"You need to understand that if I don't take this hot potato, who else would dare to marry your daughter later? Everyone fears losing both person and fortune. How about this, we'll draw up a deed stating that whether she lives or dies from now on, the Zhang family will have no further involvement. Only then will I take her." Wu Caiwei didn't deny that she was taking advantage of the situation to solve all problems at once.
Mother Zhang hesitated. A family that could produce five thousand taels of silver was certainly not poor. What if she got better later and lived comfortably? Wouldn't it be impossible for them to come back and ask for something then?
"Brother, the Zhang family's troubles are far from over. If word gets out, it will be almost impossible for them to arrange any marriage or funeral in the future. We should stay as far away as possible." Wu Caiwei finished speaking and immediately went to grab her brother's hand.
Mother Zhang had initially thought he had deep feelings for Zhang Qiuyue. She hadn't expected that at the gentle tug of the woman in front of him, he would follow. Disappointed, she immediately made up her mind, "Deal."
The Zhang family's son was a scholar, and they had the necessary writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Wu Caiwei quickly wrote a deed. Mother Zhang, without even looking at it, pressed her handprint onto it.
Money exchanged hands, and the person was delivered. Liu Xiangjun picked up Zhang Qiuyue and left the Zhang family without looking back. At this moment, he regretted it, truly regretted it. If he had known such a thing would happen, he would have undoubtedly paid three thousand taels of silver to marry her regardless. If something were to happen to her, how could he live?
Wu Caiwei quickly caught up. Seeing her distraught brother, she patted his hand and comforted him, "Don't hold her so tightly. You're making her uncomfortable."
"Yes... yes..." Liu Xiangjun quickly loosened his grip upon hearing this. Holding her was like holding a piece of porcelain, he was so careful. Then, with pleading eyes, he looked at his sister, "Can you save her?"
"You are also a doctor. You didn't take her pulse from beginning to end. This is what they call 'concern clouds judgment.'" Wu Caiwei looked at him meaningfully.
Liu Xiangjun heard this and extended his trembling hand, looking at his sister with disbelief, "She's asleep?"
"What else?" Wu Caiwei shrugged, a little speechless.
Liu Xiangjun was overjoyed and tearfully recalled everything that had just happened. Indeed, there was something strange about it. Given his sister's personality, she wouldn't have haggled with Mother Zhang at such a critical moment. He had even blamed his sister and pulled himself away. To outsiders, he had seemed to follow his sister uncontrollably. Little did they know how strong his sister was. He had tried his best to rush to the bed but couldn't, and instead, he was pulled a distance away.
He felt too guilty to meet his sister's gaze. Wu Caiwei let out an arrogant hum, looking as if she was angry and expecting him to appease her.
When Father and Mother Liu saw their son and daughter bring back a woman, they were somewhat surprised. They had never heard of their son being close to any other woman. Of course, they were also happy. Seeing that their relationship was clearly close, they no longer had to worry about their son's marriage. Although they were very confident in their son and daughter's actions, Mother Liu still inquired about the woman's situation.
Wu Caiwei did not hide anything from her. She told her mother everything from the woman's childhood experiences to what had happened between her and her brother. As expected, it evoked a shower of sympathetic tears from Mother Liu. Without needing the brother and sister to instruct her, Mother Liu took meticulous care of her.
When Zhang Qiuyue woke up, she felt a sense of unreality, especially when Mother Liu looked at her with such care. She couldn't help but burst into tears. No one had ever looked at her like that since she was a child. Even if Liu Xiangjun didn't marry her, she had decided to treat Mother Liu as her own mother.
What Wu Caiwei had expected happened. With Zhang Qiuyue present, Mother Liu focused all her attention on her. Anyone who didn't know the truth would have absolutely believed they were mother and daughter.
Seeing Mother Liu showering her with all the best things, Zhang Qiuyue felt touched. At the same time, she felt a pang of guilt towards Wu Caiwei, feeling that her presence was affecting the mother-daughter relationship. However, she was also captivated by this motherly love and couldn't bear to distance herself from it.
Liu Xiangjun didn't notice these emotions, but Wu Caiwei was the first to spot them. She took him aside and spoke to him, urging him to comfort Zhang Qiuyue and assuring him that she didn't mind. Zhang Qiuyue felt quite embarrassed.
Soon, with the arrangements made by Father and Mother Liu, the two held their wedding. Mother Zhang, seeing that she had not only survived but was now living like a young lady of leisure, with maids following her everywhere, frequently came to ask for favors. Zhang Qiuyue refused her outright the first time they met, leaving no room for hope. She had finally achieved a normal life and didn't want them to disrupt it.
As a result, Father and Mother Zhang bad-mouthed her extensively outside. Everyone took it in one ear and let it out the other. After all, everyone had witnessed how they had abused her for so many years. If they remembered correctly, Zhang Qiuyue had been sold off, right? They heard she had signed a deed of sale, severing ties with the Zhang family. For them to come back and cause trouble now was inappropriate. Sudan Novel Network.
Seeing that no one sided with them, and that the ungrateful girl showed no regard for her family, Father and Mother Zhang had no choice but to give up and focus their attention on their son and daughter. Unfortunately, the Zhang family's reputation was already ruined. Any family with a bit of discernment would not marry off their daughter.
As for Wu Caiwei, through her interactions with Liu Pengcheng during this period, she had earned his utmost admiration. She said with timely regret, "It's a shame we didn't meet sooner. I won't be able to see you often anymore."
"Why?" Liu Pengcheng looked at her in surprise. He had just made up his mind to learn from her properly, and now she was saying such a thing. This wouldn't do.
"To be honest, I have a large family to support. But I'm idle now, so I must find some way to make a living. If Brother Liu has any suitable opportunities, please introduce me." Wu Caiwei sighed as she spoke of her difficulties.
This put Liu Pengcheng in a difficult position. He couldn't stop someone from living their life, nor could he openly offer her money, as scholars and literati detested being looked down upon. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, "My father is preparing to spend a considerable sum to hire a renowned scholar to teach me. I don't think their level is as good as yours. How about you come to our home and be my tutor?"
"How can I possibly do that? Not to mention that my skill level is inferior to that of famous scholars, I am younger than you and still call you Brother Liu." Wu Caiwei quickly refused.
"It's decided then, as pleasant as that! Although you are young, your skill truly astounded me, far surpassing those renowned scholars. Moreover, your teaching methods are novel and interesting. At the very least, I can learn from you. I've decided on you." The more Liu Pengcheng thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. This way, he could be with his younger brother Liu day and night and seek his guidance.
Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Wu Caiwei reluctantly nodded.
The next day, Wu Caiwei began frequenting the residence of the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor was surprised upon seeing her for the first time. He hadn't expected the peerless genius his son had spoken so highly of to be so young. To be safe, he immediately prepared to test her.