had been advising him lately. If only he had listened to him today.
Tossing and turning in bed, in a state between sleep and wakefulness, he heard a knock. Opening the door, he saw them – the people from the gambling house, demanding their money. Unable to pay, they placed his hand on a chopping block and raised a knife. Old Master Zheng cried out, but no one answered. In utter despair, he screamed, blood splattering everywhere. He suddenly sat up. It was all a dream. Moonlight streamed through the window. He touched his drenched hair, filled with lingering fear. He resolved to borrow the money, no matter what, tomorrow.
He knew that after the Zheng family's downfall, relatives and friends had looked down on them. But for his hand, he decided to try tomorrow. Of course, he hadn't forgotten Wu Caiwei. After all, Wu Caiwei had lived in the Zheng family for several years. Although he didn't know what had happened between her and Bai Jinxiu, the Zheng family was still her closest kin. Perhaps there would be a surprise if he tried.
The next day, Zheng Yiming was astonished to find his father at home, eating breakfast as usual.
After breakfast, his father dragged him to visit relatives, starting with his aunt’s. The Zheng family were ordinary folk. His aunt was married to an innkeeper. They ran a modest inn, with steady but not spectacular business, enough to sustain them.
Seeing her brother arrive, the family greeted them warmly. Soon, Old Master Zheng began lamenting their difficult life. Zheng Ling, knowing her brother's habits, quickly advised him to frequent the gambling house less.
After a while, she went into the bedroom and returned with twenty taels of silver. "Brother, you might not think much of this, but it's the income of our family working tirelessly for several months. I hope you will turn over a new leaf and live your life properly."
"Can't you give a little more, sister? You're my own sister. What can this little money do?" Old Master Zheng, seeing how far the silver was from three hundred taels, fretted. He was accustomed to spending lavishly, and twenty taels truly was nothing to him.
Before Zheng Ling could reply, her husband couldn't stand it. "Brother, if you don't think these twenty taels are enough, then give them back to me. This is the hard-earned money of our family."
Seeing his sister's embarrassed expression, Old Master Zheng sheepishly tucked the silver into his sleeve. "Less is less, then."
Zheng Ling saw her brother and nephew out. Back home, she found her husband alone, drinking tea morosely. Knowing he was upset, she sighed and promised, "This is the last time."
"If he's truly in financial hardship, we'll help. But you know your brother's character? Do you believe he won't go straight to the gambling house the moment he gets the money?" Zheng Ling knew this was true, but he was her brother, and she couldn't stand idly by.
Zheng Yiming walked a distance with his father and then quietly slipped away. If he had known his father was there to borrow money, he would never have come. He wasn't embarrassed, but he felt his face burn.
After that, Old Master Zheng visited all his relatives and friends but only managed to borrow one hundred taels. Thinking of Wu Caiwei, he brazenly knocked on the Li family's door.
Entering the Li residence, the layout, the choice of materials for the houses, and the design of the courtyard were breathtaking. Old Master Zheng marveled at the cost as he walked.
Wu Caiwei arrived quickly. She hadn't intended to see him, but felt some things should be clarified in person to avoid future disturbances.
"Xue'er, the Li mansion is indeed the wealthiest in the city. Your aunt married well. We didn't dote on you for nothing." Old Master Zheng, having learned from their previous encounter that she harbored resentment towards the Zheng family, wanted to mend their relationship.
"You don't come unless you have something to ask. Speak, what is it?" Wu Caiwei was busy tending to Li Yuqun's health and had no patience for beating around the bush.
"Yes, there is a small matter I need your help with. I'm a bit short of funds lately. Can you lend me some money?" Old Master Zheng asked obsequiously, with a fawning expression.
"How much?" Wu Caiwei guessed he had gambled again.
Originally, Old Master Zheng had planned to ask her for two hundred taels, enough to clear his gambling debts, with the remaining thirty taels to last them a while. But after witnessing the Li family's opulence, he changed his mind and said without hesitation, "Two thousand taels."
"You're quite the opportunist. Too bad, whether I have it or not, I don't intend to lend it to you." Wu Caiwei sneered dismissively. People who never change are the most hateful.
"Your brother and sister lived in our house for so long. I'm not asking for a debt of gratitude, but asking for some money shouldn't be too much, right?" Old Master Zheng grew angry, thinking she was stingy.
"You gambled away all my Bai family's assets. Is this how you take care of people? Besides, we moved out because Bai Jinxiu poisoned our food. She wanted to kill my brother and me." Wu Caiwei watched his shocked expression with amusement.
"The first poisoning was accidental. She drank that cup of poisoned tea, which is why she passed away young, without illness or disaster," Wu Caiwei surmised that Bai Jinxiu wouldn't tell him such things, and revealed it without any psychological pressure.
"The second time, the night we moved out of the Zheng house, she poisoned again. I saw through it, and the result is what you see now."
"Impossible. You two are the only remaining heirs of the Bai family. Is she insane?" Old Master Zheng found her words unbelievable. However, living under the same roof, he had heard rumors. Perhaps his wife was capable of such things. He hadn't thought much of it before, but now, some things did seem amiss.
"Do you think I can still lend you money? I only have hatred for the Zheng family. How could I help? Go out in disguise one day and listen to what others say about the Zheng family. It will surely open your eyes to a new world," Wu Caiwei said irritably.