Liu Mu was born into a prominent family as a concubine's daughter. Her legitimate mother was unkind, often beating and scolding the concubine's daughters, which fostered a weak and indecisive personality in Liu Mu. However, she possessed a genuinely good temperament and was always obedient to Liu Fu, who was very pleased with her.
One day, while Liu Mu was helping Madam polish a vase, she accidentally broke it. Madam flew into a rage and punished her by making her kneel in the courtyard for two hours.
It was freezing cold at the time, and Liu Fu was discussing scholarly matters at a classmate's home and was unaware of the incident. When he returned home, he found Liu Mu lying in a pool of blood. His mind went blank, filled with a buzzing sensation. He hastily picked up Liu Mu and rushed towards the city's medical clinic.
Before leaving the estate, he encountered the steward and servants. Seeing the young master rushing out recklessly with his wife, covered in blood, they didn't know what had happened, but as subordinates, they feared outsiders seeing such a scene and damaging the estate's reputation. They rushed forward to stop him.
At this moment, Liu Fu's heart was filled with immense hatred. He seemed to see his mother's lingering reluctance and worry on the day she passed away, and he also seemed to see his devoted personal maid die of illness due to the lack of a doctor.
He used all his strength to shove aside anyone who tried to stop him, venting all his resentment upon them, kicking them fiercely. For a moment, they were stunned by the bloodshot-eyed young master, and no one could block him.
Fortunately, there was a medical clinic not far from the Hu estate. Passersby parted way as he went, whispering amongst themselves. Liu Fu could no longer care about anything else; all he knew was that he couldn't let the person in his arms leave him.
He quickly arrived at the clinic and carefully placed her on the examination bed. Fortunately, there were not many patients seeking treatment that day. Hearing that a patient had arrived, the doctor, who was sorting medicinal herbs in the backyard, immediately came forward. Seeing Liu Fu trembling uncontrollably, he quickly comforted him, "Don't worry, let me examine her condition first."
"Doctor, you must save her," Liu Fu said, as if he had found his backbone, and grabbed the doctor's hand.
The doctor was not angered, as he had seen too much of life and death and too many agitated family members of patients.
"I'll do my best, but you must let me examine her condition first, won't you?"
Liu Fu quickly withdrew his hand, apologizing profusely, "Doctor, I'm truly sorry, I was too agitated. Please examine my wife quickly."
The elderly doctor took her pulse through a handkerchief. "The patient has miscarried and was exposed to the cold. I'll prescribe some medicine for you to decoct at home. A woman who miscarries needs to rest and recuperate, just like after giving birth. Go home and rest well," the doctor said with a helpless shake of his head.
Liu Fu was stunned at first, then burst into tears. Their first child was gone. He knew how the child had died but was powerless to avenge it. It is said that men do not shed tears easily, but only when their sorrow is too deep. He hated the Hu estate, hated his own powerlessness.
The elderly doctor often visited affluent families and had seen too many unsavory affairs. He was not one to meddle. Seeing Liu Fu so heartbroken, he couldn't help but say, "You are still young, you will have more children in the future. Young people should look forward."
The Hu family had originally been unaware of this matter. However, seeing the strange looks from their colleagues and hearing the gossip behind their backs, they sent someone to inquire and learned what had happened. Hu Jiayuan was furious.
Madam was truly something. She didn't lack servants, yet she insisted that Liu Mu serve her. If she had to serve, she shouldn't have caused such trouble. Hu Jiayuan also blamed Liu Fu, didn't he know that family scandals should not be aired publicly? He had made such a scene that people all over the streets and alleys saw it, and the gossip spread like wildfire.
Alas, if his youngest son hadn't been so utterly useless, indulging in drinking, gambling, and womanizing, he wouldn't have let his eldest son out. Although the eldest son had talent in the imperial examinations, he was, after all, surnamed Liu. Moreover, having neglected him in the side courtyard for so many years, he knew without asking that his son harbored resentment. To pin his hopes on the imperial examinations on someone with no father-son affection, and someone who carried an outside surname, Hu Jiayuan felt helpless.
After this incident, Madam Hu became a laughingstock. There is no impermeable wall in the world. Although the Hu family never mentioned the past, many observant people still found out.
Many ladies from prominent families said behind Madam Hu's back that the Hu family was uncouth, not only occupying the position of the legitimate wife but also trying to eradicate the legitimate son.
Madam Hu refused to admit that she had been blind, nor did she want to admit that she had been abusive. She blamed all the sins on the couple. If she had known this would happen, she should have let him die in the side courtyard back then.
The rumors about the Hu family circulated in the city for quite some time. Madam Hu felt particularly wronged. She believed that marrying Hu Jiayuan, a daughter of an official family, was already a low marriage. It was only after having children that she discovered she was not the first wife, and at her age, she had become the city's laughingstock, causing so much trouble.
She quarreled with Hu Jiayuan, crying that he had deceived her into marriage and made her suffer. At the same time, she treated Liu Fu and Liu Mu even more harshly, their food, clothing, and living conditions deteriorating. Liu Mu had not even properly recovered from her miscarriage before she was made to serve Madam. Her good-for-nothing younger brother also played pranks on them every few days. Their lives were truly miserable.
They always hoped and waited for Liu Fu to pass the provincial examination and even the imperial examination. If he could become an official in another region, that would be wonderful.
When people have hope, they can endure even the most difficult days. Once hope is gone, they are on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Madam's maternal family was implicated in a corruption case and their property was confiscated. Although the crime did not extend to married daughters, everyone turned against them when they were down. Moreover, Hu Jiayuan had been promoted by his father-in-law. His political enemies used the fact that he had taken a concubine to attack him, resulting in his dismissal from office and a ban from participating in the imperial examinations for three generations.
This was not only a devastating blow to the Hu family but also a cataclysmic event that shattered the beliefs of Liu Fu and Liu Mu.
The Hu family became ordinary merchants. Because they had relied on his father-in-law's influence for so many years, all the family's finances were managed by Madam. Hu Jiayuan was not clear about the extent of their wealth. Looking at the accounts, which only showed a few moderately profitable shops, Hu Jiayuan thought he was mistaken. No matter how he questioned Madam, she insisted that she was not good at managing finances and had squandered all the family's money, leaving only these few shops.
Later, she used the excuse of having no money at home and stopped supporting Liu Fu and Liu Mu.
Originally, Hu Jiayuan and Liu Fu had little affection for each other. They had shown a little consideration for appearances at first because of Liu Fu's talent in studies. Now that he was forbidden from taking the imperial examinations, his status as a scholar, though not revoked, meant he would be stuck at this level for life.
At Madam's strong insistence, they were forced to leave with nothing. As the couple stood on the street with their bundles, they felt not only lost about their future but also shocked, unable to believe they had truly escaped the Hu estate.
Although they left with nothing, the two knew they couldn't rely on the Hu family. Therefore, they were extremely frugal with the money they received. The savings they accumulated, though insignificant in the Hu mansion, could sustain a common family for several years.
So, the couple came to Qingshan Village. In this remote mountain village, no one knew their origins. Instead, because he was a scholar, he was respected everywhere.