Chapter 45 - 45 45 Must I be doomed to hang on a single tree of your Wang Family

Words : 1485 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

45: Chapter 45 Must I be doomed to hang on a single tree of your Wang Family? (Revised) 45: Chapter 45 Must I be doomed to hang on a single tree of your Wang Family? (Revised) Walking home, Wang Yongzhu engaged in sporadic conversation with Jinhua, her mind still preoccupied with the matters she had just heard about. She had never dealt with such issues before, and one misstep might mean not only mutual destruction for the Wang Family and the Li Family, but what she feared most was that Fourth Brother Wang Yongping would become estranged from the family. As she grappled with her thoughts, she spotted a familiar figure—who else could it be but Wang Yongping? Smiling foolishly, with something bulky in his arms, he was headed in the direction of the Li Family, wasn’t he? Wang Yongzhu furrowed her brows, halted her steps, and instructed Jinhua, “You go back first. I have a little matter to attend to and will be back shortly.” Jinhua nodded obediently, without daring to ask further, and carrying her basket on her back, she headed home. Wang Yongzhu hurriedly followed behind Wang Yongping on his way to the Li Family. For fear of being discovered by Wang Yongping, she deliberately kept her distance. She saw Wang Yongping run to the Li Family’s house, where he whistled for a good while outside the courtyard wall and then, standing on tiptoes, called out several times, “Jinzhi—Jinzhi—” After a long while, the main door of the Li Family opened, and a graceful young girl came out. At this moment, Wang Yongzhu was hiding behind a pair of haystacks next to the Li house. The haystacks concealed her stout figure, yet she could both hear and see the two people. Before, she had only heard Li Jinzhi’s voice. Wang Yongzhu never held a good impression of Li Jinzhi, seldomly interacting with her and thus lacking a strong memory of her. Looking now, Li Jinzhi was dressed in a faded blue cotton garment, tall, and well-developed, with a chest and waist clearly defined. She had glossy black hair adorned with a thin silver hairpin and two silk flowers. Among the rural girls, her skin was relatively fair, her face shaped like a melon seed, with small eyes that tilted upward at the ends, carrying an indescribable allure. No wonder she claimed to be somewhat pretty; indeed, with such looks, she would be considered beautiful not only in Qilidun but also in Shiqiao Town. No wonder He Dawei of the He Family refused to let her go even after his leg was broken for her sake, and based on the looks of it, Fourth Brother of her own family was also extremely fond of her. When Li Jinzhi came out and saw Wang Yongping, her face quickly flashed an uncomfortable expression, but she immediately put on a cold front, “What are you here for?” As soon as Wang Yongping laid eyes on Li Jinzhi, he was all smiles, reaching into his arms to pull out a snow-white rabbit and offering it to Li Jinzhi as if presenting a treasure, “Jinzhi, I had good luck hunting in the mountains today and caught a rabbit. I kept it alive on purpose. If you like it, you can keep it as a pet for a few days. If not, let Auntie cook it for you, to nourish your body...” All of a sudden, Wang Yongzhu understood the mindset of those old grannies, like Old Granny Zhang. Her son, whom she had painstakingly raised, once grown up and successful, would forget about his parents the moment he got something tasty or fun, choosing instead to please an outsider—a little demoness. Li Jinzhi covered her nose, stepping back in disgust, and fanned the air with her other hand, “Take it away, take it away, it’s filthy! Who needs your rabbit? If you’ve got something to say, say it. If not, I’m going back inside.” The smile on Wang Yongping’s face stiffened; he appeared somewhat at a loss, seemingly not understanding why Li Jinzhi showed such repulsion, “Jinzhi, what’s the matter? Didn’t you say before that you wanted to raise a rabbit? It’s okay if you don’t like it, Auntie can stew it for you, to strengthen your health...” “It was eight hundred years ago that matter, why didn’t you catch one for me then? Now you eagerly bring it over just to be disliked—” Li Jinzhi rolled her eyes. Wang Yongping was stunned for a moment, wringing his hands awkwardly as if not knowing what to do. After thinking for a long time, he finally mustered the courage, “Then... if you don’t like rabbits, you just don’t, I, I brought you two flowers, do you like them?” While speaking, he pulled out two silk flowers from his bosom and stuffed them into Li Jinzhi’s hands. Li Jinzhi wasn’t paying attention and ended up with two warm silk flowers in her hands. Looking down, her lips curled in disdain, and her face couldn’t help but show scorn and contempt: “You actually have the nerve to offer such trash? Ones worth a penny each? These things, you think they’re fit for me to wear? Pfft—” With a cold laugh, her fingers loosened and the two silk flowers fell to the ground. Wang Yongping seemed not to recognize Li Jinzhi at all, looking at her, not understanding why his soon-to-be bride was behaving this way. His face reddened, Wang Yongping spoke with a good-natured tone, “Jinzhi, I know you are upset, blaming our family for dragging out the wedding date these several years. We’ve wronged you, but don’t worry, my mother is already discussing the date with your family, we will soon have the wedding. Today I went to the mountain to choose timber to make furniture. What style do you like? I’ll make it all for you! You can be sure, once we get married, I’ll buy you even prettier flowers to wear. I have plenty of strength, and when I’ve earned money, I’ll give it all to you...” Li Jinzhi, annoyed, picked at her nails. An inept man talked on and on, and could only ever promise flowers to wear. How could such a man be worthy of her? Unwilling to waste more time listening: “Alright, does it take you half a day to talk about such a trivial thing? In broad daylight, if others see us, how am I going to show my face? Don’t come looking for me anymore—” As she spoke, she turned to leave. Wang Yongping wanted to reach out to hold her back, but didn’t dare, turning in circles in his anxiety, and could only plead in a low voice, “Jinzhi, Jinzhi, please don’t be mad—” Wang Yongzhu couldn’t stand it anymore, this Li Jinzhi was going too far, not once did she give Wang Yongping a proper look, always glancing at people sidelong. How much disdain did she have for Wang Yongping? If she were already involved with another man, what was this attitude for? Shouldn’t she be honest with Wang Yongping at this point and propose annulling the marriage? What was she doing, complaining and disdainful? “Fourth Brother, why do you beg her? Do you know why she ignores you? She’s climbed a high branch, got together with another man, and even has his child in her belly by now. Naturally, she scorns the rabbit and silk flowers you’ve given. The clothes she wears, the items she dons on her head, they’re all probably gifts from that man, right?” Wang Yongzhu emerged from behind the haystack, grabbing the lowly pleading Wang Yongping. Upon hearing Wang Yongzhu’s words, Li Jinzhi’s complexion turned white, and she glanced around guiltily. How did this fat swine of the Wang family know about her affair? Over there, Wang Yongping was dumbfounded, and it took him a long time to recover: “Little sister, don’t talk nonsense! Jinzhi isn’t like that, right, Jinzhi?” He looked at Li Jinzhi, full of hope that she would tell him his sister was lying. Li Jinzhi, seeing no one around, hardened her heart. She figured sooner or later everyone would find out. Looking at Wang Yongping’s pathetic figure, she thought it would be better to tell him early, to make him give up, to stop pestering her. She arrogantly nodded her head, “Since you already know, I won’t hide it from you! Yes, I’m with someone else. Brother Da Wei’s family has money and land, treats me well, buys me silver hairpins, flowers to wear, and even clothes. With him, I can eat and drink the best, and once we’re married, I can have a maid to serve me, and I’ll be a shopkeeper’s wife. Why would I cling to the Wang family like hanging onto a single tree for dear life?”

Chapter 45 - 45 45 Must I be doomed to hang on a single tree of your Wang Family

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