Logically speaking, although the Zhu family embroidery workshop has fallen on hard times, it is still a force to be reckoned with. The only daughter of the Zhu family should not necessarily have to resort to the method of holding a marriage contest in a decorated pavilion to get married.
However, Zhu Jiayu was really unlucky. When she was thirteen years old, she met the young master of the Wang family at the flower market on Ren'an Street. From then on, the young master of the Wang family insisted that he would marry no one but Zhu Jiayu.
The Wang family was a family of farmers and scholars, only moderately wealthy, not a prestigious family. However, Madam Wang seemed to have gone mad, insisting that her husband's family was from the Langya Wang clan, and that her future daughter-in-law must be a lady from a prominent family, preferably from a distinguished clan.
Unexpectedly, his son lost his mind after meeting Zhu Jiayu once. After she refused to come to propose marriage, he indulged in wine and women. Three years passed, and he still hadn't read a book or picked up a pen.
It is easy to imagine how much Lady Wang, who was hoping that her son would work hard and earn her an official title, hated Zhu Jiayu, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
She refused to grant her son's wish and didn't want to see him sad and in pain, but Zhu Jiayu acted as if nothing had happened and would come to the Zhu residence to make a scene every few days.
Wang Huaiyu drank wine in Xingyunfang for three years, and the Zhu family was cursed by Madam Wang in the street for three years.
Day after day, year after year, Zhu Jiayu's reputation had so badly damaged that Zhu Congjian was afraid he wouldn't be able to marry his daughter off even if he held a marriage contest at the bridal chamber. He had even pre-arranged paid extras to try and salvage the situation.
There was nothing they could do. Both Zhu Congjian and his wife were honest men. Zhu Congjian considered himself a gentleman and thought it was unbearable to argue with women. He believed that fairness was in everyone's heart, but he didn't know that people's hearts are like grass, swaying whichever way the wind blows. Zhu Jiayu was virtuous and quiet. She had been well-versed in "Admonitions for Women" and "Rules for Women" since childhood and could not bring herself to stand at her own door with her hands on her hips and argue with Madam Wang.
But that was in the past. Having reached her limit, Zhu Jiayu was no longer willing to tolerate it.
She rubbed her eyes, calming her slightly agitated expression from not being able to sleep, and walked out of Huanchun Residence with a smile on her face, gracefully heading to the front yard.
Even through the door, one could hear Madam Wang's powerful shouts and curses:
"...Zhu Jiayu, are you feeling guilty?! I knew it! You shameless hussy! Three years ago, you bewitched my Yu'er, and you just wash your hands of it and act like nothing happened! Even an old hen that can't lay an egg will still cluck twice, but you, you little slut, ruined my son's future and you can act like nothing happened!"
"If you've got the guts to go out and show your face in public, then go ahead and open the door! I'll tear that slutty face of yours to shreds!"
Very good, very energetic.
Zhu Jiayu silently commented in his heart, "It's a pity that such a good voice isn't used to herding cattle in the countryside."
"You little slut, you're really guilty. I knew it. If you hadn't provoked my son, how could he have become so rebellious—"
Li was about to curse again when suddenly, the gate of the Zhu residence opened from the inside, and Zhu Jiayu, dressed in a gold-embroidered hibiscus-patterned light red brocade dress, moved gracefully to stand before her.
No matter how vehemently she cursed at the door, she couldn't help but feel guilty when she saw the person in question, and her anger instantly died down.
After all, no one knows better than her who wronged whom in this matter.
She just wanted to find a place to vent.
However, her guilty conscience was only momentary. The next instant, she straightened her back and perked up: "The young master of the Zhu family—"
She was interrupted halfway through her sentence by Zhu Jiayu's curtsy.
As if she had seen a ghost, she took several steps back before stopping, exclaiming, "What...what do you want to do?!"
Although she was uneducated, she knew the saying "courtesy first, then force"! She had every reason to suspect that Zhu Jiayu would slap her across the face as soon as he got up!
She had heard that Zhu Jiayu had dealt with those shrewish women who only took money and did nothing in the embroidery workshop in this way!
"I'm planning to go to Xingyunfang to see the young master of the Wang family. To avoid Madam Wang labeling me a vixen again and saying that I'm seducing your son behind your back, I'm informing you first."
After Zhu Jiayu finished speaking, he turned around and headed straight for the most bustling fireworks display area in Suiping City, without waiting for Li's reaction.
The busybodies passing by never expected that Zhu Jiayu, who had been silent all along, would make such a shocking statement, wanting to confront Wang Huaiyu face to face. It seems that he had had enough of Madam Wang's sharp tongue.
Driven by curiosity, they leisurely followed Zhu Jiayu toward Xingyunfang, and whenever they encountered curious passersby, they would promote Zhu Jiayu for free.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, everyone in Suiping City knew about the big news on Qingxing Street.
The storytellers, hearing the news, sprang into action. Before Zhu Jiayu even reached Xingyunfang, he had already struck the gavel and begun to recount the tumultuous history of the Zhu and Wang families:
Shocking! A seemingly frail woman attempts to storm Xingyunfang alone!
Don't you know what happened between her and the young man from the Wang family over the years?
What are the effects of long-term marital unhappiness on the physical and mental health of women of a certain age?
When Zhu Jiayu arrived at Xingyunfang, a large group of people were already following behind her.
The madam, who was soliciting customers, was about to scold the pimp for letting the woman in when she saw him. But then she noticed the men behind her, gritted her teeth, put on a smiling face, and stepped forward: "May I ask what brings you here, young lady?"
"Excuse me, Mother, may I ask where the young master of the Wang family is?" Zhu Jiayu asked gently, her tone even gentler than her expression.
The madam was about to ask which young master Wang was, but upon closer inspection, she noticed that Li was also behind Zhu Jiayu. She smiled and said, "He's drinking in the Quhe Pavilion. I'll have someone lead you there, young lady."
Zhu Jiayu agreed and then asked her to find someone to fetch a basin of water and deliver it to Quhe Pavilion.
The madam naturally agreed.
Quhe Pavilion overlooks the lake, where palm-sized lotus leaves float on the water. Dim lanterns illuminate the lakeside as night falls and lonely stars hang in the deep blue sky. Where the water meets the sky, the lingering starlight and lantern glow blend together. In the dim night, someone dressed in a long robe drinks wine in the breeze, displaying a dashing and romantic demeanor.
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