It was impossible to expect him to laugh. Qiu Ze valued his reputation more than anything and politely saw Zhang Ziwei out.
Qiu Zisu had heard her father say he would deal with her mother later, and she was a little scared. Her father’s anger was truly frightening.
Qiu Ze was furious. This woman really needed to be taught a lesson. Seeing his fierce look, Wu Caiwei was actually a little intimidated. It wasn’t for any other reason than that her current body was genuinely ill. Of course, she wasn’t completely defenseless. When she had gotten out of bed earlier, she had taken a few embroidery needles from the basket, thinking that if a real fight broke out, he would know she wasn’t someone to be bullied easily.
Qiu Zisu trembled all over but still tried her best to shield her mother.
“You disobedient girl, move aside! If you block me again, I’ll hit you too.”
“Oh, so you’ve gotten brave, huh? You’re a good person to others outside, but you reveal your true colors when you get home. Honestly, in all my life, I’ve never seen someone who treats others better than his own wife and daughters. You don’t know right from wrong. I bet you’ll have a terrible end when you get old.” Wu Caiwei couldn’t stand this kind of man.
In her eyes, kindness was a good thing, but it shouldn’t be excessive. At the very least, one should protect one’s wife and children. Call her selfish or unkind, but she didn’t have the kind of self-sacrificing spirit. However, she wouldn’t refuse to help others when she could.
“This woman needs a lesson today, or she won’t know who’s the master of the house.” Qiu Ze was truly angry and walked forward step by step.
Qiu Chaihu entered the door and saw this scene. He was too familiar with such scenes; he had seen them countless times since he was a child.
He quickened his pace, grabbed Qiu Ze, and said, “Father, what’s wrong? Who made you angry? I’ll sort them out for you later, don’t upset yourself.” Su Dan Novel Network
Qiu Ze felt a little better seeing his son placate him. He complained to his son, “Your mother and sister are truly infuriating. As women, they should revere their husbands. My good brothers came over, but they left disappointed. They’ve trampled all over my reputation.”
“Yes, yes, son knows it’s not easy for Father. I’ll talk to them later. Who doesn’t know you’re a great philanthropist in these ten miles and eight villages, famous for your warm heart? When I came in, I thought I saw a patient arrive. Hurry and go see them.” Qiu Chaihu spoke soothingly to his father.
Qiu Ze, upon hearing that a patient had arrived, saw another opportunity to boost his reputation and quickly went out, forgetting his intention to discipline Wu Caiwei.
Qiu Chaihu watched his hurried back and quickly went to his mother’s side, supporting her. “Mother, why are you out of bed? If there’s anything, have Sister call me from the front, and I’ll handle it.”
As Qiu Chaihu spoke, he sighed. Having an unreliable father was truly troublesome.
“Why are you back?” Wu Caiwei couldn’t help but ask, seeing how her son was looking out for her.
“I was busy collecting medicinal herbs and saw those people leave. Things seemed unusual, and I was afraid Father would trouble you again. I hurried over after finishing my work. Fortunately, I ran fast, or you would have suffered again.” He looked somewhat frightened.
No wonder the original owner was so unwilling to accept the fate of her son and daughter. They were so well-behaved and filial, yet they had such tragic endings. Honestly, at this moment, Wu Caiwei’s heart ached. Even if not for the original owner, she wanted to raise these two children well, give them a good future, a happy life, and many descendants.
In the evening, she heard a woman call out, “Brother Qiu!” A moment later, though she couldn’t hear what the woman was saying, she could hear her crying. Wu Caiwei knew it was Shen Niangzi, the widowed neighbor from across the street, crying poverty to Qiu Ze. The money he earned today from a day’s work was probably gone again.
Indeed, a moment later, Qiu Ze entered the room. “At noon, you said there was no money at home. I didn’t believe you. Where is the money? Bring it out for me.”
“Have you ever brought any money home? Besides, there were quite a few patients today. Where is the money you earned?” Wu Caiwei looked at him mockingly.
“What’s with that look? That Shen Niangzi’s family is in trouble. It’s hard for a widow and her children to live. I’ll help if I can.” Qiu Ze knew she was misunderstanding and quickly defended himself.
“Yes, there are so many people in this town, why did she specifically come to you? It’s hard for a widow and her child to live? Yang Niangzi to the east, she’s raising two children and doing laundry. Though life is hard, she’s raised her children. Li Niangzi to the south, she also has two children and does laundry and embroidery every day. Has she asked anyone for money? Shen Niangzi only has one child and can’t even raise them, coming to you every day to cry poverty. If one didn’t know, they’d think that child was yours.”
“It’s one thing for outsiders to gossip about us; they don’t understand the situation. Why do you think like them too? I never knew you were such a petty person.”
“I am petty! My own children are starving every day, yet I’m supposed to worry about whether someone else’s child has meat to eat? Someone like you is not fit to be a father, nor a husband. You’d be best off alone.” Wu Caiwei spoke her true feelings.
“You’re very unusual today. Do you not want to be together anymore? If you don’t want to, then get out of this house.” Qiu Ze felt his authority at home was constantly being challenged. Every time he came home, this woman nagged him, which was very annoying.
“I really don’t want to be together anymore. Living a lifetime with a man like you is truly pathetic. If you want to kick me out, fine, but I’m taking both children with me.”
“How is that possible? The children are the blood of my Qiu family. You can leave, but the children must stay.” Qiu Ze actually didn’t take Wu Caiwei’s words seriously. How would she survive without him?
“Why stay here? To be starved to death by you? You earn money to support someone else’s wife and children. What about them? No matter what, I must take them with me, or there’s no way you’re kicking me out.” Wu Caiwei argued fiercely.
Qiu Ze’s anger flared. He raised his hand to slap her across the face, but the next moment he cried out in pain, looking at his hand pierced through by several embroidery needles.
“You… you… how dare you?” Qiu Ze’s face twisted in pain, and he was extremely shocked.
“You can hit me, but can’t I resist and teach you a lesson? I’ll put it here: next time you raise your hand, let’s have a proper fight and see who wins.” Wu Caiwei wouldn’t indulge his temperament. Such men needed to be taught a lesson.
Qiu Ze couldn’t bear the pain any longer and didn’t bother arguing with her. He quickly went to the front to bandage his hand.
That night, he went drinking and eating with his usual companions. While drinking, he spoke of his inner frustrations and showed them how formidable Wang Chunyan was.
“Such a fierce and petty woman should be divorced. Let’s see how a woman alone can live.”
“Yes, yes! Brother isn’t worried about finding another wife. That Shen Niangzi is waiting!”
“Exactly! Find someone younger and prettier, and no one will nag you. Then our lives as brothers will be more comfortable.”
…
Listening to his brothers’ advice, Qiu Ze was moved. He already knew what Shen Niangzi meant, but he had many concerns because of his two children.
“Let her take the children. Brother Qiu isn’t short of money. When he marries Shen Niangzi, they can have more children, both sons and daughters. A person needs to feel comfortable in their life.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.