Chapter 4: A Marriage Certificate

Chapter 4: A Single Marriage Certificate

Upon returning to the room, Song Jin threw the letter her father had left behind, along with the pharmacopoeia, into the brazier to burn.

Keeping physical evidence would eventually become a disaster; it was better to burn them and be done with it. In any case, she had already memorized the contents of the pharmacopoeia by heart in her previous life.

Just as they were finishing, Qin Chi entered the room carrying a teapot.

Song Jin stood up in surprise, her body unobtrusively blocking the brazier behind her.

Qin Chi merely glanced at it, vaguely catching sight of the character "Song" on the book cover and a letter that had been mostly consumed by flames.

He pretended not to see the brazier, moved the square low table to the bed, and set down the teapot and two tea bowls. "Come over and have a bowl of tea."

Song Jin went over and sat opposite him.

Qin Chi’s fair fingers hooked the teapot, and he poured a bowl of hot tea. His movements were as fluid as flowing water, quite a sight to behold.

He pushed the bowl of tea toward Song Jin.

Qin Chi said with a double meaning, "We only have wild herbal tea picked from the mountains. Make do with it; it clears heat and reduces inflammation."

"Thank you." Song Jin picked up the tea bowl.

"There are no formal ceremonies in this house, no need for thanks." Qin Chi added nonchalantly, "My grandfather said the marriage certificate for us was finalized today?"

Song Jin nodded.

Qin Chi asked again, "May I see it?"

As the party involved, he wanted to see it, and Song Jin had no reason to refuse.

Setting down the tea bowl, Song Jin took out the marriage certificate and handed it to him.

Just as he had said, Qin Chi only took one look before telling her to put it away.

Song Jin carefully returned the certificate to its original place.

Seeing this, a strange look flickered in Qin Chi’s eyes, though he didn't show it on his face. "It’s just a piece of paper. If it gets damaged or lost, we can just go to the yamen to get a replacement. Is it worth treating it with such care?"

Song Jin replied, "It is worth it."

This was, after all, a life-saving piece of paper.

Qin Chi’s eyebrows arched slightly at her words; he was clearly pleased by her actions. To value the marriage certificate so highly, she must be satisfied with the marriage, rather than being forced into it against her will.

This was truly a misunderstanding born of coincidence.

Song Jin did not expect Qin Chi to misinterpret her, and she was already pondering another matter: "Husband, when will you return to the academy?"

Qin Chi lowered his eyelids and said calmly, "I took a long leave; I just need to go to the academy and inform the master to resume my studies."

"When you go to the academy, how about I go with you to take care of you? I’d like to rent a small courtyard near the academy." Song Jin wanted to live in town; it would be more convenient for her affairs.

"This... that wouldn't be appropriate, would it?"

Qin Chi’s hand holding the tea paused. Would this be too clingy?

Immediately, Qin Chi thought of something, and the ripples that had just formed in his heart instantly vanished.

His future was uncertain; why bother with genuine feelings? It would only add to the sorrow later.

Song Jin was firm. "There is nothing inappropriate about it. A husband’s clothing, food, housing, and transportation—his three meals a day—all require someone to attend to them."

Qin Chi gave her a deep look. "That reason is sound, but it won't convince the elders in the family. If you are determined to go, I will be the one to speak to Father and Mother about it."

"I’ll leave it to you, Husband." Song Jin’s eyes were filled with gratitude.

Qin Chi reminded Song Jin that she would need to prepare breakfast tomorrow morning. The customs of commoner families were not as cumbersome as those of wealthy households, but they were not entirely absent either.

For instance, here in Qin Family Gully, a new bride was expected to prepare a palatable meal for her parents-in-law on the second day after entering the home, to show her filial piety and respect, and also as an opportunity for the new bride to prove herself.

It was said that if the parents-in-law were satisfied with this meal, it meant they were pleased with the new bride, and her life in the household would be easier.

If the parents-in-law were dissatisfied, the new bride would have a difficult time ahead, inevitably treated like a beast of burden.

Song Jin was well aware of this custom.

Qin Chi narrowed his eyes slightly and said after a long pause, "My uncle will be coming home tomorrow..."

"Oh." Song Jin was not surprised.

Seeing her indifferent reaction, Qin Chi did not bring it up again.

Song Jin did not step out of the room again, even eating dinner inside.

When night fell, Song Jin quickly washed up and lay on the bed, pretending to be asleep.

Qin Chi found another quilt.

The two of them tacitly slept on their own sides, as if they had completely forgotten that tonight was their wedding night.

When he woke up, Qin Chi discovered that his arms were filled with soft, fragrant warmth.

A faint, feminine scent lingered at the tip of his nose—a fragrance he had never smelled before.

It smelled wonderful, and subconsciously, he twitched his nose again...

A moment later, his reason returned.

To avoid mutual embarrassment, Qin Chi quietly released the person in his arms, got out of bed with light steps, and put on his clothes.

He had just finished putting on his shoes.

Behind him, a soft, gentle voice asked, "It’s still pitch black outside; are you getting up to cook already?"

"Mm, it’s time."

Qin Chi gave a vague reply.

Song Jin rubbed her sleepy eyes, got up, and dressed.

When she walked to the door, intending to feel her way to the kitchen in the dark, she saw Qin Chi following behind with a lantern.

Song Jin was puzzled. "What are you doing?"

"Have you ever cooked before?"

Qin Chi lowered his gaze to her hands. Her fingers were slender and white as jade, reminding him of high-quality mutton-fat jade.

Song Jin wanted to say she knew how to cook.

But at this time in her previous life, let alone cooking, she didn't even know how to start a fire.

Kitchen chores were things she had only learned after she was married.

The two entered the kitchen one after the other.

Song Jin simply rinsed the rice, and Qin Chi did the rest.

Qin Chi didn't know how to make anything too complicated, so he just boiled a large pot of thick rice porridge and prepared two ready-made side dishes, such as pickled spicy cabbage and stir-fried peanuts.

No one in the Qin family was awake yet.

As long as Qin Chi didn't say anything, no one would know that this breakfast wasn't made by Song Jin.

"You take the rice porridge to the main room first; I’ll just boil a pot of water." Qin Chi lifted his hem and squatted in front of the stove, beginning to add firewood to the hearth.

Song Jin looked at the thin youth, who was skillfully tending the fire. Under the glow of the stove light, his earlier sharpness and intensity had vanished, replaced by a hazy, gentle hue. His long, dark eyelashes were like crescent moons, half-covering his ink-black, starry eyes. His high-bridged nose was as exquisite as a painting, and even his pale lips were particularly alluring...

"Bang."

A small sound came from outside.

Song Jin snapped back to reality in a panic, picked up the large basin of porridge, and walked out of the kitchen, feeling quite like she was fleeing in a rush.

As soon as she stepped into the main room, she saw Old Madam Liu.

Old Madam Liu did not favor the eldest branch. Not only had her dull eldest son married a sickly wife, but they had only produced a sickly child who had spent a fortune on medicine since childhood. Even though the money was earned by Li’s embroidery work and hadn't cost Old Madam Liu a single cent, she was still unhappy.

Consequently, she didn't like Song Jin, who had just entered the family either.

Old Madam Liu had been the head of the household for decades and was used to giving orders; it was no wonder she wasn't happy that Song Jin was outside her control.

On top of that, after Song Xiu cried yesterday saying she could only get half of the dowry, Old Madam Liu was in an even worse mood.

Old Madam Liu said sarcastically, "Up so early? And you’ve already made breakfast?"

"Grandma, it’s ready."

Song Jin hurriedly set down the porridge basin. Since she and Qin Chi were now married, she had to address Old Madam Liu as "Grandma" according to their seniority.

Old Madam Liu’s gaze was sharp; she saw the large basin of rice porridge on the table, steaming hot, clearly just off the stove.

Song Jin wanted to return to the kitchen first.

Song Xiu appeared, swaying gracefully, and as soon as she arrived, she said maliciously, "I’ve grown up so much, and this is the first time I’ve seen Sister cook. Sister, let me help you."

"No need to trouble yourself, this was supposed to be my job." Song Jin was worried someone would go to the kitchen and see Qin Chi.

Especially doing housework?

That would surely lead to endless trouble!

Song Jin hurried back toward the kitchen.

Just as she reached the kitchen door, she saw Old Madam Liu and Song Xiu following her—one with a long, sour face, the other with a look of anticipation for a show.

Song Jin was so nervous that her palms were sweating.

If it were discovered that Qin Chi had made this breakfast, let alone Old Madam Liu, even her mother-in-law, Li, would likely not give her a pleasant look.

"Why are you walking so fast? Is there a man hiding in the kitchen?" Old Madam Liu’s thoughts were vicious.

Song Jin turned around abruptly, furious at Old Madam Liu. Just as she was about to say something, Song Xiu, who had followed, spoke up first in an exaggerated tone: "Aunt, please be careful with your words. If what you say gets out, how will my sister face people in the future?"

"Hmph! If she hasn't done anything shameful, why is she feeling guilty?"

Pushing Song Jin aside forcefully, Old Madam Liu charged into the kitchen.