His feeling was not wrong. Within a few days, while out on a house call, he was stuffed into a sack, his hands broken. From his perspective as a physician, the fractures were severe, rendering him unable to practice medicine for the rest of his life.
Upon hearing about his injuries, Madam Shen secretly packed her bags and left.
Qiu Ze was alone at home with no money and no one to care for him. It was only because a neighbor took pity on him and brought him some food that he didn't starve to death.
Even if Qiu Ze wasn't foolish, he could guess where Madam Shen had gone. Seeing that he was no longer useful and could not earn money, she had taken all their belongings and gone to find a new partner.
At this moment, he deeply missed his children. Zisu was filial and well-behaved, Chaihu was skilled in medicine, obedient, and sensible. Wang Chunyan was diligent and virtuous. How good it would have been if they hadn't divorced.
A few days later, the rent was due. The landlord found him with difficulty, asking if he intended to renew the lease or if he should rent the property to someone else.
Qiu Ze asked for a few more days' grace, and the landlord readily agreed, as he had received a discount of ten taels of silver when purchasing the house.
The next day, Qiu Ze rented a cart and hired someone to help him transport his medicinal herbs to the county to be sold at a low price. The herbs he had painstakingly bought for over ten taels of silver only fetched three taels.
Holding the meager sum of money, he felt even more lost, unsure of where to go. In the past, with his medical skills, he never had to worry about food and shelter wherever he went. But now, with his hands disabled, his savings would eventually run out.
Just then, a carriage stopped beside him. A middle-aged man alighted and looked at him with pity. "Doctor Qiu, you are truly unfortunate. Your former wife has become the wife of the Marquis's heir, your son has become a young master of a noble family, and your daughter a young lady of high status. Yet, here you are, homeless and living on the streets." Sudi Novel Network.
"How is that possible?" Qiu Ze couldn't believe it. Others might not know, but he knew what Wang Chunyan was capable of after living with her for over a decade. Even a play wouldn't be so dramatic.
"Just ask anyone on the streets of the capital, and you'll know the truth. They have climbed high, leaving you to live alone here, which is truly lamentable," the man said, shaking his head and sighing before leaving.
Hearing the man speak with such conviction, Qiu Ze's heart began to stir. Regardless of whether it was true or not, he made up his mind to go to the capital and see for himself.
Wu Caiwei looked at Qiu Ze, who was in a state of disarray and staring at her with anger in his eyes, and could hardly believe her own sight. How could he have let himself fall into such a state in such a short time after her departure?
It wasn't that Wu Caiwei was being unreasonable. Qiu Ze had endured a long and arduous journey, his clothes were dirty and torn, his beard was unkempt, and he hadn't eaten properly due to his injured hands. He was so thin that he looked like a beggar on the street.
"Wang Chunyan, you unchaste woman, how could you marry someone else? How could you let our son and daughter change their surnames? They are the blood of my Qiu family!" The middle-aged man had not lied to him. The three of them had indeed risen to prominence, but how could this woman betray him?
"If you continue to speak disrespectfully, I'll have someone escort you out with a stick. You could divorce me for another woman, can't I remarry? There aren't many men in this world, and besides, you were the one who abandoned them. Do you want me to bring out the divorce papers to jog your memory? Regardless of their surname, it's better than following you, a father who can't even feed them," Wu Caiwei scoffed disdainfully.
"You... you... Heaven is truly unfair, how could it let a unreasonable village woman like you become the Marquis's wife?" Qiu Ze pointed at her nose, wanting to curse but unable to utter any foul language.
"I love seeing you dislike me yet be unable to do anything about it. It makes me feel so good," Wu Caiwei said with immense satisfaction. As long as he was unhappy, she was happy. She wished he would get so angry he'd die.
Seeing that he couldn't win the argument and was only getting more upset, Qiu Ze abruptly flicked his sleeves and turned away, walking out while angrily muttering, "Only women and petty people are difficult to deal with."
Wu Caiwei pursed her lips, unfazed.
Walking on the bustling streets, Qiu Ze finally regained his composure. He recalled the original intention of his trip to the capital: to find his son and daughter and have them care for him in his old age. Upon inquiring, he learned that they had all changed their surname to Li, and in a fit of irrationality, he had impulsively confronted her.
The people of the capital all said his son and daughter had become the young master and lady of the Marquis's manor. Good heavens, his Qiu family's ancestral grave must have smoked with good fortune. He wondered if their lives were as depicted in plays, with servants aplenty and delicacies at every meal. Regardless, if even a little bit of their wealth trickled down, it would be enough for him to live out his remaining years in comfort.
He walked and inquired, and soon arrived at the gates of the Marquis's manor. Upon seeing the magnificent entrance, his legs trembled, and he felt a surge of fear. He wanted to leave, but thinking of his empty hands and nowhere to sleep at night, he had no choice but to steel his nerves and knock on the door.
After a while, a servant-like man emerged. Qiu Ze explained his identity and purpose. He expected to be driven away, but to his surprise, he was warmly welcomed inside and treated with great hospitality.
The manor was opulent and splendid everywhere he looked, but he couldn't quite describe its beauty, his eyes widening in awe.
The thought of his two children living in such a place only fueled his growing resentment. They were all family, yet why did the three of them wear gold and silver, eating and drinking extravagantly, while he lived in hardship.
After a long wait, the brother and sister, who had changed their surnames, slowly appeared.
"Father, I have missed you dearly, and now I finally see you." On the street, he would never have recognized his own children, given how much they had changed. He quickly clasped their hands, attempting to appeal to their emotions.
"Speak. What is it?" Li Chaihu asked first, fearing his sister might be swayed.
"You've changed so much, my child. You were so filial before. It's all your mother's fault for corrupting you..."
"Hurry up and state your purpose. If you continue to speak ill of my mother, I will have you thrown out," Li Chaihu said expressionlessly, rising as if to give an order.
"I won't say it then. You have grown so big, yet I am old and without support. You must provide for me in my old age." Qiu Ze had never seen such a son and was somewhat intimidated by his demeanor. He quickly stated the purpose of his visit.
"Qingyun, give him fifty taels of silver." As soon as Li Chaihu finished speaking, a maid behind him replied affirmatively and quickly withdrew.
She soon returned with fifty taels of silver. "We no longer bear the surname Qiu, and we have no relation to you. Do not come here again. This money is enough for your old age. Of course, if you generously choose to help others and disregard your own well-being, that is your own doing. Do not speak of filial duty; have you ever cared for us since we grew up?" Li Chaihu finished speaking without giving Qiu Ze a chance to explain and directly took his sister's hand to leave.