books44 Chapter 191 Cause and Effect Loop
Chapter 191 Cause and Effect Loop
"Du Hongxue, what do you mean?" Upon hearing this, Wu Jinfeng's barbs immediately stood up.
Over the years, Du Hongxue had gotten used to it. This woman always stood in front of him fearlessly. Du Hongxue looked at her with pity and continued, "Grandma, I've recently taken to going to the temple for peace and quiet. I heard a story from a monk there, and I'll tell it to you."
“Okay, the stories told by the monks in the temple are full of wisdom, you should all listen to them,” the old lady said to everyone.
Everyone quieted down. "There was once a man who was very learned and talented. He was famous in the area at a young age. Everyone said that he would definitely become a great talent in the future. However, he failed the exams every time, and he was still not a scholar even when he was very old. Why was that?"
He was constantly resentful and complained about everything. A highly virtuous monk, seeing his plight, came to offer guidance, asking if he had done anything wrong. He denied it. The monk calmly said, "You were destined for a life of wealth and honor, rising to the rank of Minister. However, your licentious behavior has brought about terrible consequences, severely damaging your fortune." He was speechless. "Lust is the root of all evil," he said, recalling a lesson learned from the classics, yet he had seduced many women. The monk continued, "Those who harm their brothers will surely face retribution." The monk, true to his title, exposed his sins in a single sentence: he had plotted against his brother, seizing his family's wealth and wife. His fate was predictable: impoverished in his later years, and even after his death, no one could claim his body. People lamented the cycle of cause and effect, the consequences of yesterday's actions, the retribution that is inevitable. Uncle, how can there be such a person who so cruelly diminishes their own fortune?"
"Maybe so. People always claim to be 'the world is muddy but I am clear-headed, everyone is drunk but I am sober.' Who can really say for sure?" Du Hexiang said with a straight face.
“Although I have concealed it very well and written it very cleverly, my true feelings have long been exposed, and I cannot deceive myself in the end.” Du Heming stood up, walked to the old lady and said, “Mother, please take the three of us brothers to Father’s study. I have something to say.”
"Heming! You..."
"Mother, there are some things that need to be made clear. I'm tired."
"Heming... alright!" The old lady stood up shakily. "You three brothers, come in with me. The rest of you may leave!"
The people in the living room looked at each other, wondering what had happened and what Du Hongxue was implying. So they stayed and waited.
Wu Jinfeng, who was usually noisy, didn't say anything. She was thinking about Du Hongxue's words, "lustful?" Was it her husband, Du Hexiang?
As soon as she entered the study, the old lady asked sternly, "Du Hexiang, did you do something?"
"What can I do? Don't believe everything you hear!" Du Hexiang said calmly. Neither he nor Wu Jinfeng had directly come forward this time, and they had stubbornly denied it. Du Heming couldn't do anything about it.
"Mother, sit down, let me speak." Du Heming helped the old lady sit down.
"Brother, I remember that year you suddenly ran away from the army and asked Father for help. You didn't want to join the army anymore, did you?" Du Heming didn't question him about Zhan Feipeng at all.
"Yes, there was fighting every day back then. I was young and scared, so of course I was scared. But I still went back, unlike you guys who are enjoying yourselves at home."
Du Hetian, who had been quiet, spoke up to refute: "Brother, those years were a time of national crisis. After Shanghai fell, we were also fleeing everywhere, and life was not easy."
"That's still better than me! I live in constant fear, and I only sought out that stupid woman Wu Jinfeng in order to survive and hide my identity."
“Du Hexiang, Wu Jinfeng was someone you chose yourself. Your father and I disagreed, but you said her family had been poor farmers for three generations, and she was a good match for you. Later, when you became an officer, her background did help you. Weren’t you very proud of your foresight then? How come you were the one who looked down on her?” the old lady retorted.
"I...I had no choice at the time. Look at her now, she's such a fat pig, any man would find her disgusting, fat, ugly and vulgar!"
The old woman was furious. As a woman herself, she felt sorry for Wu Jinfeng. "You...you...she's your wife, she's been through thick and thin with you! She would rather go hungry herself than not serve you good food and drink, and now you're turning your back on her?"
“Mother, I haven’t wronged her at all. I’ve given her the dignity she deserves.”
Du Heming couldn't stand his self-righteous attitude and went straight to the point, "So you're keeping a mistress on the side?"