Chapter 5: How About We Settle Down in a House?

Just as Chen Dashan’s slap was about to land, his wrist was suddenly twisted hard.

He screamed in pain and turned to see that it was Qin Feng.

“You little brat, how dare you lay a hand on me? This time, ten taels of silver won’t be enough!” Chen Dashan yelled.

Qin Feng pressed his lips together tightly, casting a cold glance at Chen Dashan, but his grip only tightened.

Chen Dashan quickly realized his mistake and begged for mercy, trying to persuade Tao Hua: “You little brat, hurry up and beg for mercy! If he doesn’t let go, my wrist will break!”

Tao Hua looked at Chen Dashan coldly.

Then, without hesitation, she dropped to her knees in front of Qin Feng with a thud.

She lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears, as she looked at Qin Feng: “Qin Brother, I beg you.”

Qin Feng furrowed his brows and spoke in a low, deep voice: “You want to beg for him?”

Tao Hua’s tears began to fall: “Qin Brother, I beg you, marry me. When you saved me from the river, I knew you were a kind-hearted person. Even though we did nothing wrong, you still came to my home with the village chief’s wife to propose for my honor, and I am so grateful to you.

But I also know that my stepfather’s request is putting you in a difficult position, and maybe you’re beginning to have doubts. But I still beg of you, because if you leave today, my stepfather will sell me to a brothel.

I don’t want to be sold to that kind of place. I want to leave here, to have a home of my own. If you can give the ten taels of silver, once I marry into your family, I will find a way to make money and repay you. I will earn back those ten taels!”

Qin Feng had come to propose today, expecting the process to be smooth, especially since the girl’s reputation wasn’t great. But he hadn’t expected her to have such a shameless stepfather.

Saving her once was an act of kindness, but saving her twice… that was another matter.

He looked down at Tao Hua: “Your stepfather doesn’t seem like someone who can be easily dealt with. Here’s my advice: if you want to leave, leave completely. Understand?”

Tao Hua understood, and not only did she understand, she had been secretly thinking about this for a long time!

But instead of answering immediately, she turned to glance at Zhou Shi, who was standing behind Chen Dashan.

Zhou Shi’s eyes were filled with tears. She sniffled and nodded at Tao Hua.

After receiving her mother’s support, Tao Hua solemnly nodded to Qin Feng: “I understand, Qin Brother.”

“Good.” Qin Feng realized this girl was more perceptive and decisive than he had thought.

“Get up now.” Qin Feng said, releasing Chen Dashan’s wrist, and then pulled out a money pouch from his pocket.

He looked at Chen Dashan expressionlessly: “Here are fifteen taels of silver. Consider it my bride price for your daughter. You can keep the things I brought as well.”

“However, from now on, your daughter will be mine, Qin Feng’s. She has no blood ties to you, and once she marries me, she will have no further relationship with the Chen family. There’s no need to visit your family during festivals or holidays. Do you understand?”

“Really?” As soon as Chen Dashan saw the money pouch, his eyes lit up. He reached out to grab it, asking, “Is there really fifteen taels inside? You’re not lying, are you?”

Qin Feng, seeing that Chen Dashan had not listened to his words at all, quickly pulled the money pouch back.

He frowned and said, “First, promise me.”

“I promise, of course I do!” Chen Dashan was entirely focused on the pouch of silver, his mind already on the money. “So, we won’t have any more dealings? Fine!”

Although he agreed, he had other plans in mind.

He thought to himself that even though Qin Feng’s family seemed poor, he must have money. Once Tao Hua married into their family, if he was short on cash, he could always go to them for help.

With this thought, he was in a good mood.

But Qin Feng wasn’t easily fooled: “Talk is cheap. Since we’ve come to an agreement, let’s write it down with a written agreement.”

“A written agreement?” Chen Dashan laughed loudly. “We don’t need that. You can just leave the money and take the girl. We don’t know how to read or write, and we don’t have any paper, ink, or pens.”

Tao Hua knew that Chen Dashan would try to cheat them, so she stood up angrily and said, “We do have paper, ink, and pens at home. I’ll go get them.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Xiaolan entered with the village chief, her grandfather.

She raised the basket in her hand and smiled, saying, “We have the writing supplies!”

Qin Feng asked the village chief to act as a witness, and they quickly prepared the document.

Chen Dashan happily pressed his thumbprint on the document, clearly more interested in the silver than in his daughter’s marriage.

In the room.

Zhou Shi wiped her tears and murmured to Tao Hua, “This is for the best, this is for the best. My son will finally leave this family.”

Tao Hua knelt at Zhou Shi’s feet and kowtowed, “Mother, I can’t stay with you any longer, but I will still honor you. I’m just cutting ties with the Chen family, but you will always be my mother.”

“Good child, just take care of yourself. Don’t worry about me. At least I gave him three children, and he won’t treat me poorly. By the way, Tao Hua, I had planned to find you a good wedding date, but now you’ll have to leave today. There’s no time for a new dress. You can just wear my old wedding dress, although it’s a bit worn, but it’s red and festive.”

Tao Hua nodded through her tears, then turned to gather her clothes for the journey.