Rebirth: Contract Husband Falls in Love with Me-Chapter 570 - 293: Hardship (Part 2)

Throughout the mansion, servants bustled to and fro, unable to help but glance at him several times. Shi Fengming resigned himself to the situation and braced to endure it. He bitterly mocked himself, thinking how his face as the Zhou family’s son-in-law was now completely wiped clean! It would be better not to come here in the future if possible...how utterly disgraceful...

Shi Fengming had been waiting until nightfall, when even more servants came and went, yet not a single one stopped to greet him. It was as if the masters of the Zhou family had entirely forgotten him! His stomach growled with hunger, and both his legs and back ached, but he still had to bear it.

"Master! If he keeps standing like this, he will be tormented too much! Let’s just forget it!" Mrs. Zhou said, unable to contain her impatience.

"Woman’s kindness!" Master Zhou spoke, "Rest assured! If he cannot endure this bit of hardship, how can he be considered sincere? Let him be for now. We’ll talk about it tomorrow!"

Mrs. Zhou’s lips moved slightly, but then she fell silent.

Master Zhou then ordered that when night fully fell, he should be taken to the guest room and, after a moment’s thought, added, "Give the young lady’s maid a hint later."

Upon hearing this order, the servant hesitated for a moment and stole a glance at Mrs. Zhou. Seeing that she voiced no objection, the servant bowed and acquiesced with a "yes" before departing.

"Sigh!" Mrs. Zhou let out a long sigh, her heart mixed with both joy and sorrow. As a mother, she certainly did not wish for her daughter to lead a bleak and desolate life, like a nun devoid of family warmth. However, to let her go with that good-for-nothing Shi Fengming back to the Shi family, would that really be for her daughter’s benefit?

"I think the lad does mean it this time, don’t worry too much! If he ever reverts to his old ways, hmph, we were able to get our daughter back once; naturally, there can be a second time," Master Zhou said with a sigh.

Mrs. Zhou nodded, "Master is right! In any case, I won’t stand by and watch my daughter suffer."

Darkness enveloped the sky, turning completely black. In the distance, a few scattered and faint yellow lights were visible. There was no moon and the stars were dim. Everything around was immersed in the pitch darkness of the night. The wind blew, causing dark shadows to loom and sway. Although this was inside the mansion, and there was no need to fear, it invoked a sense of inexplicable desolation and loneliness.

What was even more torturous was the all-over soreness and the rumbling hunger! Shi Fengming bent over to rub his aching calves and wished he could just plop down on the ground, but after pondering, he dared not do so.

He regretted it now, regretted following Young Master Zhou into the mansion. If he had waited outside now, at least he could have found something to eat when hungry or sat down on the ground when tired. But here, truly—

Light appeared before him; it was an old maid holding a lantern, who now stood in front of him. Shi Fengming perked up and hurriedly offered her a cordial smile.

But the old maid did not look at him. She bowed her head slightly and said softly, "It is already late today. Master said he will see the young master tomorrow, so please follow me to the guest room for a temporary stay tonight."

Shi Fengming opened his mouth, longing to ask about food, but ultimately he didn’t dare ask and simply nodded, raising his hand to say, "Thank you for showing the way, nanny!"

The old maid didn’t waste words with him; she nodded and led the way. Soon, she brought him to the outside of a room, glanced inside, and said, "This is the place. The washing water is ready, young master should rest early! Do not wander around in the mansion."

"Thank you!" Shi Fengming replied gloomily. Holding a one-in-a-million hope, he pushed the door and entered, his gaze sweeping around. Then he was disappointed—there truly was nothing to eat, not even tea. There was only a basin of steaming hot water with a towel for washing his face...

Shi Fengming laughed at himself. His elder brother had told him that now he was someone seeking favors and needed to show the sincerity and posture of one seeking help. So, no food then, no food it is! This is also a test, isn’t it! Not eating for half a day and a night won’t kill me! But, I am so very hungry... Better to wash up quickly and go to bed to sleep!

Su Qing learned of the news and hesitated whether she should tell her young mistress. She understood her young mistress’s thoughts more than anyone else—her young mistress’s apparent willingness to shave her head and become a nun was not her true intention at all. Even now, wearing plain clothes and eating plain noodles was a forced display for their parents and relatives.

She knew that deep down her young mistress still cared for that worthless son-in-law!

Now that the son-in-law had come begging, if it could lead to a reconciliation with the young mistress, she would surely be more than willing. But who knew what was truly in the son-in-law’s heart? If another such turmoil occurred in the future, her young mistress’s life would definitely be ruined by his hands!

"What’s the matter with you? You look so distracted!" Zhou Jingyi asked while sipping tea at the table, "Did you overhear some idle gossip again?"

Her parents loved her, and her brother and sister-in-law cherished her, but after all, she was the disgraced lady who returned to her natal family and made a huge scene refusing to remarry. There were always those mean-spirited people at the mansion talking behind her back—it wasn’t just wild speculations, they also made up jokes to laugh at her. Su Qing and Su Bi had inadvertently overheard this two or three times before, got angry enough to argue back, and later came to cry and complain to her, but she ordered them not to let their parents and siblings hear about it.

To her, idle rumors and such were things she had long stopped caring about. They were but a fleeting cloud! No, they couldn’t even be called a cloud!

Su Qing clenched her teeth and knelt in front of her, saying, "Miss, there’s something I think I should inform you about!"

"If it’s about some baseless rumors you’ve overheard somewhere, then never mind!" Zhou Jingyi smiled faintly.

"No, it’s not that," Su Qing looked up and said, "The son-in-law is here!"

Zhou Jingyi was startled and changed color as she stood up, "What did you say? Who’s here?"

"Miss!" Su Qing quickly also stood up and helped her to sit down, then relayed exactly what she had heard to Zhou Jingyi, "I heard that the son-in-law came three days ago, was driven out by the Master, the lady, and the eldest son, and for the past two days..."

"Where did you hear this nonsense from! Don’t try to fool me!" Zhou Jingyi’s mind was in chaos; her hands unconsciously fidgeting with the handkerchief in her hands.