Liu Fengjiao knew perfectly well what Chen Zhancai wanted to do. She said calmly, "My room is small and damp. You'd better not go. Wang Ma is still here, so it won't be convenient for you to go in."
Chen Zhancai shook his head in disappointment, "Fengjiao, don't you want to be my husband?"
"Thinking of you? You're overthinking it. Did you care about my feelings when you married Ru Hua? Did you ever think about my feelings when you were all lovey-dovey? Now that you're down on your luck, you think of me."
Let me tell you, I can earn a living and support myself just fine without you. I'd be living a carefree and happy life. It's the same with or without you, so why would I want you? Get out of here, you're not welcome.
"You, you shrew, aren't you afraid I'll divorce you?" Chen Zhancai roared in fury. He hadn't expected Liu Fengjiao to show no respect for their marriage and to make him sound like a complete idiot.
Liu Fengjiao laughed as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, "Divorce me? Fine, give me the divorce papers."
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand. She had already made up her mind that unless Chen Zhancai passed the imperial examination, she would never again serve him like an ancestor.
Chen Zhancai's expression grew increasingly grim, but after carefully considering these words, he presumptuously concluded that Liu Fengjiao cared deeply for him and was jealous of Ruhua.
Looking back, he realized he had gone a bit too far. To quell Liu Fengjiao's anger, he quickly put on a smiling face.
"Feng Jiao, I know I was wrong. Don't worry, I will treat you well from now on. Please forgive your husband."
"Alright, for Jiye's sake, I won't hold it against you. You can leave now!" Liu Fengjiao still didn't give him a friendly look.
Chen Zhancai gritted his teeth in anger. He really wanted to turn around and leave, but thinking of the lack of food at home, he had no choice but to continue, shamelessly persisting.
"Feng Jiao, could you give your husband some more money? Ru Hua and I have no money for food now."
“I don’t have any spare money. I already told you last time that the two hundred coins were borrowed from Wang Ma. This month, after deducting the money for rouge, I just paid off Wang Ma. I don’t have any extra money to help you.”
"Alright then, I'll come see you another day."
Chen Zhancai turned away dejectedly. He knew that if he didn't make money, Ru Hua would definitely not let him off the hook. What if she kept nagging him endlessly? Wouldn't that be incredibly annoying!
Left with no other choice, Chen Zhancai found a relatively quiet street or alley, put up a sign, and waited for those who needed his help to come to him.
One day there was no business, two days there was no business, but after a while, people started asking him to write letters for them.
Although they don't earn much, they can barely make ends meet.
But Chen Zhancai was unwilling; how could he, a dignified scholar, be reduced to making a living by writing for others on the streets?
If his classmates or acquaintances saw this, wouldn't they laugh their heads off?
It's all that spendthrift woman's fault. If this continues, his reputation will be damaged sooner or later.
No, I absolutely cannot let that spendthrift woman ruin his lifelong reputation.
With this idea in mind, Chen Zhancai gradually became lazy again, spending his days wandering around aimlessly until dark before returning home.
Before long, the money in my hand was dwindling.
Helpless, he thought of Liu Fengjiao again. He wanted to ask her for a hundred or two hundred coins to buy some food to live on, but as soon as he explained his purpose, he was scolded by Liu Fengjiao.
Having been rebuffed, Chen Zhancai walked back dejectedly.
He was furious. This heartless, ungrateful woman wouldn't even give him a few coins; she was incredibly stingy.
When I, this scholar, strike it rich one day, I'll make you kneel on the ground and serve me...
Just then, someone greeted him, "Scholar, would you like a piece of tofu today?"
Chen Zhancai looked up and saw Wang Laowu, the tofu seller. He wanted to buy a piece of tofu to satisfy his craving, but when he checked his pockets, he didn't have a single penny. So he could only smile and wave his hand.
"I forgot to bring money when I went out today, so I won't buy anything for now."
"It's alright, if you want some tofu, sir, you can put it on your tab." Wang Laowu had known Chen Zhancai for a long time and had bought a lot of tofu from him over the years.
Chen Zhancai was overjoyed. He hadn't had a proper meal in days, and today he was treated to a tofu feast.
"Alright, weigh out two jin for me, but let me make this clear beforehand: don't rush to ask me for money."
"What are you saying, sir? It's not worth such a small amount of money. I would even be willing to give you a free meal."
"You're quite the smooth talker. Since you seem like a genuine person, I'll give you four pounds, and we'll settle the bill together later."
"Alright, I, Wang Laowu, am in a good mood today, so I'll bring an extra pound for you, sir. It'll be four pounds on the tab." Wang Laowu said, wrapping five pounds of tofu in lotus leaves and handing it to Chen Zhancai. "Sir, please take this and have a good trip."
Chen Zhancai glanced at the large bag of tofu in his hand, unable to contain his curiosity, and asked with a smile, "Brother, what great thing happened to you today? Why are you so generous?"
"To be honest, sir, I have indeed encountered a great joy in my life. These days I have asked a matchmaker to introduce me to a woman. After I finish selling tofu, I will have to go to the matchmaker and go to Dahe Village to discuss the marriage."
"No wonder you were in such a hurry, you're eager to see the new bride!"
"Please excuse my presumption, sir, but then again, how can this not be urgent!" Wang Laowu said, sighing helplessly. "As the saying goes, a family cannot be complete without a wife, and a house cannot be built without a beam. Life is not easy without a wife!"
Chen Zhancai smiled and nodded, "You're right. Congratulations in advance. Don't forget to let me know when you get married, and I'll send you a wedding couplet."
"Oh, that's great! Thank you, sir. But this is still far from settled. Success or failure depends on today. Only when we agree on the bride price will it be a done deal."
"From what you've said, it shouldn't be a big problem. I wish you success, and I'll head back now."
"Alright, sir, take care." After saying that, Wang Laowu subconsciously muttered to himself, "It's not that easy. I offered him ten taels of silver and he still wouldn't take it. He insisted on having some gold hairpin. I'm just a tofu seller, where would I get that much money? It's really not easy to get a wife!"
Although the voice wasn't loud, Chen Zhancai heard every word clearly as he turned to leave.
He abruptly stopped, thinking he had misheard, then turned back and asked Wang Laowu,
"What did you just say? You think it's too expensive to spend ten taels of silver to get a wife?"
"Scholar, you're joking. What young woman would want to marry someone my age?" Old Wang sighed heavily. "She's a widow, has two children, and is three years older than me. Ten taels of silver is already a considerable sum as a dowry!"
......
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