TSWRLM -Chapter 343 One Must Bear Things Themselves

Madam Qian’s father managed the estate and lived in a nearby village. Over the years, he had worked effectively and received many rewards. Through Madam Qian’s connections with the Cao family, he had also gained considerable benefits. After their son’s marriage, the Qian family built a brick-and-tile house. While it couldn’t compare to the wealthy households in the city, it was still the most respectable house in the village.

Since returning home that day, Madam Qian had been locked in a room.

She begged her mother to let her and Zheng’er return to the Cao family, but her mother scolded her, pointing at her nose.

“Cao Wu has already opened his carpentry shop. Twenty taels of silver is nothing to him. And Cao Chun Xi is now so wealthy—how could she watch her brother be torn from his wife and child? They are rich now and look down on you. If you, without any backbone, take the child back, when Cao Wu takes a concubine, you and Zheng’er will be tormented your whole lives!”

“That won’t happen—Brother Wu isn’t that kind of person.”

Madam Qian shook her head, trying to argue, but her mother sneered: “He may not be now, but when he has money, his true colors will show. You’ll only be married to him for two or three years. We, your father and I, have raised you for so many years—do you think we’d let him ruin you?”

Madam Qian felt something was off in her mother’s words but didn’t know how to argue.

She was timid by nature, used to submitting at home, and dared not contradict them.

Seeing her silent, her mother softened her tone: “Your father and I have already hired someone to write a divorce document for Cao Wu and also engaged the best matchmaker in ten or more villages for you. You are still young, have your firstborn son, and are easy to raise. Plenty of men would want to marry you. Just obey and don’t make a fuss. Cao Wu will surely come to reconcile and take you and your child back.”

Madam Qian never expected her parents to go so far as to arrange a divorce. Panic filled her heart as she hurriedly asked: “What if Brother Wu doesn’t come? Will you really force me to remarry?”

The matter had caused quite a stir; the whole village knew. If Cao Wu didn’t come, it would be hard for the Qian family to recover their reputation.

Her mother glared at her sharply: “Zheng’er is his own flesh and blood. Even if he doesn’t want you, would he reject his son? Stop overthinking and just wait patiently.”

With that, her mother left the room and locked the door.

Madam Qian sat inside, overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.

She felt things shouldn’t be this way. She and Brother Wu had a good relationship; she had never thought of marrying someone else. She wanted to live a proper life with him.

But this time she had acted impulsively, returned to her parents’ house, and misunderstood Brother Wu and Feng Yinyin. Brother Wu must be very angry, and now her parents were deciding for her, even arranging a remarriage. Even if Brother Wu eventually came to take her and Zheng’er back, she feared this would sow discord between them in the future. And now she was trapped inside, powerless.

Tears streaming, Madam Qian fell asleep, but not for long. Soon she heard the creak of the door opening.

She awoke in shock and saw Chun Xi standing there in the moonlight.

“A-Xi!” Madam Qian rubbed her eyes in disbelief, ensuring she wasn’t dreaming. She rushed forward excitedly: “You’ve come to take me and Zheng’er away? It’s all my fault—I shouldn’t have been greedy for money or listened to others’ provocations. I promise that after we return, I’ll live properly with Brother Wu.”

She began moving toward her parents’ room, but Chun Xi stopped her: “I can take you away, but you need to speak clearly with your parents. Right now, you and my brother no longer have a relationship. I cannot bear the responsibility of abducting you and your child.”

The snow had fallen during the day, and the night was bitterly cold. Chun Xi’s voice sounded even colder to Madam Qian. She hurriedly said: “My parents will never agree to let Zheng’er and me go. A-Xi, you know I have no say at home. But you are different—you’re the official’s wife. They cannot touch you. As long as you’re willing to take me…”

Chun Xi cut her off sharply: “I can take you tonight. But tomorrow, if they come here threatening and forcing you, could you really resist going back with them?”

Madam Qian’s lips trembled, and she fell silent.

She couldn’t abandon Brother Wu, but if her parents forced her with threats of death, she couldn’t remain unmoved.

After a long moment, she grabbed Chun Xi’s hand and pleaded miserably: “A-Xi, please help me think of a way. Teach me what to do!”

“I already said: if you speak clearly with your parents, I will take you away.”

“But they won’t listen to me…”

Tears streamed down Madam Qian’s face, her expression filled with pain and helplessness.

Though she was a mother, she still felt like a child now—terrified of her parents, unable to free herself from their control, lacking the courage even to confront them.

Chun Xi pressed her lips together and led Madam Qian to her parents’ room.

Uncle Hu had already administered a sedative, and everyone in the Qian household was sound asleep.

Inside her parents’ room, piles of items tied with red silk were stacked—they were Madam Qian’s betrothal gifts.

“The matchmaker told you about Li the butcher from the neighboring village. Your parents have already accepted his betrothal gifts. If my brother doesn’t come to take you, you’ll have no choice but to remarry him with Zheng’er.”

Madam Qian’s body shook uncontrollably.

Li the butcher from the neighboring village was over forty, strong and hot-tempered. He had married twice before without having children, and both wives had died at his hands.

He was willing to pay to marry Madam Qian only because he wanted her to bear him a son.

If Madam Qian bore a son, Li could never accept Zheng’er. If she couldn’t, she would likely be beaten to death.

How could her parents marry her off to Li?!

Madam Qian was furious and terrified. But after a long pause, she still turned to Chun Xi: “A-Xi, please help me persuade your brother to come take me and Zheng’er. Otherwise, Li will beat us to death.”

“Sister-in-law, I owe you nothing. Tonight, I risked the snowstorm to come here out of consideration for our relationship as sisters-in-law. If you cannot bear anything, there’s nothing I can do.”

A flash of disappointment crossed Chun Xi’s eyes. She shook Madam Qian’s hand off and turned to leave, her steps decisive.

Madam Qian stumbled after her: “A-Xi, don’t go! I’ll do as you say—I… I’m willing to speak clearly with my parents!”

“Think carefully, sister-in-law. If you go back on it later, I will not turn back.”

Madam Qian clenched her fists and nodded.

Soon, Uncle Hu brought the antidote, waking the Qian family.

Seeing Chun Xi in the courtyard, Madam Qian’s father flew into a rage: “Cao Chun Xi, even though you are now an official’s wife, trespassing into someone’s home in the dead of night violates the law. Do you believe I’ll report you to the authorities?”

Chun Xi lowered her eyes and didn’t respond.

Madam Qian stammered: “Father, I asked A-Xi to come for me. I want to take Zheng’er and return to the Cao household with her.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Madam Qian’s father said without hesitation. “You have no relationship with Cao Wu anymore, and I’ve already had the matchmaker arrange a new marriage for you. You are to stay at home and await marriage. You’re not going anywhere!”