While packing their things, Su Qianqian briefly explained to Lu Ye why she wanted to see the Village Chief.
Seeing that Su Qianqian was already planning for their future, Lu Ye naturally felt delighted.
However, he didn’t place much importance on the small plot of land left by Su Qianqian’s parents. He assured her not to worry about their livelihood, saying he could venture deeper into the mountains to hunt larger game, ensuring she would never lack food or necessities.
Hearing this, Su Qianqian was startled. In her memory, there were instances where Lu Ye had gone into the mountains for several days without returning.
Moreover, her own father had disappeared in the mountains. How could she feel at ease letting Lu Ye venture deeper into the wilderness? She would much rather he gave up hunting altogether.
In the end, seeing Su Qianqian’s determination, Lu Ye suggested clearing a small patch of wasteland near their home where she could grow vegetables or other small crops to pass the time.
As long as the area they cleared wasn’t too large, the village generally wouldn’t interfere.
Otherwise, even if they had land, he couldn’t bear to see his delicate young bride toiling in the fields day after day. Besides, he himself knew nothing about farming, which would only lead to trouble later on.
Su Qianqian had only thought about reclaiming the land but hadn’t considered the issue of farming. Hearing Lu Ye’s words, she was momentarily at a loss.
As for farming… she didn’t seem to know much about it either.
In the end, Su Qianqian insisted that even if she didn’t know how to farm, she still wanted the land back. She absolutely refused to let her uncle’s family benefit from it.
She’d rather let the land lie fallow than let them use it.
Seeing how determined Su Qianqian was, Lu Ye didn’t say anything more. Although he didn’t want her to have any further dealings with that family, this was the first time his young bride had mustered the courage to make a request of him. If he didn’t comply, what if she retreated back into her shell out of fear?
Once the two of them finished packing what they needed to bring, Lu Ye took Su Qianqian’s hand again and led her outside.
This time, Su Qianqian was mentally prepared, so she remained relatively calm.
However, as they walked hand in hand, they inevitably caught the attention of some villagers.
Su Qianqian had initially thought that as a modern person, she had seen it all and shouldn’t feel shy just from holding hands.
But once they stepped outside, she realized she had been too naive.
Every time she met those slightly teasing glances, she couldn’t help but feel the urge to hide. And the only place she could hide was by Lu Ye’s side.
As a result, she drew closer and closer to Lu Ye until she was practically pressed against him.
Lu Ye watched her subtle movements with a faint, indulgent smile in his eyes.
After spending half a day together, he found his young bride growing more and more adorable by the minute—like a small, vulnerable creature seeking shelter.
It made him want to protect her, yet also tempted him to tease her…
Unaware of Lu Ye’s thoughts, Su Qianqian obediently followed behind him, her hand securely held in his.
Since they lived in a relatively remote area, the Village Chief’s house was quite a distance away. By the time they arrived, Su Qianqian’s feet were aching from the long walk.
They knocked on the door, and before long, the Village Chief’s wife came to answer it, accompanied by a little boy around four years old.
Su Qianqian greeted the Village Chief’s wife politely and quickly handed the two wedding cakes they had brought to the Village Chief’s grandson.
Before Village Chief’s wife could even stop him, her little grandson had already happily taken it and couldn’t wait to start munching on it. Now, it was too late to intervene.
Village Chief’s wife, Liu Shen, gave Su Qianqian a reproachful yet affectionate look, her tone carrying a hint of well-meaning admonishment.
“You’re a new bride visiting for the first time, and as an elder, I haven’t even given you anything yet. How could I let you spend money?”
Hearing this, Su Qianqian smiled shyly, then showed an apologetic expression as she explained her purpose to Liu Shen.
“Auntie Liu, to be honest, I came here today because I have something to ask of Uncle Village Chief. May I see him?”
Liu Shen knew a bit about Su Qianqian’s situation, having attended her wedding ceremony just yesterday.
Although she sympathized with Su Qianqian’s plight, every family has its own troubles. Even though the Village Chief held some authority in the village, he couldn’t interfere in another family’s daughter’s marriage arrangements.
Moreover, Su Qianqian herself had never uttered a word of refusal, so there was even less they could do about it.
Now that Su Qianqian had come knocking the day after her wedding, Liu Shen couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.
After hearing Su Qianqian’s words, she subtly glanced at Lu Ye a couple of times. When her gaze fell on their still-clasped hands, she realized she had likely misunderstood.
Without saying much else, she directly invited Su Qianqian and Lu Ye into the main hall before going to fetch the Village Chief.
The Village Chief didn’t keep Su Qianqian and Lu Ye waiting long, soon following Liu Shen into the room.
Upon seeing Su Qianqian, he smiled warmly and asked directly:
“Su girl, your Auntie Liu said you needed to see me about something? What is it? Go ahead and tell me!”
Su Qianqian didn’t beat around the bush either. Together with Lu Ye, she stepped forward and performed a respectful bow as a junior before tearfully and pitifully stating her purpose to the Village Chief.
“Uncle Village Chief, you know a bit about my situation! My parents are gone, and everything they left behind, including my marriage, fell into my uncle’s hands.
I won’t even mention how my uncle and his family tried to seize my marriage and sell me off to an old widower before.
But now, my husband spent ten taels of silver to marry me, yet my uncle’s family didn’t give me a single bridal gift. How am I supposed to face this?
Fortunately, my husband isn’t one to fuss over such things. Otherwise, how could a new bride like me, with no family to rely on, possibly manage in the future?”
The Village Chief and the others only knew that Lu Ye had spent ten taels of silver to “buy” Su Qianqian outright, but they truly hadn’t known that Su Qianqian had received no bridal gifts.
According to local customs, if an unmarried girl’s parents were no longer around, half of what they left behind should go toward her bridal gifts, while the other half, along with the bride price, would go to her parents’ brothers.
But now, Su Qianqian was saying she hadn’t received even a single bridal gift. That meant the Su family’s eldest branch had gone too far.
Both the Village Chief and Liu Shen were angered by Su Qianqian’s words. Liu Shen, especially heartbroken, gently patted Su Qianqian’s head and couldn’t help but scold:
“That Su family’s eldest branch is truly ruthless! Scheming for your bride price is one thing, but how could they withhold the bridal gifts that rightfully belong to you? They’re just bullying you young couple for having no one to back you up!”
Hearing this, Su Qianqian very fittingly wiped her tears, let out a sob, and threw herself into Liu Shen’s arms, weeping softly as she pleaded:
“Auntie Liu, I really didn’t want to trouble Village Chief Uncle, but my husband is an outsider here, without any roots or even a bit of land.
Now, to marry me, he has already spent all his family savings. To support us both, he can only rely on hunting in the mountains.
But my father was lost in the mountains, and the moment he mentions going there, I’m terrified. Now, I have no choice but to come and beg Village Chief Uncle to help me.
Let me retrieve some of the bridal gifts that are rightfully mine, so that my husband and I can have a slightly easier life in the future.”