Qiu Yinong and Cheng Yuanche faced each other, standing about a meter apart. In their clear eyes, each could see the other’s reflection.
Earlier, they had been too far apart for Qiu Yinong to clearly see his face. Now that they were standing close, she realized he looked fairly good. Perhaps because of years of outdoor training, his skin was tanned dark, but his features were sharply defined. He could definitely be called a handsome man.
“Qiu Yinong, Qiu Mengyuan’s niece from her maiden family.”
Qiu Yinong extended her hand first.
Cheng Yuanche pressed his thin lips together tightly. His deep yet sharp eyes fixed on her, faint ripples stirring in the depths of them without even his own awareness. His jaw was tense as he reached out his right hand to shake hers, his voice much gentler than before.
“Cheng Yuanche. Nice to meet you.”
One hand was broad, warm, and covered in calluses. The other was pale and slender, fingers delicate like green onion shoots. After a polite handshake, they naturally let go.
“I can marry you and continue today’s wedding. I don’t need any bride price. I only need you to provide me with a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and I need the Cheng family to do one thing for me.”
Qiu Yinong’s voice was clear with a faint ethereal quality, as though it had drifted through clouds and mist from deep within the mountains. It wasn’t loud, but it was enough for everyone present to hear clearly.
She spoke directly and made herself perfectly clear. Every member of the Cheng family changed expression.
Cheng Yuanche had never expected her to make such a decision. His brows furrowed slightly, and a complicated expression appeared on his dark face. He opened his mouth.
“Qiu—”
But before he could continue, Old Madam Huang jumped out excitedly.
“Qiu Yinong, you stupid girl! How can you refuse the bride price?!”
“Shut up.”
Qiu Yinong shot her a cold glare, her clear voice icy.
“I’ll repeat myself one more time. My surname is Qiu. My affairs are none of your business.”
She was tall and slender. Just standing there quietly, the chill radiating from her thin frame made even Cheng Yuanche beside her feel his gaze tremble slightly. The way he looked at her changed again.
“Y-you…”
Old Madam Huang shuddered under her imposing aura. She opened her mouth to scold her again, but Old Man Huang pulled her back and took over.
“Mengyuan’s niece, you’re still young and don’t understand these things. Major matters like marriage shouldn’t be decided hastily. Now that your grandparents and father have passed away, and you’re no longer in contact with your mother, your affairs should be left to your aunt to decide. We can discuss this again when she returns.”
“My aunt was adopted out over thirty years ago and has had little contact with her maiden family all these years. Now she is the Huang family’s daughter-in-law. The matters she should decide are Huang family matters, and the people she should concern herself with are her own children.”
“My grandparents and father are gone, and I no longer have ties with my mother. That means the Qiu family no longer has elders. My personal matters will be decided by me.”
“My aunt may offer suggestions regarding my affairs, but whether I accept them is up to me.”
“I’ve already made my decision. My aunt’s opinion is no longer important. When she comes home from work, I’ll naturally inform her of my final decision. The rest is none of your concern.”
“And one more thing—please remind Grandma Huang that we are only relatives. She should keep proper boundaries and stop interfering in my affairs. I already wrote an IOU for the money I owe my aunt, and I will repay every cent with interest. I’ll discuss the debt directly with my aunt and uncle myself. There’s no need for her to remind me about it three times a day.”
Qiu Yinong had always been someone with strong opinions and ideas of her own. Since childhood, she had followed her grandfather and father around while they treated illnesses, meeting all kinds of people with different personalities. She was far more mature and steady than others her age.
And now, with another soul filled with worldly experience and hardship merged into her, her way of dealing with people had become even more composed. Her words and behavior were calm and mature, nothing like a naïve girl who had only just come of age.
“Your Grandma Huang’s attitude may not be good, but she means well. Asking for a bride price is to give you security and help you repay your debts sooner.”
Old Man Huang was more calculating and composed than his wife, and his tone wasn’t nearly as abrasive.
Qiu Yinong knew that the last sentence was the real point and couldn’t be bothered arguing. She only replied:
“Grandpa Huang, I’m an adult. I know what I’m doing. Please respect all of my decisions.”
Seeing that she refused to listen, the two elders of the Huang family frowned. Old Madam Huang wanted to speak again, but one look from Qiu Yinong silenced her.
Finally, they quieted down.
Qiu Yinong turned her head toward Cheng Yuanche and pointed at Mother Yao, who still hadn’t gotten up from the ground, continuing their unfinished business.
“She insulted my parents and crossed my bottom line. I want revenge.”
“I’m willing to marry you. I don’t want a bride price—not a single cent. I don’t want the thirty-two legs’ worth of furniture either, nor do I need the Cheng family to repay my debts. I only need a place to stay and three meals a day.”
“And the thing I want the Cheng family to do isn’t illegal. Earlier, she made a bet. Since she gambled, she should accept the consequences. I want the Cheng family to force-feed her a basin of shit in front of me.”
Every word she spoke was crystal clear, and she explained every important point plainly. The elders of the Cheng family suddenly looked at her differently.
“No bride price, no debt repayment, not even minding the Cheng family’s current situation—and this pretty delicate girl is willing to marry in? Cheng Yuanche really struck the jackpot!”
Yu Dazui blurted out exactly what all the onlookers were thinking.
“Qiu Mengyuan’s niece is way too pretty. Look at that face—so fair it’s like tofu. Are girls from the inland mountains all this beautiful?”
“This girl really is stunning. One glance and you can tell she’s never done farm work, never been out in the sun, never suffered hardship. How could she possibly be the child of a mountain farming family?”
“What farmer’s daughter could be this fair and delicate? She looks more like some pampered young miss raised in the city.”
“I think Old Madam Huang has been talking nonsense and deliberately spreading lies outside. She probably doesn’t even know the real background of her daughter-in-law’s family.”
“You all know what kind of person she is. Nothing that comes out of her mouth can be trusted.”
“A few years ago, I traveled inland on business. Along the way there were endless plains and lakes, golden rice fields stretching farther than the eye could see, lush green mountains, and sweet-smelling air. Unlike here, where everything always smells salty and fishy. There were even many two-story red-brick buildings along the railway. They’re much wealthier than we are here.”
“The city I visited wasn’t even considered large inland. I stayed there for half a month and saw many women on the streets—most of them were pretty and lively-looking.”
“In our village, only the Qiu aunt and niece are from the inland mountain regions, and both of them are good-looking. Qiu Mengyuan herself is pretty too—few village women can compare with her—but compared to her niece, she still falls short.”
“She brought such a beautiful niece here. Most likely she planned to find her a match around here.”
“Isn’t that obvious? Such a precious beauty. Since the couple works in the county town, they probably know officials and cadres. They must’ve already had plans in mind.”
“That foolish old woman Huang, rushing to drive the girl away while the couple isn’t home. Once Qiu Mengyuan gets back, she’ll probably explode with anger.”
“…”