"I don't even know your name, and you haven't introduced yourself?" Wu Caiwei looked at him with curiosity, eager to learn everything about him.
"That's a long story. How about we go to a teahouse, and I'll tell you all about it?" Although it was a question, Hu Lianyu knew Wu Caiwei would agree and led the way.
After chatting for a while, Wu Caiwei learned that what the owner of the small restaurant had said about the Hu family being a scholarly one was true. For generations, members of the Hu family had served as officials. However, they were from a collateral branch, and unfortunately, Hu Lianyu's father was a concubine-born son.
The concubine-born son's talent surpassed that of the legitimate son, making the latter appear incompetent. Consequently, a concubine-born son was destined for a bad ending. His father was like that, young and unrestrained, which led to him being constantly suppressed by his legitimate mother.
Before every imperial examination, some incident would occur, causing him to miss the exam. People speculated he wasn't fated for it. At first, he didn't notice anything amiss, but later he found out it was his legitimate mother's machinations. He harbored deep resentment. He had narrowly managed to participate in an imperial examination once and achieved the top rank, the *an shou*. Just when everyone expected him to make a name for himself, he fell ill.
Lying in bed, he knew perfectly well the cause of his illness but was powerless to change it. Thinking of his unfulfilled talent, he died of grief.
After recounting his father's story, Hu Lianyu spoke of himself. His current mother was not his biological mother. His mother was his father's first wife, but her life in the Hu family was very oppressive, constantly being subjected to the legitimate mother's torment. Once, distracted, she fell into a pond and drowned. There was no one around at the time, and she was found much later. Su Dan Novel Network.
Hu Lianyu's father suspected the cause of her death but had no proof. Not long after, the legitimate mother arranged for her nephew to marry him. He protested, but it was useless. This time, the legitimate mother's attitude was unusually firm. When the woman married him, he learned that his wife had been married once before and had a son and a daughter.
In Hu Lianyu's memory, their relationship was not good; he often heard arguments. Later, when his father was bedridden, she didn't even visit him.
After his father's death, their courtyard was clearly managed by the stepmother. Her son and daughter, though outsiders, acted as if they were legitimate young masters and ladies of the Hu family, while he, his father's only blood descendant, was pushed aside.
The servants were also sycophants, seeing his diminished status, everyone couldn't wait to step on him.
Later, he heard that the reason the woman insisted on marrying into the family was that her husband had died, leaving behind a large fortune. As a woman, she couldn't manage it alone, so she wanted to remarry with her son and daughter for protection. At this time, she remembered her aunt in the Hu family and set her sights on his father. Although his father was a concubine-born son and not favored, the Hu family's matriarch was her aunt, who would definitely offer some care. Besides, she had money, so even if he couldn't leave much inheritance, she wouldn't worry.
In previous years, even if he was not favored, he was still a young master of the Hu family and received a monthly allowance. However, after the old patriarch passed away and the Hu family divided, the stepmother tightly controlled the money. He, the blood descendant of the former husband, was an eyesore and was directly expelled.
Fortunately, while his father was still alive, he had foreseen this day and secretly used all his money to buy him a small courtyard. Although the courtyard was not large, it was more than enough for him to live in.
After leaving the Hu family, he moved directly into this small courtyard, claiming to be renting. The Hu family, being a prominent family, their every move was the focus of public attention. When news of Master Hu's situation spread, people couldn't help but condemn Madam Hu for her cruelty in openly seizing his property.
Although Madam Hu didn't care much about these things, her son was still studying and intended to pursue a scholarly career, requiring a good reputation. She had to consider him. Fearing that Hu Lianyu would be lonely, she sent his wet nurse and some elderly and infirm servants from the mansion to his courtyard.
Hu Lianyu could barely support himself, but these were old servants of the mansion, and more importantly, they were loyal to his father. They were all alone, and he couldn't bear to see them wander the streets in their old age. Wasn't this sending them to their deaths?
Thus, they settled down in this small courtyard. For the first few years, they survived on the little money his father had left behind, living frugally. But starting this year, they ran out of money, and his health was poor, requiring frequent medical expenses, making life even more difficult.
The owner of the small restaurant had also advised him to send those people away to find their own relatives, warning that this couldn't go on. He had helped him for many years and had his own family to support, so his assistance was limited. If he drove them away, he could support himself. Unfortunately, Hu Lianyu refused to listen.
Speaking of which, Hu Lianyu was truly pitiful. The reason he had come here was because he had fallen ill with a high fever. Although the people in the courtyard tried their best to save his life, they lacked money and couldn't send him to a doctor. They could only slowly find a doctor to come to the house.
The doctor was already aware of their situation and knew they couldn't afford the consultation fee, so he was reluctant to brave the cold wind to visit. This back-and-forth delayed the time, and he passed away. Unknowingly, he inherited the other person's memories.
Wu Caiwei sighed with emotion upon hearing this. Hu Lianyu was a kind person, and it was likely that his stepmother had considered this, devising such a malicious plan. Hu Lianyu knew it was a huge pitfall, but he still willingly jumped into it.
Having been in this world for a few days, he still hadn't figured out how to improve his current situation, but he firmly believed he would find a way.
Wu Caiwei suggested visiting the elderly people in his courtyard. Hu Lianyu nodded quickly. Although their lives were impoverished, in the original owner's heart, they were like elders. He believed Wu Caiwei would like them very much upon meeting them.
The two bought a lot of food and entered the somewhat dilapidated small courtyard. Wu Caiwei looked at the crowded small rooms and couldn't help but frown. How could so many people live in just these few rooms?
"There's no other way. The place is just this big. A few people share a room, just separate the men and women," Hu Lianyu understood what she was thinking and quickly explained.
"Tomorrow I'll buy you a big house and a few young maids so they can enjoy some comfort too."
In the past, Hu Lianyu would have definitely declined. Although they had been husband and wife for so many years, in his heart, he had come to Wu Caiwei's side to support her and give her a good life. He didn't want her to make one-sided sacrifices. But the health of these elders had deteriorated, and if they weren't taken care of, some might not live to see next year. After so many years of companionship, he couldn't bear to see them leave.