Chapter 53: Sisterly Affection, Part Thirty

Yu Shanmeng paused for a moment before he remembered who the Tian family was.

Previously, Zhang Qingxue had withheld quite a few good things, and it seemed they were sent to a pretty boy of the Tian family in the suburbs. Was she planning to immediately welcome that person into the house now that he was remarrying?

"Really?"

The doorman wore an awkward expression. "I wouldn't dare lie to you, sir!"

Unwilling to make a wasted trip, Yu Shanmeng said, "I want to see Xuelin."

Yu Xuelin was the softest-hearted of the children, possessing a hesitant and indecisive nature. Chu Yunli had intended to straighten him out, but since she hadn't gotten around to it yet, she had packed him up and sent him to his tutor's residence before moving the account books.

The tutor lived on a mountain in the suburbs, leading a simple life with only a single daughter. Chu Yunli had already detected some unspoken affection between that young woman and Yu Xuelin. Her plan was indeed to betroth the tutor's daughter to Yu Xuelin as his wife.

Once the marriage was settled on both sides, the tutor would naturally pour extra dedication into teaching his own son-in-law. As for Yu Xuehai, he simply wasn't cut out for scholarship and could stay home to do business instead!

Yu Xuejiao was overly gentle, a temperament that also needed shaping. Chu Yunli had no immediate plans to betroth her, preferring to first cultivate her strength and self-reliance. That way, no matter which household she married into in the future, she would never allow herself to be wronged.

For days, Chu Yunli had been sending medicine to Tian Jia'an continuously.

Meanwhile, Tian Jia'an had turned his household upside down. Having contributed immensely to his family over the years, virtually everything the Tian family currently owned was earned by him. Consequently, he demanded a chicken slaughtered today, a pig butchered tomorrow, and fish soup the day after. The family's silver was spent like flowing water and vanished within days.

Upon seeing Chu Yunli arrive, Old Madam Tian was overjoyed. "Madam, you've finally come. Jia'an has been talking about you every single day."

As she spoke, she ushered her inside with an exceptionally flattering attitude.

Chu Yunli smiled faintly, neither amused nor serious. "It's probably you who've been talking about me."

Old Madam Tian looked somewhat embarrassed. "Jia'an really has been missing you. Our whole family has discussed it, and he is still willing to go with you. I have no other demands; I only hope you will treat him well!"

Chu Yunli raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you afraid that word of him serving me will reflect badly on your grandson?"

Old Madam Tian hadn't been idle all this time and had already devised a countermeasure: once her son was sent away, she would write a formal severance document cutting off all ties of motherhood, ensuring that whatever he did in the future would have nothing to do with her grandson.

"Don't you worry, Madam, I've already thought of a way. Jia'an has agreed to sever ties with us. He is too sensible—sensible enough to break one's heart—and refuses to implicate Guangzong, just as he doesn't want to make things difficult for you."

While they spoke, Chu Yunli had already entered the room.

Compared to their last meeting, Tian Jia'an appeared much healthier. The lifeless pallor on his face was entirely gone, and he was able to walk around on his own. Seeing her enter, his eyes lit up brilliantly. "Madam is here."

Chu Yunli looked him up and down. "You look much better than last time."

Tian Jia'an offered a shy smile. "As long as Madam likes it."

Seeing this, Old Madam Tian felt immense relief. She had been worried that if this noble lady failed to show up for a few days, she might find a new favorite instead. Now it appeared she truly held her son in her heart.

Tian Jia'an glanced at the old woman by the door, his gaze indifferent and his tone cold. "Write the severance agreement!"

Old Madam Tian's anxious heart finally settled as she called out loudly, "Guangzong, come here quickly!"

Tian Guangzong entered from outside, wearing a grave expression, though his brisk footsteps revealed he felt no resistance to the matter whatsoever. He picked up a brush and quickly drafted a statement, and Old Madam Tian hurriedly pressed her thumbprint onto it.

Tian Jia'an picked up the paper and gazed at it for a long while.

He remained unhurried, making both grandmother and grandson nervous. Old Madam Tian hurriedly urged, "I've given you everything you asked for these past few days. You can't go back on what we agreed beforehand."

Tian Jia'an raised his eyes to look at her. "You won't regret it?"

"Never!" Old Madam Tian's tone was resolute.

"I don't believe you." Tian Jia'an placed the paper on the table. "Go to the village and bring twenty people here to witness this. Otherwise, with the likes of your thick skin, you'll surely come pestering me again later."

The noble lady was still right here. If they really invited the villagers over, everyone would know that the grandmother and grandson had sold Tian Jia'an for silver. Could they afford to keep their reputations after that?

Old Madam Tian said hastily, "We absolutely won't! I can swear to the heavens."

"I don't believe you." Tian Jia'an insisted on bringing witnesses.

Being just a step away from securing the silver, neither grandmother nor grandson was willing to give up. Realizing they could not persuade Tian Jia'an, they gritted their teeth and agreed.

Pride meant little; the worst they could do was move away. Once her grandson passed the imperial examinations and time passed, no one would care where the silver came from.

Having made up her mind, Old Madam Tian moved swiftly. A quarter of an hour later, the courtyard was packed with people, and Tian Jia'an pressed his thumbprint.

At that sight, the grandmother and grandson felt completely at ease.

Chu Yunli handed over the silver and smiled as she asked Tian Jia'an, "Now that I've helped you shake off these two bizarre relatives, how do you plan to repay me?"

"I'll marry you!" Tian Jia'an replied with a completely natural tone and expression.

Old Madam Tian was startled. Even though she had severed ties with her younger son, she had still hoped he could stay by this lady's side for a while longer.

Tian Guangzong also cast a few furtive glances in their direction.

Chu Yunli chuckled softly. "What kind of betrothal gifts do you want?"

Tian Jia'an answered casually, "Anything is fine. I'm not picky."

The grandmother and grandson: "..."

The two exchanged blank stares, momentarily wondering if their ears were playing tricks on them.

That noble lady was actually willing to offer betrothal gifts? Didn't that mean she intended to marry Tian Jia'an?

If they became husband and wife, there was no shame in it whatsoever. Why on earth had they severed ties?

Old Madam Tian stood in a daze until her grandson tugged at her sleeve twice, finally bringing her back to her senses. She hurried forward. "Jia'an, as your elder, I really should help out with your marriage..."

Tian Jia'an smiled with mocking amusement. "I knew you had thick skin and would come crawling back afterward, and sure enough, you did! Fortunately, there are so many neighbors here to witness this. Mother, if you care nothing for your face, I will tear it off for you!" His gaze shifted to Tian Guangzong. "And I'll make sure you can no longer stay at your private school."

That final sentence truly frightened the grandmother and grandson.

That very day, Chu Yunli brought him into the city, hired embroiderers to make wedding attire for them both, and had everything needed for a wedding prepared. Every single item was of the highest quality, consuming a considerable amount of silver in just half a day.

When they returned to the Yu residence, it was already late.

The entrance was noisy and chaotic, and from afar, Chu Yunli spotted people causing a disturbance. Even before seeing clearly, she guessed it was Yu Shanmeng.

Seeing the man and woman stepping down from the carriage together, Yu Shanmeng's eyes turned bloodshot. "Zhang Qingxue, how could you do this to me?"

Chu Yunli looked genuinely astonished. "I never had someone else in my heart while I was your wife; for years, I washed my hands and cooked soup to serve you. How have I wronged you? Go out and make inquiries, and you'll find that my fiancé and I met after our agreed divorce—it's a very recent thing. Unlike you, who harbored feelings for someone else for decades! Strictly speaking, you're the one who wronged me!"

Yu Shanmeng's eyes were red with fury. "I won't allow you to marry him! Or if you do, return my silver and my business."

"On what grounds?" Chu Yunli sneered. "You certainly didn't say I wasn't allowed to remarry beforehand, and I didn't stop you from marrying someone else either!"

Yu Shanmeng glared at her.

A thought occurring to her, Chu Yunli smiled and said, "Of course, if you don't marry Zhang Qingyao, I wouldn't mind handing the family business back to you to manage later. The only person I don't trust is her!"

The implication was clear: if Yu Shanmeng and Zhang Qingyao became husband and wife, Zhang Qingyao would undoubtedly find ways to steal the family's silver, and he would be influenced by her.

Yu Shanmeng was left speechless.

Chu Yunli looked toward the carriage not far away, raised an eyebrow, and asked with a smile, "Well? Do you want to choose someone else?"

Yu Shanmeng gritted his teeth. "No! If you dare to marry him, I will never let you off."

"Who do you think you're scaring?" Chu Yunli scoffed. "You'd better figure out how to arrange a respectable wedding of your own first. After all, since the person you've longed for all these years has finally agreed to marry you, you shouldn't wrong her."

Pushing past Yu Shanmeng, she pulled Tian Jia'an through the gates.

Tian Jia'an still carried a sickly pallor, but his cheeks were faintly flushed. He cast a glance at Yu Shanmeng before hurriedly withdrawing his gaze.

Yu Shanmeng: "..." So infuriating!

He had never known that Zhang Qingxue actually fancied this kind of pretty boy. He ground his teeth and demanded, "Where on earth did you pick up this guy?"

"He's the uncle of Xuelin's classmate," Chu Yunli replied with a straight face. "His classmate's family is poor, and I gave them twenty taels of silver, so I suppose I helped them out."

For a moment, Yu Shanmeng didn't know how to respond.

Uninterested in lingering with him, Chu Yunli quickly stepped through the front doors.

Unwilling to let it go, Yu Shanmeng demanded, "Bringing in a man like that—did you even consider the children?"

Chu Yunli looked back over her shoulder. "That's precisely what I wanted to ask you. With so many women in the world, why did you have to go after Zhang Qingyao? Do you have any idea how much that hurt the children?"

Yu Shanmeng was rendered speechless.

Growing impatient, Chu Yunli waved a hand. "If you want silver, you'd better save your breath. Even if you ask, I won't give you a cent."

Yu Shanmeng's gaze was so venomous it looked as though he wanted to devour her alive.

Chu Yunli asked once more, "Changing your mind means you can manage the family business. Are you going to switch partners?"

Yu Shanmeng gritted his teeth. "No!"

Chu Yunli let out a cold laugh. He was sacrificing so much for Zhang Qingyao; in the end, the only person he was moving was probably himself.

Meanwhile, Zhang Qingyao's expression inside the nearby carriage was quite complicated. Come to think of it, quite a few men had fancied her over the years, but every single one of them had eventually taken wives. Yu Shanmeng was the only one among them who, after marrying, had never touched another woman—not because he kept himself pure for his wife, but for her.

And yet, living a life took more than just raw emotion!