Hearing this, Wu Caiwei didn't know what to say. Liu Yixuan always wanted to rely on others; why didn't he create opportunities for himself?
"You have no idea how utterly annoyed we were by him. In the beginning, as soon as we stepped out, he'd rush over to curry favor, reminiscing about the past. We couldn't be too harsh, so we spoke kindly and asked him to leave. But he simply didn't understand. He came every day, no matter how unpleasant our words were, he remained unfazed. Later, we got fed up and ordered the servants to beat him with sticks whenever he appeared. After a few times, it got a little better. He still came, but he would hide in alleys, secretly observing the Liu mansion. Once the gate was closed, he was shielded from external eyes," Father Liu said helplessly.
"He originally went after the Li family's wealth. Now that they don't want him, he wants to come back. Where on earth is there such a cheap thing in this world?" Wu Caiwei was also astonished by Liu Yixuan's thick skin.
"Feixue, don't worry. If he dares to pester you, I will deal with him," Lin Shuisheng guaranteed.
"I believe you." Wu Caiwei looked at Lin Shuisheng trustingly. Father and Mother Liu exchanged glances as they watched the interaction between the two, looking at them both ambiguously.
As Lin Shuisheng had promised, whenever Liu Yixuan approached the Liu mansion, he would beat him until his face was bruised and swollen. He was skilled at hitting, targeting painful spots that wouldn't cause permanent injury.
After suffering a few beatings, Liu Yixuan disappeared. Lin Shuisheng thought he had given up. However, a few days later, rumors started circulating in the city, saying that the reason Shopkeeper Liu hadn't gotten engaged was because she still harbored feelings for her former fiancé. Even though he was married, she hadn't given up, and now that her fiancé was divorced, they were waiting to get back together.
Hearing this rumor, Lin Shuisheng found Wu Caiwei in a rage. "It must be Liu Yixuan pulling the strings behind the scenes."
"There's no one else. He's resorting to underhanded tactics to force me to yield. He underestimates me too much."
Listening to Wu Caiwei's calm voice, Lin Shuisheng felt uneasy. He couldn't help but tentatively utter the words he had practiced countless times, "I have no money, no talent, and no good family background. But I am willing to become a live-in son-in-law in the Liu family and treat you well my entire life. I wonder if you would agree?"
After speaking, Lin Shuisheng's heart pounded nervously. He dared not look at Wu Caiwei's expression, fearing he would hear a rejection.
"Of course, I will!" Wu Caiwei smiled at him.
"I won't make you regret it." Upon hearing Wu Caiwei's affirmative answer, Lin Shuisheng couldn't believe it at first, thinking he was dreaming. When he realized it was real, his face turned red with excitement, and he pulled her into a hug, unwilling to let go for a long time.
"There's still one more thing to settle. Once I've handled it, I'll come to propose soon," Lin Shuisheng said, his eyes shining as he looked at her.
Wu Caiwei nodded with a smile, "I'll wait for you."
After they parted, Li Shuisheng was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night, grinning to himself and staying awake until dawn.
The next morning, without even having breakfast, he rushed to Qingshan Village. When he arrived home, the family was eating. His stepmother immediately said, "Back so early, you must have eaten out. You're eating and drinking well outside, while we at home have only simple fare. I heard the wages at the Liu family are very high. You've been away for a few months, you must have earned several taels of silver. Hurry up and take it out to improve our lives and buy your father some good wine."
Seeing his father staring at him, Lin Shuisheng knew he also thought he was enjoying himself more outside than at home. As soon as he returned, they asked him for money. Over the years, he had become accustomed to it and held no expectations.
"I've returned this time to tell you something. I met a girl outside. She's a very good person, and her family has only one daughter, so they want to take in a son-in-law. I want to go, what are your opinions?" Lin Shuisheng asked them expressionlessly.
"That won't do! How can our Lin family's son marry into someone else's family?" Before Father Lin could answer, Mother Lin exclaimed first.
Father Lin remained silent, clearly agreeing with Mother Lin's idea.
Mother Lin's eyes rolled around. She absolutely did not want Lin Shuisheng to marry into another family. Although she had disliked him when he was young, now that he had grown up and could earn money, Mother Lin still wanted him to continue earning silver to support the family.
"If you all disagree, then I'll have them return the hundred taels of silver and tell them that I will stay by my parents' side from now on, and I will fulfill my filial duties to them as a devoted son."
"What did you say? What hundred taels?" Mother Lin was the first to react. In her entire life, she had never seen so much silver.
"The girl's family said that if I agree to marry into their family, they will give our family a hundred taels of silver and sign a document of severance of relations, and I should never return again."
"You didn't say there was so much money earlier? Although filial piety is important, your younger siblings are grown up and can take turns showing filial piety to your father. No matter how filial you are, our family is so poor, we can't even afford meat and have to farm every day. Where else will the money be more practical? Moreover, if they can give so much money, it shows they are a generous family. After you go, you'll eat well and drink richly, and we won't have to worry about you. Old man, what do you think?" Mother Lin looked at Father Lin expectantly.
"Cough, cough, you decide." Father Lin's tacit approval made Mother Lin beam with joy. She knew the old man wouldn't refuse money.
"Let's go, let's go, let's go and sign the severance of relations document, and quickly get the silver, lest others go back on their word," Mother Lin urged.
Seeing the severance of relations document Lin Shuisheng handed over, Wu Caiwei was speechless. Looking at the clear inscription of one hundred taels of silver to buy out the kinship, Wu Caiwei could imagine the scene where Father and Mother Lin would regret their decision and beat their chests when they learned Lin Shuisheng could earn a thousand taels of silver a month.
A few days later, the Liu mansion sent out invitations widely: Miss Liu was taking in a son-in-law, who was a farmhand from the same village. The wedding was set for one month later.
As soon as the news broke, the entire city was abuzz. People on the streets and in the alleys were discussing which farmhand had such good fortune. The rumors about Wu Caiwei were thus self-defeating.
Upon hearing this, Liu Yixuan was utterly dejected. He felt that all the bad luck in his life had started from knowing Li Qingrou.
In the preceding years, he had smoothly passed the imperial examinations and had a bright future, becoming an object of envy. After marrying Li Qingrou, although people didn't say it openly, he knew some were discussing him behind his back as ungrateful and a white-eyed wolf. Later, his hand was injured, shattering his hopes of a scholarly career. Now, he had nothing.
He stumbled onto the street. Unconsciously, he found himself outside the Yuelai Building again. When he came to his senses, he prepared to turn and leave, but saw Li Qingrou emerging from inside, laughing and chatting with a man. Seeing him, she acted as if she didn't know him, got into a carriage, and drove away.
Liu Yixuan looked at his unkempt beard and worn, faded clothes, while she was dressed exquisitely and attended by servants. The more he compared them, the more unbalanced he felt. Why should this woman ruin him and then live a new life without any guilt?
A conspiracy began to brew in his mind.