Re-embroidering life

Chapter 151 Complete Victory

Yu Hui's face turned red, and he looked at Shui Qinghua with eyes full of anger and ferocity, as if he wanted to eat her alive.

The men who supported Yu Hui were instantly silent. For men, taking a concubine is a matter of course, not only is it not a stain, but it is a romantic story; but spending a woman's money and trying to seize her dowry is too shameful. If it were an ordinary man, it would be fine, but Yu Hui is a son of a scholarly family, with a reputation as a juren. If he did this, wouldn't he be throwing the integrity of a scholar to the winds?

"Yuhui, do you dare to tell us the purpose of your visit to Ms. Shen a few days ago? You asked her for three thousand taels of silver, and everyone present at the time can testify to that." Shui Qinghua straightened her back and faced Yuhui's terrifying eyes without any fear.

"Three thousand taels!" There was a scream at the scene.

It was considered good for ordinary people to earn two taels of silver a month, so three thousand taels was a huge number. Everyone was shocked and looked at Yu Hui with contempt.

“No!” Yu Hui denied it categorically. He was already in a dilemma and had to turn the situation around as soon as possible. Even if someone tried to cheat on him, he couldn’t care less.

"I asked her for money just as an excuse. In fact, I went to catch her in adultery! How could I bear the thought of my wife living in the yard of a stranger? Humph, as expected, I saw the adulterer there!"

When everyone heard about this, they immediately became excited and pricked up their ears, ready to listen to what was going on.

"Are you referring to Lord Ying? Tsk..." Shui Qinghua sneered and looked at Yu Hui with disdain. "Lord Ying is a man of high character. He gave up his yard out of pity for Shen's frail health and needing his friends to take care of him. Lord Ying has never returned since Shen moved in. Can you use this as an excuse?"

"The yard doesn't count, and neither does going all over Jiangnan to look for doctors and sending them to Shen Xin like a flood?" Yu Hui's eyes turned red with anger, and his man's intuition told him that there must be something wrong. He could not love Shen Xin, but if his woman was coveted by others, that would not do.

Shui Qinghua laughed loudly towards the sky, "It's really ridiculous that as a husband, you have never expressed any concern for your wife. Lord Ying is an official appointed by the court and a third-rank official. He is compassionate and loves the people like his own children, but you slander him as an adulterer. It's really obvious who is better." His words were as sharp as arrows, and every word pierced the heart.

Shui Qinghua approached Yuhui and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Guess what the consequences are for slandering an official appointed by the imperial court? Do you really think that the Inspectorate and the Guard Bureau are just for free? Do you still want to take the next imperial examination?"

Yu Hui was so shocked that she took a small step back and gritted her teeth and said, "You are such a scary woman. Shen Xin was led astray by you."

Hey, why does this sentence sound so familiar? Every woman who resists the injustice of fate is led astray by her.

"That's enough, Yuhui." An old and deep voice sounded. Everyone raised their heads and looked towards the entrance of the teahouse.

An old man with plump cheeks and a friendly look walked in slowly, and Ji Zimo followed behind him.

"Uncle?" Yu Hui opened his eyes wide and looked at the person who came in surprise.

"This is Mr. Baishan, the most respected person in the Yu family!" Someone recognized him and told his companions.

Mr. Baishan bowed to everyone and said, "I am a young man in my family and I am sorry to bother you with some household chores. I will stop here today and disperse."

After saying this, he received Ji Zimo's gaze, coughed unnaturally, and added: "I can guarantee that the rumors outside are completely false. Mrs. Shen has been married into the Yu family for more than ten years, and there is nothing to criticize. If there is any discord between them, it must be my kid's fault."

After saying this, he bowed again. Seeing that there was nothing exciting to watch, everyone dispersed.

Yu Hui was anxious and angry, and shouted to Mr. Bai Shan in grievance: "Uncle, how can you side with outsiders?"

Mr. Baishan's face darkened. "You think it's not shameful enough? You are a gigolo and a cuckold. How can the Yu family have such a useless descendant like you? Go back and kneel in the ancestral hall. After you're done kneeling, return to Beijing to study as soon as possible!"

After saying that, he turned to face Ji Zimo and whispered, "Is it okay?"

Ji Zimo smiled and said, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Baishan. I will send new paints and charcoal pencils to the mountain tomorrow, and then we will have a night chat and discuss painting techniques."

"Okay, okay!" Mr. Baishan patted Ji Zimo on the shoulder. "You are a good kid with a flexible mind. Don't forget to tell me if you come up with anything new in the future."

After saying that, he grabbed Yu Hui, who was about to explode with anger, and forcibly took her away.

In an instant, the bustling teahouse was empty, with only the couple left.

A deep feeling of fatigue surged from deep within her body, flowing through her limbs and bones. Shui Qinghua fell weakly into a chair.

Ji Zimo walked up to her and gently massaged her shoulders. She was frustrated and grabbed Ji Zimo's hand and said, "A woman's reputation is so important, but I let Sister Shen be criticized in public. I don't know if I am doing the right thing."

Ji Zimo wrapped her hand in his palm and said, "It is because reputation is so important that if we don't stop the rumors when they start, they will only get worse and worse, and eventually become a stain that can't be washed away in a lifetime. By then, the Shen family will really have no way out. Choose the lesser of two evils, and you have done your best."

Shui Qinghua did not feel relieved. She felt like a huge rock was pressing on her heart: "Sister Shen did nothing and didn't hurt anyone, but a rumor almost killed someone. In order to clarify, she had to kill a thousand enemies and lose eight hundred of her own. Why is this world so harsh on women?"

Ji Zimo didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only say: "Aren't you already working hard for this? The world has to change little by little."

"Yes!" Shui Qinghua cheered herself up again. She wanted to help Sister Shen open the embroidery school as soon as possible. If she could help one more woman find a way to make a living, the world would become a better place.

After a while of recuperation, Shen Xin was finally able to get out of bed. Shui Qinghua had already inspected several locations for embroidery schools. Taking advantage of the good weather, he harnessed a carriage and took Shen Xin to see them one by one. Shen Xin was in a good mood and her face turned rosy. The two of them quickly decided on a location. Shui Qinghua was already familiar with running an embroidery school, so she immediately made arrangements in an orderly manner.

The most important things for an embroidery school are management and teachers. Shen Xin is too weak to handle the job, and Shui Qinghua is only staying in Jiangnan temporarily and will leave one day. Liu Yeer is still young and cannot handle the big responsibility. Shui and Shen are both worried about this, and while discussing, they return to Ji's house.

Between Ji's house and Ying's house, a familiar figure stood. He was plain-looking and slightly fat, but standing there, he exuded a mountain-like temperament, which made people feel calm and at ease for no reason.

"Master Ying, you're back." Shui Qinghua greeted him.

Minister Ying nodded and said, "Master Shui, I have a few words to say to Master Shen. Please give me some convenience."

Shui Qinghua looked at him with a bit of surprise and said, "I'll go in first, you two can chat slowly."