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Chapter 3: The Treatment of Sons and Daughters

If they reported this to the police, Old Man Qiao’s past deeds would be exposed.

But just giving away over six hundred yuan to the Cheng family? The Qiao family women weren’t willing to accept that.

“We definitely can’t take her back, but we also need our money back. What should we do?” Qiao’s eldest daughter-in-law muttered. Taking the girl home was out of the question, but since the Chengs refused to return the money, she couldn’t think of a better plan.

Cheng Yuanyue stood quietly to the side, as though they weren’t even talking about her, as though she wasn’t the person at the center of it all.

No one knew her heart was blooming with joy.

As for who the Shen family might try to marry her off to next—she wasn’t concerned right now.

The Shen family was firm: they wouldn’t return the betrothal gift, but if the Qiao family wanted, they could take the girl.

The Qiao brothers wanted to take her home, but their wives strongly disagreed.

In the end, the eldest daughter-in-law compromised: “We’ll help you think of a way to save your son, but this marriage must be annulled. If you don’t agree, then forget about getting him out of jail.”

“You really can get my grandson out?” The old grandmother didn’t care whether Yuanyue married or if she married well—she only cared about saving her precious eldest grandson. “If you can really bring him back, then we’ll return the betrothal money.”

As long as her grandson was freed, Yuanyue could be matched with someone else later. What a perfect deal—why would she refuse?

“Then it’s settled.” Though the Qiao sisters-in-law were reluctant, they had no other choice if they wanted their money back.

After making the agreement, the Qiao family left.

As soon as they were gone, Shen Xiuying quickly removed the red flower from Yuanyue’s hair and urged her to change out of her wedding clothes: “Yuanyue, you don’t need to marry anymore. You can stay here with us. Aren’t you happy?”

Yuanyue’s face lit up with a sweet smile. “I’m happy.”

And she truly was—it wasn’t an act.

Old Man Qiao was dead. Her ending in the book would surely change now. No more short-lived fate.

“Next time, I’ll help you find a good match so you can marry with honor.” With her son’s release secured, Shen Xiuying once again played the role of a loving mother.

“Mm.”

Back in her room, Yuanyue changed clothes. From the bottom of her shoe, she pulled out a small, sharp dagger.

She gazed at it with a cold smile. “That old man died fast.”

She set it down and changed into her usual clothes.

Yes—she had prepared for the worst. If that old man had dared to touch her or beat her, she would’ve stabbed him without hesitation.

If she was going to die, they’d die together.

It was a pity the dagger hadn’t been needed.

When she walked out, her grandmother called, “Yuanyue, today was supposed to be your wedding day. We prepared a lot of meat and vegetables. Go pickle them so we can eat for a while.”

They hadn’t even bothered inviting relatives or friends—just wanted to marry her off quietly.

Thankfully not many people came, or else with her new reputation as a husband-killer, arranging another marriage would’ve been near impossible.

Yuanyue nodded and went to the kitchen to work.

Her little sister, Fangfang, rushed in and hugged her tightly. “Sister, it’s so great—you don’t have to marry, we can stay together!”

Yuanyue stroked her head gently. “Yes. I’m happy too. Since we have meat today, I’ll make braised pork for you at lunch.”

Fangfang swallowed hard. “But will Grandma be upset?”

“She won’t.” Yuanyue started cooking, the rich smell of meat soon filling the air. She served a bowl to her sister and another for herself.

The sisters exchanged a glance, joy flickering in their eyes.

But when Grandma smelled the braised pork, she stormed into the kitchen. Seeing the dish, she raised her hand to slap Yuanyue, scolding: “You wasteful brat! Cooking so much meat—what’s your brother supposed to eat when he comes back?”

Yuanyue leaned aside, avoiding the slap, her voice calm: “It’s hot now, the meat won’t keep long. Cooking it first makes it easier to store. If you can’t bear to eat it, you can save a bowl for my brother when he returns.”

She and Fangfang had already eaten. As for the others—whether they ate or not, she didn’t care.

“Mother, Yuanyue is right. In this heat, it won’t last raw. If we eat half now and save half for Jiafu, it’ll keep longer.” Shen Xiuying stared at the braised pork, swallowing hungrily.

“That wasteful girl… if she hadn’t cooked it, we wouldn’t be tempted now.” Grandma grumbled, but she too wanted a taste.

By midday, Yuanyue’s reputation as a husband-killer had already spread through the village.

Everywhere she went, she could feel the villagers’ stares—some sympathetic, some disdainful.

She didn’t care.

Carrying a hatchet, she went to the mountain. It had been a day—was that man in the cave dead yet?

When she entered, the cave was empty.

He’d left without her knowing.

So, he wasn’t dead.

But he hadn’t come looking for her either. Useless man.

She gathered firewood and went down the mountain, only to find villagers warning her:

“Yuanyue, hurry home. The Wu family seems to be here.”

“They’re here demanding compensation.”

“You’d better go back fast—what if your mother marries you off to Wu Tianyou?”

Everyone sighed. Poor Yuanyue, trapped with such a family. Couldn’t marry Old Man Qiao, and now with the Wu family here, surely they’d sell her off again.

Sure enough, the Wu family had come—demanding repayment.

If the Chengs didn’t pay, Cheng Jiafu would never leave jail.

“Originally Yuanyue was supposed to marry Old Man Qiao. If she had, we’d have had money to compensate you. But now he’s dead, and the marriage is off. Tianyou, you need a wife, don’t you? Why not marry Yuanyue?” The shameless Shen couple offered her up without hesitation.

Wu Tianyou, a notorious thug, sneered: “Fine. If you can’t pay, I’ll just take your daughter instead. Where is she?”

By the time Yuanyue returned home, her grandmother and parents had already agreed to marry her to him.

Shen Xiuying pulled her aside and whispered: “Yuanyue, his uncle is a director at a state-owned machinery factory—very powerful. If he reports this to his uncle, your brother could be in prison for life. Tianyou is around your age, and his family isn’t bad. If you marry him, you won’t suffer. Just go with him for now. You can live together first, and we’ll arrange the wedding later.”

Because of Yuanyue’s reputation as a husband-killer, the Wu family insisted on a trial period first—marriage could wait.

“Yuanyue, I know you’re the most sensible. For your brother’s sake, I have no choice.” Shen Xiuying repeated the same line.

Yuanyue’s lips curled into a cold smile. Her voice was sweet and obedient: “I’ll listen to you.”

“You’re such a good girl, never making us worry. Not like your brother, always giving us headaches. We’ve broken our backs for his marriage.” Shen Xiuying sighed, pretending to scold her son even as she sacrificed her daughter for him.

Holding Yuanyue’s hand, she led her out with a smile for Wu Tianyou: “Tianyou, I’ve spoken with Yuanyue. She’s willing to stay with you for now.”

Wu Tianyou looked at the gentle, obedient girl, a lewd grin spreading across his face: “Since she agrees, then Cheng Jiafu’s fight with me is just a family matter. Nothing serious.”