Ever since Elder Liang announced that Cuihua had to be married off as soon as possible, Madam Liang had already started looking for a suitable match for her, searching in nearby villages.
In just two days, Madam Liang had arranged a marriage for Cuihua.
The chosen family was the Sun family from Xiangyang Village.
Xiangyang Village lay between two other villages and was roughly ten kilometers away from Yunfeng Village.
The eldest son of the Sun family was named Sun Wang.
He was 24 years old and still unmarried, which worried his family.
Sun Wang wasn’t tall, only about 1.66 meters, and his appearance was rather plain.
His family wasn’t wealthy either, so no one in the village wanted to marry their daughters to him.
When word got out that Madam Liang was going to marry off Cuihua, the matchmaker hurried to the Sun family to inform them.
Sun Wang’s mother, biting the bullet, finally gave up some savings—four taels of silver, her “coffin money”—as a bride price for the Liang family. With the matchmaker’s flattery, Madam Liang immediately agreed.
“Mother, Sun Wang is already twenty-four. Isn’t that a little too old for Cuihua? Maybe we should look for someone else?” Zhu Shi, Cuihua’s mother, expressed some hesitation over Sun Wang’s age.
“Twenty-four isn’t old at all. The Sun family is offering four taels of silver as bride price. Do you think anyone else would pay that much for your daughter? With this silver, Wen Yong can finally get a wife. Once this chance is gone, it’s gone forever.”
Madam Liang knew her eldest granddaughter was of average appearance.
Most families wouldn’t offer more than two taels; four taels was an exceptional offer.
Hearing this, Zhu Shi fell silent.
Their daughter was already fifteen, and no one had come to propose.
A family willing to offer four taels was indeed rare.
And in her mind, her son’s marriage was more important than her daughter’s.
Thus, Cuihua’s marriage was set.
When Cuihua learned she was to be married off to the Sun family in a village several villages away, she was furious. She caused a commotion at home, smashing things, cursing, and insisting she would only marry her cousin.
Elder Liang, seeing that she refused to relent and behaved so outrageously, felt she was far too troublesome and resolved all the more to marry her off quickly.
He had Madam Liang lock Cuihua in the woodshed, letting her cry and struggle.
But even in the woodshed, Cuihua didn’t settle down. She blamed everything on Qianhua, cursing her relentlessly: “Qianhua, you seductive witch! Because of you, I can’t marry my cousin! Why don’t you just die…”
Elder Liang, hearing her obscene curses, could hardly wait for the Sun family to come take her away, so the household wouldn’t be embarrassed.
Coincidentally, the Sun family was anxious to marry off Sun Wang.
The two families came to an agreement, and just three days after the engagement, Sun Wang came to Liang’s to take Cuihua away.
Though Cuihua protested and cried, there was no choice. In ancient times, a woman’s marriage was arranged by her parents and matchmakers. No matter how unwilling, she had to enter the Sun family’s home.
On the wedding day, Zhu Shi’s family also attended the banquet.
Cuihua’s cousin, Zhu Wu, came along with his parents.
Seeing her beloved cousin, Cuihua could not maintain decorum and dragged Zhu Wu to a corner of the backyard.
“Cousin, I don’t want to marry Sun Wang. The one I love has always been you. If you’re willing to marry me, today’s match would be off.”
Cuihua tugged at Zhu Wu’s sleeve, pleading.
“Cousin, don’t be ridiculous. Today is your wedding day. I’ve told you before, I only see you as my little cousin.”
Zhu Wu pulled his hand away. If anyone saw him struggling with the bride—especially the Sun family—it would be a scandal.
“It’s because of Qianhua, isn’t it? That fox spirit stole your heart!” Cuihua demanded, unwilling to accept reality.
“Yes, I like Qianhua. But even without her, I never considered marrying you. To me, you are only my cousin.”
Zhu Wu cut her off firmly, not wanting her to harbor false hopes.
“What’s so good about her? Why do you like her and not me?” Cuihua cried, distraught.
“Cuihua, why are you hiding here? The groom has come to fetch you. Hurry back inside,” Zhu Shi called, looking for her daughter who was missing from the bridal chamber.
Zhu Shi understood her daughter’s feelings. Zhu Wu didn’t like Cuihua, and today was her wedding—she couldn’t make a scene. She had to get her back to the bridal chamber.
Cuihua still resisted. “What’s so good about her? Why do you like her so much?”
Zhu Wu didn’t know how to answer.
Even he couldn’t explain why he liked Qianhua. From the first time he saw her as a child, he found her adorable. As she grew older and more beautiful, his feelings deepened. To him, she was perfect.
But he couldn’t say this. Cuihua was his cousin, and confessing would only hurt her.
At that moment, his mother appeared.
“Oh? What’s going on? It’s your wedding day, and the bride is crying outside?” She stood at the backyard gate, arms crossed, eyes slightly mocking.
She knew Cuihua liked her son, but she had never approved. Cuihua was dark-skinned, lazy, and often impolite.
Her son was handsome; he could never marry someone like Cuihua.
“Mother-in-law, nothing serious. Cuihua is just reluctant to leave her family and was chatting with her cousin. Cuihua, let’s go back to the bridal chamber. Xiangyang Village is only ten kilometers away—there will be many opportunities to return,” Zhu Shi smoothed things over.
Cuihua, heartbroken, allowed Zhu Shi to pull her back inside.
Some say one of life’s greatest pains is loving someone who doesn’t return your feelings.
Cuihua loved Zhu Wu, but he only saw her as a cousin.
Love unrequited is one of life’s bitterest sorrows, yet also common.
“Humph! A toad wanting swan meat, how dare she think of my son,” Zhu Wu’s mother spat after they left.
“Mother, we were just chatting,” Zhu Wu said, protecting Cuihua’s dignity.
Inside, Zhu Wu began looking for Qianhua. In the kitchen, he finally saw her busy at work, with Madam Liu helping.
Although Qianhua’s life had been threatened by Cuihua pushing her into the river, today was the wedding. She and her mother helped with the banquet chores.
“Qianhua, is there anything I can help with?” Zhu Wu approached, trying to be helpful.
Qianhua looked at this boy—about 172 cm tall, average-looking. Hardly the type to inspire someone like Cuihua to take such drastic measures. To Qianhua, he held no appeal at all.
In the modern world, her minimum standard for a boyfriend had been 180 cm, handsome, strong features.
Zhu Wu didn’t meet her criteria.
“Cousin Zhu, you can rest. I don’t need help here,” Qianhua politely refused.
“You’ve lost weight and tanned, Qianhua. Ever since your father broke his leg, life at home has been hard. I didn’t believe it before, but now I see it’s true. I really feel for you,” Zhu Wu said with concern.
“Cousin Zhu, you should worry about Cuihua. She’s your real cousin. I’m fine—my parents care for me. I don’t need anyone else’s pity,” Qianhua said coldly.
Seeing her frosty demeanor, Zhu Wu thought she was upset about the backyard scene.
“I only see Cuihua as a cousin. Nothing else,” he quickly clarified.
“Of course, she’s only your cousin. Today is her wedding; go inside and don’t say anything reckless. So many people are here, and gossip spreads fast,” Qianhua said, dismissing him.
Seeing more people gathering, Zhu Wu went inside.
Through the window, Cuihua watched him fawning over Qianhua, jealousy burning in her eyes. She glared at Qianhua as if trying to bore a hole through her.
Meanwhile, Sun Wang arrived with a crowd to fetch the bride. Cuihua had touched up her makeup to hide any traces of tears.
She was taken to the Sun family and became one of them.
That evening, Sun Wang lifted the bridal veil, slightly drunk, and took Cuihua’s hand: “Cuihua, from now on, you belong to me. Don’t worry—I will treat you well.”
Cuihua said nothing.
Rejected by her beloved, married to a man she didn’t like, accepting Sun Wang would not be easy.
Cuihua had married the man she didn’t love—karma, in a sense, for harming Qianhua.