In Li Mudan's letter, besides mentioning Qi Wan's current situation, she also wrote about another person.
Xu Yan.
When news of Xu Yan's affair with Madam Hu spread that day, the Li family immediately wanted to annul the engagement.
Later, the Li family sent people to the Xu family to retrieve the betrothal gifts.
After that, Madam Hu committed suicide by drowning. Her body was never found, and public opinion forced Xu Yan to stay at home all day, afraid to go out.
Even his qualification as a student at the county school was directly revoked by the school's teachers because they thought he was dishonest. Since it was obtained through the Li family's connections, naturally no one would say anything.
What's more terrifying than public opinion is the situation within the Xu family.
Because the Li family broke off the engagement, the Xu family, who had enjoyed a period of good times, fell to rock bottom again. Xu Yan was in such a state of half-death that it was clear he had no future.
Furthermore, although Madam Chen resented that Lady Hu, she was, after all, her niece. Now that she had lost her life right before her eyes, she was afraid of being scolded by Registrar Chen when she got home. After all, Lady Hu was pregnant and would blame Xu Yan for everything when she got home.
When Chen, the registrar, learned of this, he was furious.
Firstly, Xu Yan publicly humiliated his person, completely trampling on his dignity. How are outsiders supposed to view him now!
Secondly, Madam Hu was pregnant with his child, and now both she and her unborn child have died.
This grudge must be avenged.
As a county clerk, Chen was no ordinary official and wielded considerable influence. His actions in expelling Xu Yan from the county school were part of that.
They then further fueled the flames, having people portray Xu Yan as a fickle, shameless scoundrel and a lecherous devil.
The Chen family remained completely hidden during this turmoil, while Xu Yan's reputation among the students was ruined.
Want to continue your studies? Haha, with the Chen family around, there's absolutely no way.
The three branches of the Xu family had long been at odds, mainly because the other branches were cursing the second branch, while the eldest and third branches were constantly smashing pots and pans or hurling insults.
The Xu couple were in great distress and wanted to ask Old Man Xu to help them, but Old Man Xu had already suffered a stroke from the news of the annulment of the engagement. His mouth was crooked and his eyes were slanted. The three wives only remembered to make a fuss, and now they were lying in bed, only able to vent their anger.
The Xu couple left home with their child.
"All those years of studying have gone to waste! Listen to what people outside are saying: 'Lustful gluttons!'"
"You've really brought out a debt collector! We, your uncle and aunt, haven't enjoyed a single bit of happiness! We've suffered a lot! Look at my son, he's at the age where he needs to be married, and you've ruined his reputation!"
"Exactly, what's the point of living like this? I might as well be dead."
"Even his grandfather was so angry he collapsed, but all he does is stay in his room like a young master. Study? What's he trying to prove? Even if he studied like a pro these days, he wouldn't get any good grades!"
"What's the point of taking the exam? We've spent all our money and are drowning in debt. Let's split up the family!"
"Yes! Separate the family!"
The eldest and third branches of the family joined forces and drove Old Man Xu and the second branch of the family out, giving Old Man Xu only a little food and drink.
Xu Yan's books weren't allowed to be taken; they were all sold to recoup some money.
Old Xu died just two days after being kicked out.
The three families argued about this for several days. The eldest and third wives practically beat the second wife and her husband senseless, all because Old Man Xu had starved to death.
Xu Yan also carried the stigma of having his grandfather starved to death.
There's absolutely no hope left.
From the day he was framed and the Li family broke off the engagement on the spot, Xu Yan's life took a sharp turn for the worse.
His heart was pounding like a drum, as if something important had left him. That's why he knelt down at the Li family's door, hoping to change their minds.
Little did he know that he had only been kneeling down for a short time when he heard that Madam Hu had jumped into the river. Someone in the crowd said that the government had sent people to arrest him, and in his panic, he could only run away as fast as he could.
It turns out that he hadn't experienced all the suffering in the world in the first half of his life?
He hid in his room every day, and his parents' wailing and cursing could not make him move an inch.
Little did they know that his parents were so foolish that they actually let his grandfather starve to death.
He understood that from now on, the Chen family wouldn't need to do anything, and he would only be able to live in the mud, rotting and stinking like a maggot!
Later, the Li family suddenly collapsed like a mountain, and he thought of that woman.
Xu's parents brazenly mocked the Li family, saying they deserved it, that they were looking down on others and that this was their just desserts.
But he knew that no matter how tragic the fate of the Li family was, he would have no further connection with them.
He went berserk and smashed things.
"Shut up! Shut up! How dare someone who murdered his own father laugh at others!"
Mr. and Mrs. Xu were utterly shocked, their hearts sinking. Mrs. Xu went berserk, lunging at Xu Yan and slapping him several times. "You're talking about me? If you hadn't done such a shameless thing, would the Li family have broken off the engagement? Would your grandfather have been driven to paralysis by you?"
"If it weren't for saving food for you, your grandfather wouldn't have starved to death!"
"His death is all your fault! You have no conscience! Xu Yan has no conscience!"
Xu was crying and laughing at the same time, acting like a madwoman.
Xu Yan tried to struggle, but he was no match for Xu Shi's strength and could only be beaten and suppressed.
Xu's father was dark and thin, and now his face was so sunken that it was terrifying.
He abandoned everyone for his son's sake, only to be seen as such a heartless ingrate in this man's eyes.
What is the torment of his father starving to death because he chose his son?
He pulled up the frantic Xu Shi and looked at Xu Yan with disgust.
"If you look down on us, then we will not have you as our son anymore. We have done all we can."
Xu's father, having been exposed to it from a young age, also knew some idioms.
Later, I heard that the two of them worked desperately to earn money and took medicine in the hopes of having another child.
Xu Yan disappeared without a trace after being abandoned by the Xu couple.
Some say they saw him begging for food, while others say he went mad and left for distant lands.
Li Mudan knew a little bit about it.
He went mad, forgot his own name, and wandered around all day, truly becoming a beggar.
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