Although they were not outsiders, they were too embarrassed to just barge into the inner courtyard, so after Cheng Wen and Cheng Jing entered the hall, they stood in front of the screen between the hall and the banquet room, listening to the movements in the banquet room.
In the inner room, Wu Baozhang was crying bitterly: "… He refused to change his ways, and I had no other options. I just wanted to force her to leave, and I had no intention of harming her. If I had intended to harm her, I would not have just reported the case instead of taking my uncle's invitation to the government office. But he embarrassed me like this, what's the point of me staying in this family? Isn't he afraid of being criticized for favoring his concubine over his wife?"
Yuan frowned tightly, and a hint of disgust flashed across Wu Baozhang's eyes, but she quickly regained her kindness and dignity, and advised gently: "According to me, both of you are wrong. It's just that Nuo Ge'er is more wrong. But a woman outside actually dared to hit you? He really doesn't know the severity of the matter. But you too, there are thousands of ways to drive someone away, why did you choose this method, how will you let Nuo Ge look at you? How do you want him to get along with you in the future? I think you are usually very smart, why do you do such a stupid thing at the critical moment?" As she said, she signaled her personal maid to take a handkerchief to Wu Baozhang, "Don't cry, things have come to this point, we can only think of a way to remedy it. I will have someone find Nuo Ge'er and let him apologize to you. You are a petty person who doesn't care about the mistakes of adults. Go back and talk to him nicely, don't hurt the relationship, you are going to spend the rest of your life together."
Wu Baozhang said nothing.
Cheng Jing whispered to Cheng Wen: "I think we should find a way to deal with that woman outside? We can't let our family be in turmoil just for a woman!"
If I told this to someone else, they would definitely nod without saying a word.
But when Cheng Wen said this... he thought about how Wu Baozhang had actually falsely accused the Kang family's sixth wife of stealing her money... The Kang family was just an ordinary merchant family, but they had a marriage like Cheng Jing. Once this was entered into the government, even if Kang's sixth wife's family was rich, they could only watch Kang Liuniang suffer... Cheng Wen felt that Wu Baozhang was too cruel.
If a woman like this stays in their home, I'm afraid their family will be in turmoil.
Cheng Wen sighed.
Cheng Nuo was called in.
Cheng Jing and Cheng Wen quickly moved aside.
Cheng Nuo was in a trance and didn't notice that there were other people in the room.
He knelt in front of Yuan, his eyes red before he opened his mouth to speak: "Aunt, I can't live with this woman anymore. She's too cruel. After all, we met the Sixth Lady of the Kang Family because of her evil deeds..." He talked about how Wu Baozhang borrowed money, how he had no money and asked him to apologize to the Kang family, and even how he was asked to go out and meet with several larger tea merchants from the west two days ago. Finally, he said: "There is really nothing between me and the Sixth Lady of the Kang Family. She just felt sorry for me because I didn't understand the business rules and regulations, and I was beaten up and bleeding, so she gave me some advice. After all, the Sixth Lady of the Kang Family is my benefactor. If you don't believe it, you can send someone to investigate. She usually comes to my shop to make trouble, but this time she went too far. Not only did she slander and despise me, but she also put me in jail... A good girl was ruined by her like this, I... How can I be worthy of the Sixth Lady of the Kang Family..." After that, he started to cry even though he was such a grown man, and the way he cried was not fake.
Yuan was stunned and looked at Wu Baozhang.
Wu Baozhang's face was full of shock and his eyes were flickering.
Yuan couldn't help but sigh and said, "Brother Nuo, no matter what, it's wrong for you to beat your wife. There's no man in our family who beats his wife. Why don't you go and apologize to your wife! Forget about this matter, go back and live a good life with your wife!"
"No!" Cheng Nuo wiped his tears and said seriously, "I can't live with such a vicious person anymore. I want to divorce her!"
Everyone inside and outside the house was stunned.
Cheng Jing was the first to react.
He shouted "You beast" and said, "There is no such thing as divorce in our Cheng family! You are so bold! Your parents are here, and you dare to mention divorce."
Who in a decent family would divorce his wife
Once this incident happened, the Cheng family became a laughing stock.
Cheng Wen's forehead was covered with sweat, and he shouted, "You little bastard, you still dare to talk nonsense here, why don't you help your wife up and go home."
As for the matter of making an apology, let's just forget about it.
This matter also needs to be informed to the in-laws who live far away in Jinling Prefecture, to prevent the daughter-in-law from committing suicide. If anything happens, the Wu family will think that she has been bullied in their family.
Cheng Nuo, who is usually timid, refused to listen to anything anyone said and kept shouting that he wanted to divorce his wife.
Wu Baozhang burst into tears and grabbed Min Jia who came to persuade her and said, "Sister-in-law, you see, he only knows how to humiliate me. I really can't live like this anymore."
But who lives like this
Min Jia was complaining in her heart but couldn't show it on her face. She could only control her temper and persuade Wu Baozhang carefully.
※
At Chaoyang Gate, Zhou Shaojin had chosen her clothes two days ago and got up early in the morning to dress up. After finishing, she still felt dissatisfied. She looked at herself in the mirror and asked Chunwan: "Do you think I should change this pearl flower to a large kingfisher flower? Would it look more festive?"
Chun Wan smiled and said, "Madam, you look very good like this. The weather is a bit cool today, and this pearl headpiece matches the pink jacket perfectly. If you change it to a big kingfisher flower, the color will be too strong and it will make you look top-heavy."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly and said, "I felt the same way when I was choosing the jewelry. However, this pink jacket makes me look a little fat. I think it's better to change the whole thing - the jewelry with kingfisher feathers and the royal blue jacket..."
"Madam, you look very good like this." Chun Wan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He straightened Zhou Shaojin in front of the mirror and said, "You look so good. Your skin is more rosy and smooth than before, and it's so tender. Your waist is still so thin. How can you be bloated at all?"
The woman in the mirror had a face like a lotus, eyes like autumn water, and her eyes and eyebrows were filled with tenderness and sweetness. The tender pink jacket made her face look like a charming flower.
Is this her?!
Zhou Shaojin was surprised.
Mrs. Fan Liu laughed and said, "The fourth master is back today. Madam is very happy and looks more energetic than usual."
Zhou Shaojin blushed.
Mrs. Guo had sent someone to ask her if she was ready. If she was, they should go to the door together to pick up Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly carried the child to Tingxiang Courtyard and said, "How can I ask you to go and pick up the Fourth Master? I can go on my own."
"He's been gone for more than half a year, and he didn't even show up when the child was born. How can I not be worried about him?" Old Madam Guo sighed, "So I won't go through all this formality with you. Let's go and welcome Silang together."
A mother worries when her son is away from home.
Zhou Shaojin no longer insisted and helped Mrs. Guo to the Chuihua Gate.
Halfway through the journey, a servant came running over and said joyfully, "Madam, Madam, the fourth master's carriage has arrived at the door."
"Really?" Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin looked at each other, both of them had smiles on their faces that they couldn't hide, and they quickened their pace to walk out, "Where is the master now?"
"Just got off the carriage." The servant reported, and saw a tall and graceful man wearing a coarse brown gown striding in.
It’s Cheng Chi!
Zhou Shaojin only took one look and tears started to fall.
He was much thinner and darker than when he left, and looked dusty. One could tell at a glance that he must have endured a lot of hardships in Kaifeng Prefecture, sleeping in the open air and suffering a lot.
"Silang!" Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but call him by his nickname. Old Madam Guo took a few steps forward and stretched out her hand to him.
Cheng Chi lifted his clothes and knelt in front of Mrs. Guo: "Mother, I am unfilial. I have been away for so long and have not been able to be by your side to honor you!"
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!" Mrs. Guo's eyes became red as she spoke. She pulled him up and said, "Get up quickly, get up quickly. Shao Jin was still pregnant with Yun Ge'er when you left. Now Yun Ge'er is almost two months old. You should go and see Shao Jin and Yun Ge'er."
There was a gleam in the corners of Cheng Chi's eyes. He said "hmm" and looked towards Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin turned around and hugged Yun Ge'er, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, wanting to give Cheng Chi a happy smile, but tears fell uncontrollably.
"Shao Jin!" Cheng Chi called her name, lowered his head and saw his son's rosy little face. His heart softened instantly. He could not help but touch his son's head gently, raised his head and smiled at the child's mother's clear eyes, and whispered, "Thank you for your hard work! The child is growing well... and the mother is doing well too... Thank you... I will never leave you and your child for so long again..."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, his vision blurred. Thinking of the powder he had applied today, he wanted to take out a handkerchief to wipe his tears, but he forgot that he was still holding the sleeping Yun'er in his arms. For a moment, he was neither left nor right.
Cheng Chi saw this and quickly took Yun'er in his hands.
Zhou Shaojin was shocked to see him holding Yun'er in his hands like he was holding something, and hurriedly said "be careful", saying: "You have to hold him like this, supporting his neck, waist and buttocks. He can't lift his head yet, he can only hold it up and look for a while..."
“Okay…” Cheng Chi responded, and quickly hugged Yun’er in a standard posture, but his stiff shoulders revealed his nervousness.
Madam Guo came over, stretched out her hands to hold Yun'er in her arms, and said to Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin, "You are covered in dust. Be careful not to choke Yun'er. Go and wash him. Leave the child with me first. Shaojin, help Silang clean up. We will have lunch together later."
Is this, old lady, giving the couple some time to have a private conversation
Zhou Shaojin replied "yes" shyly, feeling grateful to the old lady, and returned to the main room with Cheng Chi.
The hot water had already been boiled. I had neatly folded my undergarment made of pure white and flexible Songjiang three-shuttle fine cloth on the small stool in the bathroom. The scented soap with rose water gave off a faint fragrance.
Zhou Shaojin changed his jacket and put on a moon-white shirt with silver gauze stripes to help Cheng Chi change his clothes and personally helped him wash and dress.
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Sisters, today's update!
O(∩_∩)O~
These days I’m posting drafts first, so please refresh the page before reading.
PS: Today is Chinese Valentine's Day, I wish you all a happy Valentine's Day!
※(To be continued)