The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 126: Never Took Wei Zhao Seriously

Put your mind at ease?

Thanks to Yu Tingwan, Lady Zhao’s face turned as black as coal.

Thinking about such a thing being brought into the house, she felt uneasy.

After hearing these words, she trembled with anger and hurried home.

Mr. Zhao had just lulled Nannan to sleep and, hearing footsteps, said: "Lately, several scholars from nearby cities have come over, and some literate students have volunteered. The Post Station over there is much relieved. Seeing that the noblemen are easy to talk to, I took the chance to come back early."

After speaking, he turned to Lady Zhao, and only then noticed that his wife’s expression seemed wrong.

"What happened? Who upset you?"

"You still ask what’s wrong with me?"

Seeing him holding their daughter, Lady Zhao lowered her voice: "I don’t care, that student’s household is not allowed here. Also, you should avoid having too much contact with people like Mr. Chu, whose intentions are impure."

Mr. Zhao: "I didn’t plan to accept them."

He was also troubled: "If the neighbors move away, where am I supposed to cry? I was hoping to discuss academics more with Wei."

"Really?"

Lady Zhao was still uneasy: "Later, he may bring someone over, make sure you don’t soften your stance."

"Scholars are thin-skinned; I’ll refuse them for you."

The cold was biting, with frost and ice along the eaves of the street.

Hu Yaozu was still persistent at the Post Station.

He looked unwell. These nights, he hadn’t had a peaceful sleep.

In the dead of night, his heart was heavy with bitterness.

He should have rushed back to Xilin Village to question Yu Tingwan.

Clearly, he had expressed his feelings many times!

Why wouldn’t Yu Tingwan wait for him? Why would she marry herself off while he was away!

But reason told him he couldn’t.

"Hu Xuezhi."

A confidant of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice approached him.

Hu Yaozu quickly set his pen aside.

"Are you unwell?"

Confidant: "You’ve worked hard these past few days. The gentleman said you should go back early today to rest."

Hu Yaozu’s heart started racing. Though it was a message from a confidant, surely it meant the nobleman was watching him.

He maintained a calm demeanor, politely bowing.

"No problem."

"There are many people wishing to file complaints. The students only regret their limited abilities, but since they can write, they want to lend some help."

The confidant took notice and couldn’t help but feel appreciative.

Hu Yaozu continued his efforts until nightfall.

As usual, Hu Yaozu escorted Mr. Chu back.

Under the moonlight, Mr. Chu’s steps were unusually light.

"Today, have a meal at home; don’t exhaust yourself. I’ve asked your teacher’s wife to make chicken soup for you."

Hu Yaozu had no desire to eat.

He wasn’t in the mood to pretend with these people.

Mr. Chu: "I saw you were too busy today, and with so many people around, I didn’t have the chance to speak."

"Come early tomorrow to pick me up; Mr. Zhao wants to see you."

"No need to rush; act normally, just like usual. Tomorrow, just be yourself. He merely wants to test your knowledge."

"He’s already showing some leniency; this matter will surely succeed."

Hu Yaozu’s eyes sparkled, and he bowed deeply to Mr. Chu: "Thank you, sir."

"Also, thank your teacher’s wife for her hard work."

What does it matter if Yu Tingwan is married?

As he climbs higher and higher, the girl will eventually regret it.

Hu Yaozu doesn’t blame her; Yu Tingwan was just momentarily confused.

Even if she doesn’t regret, it doesn’t matter. Once he has power, he can bring her back.

What husband?

Though he doesn’t know his identity, the man is likely just a country bumpkin. How could he be compared to me?

Indeed, Hu Yaozu was very jealous, but he never took Wei Zhao seriously.

————

Wei Family.

The room was lit.

While Wei Shouzhong was wiping Wei Zhao’s body, Hui Niang was in the next room talking to Yu Tingwan.

"Just now, I took a bowl of stewed lamb to the neighbors and learned something."

She was measuring the girl for new clothes.

"Your Aunt Zhao said that among those families across the alley, trouble happened. Their rice jars and money bags disappeared in the blink of an eye."

"I thought about it and found it quite coincidental, since these were just the families talking idly about us at the cloth store earlier."

Yu Tingwan paused, surprised, raising her eyebrows: "Was it a thief?"

This was no small matter.

If the family was poor, there was no need to worry, but now with wealth, how could Yu Tingwan not feel cautious and anxious?

Hui Niang: "No."

She noted each measurement.

"Right now, the Government Office has nobody, so those families all ran to the Post Station together. But as soon as they arrived, they saw the jars and money bags at the entrance."

Yu Tingwan: ???

She caught onto the key words.

"Jars?"

Does she mean the pottery jars for storing rice and grain?

Even with her strength, she’s unable to carry them.

Hui Niang was also puzzled: "Yes, though each household’s jars look roughly the same, they all have unique markings, which allowed them to recognize their own immediately. They were eager to take them back, but the Post Station wouldn’t allow it, questioning how one could donate on the front foot with the intent to retrieve it on the back foot."

There were many people filing complaints, most of whom were impoverished and emaciated and had walked there. They lingered in Ze County, unwilling to leave.

The officials from the Capital felt compassion and paid out of their own pockets to provide porridge, wishing everyone could enjoy a warm meal in winter.

The merchants from nearby cities took advantage of the opportunity, eager to flatter or form good relations, sending grain and silver.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice saw it as pathetic.

But it was all from the goodwill of the common people.

He was deeply moved!

Yet these people turned back on their word.

He felt deceived and couldn’t be happy.

Yu Tingwan: ???

She... was bewildered.

Hui Niang: "Their families were occupied, and it would’ve been understandable if the rice and money were gone. But for such large jars to vanish without anyone noticing was quite peculiar."

"Who dares to act obstinately in front of an official? Seeing the stern faces over there, they were scared stiff, leaving empty-handed, faces pale with embarrassment."

"I reckon they’ve offended many people over time, and this might be the consequence of their actions."

Yu Tingwan: ...

Offended people?

The girl slowly looked at the wall to her right.

That’s where her and... Wei Shen’s room was.

Yu Tingwan pressed her lips and said nothing.

She didn’t want to dwell on it, treating it as idle gossip.

After returning to her room, the girl prepared as usual to bathe.

Just as she was about to grab her change of clothes, something fell off the bed, landing with a thud, and rolled to her feet.

Yu Tingwan looked down.

It was a bead larger than her fist.

From the moment it appeared, the surroundings lit up like daylight.

Yu Tingwan heard herself gasp.

"Luminous... Luminous Pearl?"

Wei Zhao: "Hmm."

Yu Tingwan: "Isn’t it very expensive? You just tossed it?"

She was worried it might crack.

Wei Zhao spoke slowly: "Couldn’t hold it steady."

Initially, he intended to present it to Yu Tingwan when she approached.

"Aside from that comment, you’re really weak."

The girl remained silent and slowly looked at Wei Zhao: "Where did it come from?"

Wei Zhao was half-lying on the couch, his eyelids drooping.

"Dong Family."

"When you get up at night, isn’t it dark outside? The oil lamps are dim, so you might as well use this."