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Liu Linfeng had struggled through life, dabbling in many businesses. Although most ended in loss, he had seen enough of the world to know that an IOU wasn’t something to be written casually. Once written, it meant silver had to be repaid.

When he first borrowed money from Zhang Huiniang, he never intended to repay it. Putting on a troubled expression, he subtly signaled her with his eyes.

Zhang Huiniang, hearing his evasive words distancing himself from her, felt uneasy at first. But seeing his silent, mutual glance—understood only between them—she relaxed. Unable to bear seeing her beloved in trouble, she stepped forward and tugged at her brother’s sleeve. “Brother, he won’t refuse to repay.”

Zhang Laoye didn’t look at his sister, fearing he would soften. Instead, he turned to Liu Linfeng. “Repaying is one thing; an IOU is another. This is the attitude towards borrowing silver! Anyone who understands the rules should voluntarily hand it over.”

“He already wrote it, but I lost it!” Zhang Huiniang pouted. “We shouldn’t ask him twice. Based on my relationship with him, I believe he’s not the type to default.”

“What relationship?” Zhang Laoye glared at her. “Huiniang, he has a wife and children, a big family. What exactly are you after?”

Zhang Huiniang’s eyes reddened at the accusation. “It’s none of your business. It’s my dowry. I’m free to lend it to whoever I want…”

“You said that!” Zhang Laoye looked deeply disappointed. He had seen with his own eyes the harmony between Liu Linfeng and his wife, yet his sister still wouldn’t give up. He thought it was time to be ruthless.

“If you won’t let me interfere, then I won’t interfere with you.” Zhang Laoye turned to issue his order: “From today on, the eldest aunt is forbidden from returning to the household.”

Zhang Huiniang was shocked. Before she could plead, her brother continued, “Regardless of gender, everyone should take responsibility in life. At least you should provide for your own children. Qingyao is your daughter. I have raised her for so many years out of kindness. From now on, I will never care for them again. You deal with it yourself!”

With that, he swept his sleeve and left.

Zhang Huiniang was stunned. All this fuss over a single IOU? She didn’t want to trouble her beloved, stomped her foot, but still didn’t ask the Liu family to write an IOU, and quickly chased after him.

But Zhang Laoye was resolute this time. No matter how much his sister pleaded, he wouldn’t relent.

By evening, Zhang Qingyao and her children were driven out. They had hoped to take some belongings, but everything was taken back.

Walking down the street with her children, Zhang Qingyao felt utterly lost. Since childhood, her father had cherished her most; no matter what happened, he would help her.

But now, it seemed things had changed. Despite her pitiful tears, her father did not change his stance. Looking at Zhang Huiniang beside her, she couldn’t help but reproach, “It’s just an IOU. What harm is there in writing it first? You didn’t even chase after him… Now look where it’s gotten us. Where are we supposed to live?”

Zhang Huiniang hadn’t expected things to turn out this way and hesitated. “Should I ask the Liu family to write it first?”

“That’s exactly what we should do!” Zhang Qingyao grabbed her and headed to the Liu household.

Just a street away, Zhang Huiniang stopped. “I don’t want to go straight to their door. I’ll send a message; he’ll definitely come to see us.”

It was late, and after walking so far, Zhang Qingyao was tired. Hearing this, she didn’t argue and simply sat beneath the eaves.

Zhang Huiniang spent some silver coins to send a child to deliver the message, then sat beside her daughter, quietly cursing her rival-in-law.

“If she hadn’t stirred up trouble between my brother and me, none of this would have happened.”

Zhang Qingyao stayed silent, gazing into the dark street. She couldn’t help but ask, “When Father chose to protect the eldest, was it really so dangerous?”

“I don’t know.” Zhang Huiniang stood quickly as she saw someone approaching from the darkness.

After a few steps, she realized something was off. The figure was slender and short — clearly not Liu Linfeng.

As the person came closer, the dim lantern light revealed her to be Madam Liu. Zhang Huiniang awkwardly stepped back.

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“Madam Liu.”

Madam Liu approached with a serious expression. “I’m grateful for your help to my husband all these years…but I also hate you.”

Zhang Huiniang took another step back. “Where is he?”

“Just lying down,” Madam Liu said coldly. “No woman can bear her man flirting with a fox spirit. Neither can I. But I don’t quarrel with him. We have four children and are middle-aged. We’ve been married over twenty years. A person rarely has a twenty-year bond in life. We are destined to be entangled forever. So I have always pretended not to know. Because you have a husband and children, any sensible person wouldn’t abandon them.”

Her voice turned stern. “I didn’t expect you to divorce… No matter who you have around, I won’t allow him to associate with you.”

No woman could endure such accusations. Zhang Huiniang’s face immediately darkened. “When I met him, you didn’t even know where you were…”

“So what?” Madam Liu stepped closer. “No matter how long or deep your relationship, I am his wife now. I bore his legitimate children, managed his household, took in concubines for him, and raised his illegitimate children. When I did these things, you were someone else’s wife!” She sneered, “A person lives by their reputation, especially a woman. To put it plainly, if you have no shame, my man still wants you. If you come to him again, I’ll tear your face apart!”

By rights, Zhang Huiniang could only bear Madam Liu’s accusations. But she didn’t want to give up. “I won’t argue with you. You make him come out. This is between him and me.”

“You’re wrong. He’s the father of my children. You seducing him concerns me.” Madam Liu closed the distance. “Get out.”

Before marrying, Zhang Huiniang had been cherished by her brother and valued by her husband’s family. Few dared to insult her to her face. This was the first time anyone dared tell her to get lost. Angry, she said, “I’m not leaving!”

“Shameless!” Madam Liu slapped her.

They were close, and Zhang Huiniang didn’t expect the sudden attack. She tried to dodge but was too slow, taking a hard slap to the face. Pain radiated through her cheek. Furious, she shouted, “Who gave you the right to hit me?”

“I don’t just want to hit you. I want to scratch that face of yours that seduces men!” Madam Liu lunged forward.

The Liu family was an ordinary household. When Liu Linfeng married, his wealth gradually grew. His wife came from a modest family, unfamiliar with proper etiquette, and cared little about reputation compared to ladies from wealthy households.

Zhang Huiniang came from a noble family, with both her natal and married families wealthy for over a century. She had rarely seen a lady strike someone herself. Madam Liu’s aggressive demeanor frightened her.

Zhang Qingyao stepped forward to protect her mother, but Madam Liu was fierce. In moments, she had scratched seven or eight bloody marks across her mother’s face. Panicked, Zhang Qingyao retreated with her two children to a secluded spot, shielding them.

Zhang Huiniang screamed in shock.

Madam Liu had long been fed up and struck with unusual ruthlessness, aiming at her face.

The commotion drew light from several nearby houses, and people hurried over from the darkness.

At the forefront was Liu Linfeng.

Seeing the scene, he panicked. “Stop!”

At this, tears streamed down Zhang Huiniang’s face, falling onto her wounds and stinging painfully. She sobbed harder.

“Linfeng, pull this madwoman away!”

Liu Linfeng’s first reaction was to separate them. As he spoke, he reached to grab Madam Liu.

In Madam Liu’s eyes, his words meant he didn’t deny she was mad. Angry tears fell. “Liu Linfeng, do you have no conscience? Was it wrong for me to bear your sons and daughters?”

Zhang Huiniang gingerly touched her face, careful not to press too hard. It was swollen and red; she feared scarring. Seeing Madam Liu’s outburst, she scolded, “Linfeng, you should divorce this woman immediately!”

“What are you? You think divorce is that easy?” Madam Liu shouted, stomping. “Liu Linfeng, drive this woman away!”

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As the crowd grew, Liu Linfeng didn’t want to become a spectacle. “Huiniang, you go back first. I’ll come find you when I’m free.”

Zhang Huiniang: “...” She wasn’t going anywhere!

“Your wife hit me!”

Liu Linfeng sighed. “I’ll deal with her later. You go first... I still have things to do. I need to return...”

Zhang Huiniang felt deeply hurt, watching Liu Linfeng pull his stubborn wife away into the darkness. Suddenly, she shouted, “Give me an IOU first!”

Hearing this, the Liu couple quickly slipped away.

Zhang Huiniang: “...”

Beside her, Zhang Qingyao had witnessed everything, her expression complex. “Mother, don’t make a scene. It’s late. Let’s find a place to stay first.”

Zhang Huiniang: “...Where will we live?”

Zhang Laoye was determined to let them understand the importance of silver. When sending them away, he didn’t even allow them to take valuables.

Now, they could only pawn what little they had for lodging.

For a matron of a great family to be without silver was humiliating. Zhang Qingyao hesitated. “Let’s go to Brother-in-law’s place.”

Zhang Huiniang was speechless. “If that wretched woman Zhang Qingxue finds out, she’ll make trouble again.”

“If she has any sense of shame, she wouldn’t make a fuss,” Zhang Qingyao said impatiently. “Better than sleeping on the streets.”

True enough, a noble lady cast out to the streets would be quite the scandal.

They arrived at Yu Shanmeng’s temporary residence and were welcomed in smoothly.

Chu Yunli had long anticipated Zhang Qingyao would meet Yu Shanmeng. She had sent someone to watch them. Almost as soon as they entered, she received the news. Though it was late, she dressed quickly and rode her carriage over.

On the dark street late at night, the sudden sound of carriage wheels echoed. Chu Yunli leapt down, her red cloak billowing. She strode to the gate and kicked it open.

The gatekeeper was startled, thinking it was a thief. Seeing it was his lady, his face paled even more.

This was worse than encountering a thief!

Without looking at him, Chu Yunli stormed into the main courtyard.

Author’s note: Thanks to the angels who cast their votes or watered my work with nutrients between March 16, 2022, 22:37 and March 17, 2022, 21:59.

Thanks to those who cast thunder votes: Egret Returning Home (1 vote).

Thanks to those who watered with nutrients: Silly Meow Upstairs (20 bottles), Jackfruit (10 bottles), Egret Returning Home (5 bottles), Dark Night Elegance and Dui Dui Cat (2 bottles each), North General, Forgivable, and Watching Old Clouds’ Past (1 bottle each).

Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!