[Gold Powder GL] True Elegance Comes with Knowledge - Chapter 23

Peifang arrived earlier than expected.

Whether it was good luck or bad, it just so happened that she arrived in time for Jin Fengju’s lavish banquet at his private residence. In front of the grand entrance, cars came and went in a steady stream. The street lamps cast their glow on the gold characters spelling “Jin Residence,” exuding such opulence that it was no less impressive than the Premier’s mansion.

Peifang stayed at the gate, not only catching sight of Jin Fengju and Wanxiang with her own eyes but also getting a clear view of every guest who arrived.

It turned out that those so-called “friends” of Jin Fengju, who had always behaved respectfully in front of her—calling her “sister-in-law” with such politeness—were now enthusiastically greeting someone else as the “new sister-in-law.”

Peifang had thought she’d been generous and cordial to them, believing they shared a genuine bond. But today, seeing them fawn over another woman so eagerly, she realized how shallow those ties had been.

What chilled her most was when yet another car pulled up just as the party was about to wind down—and out stepped Yanxi.

Peifang had previously said she’d asked someone to look into Wanxiang’s background. That person had been Yanxi. Back then, he’d hemmed and hawed, and she should have known something was off. Given how close he was with Jin Fengju at home, she’d trusted him not to brush her off. She’d believed he hadn’t found any useful information. But now she understood…

Of course. Bl00d is thicker than water. How could she expect him to offend his own brother for the sake of a sister-in-law?

She had only herself to blame for failing to see through it all—naively turning to him for help, never realizing that he might’ve been dreading how to deal with her.

Since she was coming here, Peifang hadn’t brought her driver—she drove herself. Sitting in the car for ages, she’d already felt stifled and unwell. Now, faced with this scene, her stomach churned with nausea. She stepped out of the car and dry-heaved into the roadside gutter, but nothing came up. As she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, she suddenly remembered—she hadn’t eaten a thing all day.

That thought alone made her stomach burn with pain.

Her hands were trembling when she started the car again, but once she got on the road, she gradually calmed down. She drove straight to Yan Hui’s apartment.

It wasn’t until she stood under the lights that her face’s pallor became apparent—white as paper. Yan Hui was startled. “What on earth happened to you? Do you have a death wish?!”

She helped Peifang inside and brought her a bowl of hot soup.

Peifang drank it slowly, one sip at a time, until warmth gradually returned to her limbs, bringing her back to life. Leaning against the sofa, dazed, she gave a bitter smile.

“I thought he must’ve fallen for some celestial beauty. But she’s not as pretty as me, not as educated either. I really don’t understand.”

“What’s there to understand?” Yan Hui said. “Men are like children. You bruised his ego, didn’t let him have his way, so he went looking for someone who would stroke it. You’re capable in every way, which makes you proud—you won’t bend. She can’t hold a candle to you, which is precisely why she can play the obedient one, always catering to him.”

To Jin Fengju, Wanxiang must’ve seemed like a docile and tender woman—gentle and sweet—something his socially matched wife, Peifang, could never be. But that demure gentleness? It was nothing more than a performance, born of her humble background, a tactic to flatter and please him.

In the original story, Wanxiang eventually runs off with the family’s money, and only then does Jin Fengju “see her clearly” and begin to miss Peifang. Isn’t that laughable?

Yan Hui chuckled at the thought. “If you really wanted to win him over, could you not have done so by just swallowing your pride?”

Peifang gave a sharp laugh. “That’s precisely what I couldn’t do. So, I lost—and I have no regrets.”

It was only at this moment that she fully realized how ridiculous her earlier thoughts had been. She had assumed she still had a choice. But in truth, the day Jin Fengju decided not to come home was the day their story had already reached its ending.

She’d been clinging to the idea of presenting him with divorce papers, while he had already made his decision through action.

His friends treating the new woman so respectfully had nothing to do with her merit—it was all because of his face. Just like how they had treated Peifang politely in the past—it wasn’t about her as a person, but about him. And she had foolishly believed she was someone of importance.

“Stop right there,” Yan Hui interrupted. “That’s enough self-criticism for today. Let me ask you this: if you raised a dog, fed it gourmet meals every day, but it still went out to eat sh1t—would that be your fault? If you’re at fault for anything, it’s for knowing full well that dogs can’t stop themselves from eating sh1t and choosing to raise one anyway.”

Peifang was snapped out of her spiral of self-pity by the bluntness of her words. She was startled, amused, and oddly comforted—it was painfully accurate.

Staring at her now-empty bowl for a while, she suddenly said, “I want a divorce.” After a pause, she added, “But there’s still one thing I haven’t decided.”

Yan Hui guessed she meant the child. “That’s not what you should be worrying about now,” she replied. “What you should be thinking about is how you’ll live after the divorce. If you’re financially independent—can keep up your current standard of living, afford a big house, pay for servants—then why not have the baby?

It’s not an illegitimate child. Even after the divorce, their status is secure. And even if the Jin family refuses to acknowledge them, can’t you provide?”

Suddenly, everything became clear to Peifang.

She’d been stuck in emotional turmoil, feeling like having the baby meant she still had feelings for Jin Fengju. But this was her child too—why shouldn’t she keep it? If she aborted the child, it would seem like revenge, but would Jin Fengju even care?

Whether she had the baby or not, she’d be the one to suffer. So why should she base her decision on a man’s feelings?

“I understand now,” she said quickly. And in truth, it had never really been a difficult decision—she had longed for this child for a long time.

“Stay here tonight,” Yan Hui said. “Think carefully about your next steps.”

Peifang nodded. “Thank you, Miss Jin. I never expected…”

That in the end, it would be this girl—a near-stranger—who helped her see things clearly.

“You can call me Yan Hui,” she replied. “And don’t mention it. I just can’t stand seeing a perfectly good woman destroy herself over a man.”

“Destroy herself…” Peifang murmured the phrase, then chuckled bitterly. Weren’t all her thoughts before just self-destruction?

After a while, she looked over and asked, “If I end up not going through with the divorce, will you be disappointed in me?”

“Not at all,” Yan Hui replied calmly. “I respect everyone’s choices. In my view, whether or not you divorce isn’t the point. Each option has its advantages.”

“How so?” Peifang was intrigued.

Yan Hui explained, “The benefits of divorce are obvious. But if you don’t divorce, then you and the child still hold a stake in the Jin family’s wealth and connections. Compared to that, seeing someone you hate now and then isn’t a big deal. Besides, doesn’t he already hate coming home? If you’re unhappy, you can choose not to go home either.”

“Huh…” Peifang had never thought about it like that. She used to think such thoughts were too calculating, too materialistic. But now that love had turned cold—why not consider them? If she weren’t interested in any of this, why stay in the Jin family at all?

Compared to what Yan Hui said, her earlier ideas were naïve and impulsive.

So, what if she made a scene? For the Jin family, once she caused an uproar, the matter would be considered closed. If she kept pressing the issue, she’d just be seen as “unreasonable.” Look at someone as formidable as Wang Xifeng—when Jia Lian fooled around with another woman on her birthday, she wanted to kill him in her fury. But in the end, even she had to compromise.

Even to deal with You Erjie, she had to lure her into the house first.

But Peifang wasn’t Wang Xifeng. She had options. Wang Xifeng didn’t dare truly strike down Jia Lian. Peifang, however, could slap Jin Fengju across the face—twice!

The thought alone made her regretful.

Why had she driven away so quickly? She should’ve marched right in, slapped Jin Fengju in front of everyone, and announced her intention to divorce. She didn’t believe the Jin family would still have the nerve to talk reconciliation after that.

She shared this idea with Yan Hui.

Yan Hui stroked her chin. “Honestly? That’s not a bad plan.”

“Really?” Peifang’s eyes lit up. “Then why don’t I go back now? This kind of opportunity doesn’t come often.” She checked the time. “These parties can go on forever—they’re probably still there.”
“If you’re ready, then go,” Yan Hui said.

Peifang stood up immediately, but Yan Hui stopped her and had a table of dishes brought in, urging her to eat something first.

Only then did Peifang remember—she hadn’t eaten all day.

She could endure it, but the child in her belly might not. Now that she had decided to keep the baby, she couldn’t afford to be careless anymore.

Before eating, Peifang followed Yan Hui’s suggestion and called her family. She couldn’t take Yan Hui with her, and going alone wasn’t safe. It was better to bring more people—it would make a bigger scene.
After the meal, the Wu family arrived. Peifang took a deep breath and gathered her strength.

Yan Hui walked her to the door and handed her a small box.

Peifang opened it in surprise—it was a pair of gloves.

“When you slap him, wear these,” Yan Hui said. “No need to hurt your hand.”

Pei Fang’s tense nerves loosened all at once. Smiling, she stepped forward and gave Yan Hui a hug. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Yan Hui replied. “Oh, and one more thing—after you slap him, immediately faint. Let your family take you to the hospital. See no one. Tomorrow, make sure the divorce announcement goes straight into the papers.”

Peifang nodded again and again. This was even better than what she had planned. If she struck out in righteous anger, neither the slap nor the divorce could be blamed on her. And once the news was printed, it wouldn’t be so easy to walk things back—even if the Jin family had second thoughts.