"Why are you still here? Iāve already returned your belongings, what else do you want?" Shen Qiu thought Yang Chuxia had left, but to her surprise, the person was still there. She wouldnāt have spoken like this if she knew.
"Shameless, shut your mouth! As long as Iām around, you can forget about being with that Zhang fellow." Old Uncle Shen became angrier as he thought about it; that Zhang family still had a wife, yet heās fooling around with his daughter, what good can come of that?
"Get out, get out of here!"
"Dad, how can you be like this?" Shen Qiu was furious; she had broken off her engagement with Yang Dayong and if she couldnāt marry into the Zhang family, would she really have to die an old maid at home?
"Qiuāer, letās go!" The Zhang familyās young master, having been beaten by Old Uncle Shen, was thoroughly provoked. They didnāt want him with Shen Qiu? Well, he was going to take Shen Qiu home with him, letās see what this old man can do about it. "Qiuāer, come home with me, Iāll marry you. Our Zhang family has plenty of silver; once youāre home with me, Iāll buy you anything you want."
"Are you serious?" Shen Qiu was weighing her options. If she stayed home, her father would certainly force her to break ties with the Young Master Zhang, and he might even take her to her brotherās post, which she wanted to avoid at all costs.
The wife her brother had recently married was quite formidable, always looking at her with disapproval. If she went there, wouldnāt she be bullied by her sister-in-law?
Regarding Yang Dayong, it seemed hopeless now, so she had to secure her place with the Zhang family; otherwise, wouldnāt all her efforts be for naught?
"Of course, itās true. Donāt you know? That sickly person at home is going to die sooner or later, and then you will be the principal one." Actually, Young Master Zhang had wanted Shen Qiu to be his concubine for years now, but back then his wife was healthy and also a formidable woman. Shen Qiu was unwilling to be the lesser, so he had let it be.
But now things were looking up, with his wife at home close to death, it was time to marry someone who suited his tastes, and Shen Qiu was much more beautiful than his wife at home.
"Alright, Iāll go with you!"
Saying this, Shen Qiu took the Zhang familyās young master and walked outside.
"If you dare to walk out that door today, Iāll disown you as my daughter!" Old Uncle Shen roared at the backs of the departing pair.
But Shen Qiu didnāt even look back once.
As she passed Yang Chuxia, she glared at her several times, as if looking at an enemy of several lifetimes.
"What sins have I committed!!" After Shen Qiu left, Uncle Bo dropped the rope from his hands, seeming to age several years in that moment.
After bidding farewell to the Shen family, Yang Chuxia and Yang Qingtong returned to Yangshu Village.
On the way, Yang Qingtong said, "Old Uncle Shen is quite pitiable."
"Itās not Old Uncle Shen who is pitiable, but Shen Qiu who is hateful. She is just greedy for vanity and loves to compete," Yang Chuxia paused before adding, "Just you wait and see. Now that sheās going back home with that Young Master Zhang, you can only imagine the uproar at the Zhang residence. I heard that Young Madam Zhang is seriously ill; with their carrying on like this, she might even die of anger."
At that moment, Yang Chuxia spoke without much thought, not anticipating that her words would become prophetic. Less than three days after Shen Qiu and Young Master Zhang returned to the Zhang household, news erupted that Young Madam Zhang had died.
"Sister, have you heard? The wife of the Zhang family has died." Yang Qingtong came over to the Ye family immediately after returning from town.
"Someone told me this morning." Yang Chuxia nodded, "You knew too? Did you tell Uncle Dayong?"
"No, I havenāt been to Uncle Dayongās house. Uncle Dayong has been in low spirits ever since he came back from town that day. Bringing up this matter would only make him feel worse."