Guan Xiyue had already made inquiries and learned that this era did allow women to establish their own households. Usually, however, these were widows with sons or women whose families had no male heirs. Most of them inherited property from their husbands or parents, so even without a steady income, they could still survive.
Thus, Yang Lizheng’s first reaction upon hearing her request was disbelief. Guan Xiyue was a divorced young woman. If she established a household on her own and had no property or means of support, how would she live?
But seeing how determined she was, he guessed that the Zhou family must have given her a sum of money for her livelihood, and that she simply did not want to share it with the Guan family. That was why she had rushed over to apply for her own household registration.
If that were the case, it would be troublesome. If Old Master Guan later blamed him, he might not be afraid as the village headman, but he would certainly find it annoying.
Guan Xiyue naturally knew what he was thinking and casually explained,
“I didn’t receive so much as a needle or a thread when I left the Zhou family. Uncle Yang, I understand your concerns. You’re worried that my grandfather and father will blame you. How about this—you come with me to my family’s house and see their attitude for yourself.”
Yang Lizheng thought that was an excellent idea. A smooth and tactful man by nature, he preferred handling matters in a way that satisfied everyone—avoiding trouble while perhaps gaining a little benefit for himself.
When the villagers saw Yang Lizheng and his wife walking down the road with a young woman dressed in bright red, they all came out to watch the excitement.
After a while, they realized that the woman was Guan Xiyue, the girl from the Guan family who had married into the wealthy Zhou family as a concubine.
Like Madam Li, everyone shared the same thought.
It had only been a little over twenty days since they had last seen her, but the change in her was astonishing.
When Guan Xiyue’s group arrived at Old Master Guan’s home, the real drama began.
Tears appeared in Guan Xiyue’s eyes instantly. She walked straight up to the stunned old man and cried,
“Grandfather, the Zhou family are monsters! I successfully brought Young Master Zhou back to health through the wedding blessing, but now they’re saying I’m not even worth the twenty taels they paid. They want me to take ten taels back to my family. Otherwise, they’ll divorce me!”
The crowd exploded in uproar.
What kind of shocking scandal was this?
Wealthy families really were heartless!
Before Old Master Guan could speak, Grandmother Wang snapped angrily,
“What kind of nonsense is this? Since when do people take back a bride price? You’re already a member of their family and have nothing to do with ours anymore. Even if they divorce you, you’re not part of this family.”
What a joke.
Those twenty taels of silver were the elderly couple’s savings for their funeral expenses. Besides, there were many mouths to feed in the family, and they were still hoping their youngest son would pass the imperial examinations and marry a government official’s daughter. How could they allow this little wretch to take the money back?
Reasonably, Guan Xiyue replied,
“I know there is no tradition of returning a bride price. But if I don’t get the money, life in the Zhou family will be difficult. You don’t know what it’s like. They may be wealthy, but I can barely get enough to eat. Besides, once I establish my position in the Zhou family, won’t I naturally help support my natal family?”
Seeing her daughter so transformed, Zhang Shi first felt delighted, then heartbroken.
After all, this was the flesh she had carried and given birth to.
Timidly, she pleaded with her mother-in-law,
“Mother, Xiyue has a point. Why don’t we let her take the ten taels this time? Surely she’ll repay the family in the future.”
Immediately, First Aunt Zhao cut in,
“She’s only a concubine. Third Sister-in-law, have you lost your mind? If that money leaves, it’ll be like throwing meat buns at a dog—gone forever. Honestly, if even twenty taels makes them think she’s not worth it, Xiyue, you really were born unlucky.”
Guan Xiyue swept her gaze across the room.
Every member of the Guan family looked wary, afraid she might actually take the money away.
Her father, Guan Heping—known as Third Guan—was an honest and timid man. He rubbed his hands together, his lips trembling, yet not a single word came out.
As for her younger brother and sister, they were still children and had never been particularly close to her. Now that she had come home asking for money, they looked displeased as well.
Life in the family had only just begun to improve.
Guan Hejin, the eldest uncle, frowned and scolded her.
“Xiyue, you’re a grown woman now. How can you let your husband’s family manipulate you into coming back and causing trouble? The Zhou family is so wealthy—why would they care about ten or twenty taels?”
At last, Old Master Guan spoke with authority.
“As the saying goes, ‘A married daughter is like water that’s been spilled.’ How can you help your husband’s family cause trouble for your natal family? To us, you are already spilled water. Whether you live in wealth or poverty, your life is your own affair and has nothing to do with this family.”
Those words, at least, were honest.
In every era, there were many people who thought this way.
Even in modern times, plenty of daughters receive little help from their families after marriage if their lives become difficult.
And if a daughter divorces and returns home, her relatives often resent the embarrassment and the extra mouth to feed.
That was why people said:
A girl has no home once she grows up.
But Guan Xiyue wanted to solve the problem once and for all.
The reason she had staged this entire scene was to secure permission to establish her own household. If she could sever ties with the Guan family entirely, even better. After all, she felt no emotional attachment to them.
Seeing that Old Master Guan had made his position clear, she added fuel to the fire.
“If you all consider me spilled water, then when the Zhou family divorces me and I establish my own household, I will never come begging before you. And if one day I become wealthy and successful, remember the words you’ve spoken today.”
First Aunt Zhao sneered.
“If you ever become rich and successful, every member of the Guan family will walk the long way around you. None of us will come bothering you.”
Her cousin Guan Maidong smirked maliciously.
“I thought you’d gone off to become some noble lady. How did you end up looking so pathetic?”
Guan Xiyue paid no attention.
She knew the matter was settled.
The problem—and the future trouble that might come with it—had both been resolved.
Holding her head high, she strode out of the old Guan family courtyard.
Zhang Shi hurried after her and whispered,
“Girl, you must take good care of yourself in the Zhou family. Don’t be stubborn. Learn how to please your husband and mother-in-law. Otherwise, how can I stop worrying about you?”
Tears streamed down Zhang Shi’s face.
Guan Xiyue’s heart softened.
Though this wasn’t her biological mother, she was still a mother, and she genuinely loved the original owner of this body.
In such a poor extended family, Zhang Shi worked day and night until her face was sallow and her body thin. She had watched her daughter become a concubine and then watched her suffer, yet what could she possibly do?
Quietly, Guan Xiyue slipped a handkerchief into Zhang Shi’s hand.
“Mother, don’t worry about me. You should learn to take it easy sometimes too. From what I can see, First Aunt and Second Aunt don’t work nearly as hard as you do.”
Wrapped inside the handkerchief were twenty copper coins.
From the feel alone, Zhang Shi immediately knew what it was.
She tried to refuse, but Guan Xiyue gripped her hand firmly.
“Don’t let anyone see it. You never have a single coin of your own. Keep it and use it when you need it.”
Even after Guan Xiyue and Yang Lizheng had disappeared into the distance, Zhang Shi remained standing by the roadside, crying.
Her daughter had once been clumsy, reckless, and quick-tempered. She would argue with her grandparents for the sake of their branch of the family, but she was never particularly thoughtful and was often lazy and greedy at home.
Now she had suddenly grown up.
She had married, suffered hardship, and yet still thought of giving money to her mother.
How could that not break Zhang Shi’s heart?
Watching her wipe away tears, Zhao Shi curled her lips in disdain.
“What’s there to cry about? Realizing that daughter can’t be relied upon anymore? You raise a daughter, she becomes a concubine, and instead of supporting her natal family, she comes back demanding money.”
For perhaps the first time in her life, Zhang Shi talked back.
“Sister-in-law, you’re a mother too. Doesn’t saying such things weigh on your conscience?”
With tears still flowing, she turned and walked into her room, leaving Zhao Shi and Guan Maidong staring at each other in surprise.