She had no choice but to return home obediently. By then, Zhou Shaoqiu had already passed away, leaving her with no one to turn to. Within a few years, she was tormented to death by her persecutors.
Hua Yi indeed lowered her head shyly, saying with embarrassment, "Actually, there's something I've been meaning to tell you, Madam. A young man in the village has been waiting for me. When the time comes, I want to marry him." Su Dan Novel Network.
"Oh? I haven't heard of this before. Bring him to me quickly so I can meet him," Wu Caiwei said, feigning surprise and looking at her with feigned interest.
"He's just a rough man, Madam. I fear he might offend you," Hua Yi replied sheepishly.
"I intend to stay here for a while longer. Must you choose to avoid him all this time? Besides, I need to assess whether he is truly devoted to you. Only if he passes my test will I feel at ease handing you over to him. I'll even add a bit to your dowry then."
Upon hearing this, Hua Yi quickly waved her hands. The first time she met Madam, she had wanted to return the two chests of nominal dowry, but Madam had refused. Now, she even wanted to give her more dowry. Hua Yi couldn't accept it. As Madam's confidante, she knew full well that the dowry was not substantial when Madam married into the Meng family.
Madam was staying here for a period and had paid for it. She even compensated Hua Yi for helping her look after the children, so how could Hua Yi accept her money?
His mother dared not speak in front of Madam. Afterwards, she pulled Hua Yi aside and said sternly, "Madam is kind to us. We mustn't be ungrateful. I'm used to my rough ways and won't impose myself on Madam. You should serve her more attentively."
Hua Yi's family had initially thought that Wu Caiwei, coming from a wealthy family, would be difficult to serve. To their surprise, she was amiable and praised their cooking regardless of whether it suited her palate. This greatly surprised Liu's mother, and she gradually grew closer to Wu Caiwei, inadvertently sharing village news with her, fearing she might be lonely.
One day, Hua Yi finally brought the man named Liu Dagui before her. Seeing his timid demeanor, she immediately felt he was unworthy of her Hua Yi.
She smiled and told him to rise, casually asking, "Hua Yi mentioned you've been working in Wu Lake and occasionally met her at the back door. Is the place you work near the Meng residence? What exactly do you do?"
"Reporting to... to Madam, I work at a small eatery in the south of the city." Although she appeared amiable, Liu Dagui felt a chill when facing her, as if her eyes could see right through him. He wanted to escape quickly, fearing he would be exposed.
"I'm familiar with the south of the city. What's the name of the eatery?" Wu Caiwei asked eagerly.
Liu Dagui's heart sank. Meeting her earnest gaze, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, "The eatery is called Yingbin."
Wu Caiwei immediately looked puzzled and murmured to herself, "I've passed Yingbin Eatery many times. How come I've never seen you there?"
He stiffened and chuckled awkwardly, "Madam, you jest. We country folk have little knowledge. How could the boss possibly put me out front to serve guests? I've always helped in the kitchen."
"What exactly do you do? Chop wood, wash dishes, or help with chopping vegetables?" Wu Caiwei continued questioning, convinced that the more she asked, the more flaws he would reveal.
"I apprenticed there to learn cooking. After marrying Hua Yi, I want to open a small eatery in the city and live a good life." Liu Dagui wondered why Madam was so concerned about him. If not for the crowd, he would have truly wanted to run away.
"What are the signature dishes at Yingbin Tower? Although I haven't personally dined there, I occasionally have the servants buy some back. Now that you mention it, I'm quite craving it. I'll try it out another day."
Wu Caiwei's question stumped Liu Dagui. In the past, villagers would only ask about his monthly wages or what he did, and he could easily brush them off with some vague answers. After all, they hadn't seen or tasted the food. But a Madam from a prominent family was different. What hadn't she eaten or seen? This question would surely expose him.
He stammered for a long time without an answer. Wu Caiwei, who had been smiling moments before, suddenly slammed the table, startling him. "You can't answer because you don't work there at all. Everything you said is a lie. The reason Hua Yi found you at that eatery is because a young waiter there is your friend, and you promised to give him five taels of silver after you tricked Hua Yi into marrying you."
Hearing this, Liu Dagui immediately knelt and wailed, "Madam has truly discerning eyes. I don't work there. I said those things because I was afraid Hua Yi would look down on me, and I wanted to find a respectable job in the city. But how would people from the countryside be valued?"
Hua Yi stared at him in disbelief, realizing that everything he had said was a lie. She was heartbroken.
"You can deceive the Liu family, but you almost deceived me," Wu Caiwei said, slowly walking towards him. He instinctively retreated.
Wu Caiwei suddenly grabbed his right hand and exposed it for all to see. He was startled and quickly tried to pull his hand back, but he found that despite looking delicate, this Madam possessed astonishing strength.
"I advise you not to waste your effort. I'm not afraid of exposing you, nor am I afraid of your revenge. I have the ability to protect myself. Your meager martial arts skills are nothing in my eyes. Judging by the callus on your tiger's mouth, you've probably accompanied gamblers around causing trouble quite a bit," Wu Caiwei said confidently as she examined his hand.
Liu Dagui's pupils contracted. He was shocked that she could deduce his identity after just a few words. He quickly denied, "I don't understand what Madam means."
Wu Caiwei sneered and shoved him hard. He lost his balance and fell backward, landing on the ground.
"When you were standing next to me just now, I smelled perfume on you. Either you've been to a brothel, or you have a lover in the city." As soon as she spoke, Hua Yi's sobs intensified. She had never imagined that the man she held dear had been deceiving her from the very beginning.
Liu Dagui sniffed himself vigorously, unsure how to refute her.
He quickly rushed to Hua Yi's side and, with a bang, knelt down, repeatedly slapping his own face and choking out, "I'm not human. I've failed you. As long as you forgive me, I'm willing to change my ways and live a good life with you from now on."
Although Hua Yi was heartbroken, she hesitated. After all, she had held him in her heart for so many years, and it wasn't easy to let go. She unconsciously looked towards Wu Caiwei, who subtly shook her head.
"Go. Don't come to see me again," Hua Yi said, covering her face and running out. Liu Dagui tried to chase after her, but Wu Caiwei quickly stepped in front of him.
At some point, he was holding two sticks in his hand. Liu Dagui unconsciously took a step back and stammered, "You... what do you want to do?"