Seeing that she couldn’t carry the cleaver openly without being noticed, Wonton Beauty put it into a nearby basket.
When she approached Yu Hua and her companions, Yu Hua stood up. “Sister Wonton Beauty, where are you going? We haven’t finished yet!”
“This young lady does not know. My husband is preparing for the exams, and at this hour every day, I bring him food. It’s that time now,” she explained.
Yu Hua looked concerned. “If you leave, what about your stall? What if someone comes for wontons?”
“It’s late; no one will come. The stall is here, and no one will touch it. People in the capital are generally honest,” Wonton Beauty replied.
“Amazing… after everything she’s been through, she still keeps such a kind heart. Truly rare,” Yu Hua thought.
“But we haven’t finished, how do we pay you?”
“Looking at your fine clothes, I see you are from a wealthy family. A few copper coins will do; just leave them on the table,” she said, and hurried off with her basket.
“Host, what’s this gossip now?” the system asked.
“This is a continuation of the previous one—follow her! She’s going to deliver food to Ma Tianxiang. It’s a full-scale live scandal!”
“Of course I want to see! I can’t miss this live broadcast!” Yu Hua said, getting up. “Dujuan, pay for the food.”
Huamei and Dujuan followed sneakily, knowing their mistress never let curiosity go unattended. Dujuan left a few coins on the table as instructed.
Wonton Beauty arrived at the house opposite Ma Tianxiang’s, spotting a scholar pacing nervously in the courtyard. It was Lu Feiyue, Tianxiang’s close friend and study companion.
“Lu Gongzi, what are you doing here? Is my husband inside?” she asked.
Lu Feiyue’s face paled. “Sister-in-law, what brings you here?”
“I’ve come to deliver food. Isn’t it study time? Why are you alone outside?”
“I… I just needed some air,” Lu Feiyue stammered, nervous.
Wonton Beauty didn’t expose him. “Very well, I won’t disturb you then,” and proceeded toward the room.
“Wait, sister-in-law!”
She paused. “What is it?”
“Tianxiang said he’s not hungry today, so no need to bring food.”
“Even if not hungry, he must eat something. Health comes first,” she insisted and entered the house.
Inside, Ma Tianxiang was caught in an affair with his concubine. Hearing the noise, they scrambled to put on clothes, but there wasn’t enough time to restore the room.
Chaos ensued: the concubine slipped off the bed in panic.
“Ma Tianxiang! What are you doing?” Wonton Beauty exclaimed.
“It’s a misunderstanding!” he tried to explain.
“Misunderstanding? On the bed?”
“Please forgive me… it was a moment of impulse,” he mumbled.
“Impulse? Straight to the bed, huh?”
Unable to continue the charade, Ma Tianxiang snapped at the concubine, “Wen Yingying, look at yourself! Just a plain cook, and I’m sick of you.”
“Ma Tianxiang, everything you use—food, clothes, even ink and brushes—comes from the money I earned selling wontons. And now you despise me?”
Yu Hua, ever eager for drama, couldn’t resist. “Watching alone is boring. Let’s get some spectators!”
She shouted outside, “Hey! Everyone, come see what’s happening here!”
Curious passersby quickly gathered in the courtyard.
One man scoffed, “Isn’t this a classic phoenix man? Using others’ money and still complaining.”
An older woman chimed in, “Exactly! If you’re so dissatisfied, why don’t you return what you’ve taken?”
Ma Tianxiang, concerned about his reputation, became furious and slapped Wen Yingying. Blood appeared at her mouth.
“I humiliated myself by severing ties with my family for you, thinking I married a good man. But you’re heartless and cruel,” she said, pulling out the cleaver from her basket and striking at him.
Ma Tianxiang froze, stunned, as the blade struck him. The crowd gasped, moving back to avoid harm.
He felt the pain, saw the blood, and trembled in fear.
At that moment, his mother entered with his young son. “What happened?”
The boy, about five, cried, “Daddy! Why are you bleeding?”
Ma Tianxiang’s mother was speechless.
“Everyone knew, yet hid it from me. You used my money for this?” Wen Yingying demanded.
“And what if we did? You only know how to sell wontons,” Ma Tianxiang’s mother retorted.
“I kept you fed, or you’d have starved,” Wen Yingying snapped.
A nearby scholar muttered indignantly, “Such behavior disgraces us scholars!”
Wen Yingying declared, “Witnesses, I want a divorce! Who can lend me paper and ink?”
A scholar immediately offered his supplies. “This family should be dragged through the streets for shame!”