Sold immediately after wearing it? I took my family and fled the famine.

When Chen Sumei returned to the Chen family, the Xu family had already sent someone to inform her of what had happened at the Xu residence.

Hu Shi half-helped, half-dragged her into the house. Granny Chen sat in the hall, while Aunt Wang and Shen Shi stood for a while. Seeing that the atmosphere seemed a bit off, no one spoke and each made an excuse to leave.

Just as the two reached the courtyard gate, they heard a crisp "snap" sound coming from inside the house.

At the Xu residence, Su Yan rested for a long time until the effects of the medicine wore off before leaving with Xu Wanning.

Second day

Early in the morning, Xu Yun had a servant cook a bowl of hot porridge and bring it into the room. Chen Xiaoxiao sat at the table and sipped the porridge slowly.

Xu Yun stood by the window, looking at the sky outside, and suddenly said, "Su Yan won't marry her."

Chen Xiaoxiao looked up at him.

Xu Yun didn't turn around and continued, "Chen Sumei's actions have completely blocked her own path. Su Yanning would rather report her to the authorities than get involved with her. The Su family is not a small or insignificant family; if things really come to court, Chen Sumei will not get away with anything."

He paused, then turned around: "I just didn't expect that she would even abandon her reputation."

Chen Xiaoxiao put down her spoon and said softly, "She's always been like this. If she really wants something, she doesn't care what she has to give in exchange. When we were little, she would cry and roll on the ground in front of everyone in the yard just to take my hair tie. Later, when she grew up, she learned to be dignified and pretend, but she hasn't changed at heart."

Xu Yun walked over and sat down opposite her: "You knew she would go this far?"

"I guessed she'd cause trouble, but I never expected her to target Su Yan," Chen Xiaoxiao said. "What she values ​​most has never been the marriage with the Xu family, it's Su Yan. Ever since we came back from the Lantern Festival, she hasn't let go of him. The day I fell into the water, she pushed me, not entirely to get the Xu family to replace me. She wanted to hand me over to you so she could go find Su Yan cleanly."

When Xu Yun heard her speak so calmly about the day she fell into the water, he reached out and covered her hand, whispering, "Now that I've married you, no one will ever let you suffer that kind of injustice again."

Chen Xiaoxiao looked at him and softly hummed in agreement.

When Su Yan woke up, it was already broad daylight.

He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light filtering through the window paper, his head throbbing as if it were about to split open. He could only recall a few fragmented images of last night's events. He sat up and saw Xu Wanning sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes red and swollen, her lips pale. She didn't speak, but simply handed him a glass of warm water.

Su Yan stared at her for a couple of moments: "What happened?"

Xu Wanning placed the water on the bedside table, pursed her lips tightly, and then spoke: "You drank too much last night. No, you were drugged."

Su Yan's eyes changed instantly: "Who?" Xu Wanning paused, and tears welled up again.

She refused to cry out loud, only turning her head away and dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief: "Chen Sumei. She bribed the servants of the Xu family to put something in your wine. Later, when you were helped to the west wing, she followed you in. Someone outside barged in and saw what happened."

Su Yan's breathing grew heavier. Suddenly, he grabbed the celadon teacup from the bedside and smashed it on the ground. Shards of porcelain shattered all over the floor, with a few fragments landing at Xu Wanning's feet.

Xu Wanning didn't dodge. Su Yan stood up, his voice hoarse: "Change your clothes. Go to the Xu family."

Upon arriving at the Xu family residence, Xu Yun was already waiting in the main hall. Chen Xiaoxiao stood beside him, her brows furrowed with weariness.

Xu Yun didn't beat around the bush and ordered someone to bring the servant who had served wine the previous night into the hall. The servant knelt down as soon as he entered, his head pounding loudly: "Young Master Su, spare my life! It was Miss Chen who ordered me to do this! The silver is still in my pocket, and the silver bracelet, which she also gave me!"

Su Yan looked at him, her eyes red, and asked, word by word, "Where is she?"

Xu Yun said, "She's at the Chen family's. I had her leave the Xu family last night."

Su Yan sneered, "Then let's go to the Chen family."

He looked at the servant kneeling on the ground: "You, come with me." The servant trembled, but still got up and followed.

Xu Wanning also stood up and followed behind Su Yan. Chen Xiaoxiao glanced at Xu Yun, who gently squeezed her hand: "Let him go. The Xu family won't get involved in this matter, but the rightful witnesses should be given." Chen Xiaoxiao nodded.

Outside the Chen family courtyard in Maocao Village, Hu was hanging clothes to dry in the yard. When she saw Su Yan enter with his men, she was about to ask what they were doing there when Su Yan spoke up: "May I ask if this is Chen Sumei's home? My name is Su Yan. Please call Chen Sumei out."

Upon hearing "Su Yan?", Madam Hu immediately threw the clothes she was holding into the basin, yelling, "You, surnamed Su! How dare you show your face here!" She rushed forward, pointing her finger at Su Yan's nose and cursing, "My daughter is an innocent girl, and look what you've done to her! You still dare to bring people to our door today! Do you think the Chen family has no one to rely on?!"

The two attendants behind Su Yan drew their swords halfway with a "whoosh." Hu's voice caught in her throat, and her face turned pale.

Su Yan said coldly, "Auntie, I'm here to demand an explanation. Get out of my way."

Hu stepped aside, still stubbornly insisting, "You... don't think you can intimidate people just because the Su family is rich."

Granny Chen came out of the main room and her face changed when she saw the scene.

When Chen Sumei was called out, her hair was still a little messy, and her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying all night.

When she saw Su Yan, her first reaction was to take half a step forward, but when she saw Xu Wanning and the servant kneeling to the side, her face turned pale.

Su Yan had his servants recount the events of the previous night in public.

After hearing this, Chen Sumei trembled all over and shouted in a shrill voice, "He's lying! I didn't! I don't know him at all! Su Yan, you're trying to harm me! You're trying to force me to my death!"

The man took out the silver bracelet from his pocket and presented it with both hands: "Miss Chen, you personally took off this bracelet and gave it to me. I wouldn't dare lie."

Chen Sumei stared at the silver bracelet, her throat feeling choked up. It was a gift from Granny Chen to her on her birthday last year; she couldn't deny it.

She could only stubbornly deny it: "You stole it! You stole it from me!"

The servant kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "How could I possibly have the audacity to steal a young lady's things!" Both sides stuck to their own versions of events.

Granny Chen and Madam Hu naturally sided with Chen Sumei, while Su Yan stood in the courtyard, his face growing increasingly grim.

Xu Wanning tugged at his sleeve: "Cousin, don't do it yet."

"I won't take action. Report it to the authorities."

"etc."

She walked up to Su Yan, looked up at him, and asked, "Do you believe me?"

Looking at her red and swollen eyes, Su Yan felt a pang in his heart: "Believe."

"Then let me do it."

Su Yan didn't speak again, only took half a step back. Xu Wanning turned to Chen Sumei: "Miss Chen, you keep saying Su Yan has to take responsibility. Fine, I'll give you a way to take responsibility: the Su family will let you in. As a lowly concubine, sign a contract of indenture. Do you agree?"

Granny Chen suddenly stood up: "Miss Xu, you've gone too far! No matter how poor my Chen family is, we have no reason to let our daughter become a concubine! A lowly concubine, no less! Isn't this deliberately humiliating?"

Madam Hu also exploded: "You little hussy, stop talking nonsense! My Su Mei would rather marry a pig or a dog than be anyone's concubine!"

Xu Wanning didn't look at them, but only at Chen Sumei: "Miss Chen, the gates of the Su residence will only be opened for you this once." Chen Sumei seemed to be ignited by something.

Her eyes lit up instantly, and she rushed over to grab Xu Wanning's hand, her voice urgent and trembling: "I agree! I agree!" Granny Chen almost lost her balance and was supported by Madam Hu.

Hu stared wide-eyed, as if looking at a stranger: "Sumei! Are you crazy! If you dare agree to this today, I'll sever all ties with you as mother and daughter!"

Chen Sumei turned her head, her face already streaked with tears: "Am I crazy? Yes! I've been crazy for a long time! Mother, you've never known what I want! You all say I'm not as good as Jiang Xing, not as good as her in anything! My clothes aren't as nice as hers, my business isn't as good as hers, even someone like Pei Xiucai only has eyes for her! What do I lack compared to her?"

"Why should I always live under her thumb! I've had enough! I've really had enough! Even if I have to become a slave and a concubine, I will still enter the Su family! I want everyone to see that I, Chen Sumei, am not destined to be chosen by others!" Madam Hu trembled all over, tears streaming down her face.

She raised her hand, pointed at Chen Sumei, and her voice cracked: "Fine! Fine! If you dare to enter the Su family's door today, I'll pretend I never had a daughter like you! Once you leave, don't ever come back!" Upon hearing this, Chen Sumei actually smiled.

She turned to Xu Wanning and said, "I'll go with you." Xu Wanning didn't say anything, but turned and walked out.

Su Yan glanced at Chen Sumei, his eyes filled with disgust, impatience, and a hint of inexplicable coldness. He said nothing and led his men out of the Chen family compound.

Chen Sumei followed, behind her were Hu Shi's heart-wrenching cries and Chen Pozi's shouts.

Chen Xiaoxiao stood at the entrance of the Chen family home and saw Chen Sumei following Su Yan and Xu Wanning into the carriage. Xu Yun walked up and gently took her hand.

Chen Xiaoxiao whispered, "She'll definitely regret it later." Xu Yun didn't reply. The carriage drove out of the village, kicking up a thin layer of dust.