Chapter 622: Had I Known She Was So Beautiful
Chapter 622: Chapter 622: Had I Known She Was So Beautiful
Zhao Lei’s expression gradually darkened.
Ren Er had told him that Ren Liuyue married a schoolteacher.
’Could that have been a lie?’
Ren Er was also wondering. ’Could it be that Ren Liuyue deceived everyone? Did she not marry a schoolteacher at all, but a nobleman with a hidden identity?’
If that were the case, it would explain why "Fang Huan" exuded such a noble air. Despite wearing the most common clothes, he had the cold, imperious bearing of a superior.
But after thinking it over, Zhao Lei sneered and said, "Since you put it that way, I simply must compete for it. I’d like to see just how much silver my dear brother-in-law can offer."
He was also using this as an opportunity to test just how deep "Fang Huan’s" pockets were.
However, just as Zhao Lei finished speaking, a sharp rebuke came from nearby.
"Mr. Fang is my guest of honor! It was difficult enough to invite him out for a meal, only for you people to cause such an unpleasant scene!"
Zhao Lei turned to see Mr. Cui, the head of the merchant guild who had been standing outside the crowd, walk in with his hands clasped behind his back, an expression of stern displeasure on his face.
The merchant guild controlled every merchant’s eligibility to set prices. If you offended someone from the guild, it didn’t matter how big or small your business was—you wouldn’t be able to make it in Ling Mountain City.
Compared to Mr. Cui, Zhao Lei was a common soldier facing a general. He bowed apprehensively with cupped hands. "Forgive my ignorance, but this Fang Huan was a schoolteacher who just arrived in Ling Mountain City. When did he become your esteemed guest, Mr. Cui?"
The Cui family had been immensely wealthy for generations, with connections to both officials and merchants in the Northern Border. Their network was so vast it even reached the Capital City, so everyone respectfully addressed him as Second Master, according to his rank in the family.
Mr. Cui’s face was cold. "I knew Mr. Fang long before I knew you. In any case, I’ll say this just once: Mr. Fang and his wife are my esteemed guests in Ling Mountain City. Anyone who gives them a hard time is crossing me!"
Zhao Lei’s expression changed.
No matter how angry he was, he had to swallow it. He cupped his hands again. "In that case, I was presumptuous today. Second Master, I will take my leave."
"Stop!" Mr. Cui had no intention of letting him go. He said sternly, "Before I came in, I heard your wife making things difficult for Mr. Fang’s wife. How can you think of leaving without so much as an apology?"
Zhao Lei clenched his jaw, glancing at Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei out of the corner of his eye.
They both wore the same indifferent expression, radiating an aloof dignity that one dared not offend.
’Offending them might be a small matter,’ he thought, ’but judging by Mr. Cui’s attitude toward them, this Fang Huan must have a truly formidable background.’
Zhao Lei immediately bowed low, apologizing to Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei.
"I was blind and failed to recognize your importance. I have offended Older Sister and Brother-in-law, and I hope you can forgive me."
Shen Ningning remained silent, her gaze shifting to Ren Er beside him.
Of course, Ren Er was unwilling. ’This legitimate older sister of mine,’ she fumed internally, ’the one whose mother died young, who lived in poverty, and whom even Father despised—she has always been the benchmark I use to feel superior.’
’As long as Ren Liuyue is alive, outsiders will know of my shameful origins. I even have to keep my own birthday a secret, afraid that people will discover my mother was just a mistress when I was born.’
When Zhao Lei saw that Ren Er wasn’t speaking, he slapped her across the face.
"Ah—!" Ren Er cried out, falling to the ground. Her cheek instantly swelled and turned red. She clutched her face, her eyes trembling as she stared at Zhao Lei in disbelief.
"You bitch, why do you love causing me so much trouble? I let you out to buy silks and jewelry, and you still manage to provoke someone! Hurry up and apologize!"
’Otherwise, if I offend Mr. Cui, things won’t go well for me either.’
Filled with indignation, Ren Er could only climb to her feet and choke out through her tears, "Older Sister, I was wrong."
Shen Ningning retracted her gaze and gave a casual hum of acknowledgement before looking at Mo Lingwei. "Let’s go. I’m hungry."
Mr. Cui, who had been stern-faced just a moment ago, immediately broke into a radiant smile upon turning to Shen Ningning.
"Your timing is perfect, Mrs. Fang. The head chef at Furong Building has already prepared your meal. Please, right this way, allow me to escort you so you may enjoy it."
Mo Lingwei led Shen Ningning out by the hand, but didn’t forget to turn and say to the Shopkeeper, "Have the thousand gold silk wrapped up and sent to the third floor of Furong Building."
After they left, Zhao Lei, having lost face, could naturally no longer remain. He departed with a sullen expression, and Ren Er scurried along behind him.
Once they were in the carriage, Zhao Lei unleashed a torrent of abuse on Ren Er.
In public, they always acted like a perfectly harmonious couple, but only Ren Er knew the truth. Zhao Lei had a fiery temper, and the moment something displeased him, he would resort to beating her.
But for the vanity that came with the Zhao family’s wealth, she was willing to endure it.
This time, Zhao Lei was furious. "Why didn’t you tell me that Fang Huan was one of Mr. Cui’s honored guests?"
Ren Er clutched her swollen cheek and said pitifully, "I didn’t know either! Father never mentioned it, and besides, everyone knows Ren Liuyue married a schoolteacher. She even said so herself in her letters! Mother sent people to investigate, and that Fang Huan really is just a poor scholar from a small village. Who could have known he’d become one of Mr. Cui’s esteemed guests?"
Zhao Lei snorted. "It seems to me your entire family has been played for fools by Ren Liuyue and Fang Huan. They obviously weren’t telling the truth. How could an ordinary person ever receive that kind of treatment from Mr. Cui?"
Ren Er said nothing, silently shedding tears of indignation.
Zhao Lei continued, "I think you did it on purpose. You told me before that Ren Liuyue’s face was covered in pockmarks, but when I saw her this time, she was a heavenly beauty. If I’d known the Ren Family had a woman as beautiful as her, I wouldn’t have..."
He stopped himself, but his look of disgust cut across Ren Er’s face like a knife.
Zhao Lei had only wanted to get in with Governor Ren, so it hadn’t mattered which daughter he married. In the beginning, he had visited the Ren Mansion on the pretext of having tea with the Governor and had privately met the family’s daughters.
He had initially taken a liking to Ren Si, but unfortunately, she hadn’t come of age yet. And since her older sisters weren’t engaged, Ren Si couldn’t be married off.
So, Zhao Lei had simply chosen Ren Er instead.
Unexpectedly, hearing his unfinished sentence, Ren Er finally flew into a rage.
"First you thought Fourth Sister was beautiful, so you wanted to marry her. Now you see Older Sister and think she’s beautiful, too. You’re so fickle! I’m the one who regrets marrying you!"
"Regret it? If you regret it, then go back to the Ren Family!" Zhao Lei shot back without a hint of hesitation.
The carriage stopped, and he actually threw Ren Er and her maid out. "I’m done with you anyway!"
The carriage sped away, leaving Ren Er sobbing with rage and stamping her foot. "You come back here!"
However, the carriage turned the corner and disappeared from sight.
The maid’s previously arrogant demeanor, which she had borrowed from her mistress, instantly vanished.
She was filled with worry. "Miss, what are we going to do? The master won’t really forbid you from returning to the Zhao family, will he?"
Ren Er wiped away a tear and screeched at her, "Shut up! I’m trying to think, aren’t I? We’re going home right now to tell Mother. We’ll have her put that little bitch Ren Liuyue in her place!"