Chapter 385: Chapter 378: I’m Just a Face-Lover 20
Why did Anning remind Xiao Susu with those words?
Because Anning really found such an incident from the memory of her previous self.
At that time, Anning was already a wife of the Yue Family, but because of Xu Bao’er and her lingering thoughts about Xiao Yuan, she paid close attention to many matters of the Xiao Family.
She often had people go out to inquire about things.
Later on, she learned that Xiao Susu’s sister-in-law had passed away and was quite shocked at the time.
How could a perfectly healthy young person just die?
Moreover, at that time, The Wus were unwilling to speak about how Wu Erniang died, and her funeral was hastily handled.
Not long after Wu Erniang died, her husband also passed away.
Later, her previous self didn’t pay much attention, only after about half a year, a deceased relative of the Zheng family filed a lawsuit accusing the Zheng family of causing death.
At that time, Anning learned how Wu Erniang died.
It was because her husband had transmitted a venereal disease to her, she, out of shame, committed suicide.
She was dead, but the Zheng family, for the sake of saving face, actually told others that the disease was contracted by Wu Erniang, claiming Wu Erniang was unfaithful, who knows with whom she had illicit relations.
This matter infuriated the Xiao Family and disgusted them greatly.
Now that Anning recalled this matter, and thinking that it was really a pity for Wu Erniang, she took the opportunity to remind Xiao Susu, thinking that if it was timely, she might still save Wu Erniang’s life.
Meanwhile, on The Wus’ side, Mrs. Wu had someone go to the Zheng family and directly told the Zheng family’s head that Mrs. Wu was sick and wanted to see Wu Erniang, asking to bring Wu Erniang back home to stay for a few days.
The Zheng family, thinking that Mrs. Wu was seriously ill, quickly had Wu Erniang pack her belongings to return.
All the way, Wu Erniang was frightfully nervous, also believing her mother was indeed seriously ill.
However, when she returned home and saw Mrs. Wu lively and bouncing around, not looking ill at all, she then felt relieved.
"Mom, why did you ask me to come back?"
Mrs. Wu quickly sent the servant girls out, pulling Wu Erniang into the inner chamber.
With just the two of them in the room, Mrs. Wu asked Wu Erniang: "Does your son-in-law still go out to drink and visit teahouses?"
Wu Erniang nodded: "I can’t manage him; when I say a few words, my mother-in-law accuses me of being meddlesome. Which man doesn’t cheat?"
"Huh," Mrs. Wu, disgusted just thinking about Zheng family’s mess, couldn’t help but sneer: "How could there not be, your uncle from the He Family, your uncle from the Xiao Family, aren’t they all quite decent? Why doesn’t your mother-in-law make that comparison? I said from the start the Zheng family was no good, but your father wouldn’t listen."
"Let’s not talk about this anymore."
Wu Erniang now didn’t even want to mention it.
But Mrs. Wu kept pulling her and said: "No, we can’t let this go so easily. Do you know, your sister-in-law came back and told me that a girl in the brothel was diagnosed with a venereal disease, your son-in-law goes there all the time, he might have contracted it too, you must not let him touch you again, and also..."
Mrs. Wu thought for a moment then whispered a few more words to Wu Erniang.
Wu Erniang listened intently and nodded: "All right, let’s go with that."
She stayed at The Wus’ for several days, and only when the Zheng family sent someone to fetch her, did Wu Erniang return.
After returning, she administered the medicine Mrs. Wu gave her into her husband’s food and drink.
That night, her husband developed a fever.
Wu Erniang quickly called for a doctor.
This doctor had been arranged by The Wus ahead of time, and the servant girl who went to fetch the doctor was also a servant girl from Wu Erniang’s dowry. She circled back bringing the doctor.
The doctor checked her husband’s pulse and prescribed some medicine, saying he was probably over fatigued and needed more rest.
As to how he became fatigued, everyone understood clearly, Wu Erniang couldn’t help but smirk.
After sending off the doctor.
Wu Erniang’s main servant girl came back and whispered in her ear: "The doctor said it’s that kind of disease."
Wu Erniang was so scared that she turned pale.
She thought carefully; recently she had been frequently advising her husband, who became very impatient with her, often is spending time in the concubines’ rooms, and had never slept in her room at all, which put her mind at ease.
Even so, Wu Erniang was still unwilling to take care of her husband; she was afraid of catching the disease.
She made an excuse, saying she needed to go out to pray and ask the Bodhisattva to bless her family, taking her servant girls to the temple.
At the temple, she had a young servant girl send a letter to the Wus.
After finishing her prayers, Wu Erniang did not return to the Zheng family but was instead picked up by someone from the Wus and brought back to her parents’ home.
Mrs. Wu, after finding out that Young Master Zheng truly had contracted the disease, was both relieved and disgusted with the Zheng family.
She held Xiao Susu’s hand, continuously thanking her: "Susu, I owe it all to you. If you hadn’t come back and told me, I would never have thought of it. If it really turned out that way, Erniang might have... who knows what would have happened to her, and the Zheng family would still blame us. The Zheng family is really unscrupulous in their actions."
Xiao Susu bowed her head and smiled lightly: "We also have to thank my sister-in-law; if it wasn’t for her reminder, I wouldn’t have known either."
"It should be, it should be."
Mrs. Wu quickly prepared gifts to be sent to the Xiao home.
Anning, upon seeing the gifts from the Wus, understood clearly that Young Master Zheng must have been diagnosed with that disease.
She discussed the matter with Mrs. Xiao, who was also frightened and pale: "It’s good that we knew about this beforehand. If we hadn’t known, and if something had happened to Erniang, it would not have been peaceful. Who knows how people would talk, even your sister might have been dragged into this."
She then recalled Xiao Yuan previously also liked to indulge in pleasure-seeking and furiously said: "From now on, you must keep a close eye on Yuanyuan, don’t let him fool around outside anymore."
Anning replied with a smile: "Husband actually knows what he’s doing. Although he went to those pleasure houses, he didn’t stay overnight; he was just listening to songs and drinking some wine. Later, when he realized there was something wrong with the food and drinks in those places, he even stopped drinking."
Mrs. Xiao finally felt relieved.
After the Wus had sent their thank-you gifts, Anning made a trip to the Wus.
It was mainly because they had sent the thank-you gifts so suddenly, it seemed improper not to visit and check.
Coincidentally, when Anning was visiting, someone from the Zheng family came to pick up Wu Erniang. Their words hinted that the Wus were being unreasonable; Young Master Zheng was sick, bedridden and needed someone to care for him, but the Wus took Wu Erniang back to her parental home and even prevented her from returning. That was not right.
Mrs. Wu was almost infuriated to death.
The Wus, being gentle and not good at arguing, and even Xiao Susu was of a good temper and could not argue back, allowed the steward from the Zheng family to make a scene at the Wus’.
Upon entering, Anning heard the quarrel and couldn’t help but smile: "What’s going on? Why the quarrel? I’ve never seen a steward go to their mother-in-law’s house to make a scene before; the Zheng family really understands propriety."
When Xiao Susu saw Anning arrive, it was as if she had found her backbone.
She grabbed Anning and whispered, "They’ve been arguing for a while. My head is hurting from listening, and I don’t know how to respond."
Anning patted Xiao Susu’s hand, then asked Mrs. Wu, "Auntie, what do you think? Is Erniang done with her husband’s family? If it’s over, it’s better to divorce sooner rather than later."
Mrs. Wu dared not let Wu Erniang return to the Zheng family.
That would be like sending a lamb into a tiger’s mouth.
Wu Erniang also did not want to return.
She held Mrs. Wu’s hand tightly: "Mother, I’m not going back. I... I want a divorce."
Uttering the words ’divorce’ took all of Wu Erniang’s strength.
Even though she was a fairly gentle and kind girl, she was unwilling to risk her life for someone not worth it, possibly facing a disgraceful death.
If Young Master Zheng had died from an accident or something, Wu Erniang might have lived as a widow for the rest of her life without complaint. But now, since Young Master Zheng contracted the unspeakable disease because of his promiscuity, Wu Erniang despised him too much to still care about him.
Mrs. Wu whispered: "It’s over, we are done, we must get a divorce."