Chapter 395: Chapter 388: I’m Just a Face-Lover 30
"Dad."
Wu Ni’er hugged Wu Ping as she cried with a sense of grievance, "It’s so nice that you’re home, Dad. Please don’t leave again, okay? If you must go, take me with you."
"Alright, Dad will take our Ni’er with him from now on."
Seeing his child crying like this, Wu Ping quickly comforted her, "I’ll take you wherever I go."
It took him a long time to finally soothe her.
Ms. Cui had borrowed some rice and flour and was busy starting a fire to cook. Wu Ping gave Wu Ni’er some medicine and let her lie down to rest for a while.
As for the trip to The Cuis, it would have to wait.
He planned to make a scene at The Cuis tomorrow.
Unbeknownst to him, after taking the medicine, Wu Ni’er couldn’t sleep at all.
She was thinking about the extremely miserable life she had led.
She remembered she had died, but before she knew it, she came back to life, and it was during the time when her father was still alive.
Wu Ni’er remembered that this was when her dad had just learned about the arranged marriage for her and found out that her mother had given all the money to her uncle. Her dad was so angry that he wanted to divorce her mother.
At that time, Wu Ni felt very scared.
She and her brother were terrified. They also heard from others that life would be even harder with a stepmother if they lost their birth mother.
Some also said that if her mother was divorced, her reputation would be ruined, and she would never be able to marry.
Moreover, her grandmother and uncle kept persuading her, so Wu Ni, along with Gousheng, begged her dad not to divorce her mom.
She knelt in front of her dad and kowtowed, while Gousheng cried and made a scene, pleading as well.
Eventually, her dad’s heart softened. He agreed not to divorce only if Ms. Cui would no longer give money to her natal family in the future, and he must make the decisions regarding the children’s marriage matters.
Her dad even called off the marriage arrangement with the Zheng family.
At that time, Wu Ni was very grateful to her dad and thought that her mother must have learned her lesson and would live a better life from then on.
She hoped that their family of four could lead a prosperous life.
But who knew that her dad would go out to do business again, and this time, he didn’t return.
Her dad probably wanted to earn more money, to save for her dowry, to find a wife for Gousheng. He went out to sea with a fleet to the West, but they encountered a storm, the ship capsized, and her dad was gone.
Once her dad died, there was no one to keep her mother in check. She started giving the family’s money to her uncle again.
Later on, her ruthless uncle and her mother, seeing her growing up to be more and more attractive, conspired to sell her.
She was made a concubine to a wealthy family.
And her brother Gousheng, raised to be a yes-man by her mother, began working for her uncle after growing up, laboring tirelessly to earn money to support her lazy uncle who had passed the Scholar examination but had not succeeded further.
In the end, Gousheng died from overwork while carrying loads in the city.
Her life in that household wasn’t easy either.
The mistress of the house was mean, treating her badly and hitting or scolding her whenever she pleased; the master was promiscuous and unfaithful, with a house full of concubines, never taking her seriously.
Later, when she became pregnant and was giving birth, the mistress schemed against her. She died along with her child—two lives gone just like that.
Thinking of how tragic her life had been, Wu Ni was full of hatred. She wished she could tear her mother and uncle to pieces.
Wu Ni clenched her fists, a dark glint flashing in her eyes.
This time, she was determined to have her dad divorce her mom. She and Gousheng would leave with their dad.
She would never let her dad go out to sea with the fleet to the West again. She had to preserve her dad’s life and ensure that she and her brother would have a good life.
As for her mother and uncle, who cared about their fate?
After thinking for a while, Wu Ni grew tired. She closed her eyes, wanting to sleep.
Just before falling asleep, she suddenly remembered something.
She remembered someone.
That was a person with immense Qi Fortune, who in the future would rise to be a First-rank official, be ennobled and appointed as the prime minister, very prestigious.
And this person was now in Qingyuan County, currently still in his days before rising to success.
Thinking of this person, she also thought of his wife.
Back then, she was in the back courtyard of a wealthy family’s home, and had also heard the mistress speak of Mr. Xiao’s deep love, great in his official rank but deeply devoted to his wife, never once taking any concubines or mistresses.
And Mrs. Xiao of the He Family was also capable, once extending her hand to help the Holy Emperor during his days of destitution and had saved many lives as well.
Anyway, the abilities of that couple were both great.
Wu Ni’er thought of these two people, and a warmth surged in her heart, could she perhaps find a way to latch onto them?
Wu Ni’er thought and thought until she fell asleep.
In the meantime, Wu Ping quietly entered the room to check on her, and only after seeing that the child was sleeping peacefully, did he feel relieved.
When evening came, Gousheng, who had been out playing all day, also returned.
After dinner, Wu Ping took Gousheng to his room to sleep, leaving Ms. Cui to sleep alone.
Ms. Cui felt wronged for a while but had no choice but to return to her room to sleep.
Xiao Family
Anning was preparing items for Xiao Yuan’s trip to Prefecture City.
Xiao Yuan was about to participate in the Prefecture Exam and needed to rent a house in Prefecture City in advance.
Anning originally wanted to accompany Xiao Yuan, but he didn’t feel at ease leaving Mrs. Xiao alone at home.
Mrs. Xiao had a gentle nature, and ever since Anning joined the family, she had handed over all household management to Anning, and Mrs. Xiao hadn’t been involved in household matters for quite some time, leaving her alone might lead to uncertainty.
Anning thought it made sense and decided not to insist on going to Prefecture City with Xiao Yuan.
However, when Xiao Yuan was about to leave, Anning still reminded him: "When you get to Prefecture City, just study quietly, don’t go out playing with others, or cause trouble. If I find out you went off to drink in a brothel again, watch me break your legs."
"I won’t go, definitely won’t."
Thinking of Young Master Zheng’s fate, Xiao Yuan didn’t dare to go drink in a brothel.
Moreover, he had already given up such thoughts.
With such a good wife at home, he could hardly manage to attend to her alone, let alone have the inclination to listen to other women sing tunes.
He grinned and leaned in to kiss Anning: "I only have you in my heart, and in this life, I’ll stick by you only, I assure you I won’t take a glance at another woman."
"Hehe."
Anning chuckled, giving Xiao Yuan a "you’d better follow through" look: "I hope you can do as you say."
Xiao Yuan promised again and again, and only then did Anning let him go.
It really wasn’t easy for Xiao Yuan to leave the house.
This guy had been pampered since childhood, never having to suffer a bit. If he were to go out, naturally he brought a lot of stuff and even took servants with him, and on top of that, he brought along a chef.
Mrs. Xiao was just worried Xiao Yuan wouldn’t be able to adapt to the food outside and suffer.
When Anning sent him off at the door and saw two chefs among the entourage, she reminded Xiao Yuan again: "Since you’re taking a chef with you, eat the meals prepared by your own chef, don’t go eating out. Also, don’t eat anything given by others, got it?"
If others spoke, Xiao Yuan probably wouldn’t take it to heart.
But he listened to every word Anning said.
He nodded vigorously: "Got it, don’t eat outsiders’ food, can’t eat anything given by others, I’ll just eat what we brought from home."
Anning then smiled and let him go.
No sooner had Xiao Yuan left, Wang Chunhua arrived.
This girl was also bored at home and came to Anning to have a breath of fresh air.
As soon as she arrived, she complained to Anning: "How could I have been so blind to choose such a man, his looks are one thing to forget, but he truly is a Mama’s boy, whatever his mother says goes, even if it’s wrong he listens, if I say a word, he tells me to accommodate his mother, says it’s not easy for her, says I should be filial. Why should I accommodate her? I was raised precious and cherished at home; I’ve never even given way to my own mother, why should I yield to someone else’s mother."