Wu Caiwei and Zhang Dahai had put the matter out of their minds the moment they left the Zhang family's residence. They believed those individuals were not foolish and would understand what they needed to.
Instead, they focused more on Zhang Hexiang's progress. Before Wu Caiwei arrived at Zhang Taohong's house, she had redeemed an aging courtesan from a brothel, assigning her some tasks. If the woman completed them honestly, her indenture would be returned. The woman was very cooperative, but it remained to be seen how far the matter had progressed. Sudana Novel Network.
At this moment, a stranger arrived at Zhang Hexiang's home. Looking at the beautiful and elegantly dressed woman before her, she inexplicably felt a sense of foreboding.
"Who is it? Why are you taking so long to open the door?" Wang Shuisheng's impatient voice rang out. He and Zhang Hexiang had been eating when they heard a knock. Zhang Hexiang quickly put down her bowl and went to open the door, but she didn't return for a long time.
His exclamation snapped Zhang Hexiang back to reality. She politely asked the woman, "May I ask who you are looking for, young lady?"
Yanran looked at the woman before her with complex emotions. The man's angry shout had revealed him to be no good husband. What she envied was that someone cared about her and had sent her to help her escape this苦海 (sea of suffering).
"Zhang Hexiang, I'm talking to you, can't you hear me?" Wang Shuisheng strode out angrily.
Upon seeing the woman before him, he was immediately stunned and shyly said, "Why are you here?"
"You keep avoiding me, so if I didn't come looking for you, how would I see you?" Yanran said, throwing him a seductive glance. Having endured the struggles of the brothel for over twenty years, she could easily handle men like him who had never seen the world.
Flirted with by her, Wang Shuisheng's face instantly turned red. He didn't know where to put his hands, wanting to look at her but too shy to do so.
Zhang Hexiang saw this and understood their close relationship. Apart from a trace of sadness and disappointment, she wasn't particularly heartbroken. It seemed she had never held much hope for him.
What made her anxious was that if things continued this way, this man would soon cast her aside. It wasn't that she was reluctant to leave him, but after leaving the Wang family, where else would she go? The world was vast, yet there was no place for her to belong.
She had no desire to return to the Zhang family; they would likely sell her again. Though the Wang family was not a good place, marrying again might lead to a situation worse than the Wang family.
If things truly came to that, she knew he wouldn't be able to shamelessly cling to the Wang family.
The two of them paid no attention to her despondency, engaging in their flirtatious banter.
"You've come at this hour, you probably haven't eaten yet. We made extra, so please join us." He then instructed Zhang Hexiang to stir-fry another meat dish.
Zhang Hexiang nodded. She didn't want to watch them flaunt their affection anyway. Since there was only a little bit of meat left in the house, she decided to stew it.
"Ever since you helped me last time, you've been in my heart and eyes. Without seeing you, I cannot sleep. So, based on your name, I inquired village by village. You have no idea how much effort it took. You heartless person, I told you where I lived, and you didn't come to find me." Yanran spoke with a wronged pout, looking at him affectionately.
Wang Shuisheng had never met such a woman in his life. It felt unreal, yet incredibly stimulating.
"I am already married. Even if I desire you, I cannot delay you." Speaking of this, Wang Shuisheng regretted it. He had paid a hefty sum to marry Zhang Hexiang, and even then, she was unwilling and always had a sullen face towards him. He never expected to be blessed with such romantic fortune in his old age.
From her demeanor, he knew she was not a respectable woman. But so what? After all these years, this was the first time a woman looked at him with such deep admiration and adoration, satisfying his vanity.
Suddenly, a tingling sensation spread through his leg. Without looking, he knew the woman opposite him was up to her tricks, her seductive little feet rubbing up and down his leg, making his heart itch with pleasure. He enjoyed it immensely.
"What a captivating little temptress," Wang Shuisheng said dotingly, looking at her meaningfully.
"If I don't tease you, I'm afraid you'll run away. Your family's women look like wooden dolls. What do you say? Do you want to marry me?" Yanran asked tentatively.
"I don't know you at all, how can I marry you? Besides, there's no precedent for divorcing a wife in the village. If I wanted to divorce her, the clan would never agree." He spoke the truth, having considered this question the moment she appeared.
Upon hearing this, Yanran immediately withdrew her leg and looked at him angrily. "I think you're reluctant to leave her. If you want to know me, it's simple. Just ask, and I'll answer. Listen carefully now: My name is Yanran. I worked as a musician in the capital. A musician is a woman who plays music in entertainment venues. We only sold our art, not ourselves. When I got older, I redeemed myself and bought a small courtyard in town. I have some savings, and my life is quite comfortable."
Wang Shuisheng's heart stirred. This woman clearly had no one to rely on. Having a courtyard in town was something remarkable in the eyes of villagers. Moreover, she had money. Marrying her would make him the richest man in the village, earning the respect of those who had looked down on him.
"It's very unsafe for a woman like me to live alone in this town. Some hooligans have already tried to harass me, and I desperately need someone to depend on. The other day, I was walking alone and sprained my ankle. You happened to pass by and carried me to town to see a doctor. At that moment, I thought, you're such a good person. How wonderful it would be if I could spend my life with you." Accustomed to acting, Yanran could no longer distinguish between reality and imagination. She almost moved herself.
Wang Shuisheng was indeed moved. When a woman clearly tells you all her experiences and thoughts, and admires you so much, it's hard not to be moved. He was just an ordinary man. After a moment of hesitation, he made up his mind.
"Wait for me. I will divorce that woman soon and welcome you into my home with a proper marriage." Hearing this, Yanran's tears flowed like a river.
This frightened Wang Shuisheng. He hastily wiped her tears and anxiously asked, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Yanran wiped her tears and said happily, "I'm crying tears of joy. I've always dreamed of meeting someone who would grow old with me, and I never expected to meet you so soon. I hope you won't disappoint me."