Wu Caiwei patiently recounted the details of her meeting with Master Ye.
As they listened to her account, their faces gradually changed, cold sweat beaded on their brows, and their minds were filled with a single thought: it was all over.
"Who told you all this?" Jiang Feng's lips trembled before she could utter a sound.
"If you can guess it, of course I can guess it too. Do I look like someone you'd sell off and then have me count the silver for you?" Wu Caiwei looked at them as if they were imbeciles.
Jiang Yongnian, already simmering with anger, saw her stubborn refusal to admit fault and stormed forward, raising his hand as if to slap her a few times.
Just as his palm was about to descend, Wu Caiwei's hand shot out, grabbing his wrist. Using a subtle technique, she pushed with all her might. Jiang Yongnian stumbled back several steps, landing on the ground with a thud.
His face contorted in pain as he pointed at her with his fingers, gnashing his teeth and saying, "You've gone too far! Too far!"
Old Madam Jiang rushed to help her son up. "My son, does it hurt?"
Jiang Yongnian ignored his mother, using her assistance to regain his footing. He glared at his niece with venomous eyes.
"You made the first move," Wu Caiwei retorted, unfazed.
"Good, very good! If I don't have a good time, you won't either. I'll see what good end awaits you. Do you think Master Ye will let you off after you've said all this?" Jiang Yongnian exclaimed in exasperation, a deep worry dawning in his heart. He had tried to get ahead and ended up losing everything. If Master Ye wouldn't spare her, how could he spare himself?
"That's not something you need to worry about. Just mind yourself. I certainly won't be asking for your help."
"Don't be so sure. When the time comes, even if you beg me, it will be no use. We'll see." With that, Jiang Yongnian didn't linger at home. He flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.
"Yongnian, since you're back, won't you stay for a meal before you go?" Old Madam Jiang called out as her son boarded the carriage, about to depart.
"Mother, next time. I have matters to attend to," Jiang Yongnian replied impatiently.
"Alright, alright. Come back next time and stay with us for a few more days."
Jiang Yongnian nodded perfunctorily and instructed the driver to leave quickly.
The thought that not only had she failed to achieve her goal but had also ruined everything sent a chill through Jiang Feng. The Master attached great importance to this matter and asked about its progress daily.
With that in mind, she looked at her daughter with a mixture of disappointment and exasperation. "Go with me now to find Master Ye and apologize. As long as you are honest and obedient, I believe they will forgive you."
"You still haven't given up even at this point? You truly are my mother, eager to push your daughter into the inferno."
"What are you talking about? I don't understand!" Jiang Feng shrieked, looking at her daughter with shock.
"It's exactly what you think. I know everything. But you don't need to worry. Since you abandoned me back then, I won't acknowledge you now," Wu Caiwei stated directly, knowing what was on her mother's mind.
"Whether you believe it or not, I was truly forced into it back then. For all these years, every time I came, I brought you good things. If you weren't my daughter, why would I constantly think of you?" Jiang Feng, realizing the matter had been exposed, knew further words would be futile. She quickly resorted to an emotional appeal.
"What 'thinking of me'? Isn't it just to alleviate your own guilt? Besides, if being remembered by you means the price of my life, then I'd rather you forget me," Wu Caiwei mercilessly exposed her.
Jiang Feng's lips twitched. She was speechless for a long time, feeling guilty and afraid to meet her daughter's eyes.
After a moment's thought, she couldn't help but add, "I don't care where you got your information, but you know I'm your mother. You have to help me. Keep your mouth shut. These things cannot be leaked to anyone. If you need anything, just come to me."
"Depends on my mood."
Wu Caiwei offered no definite answer and turned back into the house to rest.
Jiang Yongnian returned to the city, withdrew two thousand taels of silver, and personally delivered it to Master Ye's manor, hoping to meet with him and discuss matters. However, Master Ye directly instructed his steward to handle everything, refusing to see outsiders.
After the Ye family broke off the engagement, they quickly found another suitable maiden.
Jiang Yongnian lived in constant dread, unsure when retaliation would come. He ate and slept poorly, feeling as if he had already been ruined before the Ye family even made their move.
The retaliation began with the Liu family. As fellow businessmen, the Liu family relied on the Ye family.
Initially, Liu family's general store was reported for selling inferior goods as high quality. After so many years, it had gone unnoticed until this unfortunate year when they were caught red-handed.
That wasn't all. The Liu family, involved in businesses such as restaurants, tea, and general stores, suddenly found themselves unable to purchase tea overnight. Even if they could, the price was exorbitant, beyond their means.
Then, someone claimed to have found a cockroach in a Liu family restaurant, causing a public outcry and severely impacting their business.
One incident after another left Master Liu in a state of utter confusion, unaware of who was deliberately targeting him.
Yes, he realized these events were not coincidences but deliberate acts.
It was a friend, privy to some insider information, who told him that he had offended the Ye family and they were deliberately suppressing him.
He pondered this endlessly. He had no dealings with the Ye family except for one matter: the engagement of their young master. His wife had mentioned that the marriage wouldn't succeed, and her niece strongly opposed it. He hadn't thought much of it then. Although the matter was important to him, he was somewhat reluctant to gamble with a woman's life.
It seemed the situation was far more complicated than his wife had suggested. Something must have happened that he was unaware of.
Wu Caiwei's life wasn't easy either, but this was all within her expectations. The Ye family was wealthy and powerful; it was normal for them to bribe people and carry out certain actions.
One day, for instance, as Wu Caiwei slept soundly, she was suddenly jolted awake by a crackling sound. The air was thick with the smell of smoke. She sat up in alarm and looked out the window to see flames.
She quickly threw on some clothes and rushed to the room of Old Master and Mistress Jiang, waking them.
Under Wu Caiwei's direction, the three of them soaked their outer clothes in water, wet them, and then, covering their heads with them, quickly dashed out of the courtyard.
As soon as Old Madam Jiang reached a safe place, she couldn't help but burst into tears. She felt that a lifetime of hard work had gone to waste. To the villagers, houses and land were indispensable. Now, with their house about to be consumed by fire, she felt an emptiness in her heart.
Hearing the commotion, the villagers rushed out to help. Unfortunately, the fire had spread too far, and they could only watch helplessly as the house was reduced to ashes.
To be honest, Wu Caiwei also felt a lingering fear. If her ears hadn't been sharp enough to detect the sound, she couldn't imagine the consequences. She secretly vowed to seek revenge on the Ye family.