Chapter 7: Why Not Just Marry Into Your Family

After Third Aunt Xiao and the other woman left, Clan Leader Xiao looked at Mother Xiao with a gaze filled with frustration at her lack of backbone.

"If Hanzheng isn't awake, can't you be a bit tougher yourselves?"

"You've already separated from the family and severed ties; you need to be firm when it's called for."

Mother Xiao nodded through her tears, "Yes!"

She had tried to resist, but she was simply no match for them.

She only blamed herself for being too weak, nearly failing to even protect her daughter.

Seeing her soft, tearful appearance, Clan Leader Xiao sighed, "I only hope Hanzheng can wake up soon."

Otherwise, he truly didn't know if the three of them could survive.

Xiao Hanzheng was the junior he thought most highly of in the clan, one he had personally nurtured. It would be a great pity if he couldn't wake up.

He would also be deeply pained.

Mother Xiao cried, "Yes, if only Zheng'er could wake up quickly."

Shi Qingluo didn't quite agree with this sentiment; she had always believed that relying on others was not as good as relying on oneself.

However, given Mother Xiao's personality, saying so would be useless.

Besides, looking at what had just happened, Mother Xiao was trying her best to protect her daughter.

It was just a pity that the disparity in physical strength and ferocity between the two sides was too great; Mother Xiao was willing but lacked the power.

Clan Leader Xiao took a money pouch from his robe, "Here are a few taels of silver that I and a few other clan elders scraped together. Take it and go get Hanzheng treated quickly."

Mother Xiao was moved. She had previously borrowed six taels of silver from Clan Leader Xiao’s family to pay for her son's medical treatment.

Not only had the Clan Leader not pressed her for repayment, but now he had gathered more silver with the other elders, even though their families weren't exactly wealthy themselves.

Although she believed the medicine Shi Qingluo provided was effective, if her son still hadn't broken his fever or remained weak after waking up, they would still need to buy more medicine and supplements.

Therefore, even if the money felt like a hot coal in her hand, Mother Xiao could not refuse it.

She walked over to the Clan Leader, knelt, and kowtowed, "Thank you, Clan Leader and the elders, for your great kindness. Once Zheng'er wakes up, we will definitely scrape together the silver to pay you back."

If it hadn't been for the help of the Clan Leader and the others during this time, she wouldn't have known how to keep her children alive.

In the past, the Clan Leader and others had also helped her son a great deal; she had always kept this great kindness in her heart.

She took a deep breath and added, "Even if Zheng'er doesn't wake up, I will still repay this silver."

In this regard, even if Mother Xiao was weak-willed, she was a person of integrity.

Clan Leader Xiao waved his hand, "We are in no rush. Saving Hanzheng is the priority right now."

He then turned his gaze to Shi Qingluo, "Miss Shi, thank you for protecting the Xiao mother and daughter just now."

When they arrived, they had just happened to see Shi Qingluo driving away the people from the Wu family.

Otherwise, it would have been quite troublesome for them to deal with the Wu family.

Shi Qingluo smiled indifferently, "Don't mention it. I just couldn't stand by and watch an injustice."

Clan Leader Xiao thought for a moment and warned, "The Wu family is not only a wealthy household in the county, but the Wu Madam's own sister is also a concubine to the Prefect. Even the County Magistrate gives them a measure of respect."

"Miss Shi, please be careful in the future."

Regardless, this Miss Shi had helped the Xiao family, and he didn't want her to suffer retaliation from the Wu family.

Shi Qingluo found that the Clan Leader and elders of Xiaoxi Village were much more humane than those in Shangxi Village.

She accepted his warning, "Alright, I will be careful."

Clan Leader Xiao gave Mother Xiao a final reminder: if the Xiao family tried to sell Little Sister Xiao again, she should have Erlang come find them.

After saying this, he left with the village head and the others.

Little Sister Xiao immediately walked over to help Mother Xiao up.

Both of them looked at Shi Qingluo with gratitude, "Miss Shi/Sister Shi, thank you so much for today!"

Mother Xiao added sincerely, "We will definitely find a way to repay your kindness in the future."

Shi Qingluo shook her head, "Don't mention it, I just happened to be there."

She thought for a moment and asked, "I don't think those two shrews from the Xiao family will let you off. Have you thought about how to deal with them?"

This question caused the expressions of Mother Xiao and Little Sister Xiao to change; they had no idea how to deal with them.

They couldn't win in a fight or a shouting match—what were they supposed to do?

"We don't know," Mother Xiao replied, feeling both heartbroken and frustrated.

Mother Xiao was soft-natured, but she wasn't stupid.

She looked at Shi Qingluo, "Miss Shi, do you have a solution?"

Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked.

Shi Qingluo countered, "What do you think of me?"

Mother Xiao didn't hesitate, "Miss Shi is a very good person."

But what did that have to do with dealing with those two shrews?

They couldn't ask Miss Shi to help them every single time.

Shi Qingluo didn't beat around the bush and said bluntly, "How about I marry into your family? I'll be your daughter-in-law, and a sister-in-law to Little Sister Xiao and Erlang. How does that sound?"

"That way, if those shrews dare to bully you again, I'll have a more legitimate reason to deal with them."

All three of them—Mother Xiao, Little Sister Xiao, and Erlang—wore the same stunned expression.

It took a long while for Mother Xiao to recover, "You mean... you want to marry into our family?"

Although many young girls in the village had wanted to marry Zheng'er in the past, none had ever been so direct.

Moreover, after Zheng'er fell into a coma, she had heard many people whispering behind her back, saying it was fortunate that Zheng'er hadn't married early, otherwise, the bride would have been unlucky or widowed.

If Shi Qingluo had said she wanted to marry Zheng'er in the past, she wouldn't have been surprised.

But given their current situation, it wasn't just a disadvantage; it was essentially a pit of fire. Why would Shi Qingluo want to jump into it?

Although she felt that Shi Qingluo was someone she could rely on, and if she really married in, she could handle those two shrews, she couldn't drag someone else down.

So, she sighed and said, "Miss Shi, it's not that I'm unwilling, but you've seen our situation. If you marry in, life will not be easy."

"Zheng'er hasn't woken up yet, the family owes over a dozen taels of silver in debt, and we are almost out of food."

"Even though we've separated from the Xiao family, as long as Zheng'er doesn't wake up, those people will come to cause trouble without end."

Her eyes filled with tears as she gritted her teeth, "And if Zheng'er doesn't wake up, you'll be a widow as soon as you marry in. We cannot treat a benefactor like that."

Although Little Sister Xiao and Erlang were also grateful to and fond of Shi Qingluo because of what happened earlier, they couldn't lie to their consciences and say it would be good for her to marry in.

If their brother were still awake, they would be happy to have such a sister-in-law and wouldn't feel guilty.

But with their brother in a coma and no certainty he would wake up, they couldn't ruin someone else's life.

After hearing Mother Xiao's words and seeing the expressions of Little Sister Xiao and the others, Shi Qingluo felt even more certain that her choice was the right one.

Shi Qingluo stated her thoughts very frankly.

"You already know that the Shi family wanted to marry me off to Master Wu as a funerary bride. If I don't marry out on my own, my maiden home is a pit of fire."

"I have a rather strong personality, and I'm not suited for a family with a large, complex household where the parents-in-law are overbearing."

"Your family is very suitable for me."

"I don't mind your current poverty and troubles. I have only one requirement: if I marry in, you must not interfere with anything I do in the future. It would be best if I am the one in charge."

"In exchange, I will protect you and lead you to a prosperous life."

She added, "I believe that after Xiao Hanzheng takes the medicine I gave him, he should get better."

"If he truly cannot wake up, I don't mind being a widow, as long as I can live freely."

It was better to make these things clear in advance.

She was that kind of person; she was marrying in with this specific purpose, and it was up to the three of them to decide.