Lu Guizhou clasped his hands and said, “We can continue negotiating with that mother and son. We can offer them more compensation. In any case, I will do everything in my power to have that marriage contract annulled.”
Su Lin spoke urgently, “That mother and son are insatiable. If we give in today, they will demand more tomorrow. Are we, the Lu Family, supposed to support these two wolves for the rest of their lives?”
Then, with a shift in her expression, she added, “The marriage contract states that a son of the Tu family can marry a daughter of the Lu Family, but it doesn’t specify which daughter.”
Her gaze swept across the room and settled on the Lu Family’s fourth daughter, Lu Zhiyu. “Zhiyu is also a daughter of the Lu Family. At worst, we can just have Zhiyu marry into that farming household.”
Lu Guizhou glared angrily. “How can that be? Zhiyu hasn’t even come of age yet.”
Eager to win favor with her mother-in-law, Su Lin quickly replied, “Sister Zhiyu is only a year away from coming of age. Besides, as a concubine-born daughter, why can’t she marry?”
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone’s eyes turned to Su Lin.
Among the Lu Family’s younger generation, only Lu Guizhou and Lu Jiayu were legitimate children, while Lu Changyu and Lu Zhiyu were concubine-born daughters.
Concubine Lü, who had given birth to Lu Zhiyu, glared at Su Lin with venomous hatred.
Su Lin’s words had doomed her own daughter’s future. She wished she could pounce on Su Lin and tear a piece of flesh from her face.
Su Wan had also thought of this solution, but she kept it to herself because, no matter who married into that family, it would be an unbearable outcome.
Su Lin spoke without hesitation because, deep down, she had never regarded those concubine-born children as equals.
Madam Zhou seized the opportunity, firmly insisting that Lu Jiayu must not marry into that family.
To protect the family’s reputation, the Lu Family actually went ahead and married Lu Zhiyu off. Moreover, through Madam Zhou’s maneuvering, the Lu Family even gained a reputation for keeping their promises.
Su Wan felt deeply unsettled.
That mother and son were clearly vicious and difficult to deal with.
Lu Zhiyu cried until she was drenched in tears, but all she received in return was a larger dowry.
On the day of the wedding, the weather was uncooperative, and it rained.
Su Wan brought Lu Jiayu to see Zhiyu off.
Jiayu was too ashamed to look at her sister. Su Wan dismissed the maids and elderly servants from the room, took Zhiyu’s hand, and spoke to her.
“As the saying goes, everyone has their own fate. Who we are born to is predetermined by heaven, and we cannot change that.
But once we leave our mother’s womb, how we live and what we make of our lives depends on our own abilities.
Don’t resent Jiayu. She is also heartbroken and wishes she could take your place, but what’s done is done. For now, you have no choice but to endure this hardship.”
Zhiyu’s eyes were vacant, as if she had heard but not truly listened.
Su Wan continued, “I’ll teach you a few methods to protect yourself. It all depends on how ruthless you can be.”
“First, after you marry, bring strong and capable maids with you. Guard your dowry carefully. Flatter him and promise to build him a house and buy fertile land, persuading him not to touch you for the time being.
Second, immediately arrange for someone to find a few skilled women from a brothel or the pleasure quarters, redeem them, and help your husband take them as concubines. Push him into their rooms day and night.
Third, if you truly find him repulsive, prepare plenty of nourishing tonics for him. Let him indulge in pleasure day and night. Within two or three years, he won’t be able to hold on.”
Only then did a glimmer of light appear in Zhiyu’s eyes. She grasped Su Wan’s hand tightly.
“Thank you, Sister Wan, for the advice.”Outside the room, Aunt Lü, who had come to see the bride off, heard this and silently wiped her tears. When Su Wan and Jiayu came out, she hid to the side.
“Alright, I’ve already given Zhiyu a plan. If she has the will, she won’t be bullied.”
Su Wan coaxed Lu Jiayu, “If one doesn’t look out for oneself, heaven and earth will condemn them. As humans, our nature is selfish. I know you feel guilty, but if you were truly asked to marry, would you be willing?”
Lu Jiayu shook her head, “Of course not.”
After coaxing Lu Jiayu away, Su Wan’s expression darkened.
Jin Tao exclaimed, “Miss Zhiyu is so pitiful. Even if she outlives her husband after marrying, she’ll still end up a widow.”
Su Wan sneered, “Actually, this matter is just a trivial one. Originally, the Lu Family didn’t need to marry off a daughter—they could have openly broken off the engagement and let others talk.
But the Lu Family, as a middling official household, is especially concerned with reputation, afraid others will slander them. Yet behind closed doors, people might be laughing at the Lu Family for selling their daughter to seek fame.”
This incident also left Su Wan with an extremely poor impression of the Lu Family.
She couldn’t help but feel relieved that it wasn’t her who had married into the Lu Family back then.
Although the Lu Family was an official household, they were too eager to climb higher, yet lacked sufficient power. If this had happened in the Chen Family, the mother and son would have been silenced the moment they appeared, without causing a single ripple.
Can Yan came in from outside and said, “Miss, the Hangzhou silk we got from the Eldest Young Lady last time—I’ve had it made into clothes by a tailor. Three sets in total.
I went to a tailor shop at Daqianmen. It’s still early today, so why don’t we go try them on? If the size isn’t right, we can ask the tailor to make adjustments.”
Su Wan stood up and gave Jin Tao a meaningful look, “Let’s go, the three of us can go out for a stroll. Since we arrived in Shangjing City, the three of us haven’t properly explored yet.”
Jin Tao agreed and said she would inform Granny Zhao, the gatekeeper.
After greeting Granny Zhao, the three of them headed to Daqianmen.
Although the tailor shop was small, the tailor’s craftsmanship was truly excellent.
Two of the dresses had particularly narrow and slender waists, accentuating the figure and hips beautifully.
As soon as Su Wan tried one on, the old tailor grinned.
“With Miss wearing this, our little shop feels brighter.”
The remaining dress had a hem that was a bit too long, dragging on the ground. Since floor-length skirts were difficult to clean, Su Wan asked the tailor to shorten it, preferably to reveal her feet.
The tailor agreed.
Jin Tao happily carried the two dresses, walking ahead and pointing to a shop selling crispy baked cakes.
“Those cakes smell so delicious. Miss, you must be hungry, right? I’ll buy five.”
“You’re the one who wants to eat them, yet you’re putting it on me.”
Su Wan said with a smile, “Buy fewer. I’ll only eat half.”
The cakes were high in calories, and eating too much would make her gain weight. Half was already indulgent enough.
While Jin Tao was buying the cakes, Su Wan pulled Can Yan into a small shop selling tofu pudding and ordered three bowls.
As they were quietly eating, she suddenly heard someone call her.
“Wan Niang.”
Turning her head, she saw it was Liang Chen, who had disappeared for several days.
This fellow was holding a folding fan, with a servant following behind him carrying oil-paper-wrapped baked cakes.
“What a coincidence, running into you here.”Liang Chen pointed to the pancake in his servant’s hand and said, “I went back to Jinling a few days ago and brought my Mother back with me.
The pancakes here are authentic in flavor. My Mother used to love them, so she specifically asked me to buy a few for her to satisfy her craving.”
Seeing Liang Chen again, Su Wan felt conflicted inside.
This guy was rich and handsome, making it a bit difficult for her to let go completely.
Holding onto the idea that casting a wide net is the way to catch a big fish, Su Wan gave him a slight smile.
“Mr. Liang, it’s been a while. Did you travel back to Jinling by boat or by carriage?”
With the topic thrown out, Liang Chen picked it up, and the two of them began chatting like that.