The next day, as soon as Wu Caiwei arrived at the shop entrance, a servant greeted her, "Shopkeeper Sun, please have a seat in the teahouse opposite. My master invites you."
"May I ask who your master is?" Wu Caiwei was a little puzzled. She knew many ladies and young women of status in the city, but very few gentlemen. To avoid suspicion, no one would invite her.
"Our master's surname is Li, and he lives in Cat Alley in the east of the city," the attendant said respectfully.
Wu Caiwei guessed it was Li Yuheng's father and decided to meet him.
Li Qingyuan began to size up Wu Caiwei as soon as he saw her. He had expected someone who would make his son fall in love at first sight to be a stunning beauty. Upon meeting her, he found her appearance ordinary, yet she exuded a spring-like warmth that was incredibly comforting.
"Shopkeeper Sun, please sit. I've ordered some Biluochun tea. I hope it suits your taste." Master Li felt it was a pity. This woman, who could build such a successful business, was clearly no ordinary person. If only she were unmarried, it would have been perfect.
"Master Li, you are too kind. May I know why you've asked me here so early in the morning?" Wu Caiwei feigned ignorance, knowing perfectly well that given her circumstances in ancient times, she was not a suitable match for his son.
"I heard that Shopkeeper Sun has a daughter. You must understand my feelings as a father. Every father wishes to provide the best for his children, including their marriages. While Shopkeeper Liu is intelligent and makes money, you have been divorced and have a daughter. My son is destined for an official career. You wouldn't want to ruin his future, would you?" Li Qingyuan tried to reason with her logically and emotionally.
"I am a loving mother, but perhaps you, Master Li, do not possess the affection of a loving father. I heard from Young Master Li that he barely saw you a few times during his childhood and never experienced paternal affection. You are exaggerating, Master. How would my marriage to him ruin his future? Do officials investigating for the imperial examinations first inquire if a candidate is married or if their wife has been divorced?" Wu Caiwei was not swayed by his words. If he were a truly affectionate father, she would respect him. However, she suspected he was here to satisfy his own selfish desires.
"Our father-son relationship is not something for Shopkeeper Sun to worry about. You only need to know that if you wish to enter our Li family, you will absolutely not pass the test from my wife and me." This was Master Li's most vulnerable point, and being brought up by an outsider made him snap.
"Then we shall see. I am determined to marry Li Yuheng, and no one can change my mind." Wu Caiwei ignored Master Li's fierce glare. They were able to be together in her past life, and it would be even more so in this life.
Wu Caiwei left with a flourish. Master Li gulped down several mouthfuls of tea and muttered to himself, "One after another, they're all driving me mad."
In the afternoon, as Wu Caiwei was taking stock at the shop, Jin Baozhu, ignoring her maid's obstruction, barged in. "You old hag, how can you be so shameless? Divorced with a child, and you're trying to seduce my cousin!"
Wu Caiwei waved her hand, signaling them to let her in.
"Oh, who is this? So it's you, you unwanted little girl?"
"Who are you calling unwanted? I am a young lady of the Jin household! What are you?"
"No matter who I am, how old I am, whether I'm divorced or have a child, Li Yuheng is going to marry me."
"You're a vixen who has bewitched my cousin! How can you compare to me?" As Jin Baozhu spoke, she began to cry. "I know my cousin doesn't favor me, but you shouldn't bully me like this!"
Wu Caiwei couldn't help but smile at her ungraceful crying. She was still just a child.
"You're laughing? Wuwu, I like my cousin. Is that so laughable?" Jin Baozhu was truly heartbroken. She knew her parents and aunt wanted her to marry her cousin to win him over and to sway his allegiance to them. But she wanted to marry her cousin because she genuinely liked him.
"Liking someone is not your fault, but Li Yuheng will never like you in this lifetime. You should give up early, find a suitable person, and live your own life." Wu Caiwei sincerely advised this naive, simple-minded girl.
"After all this talk, aren't you just trying to get me to back down so you can have him?" Jin Baozhu mumbled quietly.
Wu Caiwei suddenly found her quite endearing.
Her day had been quite eventful, with unwelcome visitors in both the morning and afternoon. She spent a long time coaxing Jin Baozhu, who finally left in tears.
Li Yuheng heard about these events from his attendant as soon as he returned from the academy and rushed to comfort Wu Caiwei.
Upon returning home, he had a loud argument with his father and stepmother, telling them to interfere less in his affairs.
Li father was so angered that he couldn't sleep that night.
Li Youcai, ever since his last encounter with Wu Caiwei and Li Yuheng's close interaction, had secretly inquired about him. He learned that Li Yuheng was a scholar preparing for the imperial examinations and came from a very wealthy family. He began to doubt his own judgment. Why would a prominent family be interested in Sun Yuanyue, while he had been interested in someone else? Su Dan Novel Network
He was unwilling to accept this. He didn't dare to approach Wu Caiwei directly, but he could go to Li Zhutao! However, that girl Li Zhutao refused to help him, always making excuses. He dared not escalate the matter for fear of Wu Caiwei retaliating.
Back in the village, Liu Yu orchestrated several "chance" encounters, urging him to propose marriage. Li Youcai was thoroughly annoyed. Thinking about his dwindling finances, he decided to go into business.
Li Yuheng was twenty years old. In previous years, no one paid attention to his marriage, and he himself had no desire to marry. Later, his stepmother made his marriage a priority, but he postponed it with various excuses. Not only Li father and his stepmother, but even he himself wondered if there was something wrong with him in that regard, as he was uninterested in any woman.
It wasn't until he met Wu Caiwei that he realized he wasn't uninterested; he had simply been waiting for the right person to appear.
He was already determined to marry her, and the more opposition there was, the more he wanted to hasten the process.
He went to Wu Caiwei first to discuss it. Wu Caiwei readily agreed and then arranged a dinner, inviting Li Zhutao. The three of them shared what could be considered a reunion dinner.
This was the first time Li Zhutao met Li Yuheng. Wu Caiwei had already prepared her mentally, telling her that she was still young and would marry when she met someone suitable, but she would ensure Li Zhutao was well taken care of and had no worries.
Therefore, upon meeting her future stepfather, she felt no aversion towards the man her father had described so negatively. Instead, she found him gentle, refined, and dashing, and she even felt a tinge of jealousy towards her mother's good fortune.
The dinner proceeded harmoniously, though Li Zhutao worried that the Li family might look down on her.
Li Yuheng seemed to read her mind. Sensing her thoughts, he quickly assured her that he would treat her as his own daughter, that she could ignore the elders' words, and that if anyone made her uncomfortable, he would stand up for her.
His words soothed Li Zhutao's uncertain heart. Although she didn't know if he could truly keep his promises in the future, his words made her feel warm and comforted.