Seeing Fu Meng like this, the old lady found herself in a difficult position, unsure of how to proceed. To punish her seemed harsh, as she had raised her and still held some affection for her. Yet, to let it go would feel like a disservice to her grandchildren.
She decided that since the estate was to be passed down to her grandson and his wife, these matters should be left to them. As for herself, she would devote her remaining days to chanting scriptures and meditating.
Wu Caiwei and Li Yuqun also found the situation extremely thorny. After much deliberation, they decided to confine Fu Meng to the most secluded courtyard in the estate.
They provided her with a small amount of grain and vegetable seeds, instructing her to be self-sufficient. It was made clear that she would never again set foot outside the Li estate in her lifetime. They believed this punishment would be severe for a young lady accustomed to a life of luxury and ease.
The young girl raised by Fu Meng had never known a good day. Li Quan thoroughly investigated her family background. After seeking her consent, he purchased a small courtyard across the street from the Li estate and settled her and her son there.
The old lady bestowed upon her the name Li Yuzhu and formally entered her into the Li family's genealogy.
Even now, Li Yuzhu felt a sense of disbelief, struggling to comprehend that she was a young lady of the Li family.
She knew of the Li family, the wealthiest in the city, and had always felt a vast distance between herself and such prominent households. Yet, she was grateful for this new identity, without which she would never have escaped that den of iniquity.
Upon arriving at that household, the man already had three sons and one daughter. Believing she had been bought for a considerable sum, none of them treated her as a human being. Anyone could strike her, step on her, or order her around.
Day after day, year after year, she grew numb to this life, consumed by despair. It wasn't until she inadvertently discovered she was pregnant that the old man's attitude towards her softened slightly.
After giving birth to a son, her status nominally improved, but in reality, she knew her stepsons and stepdaughters harbored deep resentment towards her. They constantly found ways to cause trouble for her when no one was looking.
She also overheard them discussing plans to sell her and her son for a good price.
When the steward found her and informed her of her true identity, asking about her plans, she replied without hesitation: to leave that household.
She didn't know what methods the steward employed, but she only knew that as she and her son departed, the old man and his children watched them with looks of fear and regret, which she found immensely satisfying to recall.
With this, the hidden danger within the estate was considered completely resolved. Wu Caiwei and Li Yuqun began to fully immerse themselves in their business endeavors, aiming to expand the Li family's prosperity. Of course, they did not forget to do good deeds.
Within a couple of years, they had a son. Seeing that the Li family had an heir, the old lady passed away with a smile.
A few more years later, Li Yuqun recalled events from his previous lives.
Wu Caiwei felt that heaven had been kind to her, allowing her to live so many lifetimes, with him by her side.
Once again, she received a beam of golden light, marking the end of her life in this world. The moment she returned to modern times, she chose to embark on a new mission.
"Miss, hurry and pack your things, Master is here to pick us up," said a simply dressed old woman, her face beaming with joy.
Still disoriented and unsure of what was happening, Wu Caiwei quickly clutched her head and groaned, "My head is suddenly throbbing. I can't walk. Please let me rest alone for a while and be quiet. Perhaps it will pass soon."
Hearing this, the old woman rushed forward with concern, supporting her. "Miss, please rest on the bed for a bit. If the pain is severe, I will go find the nun."
Wu Caiwei nodded with difficulty.
Seeing her mistress lying on the bed with her eyes closed, the old woman let out a sigh of relief as the frown on her brow eased. Sudan Novel Network.
She tiptoed out, closing the door behind her.
Wu Caiwei's eyes suddenly snapped open as she began to absorb the memories.
The original owner's name was Zhou Hanyu, the third daughter of the Zhou family. However, everyone in the Zhou household knew of the eldest and second young ladies, but no one had ever heard of a third young lady.
The reason was that she had been sent to a nunnery to cultivate her spiritual path from birth. When she left the Zhou estate, only her wet nurse, Madam Yang, followed her, the same old woman from just now.
Innocent, kind, diligent, and simple, she was deeply loved by the abbess, who not only taught her to read and write but also to practice medicine.
She knew of her birth into the Zhou family because they sent two hundred taels of silver annually for her and her wet nurse's expenses. However, they never showed any inclination to take her back.
To say she wasn't heartbroken and disappointed would be a lie. Although her wet nurse treated her like her own daughter, it could never replace the place her parents held in her heart.
It was today that a steward's wife from the estate visited the abbess, expressing the Zhou family's desire to bring the third young lady back.
Although the abbess was reluctant, she had no right to refuse. Besides, Hanyu was grown, and she would eventually marry. Returning to the estate was ultimately better than staying in the nunnery.
This led to the scene that just transpired. The original owner, happily packing her belongings with her wet nurse, was ready to return to the estate.
She was quite happy on the day of her return, finally meeting her father and mother, and no longer having to imagine their appearances in her dreams.
However, what followed pushed her into an abyss. It was only upon her death that she realized her so-called family affection was nothing more than her own wishful thinking.
Regardless, her mother, Madam Zhu, was the principal wife. If she could abandon her at birth, and neglect her for so many years, she could now heartlessly sacrifice her.
Wu Caiwei slowly opened her eyes, feeling the original owner's resentment. She sighed, mourning that she had to start her struggles all over again.
The original owner's situation made her ponder. Some people are simply not destined to have the companionship of parents, siblings, or relatives.
The original owner's mother, Madam Zhu, came from a wealthy merchant family, while her father, Zhou Xiangyu, was from a poor farming background. He had been childhood sweethearts with his cousin Xia Qing from his uncle's family, and they were a recognized couple.
Studying was an expensive endeavor for farming families, and ordinary households could not afford it, nor could the Zhou family. The Xia family, seeing his talent for study and deeming it a waste not to pursue it, discussed with the Zhou family how they could pool their resources to support his education and improve their standing.
Zhou Xiangyu did not disappoint them, achieving the jinshi degree at a young age.
He thought his hardships were over, but reality delivered a harsh blow.
Those with wealth and connections had either entered the Hanlin Academy early or secured good positions and were posted elsewhere. He found himself in an awkward predicament, lacking both money and connections.
Having endured years of hardship, he did not want his efforts to be in vain. He had two paths before him: either marry into a wealthy merchant family and use their wealth as a stepping stone, or attract the attention of officials and marry a concubine of an official's family or the daughter of a minor official.
He ultimately chose to marry into a merchant family. The reason was that if he married an official's daughter and accepted their assistance, he would have to inconvenience his cousin.
Marrying a wealthy merchant's daughter, however, was different. Although he would use their money for his advancement, it was, in a sense, their family that was marrying up. Certain matters would be overlooked. In this way, when his cousin entered the household, he could protect her for life.
The outcome was as he had imagined. As soon as his eldest daughter was born, he elevated his cousin to the position of second wife. When Madam Zhu gave birth to twin daughters, Xia Qing was very displeased.
At this time, she was also pregnant and found a Taoist priest who claimed that the twins would be detrimental to the child in her womb and that one of them must be raised in a nunnery for good fortune.