Chapter 193: Determined to Leave

After Li Jiang parted ways with Chen Wensi, he went directly to report to Wen Yu.

Upon hearing that everyone had been brought back, she knew that Ma Shi’s matter was about to begin. Wen Yu called Li Jiang: “Let’s go to the Chen family. Tell me on the way!”

Li Jiang sat on the shaft of the carriage and recounted the journey without pausing for breath.

It turned out that the husband of Li Wenhui, Zhao Juxian, had passed the imperial examination at the young age of seventeen and was once a promising scholar.

He was also handsome and had a proud personality.

After passing the examination, he traveled and visited friends, eventually arriving at the small town where the Chen family resided.

Although Uncle Chen’s family had fallen from grace, he was, after all, a former official who had passed the highest imperial examination. His knowledge and conversation were both refined.

Moreover, Uncle Chen was fond of scholars and had a small reputation in the area. People often came to him for advice.

Zhao Juxian and his classmates visited and were immediately impressed by Uncle Chen. They stayed in the town for a few days and visited him whenever they had time.

It was during one of these visits that he inadvertently saw Chen Wenhui.

In his youthful naiveté, he fell in love.

This marriage was truly chosen by him. After their marriage, they had a good time for a while.

However, his early success led to arrogance. He spent all day socializing, making friends with the wrong people, and gradually changed.

He indulged in drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels, leaving no time for his studies.

When he took the next level of the imperial examination, his junior classmate, who was previously not as good as him, passed, but he did not.

His pride was greatly wounded, he felt depressed, and he indulged even more. Eventually, he got into trouble and people came knocking on his door.

Li Wenhui tried to persuade him with kind words. At first, he listened, but later he became annoyed, lost his temper, and stopped going home.

Finally, one day, he caused a major incident and was stripped of his scholar status…

His future was completely ruined.

He drank even more heavily and, naturally, started hitting his wife.

Once he started hitting her, it became a habit.

Whenever something went wrong, he would come home and take it out on her. He blamed his failures on Chen Wenhui, saying that he was implicated because he had married the daughter of a convicted criminal.

His parents also believed that it was Chen Wenhui’s fault as a wife and severely criticized her.

Although they were not in the same county and news was difficult to come by, the Chen family heard that their daughter was being abused at the Zhao family.

Uncle Chen went to the Zhao family to inquire, and Zhao Juxian cried bitterly, promising to change his ways.

But after he left, things got even worse.

When the Chen family was cleared of their charges, they wanted to take Chen Wenhui back home. But Chen Wenhui couldn’t bear to leave her two sons and refused to go.

This time, after the rescue team arrived, Li Jiang, being shrewd, didn’t rush to the Zhao family. Instead, they settled down and made some inquiries.

Only then did they discover that Chen Wenhui’s situation was even worse than they had imagined.

Moreover, after years of hardship, the Zhao family had sold everything they could, including their house and land. They were living in poverty.

Zhao Xin was old enough to go to school, but the family couldn’t afford the tuition. They asked his father to teach him at home. But given her husband’s character, how could Chen Wenhui dare?

She had no choice but to pawn her decent clothes to pay for the tuition.

Moreover, people often heard Zhao Juxian beating his wife.

Chen Wensi was furious when he found out and wanted to go to the Zhao family immediately, but Li Jiang stopped him.

They discussed for a long time…

Li Jiang remembered how the Young Miss dealt with those who followed her… So, he had the guards who went with him first severely beat up Zhao Juxian, who was drunk outside late at night.

He was beaten black and blue, but his bones were not injured…

Then, they used the names of Lord Mo, the Qi family, and the Wen family to pull some strings at the local government office.

After everything was arranged, they finally went to the Zhao family.

In short, they used power to intimidate and used money and the future of the two Zhao boys to entice.

But the bruised and swollen Zhao Juxian resorted to his usual trick of crying and begging, refusing to let Chen Wenhui leave.

In the end, it was the two elders of the Zhao family, seeing their empty house… If things continued like this, the whole family would probably starve to death. They pressured their son and let her go.

“The Zhao family refused to grant a divorce or separation. They only allowed Eldest Miss Chen to return to her family for a while. And they made Eldest Master Chen promise that Zhao Xin must return home when he turns eighteen.”

After hearing this, Wen Yu expressed her satisfaction: “The Zhao family are cunning! Even if Zhao Juxian divorced his wife, he wouldn’t be able to marry again. Now, although his wife is not by his side, he still has a wife and sons.

Now that she’s back, she’s no longer under the control of the Zhao family. Besides, Zhao Xin is only eight years old, and there are still more than ten years to go. By then, who knows if they’ll still be around!”

Upon entering the Chen family’s house, they heard Ma Shi making a scene, and Wen Yu immediately joined the conversation.

Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen exclaimed: “Ah Yu, you’re here!”

“Eldest Sister!” A graceful figure darted in and embraced Chen Wenhui.

✿✿✿

“Xiao Jie?!” Chen Wenhui held the girl in her arms. A fragrance wafted into her nose, and she looked closer: Chen Wenjie’s eyes were bright, her face rosy, and her clothes elegant… She looked every bit like a young lady from a wealthy family.

Compared to the timid little girl who used to tug at her clothes, how could she be the same person?

“You’ve grown so much?! You’re so beautiful…” Chen Wenhui’s tears flowed again.

“Eldest Sister, Jie’er missed you so much! You’ve suffered!” Seeing the once beautiful and capable Eldest Sister like this, Chen Wenjie’s heart ached.

Wen Yu also stepped forward towards Chen Wenhui: “Elder Sister Hui, guess who I am?!”

She smiled sweetly and spoke lightly, but her heart was excited: She had finally brought Eldest Cousin back alive.

Another one of my wishes has been fulfilled!

Chen Wenhui held her sister in one hand and Wen Yu in the other, scrutinizing them: “Do I need to guess? Wensi and Li Jiang told me all about you along the way! But you’re even more beautiful than they described! Ah Yu… You’re amazing! Thank you so much…”

She knew that she was able to bring her sons back thanks to this cousin!

“Eldest Cousin, you’re home! Don’t worry, you have Uncle, Aunt, Eldest Cousin, and me. Your life with your two nephews will definitely be peaceful!”

Chen Wenhui nodded tearfully.

Ma Shi, however, was furious. If the argument had continued for a few more rounds, she would have forced them to settle the matter.

“Wen Yu! This is the Chen family, not the Wen family, and certainly not the Qi family. Why are you meddling in everything?”

“Cousin-in-law, why are you always so impatient?! Eldest Cousin and I are close cousins, isn’t it normal for us to be close? I’m also helping you solve your troubles! I’ve taken everyone away, why are you still unhappy?”

“This is my family’s business!” Ma Shi was exasperated and turned to her husband: “Chen Wensi, I haven’t had a single good day since I married you. You didn’t even discuss such a big matter with me. Since you don’t treat me as family, let’s just part ways. Give me a divorce letter, and I’ll go back to my own family!”

Uncle Chen’s face darkened.

Aunt Chen said angrily: “In front of Wen Yu and Rui Ge’er, what nonsense are you talking about?!”

“Hmph! You always say I’m talking nonsense and look down on me, so I won’t stay here and be a burden. I’m leaving, alright?!”

“Cousin-in-law, Aunt is your elder, isn’t it normal for elders to teach their juniors? Isn’t every family like this?” Wen Yu tried to persuade her kindly.

“No need to teach! I can’t learn! If you think I’m not good enough, just divorce me!”

Wen Yu smiled and said: “That’s not possible! Cousin-in-law, you gave birth to the eldest grandson of the Chen family, you have made a great contribution to the Chen family! Although you don’t respect your parents-in-law… But my uncle and aunt are kind and don’t care about that. You haven’t done anything unfaithful or impure…”

Ma Shi’s eyelids twitched.

“What reason is there to divorce you?!”

“Bah! You’re talking nonsense…”

Wen Yu was not in a hurry and said slowly: “If the Ma family were in the capital, it would be fine! The two families could discuss it, and if they agreed to take you back, the Chen family wouldn’t force you to stay.”

Upon hearing this, Aunt Chen instinctively wanted to speak. Although Ma Shi was not a good person, she had given birth to Chen Rui, so they couldn’t divorce her!

Chen Wenjie quickly went over and pulled her mother.

Aunt Chen was stunned and looked at her daughter…

Wen Yu continued: “But the Ma family is not here! They are thousands of miles away. How can you, a single woman with a divorce letter, go back?”

“That’s none of your business!” Ma Shi saw a glimmer of hope.

“That’s not how it works! The Chen family brought you here. If something happens to you… and the Ma family comes knocking on the door demanding someone, the Chen family will have no way to justify themselves.”

“Bah! You jinx, you’re the one who’s going to have something happen to her!”

“Cousin-in-law, in this world, how difficult is life for a divorced woman? By then, if you regret it and run to the government office saying that the Chen family bullied you…”

“I won’t regret it! I’ve already made up my mind! You can write it down, and I’ll sign it with my fingerprint, alright?!” Ma Shi was anxious and didn’t care about arguing anymore, she just wanted to get her hands on the divorce letter.

“But… You are Rui Ge’er’s mother after all! If you don’t have a good life, you will always come back and harass him…”

“You’re the one who’s going to have a bad life! You wicked girl, you have such a dark heart! What have I done to you that you keep cursing me?”

“Cousin-in-law, don’t be in a hurry, I’m just helping you think things through. What if you regret it?! It’s easy to leave the Chen family, but if you want to come back…”

“I will never come back, I’d rather die outside than come back! Give me the divorce letter, and I’ll leave immediately! Rui Ge’er, I’ll never see him again!”

“How can a mother think and say such things?!” Aunt Chen was furious.

Chen Wenjie quickly pulled her…

Ma Shi snorted coldly and didn’t argue back.

“Cousin-in-law, what if Rui Ge’er grows up and becomes successful, passes the highest imperial examination and becomes an official? But you come running back wanting to be the Old Lady, who can stand that?!”

“No matter how high an official he becomes, it has nothing to do with me!” Ma Shi said decisively.

“Uncle, Aunt, it seems Cousin-in-law is determined to leave. We can’t stand in the way of her future, why don’t we just grant her wish?!”