Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As it turned out, Lu Xiangzhi had misjudged me.

The day after I took the divorce papers and left the Lu Family, matchmakers swarmed my pickle stall until not even water could squeeze through.

The people who had come to watch the spectacle the day before had already spun the story of the top scholar casting off his faithful wife to marry a woman from a brothel into a full opera called The Tale of Dengniang. Tangli Garden even rented a painted pleasure boat on the river, where singers trilled it out in lilting voices.

“Every Shen family woman has always been known for her virtue. Some earned memorial arches, others had their names recorded in the county annals. As the saying goes, a virtuous wife keeps disaster from her husband.”

“My son is hopeless. He needs a capable, virtuous wife to set the household right.”

“Only some ignorant family fallen on hard times would marry a seductive little vixen as the mistress of the house.”

The matchmakers piled calling cards on my stall. Quite a few young masters and wastrels used buying pickles as an excuse to steal glances at me.

“No matter how heartless they are, I only recognize you as my sister-in-law.”

Ya’er lingered at my pickle stall and refused to leave, standing on tiptoe to look at the calling cards.

She did not know many characters, but she took a liking to one and secretly tugged at my hem.

“Sister-in-law, I found a good one.”

I neatly arranged the vegetables without even looking up.

“As long as it’s a breathing man, I don’t want him, no matter how good he is.”

“Sister-in-law, this one won’t be breathing for much longer.”

I heard the guest who had left the calling card give a soft cough.

I froze, then raised my eyes.

Before me stood a maidservant with smiling eyes and brows, dressed properly and neatly, looking like a female house steward from some wealthy household.

I recognized her. She had bought pickles from me for seven days straight.

“Miss Shen, my mistress sent me to present a betrothal proposal.”

Ya’er turned the calling card over and over, frowning in confusion.

Other people wrote that their young master was talented and handsome. This card said: My son is unruly, reckless, and gravely ill.

Other people wrote that their young master was blessed with fortune and longevity. This card said: My son has little time left.

“This older brother is about to die of illness. Does he still need to take a wife?”

Ten gold ingots were laid out across the pickle table, their bright yellow gleam dazzling to the eye.

“Our young master is seriously ill. This marriage is, first, to bring him good fortune and ward off disaster, and second, because his temperament is strange and willful. Madam says that in all the capital, only Miss Shen has the strength of character to keep him in line.”

At that, the woman glanced around, then leaned in secretly and lowered her voice.

“Even His Majesty knows our young master won’t live past three years. He is the second young master of Duke Xie’s Mansion. Miss, you need only ask around to know we would never dare deceive the emperor.

“And our Third Miss is betrothed to Prince Xuan. In the future, asking for an imperial title for a widowed sister-in-law would not be difficult.

“For these three years, you and our young master can each live your own life. Afterward, you will have money, leisure, and no man to trouble you. Wouldn’t that be a comfortable life?”

To be honest, I was a little tempted.

But I did not want to gamble again.

I pushed the gold back.

“I appreciate Madam Xie’s kindness, but this little stall of mine is enough to support Ya’er and me.”

After I refused her, the Xie Family maidservant did not get angry or annoyed. She still came every day with a smile to buy pickles, placing her second young master’s calling card to the side.

Ya’er, however, did not come to my stall for half a month.

I thought Lu’s Mother was keeping her under watch and forbidding her from running about.

But one day, when a heavy rain came down and I closed my stall, I saw Ya’er collapsed at the doorway.

Her whole body was frighteningly hot.

“Sister-in-law… it hurts so much…”

The doctor said Ya’er had whooping cough. She had been brought in too late, and her fever did not subside for four or five days.

Buying medicine and paying for consultations was like pouring silver into water. Day after day, there was no end in sight.

Ya’er often burned with fever and slept heavily. When she was occasionally awake, she would clutch my sleeve and cry.

“Sister-in-law, my mother doesn’t care about me. You shouldn’t care about me either. I don’t want to drag you down.

“…That day, I thought I was going to die, so I just wanted to come see you.”

After crying herself tired, she nestled against me and fell into a deep sleep.

Lu’s Mother had never liked Ya’er. She cursed her as a shameless little tramp, a lowborn wretch.

As for Lu Xiangzhi, he paid no mind to this short, skinny, timid younger sister of his.

Girls from the same village could wear flowered cotton jackets, but Ya’er’s ragged padded coat had been patched again and again, thin as old yellow paper.

On the day I married into the Lu Family, Ya’er mustered up the courage to block my way.

Her clothes were thin, and so was her warning.

“If you dare bully me, I’ll make my brother divorce you!”

On the third day after I entered the household, I used the red cloth from my dowry to make Ya’er a bright red jacket.

Ya’er held that bright red jacket and stared blankly for a long time before bursting into loud sobs.

From then on, Ya’er followed behind me with absolute devotion.

At first, Lu Xiangzhi did not like me, and Lu’s Mother made things difficult for me in every possible way.

But since I was young, my mother had taught me that a wife must be obedient, respectful, and filial, and must not cause gossip and quarrels in the household.

When Lu’s Mother scolded me for being lazy, Ya’er would defend me in front of Lu Xiangzhi.

When Lu’s Mother could not stand seeing Lu Xiangzhi and me grow close, Ya’er would lie and say we had not been alone; she had been there too.

Ya’er would also secretly tell me Lu Xiangzhi’s likes and temperament.

“My brother loves noodles and pastries. He’s poor, but he cares a lot about face.”

With Ya’er there these past four years, my days had been much easier.

I could not abandon her.

I accepted the Xie Family’s calling card.

“I don’t want a betrothal gift. I only want the Xie Family to cure her.”