"Mother, you're awake," a girl in her teens opened the door and said with surprise.
This girl was the original owner's daughter, Qiu Zisu, a well-behaved and obedient young lady who was ill-fated by her unreliable father, Qiu Ze, who arranged a marriage for her. She died less than a year after getting married.
"Mother, I'm so scared. I don't want to marry Zhang Ziwei," Qiu Zisu said, her fear growing as she remembered Zhang Ziwei's lecherous gaze.
"If you don't want to marry, then you won't," Wu Caiwei patted her hand to comfort her.
"But Father..." Qiu Zisu thought of her father's temperament and lost hope.
"Don't you worry. Even if I have to divorce him, I won't let you fall into that pit of fire," Wu Caiwei said firmly, fulfilling the original owner's greatest wish.
"Mother, you're so good to me," Qiu Zisu said sincerely, resting her head by Wu Caiwei's bedside.
"Silly child, I'm your mother. If not me, who else would be good to you?" Wu Caiwei stroked her head and smiled.
"Chunyan, brothers Zhang and Liu are here for lunch. Hurry up and prepare a table of good food," Qiu Ze called out towards the bedroom as he ushered them in.
Seeing her mother too sick to get up, Qiu Zisu quickly rose to prepare the meal, fearing her father's anger and, in severe cases, his physical abuse towards her mother.
Wu Caiwei grabbed her hand and shook her head. She knew this man was spoiled and decided he wouldn't get a meal today.
Thinking of this man, Wu Caiwei's fists itched.
Ever since her father-in-law and mother-in-law passed away, their family had become poorer. It wasn't that they were squandering their wealth or not working hard; rather, no amount of money could withstand this man's profligacy.
This man, Qiu Ze, was known far and wide as a philanthropist and the only doctor in town.
As humans, everyone gets sick. Therefore, their family was highly respected in town, and their income was considerable, even the highest in the town.
If her husband, a doctor who earned so much money, had been prudent, Wang Chunyuan and their two children should have been living a good life. But on the contrary, they were struggling to make ends meet, living on steamed buns day after day. Suzhou Novel Network.
Qiu Ze was a "child of scattered wealth." Besides treating patients, he loved making friends and helping any friend in need. Sometimes, if a patient's family was poor or if someone pleaded with him, he would waive the medical fees.
Every time Wang Chunyan asked him to stop inviting guests so often, he would say they were his brothers, that they treated him well, and it was only right to treat them to a meal. He would even call her stingy.
If she pushed further, his temper would flare up, and he would beat Wang Chunyan.
"Brother Qiu, it's almost noon, and sister-in-law hasn't prepared food. I think we should head home," Zhang Ziwei said, seeing that Wang Chunyan hadn't come out. Being a man who valued his reputation, Qiu Ze deliberately adopted a strategic retreat.
"No, no, no. I'll go call your sister-in-law right now. You are my brothers, how can I have guests without food?" Saying this, Qiu Ze got up and went to the bedroom.
"What's the matter with you? Didn't you hear me calling you to cook?" Qiu Ze approached, lowering his voice as much as possible, and questioned her.
"Don't you see I'm still sick? You're a doctor, and you know my condition perfectly well. Do I look like someone who can get up?" Wu Caiwei asked sarcastically.
"What kind of attitude is that? If you can't get up, then you can't. Isn't Zisu here? Let her do it," Qiu Ze's eyes lit up when he saw his daughter.
"Zisu has never cooked a meat dish before. If she messes it up, where will your reputation be?" Wu Caiwei knew what he cared about and said it deliberately.
"Then let's go to the small restaurant in front and buy two meat dishes," Qiu Ze thought it made sense. Since they were good brothers, he should entertain them with the best. It would be too embarrassing if it was messed up.
"There's no money."
"How can there be no money? You keep all the silver in the house, and you're telling me there's no money?" Qiu Ze could hardly believe his ears.
"Yes, the family has earned quite a lot of silver. But you should ask yourself how much you've scattered. Look at the money you throw away every day; how many meals could that buy?" Wu Caiwei retorted, not backing down.
"You woman, you have no compassion. I do spend a lot of money every day, but I'm helping those who need it. People can't even afford to eat; how can I ask them for consultation fees?" Wu Caiwei looked at Qiu Ze's contemptuous expression with a heavy heart. She truly sympathized with the original owner for living with him for so many years.
If what Qiu Ze said were true, that people couldn't afford food, Wu Caiwei wouldn't have minded. The problem was that those people's lives were much better than theirs. They just deliberately came to him to cry poverty because they knew he would give them money as soon as they did.
Only he was foolish enough to believe it, and only he treated outsiders better than his own family. Anyone who encountered such a person was truly cursed for eight lifetimes.
In the end, the meal was not served. Qiu Ze repeatedly apologized to his guests, promising to make it up next time.
Zhang Ziwei, after leaving, turned back. "Brother Qiu, I consider you a brother, and I want to strengthen our bond. I'd like to settle the matter between Zi'su and me. This way, our families can visit each other often. What do you think?"
"Good brother, what else needs to be said? Since you consider me a brother, I naturally consider you a younger brother. Have a matchmaker come to propose," Qiu Ze felt he hadn't misjudged the man; he was truly his good brother.
"I forbid it! If anyone dares to come and propose, I'll drive them out," Wu Caiwei said, forcing herself to get out of bed upon hearing their conversation.
"You shrew, what right do you have to speak? Marrying my good brother is excellent! With my good brother protecting her, Zisu will never suffer in the future." Qiu Ze was very displeased with Wu Caiwei's interruption, feeling it challenged his male authority and embarrassed him in front of his good brother.
"I don't believe that a man who beats his wife until she hangs herself is a good person. Can he treat his wife well? Moreover, this is not the attitude of proposing marriage. Since ancient times, the union of man and woman has emphasized matching families. The Zhang family has no land, no house, no shop, and he idles around all day, doing nothing. To marry my daughter? He's dreaming," Wu Caiwei spoke her mind without reservation. The three Zhang brothers made a living doing odd jobs for others. Such people were not good choices by any standard.
Zhang Ziwei's face slowly changed as he heard her words. "What right do you have, a mere woman, to speak here?" He then said to Qiu Ze, "Brother Qiu, do you also think of me this way? Your Qiu family is too overbearing."
"You've misunderstood. I consider you a brother, how could I think of you this way? Don't worry, I will teach her a good lesson later," Qiu Ze said through gritted teeth.
Zhang Ziwei looked at Wu Caiwei with a gloating expression. If possible, he would have liked to watch the spectacle of her being beaten to the ground begging for mercy, all because this woman looked down on him.