"What is this? Where is the waiter? Why isn't he helping?" Miss Dai asked, her face full of surprise as she saw him personally bring the soup in.
"It's not the waiter's fault. I told him to make it for you, so of course I have to bring it in myself to show my sincerity," Zheng Yiming explained, ladling a bowl for her as he spoke.
"Taste it quickly, this is the restaurant's signature soup." Zheng Yiming handed the soup to her, looking at her expectantly, as if seeking praise.
Although Miss Dai wasn't particularly keen on drinking soup, she couldn't bear to disappoint his intentions and reluctantly took a few sips.
Zheng Yiming was satisfied. He even served a bowl of soup to her maid, acknowledging her long service and hard work, and stating that he would take over the responsibility of caring for Miss Dai from now on. Miss Dai was deeply touched and quickly told her maid to drink it all.
This time, Zheng Yiming had deliberately chosen a more upscale room. This room not only had a place to eat but also a dedicated area for guests to rest.
Sister Xi, Miss Dai's personal maid, had drunk quite a bit. Before long, she moved a stool, leaned against the wall, and fell asleep.
Soon after, Miss Dai also began to feel dizzy. She wanted to open her eyes to see her surroundings clearly, but her eyes wouldn't obey.
"Miss Dai, what's wrong? Wake up, wake up..." Zheng Yiming feigned concern, and seeing that she had completely passed out, he locked the room door and carried her to the inner chamber.
When Miss Dai woke up and saw the scene, she was about to scream when a hand covered her mouth.
The hand belonged to Zheng Yiming. He said impatiently, "If you want to attract everyone outside, feel free to shout. I have nothing to fear, I'm just worried about your reputation."
"You scoundrel, I trusted you so much, and you treated me like this." Miss Dai recalled the events, realizing that the soup had been tampered with. She noticed that Xi'er was still sleeping soundly, not awake.
"I truly like you," Zheng Yiming lied with his eyes open.
"If you like me, why don't you formally propose and marry me with all due ceremony? Using such low-down tactics, I will look down on you for the rest of my life," Miss Dai said, exasperated.
"I also wanted to marry you openly, but something happened at home. A few days ago, my father found out about the family's money and deeds, and took everything. I only have a hundred taels of silver on me now, how can I propose?" Zheng Yiming told the truth. Matchmaking and weddings all require money. Rather than being unable to come up with it later, it was better to explain it clearly now and give her some mental preparation.
Miss Dai, who had always studied the "Lessons for Women," didn't know what to do in such a situation and cried anxiously.
Zheng Yiming wiped her tears for her and comforted her, "Don't worry, I will send someone to propose tomorrow. I will treat you well for the rest of my life."
After crying for a while, Miss Dai put on her clothes and, ignoring Zheng Yiming's attempts to stop her, stumbled back to the Dai mansion alone.
As soon as she saw her mother, she couldn't help but burst into tears. Seeing her daughter's disheveled appearance, her mother's heart sank.
After her daughter had cried enough, she quickly asked what had happened. Miss Dai vaguely recounted the events, and her mother's body trembled with anger.
After comforting her daughter, she went to find her husband and son and told them what had happened.
Although Lord Dai was furious, having weathered many storms over the years and seen all sorts of things, he calmly said, "I originally thought this young man named Zheng was quite good, just unlucky to have such a father. Now it seems like like father, like son."
"What do we do now? We can't just let this slide, can we?" Miss Dai's brother, Dai Chao, who had a fiery temper, couldn't help but ask.
"Although our Dai family is not a powerful one, we are more than capable of teaching him a lesson. If I let my daughter suffer this injustice, would I still be fit to be your father?" Lord Dai saw his son relax and shook his head. His son was still too young, his emotions showing on his face, unable to strategize.
"Something like this has happened, and although everyone is angry, we must proceed with caution, after all, our daughter still has to marry into the Zheng family," Mother Dai said worriedly.
"Who said my precious daughter has to marry into the Zheng family? With the Zheng family's financial situation and Zheng Yiming's character, why marry into their family? To eat the north wind? The real suffering is yet to come. I'd rather my daughter marry someone less well-off, as long as they are honest and reliable," Lord Dai disagreed with his wife's view and retorted.
"But if she doesn't marry into the Zheng family, and her reputation is ruined, others will look down on her." Madam Dai, although she felt the Zheng family was not a good match, believed that if her daughter married into another family, she would definitely be scorned, making her life difficult.
"I have this matter under control. Knowing it's a fire pit, I absolutely will not let my daughter fall into it. Go back and comfort her properly. Tell her that whatever happens, her father is here to support her, and she shouldn't worry." Lord Dai didn't want to discuss the matter further with his wife and dismissed her.
He then instructed the old woman accompanying his wife to prepare a contraceptive soup and send it to their daughter.
When only the father and son were left in the room, they discussed how to deal with Zheng Yiming.
Zheng Yiming had no idea that the Dai family would not play by the usual rules. After such an incident, any family would be too embarrassed to tolerate it and would definitely marry their daughter to the one who violated her.
At this moment, he was lying in bed dreaming pleasant dreams, imagining Miss Dai entering the family soon, bringing a large dowry, and thus returning to a life of wealth.
Two days later, Miss Dai asked him to go on an outing outside the city. Zheng Yiming, having nothing else to do, gladly agreed.
Upon arriving at the agreed meeting spot, he waited and waited, but no one came. He wanted to go home, but he was afraid Miss Dai might arrive on the road and be delayed. If he left for a while and she arrived, he feared she would misunderstand and he would have to coax her for a long time. If he stayed, he had been waiting for so long without seeing a soul.
Suddenly, a man carrying a shoulder pole walked from afar. As he approached and saw Zheng Yiming waiting alone, he said enthusiastically, "Scholar, you've been waiting here for a long time, haven't you? I have water here, would you like some? It's two wen per bowl, though."
Seeing that the sun was already high in the sky, Zheng Yiming was tired and thirsty. Seeing this, he happily said, "Two bowls, please."
He was extremely thirsty, and the two bowls of water were finished in no time. After drinking, he felt much better.
Seeing the man walk away, he also wanted to go home. He stood up, but his vision began to blur. He knew he had fallen into someone's trap, but it was too late. With a thud, he collapsed to the ground.
A moment later, several men emerged from the nearby woods, carried him into a ox cart, covered him with straw, and pulled him into a dilapidated wooden house in the forest.
After an unknown period, Zheng Yiming slowly woke up. Looking at his surroundings, he had no idea where he was. He remembered the scene before he collapsed, and a cold sweat broke out, instantly making him fully awake.