Mei Xin did not consider how well Zhao Shi had treated her when she first arrived at the Shen family. She was cherished like her own pupil, with fear of causing her any hardship. Later, she transformed into a spoiled brat, creating constant trouble and even daring to plot against their family.
When Shen Yun and Su Xiao Qi learned of these matters, they initially intended to keep them from Zhao Shi. They feared that discovering such actions by the son of an old friend and a favored junior would wound her elderly heart. However, Zhao Xiao Hua later treated human lives as mere trifles. To protect Zhao Shi, after much deliberation, the couple revealed everything to her. Zhao Shi was indeed disappointed and wanted to drive Mei Xin away immediately. Yet, she reflected that while Mei Xin was detestable, she was also genuinely pitiful. Perhaps the saying "the pitiable have their own detestable aspects" described her perfectly.
After seeking the opinions of Su Xiao Qi and Shen Yun, and deeming that Mei Xin could no longer harm their family, Zhao Shi allowed her to continue living with the Shen family. Shen Ming Zhu disagreed somewhat with this decision at the time. Her foresight was not as keen as Shen Yun's. She believed that if Mei Xin was a dangerous person, she should be kept far away to prevent any opportunity for her to harm their family.
However, Shen Yun did not share this view. Mei Xin's wickedness was already apparent. The safest place, as the saying goes, is often the most dangerous. Since they knew of her malicious intentions, it was better to keep her close, under their constant observation. Her every move would be within their control, which was far better than letting her go and being unaware of what she was doing behind their backs. After much discussion, the family decided to keep Mei Xin. This was the reason Mei Xin had remained in the Shen family until now.
During this period, while outwardly appearing well-behaved, Mei Xin had been constantly engaged in subtle maneuvers behind the scenes. Her arms had been injured, and the Shen family's servants had replaced her usual attendants. Her days were spent attempting to brainwash the Shen family's servants, trying to win them over as she had once subdued Zi Yu. However, it proved utterly useless. Whatever Mei Xin told the servants during the day, they would report back to Zhao Shi in the evening.
Zhao Shi initially harbored a trace of affection for Mei Xin, considering her the daughter of an old friend. Their families had been close in the past, and had it not been for various circumstances, they might have even arranged a marriage between their children. But now, Mei Xin had become this way. Not only could they not be friends and uphold the families' ties, but they had become enemies, constantly wary of each other and plotting against one another. It was indeed tiring.
After several disappointments, Zhao Shi's feelings towards Mei Xin gradually waned. This led to her current cold demeanor.
"Please stop mentioning this matter. The rules of our Shen family dictate that a man can only marry one wife. Yun Ge'er is like this, and so will Zhao Ge'er be when he grows up." Zhao Shi believed her words were clear enough.
Yet, Mei Xin misinterpreted her meaning. She thought to herself, "A man can only marry one wife? That's a lie!" But then she considered that whether this was merely their casual remark or the truth, it was beneficial to her. If only one marriage was allowed, and Su Xiao Qi was gone, she could then become Shen Yun's wife. Mei Xin's thoughts became active. Of course, she dared not reveal such intentions in front of others, and with a calculating smile, she curtsied and left.
As she walked, she mused that if she became the mistress of the Shen family's household, she would do a far better job than Su Xiao Qi! Look at how she managed the household, turning it into a mess where even the servants lacked discipline. They were given four days off each month and received holiday gifts. This was not the treatment of servants; it was more like how one treated relatives. Where was the master's authority?
Mei Xin left with a significant preoccupation. She left behind a family of three. Su Xiao Qi stepped forward and offered Zhao Shi a cup of roasted buckwheat tea. Though Su Xiao Qi had brought her many high-end teas since her arrival in the capital, none had pleased her. Thus, she had reverted to drinking the roasted buckwheat tea she often drank in Bashu.
"This tea is still the best," Zhao Shi sighed contentedly. Su Xiao Qi said, "This tea is indeed good. Its fragrance is delicate, not overpowering. Crucially, it's not bitter or astringent, and it has a sweet aftertaste." Consequently, many who couldn't tolerate tea preferred roasted buckwheat.
"I remember there was a Ping Niang Zi in Bashu. After you came to the capital, she would occasionally bring gifts to our home, especially during festivals. When I left, I heard she was having marital troubles. Are you still in contact with her?"
Seeing that Zhao Shi still remembered old acquaintances from Bashu, Su Xiao Qi smiled. Her roasted buckwheat business in the capital primarily focused on supermarket retail. In Bashu, it was still managed by the former Ping Niang Zi. However, as Zhao Shi had mentioned, Ping Niang Zi was no longer the same person. She had divorced her husband. Their marital troubles truly fit the old saying: "When a man gets rich, he turns bad!"
Initially, the young couple managed a small roadside tea stall, earning a modest living by boiling water, making tea, and drying tea leaves. They lived harmoniously. He boiled water, she wiped sweat; he made tea, she served it. Even Su Xiao Qi would praise their deep marital affection.
Who would have thought that after the couple profited from Su Xiao Qi's roasted buckwheat tea business, their relationship would change? Ping Niang Zi's husband, with his newfound wealth, became infatuated. He found another woman, bought her property, and kept her as an outer mistress. He even had a child with her. Ping Niang Zi focused on her business, unaware that her money was continuously flowing into another woman's pockets. In fact, that woman lived opposite the tea house she had opened. She would often bring her child to Mei Xin, affectionately calling her "Sister."
Ping Niang Zi, accustomed to business and kind-hearted, did not initially know the woman's true identity. She only thought she was a wife who was not favored by her husband and lived alone outside. Being kind-hearted, she would often look after the woman and treat her exceptionally well. Who knew that the clown was herself, and she was also the most pitiful person!
When the truth was revealed, Ping Niang Zi was almost driven mad. What angered her even more was that her once-loving husband, taking advantage of her distress and lack of attention, had seized her tea house. The tea stall was managed by both of them, but the tea house was her sole endeavor and was managed by her. Yet, he acted so tyrannically. The wife was so distraught that she couldn't sleep or eat for three days and three nights, nearly losing her life. It was only when Zhao Xiao Zhu heard of the matter and rushed to see her that she discovered Ping Niang Zi's dire state and saved her. Later, Zhao Xiao Zhu and Granny Wen went to comfort her, and Ping Niang Zi finally recovered from the shock.
However, having lost her tea house, she remained depressed. She couldn't find joy and was constantly tormented by the incident, especially since the adulterous couple no longer concealed their relationship after being discovered. They appeared as a pair openly. The other woman even moved into the back courtyard of the tea house and presented herself as the proprietress.
Su Xiao Qi learned of this through a letter from Zhao Xiao Zhu. Zhao Xiao Zhu claimed the matter was difficult to handle. After obtaining Ping Niang Zi's consent, she informed Su Xiao Qi and sought a solution. Su Xiao Qi instantly transformed into a marriage and relationship expert, writing down some of her observations and experiences from her modern life. She also stated that her roasted buckwheat tea business would only cooperate with Ping Niang Zi, and no one else could interfere. Su Xiao Qi's words immediately resolved the greatest crisis for Ping Niang Zi. With the help of Zhao Xiao Zhu and Zhao Liu Shun, and after many obstacles, she regained the operating rights of a tea house. She quickly drove out her husband's tea house, which had lost its source of Su Xiao Qi's roasted buckwheat tea. The shameless, unscrupulous scoundrel even had the audacity to beg her for the roasted buckwheat tea she had acquired. Ping Niang Zi refused. Consequently, the scoundrel resorted to violence, hitting her until her face was bruised and swollen, making her unable to show her face for several days…