Chapter 169: Humiliating
Zhaodi was just about to open the door when she heard noisy voices at the doorway. She thought these customers were coming too early; their shop wouldn’t run away. Could they be worried that their goods would sell out?
She opened the front door, her face full of smiles, but when she saw that the doorway was empty, the smile was wasted and she took it back.
She saw many people gathered in the middle of the street, squeezed into the crowd, and asked: “What happened? What are you all looking at? Make way, I want to see the excitement too.”
“Shopkeeper, it has to be your Wangshu who’s obedient and well-behaved, not causing you trouble. You really picked the right son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family back then.”
Zhaodi liked it most when others praised Zhou Wangshu; this showed that her daughter’s eyesight was good. When they bought Zhou Wangshu back then, she wasn’t short of sarcasm from those gossips, but now her face was all earned back.
“That’s right… but what exactly happened?” Zhaodi stretched her neck to peer inside.
The people around parted, making way for her.
In the midst of the crowd, there was a man lying naked on the street.
That man’s clothes were scattered all over the ground, and there was the smell of alcohol in the air. Seeing this scene, everyone guessed that the man was drunk and had directly used the sky as his quilt and the ground as his bed, making a fool of himself on the street.
“Isn’t this the Xiao Scholar from Fenghua Pavilion? I heard the academy values him highly, saying he’s sure to pass the exam for an official position. The entire academy has placed their hopes on him.”
“What’s the use of studying well? Look at this behavior; he’s truly morally corrupt.”
Xiao Yanci heard the noisy voices and thought it was like usual at the academy. Irritated, he shouted: “Wen Dasao, close the window; it’s so noisy.”
“Hahaha… Big Sister-in-law? Look at this scholar; he even has a big sister-in-law to serve him while studying!”
Xiao Yanci sensed something was wrong.
Why is it so noisy?
Why is the bed so hard? Why is his body so cold?
He opened his eyes and met pairs of mocking eyes.
He sat up abruptly and screamed when he saw himself naked.
“Ah!!!”
The people around also let out screams, but not from being scared—rather from laughing at him.
Xiao Yanci grabbed nearby clothes to wrap around himself and yelled: “Get lost!”
He hurriedly put on his clothes in a flurry.
Not far away, Su Yaoguang nudged Zhou Wangshu’s arm and said with insufficient confidence: “Aren’t we being a bit ruthless like this? At least leave him his underpants.”
“He didn’t consider leaving me a way out when he stuck needles in my horse.” Zhou Wangshu said sourly, “Feeling sorry for him?”
“What nonsense are you saying in broad daylight?” Su Yaoguang patted his shoulder. “Alright, revenge is taken, the excitement is seen; you should head back to the academy, and I need to get back to work.”
“I’ll be very busy lately and might have to stay at the academy.”
“Okay.” Su Yaoguang waved her hand.
Zhou Wangshu grabbed her wrist and pulled her back: “Don’t you have anything to say?”
Su Yaoguang looked at him with a strange expression: “Take care of your health, eat when you should, drink when you should, play when you should. Whether you learn or not isn’t important; what’s important is physical and mental health.”
Zhou Wangshu: “…”
It seems she had truly given up on him completely.
But that made sense; everyone knew his studies were a complete mess. If she told him now to study hard and strive for an official position, it would seem more like a curse.
Xiao Yanci wrapped up his clothes and ran into the Fenghua Pavilion opposite.
All day today, Zhaodi’s laughter never stopped. Every time a customer came in, she told them about Xiao Yanci’s scandal. The customers were immediately hooked and discussed with her why Xiao Yanci would do this, how his frail-looking body was, whether he had any endowment in that aspect, who had seen it, and so on.
While chatting about these things, they pushed the few unmarried young ladies aside, whispering mysteriously, as if afraid of corrupting the young ladies. But they didn’t think that probably the whole city was discussing this matter now.
The cursing from Zhong Lanhua opposite never stopped.
From morning until now, whenever someone asked her about this matter, she didn’t care if they were customers and directly cursed them out.
The more fiercely Zhong Lanhua cursed over there, the louder Zhaodi laughed here.
“Big Sister… Big Sister…” Zhang Pandi tugged at Zhaodi. “Dad and Mom are here.”
When Zhaodi saw Wei Shi and Zhang Laosan entering, the smile on her face disappeared.
She told the customers to pick goods themselves and strode toward Wei Shi and Zhang Laosan.
“Dad, Mom, why did you come?”
“We came to find you before, but there was an epidemic then, so we didn’t stay long. Now the epidemic is over and it’s safe in the city, we thought we should come find you. Look, your mom and I are living such a hard life; as our daughter, shouldn’t you help us out? Your shop is doing good business and needs hands; your mom and I can come help you, so it’s not like we’re freeloading.” Zhang Laosan said this as if issuing an order.
“I’m afraid that won’t do.” Zhaodi said. “You have a son and grandsons; what would it look like living with your daughter? Didn’t you say before that a married daughter is like spilled water? As the saying goes, spilled water can’t be gathered back. We’ve all been spilled out, so no need to come find us again.”
“We’re your parents; you can’t just ignore our life and death?”
“I’ll repay as much grace as I’ve received. The grace of raising me was already paid off with the betrothal gift when my man gave it.” Zhaodi said. “All these years, we orphans and widow haven’t come to you even when we couldn’t survive. Now you come to us; isn’t that inappropriate? I’m Su Zhang Shi now.”
“If you don’t care for us, we’ll report to the officials and say you’re unfilial.” Wei Shi cursed.
“Good, then report it!” Zhaodi said indifferently. “I’ll wait here without leaving, ready anytime for the soldiers to come arrest me. When the government office people come, I’ll accept the charge of unfiliality. After that, don’t come again; after all, it makes sense for a daughter to show filial piety, but there’s no reason for a granddaughter who hasn’t eaten a single bite of your rice to do so.”
“You really won’t care for us?” Wei Shi asked.
“No.” Zhaodi said. “Even if I go to the government office, get beaten with the board, and thrown in prison, I won’t budge.”
“What about you two? You two won’t care for our life and death either?” Wei Shi glared at Zhang Pandi and Zhang Yingdi again.
“Second Sister is now also orphans and widow; Third Sister and her brother-in-law even more so—for such a high betrothal gift, it’s more like you sold your daughters than married them off. The money from selling us three is enough for you to live without worry; coming to harvest us again, isn’t that too greedy?” Zhaodi said.
“You… fine, now that you’re prosperous, you start despising your old dad and mom at home. Today I’ll crash to death right here and let you be spat on by the world.” Wei Shi said, then lunged toward the pillar opposite.
“Are you done? Every time it’s this trick; can’t you come up with something fresh?” Zhaodi waved to the people nearby. “Make way, let her crash. If she dies here, I’ll compensate with my life. What are you stunned for? Crash already!”
