These words sounded somewhat strange to Xie Liu Shi, yet they seemed faultless.
“At least you know your place. My daughter-in-law, Miss Wang San, is not only gentle and kind but also a Level Two Alchemist at such a young age. Her future prospects are limitless. Liu Hua, it’s not that I’m criticizing you, but you’re just an ordinary person. If not for our past ties, who would be willing to marry a useless woman like you when my eldest son is so talented? Matching social status is the proper way.”
“Considering our acquaintance, I have a nephew in my maiden family who is handsome and virtuous. If you marry him, we’ll still be one family.”
Song Liuhua nearly vomited.
Who in Yanqing County didn’t know that Xie Liu Shi’s nephew, Liu Gang Dan Er, was both ugly and poor, and beat his wife? Any family with daughters avoided him like the plague.
Yet Xie Liu Shi actually dared to consider matching her with such a scoundrel!
She sneered coldly, “Since Liu Gang Dan Er is so outstanding, why not have your Xie Qing Qing marry him instead? That way, your two families can become even closer.”
“Moreover, now that Xie Huai Sheng is no longer my fiancé, last month, my elder brother gifted him a Spirit Sword. I demand its return.”
The original host’s brother had been overly generous, spending a fortune of ten thousand Spirit Jade Coins to buy a second-grade Spirit Sword for that disgusting dog, Xie Huai Sheng, without considering whether he deserved it!
When Xie Liu Shi heard her daring to pair her own daughter with her good-for-nothing nephew, she was about to explode in anger. But upon hearing the mention of the Spirit Sword, she instantly choked. “This… this… that Spirit Sword was damaged by Huai Sheng during his last two hunts. What do you expect our Xie family to return? Besides, that Spirit Sword was voluntarily given by you. How can you ask for it back?”
Asking for a gifted item to be returned—Xie Liu Shi felt contemptuous yet couldn’t bear to part with it. The money spent on that Spirit Sword was enough for an ordinary person to marry a wife. The saved funds had already been used as betrothal gifts for the Wang family girl.
That wretched girl Song Liuhua, why wasn’t she dead yet! She was causing her so much trouble now to break off the engagement.
“Hah~ Lost?” Song Liuhua glanced at the guilty-looking Xie Liu Shi, clearly not believing her.
“I don’t care about that. My brother gifted that Spirit Sword to his future brother-in-law, not to some unrelated stray dog. I demand its return by tomorrow. Otherwise, don’t blame me for making a scene at your house and demanding it from Xie Huai Sheng with gongs and drums.”
If the Xie family had no shame, Song Liuhua would gladly help them lose it completely!
Xie Liu Shi understood the implication in her words, and her face darkened instantly. “They say one should leave room for reconciliation in the future. My Huai Sheng is already a third-tier Martial Spirit Master at such a young age, with limitless prospects. Meanwhile, your brother is now just a cripple. Don’t be too extreme in your actions.”
Song Liuhua wasn’t swayed by threats. She stood up to shoo her away. “Any family with even a shred of shame would have fled in embarrassment long ago. Auntie, you should go check the roadside dung pits early—maybe you left your face in there.”
“If it’s not returned by tomorrow, don’t blame me for what happens!” Song Liuhua scoffed. “After all, those who have nothing fear nothing. I’ve already been bullied to this extent—why should I care about being extreme or not?”
Back when the Xie family lost its patriarch, Xie Liu Shi struggled to support her two young sons and a daughter alone. She had begged the Song family for this marriage based on past ties. When Song Liuhua’s parents were still alive, they had frequently assisted the Xie family.
Now, the moment Xie Huai Sheng and Xie Qing Qing made breakthroughs, before even firmly establishing themselves, they began kicking away the ladder.
How shameless could they be?
If not for her frail health and the estimation that she couldn’t overcome Xie Liu Shi’s sturdy physique, she would have already lunged to pull her hair—who had the patience to waste time on a war of words here!
Unaware that someone’s weakness had spared her from disaster, Xie Liu Shi turned pale with rage, snorted resentfully, and stormed off.
After driving Xie Liu Shi away, Song Liuhua returned to her room to tidy up before heading out.
Her plans were twofold: first, to visit the Mercenary Guild for an aptitude test, and second, to buy some groceries at the Mercenary Market.
Her elder brother had left for West River Ridge five days ago and was due back today. Now that she inhabited the original owner’s body, she felt compelled to do something meaningful.
The Embroidered Floral Branch Vanity Mirror reflected her pallid complexion, with overly long lashes casting shadows under her eyes and her delicate, diamond-shaped lips devoid of color.
Every time Song Liuhua saw her own face, she felt as if Lin Daiyu had been reincarnated.
After applying some rouge and lip color, the reflection looked less listless.
The Warm Season brought mild weather, so she changed into a thin White Silk blouse and a Scarlet Pomegranate Skirt, fastening a small Scented Pill Tassel Pendant around her slender waist.
A touch of crimson brightened her pale lips.
What a captivating, delicate beauty.
Song Liuhua gazed into the mirror and nodded in satisfaction.
Mentally listing the items she needed to buy, she locked the door and stepped out.
Just as she reached the alley entrance, she collided with a solid wall of flesh and was thrown backward.
Bracing for impact, she quickly protected her backside to avoid a painful landing.
“Careful.”
The expected pain never came. A clear, resonant voice, like spring water striking stone, sounded nearby.
Her slender waist was steadied by a pair of warm, large hands.
Song Liuhua opened her wide, glistening eyes, meeting the man’s blurred silhouette from this angle.
Her gaze traveled from his lightly pressed thin lips, over his straight, elegant nose, to a pair of gentle, bright phoenix eyes.
Even backlit, she could discern his exceptionally handsome features.
In a flash, an idea sparked.
In the Ten Winds Continent, there was a maddening rule of heaven and earth: if a woman remained unmarried by eighteen, the consequences…
Her current shell was nearly eighteen, and she had been worrying about where to find a suitable fool. Could this man be the one?
Worth a try?
She blinked, then imitated the delicate, bashful heroines from TV dramas in her past life, rising gracefully and curtsying in one fluid motion.
“Thank you, young master, for saving me. I have no way to repay your kindness. If you are not yet married, this humble girl offers herself to you in marriage.”
As she spoke, Song Liuhua even threw him a flirtatious glance.
This body was just as stunning as her previous one—absolutely gorgeous. Privately, she crowned herself the Five-Thousand-Year Beauty of the Ten Winds Continent.
Feng Ci glanced down at the woman with twitching eyes and odd behavior, suppressing a laugh with a light cough.
Jiang Wen Xiu burst out laughing, “Feng Ci, if I recall correctly, this is the fifth proposal today. You’re quite the lady-killer! Good thing you’re not married, or those women would be heartbroken.”
Only then did Song Liuhua notice the other man beside him—a sharply defined, upright face, but not her type.
Hearing that he was unmarried, Song Liuhua nodded approvingly and launched a fierce offensive. “Though lacking in talent, I am eighteen, beautiful as a flower, with an excellent temperament—gentle, charming, and perfect for domestic life.”
“Gentle and charming, huh? Heh…” Feng Ci couldn’t help but chuckle.
The day before yesterday, when he passed by Qinghua Lane, he happened to see this girl with her hands on her hips, fiercely confronting a mischievous little boy. The seven- or eight-year-old child was scolded into crying for his parents.
To save her own skin, she resorted to staging a street accident—truly unheard of.
Song Liuhua reckoned this scheme wouldn’t work now. The man before her was exactly her type, with a clear and upright gaze. What a pity.
“My apologies for the offense…”
A true woman knows when to yield and when to stand firm.
Song Liuhua promptly apologized to the man and prepared to leave.
“Alright.” The man’s voice struck like a thunderclap beside her ear.
Song Liuhua was utterly stunned. Did… did he really agree?
Even she found it absurd, yet he actually agreed?
Whatever, she’d just go along with it.
All she remembered was saying, “Let’s go to the Marriage Shrine right now and form a Marriage Contract.”
The man readily agreed.
Yanqing City, entrance of the Marriage Shrine.
Clutching the jade household register in her hand, Song Liuhua’s palms were sweating.
“Let’s go.” The man chuckled lightly and strode in first.
Watching his tall, straight back, Song Liuhua gritted her teeth and followed.
Though it was ridiculous…
Well, she was already here…
In the Ten Winds Continent, if not for an absurd law restricting women—those unmarried by eighteen would not live past nineteen—she wouldn’t be in this situation.
Countless predecessors had learned this lesson with their lives. She wasn’t foolish enough to gamble with her frail health.
Since she had to marry anyway, marrying a handsome one was at least pleasing to the eye.
Exiting the Marriage Shrine, Song Liuhua’s mind buzzed. The surreal feeling made the pedestrians on the street seem illusory.
Feng Ci glanced amusedly at his new wife, who had boldly proposed marriage to him earlier. Now that the Marriage Contract was sealed, she seemed dazed.
It was getting late, and he still had to go hunting today.
He took out a large-denomination Spirit Jade Coin Card and placed it in Song Liuhua’s palm, instructing, “I’m heading to West River Ridge today and won’t be back until evening.”
“With this Spirit Jade Coin Card, you can withdraw 100,000 Spirit Jade Coins from the county bank. This is the betrothal gift.”
“I’ll visit your elder brother tonight.”