Zhao Qingzhu and I were betrothed through an exchange marriage.
The agreement was that his older sister would marry my older brother, and I would marry him.
He was a scholar, which meant his education was a money pit.
My family had to tighten our belts to provide for him, and the entire village laughed at us for being fools.
But five years later, he passed the imperial examinations with top honors and became the most sought-after bachelor around.
Suddenly, everyone was saying I was no longer worthy of him.