Lady Yu noticed that the scene really wasn’t a good look, and upon seeing the man crying miserably at her feet, a disdainful glint that couldn’t be ignored flashed across her eyes. She forced a smile and said, "Miss, how about we talk inside? It’s getting late, and I’m not sure if you’ve had dinner yet?"
Wang Yongzhu thought that Boss Qian’s legitimate wife was quite an interesting person, and her attitude softened a bit as she shook her head.
Lady Yu quickly instructed the kitchen staff to prepare a meal and then invited Wang Yongzhu to rest inside.
As for Qian Dahao, Lady Yu, without changing her expression or skipping a beat, grabbed his collar and dragged him inside like a dead dog.
After they had taken their seats and exchanged a few pleasantries, Lady Yu realized that she had misunderstood the situation; her husband hadn’t harbored any lustful intentions towards the Wang Family Young Lady, but rather, he had coveted her business dealings.
Lady Yu had also heard Boss Qian mention the name Wong Yongzhu; though she no longer had feelings for him, they typically only saw each other during meals and avoided each other whenever possible.
It was during meal times, while listening to him talking to his concubines, that she overheard snippets about how a girl’s family, relying on dyeing fabric that had won the favor of the palace ladies, actually dared to get involved in the mountain goods trade.
Ever since her family’s business had improved, Boss Qian disdained Lady Yu for constantly being seen in public, bringing shame, and for fear of being laughed at, he, a businessman of his standing, still let his wife carry mountain goods on her back.
Using his children’s futures and reputations as leverage, he forced Lady Yu to stay idle at home. Instead, she created a large vegetable garden in the backyard to pass her time.
Because of this, Boss Qian looked down on Lady Yu even more, considering her a lowly creature not even capable of enjoying the good fortune she had.
Lady Yu had been tolerant for the sake of her children. At first, Boss Qian felt somewhat guilty, but seeing Lady Yu’s silent suffering, he became increasingly arrogant.
Over time, the habitually compliant Lady Yu retreated step by step.
Today, if it hadn’t been for the Wang Family Young Lady’s whipping that revealed Qian Dahao’s true nature, Lady Yu might not have remembered that her husband, at his core, was a coward and the least capable of bearing responsibilities.
When they first married, Lady Yu had liked that Boss Qian, although weak and lacking strength to do farm work, was sweet-tongued and could make her happy.
In a peasant family, if a man can’t farm, he’s considered useless and looked down upon.
So Boss Qian was scorned and often mocked and bullied, and at those times, it was always Lady Yu who stepped in to defend him.
Then, feeling like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, she would drag the bullied man, who could only cry while clinging to her legs, back home by the ear.
Later, it was her pity for her husband, who was always laughed at for not being able to do farm work, that led her to think about trading in mountain goods so that he could earn money to support the family and stand tall.
But since when did her husband’s spine straighten so much that it seemed ready to flip the sky, while her own backbone bent, and her head lowered?
Lady Yu looked down at the man at her feet and for the first time felt she was truly foolish! How had she been driven to this point by such a cowardly, death-fearing man?
Thinking this, Lady Yu’s heart was a jumble of emotions, and her gaze at Boss Qian carried an indescribable danger.
Just then, the servants came to announce that dinner was ready. Lady Yu promptly asked for the meal to be served; the Wang Family Clan people were eating in the side room while Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu dined casually with Lady Yu’s company.
As Lady Yu urged the two to eat, her mind quickly pieced together all the events, and she came to understand the whole situation.
Knowing that this was not the time to settle accounts with Qian Dahao, he had to first resolve the issue with Wang Yongzhu.
Otherwise, given the temperament of this young lady, the Qian Family would likely suffer misfortune.
It didn’t matter if Qian Dahao met with bad luck, but the two children she had given birth to both carried the Qian surname. The Qian Family’s wealth was also half hers.
With these thoughts in mind, Lady Yu’s attitude became even more gentle and accommodating.
After eating dinner and returning to the main hall, she took the initiative to say, "Regarding this matter, even though I’m his wife, I must say that my husband did something disgraceful. It’s only right that you beat or scold him!"
"Yulan?" Qian Dahao, upon hearing his wife say that he deserved to be beaten, suddenly raised his face in disbelief.
Lady Yu was annoyed by the sight of Qian Dahao’s pig-like face. She had tolerated his manipulations over the children’s future and reputation all these years, and now he dared to interrupt?
She lifted her foot and kicked his face, toppling him to the side, "Shut up! When I’m talking, what business is it of yours?"
Having said that, with the air of someone unconcerned, she turned her face and in a pleasantly warm manner began to discuss with Wang Yongzhu, "Sister, let me know your thoughts on the matter. Speak freely, and I will try my best to fulfill your requests. For those that can’t be met, I will find a way to satisfy them!"
Wang Yongzhu could tell Lady Yu was a straightforward person with clear eyes. She did not bother to hide her disdain when she looked at Qian Dahao.
Moreover, she grew to like Lady Yu’s way of handling things the more she watched.
Without holding back, she said, "If today’s negotiations were with Boss Qian, I wouldn’t be speaking as freely. However, seeing Sister Yu’s straightforward and generous nature, I won’t beat around the bush."
"First, let’s not mention other things. Boss Qian hired people to go to my family’s business with inferior goods, trying to deceive us. We can let that go. But this time, he actually hired people to come to my home, intending to cripple my two brothers and put our family business to a halt—that we cannot simply overlook."
"My Third Brother is still unconscious, and my family clan people came to rescue him, but they were injured by the group led by Boss Ma, and those with injured legs who aren’t as mobile didn’t come today. Those who came, you all saw them. As for those with minor injuries, like scratched skin or a little cut, we will not make a fuss about them..."
Before Wang Yongzhu could finish, the Wang Family clan people looked at each other with understanding, each getting a clearer sense of why even the slightest injury had been bandaged as severely as a broken arm by Doctor Liu.
She truly had a knack for business, knowing so well how to keep accounts. No wonder the Wang Family’s business was able to thrive.
Boss Ma and his group were left in the courtyard, with the door to the house open, and they overheard everything. They were shocked by Wang Yongzhu’s shamelessness.
Have they no shame? Couldn’t they see that it was their own people who were injured? Those two big holes, still bleeding?
Of course, the two women in the room would not care about others’ thoughts.
Lady Yu was a smart woman, and upon hearing this, without waiting for Wang Yongzhu to mention the compensation, she generously said, "Sister, rest assured, our family will cover the medical expenses. Each injured person will also be compensated with an extra tael of silver for their recovery."
"Your Third Brother was the most severely injured. Our family knows good doctors. We will send one to take care of your brother and provide nourishing tonics for his recovery. Rest assured, your Third Brother will be well taken care of."
Wang Yongzhu smiled; Lady Yu was far more reasonable than Qian Dahao.
Talking with a smart person was indeed so much more effortless and straightforward.