With a flicker in her eyes, Li Li found words that would serve her favor. She shook her head with a bitter smile and said, "Mr. Gu, I'm not afraid of your ridicule. My current predicament is my own doing."
Li Li and Su Jing, the sister-in-law of Gu Zi, Mr. Gu's adopted daughter, were classmates and once close friends. Last year, seeing Gu Zi's thriving braised meat shop in town, Li Li had sought a way to make a living.
She approached her dear friend Su Jing, hoping she could help her secure the recipe for the braised meat from Gu Zi. Li Li intended to use it as a means of livelihood after her marriage, to ease the burden on her future husband.
However, things didn't go as planned. Su Jing did sell her the recipe, but it turned out to be a fake. The meat Li Li prepared using it was ruined. This incident brought shame upon her fiancé, who then decided to leave her.