After returning from the military camp, Chen Yousong stopped by the Chen household, collected some silver from Zhu Shi, and left without a word.
Even so, Zhu Shi could guess what her husband had been up to.
To say she felt no resentment would be impossible.
She knew her husband cared deeply for his motherless niece. The poor child naturally elicited sympathy—but sympathy could not equate to giving everything. She could help, she could feel compassion, but she could not surrender all her resources for Alì.
The previous engagement had already caused some tension in her heart.
Alì needed a good home, just like her own daughter!
The Chen family were military households. In families like theirs, marriages usually occurred between military households; a man wishing to marry a civilian girl was nearly impossible. No parent would want their daughter to jump into a life constrained by generations of military obligation.
Girls could marry out, but dowries needed careful preparation.
So when she heard that her husband had so casually given away this rare opportunity—without considering their own daughter—the anger almost eclipsed her reason.
But last time, her husband had said it was a one-time exception.
She knew Alì was pitiful, so even though she felt reluctant, she had not argued.
Now, the engagement had gone awry again, and Zhu Shi was shocked—but it was, after all, an accident. She could only sigh at Alì’s unfortunate fate.
This time, however, her husband intended to help again.
He had taken all the silver in the house—thirteen taels—and even borrowed more outside.
Their son and daughter were twins, now eighteen years old.
The son was weak; if he went to the battlefield, survival chances were slim. Even other military household daughters looked down on him, fearing to be widowed early.
As for the daughter…
Zhu Shi had been arranging her matches carefully. The potential suitor was a poor civilian, but required at least ten taels as a dowry from the Chen family.
But now, all the money was gone. How could she remain calm?
So when Chen Yousong returned, he was met with her red, swollen eyes. She was both broken and furious:
“You took all that silver… what holes are you trying to fill now?! When you came back last time, I already told you—our daughter is grown, we cannot delay any longer! You promised to save up for her marriage—this is how you save?!”
Chen Yousong looked embarrassed.
Both children quickly stepped forward.
“Mother, don’t worry!” Chen Ying tried to calm her. “Something serious happened to our cousin Alì. If father didn’t help, the Li family would surely have forced her to death. Don’t argue with father over this…”
“Why?! How many times must we intervene! She isn’t my child!” Zhu Shi broke down. “You stubborn white-eyed fool, who am I sacrificing for?! Doesn’t your father already do enough? Year after year he subsidizes her, visits her whenever possible. Didn’t I ever stop him?! Now she’s going to throw away your dowry too! Without that silver, you can only marry a military household. Your children, your descendants… they’ll all be sent to die! Are you crazy?!”
Chen Ying’s face paled.
She knew…
Her father was not the eldest son. After her grandfather died, the eldest went to war, never married, and passed away. The responsibility then fell to her father. Their mother worried every day, afraid that a message of his death might arrive any day.
Their family had never truly been stable.
The Chen household—and the surrounding alleys—were filled with military families, constantly hearing news of death.
The match her mother arranged for her daughter was poor. Her mother was bedridden with serious illness, and the family was poor, with several brothers. The only advantage was that the groom was a civilian.
Chen Ying stood there, stunned, looking helplessly at her father.
“Father, what did you use the silver for? With it, could Alì really avoid suffering?” Chen Ying asked.
If so, perhaps it was worth it.
But she also feared that, as her mother said, helping repeatedly would never end.
“I… I intended to use the silver to persuade Li Chutian to allow Alì to be fostered in our household…” Chen Yousong began.
“Hah!” Before he could finish, Zhu Shi let out a bitter laugh. “You’re really generous. Silver to the Li family, yet the girl stays with us. Even if her killings were unavoidable, what about her reputation? Or do you intend to bind Alì to our Chen Feiqing? If that’s your plan, fine—I’ll accept the silver being spent!”
“Don’t be unreasonable! Can’t you let me finish?” Chen Yousong grew angry.
Zhu Shi raised an eyebrow, her gaze cold and hopeless: “See? You wouldn’t let your precious niece marry into a military household. You want to save her, to ensure she has a safe future… but have you thought of your own daughter? Without this silver, she’ll watch her husband and sons go fight and die! Are you mad?!”
Chen Yousong, his intentions exposed, felt ashamed.
He tried to consider everything, but could he really?
Alì… had no one. He was her only uncle. How could he abandon her?
His expression darkened. He said nothing, only withdrew the twenty taels from his chest and handed them to Zhu Shi.
Zhu Shi froze.
“Mother! The silver wasn’t spent…” Chen Ying exclaimed, then anxiously looked at her father. “Father, what happened? We were willing to spend the money, yet Li Chutian still refuses?”
Zhu Shi held the silver, body slackening as silent tears fell.
Chen Yousong’s voice was hoarse: “Alì… doesn’t want to come.”
Chen Feiqing and Chen Ying immediately understood.
Their cousin Alì had always been obedient, never showing resistance—even when bullied mercilessly by the Li family.
As children, she and her brother had gone to the Li household. Seeing Alì bullied by Li Lingsheng, they had become furious and fought him, both bruised and bloody.
Zhou Shi had cried, scolding Alì and demanding her testimony.
Alì had betrayed them—her own uncle and cousin.
Their mother had come with medicine and several chickens to care for Li Lingsheng, enduring Zhou Shi’s ridicule.
As she grew older, they realized Alì had many unavoidable reasons. But the humiliation she endured at the time meant they could never throw themselves fully in her defense again.
The siblings didn’t know what to say.
Chen Yousong thought of the contract in his hands and hesitated. After his wife’s words, he didn’t know how to handle the situation. He couldn’t hide it forever. After all, once signed, the Li family would no longer interfere in Alì’s marriage. It was serious—he had to report it.
He was silent for a moment, then took out the contract and handed it to Chen Feiqing:
“Have your mother read this.”