Chapter 8: I Am Getting Married

Shi Qingluo’s words left Mother Xiao and the other two stunned.

It was the first time they had ever heard such bold words or encountered such a situation.

Mother Xiao fell into deep thought, while Xiao Xiaomei and Erlang looked on with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Both of them liked Shi Qingluo very much, especially her personality; it would be wonderful if she could become their sister-in-law.

Shi Qingluo didn't rush Mother Xiao. Seeing that the clothes drying in the courtyard were dry, she excused herself to go change.

Seeing this, Mother Xiao went into Xiao Hanzheng’s room.

Watching the flush on her son’s face fade significantly, she hurriedly touched his forehead and found it wasn't as hot as before.

She pressed her hands together in prayer; the medicine Girl Shi gave was truly effective. Thank heavens!

Mother Xiao stared at her son for a while before speaking: "Zheng'er, you are almost seventeen; it is time to get married."

"Given our family's current situation, there is nothing to gain here, and one would even have to suffer by marrying in."

"If a girl is willing to marry into this family, she must be a good girl."

"So, Mother will help you take a wife."

"Mother and your younger brother and sister all like her, and I believe you will like her too."

"She saved your brother and sister, and the medicine she gave you is working; she is our family's great benefactor."

"Isn't it said that one should repay a life-saving grace with one's own body? Let's reverse that and repay it with marriage instead."

She reached out and held her son’s hand, as if to bolster her own courage. "Then it's settled."

After a moment, she stood up and walked out with a determined look on her face.

Seeing Shi Qingluo sitting in the courtyard chatting with her son and daughter, a smile touched Mother Xiao’s eyes.

She had often wondered what kind of wife she should find for her son.

In her heart, she had always hoped to find a formidable eldest daughter-in-law, someone who wouldn't be afraid of the people at the old family estate and could protect their small household.

Now, Shi Qingluo fit her fantasies of a daughter-in-law in every way; it was perfect.

She walked over, sat down, and looked at Shi Qingluo, asking earnestly, "Girl Shi, are you truly willing to marry into our family?"

Shi Qingluo nodded. "Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have brought it up myself."

Mother Xiao smiled and said, "I agree to what you said, and I can promise that once you marry in, we will be one family."

"I will treat you just like my own daughter."

"I know my personality is soft and I'm not suited to manage the household, so if you marry in, you shall be the one in charge."

She said somewhat nervously, "But I do have one request: as long as you are good to Zheng'er, Yi'er, and Li'er, that is enough."

Shi Qingluo chuckled. "That goes without saying. Affection is built over time; as long as you treat me well, I will naturally give the same in return."

She promised, "Don't worry, if I marry in, I will certainly not bully your three children, and I won't let anyone else bully them either."

She felt that laying everything out and making mutual promises like this was good.

After all, she wasn't entering this union with Xiao Hanzheng out of romantic love; it was entirely because she had taken a liking to the Xiao family.

Now that it was out in the open, it would be less likely for there to be estrangement or resentment later.

Xiao Baili and Erlang’s eyes brightened. "We’re going to have a sister-in-law!"

Mother Xiao thought for a moment and asked, "Then when will you marry in? Do you want to wait for Zheng'er to wake up?"

Shi Qingluo thought of the behavior of the Xiao family’s eldest aunt and the others. "How about I marry in the day after tomorrow? We can call it 'chongxi' (marrying to bring good luck/health) for Xiao Hanzheng; that way, no one will think it's too rushed."

"If the people from the Xiao family’s old estate dare to come and cause trouble again, I’ll deal with them for you."

She was particularly protective of her own people and wouldn't allow others to bully them.

"I also don't really want to face the bunch of 'extremes' in my own family every day."

The women in the Shi family were terrible at cooking.

Shi Qingluo expressed that she didn't want to wrong her stomach any longer.

Mother Xiao was surprised again. Did it have to be that urgent?

But upon reflection, it made sense.

She had heard that Shi Qingluo didn't have an easy life in the Shi family; otherwise, she wouldn't have been sent to a Taoist temple from a young age.

"Will the people of the Shi family agree?"

She said with a blush, "And our family can't afford much of a dowry right now."

Shi Qingluo waved her hand with a smile. "No need for a dowry. The things I bring with me will be my own private property and won't count as a dowry."

"I will handle the people of the Shi family."

Those 'extremes' were probably dying for her to get married off quickly.

She added, "Since it's for 'chongxi', there's no need to hold a wedding banquet."

The silver in Mother Xiao’s hands was specifically for Xiao Hanzheng’s medical treatment, and since he was still unconscious, there was no need to waste it on a banquet.

As for the dowry, she didn't want to benefit the 'extremes' of the Shi family.

If she and Xiao Hanzheng didn't click later, or if he found someone he loved, she would just divorce him.

She had flipped through the books the original owner brought back over the last two days and discovered a copy of the Great Liang Legal Code.

After studying it, she found that if a woman remained childless three years after marriage, she could, upon divorce, apply to establish her own household registration as a woman if she did not return to her maiden home.

She wanted to marry into the Xiao family partly because this law could serve as a fallback.

If she could get along with Xiao Hanzheng and become a real couple, they could just hold a wedding banquet later.

She wouldn't wrong or force herself.

She asked Mother Xiao, "Then it's settled, I'll marry in the day after tomorrow?"

Mother Xiao felt embarrassed. "Then you marry in first, and when the family's conditions improve in the future, I will have Zheng'er hold a wedding banquet for you."

"I will also prepare a separate dowry for you later."

"Alright!" Shi Qingluo didn't care about these things, but the fact that Mother Xiao said this showed she had good intentions.

Thus, the two began discussing the wedding arrangements, how to conduct the marriage, and so on.

Finally, Mother Xiao asked, "Then, shall I ask someone to go to your house to propose marriage tomorrow?"

She could see that Shi Qingluo didn't care about these things, so she emphasized, "This is necessary, otherwise I'm afraid people will talk behind your back in the future."

Even if the marriage was quick, someone still had to go propose; only after the Shi family agreed would Shi Qingluo be considered properly and honorably married.

If there was no formal proposal, Shi Qingluo would be accused of marrying without a matchmaker, which was usually only the case for concubines.

Seeing Mother Xiao thinking from her perspective, Shi Qingluo’s smile deepened. "Alright, then have someone go to the Shi family to propose tomorrow morning."

Mother Xiao nodded. "Good!"

After the discussion, Shi Qingluo left a few fish and took her leave.

Mother Xiao went to the clan leader’s house to inform them of the matter and asked the clan leader’s wife to help her go to the Shi family to propose the next day.

Lying in his room, Xiao Hanzheng seemed to be having a nightmare; his brows were tightly furrowed, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He struggled to wake up, but he simply couldn't open his eyes.

At this moment, he didn't know that he was about to have a little wife.

Shi Family.

Shi Qingluo returned home.

As soon as she walked into the courtyard, the people of the Shi family kept glancing at the three fish she was carrying.

Shi Qingluo threw the fish on the table and ordered haughtily, "Stew the fish."

She emphasized, "Fry them until they are golden brown before stewing."

Old Madam Shi’s face sank immediately. "There isn't much oil left in the house."

Shi Qingluo raised an eyebrow at her. "Grandma, do you want to taste the flavor of the rattan stick?"

Old Madam Shi: "..." No, she did not.

Recalling how her daughters-in-law had been whipped by this monster in the kitchen a few days ago, she felt terrible.

With a strong desire to survive, she snorted, "Fry it, fry it for her."

She wished she could fry this disaster along with the fish.

If only she could get rid of this disaster, she really couldn't take it anymore.

Niu and the others felt the same way.

Just as they were thinking this, Shi Qingluo dropped a bombshell: "I'm getting married!"

All the 'extremes' of the Shi family stared at her with wide eyes.