The eldest son's wife came over and advised, "If she's willing to come back, why don't we just let it go? Although divorce sounds better than being divorced, it still damages one's reputation. This world is too hard for us women. You'll be gossiped about when you go back to your parents' home."
The eldest son's wife meant well, but the third son's wife just couldn't get over it. She asked her, "If my eldest brother ran away with someone and left behind a heartbreaking letter, would you just let it go like that, sister-in-law?"
The eldest son's wife was speechless, feeling a bit embarrassed; she might just smash his head in!
She turned around and glared at her husband, who shrank back, looking aggrieved. The third wife was just using an analogy; he hadn't really run away. Why was she glaring at him?
"Besides, now that girls' schools are being established everywhere and women are even allowed to take the imperial examinations to enter officialdom, it's hard to say what the world will be like in the future."
The third son's wife refused to believe that a woman couldn't survive raising two children alone!
Anyway, she didn't want to live a life of misery!
Her attitude was firm, so the old lady sighed, "Third son's wife, it's my fault for letting you down! If the Wang family will just treat Sanlang as dead and hold his funeral tomorrow, would you be willing to stay?"
The family looked at each other again. The old lady's words were not harsh, but they carried a great deal of weight.
Even if Wang Sanlang wanted to come back, he wouldn't be able to!
Although the third daughter-in-law knew that her mother-in-law was a woman of great integrity, she was still surprised that her mother-in-law would choose her over her own flesh and blood when it came to her own child.
The old lady snorted heavily, "The third son ran off with that woman, abandoning not only you and your son, but also this old woman and the Wang family! Since he thinks that woman is more important than us, then let him stay with that woman for the rest of his life!"
The third son's wife was still somewhat moved; her eyes, which she thought had dried up from crying, welled up again. "My daughter-in-law is willing to stay."
So what if she's a widow? At least she has a roof over her head, and at least her children have a legitimate identity and surname.
Although Wang felt a little sorry for her third brother, her mother and sister-in-law were adamant, so she had no choice but to accept the decision.
The next day, Wang Jizu, who had been taking care of Zhao Dajia all night, returned home yawning. As soon as he got back, he saw white cloths and white lanterns hanging everywhere in his house. He was so frightened that his legs went weak and he almost knelt down on the spot. He hurriedly grabbed a busy servant and asked tremblingly, "Who...who died?"
The servant wiped away non-existent tears from the corner of his eye. "Reporting to Master, it is Sanlang."
After the servant finished speaking, he went off to do his work. Only then did Wang Jizu stand up shakily and let out a long sigh of relief. "So it was that unfilial son! I was so scared. I thought that Madam had been angered to death by that unfilial son!"
Then he dusted off his clothes, strode in cursing, and yelled, "You unfilial son! Even in death you bring me bad luck!"
Wang Sanlang Aqiu, far away in Longshi, sneezed. Wang Cuihua (Zhao Dajia's wife), who was next to him, asked with concern, "Sanlang, are you alright?"
Wang Sanlang rubbed his nose. He had felt a chill down his back when he woke up this morning, and he didn't know why.
However, not wanting Cuihua to worry, he waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
Wang Cuihua didn't dwell on it too much and said to Wang Sanlang, "Then go and buy me two sesame cakes, I'm hungry."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
Wang Sanlang was also hungry. He grabbed the two copper coins from the broken bowl in front of him and went to the nearby sesame seed cake stall. He bought two sesame seed cakes, which went into Wang Cuihua's stomach. Wang Sanlang pitifully rubbed his rumbling stomach, swallowed, and asked Cuihua, "Are the sesame seed cakes delicious?"
Cuihua licked her fingers, still wanting more, "It's delicious, but it doesn't fill me up, I'm not full."
Wang Sanlang: ......
He hasn't had a bite to eat or a drop of water since morning.
"Never mind," Wang Sanlang swallowed hard again. "Let's go to East Street and ask for some more. There are more people there, maybe we can get more."
Having run out of money and forced to beg for food, the two then moved to East Street.
In the capital, at the Pingcheng Earl's Mansion, Lady Wang and Countess Pingcheng chatted while admiring the garden. Lady Wang then mentioned her newly opened clothing shop.
"Okay, since you're the one who opened it, I'll definitely go and support you."
Countess Pingcheng readily agreed, and Wang's face immediately lit up with a smile.
Just then, a servant came to report that the two sons-in-law and daughter had arrived, saying that the two sons-in-law had sent some local specialties from their hometown, and they had specially brought some for them.
Countess Pingcheng smiled and said with delight, "They can keep it themselves, why bother making a special trip!"
Wang couldn't help but feel a little envious. Other people's daughters were already bringing their sons-in-law to deliver gifts, while her own daughter was still unmarried.
"Speaking of which, I owe a debt to your daughter Chuanwen for the good life I have today."
Countess Pingcheng smiled broadly. Her two daughters were now happily married and living a peaceful life, which made her very happy.
However, Madam Wang didn't understand what she was hearing, and Countess Pingcheng didn't explain further. She had to go to the front hall to greet her son-in-law, so Madam Wang took her leave.
On the way home, Wang felt even more threatened, so she decided not to go home at all and had the driver change the route, visiting seven or eight officials' wives in one day.
For several days in a row, Wang tried to attract customers, but business at the shop remained sluggish. The wives of officials she visited, although they patronized her business, only did a few things; most of their business was still done at Xu Yan's shop.
In other words, half of the orders from Earl Pingcheng's family were delivered to her shop; otherwise, she would have gone bankrupt by now.
"Qiuye, go and find out where Su Yue lives."
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