Chapter 8: I Didn't Spend a Single Penny to Marry You

Chapter 8: I Didn't Spend a Single Penny to Marry You

Li-shi did not want to get involved in her brother-in-law’s wedding, so she said, "I still have a pattern I haven't finished drawing, so I'll head back to my room first. Da-lang isn't feeling well, so he should go back and rest early too."

Qin the Eldest stood up immediately.

They even took the porridge they hadn't finished back to their room.

Once the two of them left, it was like a signal.

One by one, the others picked up their bowls and left, each finding some flimsy excuse to slip away.

Song Jin and Qin Chi followed the crowd as they walked out.

In the courtyard before the main gate, Qin the Second and Qin the Third were chatting in low voices.

In her past life, Song Jin knew that among the four Qin brothers, the first three were extremely close. Only Qin Mingsong was an outlier; having been favored by their parents since childhood, his relationship with his brothers was merely average.

The three brothers were willing to support Qin Mingsong’s studies in the hope that he would earn a scholarly title and exempt the family from corvée labor.

Before Qin Mingsong passed the imperial examination to become a *xiucai*, the three of them took turns serving labor duty every year. Every time they returned home, they were as thin as refugees, needing a long period of recovery before they were back to normal.

In contrast, Qin Mingsong lived far too comfortably.

No matter how selfless the three brothers were, over time, it was inevitable that a rift would form.

Recalling her past life, the three brothers didn't seem to benefit much from Qin Mingsong. Once he passed the *jinshi* examination, Old Man Qin suddenly proposed splitting the family. The two elders chose to live with Qin Mingsong, yet insisted on staying in the countryside, and Song Jin, as the daughter-in-law, was left behind by right to serve her parents-in-law.

In the end, she died, while both elders lived on.

Song Jin asked softly, "Do you think Qin Mingsong will insist on not marrying Song Xiu?"

Qin Chi glanced at her sideways. "He will marry her."

"Why?"

"The command of parents and the words of matchmakers." Qin Chi’s reasoning was simple and clear. "Disobeying one's parents is considered unfilial. If he wants to enter the officialdom through the imperial examinations, the younger uncle wouldn't dare."

Song Jin understood.

Between his future and the affairs of the heart, there was no need to guess how Qin Mingsong, who had studied hard for ten years, would choose.

In her past life, hadn't he agreed to marry her, too?

"What are you thinking about?"

Qin Chi’s eyes were fixed on her, his expression unreadable.

Song Jin looked up at the sky. What was she thinking about? Naturally, she was recalling things from her past life, but could she say that?

"I was thinking, isn't Qin Mingsong the hope for the Qin family to change their status? Perhaps Grandfather really will change his mind."

Qin Chi’s expression was inscrutable. He said pointedly, "Which scholar doesn't hope to change their family's status? But how many actually succeed? Grandfather has seen the world; he is quite pragmatic."

This remark made it clear: Old Man Qin had expectations for Qin Mingsong, but he was also rational.

Song Jin’s eyes flickered upon hearing this.

She said nothing more.

Old Man Qin clearly hoped for Qin Mingsong to change their status, yet he had agreed to the marriage with the Song family.

From the moment Old Man Qin agreed to the marriage, he was taking a certain risk. If things went wrong, he could be accused of harboring a fugitive.

Song Jin had a marriage certificate, which erased the hidden danger.

But Song Xiu did not!

Yesterday, when Song Jin asked Old Man Qin to handle the marriage certificate, it wasn't that she hadn't requested one for Song Xiu as well, but Old Man Qin had agreed to hers and not to Song Xiu’s.

The reason was that Qin Mingsong held a scholarly title.

At the same time, Qin Mingsong was somewhat of a local celebrity in this area.

Old Man Qin said it was difficult to manage.

He claimed the risk of exposure was too high.

Whether this was true or false, Song Jin chose to believe it for now.

In her past life, Song Jin had never thought about these things. After all, she was young; if she didn't ask, Old Man Qin wouldn't say.

The grievances of the past life—who was right and who was wrong—were actually hard to untangle now.

In this life, Song Jin didn't want to dwell on them.

Because everything had changed the moment they swapped marriages.

Once Qin Chi passed away from his illness, she would become a widow, and widows were allowed to establish their own households. After observing the mourning period, she would leave the Qin family and would no longer have to concern herself with their troubles.

If Song Xiu really did call off this engagement and married someone else, perhaps it would be a good thing.

Following this, Song Jin told Qin Chi to return to the room first while she went to find Song Xiu. She got straight to the point, asking if Song Xiu wanted to call off the engagement so she could find her another match.

Song Jin stated bluntly that Qin Mingsong was not a good match and that he might already have someone he favored.

To this, Song Xiu was not only ungrateful but furious, shouting indignantly, "How dare you, Song Jin! You just can't stand to see me do well, can you? Who told you to take it upon yourself to call off my engagement? Did you get my permission? I don't agree!"

In this life, she was determined to marry none other than Qin Mingsong!

Qin Mingsong would become a high-ranking official in the future.

Song Xiu was waiting to be an official's wife!

In her past life, Song Xiu had never seen a better man than Qin Mingsong, so how could he not be a good match? Song Jin had been childless for seven years in her past life, yet Qin Mingsong had never divorced her or taken a concubine; he was a man praised by everyone as being affectionate and righteous.

Therefore, Song Xiu didn't believe a single word of Song Jin’s well-intentioned advice.

Song Jin didn't know what Song Xiu was thinking.

If she had known, she could only say that Qin Mingsong had hidden his true nature too well in the past life—so well that even she had only found out by accident, let alone outsiders.

Song Xiu added suspiciously, "You’re spreading rumors about Qin Mingsong—don't tell me you’ve taken a fancy to him? Song Jin, don't forget, you’re already married. Try to have some decency."

Hearing this, a surge of anger rose in Song Jin’s heart. She had wanted to pull Song Xiu back from the edge, at least to honor her father’s trust.

But reality told her otherwise.

There is nothing wrong with kindness, but one must consider who it is for.

Some people are not worth it.

Song Jin looked at Song Xiu as if she were a stranger.

"Song Xiu, this is the path you chose yourself. I hope you won't regret it."

Song Jin turned and left.

Seeing Song Jin’s indifferent gaze, Song Xiu felt a strange sense of panic.

But soon, Song Xiu was once again intoxicated by the joy of being about to marry Qin Mingsong, unaware that her actions today had exhausted the last shred of affection Song Jin held for her.

Song Xiu didn't believe that Qin Mingsong’s attempt to call off the engagement would succeed; after all, in her past life, he had married Song Jin. To achieve her goal, she even used silver to bribe Old Liu-shi.

As it turned out, Song Xiu’s methods were effective.

Qin Mingsong’s refusal was merely a minor episode; Old Man Qin didn't agree, and Old Liu-shi quickly set about preparing the wedding banquet.

After some discussion, they settled on two tables.

Children and women wouldn't be sitting at the tables, so two were enough.

Old Liu-shi sent Qin the Third to notify her two daughters, and Old Man Qin went to invite the village chief and the elders of the clan. In truth, without a marriage certificate, one couldn't say the marriage was entirely invalid.

As long as the clan acknowledged it and the village chief was aware, it was considered a marriage by custom.

Most people in the village were like this; could you say their marriages were invalid?

It wasn't without hidden dangers.

It mainly depended on how the government viewed it—it could be a big deal or a small one. When the day of reckoning came, it would depend on who had the stronger backing.

Qin Chi used his poor health as an excuse, and Song Jin used the reason of staying in the room to take care of him, so she didn't go out to help.

"Are you envious?"

Qin Chi, who was flipping through a book, suddenly asked.

Song Jin was stunned. "Envious of what?"

"They are holding a banquet, while you have nothing. Just as my second aunt said, I didn't spend a single penny to marry you."

Qin Chi had taken those words to heart.

Song Jin smiled. "Will you look down on me because of that?"

"No."

"Then that’s all that matters."

"..."