Old Man Chen tried to persuade them patiently.“Zhan-cai, don’t worry. Once your third brother passes the imperial exam and brings glory to the family, we’ll become a household of prestige.Even if that butcher Li is violent by nature, he’s not stupid. He knows how to cling to power. By then, he’ll be falling over himself to curry our favor — how could he possibly mistreat Qing girl?”
Chen Zhanshan frowned deeply and said bitterly,“Father, the year’s been terrible. How about letting Third Brother take the exam next year? That way we wouldn’t have to marry off Qing girl to that butcher, and our family could still scrape by.”
Old Man Chen lowered his head, hesitating. What the eldest said made sense. In these hard times, just filling one’s stomach was no easy task. If the third son failed again, the little bit of betrothal silver they had left wouldn’t even carry them through the winter. His heart wavered slightly.
Seeing the old man fall silent, Chen Zhancai broke into a nervous sweat.If he couldn’t take the county exam, how could he show his face again? How would he stand before his fellow scholars?No — that must never happen!
Flushing red, he insisted loudly,“What nonsense are you spouting? Since when do people skip the exam just because times are hard?Father, I’ve prepared thoroughly this year. Even the abbot of Jingguang Temple drew my fortune — he said I’m destined to pass the exam and become a scholar. I’m confident I’ll succeed!”
The old man’s wavering heart immediately softened.“Good, good. My good son — I believe in you.”
Chen Zhanliang, the second brother, cast a resentful glance at the smug Zhancai.
In their parents’ eyes, only their precious third son seemed to exist.
His own boy was already fifteen — the age to start arranging marriage — but because all their money went to support the third brother’s studies, they were dirt poor. They couldn’t even afford a matchmaker’s fee.
He had brought this up several times, yet his parents had always ignored him.Now his resentment toward their favoritism burned even stronger.
“Father,” he said, voice tight with anger, “Eldest Brother’s right. The third’s been sitting those exams for over ten years and hasn’t passed once. One more year won’t make a difference.We can chop wood and work as laborers — we’ll survive. There’s no need to send Qing girl to her death.”
Chen Qingqing was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected her second uncle to speak up for her.So he’s not all bad, she thought with a hint of gratitude in her eyes.
But the old man’s expression darkened. He glared at his second son.“You just focus on your work. Family matters aren’t for you to meddle in.”
“Father,” Chen Zhanshan said firmly, “if you won’t agree to postpone Third Brother’s exam, then think of another way to get the money for his schooling. But I’ll never agree to sell my daughter.”
The old matriarch, Old Madam Chen, who had just calmed down, began to wail again, slapping her thighs and spitting as she shrieked,“Ungrateful brats! I raised you all for nothing!”
Chen Zhanshan’s eyes turned red. He dropped to his knees and knocked his forehead hard against the ground.“Mother, your son is unfilial. Since my third brother insists on studying, then send me into the palace instead. It’s worth more than selling Qing girl!”
Madam Chen’s sobs stopped instantly.
A gleam of delight flashed in her eyes.
She’d heard that the government was recruiting men to serve in the palace.
Once a man was castrated and became a eunuch, the family received over a hundred taels of silver — every year.
It was far more profitable than selling a granddaughter!And if he managed to curry favor with a powerful master, the rewards of gold and jewelry would never stop flowing.
With that kind of money, she could live in luxury, dripping in gold and silver…
Chen Qingqing was stunned.
She knew that men who entered the palace had to be “purified.” Unless life was truly unbearable, no man would ever choose such a fate.
And yet her father was willing to do so — just to protect her.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
But when she saw the flicker of joy in her grandmother’s gaze, her heart clenched.Now isn’t the time to ask for separation, she thought.
If I want my parents to truly cut ties with these leeches, they need to see their ugliness with their own eyes — until there’s no love left to blind them.
Lin-shi, her mother, turned pale as snow, nearly collapsing in terror.“Dear, don’t scare me like that! If you leave us, how will we survive?”
Old Man Chen sighed, shaking his head.“Zhanshan, no one enters the palace willingly. Becoming a eunuch is a disgrace. The whole village will laugh at us. Our family can’t afford that shame.”
“Father, I’d rather be disgraced than watch my daughter be sent to her death!”
“Don’t listen to gossip. Our Qing girl has good fortune. Maybe once she marries Li the butcher, he’ll change and treat her well.”
“Ha! People don’t change so easily. If he kills her, it’ll be too late for regret.”
The old man fell silent.
In the end, this matter could only be settled if the girl agreed to the marriage herself.
He looked at Chen Qingqing and said with forced gentleness, “Qing girl, look what you’ve driven your father to. If you have any filial heart left, stop being stubborn. Marry Li the butcher, and spare your parents this worry, will you?”
“Are you serious?” Chen Qingqing snapped. “You’re the ones forcing my father into despair, not me!If you truly care about him, return the betrothal silver and let Third Uncle take the exam next year.As long as we work together, we’ll survive this winter!”
Old Man Chen shook his head again.“How could we stop your third uncle from taking the exam? What if he misses his lucky year?If he doesn’t take the county exam, how can he become a scholar? If he isn’t a scholar, how can he become a magistrate? He’s our family’s only hope for honor. Qing girl, don’t be stubborn — the arm can’t twist the thigh. The matter’s settled.”
“I won’t marry him!” she cried. “If you force me, I’ll die right here!”
She lunged toward the wall, pretending she’d smash her head.
The old man grabbed her arm, face darkening.“Zhanliang, bring a rope. Tie her up. We’ll send her to Li’s house tomorrow — dead or alive!”
“Father, you can’t! That’s a human life!” Chen Zhanliang stomped his foot but didn’t move.
Zhanshan had only meant to scare them with his talk of becoming a eunuch, thinking they’d give in — but they still refused to spare his daughter.
He steeled himself. “Father, let her go. I’ve made up my mind — I’m entering the palace.”
“Get out of my sight! I won’t bear that shame—”
“What shame? I think Eldest Brother’s idea is excellent,” Old Madam Chen cut in before the old man could finish.