In the original novel, Pei Xiuli got engaged in the second month after Pei Ji came to Beijing.
The person he was engaged to was the eldest son of the Lin family from the neighboring village of Taohua Village, and was chosen by Pei Cheng himself.
The Lin family is in the wine-making business, and their family conditions are very good in the village. The eldest son of the Lin family is diligent and honest, and has handsome features.
At the beginning, Pei Xiuli herself was very satisfied with this marriage. Although she was not very diligent on weekdays, she would go to the Lin family from time to time to help with housework.
Mrs. Lin was also very satisfied with this. The relationship between the two families could be said to be very harmonious, and it was a good story in the two villages.
Until Zhou Yi appeared, who was more handsome than the eldest son of the Lin family, was a native of Beijing, and he had always intended to hook up with her, Pei Xiuli was determined to break off the engagement with the eldest son of the Lin family, marry Zhou Yi, and follow him to Beijing to live a rich life.
Pei Cheng naturally disagreed.
Not to mention that Pei Xiuli is already engaged, it would be bad for a woman to break off an engagement. Take Zhou Yi for example, whose background is unknown, so who knows whether it is true or not.
And even if it was true, he knew his daughter and his family's conditions. Why would she choose her as her daughter if her conditions were so good? Moreover, she was from the capital, so she might have come for Pei Ji, who was an official in the capital.
But Pei Xiuli has already decided on Zhou Yi, and she will follow him even if it means disobeying her father's orders and breaking off the engagement and promise.
In a fit of rage, Pei Cheng severed his relationship with her as father and daughter, and sent a message to Pei Ji who was far away in the capital, saying that he had severed his relationship with Pei Xiuli. If Zhou Yi came for Pei Ji, he should ignore him and not show any mercy to him.
Su Li did not comment on this matter, but he remembered the letter from Pei Cheng to Pei Ji that the mansion received a few days ago, which roughly mentioned this matter.
Pei Xiuli's face changed when she heard that. Her affair had become known to everyone in the village. When she ran out with Zhou Yi, people in Taohua Village pointed fingers at her along the way, saying that she was fickle and did not keep her promises. Mrs. Lin was even so angry that she cursed at her.
Thinking of this, she was still a little scared.
But she doesn't regret it. People always strive for higher goals. Is there anything wrong with her wanting to live a rich life?
If you want to blame someone, blame the Lin family. Who made them so poor? Her eldest brother is now a high-ranking official. Zhou Yi said that her eldest brother is also the future Duke of Guo. In that case, she is the Duke of Guo's sister. Her status is very noble. How can the Lin family be worthy of her? Of course, the status of a noble lady in the capital is suitable for her.
"I have already broken off my engagement with the Lin family. Now I am a Zhou family woman and have nothing to do with the Lin family."
Su Li smiled faintly: "Cancel the engagement? Does father-in-law agree?"
Pei Xiuli paused. She knew? Did her father send them a message?
Thinking of her father, she couldn't help but feel a little resentful.
Dad naturally disagreed, and said that Zhou Yi was either lying to her or had some ulterior motives towards her eldest brother. In the end, he even severed the father-daughter relationship with her.
But her mother supported her, secretly gave her a lot of money, and told her that no matter what, Pei Ji was her elder brother.
Moreover, officials are the most concerned about their reputation. If she encounters any difficulties or wants any benefits when she comes to the capital, she can go to her eldest brother. If her eldest brother dares not to help her, she will discredit his reputation everywhere and make him unable to even be an official. Let's see if he dares to refuse her.
Zhou Yi couldn't stand Su Li's seemingly smiling but actually aggressive attitude, so he interrupted her and said, "Of course my father-in-law agreed. Otherwise, how could Ali become a woman of the Zhou family and my wife?"
Su Li sneered: "You are really protective of your shortcomings, but you don't know that you used to protect your divorced wife who had been with you for many years in the same way?"
Zhou Yi is a small businessman who owns a shop on Changming Street. He mainly sells southern specialty items. His conditions are indeed much better than those of the Lin family in a remote mountain village.
He had a younger brother, Zhou Xiang, who worked as a ninth-rank craftsman in the Ministry of Works.
In the original novel, Zhou Yi divorced his wife of five years and went to Taohua Village to seduce Pei Xiuli while going to the south to purchase goods. It was Zhou Xiang's idea, in order to get close to Pei Ji, who was rising in the official career.
Zhou Yi opened his eyes slightly. How could she know about him?
Could it be that someone was sent to investigate him early in the morning?
But didn’t my second brother say that she was just a country woman from a small place and must know nothing, so he could come to the Zhuangyuan Mansion and do whatever he wanted.
"A divorced wife?" Pei Xiuli was also puzzled. She looked at Zhou Yi and asked, "Husband, what do you mean by a divorced wife? Didn't you say that you didn't get married until you were in your twenties because you had to take care of your younger siblings?"
"Ali, listen to my explanation." Zhou Yi was a little flustered. It was not that he cared much about Pei Xiuli. After all, this woman was dark and stupid. If it were not for his desire to marry Pei Ji, he would not even look down on such a woman as a concubine.
But precisely because he wanted to rely on her to get close to Pei Ji, he had to provide for her, coax her, and never let her be dissatisfied in the slightest.
Without her help, how could he get close to Pei Ji and seek benefits for his second brother and the Zhou family?
"I did have a wife, but she was unruly and unreasonable, and even more so, unfilial to my mother. You know, my father died early, and my second brother, third sister, and I were all raised by my mother with great difficulty. I couldn't bear to see my mother being bullied by her daughter-in-law, so I had no choice but to divorce her."
Pei Xiuli was still not satisfied: "Then why did you lie to me?"
"Of course it's because I like you too much and I'm afraid you'll dislike me. You know, when I first met you, you were already engaged. I, I was really afraid of losing you..."
Zhou Yi's words were sincere and heartfelt, and he looked at her with deep affection. Pei Xiuli was already so moved that she didn't know which way was which, so how could she blame him?
But she still pouted and scolded, "I'll forgive you this time, but there won't be a next time."
Zhou Yi smiled, as happy as a child: "Yes, madam, madam is so kind!"
Pei Xiuli was so coaxed that she became even more shy.
Su Li smiled and sipped tea while watching Zhou Yi's performance. Seeing that Pei Xiuli had been coaxed, he slowly said, "Mr. Zhou is really good at coaxing women. No wonder Xiuli had such a good marriage, but she broke off the engagement and followed you. I just don't know where Mr. Zhou learned this skill of coaxing people?"
Zhou Yi's face fell, and he was obviously very unhappy: "What are you talking about, sister-in-law? I just say these words from the bottom of my heart because I like Ali. Why do I need to learn it?"
Pei Xiuli was even more delighted when she heard this and looked at him affectionately.
Su Li pretended to be surprised, then smiled and said, "I see, I thought you learned this from your mistress who lives in Jiangwei Lane."
In the original novel, Zhou Yi had a mistress outside, and was discovered by Pei Xiuli half a year later.
At that time, the concubine was pregnant with her second child, and Pei Xiuli pushed the concubine down in anger, causing her to miscarry...
Zhou Yi's eyes widened in shock. Now he was finally sure that this woman had completely uncovered all his secrets!
She is not as stupid as my second brother said, and she is not as worldly-wise and easy to control.
She is even smarter than his second brother!
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