Guagua: [After Ruan's Mother left the Capital, a wealthy merchant rescued her when she was starving and barely clinging to life. From then on, she became his concubine.
But the merchant's wife was a ruthless woman. While he was away, she falsely accused Ruan's Mother of having an affair. Without waiting for him to return, she ordered her servants to dispose of Ruan's Mother.
They dumped her corpse in a mass grave.
When the merchant returned and heard what had happened, he cursed Ruan's Mother for being shameless, saying he should never have rescued her in the first place.
He even praised his wife for handling the matter so decisively!
In fact, Ruan's Mother had intended to take Ran Xiaoxue away once she had secured her footing. She never expected to lose her own life first.]
Song Yaoyao: [Didn't Ruan's Father remarry?]
Guagua: [No. In their neighborhood, who didn't know that Ruan's Father liked to beat people when he was drunk? His reputation had long since rotted.
Back when Ruan's Mother was still around, he beat her every few days, and the commotion was loud.
Even though Ruan's Father ran a butcher shop and lived comfortably, no one was willing to marry him.
Who knew when he might beat them to death?
However, Ruan's Father was carrying on with Widow Cai at the western end of this street.
Ruan's Father spent generously, and Widow Cai was willing to attend to him.]
Song Yaoyao: [Then what?]
Guagua: [By the time Ran Xiaoxue turned twelve, Ruan's Father rarely beat her anymore.
It wasn't because he felt sorry for his daughter, but because Ran Xiaoxue had grown quite pretty.
Even then, it was clear that Ran Xiaoxue would become a great beauty.
Ruan's Father wanted to raise this daughter well and keep her