After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 48 The Du Family's Attitude
But to everyone's surprise, Bai Qinglian didn't see Du Huan, but Zhang Er Gongzi, who looked at her with a lewd smile.

Bai Qinglian's face instantly darkened. "Why are you here?"

Young Master Zhang rubbed his hands together, his smile widening. "Is that even a question? I'm a little short on cash. If I don't come to you, who else can I turn to?"

Bai Qinglian was furious. "Zhang Changyun, I only gave you fifty taels a few days ago, and you're already asking me for money again. What do you take me for?"

Young Master Zhang grinned, his previous smile gone, replaced by a look of disdain. "Bai Qinglian, if you don't give me money, who will? Besides, it's not like you're penniless. Didn't you latch onto the Huang family?"

"The Huang family is much richer than the Bai family, so don't tell me you're poor."

Bai Qinglian took a deep breath and sighed, "I'm just a concubine, not a lawfully wedded wife. How much money do you think the Huang family can give me? I really have no money left!"

Bai Qinglian pleaded poverty, which made Zhang Er Gongzi anxious. He had just borrowed another hundred taels of silver at the casino. If he couldn't pay it back, and these people came to his house, his father might kick him out of the Zhang family.

"Don't give me that! Aren't you afraid I'll expose your collusion with me to break off our engagement with Bai Furong?" the Second Young Master Zhang threatened. "Then we'll see if the Bai family will still tolerate you!"

Bai Qinglian raised an eyebrow. "Hmph! Who do you think would believe a gambler's words? Don't try to threaten me!"

Bai Qinglian's attitude completely enraged Zhang Changyun. He shoved her against the courtyard wall. Xia Yu cried out and tried to stop him, but Bai Qinglian glared at him angrily and stopped her.
Bai Qinglian knew that her deal with Young Master Zhang must not be exposed. If Xia Yu summoned everyone now, she would not be able to hide it anymore. Her father would punish her, and the Huang family's wives and concubines would use it as leverage against her. She absolutely could not allow this to happen.

"Young Master Zhang, are you out of your mind! This is the Bai family's side courtyard, how dare you touch me?" Bai Qinglian rebuked through gritted teeth.

Zhang Changyun grinned lewdly, "Weren't you fearless? Enough talk, give me the money!"

"Let me go first!" Bai Qinglian glared at Zhang Er Gongzi. "Only then can I give you the money!"

Upon hearing that money was offered, Young Master Zhang immediately released Bai Qinglian and then stretched out his hand in front of her, saying, "One hundred taels, give it to me now!"

"One hundred taels?" Bai Qinglian's eyes widened. "Where would I get one hundred taels? After giving you fifty taels last time, I only had thirty taels left. That's all I have!"

Bai Qinglian angrily handed the money to Zhang Er Gongzi, who curled his lip and said, "Then don't blame me for being impolite." After saying that, he tried to barge into the Bai family's courtyard.

Bai Qinglian quickly stepped forward to block Zhang Changyun, "No! It's just money! Just because I don't have it doesn't mean my second sister doesn't!"

"You mean that idiot?" Young Master Zhang always looked disdainful whenever he mentioned Bai Furong. "She gave me all her money last time, how could she possibly have any left?"

“She may not have money, but she is valuable as a person!” Bai Qinglian’s eyes gleamed. Upon hearing this, the Second Young Master Zhang smiled. He had already gained a lot of benefits from Bai Furong last time, and he would definitely not refuse if he could do it again.

"Then tell me, how is it valued?"

Bai Qinglian then whispered her thoughts in Zhang Er Gongzi's ear. After listening, Zhang Er Gongzi was horrified, exclaiming, "They say the most poisonous heart is a woman's, but I never imagined you were this ruthless!"

Bai Qinglian laughed and said, "Me, heartless? Then you shouldn't do it! I don't have any money either. Go ahead and sue the Bai family now. At worst, we'll both go to hell."

Young Master Zhang paused for a moment. He had come here to ask for money, and now that he had a way to make money, he didn't care about anything else.

"Alright! Let's do it this way!" Young Master Zhang pocketed the thirty taels Bai Qinglian had given him and left.

After Young Master Zhang left, Xia Yu was a little worried. "Miss, what will we do in the future if he keeps coming to ask for money like this?"

Bai Qinglian glanced at Xia Yu and said, "How come you're still so stupid after staying by my side for so long? If Young Master Zhang really listens to me and succeeds, he will not only get the money, but also make me happy."

“If it fails or something goes wrong, the second young master of the Zhang family will probably never have the chance to stand in front of me again. Do you think I’m afraid he’ll ask me for money? What a joke!” Bai Qinglian said smugly, praising her own cleverness.

On the other hand, after Du Huan delivered tea and fruit to Fu Rong, he was summoned back to the Du family by Madam Du.

"Aunt! You wanted to see me!" Du Huan entered the room, looking travel-worn, and greeted Madam Du with a smile.

Madam Du glanced at her nephew and rolled her eyes slightly. "Huan'er, where have you been?"

Du Huan made no attempt to hide anything and said to Madam Du, "Aunt, the shops in Xizhang have some new styles of tea and fruit. I went and bought some to give to Miss Bai Er to try."

"Of course, I also brought some back for you. I sent it to the kitchen. If you want to eat it now, I'll have someone go to the kitchen and have them bring it up."

As Du Huan was about to get up, Madam Du quickly gestured for him to sit down. "Huan'er, you're so kind, but Aunt doesn't need to now. Aunt has something she wants to tell you."

Du Huan then sat down again and looked at Madam Du.

Madam Du didn't keep him in suspense and said directly, "Don't go looking for Miss Bai anymore. Miss Bai is not suitable for you." Du Huan was taken aback. He didn't expect that his aunt, who had been helping him find out the identity of Miss Bai just two days ago, would now oppose his association with Miss Bai.

"Why? Aunt, you weren't like this the other day!" Du Huan said, suppressing his resentment.

Madam Du frowned. "I thought you had your eye on Bai Wanqing or Bai Qinglian. If it were them, marrying into the Du family wouldn't be a bad thing. But who knew you would choose the second young lady of the Bai family? That Bai Furong isn't very bright. How could she be qualified to enter the Du family?"

Madam Du's words stunned Du Huan. He never expected that his aunt, who always practiced vegetarianism and Buddhist chanting and did good deeds, would say such a thing.

He stood up and said with a serious expression, "Aunt, Furong is a good girl. She is kind-hearted and simple-minded. Why can't she enter the Du family?"

"She's an idiot, do you want to marry an idiot? How can I face your deceased mother?" Madam Du didn't want to be so blunt, but seeing Du Huan's stubbornness, she blurted out in anger.

"She's not stupid!" Du Huan almost shouted. "She's just naive. She's such a pure girl, why does her aunt see her as a fool?"

Madam Du was taken aback by Du Huan's anger. Her nephew was always smiling, and this was the first time he had ever lost his temper with an elder like this. Could it be that this boy was really that in love with the second daughter of the Bai family?
Madam Du refused to budge. "Huan'er! Ever since your mother passed away, you've grown up by my side. I've always gone along with you in everything. Even if a rich girl you don't like has a good background, your aunt has never forced you to do so."

"Your aunt thinks that it would be best if you could find someone you like, and the two of you could support each other and live happily ever after. But can Bai Furong support you for the rest of your life?"

"She probably can't even take care of herself. If you need someone to support the family in the future, will she be able to?"

Madam Du's words were eloquent, leaving Du Huan speechless. After a long while, he finally managed to utter, "Furong doesn't need to do anything for me; she just needs to stay by my side."

"By your side? That's fine too. Marrying her as a concubine isn't out of the question," Madam Du said, taking a breath.

"How can that be? How can I let my favorite woman become my concubine? I don't agree!" Du Huan refused hastily. "The Bai family will absolutely not agree either!"

"Then sever all ties with the Bai family! Don't even think about marrying Bai Furong; the Du family will never agree!" Madam Du's attitude hardened. "Wang Mama, send someone to follow the young master. If he goes to the Bai family again or contacts them again, send him back to Huaizhou City!"

After speaking, Madam Du got up and strode away.

"Aunt!" Du Huan called out helplessly, still standing in the same spot, but Madam Du didn't even turn her head.

Du Huan slumped into a chair, feeling a strange tightness in his chest. The thought of never seeing Furong again made his heart clench.

Bai Furong received tea and fruit from Du Huan, but instead of eating any, she happily took the basket and went to Bai Wanqing's courtyard.

"Big sister, come and try these new fruits, you've definitely never tried them before." Bai Furong presented them like treasures, taking out the tea snacks and fruits one by one from the basket.

Bai Wanqing sat down beside her with a smile, watching her happily take out the fruit, and guessed what was going on in her mind.

"Is this a gift from someone? I remember you don't like almonds, but there are several kinds of almonds in this fruit today!" Bai Wanqing picked up a piece of almond shortbread, took a bite, and said.

Bai Furong pursed her lips, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Nothing can be hidden from eldest sister! It was sent by Young Master Du."

“This Young Master Du seems to care a lot about our Furong, and it seems that we Furong don’t reject him anymore, right?” Bai Wanqing asked tentatively.

Bai Furong blinked, her eyes slightly confused. "Big sister, Furong doesn't know, but Furong doesn't dislike the things he sends."

After saying that, she picked out a piece of fruit and put it in her mouth. Furong felt that the pastry was sweet and delicious.

Bai Wanqing asked softly, "Since Young Master Du sent you some snacks, you should reciprocate with something, right? Have you thought about what to give back?"

Furong's eyes lit up, and then she took out a sachet hidden in her sleeve. "Big sister, look, this is what I prepared. I wonder if Young Master Du will find it unpalatable."

Bai Wanqing looked at the sachet in Furong's hand. The stitches were fine and the plum blossoms were lifelike. She had no idea that Furong's needlework was so good!

“He won’t mind such a beautiful sachet.” Bai Wanqing asked doubtfully, “He just sent these fruits today, didn’t he? Did you embroider this sachet beforehand?”

Furong lowered her head, blushing, and said, "Because... because he was the first person to admit he liked me in front of everyone. So, I wanted to give it to him."

Bai Wanqing smiled and decided not to tease Furong anymore. "Alright, then let Uncle Liu deliver it to Young Master Du tomorrow?"

Bai Furong shook her head and said in a soft voice, "No! I'll deliver it myself!"

Bai Wanqing understood, "Alright, alright! You deliver it yourself!"

(End of this chapter)