The next morning, Xu Hui, who was preparing to go out and buy groceries, looked at the delicate girl who appeared before her with some confusion. She didn't recognize her, yet the other person was clearly there for her.
"My name is Jiang Hanyue. I am the former fiancée of Young Master Ye. Let's find a place to talk," Wu Caiwei stated directly.
Upon hearing her self-introduction, Xu Hui's expression changed. Although she didn't know why the other party was looking for her, her intuition told her it was related to the Young Master of the Ye family.
The two walked to the side of a wide pond. Neither spoke first.
Watching Xu Hui's calm expression, Wu Caiwei couldn't help but praise her inwardly. "What an intelligent girl. If cultivated properly, she could definitely handle matters independently."
"You must be wondering how I managed to break off the engagement, right?" Wu Caiwei had other things to do and didn't want to play mind games with her. She asked directly and affirmatively.
"Naturally, but I don't believe you would look for me for no reason. There is no such thing as baseless concern in this world," Xu Hui said, expressing her thoughts.
"I agree with that. But today, you are indeed overthinking. I simply cannot bear to see a blooming maiden jump into a fire pit. After all, if I hadn't broken off the engagement, it would have been me meeting my doom. It wouldn't have involved you, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I want to clear up some confusion for you and show you a way," Wu Caiwei said, casually plucking a willow branch and playing with it.
"You just said marrying into the Ye family is meeting one's doom. I don't understand what that means?" Strangely, Xu Hui believed everything Wu Caiwei said. This was the first time in her life she had been so unguarded with someone.
"The Ye family is inhuman. Young Master Ye often frequents brothels and has contracted a venereal disease. He is nearing his end. They are paying a hefty sum to buy the life of a commoner's daughter for a ghost marriage, forty-nine days after her death," Wu Caiwei said somberly. This was the truth she pieced together from the original host's memories after entering the Ye family and dying in confusion.
"How can such a thing happen? Aren't they afraid of the authorities?" Xu Hui's face instantly turned pale. She hadn't expected the truth to be so cruel. At most, she had thought the Young Master of the Ye family had some unspeakable perversions.
"How can you report it? They've paid a large sum, and before the bride enters the household, the elders sign a contract of servitude. Who would report it? Can you rely on them?" Wu Caiwei said disdainfully.
Xu Hui unconsciously clenched her fists. At most, if she lost her life, they would extort some silver and claim justice for her, but that was impossible.
"You mentioned showing me a way. I'd like to hear it," Xu Hui looked at her curiously, wondering what options she had left in her current situation.
"Of course, it's to run away. You can come to my place and stay hidden. Once that period passes, it will be fine. However, you will then face the retaliation of Master Ye. I don't know if you dare?"
Xu Hui hesitated for a moment. Not running meant death, and running also meant death. Choosing the latter might give her a chance to survive. As for the Ye family's retaliation, the woman before her wasn't afraid despite knowing so much, so why should she be? Making up her mind, she said resolutely, "I dare. How could I not? At this point, are there any other choices? My life is cheap; at worst, they can take it."
"You have spirit. I like girls like you. I will wait for you at this spot at Shen Shi this afternoon."
Xu Hui nodded without hesitation.
After they parted, Wu Caiwei went to the horse carriage market. Touching the meager silver in her pocket, she sighed helplessly. She could have held on for a while longer, but to help Xu Hui, she had invested heavily.
Yes, she bought a carriage, intending to drive it herself to take Xu Hui back to the village. It wasn't to show off, but because she feared that traveling in someone else's carriage might reveal their whereabouts.
She successfully picked Xu Hui up in the afternoon and drove the carriage directly into her own courtyard.
Once the main gate was closed, no one knew that another young woman was now inside.
Meanwhile, the Xu family mansion was in an uproar. Initially, Mother Xu thought about that lazy girl, daring to be idle while there was so much housework to do at home. She vowed to deal with her when she returned.
But as time passed and night fell, Xu Hui had still not returned. It was then that they panicked and rushed to look for her.
At the time, their plan to leave was done stealthily, using back alleys. After getting into the carriage, they didn't dare lift the curtains, fearing someone might see her.
When Mr. and Mrs. Xu inquired, they learned that no one had seen her that afternoon. This gave them a bad premonition. Upon entering her room, they saw that a few changes of clothes were missing. Mother Xu immediately sat on the ground, wailing and lamenting.
Her daughter was to be married in four days, and now she had run away. What would they do? Moreover, they had already received money, a thousand taels! Surely, no one would be willing to part with such a sum.
Thinking of something, she hurried to the Lin family. Seeing Lin Feng helping in the shop, she stormed up to him.
"Speak! Where did you take that ungrateful girl?" Mother Xu, her eyes seeming to spit fire, pointed at him and demanded.
"What are you talking about? Hui'er is missing? How is that possible? I saw her this morning?" Lin Feng ignored her rudeness, astonished by her words. At the same time, he felt a surge of excitement. If she had truly left, he hoped she would hide well and not be found.
"Don't pretend. My daughter is the future Young Madam of the Ye family. You know the Ye family, right? The wealthiest family in our city. If this matter isn't handled, their retaliation will lead to the Lin family's ruin," Mother Xu threatened quickly, wanting them to hand over the person immediately.
"You didn't watch your own daughter properly and are now demanding people from our Lin family? What kind of logic is that? Our Lin family is just this small courtyard; there's no place to hide anyone. If you don't believe me, search it yourself." Mother Lin heard the commotion and hurried out. Knowing Mother Xu was difficult to deal with, she knew saying anything would be futile and invited her to search.
"I refuse to believe that ungrateful girl could hide anywhere other than your place?" Mother Xu walked in unceremoniously. Seeing their nonchalant demeanor, her heart sank. Could it be that the ungrateful girl really hadn't come here? Otherwise, why wouldn't they be flustered?
After searching the entire house and finding no one, she said unwillingly, "If she's not in your house, who knows if you've hidden her elsewhere? I'm warning you, if I find out you've hidden her, I'll report you to the authorities and accuse you of kidnapping my daughter."
"I swear to heaven, we did not hide her." Mother Lin said with some worry. Could Hui'er have truly run away? But out there alone as a woman, what if she encountered bad people?
Such a good girl; she couldn't bear for anything to happen to her. But in the vast sea of people, how difficult it was to find someone?
The Xu family searched all the places she frequented, but found nothing. Such a large commotion even reached the ears of the Ye family.