"You'll be disappointed, we've made up our minds to settle down in Blue City this time." Regardless of her intentions, Wu Caiwei was determined not to leave. Blue City was the largest city in the region, and opening a shop here was the right choice. Besides, Sister Yu was here, so they could get help and support if anything happened.
"Fine, don't regret it. I don't believe that if our Zhu family, who has been in the city for so many years, can't even deal with you, then we have no reason to exist." Madam Zhu looked at them with a sinister gaze. She felt she had been more than kind, having warned them before taking action. Even in the afterlife, she would have nothing to regret towards her late husband.
"It seems we have a tough fight ahead of us. Be careful when you go out, and make sure you bring everything you need," Zhang Changhe said, standing behind Wu Caiwei with his arms crossed, seemingly unfazed.
As they spoke, their tone was as if they were discussing the weather. Zhang Changhe even seemed eager for a challenge. The original owner had suffered much abuse in the Zhu family for years. Although she didn't intend to completely destroy them out of respect for Master Zhu, she wanted to show Madam Zhu a thing or two, letting her know there was always someone better and that it was wise to leave some room for maneuver.
While the couple remained unconcerned about Madam Zhu's visit, the neighbors who had initially intended to befriend them now retreated. They might not know the others, but they had heard of Madam Zhu's formidable reputation. The carriage bore a large 'Zhu' character. For common folk like them, how could they afford to offend an official family, and more importantly, how could they avoid them? This family was heading for trouble, having only been in Blue City for a short while and already offending the local power. Su Dan Novel Network.
Things were worse than they had imagined. They had just set their sights on a shop for sale, only for it to be bought by someone else in the blink of an eye. The first time, they thought it was a coincidence, but after the second time, they knew it was the Zhu family at work. They had no choice but to find a real estate agent, but as soon as the agent heard their names, they waved their hands, saying there were no shops for sale. They searched through all the agents in the city, but no one was willing to sell a shop to them.
Although they returned empty-handed that day, they weren't worried at all. Firstly, they had ample wealth. Secondly, if they ran out of money, they could borrow from the Zhu family. At that time, the original owner had taken several hundred taels of silver from Madam Zhu's room. Master Zhu had left more than that for the original owner. Moreover, the money taken had interest, so asking for some of it back was hardly excessive, was it?
Madam Zhu, upon hearing the servants' report that the couple was still in the mood to dine at the city's largest restaurant and then stroll through the streets hand in hand, couldn't help but scoff. Weren't they ashamed? Did they think remarrying was a good thing? Besides, there were many people on the street who had once been their patrons, and weren't they afraid of those ladies finding trouble with them?
Madam Zhu's words seemed to have a strange power. Wu Caiwei and Zhang Changhe did indeed encounter trouble. A richly adorned lady, dripping with jewelry, led a group of people and blocked their path. She appraised them from head to toe and said sarcastically, "Oh, isn't this the most famous courtesan of Blue City? How have you reformed? The man beside you has terrible taste, marrying a prostitute who's been ridden by a thousand men and slept with by ten thousand, and then parading her around the street. I'm embarrassed for you."
"It's true that my wife was once a woman of the streets, but it wasn't by her choice. If I'm not mistaken, you two have no prior connection. Why would a woman torment another woman?" Zhang Changhe stepped forward, shielding Wu Caiwei, and looked calmly at the woman consumed by jealousy.
"We have no connection, but I can't stand to see certain women of the brothel walking freely on the streets, like foxes seducing other men and corrupting public morals," the lady said, growing more animated as the commotion attracted the attention of passersby.
Men from wealthy families frequented brothels, a fact these ladies were keenly aware of. Seeing a woman living freely today ignited their discontent. Such "foxes" deserved to go to hell, not walk in the sunlight. Thus, everyone looked at her with judgmental eyes, and their words became increasingly harsh.
The men, seeing her considerable beauty and hearing she was once the top courtesan of the southern city and had married a Zhuangyuan (top scholar), appraised her with lecherous gazes.
Wu Caiwei was furious. Most women in brothels had their reasons. No wonder some women, even after saving enough money, were unwilling to buy their freedom. They had long recognized reality, knowing that leaving the brothel would lead to a bleak future. Being deceived of money and affection was one thing, but they might even be harmed and killed without anyone seeking justice for them, and people would still think they deserved it.
"Oh, so that's why this lady stopped us in the street. It turns out your husband was once enamored with my wife. Since he couldn't have her, he's sour, and you, filled with jealousy, want to win back your husband's heart. But he doesn't fancy you, so you've become enraged and are now barking like a mad dog, blocking our path." Zhang Changhe sneered at her, his words a stark contrast to his appearance.
"Seeing as you're a respectable person, not only do you refuse to mend your ways, but you've colluded with her. It serves you right to marry a shameless woman. Come, teach them a lesson and let them know that not all women can casually walk on the street!" The lady was clearly overbearing. She had already encountered unpleasantness today, and Wu Caiwei had just walked into her path.
The servants behind her, armed with clubs, immediately surrounded the couple. A fight was imminent, and the onlookers seemed eager for the drama. They believed the couple stood no chance against so many people. As the lady said, some people should stay hidden at home, not walk openly on the street. Did those who seduced their husbands deserve respect in the future? The thought alone made them resentful.
When she first saw the lady, Wu Caiwei felt a flicker of familiarity. She had lived in Blue City for many years and met countless people, making enemies with many ladies. At first, she thought it was the wife of some former client, but then she gradually remembered. This lady was Madam Zhu's best friend. No wonder she had acted so aggressively without even investigating.
Their relationship was unusually close, and she must have complained to her. It just so happened that today she was having a bad day and ran into them. However, Madam Zhu thought that such distinguished ladies could not deal with them. She was wrong. Today, she would show them her power.
When the servants charged forward, Wu Caiwei drew the soft sword from her waist and, to everyone's astonishment, knocked them all to the ground. If it weren't for the fact that bleeding on the street would attract the attention of the authorities, she would have struck each of them with her sword, teaching them a lesson so they would avoid her in the future.