Chapter 88: Chapter 87: Past Events (Part 2)
Wen Guangping bought a small courtyard for Lu Fanghua in a secluded manor outside the county town.
Of course, the money came from Lu Fanghua herself. She had a box full of valuable jewelry, and pawning one or two items could easily fetch hundreds of taels of silver, which was more than enough to buy a small farmhouse.
Wen Guangping, being a man, couldn’t take care of Lu Fanghua personally, so he suggested buying a maid to serve her.
Unexpectedly, Lu Fanghua adamantly refused, saying that it was her first time in Pingjiang County and she wasn’t familiar with anyone besides him, whom she trusted.
Wen Guangping had no choice but to stay and take care of her for a long time.
One night, Lu Fanghua hurriedly knocked on Wen Guangping’s door, saying that the person who harmed her had arrived, and they had to leave immediately.
Wen Guangping never asked about Lu Fanghua’s past, but upon hearing her words, he immediately started packing.
The situation was urgent, and they had no other place to go. Reluctantly, Wen Guangping brought Lu Fanghua back to his family in Lower River Village, initially planning for her to hide there for a few days while he figured out what to do.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they got home, Wen Guangping’s mother, Ma, assumed Lu Fanghua was a bride brought home by her son.
Because Wen Guangping had given her little money, Ma slapped Lu Fanghua, calling her a vixen without shame, seducing her son into bed and getting pregnant without even going through formalities. Ma accused her of using all the money meant for filial piety and forced Lu Fanghua to take off her luxurious clothes and jewelry, claiming that they were bought with her son’s money and that a vixen didn’t deserve them.
For Lu Fanghua, who was of noble birth and had always been served by a multitude of maids and nannies, it was the first time someone dared to hit her.
Wen Guangping, knowing his mother had gone too far, wanted to explain, but Lu Fanghua signaled him not to interfere, to avoid straining the mother-son relationship.
Feeling ashamed, Wen Guangping apologized to her afterward.
Lu Fanghua touched the slap mark on her cheek and shook her head with a bitter smile, "I’m fine, just sorry that Second Brother Wen had to bear this name for me. Once things are peaceful outside, I’ll leave and won’t burden you any longer."
After spending so much time together, Wen Guangping had come to understand Lu Fanghua to some extent.
He knew she was a lady from a wealthy family, yet she never flaunted her status or put on airs, and was very gentle and easygoing. To country folk, she might seem a bit out of touch, but she was extremely intelligent and articulate, making her very likable.
Living day and night with such a beautiful and intelligent woman, Wen Guangping, being a normal man, couldn’t help but feel something.
So when he heard she wanted to leave, he tried to persuade her to stay, "Actually, I don’t know what you’ve been through, and it’s alright if you don’t want to say. But if you feel this place is safe, you could consider staying. As for that misunderstanding, I wouldn’t mind making it real."
Lu Fanghua understood; Wen Guangping was willing to take care of her and the child.
She averted her gaze, not daring to look at him, "I’ve already troubled you enough during this time. My child is with someone else; how can I put that on you? You still have to marry and have children in the future."
"Fanghua." Wen Guangping mustered his courage and held her hand for the first time, "I’ve thought it over. If you stay, I’ll treat this child as my own and will never let her down."
In the end, Lu Fanghua decided to stay, but she also encountered Wen Family’s wicked mother-in-law, Ma.
Ma never regarded Lu Fanghua’s pregnancy, bossing her around like a maid whenever Wen Guangping wasn’t home, slapping or pinching her at the slightest displeasure, constantly cursing her as a "bitch," using especially unpleasant language.
With her pregnancy advanced, Lu Fanghua found it difficult to move. Even if she wanted to leave, she couldn’t, so she endured, day by day.
Wanwan was a girl, unable to continue the Wen family’s lineage.
Her birth added insult to injury, forcing Lu Fanghua’s already difficult days to the brink of despair.
Ma discovered Lu Fanghua’s box, forcing her to hand over everything or she would strangle baby Wanwan.
For the sake of her daughter, Lu Fanghua nearly compromised.
But Wen Guangping couldn’t stand it any longer and created a big scene, demanding to split the family.
Ma was utterly shocked by her usually dutiful son’s actions.
After splitting the family, Lu Fanghua no longer had to face Ma day and night, making life much more relaxed.
The warm care of Wen Guangping healed the scars in Lu Fanghua’s heart from her past, and she completely let go, deciding to stay for life and never return to the Capital.
When Wanwan turned a year old, the couple consummated their marriage.
Lu Fanghua thought she had finally escaped those people forever.
But she didn’t expect them to eventually find her.
When Wanwan was three, a group of men in black, carrying the orders of their master, demanded that Lu Fanghua return, threatening to kill Wanwan if she refused.
At that moment, Lu Fanghua realized.
As long as she was alive, her bloodline and identity remain; she could not escape no matter how far she ran.
She negotiated with them, asking for three days to arrange everything for her daughter.
The men in black agreed.
That evening, Lu Fanghua informed Wen Guangping, saying that her peaceful days were probably over.
Wen Guangping couldn’t bear to see her leave.
Lu Fanghua instructed him, "There are still many items in that box. After I leave, pawn them for money and raise Wanwan well. If she asks, just say her mother is gone. I don’t want her to grow up resenting me for heartlessly abandoning her."
...
On the third day, Lu Fanghua took Wanwan’s little hand to town and bought her many treats. On the way back, they were stopped by the guards.
Awaiting her was the carriage to the Capital.
Thinking of her impending separation from her daughter, Lu Fanghua’s tears welled up uncontrollably.
Wanwan was too young, and even if she wanted to explain something, the little girl wouldn’t understand.
Just then, Song Wei happened to return from the county town.
Lu Fanghua called out to him, "Third Son, Auntie has something to ask of you. When you return, tell your Uncle Wen that once I leave, I may never come back, so he shouldn’t worry about me, and to help me raise Wanwan well. Also, Auntie knows you are a good child. I want to entrust Wanwan to you; please help take care of her. I know this is very sudden for you, but I... I have no chance to say goodbye to your Uncle Wen in person."
"Okay, I promise Auntie."
Song Wei held Wanwan’s icy little hand and watched the carriage leave.
"Mother, mother..."
Little Wanwan shook off Song Wei’s hand and chased after the carriage, crying heartbreakingly in the snow, slipping, and falling into an ice hole.