After resolving the mess caused by Yan Zimei, Du Yangxi personally brought Shouhua home, expecting their relationship to grow stronger and for them to live harmoniously as a loving couple. However, to his shock and confusion, Shouhua suddenly wrote a divorce agreement. She exposed Du Yangxi’s true intentions, pointing out that while he appeared to act in her best interest, his actions were ultimately self-serving, leaving her deeply disappointed.
Hearing Shouhua’s words, Du Yangxi was left speechless. He suddenly knelt on the ground and pleaded, “I hope my sister will care for me,” followed by, “I will cherish you from now on.” His smooth talk softened Shouhua’s heart, and she relented, no longer insisting on the divorce. That night, she stayed up with him, reading by candlelight. By the next morning, Du Yangxi finally discovered that the exquisite couplets from the Li family’s literary competition to choose a son-in-law had actually been written by Shouhua herself.
Excited, Du Yangxi shared this revelation with Sang Yanrang, who couldn’t help but feel envious of Du Yangxi’s marriage to such a talented and virtuous woman. However, Shouhua remained firm in her intention to divorce. She mentioned that her late husband had been a man of exceptional talent and character, and he had once told her that if she were to remarry, she should choose someone even better. Hearing this, Du Yangxi vowed not to disappoint her.
Before long, the rumors about Shouhua and Yan Zimei spread throughout Bianjing. Mrs. Li, overhearing Mrs. Cui and the neighbors gossiping, threw a basin of water at them, deepening the feud between the two families. Meanwhile, the idle young men of Bianjing started a betting pool, claiming that whoever could win the virtuous and talented Tanhua wife would win thirty taels of gold.
Chai An informed Du Yangxi about the situation. Though Du Yangxi was anxious, he pretended to be calm, stating that Shouhua was intelligent and would surely find a way to handle it. He feared that if he intervened rashly, he would only be accused of showing off and risk offending her. Similarly, the Li sisters discussed the matter, worried that Shouhua was being treated as a prize or a piece of meat on a chopping block. They feared that while everyone was praising her now, the tide could turn, and people would quickly turn against her.
When Du Yangxi returned from Panlou, hoping to comfort Shouhua, he found her not in her room but helping his mother with weaving. At that moment, Sang Yanrang took Du Yangxi away, while the sisters sent Chunlai to find an excuse to call Shouhua back, fearing that if they didn’t act soon, trouble would arise.
Seeing her sisters bored at home, Shouhua suggested they go out for a stroll, while she prepared to buy fabric to make clothes for her mother-in-law. Du Yangxi, longing for Shouhua but unsure how to approach her, went to Panlou and gazed longingly at Sifu Zhai across the street. Chai An reminded him that being a son-in-law of the Li family was no easy task.
Meanwhile, the men of Bianjing were already making moves. Some approached Shouhua’s sisters under the guise of kindness, paying for their purchases, while others, like the young owner of a jewelry store, offered discounted hairpins to Shouhua. Some sought her for her beauty, others for her wealth, and some for both, their greed knowing no bounds.
At Mrs. Li’s teahouse, some were plotting to take advantage of the servant Liu Ma, but the Li family had a new plan. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, the Li family closed their shop early and held a small banquet at home, with the married daughters returning to their maiden home. Du Yangxi repeatedly wanted to visit Shouhua but was kept at Panlou by Chai An to play chess, where he learned that Shouhua was also at her mother’s house.
After several rounds of drinks, Fuhui and Kangning left in their sedan chairs. Shouhua, after helping Mrs. Li rest, gave Qiongnu and the others a meaningful look. Du Yangxi, distracted during the chess game, was eager to return home but was called out by Chai An. Frustrated, he stayed at Panlou to continue playing chess.
Meanwhile, four scoundrels who had taken up the betting challenge sneaked into the Du family’s backyard. Fuhui and Kangning returned, no longer appearing drunk, as the Li family prepared to catch the intruders. Du Yangxi and Chai An suddenly realized someone was missing—Fan Lianghan was helping his wife’s family catch the thieves. In the middle of the night, the sound of Chunlai shouting “Thief!” echoed, and neighbors rushed out with sticks.
The four intruders, hiding in the Du family’s courtyard, panicked at the sound of gongs and tried to escape by jumping over the wall, only to be caught by the neighbors. Mrs. Cui tried to use the chaos to slander the Li family, but the Li women were not ones to be bullied. With a few words, they cleared their name, earning the neighbors’ sympathy and outrage. Du Yangxi also arrived in time to help resolve the situation. Touched by his actions, Shouhua finally gave him her first challenge.
