As Li Yue Shu accompanied the county magistrate and his wife as they ate and chatted, the news of the magistrate visiting Shen Lao San's home spread like wildfire.
During the New Year, everyone was at home, and with the considerable commotion Li Yue Shu had caused with the fireworks on New Year's Eve, all eyes were on their household, naturally accelerating the spread of news.
As Shen Cheng Cai walked along the road, he heard the villagers recounting the events over and over.
The county magistrate actually brought gifts to Li Yue Shu's home? Had their relationship become that good?
The county magistrate was an official of the imperial court. If he valued Li Yue Shu so highly, would it be easy for him to agree to Li Yue Shu's requests?
Shen Cheng Cai's eyes lit up.
Was this the opportune moment that the gentleman from the Li Mansion had spoken of?
Without a second thought, he hurried back towards the town.
Ever since he started earning money by copying books for others, he had secretly stashed away a portion of the money he brought back each time.
His father and grandmother were unreliable; he could only count on himself!
Shen Cheng Cai rushed to town and headed straight for a pastry shop.
When he learned that the pastry he fancied cost eighteen wen, he didn't hesitate to switch to the cheapest option.
The shopkeeper couldn't help but remind him, "This pastry was made three days ago, and we were going to throw it away tonight. Are you sure you want it?"
"I'll take this one," Shen Cheng Cai nodded firmly. "My mother said she was just craving it and would definitely finish it today."
Seeing a child speak so confidently, the shopkeeper didn't suspect anything and wrapped up the remaining pastries for him. He only charged eight wen, but it still pained Shen Cheng Cai immensely.
After leaving the pastry shop, he gave up the idea of buying anything else and went directly to the neighboring village to find Madam Yang.
Since being divorced by Shen Wang, Madam Yang had returned to her maiden home.
Although her family had taken her in, the entire village mocked her as a divorced woman.
When Shen Cheng Cai arrived at the Yang family's home, Madam Yang was squatting in the yard, washing clothes in the freezing cold.
Her hands were red and chapped from the cold, and she had lost a lot of weight. She was nothing like her former self at the Shen household.
"Mom!"
Shen Cheng Cai's shout startled Madam Yang for a long time. She thought she was hallucinating.
When she was driven out of the Shen family, that ungrateful brat had personally come to close the door on her. How could he possibly come looking for her?
Just as Madam Yang was about to mock herself, a figure suddenly rushed towards her and grabbed her hands, which were almost numb with cold.
"Mom, how could they treat you like this? They even make you wash your aunt's clothes!" Shen Cheng Cai exclaimed, his dark complexion deepening.
"Cheng Cai?" Madam Yang realized it wasn't a hallucination. "Why are you here?"
Shen Cheng Cai looked at her, his eyes slightly reddened. "Mom, I came specifically to see you."
As he spoke, he picked up the pastries he had just bought. "I earned this money by copying books for people, and I specifically bought this for you. It cost me a whole twenty wen! Grandma always takes my money; this is what I managed to save up with great difficulty."
As he said this, Shen Cheng Cai's tears began to flow. "Dad and Grandma won't let me come find you, saying you've disgraced the family... Mom, I really miss you. You used to make dumplings for me and stay up with me during the New Year."
Perhaps it was one of his words that struck Madam Yang, and her resentment towards Shen Cheng Cai instantly vanished.
"Cheng Cai, my good son, Mom knew she didn't dote on you for nothing all these years!"
Madam Yang tightly held Shen Cheng Cai's hand, tears streaming down her face.
Shen Cheng Cai threw himself into her arms, his tears soaking her clothes.
"Mom, come back with me! Wuwuwu... Dad and Grandma do nothing at home. I'm the only one supporting the family, and I'm only eight years old!" Shen Cheng Cai cried loudly. "Everything in the house has been sold, but they give me nothing. I copy books every day to earn money, but Grandma takes all the money and doesn't even give me money for ink and brushes. Mom, you're the only one I can rely on!"
Listening to his cries, Madam Yang felt her heart break.
He was, after all, the son she had raised with such care. No matter how resentful she was of his past coldness, at this moment, only pity remained.
But when she heard him wanting her to return, Madam Yang's expression froze.
She pushed Shen Cheng Cai away, her gaze flickering. "Cheng Cai, your father has already divorced me. I can't go back."
The incident with Shen Wang had been so widely publicized that many in their village knew about it, and people were always pointing fingers at her behind her back.
If she returned now, wouldn't people break her spirit?
Shen Cheng Cai looked at her pitifully. "But... Mom, I just want to be with you. You're the only person I can rely on and trust."
Madam Yang felt a pang of heartache, her expression conflicted. "Cheng Cai, Mom also wants to be with you, but your uncle was willing to take me in because I took care of all the household chores. He... he can't take you in anymore."
Shen Cheng Cai's gaze shifted, and his sorrowful expression turned into anger. "How can you be so useless! Is your only ambition to stay here and be ordered around by your uncle and his family like a servant!"
After all, he was just a child. No matter how many schemes he had been taught since childhood, he couldn't hide his emotions well.
Madam Yang was startled by his sudden change in attitude and couldn't react for a long time.
After venting his anger, Shen Cheng Cai suddenly remembered the purpose of his visit and immediately softened his tone. "Mom, I'm worried about you. If Dad hadn't been out of his mind and set his sights on Li Xiang Ru, you would have been a successful scholar's mother, so why would you be here, being tormented by your uncle's family!"
"Mom, the county magistrate visited Third Uncle's home today. I personally saw him bringing in many gifts, box after box! That wicked woman Li Yue Shu was fine even after being thrown into prison because her sister had influential patrons behind her."
"If it weren't for Dad implicating me, everything Li Yue Shu is enjoying now would have been your future! If I can return to school and become a top scholar, I won't care about Dad and Grandma's lives; I will only be filial to you, Mom!"
Madam Yang's heart skipped a beat. "Is that wicked woman really living so well?"
"Of course!" Shen Cheng Cai pressed his advantage. "Not only did she open a pharmacy, but she also built a restaurant. According to the village chief, she's even planning to open a new pharmacy!"
Madam Yang's eyes widened in shock. "Is that true?"
"How could I lie to you!" Shen Cheng Cai sighed with a mournful expression. "If Grandma hadn't been foolish and offended Li Yue Shu, even if Li Xiang Ru expelled me from school, I could have begged Li Yue Shu for mercy."
"Perhaps I could have participated in this year's Tong Sheng exam, then become a Xiu Cai, a Ju Ren, and eventually a Zhuang Yuan. Mom, then I'll take you to Chong Zhou, buy you jewelry and precious ornaments, a large mansion, and hire over a dozen maids and servants to attend to you! Unfortunately, there's no opportunity now..."
Madam Yang's eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if she could see herself adorned in gold and silver, walking through bustling streets, followed by more than a dozen maids and servants.
"Silly son, who says you have no opportunity!"