Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 328 - 327: All Settled

Chapter 328: Chapter 327: All Settled

Junior Officer He pointed at Granny Wu, who was sitting on the ground and crying bitterly, and said to the few women who had gathered to watch, "Take her back to the Wu household. These people are humiliating themselves."

Wang Cheng and Mrs. Li, along with two guards, followed Junior Officer He to the Wu household. Trailing behind them was a crowd of villagers drawn out by all the commotion. Wang Xiaodi, also worried about his father, hurried along with them.

Finally, the outside subsided.

Chen Afu watched everything from the window. The Wus were like leeches, hoping Mrs. Wu would support them forever. Even if that nine taels of silver were paid off, they would find another excuse to make their demands. Granny Wu was even worse than Mrs. Ding, while the latter abused her stepsons, the former was treating her own daughter cruelly.

Seeing the devastated Mrs. Wu, Chen Afu consoled her. "Don’t cry auntie, as Dr. Huang said, you should refrain from crying and not strain your eyes."

Mrs. Wu sobbed, "I’m not afraid of being a laughing stock, Afu. When I was a girl, my parents never wanted me to marry. They wanted me to live a celibate life. They told me to continue my grandmother’s embroidery tradition, and so I remain entrapped within the Wu household even in death. I beseech my husband during my eighteenth year. I wanted to leave my parents who disagreed, I scared them by attempting suicide before they reluctantly agreed to my dowry of a hundred taels of silver..."

Mrs. Wu’s grandmother used to be a maid in a wealthy household. She was an excellent embroiderer but somehow offended the lady master and had her wrist broken and was sold to Mrs. Wu’s grandfather.

Mrs. Wu’s grandfather was hunchbacked and known as Camel Wu. He was in his thirties and had not yet married. When he was unexpectedly bestowed with a wife who looked like a fairy, he could hardly contain his joy. Despite using force against her on their wedding night, he adored her thereafter. He also watched over her so she wouldn’t commit suicide, and after a month, she became pregnant. Feeling hopeful due to the baby, Mrs. Wu’s grandmother gave up her suicidal thoughts and started a life with Camel Wu.

Their son was Mrs. Wu’s father, who was spoiled and grew up lazy. When her father married and his wife turned out to be lazy as well, they relied on his old father to farm the land and his mother to make a living from her embroidery.

Mrs. Wu’s grandmother suffered a handicapped wrist which made her less dexterous. The embroidery she produced was sold to minor embroidery workshops for small amounts of money. When Mrs. Wu turned five, her grandmother taught her embroidery. Mrs. Wu was very smart and not only learned her grandmother’s skills but also grew them further.

When Mrs. Wu was twelve, both her grandparents passed away. Also, her parents had three more sons, placing the burden of sustaining the whole family squarely on Mrs. Wu’s shoulders.

When she turned fourteen, her embroidery work started to sell at Shui Linglong, the retail business became affluent, leading to prosperity for their family. Mrs. Wu became known for her competence and bachelor men from various villages tried to ask for her hand in marriage.

Her parents didn’t want to see their daughter marry, as they relied heavily on her financial contributions. As she grew older, they thought of forcing her into a celibate life. Mrs. Wu, aware of her parents’ selfish motives, started secretly hunting for a suitable partner while refusing to remain celibate.

On her way back home from visiting her grandparents’ grave, she was harassed by a vagabond. Wang Cheng happened to pass by and rescued her. Mrs. Wu found Wang Cheng to be honest, kind, and a military veteran despite being disabled. Ignoring his disability and age, she confessed her feelings...

As Chen Afu listened to her tale, she sighed deeply at the countless tragic lives of women in this dreadful feudal society.

However, Mrs. Wu was not only skilled but also very wise. She didn’t succumb to her parents’ tyranny and ultimately managed to marry. She was far more intelligent than her unsuspecting uncle, and with her as a virtuous wife coupled with a little help from himself, the welfare of her uncle’s family should improve.

Although he could help them temporarily, he couldn’t cater to them forever.

Initially, Chen Afu planned to advise his uncle’s family to prepare for a journey to Tong County the day after tomorrow. Given the current situation, he decided to take them back to the Capital City this afternoon. There were a few vacant courtyards in the Marquis’ Mansion, where they could reside for a couple of days.

He discussed his plan with Mrs. Wu.

Mrs. Wu sighed with relief and joyously said, "That’s great! My husband can finally reunite with his sister, and I can finally escape from them..." She then worriedly continued, "My father is even harder to deal with than my mother, will we be able to settle the debt?"

Chen Afu laughed and replied, "Don’t worry, auntie. We will surely settle it."

If people from the Marquis Mansion couldn’t handle even a few hoodlums, then they might as well knock their heads against a block of tofu. Furthermore, they were rightfully due the payment.

Dr. Huang approached from another room and mentioned that the prescription was ready. He also gave Mrs. Wu some dietary advice and other precautionary instructions for her health.

Having thanked Dr. Huang and compensating him for his services, Chen Afu handed over an additional two taels of silver. He then instructed Yu Zhuo to accompany the old doctor to Hui Chun Tang to collect the medicine, and then to the Dental Clinic to buy a maid. Since his uncle’s family was physically weak, they needed the assistance of a servant.

The aroma of the meat from the pot was highly tempting, making Wang Xiaomei salivate.

Chen Afu was reminded of Dabao who two years ago, was seen licking his lips as he was overwhelmed by his greed. She got up and took Wang Xiaomei to the kitchen. The tofu, pig liver, and pork from the pot were ready to be served. She asked the cook to dish out a small bowl of it.

She handed the small bowl to Wang Xiaomei and chuckled, "Eat."

Wang Xiaomei’s eyes gleamed as she cheerfully said, "Thank you, cousin." She took the bowl to the east room and said to Mrs. Wu, "Mummy, eat meat, there’s so much."

Mrs. Wu laughingly replied, "Mummy isn’t eating, Xiaomei, you eat."

After feeding Mrs. Wu a few bites of meat, Wang Xiaomei started eating from the little bowl herself.

After about half an hour, an overly delighted Wang Cheng, Mrs. Li, and a few others returned.

Mrs. Wu anxiously asked, "Have they finally agreed?"

Wang Cheng nodded and smilingly reassured, "My dear, we have finally settled everything with your parents. We don’t owe them a single cent and you no longer have to do embroidery work."

Tears of joy once again welled up in Mrs. Wu’s eyes upon hearing this.

Mrs. Li whispered the sequence of events. Apparently, Granny Wu was more trouble than they had anticipated. Even though Junior Officer He was present there, he still created quite a scene – wailing and accusing his daughter of profiting only for her husband’s family while disregarding her own. Only when the two guards promised to take him to the County for violating Dashun laws, threatening him with a beating and imprisonment, did the old man get scared and hand over the debt contract...

Chen Afu then shared her idea with Wang Cheng.

Wang Cheng agreed to her plan. He also realized that as soon as Chen Afu and her family left, Old Wu would definitely create trouble again. Though he could handle it, he feared Mrs. Wu may not.

They all decided since this was their last meal in this house, it would only be fitting to invite Junior Officer He and those who had helped them for the feast. Chen Afu sent someone to bring food from Wang Cheng’s house that would last for two days. It was enough for a few tables.

They didn’t plan to keep the small courtyard. If left behind, the shameless Wus would take over. They decided to ask Junior Officer He to sell it, and some guards could collect the money later.

Having settled this, Wang Cheng and Wang Xiaodi went out to extend invitations, and the maids started busying themselves once again.