When Wu Caiwei returned in the evening, she saw Xu Shuqin with a long face. After learning what had happened, Wu Caiwei felt speechless. She couldn't possibly argue with a young girl, but her own daughter shouldn't have to suffer such indignities.
So, she directly instructed someone to inform Young Master Zhang that her daughter would no longer be attending from tomorrow. She believed that given Young Master Zhang's concern for her, he would definitely investigate and punish Zhang Yuyan, thus achieving her objective.
As for her daughter lacking playmates, since she wasn't short of money now, she quickly found a matchmaker and selected four clean and pretty young girls to keep her company.
She also hired a female tutor from outside to teach Xu Shuqin. To ensure she studied well, the four young girls would study alongside her.
Originally, Zhang Yumeng had intended to use the daughter of Doctor Leng to scare Zhang Yuyan, thinking she was just a doctor's daughter who wouldn't dare speak out if wronged. She never expected that the tutor would, for once, not side with her.
When her father learned what had happened, he summoned her privately and berated her severely. Even the concubine was implicated, blamed for her rash actions.
After thoroughly disciplining them, Young Master Zhang specifically went to the clinic to find Wu Caiwei. "I am truly sorry. I didn't know such a thing would happen. I have already disciplined them. Please let her continue to come tomorrow; I believe no one will dare bully her again."
Wu Caiwei replied politely, "Thank you, Young Master Zhang. I have already found playmates for her and a tutor. She will study in our small courtyard from now on. I appreciate your kindness, but it was my oversight to have sent her to your establishment in the first place."
Hearing this, Young Master Zhang thought she hadn't forgiven him and became anxious. "I can guarantee that what happened yesterday will not happen again."
Wu Caiwei looked up, smiling at him. "I don't blame you at all. The female academy consists of your family's young ladies. Shuqin is just a doctor's daughter, and there's a status difference. The children are young and just wanted to play a joke on her. It was my lack of foresight."
Young Master Zhang suddenly felt a pang in his heart. Gritting his teeth and closing his eyes, he mustered the greatest courage he had ever known and asked somewhat hesitantly, "If I said I like you and want to be Shuqin's father, would you be willing?"
Wu Caiwei looked at his nervous demeanor and suddenly laughed. "I need to state, firstly, that I will not be a concubine to anyone. Secondly, I already have someone I care for. I will pretend this conversation never happened, and we can remain friends."
Young Master Zhang was disheartened upon hearing this. Although deeply disappointed, he also felt relieved. After all, he had asked what he wanted to ask, and they could still be friends, which was better than nothing.
They then proceeded to discuss business. When Wu Caiwei returned home after a busy day, she was surprised to find the house unusually quiet.
This instilled a sense of unease in her heart. She searched the courtyard but couldn't find her daughter. Upon asking the doorkeeper, she learned that the tutor had taken her daughter and her little maids away that morning.
At the time, no one suspected anything amiss. It was only when it got dark and they still hadn't returned that panic set in. They quickly split up to try and redeem themselves.
Wu Caiwei pondered various possibilities at home. The most likely suspects were the Zhou family, followed by Xu Yijie, and the Zhang family was also a possibility.
She waited at home for a while, and the servants returned one after another in a flurry. Seeing that everyone had returned empty-handed, they couldn't help but look crestfallen.
Upon seeing Wu Caiwei, they first showed panic and then quickly bowed their heads in apology. Wu Caiwei felt a sense of exasperation, thinking, "I've told you all before to keep a close eye on the young lady and not let her leave home easily."
The steward was on the verge of tears and quietly defended himself, "We did raise this issue, but the young lady insisted on going and made a fuss. We had to increase the number of guards, thinking it was foolproof, but something still happened."
Wu Caiwei gave them a speechless look and told them to wait at home while she went out alone.
Having lived in the city for a long time, she knew where Xu Yijie lived. Arriving at his courtyard gate, she immediately knocked loudly. She knocked for a long time without a response, so she began kicking the door.
Seeing the door shaking from her kicks, a commotion finally came from inside. "Who is it? Kicking our door so late. Stop kicking, I'll open it for you."
As soon as the door opened, Wu Caiwei rushed in, ignoring the doorman's obstruction. "Hey, who are you? How can you enter our house without an announcement?"
Wu Caiwei went straight to the main courtyard and kicked open the door in front of her. She saw Xu Yijie being served by several maids, comfortably eating his dinner.
Upon seeing her, he sneered, "Coming to my house so late, are you trying to throw yourself at me?" He then leered at her, scanning her from head to toe, and added dismissively, "Someone like you, with no figure and no looks, I wouldn't even fancy."
Wu Caiwei's mood was already terrible, filled with self-reproach for not taking better care of her daughter. She desperately needed an outlet for her frustration, and he had conveniently walked into the line of fire. She kicked the table in front of her, and the other end of the table struck Xu Yijie, who had just stood up.
Under the force of the impact, Xu Yijie sat down heavily on a stool behind him, instinctively clutching his stomach. He pointed at her with his finger, but the pain rendered him speechless.
Wu Caiwei strode to him in three steps, grabbed him by the collar, and stared at him menacingly. "Tell me, where did you take Shuqin?"
Xu Yijie immediately looked surprised. "Isn't she with you? Did you lose her? I told you long ago to leave the child in our hometown with my parents, but you refused. Now look, the child is lost."
"Don't play dumb with me. I know you kidnapped her. If you don't tell me the truth, I'll beat you." Xu Yijie's maids and servants, who had been frozen, finally reacted and rushed forward to separate them.
Wu Caiwei was furious and threw aside anyone who tried to stop her. If they persisted, Wu Caiwei would kick them away.
Xu Yijie was shocked by the woman's ferocity. Having known her for so many years, how had he never noticed this? He swallowed with difficulty and said sincerely, "I truly did not do anything to her. I swear to heaven. After all, she is my daughter, my only blood relative so far. I would never harm her."
Wu Caiwei heard this and became suspicious. Had she mistaken him? Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, she threatened, "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt this time. If I find out you lied, I will make you regret being born."