Having accepted the memories of the original host, Wu Caiwei saw her mother secretly wiping away tears the moment she stepped outside. Knowing why they were sad, she quickly stepped forward with a smile to comfort them, "Why are you crying? The Wang family is a prominent family in the county. I heard Wang Zifeng's maternal uncle is the county magistrate. We've climbed high. Where else can we find such a good marriage?"
"But he doesn't look like a good man at all. Moreover, I feel something is amiss. Our Liu family is not a prestigious clan. Although my daughter looks perfect in my eyes, to outsiders, she's just a doctor's daughter, not exceptionally beautiful. If I'm not mistaken, his eyes held a hint of disgust. Why must he marry you?" Liu's father analyzed calmly.
"But we can't refuse, can we?" Wu Caiwei insisted on marrying into the Wang family because the original host had suffered inhuman torture there. She could take Liu's father, mother, and brother and escape the small town, finding a place where no one knew them to start anew. But wouldn't that let them off too easily? If they wanted to marry, they could, but they might regret it.
"They say it's not easy to live in a deep, grand mansion, that it's full of schemes and intrigues. We're afraid you won't have a good life," Liu's mother said, her eyes red.
"Father, Mother, please look." After speaking, Wu Caiwei walked to the millstone in the middle of the courtyard and lifted the entire millstone. Liu's father and mother's expressions gradually shifted from confusion to shock.
"Are you relieved now? It won't be easy for Wang Zifeng to bully me. Besides, I know medicine and can make sleeping potions. If something unfavorable happens, the best strategy is to flee." Wu Caiwei looked at them with full confidence.
"We have better options. We can leave the small town and start over. We don't have to sacrifice our entire lives." Although Liu's father was reluctant to part with the pharmacy he had managed for decades and the peaceful life, his daughter's happiness was more important than anything.
"As Father said, this matter is not simple. There must be someone behind it. Perhaps they've been targeting us for a long time. Where can we escape to? If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch its cub? I want to see who is crossing us."
Liu's father and mother tried to persuade her further, but Wu Caiwei directly interrupted, "Don't say any more. My mind is made up."
The couple exchanged glances and couldn't help but sigh. It was their own incompetence that led their daughter to such a plight.
Seeing her parents looking at her, hesitant to speak, Wu Caiwei pulled her brother aside and instructed him with concern, "If all goes as expected, I will enter the Wang family soon. When I leave, you must take good care of our parents and tell them not to worry. Don't come looking for me. I will come back to see you when I have time."
"Must you marry? You are so naive, what if they bully you?" Liu Xiangjun looked at her with self-reproach, feeling guilty as a brother for not protecting his sister well.
"I have reasons for needing to go. Don't ask. I will tell you later." Wu Caiwei said calmly.
As expected, the next morning, the Wang family's procession to welcome the bride arrived at the door, with music and drums. Liu's father and mother were bewildered. They had only sent the betrothal gifts yesterday, and without consulting them, why were they coming to pick up the bride today?
Wang Zifeng walked proudly at the front, his men acting like bandits, pushing past the couple and barging in.
They reached Wu Caiwei's boudoir and prepared to break down the door. The door opened from the inside, and Wu Caiwei, fully dressed, walked out.
"Miss Liu is sensible. The auspicious hour has arrived, let's go." Wang Zifeng raised his eyebrows, surprised by her reaction. However, he didn't forget the main task and wanted to complete it quickly.
Wu Caiwei nodded, smiled reassuringly at her parents, put on the bridal veil, and got into the sedan chair.
The sedan chair stopped, and she arrived at the Wang family. It wasn't as lively as she had imagined. Wu Caiwei, with the original host's memories, knew that the Wang family hadn't held a grand banquet and didn't regard her as important.
She didn't argue or cry but obediently went through the wedding ceremony with him. After the rites were completed, Wang Zifeng went to mingle with the concubine maids. Wu Caiwei, unhurriedly, removed her veil and slept soundly on the bed.
Waking up in the morning, Wu Caiwei appeared before everyone with bright spirits. They all looked at her with surprise. They had expected her to hide under the covers and cry, with eyes swollen like walnuts. This was completely unexpected.
She smiled and went to the main hall, found a seat, and sat down. If they thought she had cried all night like the original host and was ridiculed for days, they were mistaken. It was they who should cry; the show was just beginning.
"Such bad manners. As expected of a country bumpkin," Madam Wang said unhappily upon seeing herself and her husband arrive, and the other party didn't rise.
"Madam, say what you want to say. Why be indirect? I am from the countryside, everyone knows that. It wasn't me who was desperate to marry into the Wang family. You insisted on marrying me. Before marrying me, you should have anticipated this situation." Wu Caiwei sat with her legs crossed, sipping tea, as leisurely as can be.
"You... you dare to talk back? I don't think we need to toast the tea today. Let's bring out the family law. I will teach you, this ignorant woman, a lesson!" Ever since her brother became the county magistrate, everyone had fawned over her. It was the first time someone dared to talk back to her face. Madam Wang was furious.
"If we don't toast, we don't toast. The Wang family doesn't seem to value this marriage much. There were no guests invited yesterday, and Wang Zifeng hasn't shown up yet. Why must you marry me?" Wu Caiwei looked at her with a meaningful gaze.
Madam Wang's eyes unconsciously narrowed. She had intended to keep her longer. This woman was too shrewd and might guess the reason soon. This was not what "they" wanted. It seemed the plan had to be expedited.
Soon, a servant brought a whip. Wu Caiwei watched with interest as if nothing had happened. Madam Wang suppressed her anger and gestured to the person behind her, "Go and teach her some manners."
Two elderly women behind Madam Wang immediately approached her with malicious intent, their approach aggressive. Wu Caiwei remained unfazed.
The moment they reached out to grab her, they fell to the ground, crying out in pain. Madam Wang, seeing that she dared to fight back, picked up the whip, stepped forward a few paces, and lashed it hard at her.
Wu Caiwei tilted her head, stepped forward a few paces, and grabbed the middle of the whip. She carefully examined the end of the whip, marveling as she did, "The Wang family's family law is too inhumane. It's covered in barbs. If this were to accidentally strike the face, it would disfigure someone."
Madam Wang felt a surge of anger. She pulled hard but found that the whip wouldn't budge no matter how hard she pulled. The maid beside her, being observant, quickly stepped forward to help. A strange thing happened: none of the five of them had the strength to overpower her.