"That's still better than you are now. Didn't you see how you were just now? How did you become the type of person you used to hate the most? If I'm not mistaken, that person already has a family. Associating with someone like that leads nowhere," Mrs. Xu's voice involuntarily rose as she saw him speaking somewhat aggressively.
"What's 'better'? A lifetime of poverty and always being trampled on by others? I want to be above everyone else." Xu Yijie revealed his ambitious side to his mother.
Mrs. Xu looked at him as if she didn't know him. She wondered if her son was too good at hiding his true feelings, or if her concern for him had been insufficient all these years. She had never realized he was such a person who craved wealth and status. Had he not contacted her for the past few years because he was ashamed of their humble background? The thought made her chest ache.
Despite her disappointment, he was still her son. Adjusting her mood, she recounted Wu Caiwei's words to him verbatim.
Xu Yijie's brows furrowed involuntarily into a character that resembled a mountain range. He thought he had kept his secrets well, only to find out she knew.
For a moment, he didn't know what to do. Logically, only the dead could keep secrets, yet he feared that any slip-up could bring trouble upon him.
He was unwilling to give up his daughter. It wasn't that he was particularly fond of her, but as things stood, although Madam Zhou had been with him for several years, she was unwilling to have a child with him. For now, she was his only offspring, his sole bloodline, and he didn't want to give her to Wu Caiwei. Su Dan Novel Network
That very day, he left the city with his mother. The carriage ambled along, and it wasn't until it was completely dark that they entered the village, returning to the Xu residence under the cover of night.
Mrs. Xu entered the house first. Fearing that Xu Shuqin, being young, might let something slip, she took her to her sister's house in the same village to spend the night before her son entered the house.
Wu Caiwei raised an eyebrow at Xu Yijie's sudden appearance, saying with a hint of mockery, "I thought Mr. Xu would never set foot in this door again. After all, how could we country folk be worthy of associating with you?"
Xu Yijie looked at the contempt in her eyes and felt an even greater aversion to this woman. He retorted unhappily, "No matter what, this is still my home. You, an outsider, have lived here for so long and can't be driven away, yet you have the nerve to criticize me?"
Wu Caiwei let out a cold laugh. "My staying here is aboveboard. But you don't dare to come home openly. It's truly pathetic. Tell me, what's your purpose for coming today? Do you want to meet my terms?"
Xu Yijie felt a pang of annoyance. Although he was materialistic, he didn't want to be called out on it. However, remembering his objective for this visit, he forcefully suppressed his anger and said calmly, "I've heard my mother relay your terms. I disagree, but I can compensate you with money if you're willing to leave."
"Anyone who didn't know would think you cared deeply for Shuqin. Aren't you afraid of her being an eyesore to your lover? I thought you were a ruthless person, but I didn't expect you to be so indecisive about this. However, speaking of money, it reminds me of something. I've slaved away for the Xu family for so many years, you truly owe me some compensation."
Wu Caiwei had actually guessed some of his intentions and was deliberately provoking him, hoping to take her daughter away smoothly.
In reality, she knew very little about Xu Yijie's affairs. She had only pieced together a few things from the original owner's memories and her own deductions, and a slight probe had yielded unexpected results.
Xu Yijie's heart skipped a beat. This woman was truly greedy, wanting to take his daughter away and demanding money from him. However, she was partly right. Last night, Madam Zhou had inquired about Leng Shuixiang and their daughter. Although she hadn't said anything at the time, she must have been concerned. He was caught in a dilemma.
Seeing him falter, Wu Caiwei quickly pushed further. "If I take the child away, I also plan to move to the city. Regardless, you are her parents. If you prosper, won't you find us in the future? I'm even hoping that when our daughter gets married, you'll help arrange a generous dowry for her."
Xu Yijie found this logic sound. Take himself as an example; if he had a wealthy father, he would surely want to benefit from it.
Finally, steeling himself, he said with some difficulty, "I do love my daughter very much. Since you're so eager to take her, as a couple, I can only fulfill your wish. Before she comes of age, please try to contact me as little as possible. Once she reaches a marriageable age, I will do my best to find her a good match."
Wu Caiwei found this man truly hypocritical, a whore who still wanted to play the virtuous role. If she hadn't intended to take her daughter away smoothly, why would she have spoken so courteously to him?
To sever ties completely, she came up with another idea. "No matter what happens internally, we must make a clean break publicly. Write me a letter of divorce and a letter of severance of familial ties. I'll claim externally that they were written before you got into trouble, fearing that if anything were to happen to me while I was away, my mother and daughter would have a way out. This way, people will think you are righteous, and it will also eliminate your worries. What do you think?"
Xu Yijie was somewhat tempted. He thought further ahead. Hiding like this wasn't a solution. Once she was married, he could return openly, claiming he had gotten into trouble elsewhere and had returned quickly after resolving the issue. Who knew things would have changed so much, and he could again garner sympathy. After some thought, he finally nodded.
Wu Caiwei watched him pick up the brush and write according to her request, her heart leaping with joy.
"You should show some appreciation for solving such a big problem for you, shouldn't you? You wouldn't want to see us sleeping on the streets, would you?" All's fair in love and war. Before she had established herself, Wu Caiwei didn't mind feigning weakness.
Xu Yijie thought of her arrogant demeanor just now and the stark contrast with her current subservience. He finally felt a sense of triumph. Unconsciously, he became a bit conceited. He generously took off the money pouch from his waist, slammed it onto the table, and raised his head proudly, saying with smug satisfaction, "Given your pitiful situation, take this."
Her objective achieved, Wu Caiwei quickly gathered her things and turned to leave without a second glance. Her swift change of demeanor astonished Xu Yijie. He belatedly realized he had been played for a fool and felt a pang of regret for his impulsiveness. Especially since that pouch contained a hundred taels of silver notes and twenty taels of loose silver. He shouldn't have given so much. However, asking her to return it would likely invite her ridicule, so he rubbed his nose in frustration.