Huang Shijie patted her hand reassuringly. "Aunt, don't worry, I've thought about it for a long time and I know what I'm doing. Go back and cook. I have nowhere to stay and no food, so I'll have to trouble you."
The old woman looked at him deeply, sighed, and hobbled away, a sense of disappointment in her heart.
The crowd unconsciously parted, and the two swaggered towards the yamen. Wu Caiwei, who had intended to leave, also found herself following behind the crowd to watch the spectacle. It wasn't that she was overly curious, but as she was about to leave, the man suddenly looked around. Wu Caiwei happened to turn her head towards him at the same time, their eyes meeting. Wu Caiwei's heart leaped with joy.
She never imagined she would find him so soon. Seeing the situation, she knew he was eager to get rid of the other party, and it wasn't a good time for her to step in. She could only watch from behind.
The two soon emerged from the county office, each holding their divorce papers and turning to leave.
Huang Shijie headed towards his aunt's house without hesitation. As he neared it, seeing that there was no more excitement to witness, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only Wu Caiwei following behind.
With no one around, Huang Shijie quickly stopped and looked at her with doting eyes.
"What? Are you really planning to stay at your aunt's? Why don't you come back with me? I don't have a husband, only an incompetent son you don't want either. It's not wealthy, but I have a small shop and a small courtyard. We can live more than comfortably," Wu Caiwei said with a smile, stepping forward to tease him.
"Not yet. The original owner's greatest wish was to pass the imperial examinations and bring glory to our ancestors, to make them regret it. If we are together now, people will talk and it will harm our reputation. Tell me your address, and after some time, I'll have my aunt propose to you."
Wu Caiwei didn't hesitate and directly told him her address, her current name, and her family situation. Although the place was a bit secluded, it wasn't far from the bustling main street. Fearing that someone might see and spread rumors, they didn't say much more. They nodded in understanding and then parted ways in haste.
Meanwhile, the Li mansion was in an uproar. When Mother Li heard that her eldest grandson had been hit by a carriage, she was extremely anxious. "What should we do? Did you find a doctor? What did the doctor say?"
Liu Wenwen wiped her tears and choked out, "We found a doctor. The doctor said his life is not in danger, but his leg will be left with a disability. However, Grandma just passed the Xiucai examination and has a bright future. If he has a disability, he will be stuck for life. How sad he will be, and he still wants to bring glory to our ancestors."
Father Li cared about nothing else but his grandson's inability to participate in the imperial examinations. In the past, he didn't care, as his daughter-in-law had given him a grandson, who was smart and clever. Everyone said he was a reincarnation of the God of Literature. Unfortunately, heaven was jealous of talent. Two years ago, he had a high fever that wouldn't go down and passed away. Only then did he secretly rely on this grandson.
"The doctors in small towns are not as skilled as those in the county town. We must find a way to move him here and have a doctor treat him properly. I don't believe there's no doctor who can heal his leg," Father Li said forcefully. Although he was also worried that his grandson wouldn't recover, he was unwilling to give up. No matter what, they had to try.
"That's what I was thinking, which is why I came to find you, Grandpa and Grandma. I was also thinking that if the medical skills in the county town are not good enough, we can go to the prefectural city. The Li family isn't short of money," Liu Wenwen said, observing their expressions.
Father Li and Mother Li had no objections, as he was the only grandson of the Li family.
Soon, an agreement was reached, and Liu Wenwen quickly left to make arrangements.
In the main chamber, Li Zixin was comforting Wu Lian'er. "My dear, you know that Father and Mother only value him so much because he needs to carry on the family line. He will never surpass our son in his lifetime."
When Wu Lian'er heard him mention their son, tears streamed down her face. Although two years had passed, her son was still a permanent pain in her heart. She understood the logic, but she couldn't get over it.
Li Zixin looked at her tearful face, not finding it as beautiful as a pear blossom in the rain, but rather feeling somewhat annoyed. She had been like this for two years. Although he had indeed liked Wu Lian'er at first, having grown up in a farming family, Wu Lian'er, as a pampered young lady from a prominent family, was different from a peasant woman. However, over time, even the most beautiful woman could become tiresome.
If it weren't for his own stagnation at the Juren level and the need for her uncle's support, why would he be so subservient? Like other men, wouldn't it be more pleasant to take a few concubines and have women at his side?
There was a difference between ideals and reality. Suppressing his inner frustration, he quickly comforted her. "You know, we originally planned to keep the mother and abandon the child, but such an accident occurred. It can only be fate. Don't worry, no matter what, you are the mistress of the mansion, and no one can surpass you."
Having lived together for so many years, Wu Lian'er was not an ignorant woman. She knew that without a son, no matter how much she fussed, it would be useless. Getting money was the practical thing. So, she continued, "You say all this nicely, but how do I know that once they arrive, you won't forget me entirely and move all the good things in the house to him? After all, he is your only son. No, I need to secure something for myself. Transfer our two family restaurants to my name as my dowry."
Li Zixin hesitated for a moment, then agreed. He thought that the money wouldn't leave the family, and as her dowry, it would still be within the Li family. Furthermore, after working as a scribe for so many years, he needed her uncle's help to fill the position of county magistrate.
He was likely to be disappointed. Wu Lian'er thought differently. Although her son had passed away, she still had a daughter. She always felt that someone else's son was unreliable, especially one who helped his father hurt his own mother. How could he have any affection for his stepmother, and how could she be relied upon? She intended to divide all her assets among her daughter in her old age, so that her daughter could support her.
Wu Caiwei had just returned when Liu Wenwen also came back. As soon as she arrived in town, she rushed to check on Wang Changqing's condition. Seeing that the neighbor lady was taking good care of him, she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't have very deep feelings for Wang Changqing; initially, she just wanted to use him. After all, for a country girl like herself to marry into a small town was something many sisters envied. After marrying, she found that Wang Changqing treated her quite well. Although her mother-in-law didn't interact with her much, she didn't mistreat her either, which was much better than her two older sisters. When she discovered his true background, she was overjoyed.
From then on, she valued Wang Changqing more than anything, as her wealth and status depended on him.
Then she went to her mother-in-law's small shop and saw her mother-in-law still organizing goods, not showing any concern for her son. She snorted coldly in her heart, no wonder she was abandoned by her son; she didn't deserve any sympathy.