Chapter 5: The Second Day of Marrying into the Qin Family

Song Jin hurried inside.

Then, there was no one there?

There was only the occasional crackle of burning firewood. A fire was burning in the stove, and white steam was rising from the edge of the pot lid. On the table to the side, the prepared side dishes were laid out.

Old Madam Liu stared straight at Song Jin: "There's no one in the kitchen, what are you in such a rush for?"

"The water is still boiling in the pot; I had to come and check on it." Song Jin didn't know when Qin Chi had left, but she wouldn't be foolish enough to admit it.

Song Jin wasn't afraid of Old Madam Liu; she just didn't want the trouble. In her past life, she had already experienced how difficult this old hag could be.

Old Madam Liu left, looking displeased.

Song Xiu swept a regretful glance at the kitchen.

"Sister, are you alright?"

Song Xiu feigned concern on her face, but the malice in her eyes was about to overflow. "I know Qin Chi helped you today. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Thinking of Old Madam Liu's attitude toward Song Jin, she figured her future days wouldn't be easy. Once Qin Chi passed away from his illness after some time, and she was saddled with the reputation of a "husband-killer," it would be difficult for Song Jin to even remarry.

Just thinking about Song Jin's miserable situation made Song Xiu feel a sense of delight.

"However, you'll need to give me something to keep my mouth shut." Song Xiu began to extort her.

Although they had already burned their bridges, Song Jin still felt a slight chill in her heart. With a dark face, she said, "If you want to talk, go ahead. No one is stopping you."

Having said that, Song Jin couldn't be bothered to pay any more attention to Song Xiu and simply squatted down to add firewood to the stove.

This attitude made Song Xiu stomp her foot in anger, and she turned around and left, fuming.

Once the kitchen was empty, Song Jin quickly stood up, carried the side dishes to the main hall, and then hurried back to the room. Sure enough, she saw Qin Chi... washing up?

"When did you..." Song Jin turned and closed the door.

"I heard movement, so I came back to the room first." Qin Chi dampened a cloth to wipe his face. "Once you're in, wash up first. We'll go to the main hall together in a moment."

"Alright..."

Song Jin's gaze fell on the brand-new toothbrush and tooth powder to the side.

They were prepared for her.

Having just married into the Qin family, everything was lacking.

Seeing that someone had prepared these things for her, Song Jin felt a slight warmth in her heart. However, this time she didn't thank him out loud, merely keeping this kindness silently in her heart.

*If you give me a peach, I will repay you with a plum.*

In the little time he had left, she would be good to him...

This life was different from the last.

In her past life, Old Man Qin had acted arbitrarily in front of everyone, announcing the marriage without allowing Qin Mingsong or Qin Chi to object. The very next day, he had set up two tables of wine and invited the respected elders of the village, counting it as both of them marrying into the Qin family at once.

Now, Song Jin had married Qin Chi first.

Song Xiu hadn't even met Qin Mingsong yet.

Old Man Qin’s given name was Qin Shi. He was over fifty and had raised four sons and two daughters with Old Madam Liu.

The two daughters were already married off, and of the four sons, only Qin Mingsong was yet to be wed.

When Old Man Qin was young, he had traveled and worked abroad. When he made money, he returned home to build a house and buy farmland. It was said that he had apprenticed under a master and learned the craft of ink-making. Every year, he would produce a small amount of Huizhou ink to sell to the wealthy, relying on this to support the large family. He was a well-known wealthy household in the village.

The Qin family was prosperous, with seven grandchildren alone.

The eldest, Qin Mingzhong, was married to the Li woman, and they had an only son, Qin Chi.

The second branch, Qin Mingyi, was married to the younger Liu woman and had five children: four sons and one daughter.

The third branch, Qin Mingqing, was married to the Lin woman and had one daughter, who was two years old.

The Qin family was gathered in the hall today, joyfully wearing their cleanest clothes, waiting for the new bride to make her official appearance.

Song Jin and Qin Chi stepped over the threshold one after the other, standing side by side as if draped in sunlight. At first glance, the man was handsome and the woman was beautiful, like a painting.

It was mainly because Song Jin’s beauty was so striking that it made Qin Chi, who had always looked sickly in the eyes of the Qin family, appear a bit more extraordinary.

It wasn't until the two were close that everyone snapped out of their daze.

The second uncle, Qin, chuckled: "Big brother, sister-in-law, you picked the right niece-in-law, didn't you? Look at them, standing together, Dalang even looks more spirited. They look quite good together."

"Hahaha, second brother, Dalang has been good-looking since he was a child, not even worse than the fourth brother, he's just a bit thin." The third uncle, Qin, teased.

Qin Chi smiled faintly: "Second uncle, third uncle, don't tease me. Your nephew is thin-skinned."

"Thin-skinned? Only men with thick skin get anywhere in life." The younger Liu woman blurted out, "Dalang, you're married now, you can't be thin-skinned, otherwise how will you have children..."

Qin Chi’s mouth twitched.

His second aunt was just someone who didn't know how to hold her tongue; he was used to it.

Beside them, the third son of the Qin family had a flushed face and said awkwardly, "Mother, why do you say things like that? I... I'm still young."

"You're a nine-year-old kid, you haven't even grown your hair out yet, what are you shy about?" The younger Liu woman slapped her second son on the head.

"Hahaha..."

The adults roared with laughter.

The children, whether they understood or not, followed the adults in their silly joy.

Except for two-year-old Erya, the rest of the children were from the second branch. The oldest was Daya, who was thirteen this year.

Next was the second son, who had just turned eleven.

The two tiger-headed little boys, looking about three or four years old, were the twins born to the younger Liu woman.

The one who could give birth the most in the Qin family was the younger Liu woman.

The Li woman hadn't conceived again after giving birth to Qin Chi, while the Lin woman had been pregnant twice, but neither had survived.

Song Jin maintained a smile throughout.

She used a smile to deal with the awkwardness; as long as she didn't show it, no one would know.

Qin Mingsong and Song Xiu were not in the room.

Qin Mingsong shouldn't have returned yet, but it was strange that Song Xiu wasn't at an occasion like this...

Just as Song Jin was wondering, Old Madam Liu ordered: "Daya, go invite the second young lady."

"Alright, Grandma."

Qin Daya responded and went out, returning shortly after.

Song Xiu was wearing a dark green dress with flower and bird patterns, taking small, graceful steps as she approached. She wore very few accessories, only a peony hair ornament, but it was just right, making her face look like a lotus and her person as delicate as a flower.

Song Jin could tell that Song Xiu had dressed up meticulously.

Song Xiu came up and handed over a jade bead hairpin, smiling softly: "Sister, this is my wedding gift to you."

"You've spent too much." Song Jin accepted it.

She still had to maintain this facade in front of others, if only to avoid being a laughingstock in public.

Song Xiu said as if joking: "What do you mean spent too much? When I get married, sister will have to add to my dowry too, don't forget."

"I won't forget." Song Jin smiled faintly.

Giving people things while fearing a loss—she was the same as in her past life, still just as shallow.

"Look at what you're saying, sister. Xiuer was just joking with you, don't take it seriously." Song Xiu quickly tried to make amends.

Song Jin smiled without a word.

Song Xiu turned to greet the elders of the Qin family, chatting and laughing, clearly intending to steal the spotlight.

Song Jin didn't take it to heart.

In this life, her interactions with the Qin family, just like with Song Xiu, only needed to be passable on the surface.

Once everyone was seated, the new bride served the elders their meal. The process was quite simple: she only needed to serve a bowl of thick rice porridge to each of her parents-in-law.

Ordinary folk didn't have the conditions to be like the high-ranking families; the new bride couldn't exactly be picking up small pickles for her parents-in-law with every chopstick, could she?

The thought of that scene alone was ridiculous!

Song Jin remembered that there were ancestors above her parents-in-law, so she served Old Man Qin first, then Old Madam Liu.

Old Madam Liu felt a surge of anger the moment she saw Song Jin and was itching to cause trouble: "Dalang's wife! Why didn't you make noodles today? This porridge is something I don't like to drink..."

Old Man Qin slammed the table and roared: "If you dare to be picky again, see if I don't beat you to death! Have I ever let you go hungry before?"

Old Madam Liu was scolded into silence, her mouth mumbling but unable to say a word.

Everyone present dared not make a sound.

Song Jin continued to serve porridge to Old Madam Liu.

Only, when she was serving it, the spoon in her small hand shook, and the porridge in the bowl became a bit thinner. Seeing this, Qin Chi’s mouth twitched slightly, and he immediately looked away.

(End of chapter)