Сhеng Сhi рinсhed her nоsе аnd sаid, "Whаt do you mеаn by whethеr Father-in-lаw аnd I lооk аlikе? Shouldn't it be whеther I look like my fathеr?"
Zhоu Shaоjin smiled shеерishlу.
Chеng Сhi lаughеd аnd said, "Мy mother аnd fаther аctually lоok somеwhat alikе. It's hаrd tо sау whеthеr us three brоthеrs takе mоrе aftеr our mоthеr or our fаthеr. When thеy say Yun Gе'er resemblеs mу fаther, thеy probаblу mеan his tеmреrаmеnt is likе my fаthеr's. I heаrd my fаther had quitе a tеmреr, and еvеrуоne in the familу was afraid of him. But рerhaps thаt had somеthing to dо with mу grandfаther—back then, my grandfather didn't manage family affairs much. Strangely enough, in my memory, his temper was always very good. No matter what I did, he would only get angry and threaten me, saying he would beat me, but it was just threats with a rattan cane or stick."
Zhou Shaojin knew that Cheng Chi's grandfather had suffered during childbirth, which affected his mind. The eldest branch of the family was later able to establish itself largely thanks to Cheng Xun, who was capable of managing household affairs.
She couldn't help but wrap her arms around Cheng Chi's arm and said excitedly, "Will our Yun Ge'er also be like Father-in-law when he grows up, someone who can support the family?"
Parents always see their own children in the best light, feeling that even becoming a high-ranking official or entering the cabinet wouldn't be difficult for them when they grow up.
Cheng Chi chuckled and hugged Zhou Shaojin affectionately.
※
Far away at Xizhimen, Wu Baozhang leaned against the headboard, listening to the sound of the third watch striking, without any sleepiness at all.
She never expected Cheng Nuo to be so stubborn. No matter who came to persuade him, he only had one sentence: "I want to divorce my wife."
Over this matter, Father-in-law even beat him with a rattan cane. But he retorted to Father-in-law, "The Cheng family precept states that a man may take a concubine only if he has no son by the age of forty. Didn't you also keep a mistress? What right do you have to criticize me?" leaving Father-in-law speechless.
This matter was truly troublesome!
Wu Baozhang thought, then called out loudly for a maid to pour her a cup of water.
After drinking the water, she felt much better.
She had sent an urgent letter back to Jinling. Logically, Madam Zheng's reply should have arrived by now. Could something have delayed it?
Wu Baozhang never dreamed that Kang Liu Niang, who appeared plainly dressed and only moderately attractive, was actually a wealthy merchant.
She vaguely felt that Cheng Nuo's insistence on divorcing her was related to that Kang Liu Niang.
In the past, Cheng Nuo had always been someone who muddled along.
Wu Baozhang thought for a moment and decided to go talk to Cheng Nuo.
Cheng Nuo had been beaten, his back covered in wounds, and could only lie prone on the bed.
When he saw Wu Baozhang enter, he didn't even spare her an extra glance.
Wu Baozhang sat down by the bedside, lowered her eyelids, and said softly, "Husband, I was wrong about the matter with Kang Liu Niang. But I was only afraid you would be tempted by her! Please forgive me this once? Let's live well together from now on, have children, and honor our parents-in-law..."
Cheng Nuo didn't want to see Wu Baozhang.
When they first married, he had liked Wu Baozhang very much.
She was beautiful and treated others gently.
But these were just appearances. Deep down, she looked down on him, filled with disdain in every inadvertent gesture. Unlike Kang Liu Niang, whose gaze was gentle and tolerant. Whenever he did something poorly, she would patiently explain it to him. If he improved, she would genuinely be happy for him... That day, she even said in anger that she would become his mistress, and she said it in front of her cousins and the Kang family's shopkeepers and clerks... She was so good; how could he let her suffer such humiliation?He recalled the scene from that day when he carried her out of the prison.
Her body was clean, showing no visible injuries, yet she couldn’t even walk. When she saw him, her vacant gaze took a long while to recognize him…
Just thinking about it made him want to kill Wu Baozhang.
That day, he had almost choked Wu Baozhang by the neck.
It was Kang Liu Niang who said it wasn’t worth it.
He wasn’t worth losing his life over someone like Wu Baozhang.
Only Kang Liu Niang treated him well.
She cherished him…
He couldn’t let Kang Liu Niang suffer grievances because of him for nothing.
He must divorce Wu Baozhang.
Only then could he avenge Kang Liu Niang.
Cheng Nuo pressed his lips tightly together, uttering only one sentence: “I want to divorce my wife.”
This left not only Wu Baozhang at a loss but also Cheng Xu, who had been invited to dissuade Cheng Nuo, unsure of what to do.
Apologetically, he said helplessly to Cheng Wen, who had invited him, “He won’t listen to anything we say. No matter what we say, it’s useless. If we push him too hard, he tells us to disown him. He’s made up his mind—he must separate from Wu Baozhang.”
Cheng Wen sighed deeply. “It’s not that Kang Liu Niang isn’t good, but her status is what it is. She isn’t lacking food or clothing—why would she become Nuo’s concubine? That path is completely blocked. But if we divorce Wu, how will we explain it to Lord Wu? This is truly a lose-lose situation.”
Cheng Xu remained silent.
Everyone had their own reasons, and some matters were beyond his interference.
Yet he could understand Cheng Nuo.
Living with someone you don’t love truly felt like each day dragged on like a year.
He said, “Perhaps you could send someone to persuade Wu? As for Lord Wu, it would be best to send someone to speak with him as well. Just in case… it would avoid creating enmity.”
Cheng Wen nodded repeatedly. “You’re right. I’ve been so infuriated by him these days that I’ve lost my wits!”
Wu Xiu still relied on the Cheng family to advance, so he certainly wouldn’t want his daughter to return home divorced. Without the support of her natal family, Wu would have no choice but to comply with whatever was said—after all, Wu had failed to bear a single child for the Cheng family all these years and hadn’t even sought medical help. This time, they must pressure Wu to find a way to give Nuo a son.
Wu Baozhang, who had heard that her father-in-law had invited Cheng Xu to persuade Cheng Nuo, took the tray from her maid and prepared to enter to serve tea. Upon hearing this, her face turned as dark as a pot. She shoved the tray back into the maid’s arms and stormed angrily into the side room where she lived.
Her father-in-law had always been unreliable—he kept a mistress outside, and Kang Liu Niang had even promised him an annual pension of eight hundred taels of silver… Her father-in-law had been desperately short of money all these years!
What should she do?
Her father wouldn’t care about her. Once the Cheng family’s letter arrived, wouldn’t she be at their mercy, to be molded as they pleased?
Wu Baozhang gritted her teeth and whispered to her personal maid, “Go find Elder Cheng Lu. Tell him I want to see him. If he avoids me, I’ll go directly to find Madam Chen. After all, the Cheng family intends to divorce me now—I have nothing left to fear!”
The maid, also worried about her own future, immediately agreed and went to Fucheng Gate.
Cheng Lu didn’t refuse upon hearing the message and promptly arranged to meet the next day at the Great Xiangguo Temple.
Wu Baozhang breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that Cheng Lu was more reliable in critical moments.
She went to the Great Xiangguo Temple early the next morning.
The two met behind the temple on the mountain.
Cheng Lu’s expression was gentle as he said, “How did you end up in such a state?”
With just those words, Wu Baozhang burst into tears.Cheng Lu thought for a moment, then still took out a handkerchief and handed it to Wu Baozhang.
Wu Baozhang took the handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes. Feeling greatly reassured, she said to Cheng Lu, "That spineless Cheng Nuo would never dare treat me like this unless he had someone backing him. You're now Chen Daren's son-in-law, and I know everyone in the capital gives Chen Daren some face—let alone the officials in the yamen. Could you find a way to hire a few idlers for me?" she said with a vicious expression. "Have them kill that Kang Liu Niang for me..."
Cheng Lu was stunned, then burst into loud laughter, bending over with mirth until he could hardly speak.
Wu Baozhang was puzzled.
Cheng Lu pointed at her, trembling with laughter. "Who do you think you are? Asking me to help you kill someone—are you even worthy?" he said. His laughter gradually subsided, replaced by a mocking look in his eyes. "You're just a mud-legged peasant crawling out of the mountain gullies, still reeking of smoke and fire. And you think you can order me around? Why don't you look in the mirror and see what you really are..."
Wu Baozhang was dumbfounded.
She had never dreamed that in Cheng Lu's heart, she was like this...
"You... you..." Wu Baozhang stared at Cheng Lu in shock, her fingertips trembling. "Why did you treat me like that?"
"Treat you like what?" Cheng Lu sneered. "Saying things to please you? Or buying a few handkerchiefs and silk flowers from the peddler at the gate just to ask you about Shaojin... What did you think this was?"
Wu Baozhang gaped.
But Cheng Lu continued, "What are you, anyway? Trying to compare yourself to Shaojin! In what way are you better than her? No matter how poorly she treated me, she never bullied me, and when she was good to me, she was truly good... You're just a plaything to pass the time... Isn't that what you thought too? Otherwise, why would you flirt with me while engaged to Cheng Nuo? What right do you have to question me..."
Zhou Shaojin was a little bitch, but even so, Wu Baozhang was even more lowly and shameless, not even worthy of carrying her shoes...
"Cheng Lu, you bastard!" Wu Baozhang's mind buzzed, and she lunged at him, claws bared.
How dare he say she wasn't even worthy of carrying Zhou Shaojin's shoes!
Cheng Lu, being a man, relied on his height and strength. Not only did he easily avoid Wu Baozhang's attack, but he also twisted her shoulder behind her back with a forceful grip, shoving her forward a few steps. Leaning close to her ear, he sneered coldly, "Do you think I'm Cheng Nuo? If you lay a hand on me again, I won't mind sending you off—by telling Cheng Nuo about your debts, so he can rightfully divorce you..."
Wu Baozhang shrieked, "Then why did you come here?"
"To see what madness you were up to!" Cheng Lu said with a laugh, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze, yet it sent chills down Wu Baozhang's spine. She struggled desperately, only to catch a glimpse from the corner of her eye that she was standing at the edge of a steep slope. With just one push from Cheng Lu, she would tumble into the ravine below.
"What are you doing?" Wu Baozhang screamed uncontrollably. "If you kill me, you'll pay with your life too. You've finally become Chen Daren's son-in-law, about to restore your reputation and wash away your past disgrace. Kill me, and you'll lose everything. Don't do anything foolish...""Hahaha..." Cheng Lu threw his head back and laughed. If it were Zhou Shaojin, she would probably be trembling and begging for mercy while clutching herself, right? How could she be like Wu Baozhang, bargaining with him even when death was at her doorstep.
What a pity. He still needed to keep Wu Baozhang around to disgust the Cheng family, so he couldn't let her die just like that.
"Don't worry, I won't take your life!" Cheng Lu pulled Wu Baozhang back and said indifferently, "I just wanted to tell you not to come looking for me again in the future. Seeing you is like seeing a dung beetle—utterly disgusting..."
As he spoke, he pushed Wu Baozhang to the ground and strode away.
※
Dear readers, here's today's update.
Tomorrow's extra update will still be around noon at twelve o'clock.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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