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“Your father is doing this for your own good. From now on, don’t go out anymore—stay obediently in Tingxue Pavilion and wait for your wedding.” Madam Liu gave a meaningful glance to the two older servant women behind her. “You two, stand guard at the entrance to Tingxue Pavilion. If anything delays tomorrow’s big event, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”
The two women immediately took their positions on either side of the door.
“Madam, please rest assured. We’ll guard the entrance to Tingxue Pavilion well.”
“Fine, stay if you like. I’m going back to rest.”
Bang! Liu Shuning slammed the door of Tingxue Pavilion shut.
Now that everything was ready on her end, she didn’t mind being locked in. After tomorrow’s wedding, she would be free.
—
The next morning, the Liu residence was decorated with red lanterns and streamers, buzzing with excitement.
Today, all three of the Liu family’s daughters were getting married, and all the prominent figures in Shanghai had been invited.
In Furong Courtyard, Liu Shuyun was throwing a tantrum over her dowry.
“That poisonous woman Wu Shi! How could she do this to me—giving me this pile of worthless junk for a dowry? How am I supposed to show my face in the Lin family?”
“Yun’er, watch your mouth. There are many ears around. Be careful.” The Fifth Concubine waved for the servants in the room to leave.
Once no one else was around, she pulled Liu Shuyun to sit on the bed.
“Yun’er, do you know why I asked you to endure this? Wu Shi and your future mother-in-law are very close. If you offend Wu Shi, don’t you think she’ll make trouble for you later? Listen to me—just endure for now. Once you’ve gained a foothold in the Lin family, your mother-in-law won’t dare bully you anymore.”
“Auntie, you have to help me vent my anger! Wu Shi is so cruel. Giving me such a pitiful dowry—it’s like giving the Lin family a reason to laugh at me!” Liu Shuyun’s tears fell like beads from a broken string. Her voice became hoarse from crying.
“Don’t worry. I’ll speak to your father about the dowry tonight. He loves you dearly—I’m sure he’ll make it up to you. I’ll also go clean up the storeroom and bring over a few things to embellish your dowry and make it look better.”
Over the years, the Fifth Concubine had acquired many valuable items from Liu Zhixiong, which she’d originally planned to keep for her retirement. But since her daughter’s dowry was so shabby, she could only part with them now to preserve her daughter’s dignity.
“Thank you, Auntie. I knew you always treated me the best.”
—
Unlike the lively Furong Courtyard, the adjacent Jinhe Courtyard showed no signs of celebration.
This was where the unnoticed daughter, Liu Shufeng, lived.
“Third Miss, are you really going to marry into the Chen family? Master is too cruel. He knows that young master Chen has a fondness for men and still wants to marry you off.”
“Xiaocui, after I marry, you should leave the Liu family too. It’s full of hidden dangers now. Staying isn’t safe.” Liu Shufeng wasn’t sure if she was trying to comfort Xiaocui or herself.
“But what if you face danger alone after going to the Chen family?”
“I’ll be the eldest daughter-in-law once I marry. They won’t dare lay a hand on me.” Liu Shufeng’s eyes were dim. Hadn’t her fate already been decided long ago?
“But, Third Miss…”
“Alright, Xiaocui, say no more. Just go see if my aunt is coming.” Liu Shufeng quickly cut her off before she could continue.
“Fifth Concubine has been at Furong Courtyard this whole time and hasn’t come out. Should I go find her?” Xiaocui slapped her own mouth. She shouldn’t have said that—wasn’t that like rubbing salt into Third Miss’s wounds?
“Forget it. She never liked me anyway. What’s the point of calling her?”
Liu Shufeng gave a bitter smile. Since childhood, her aunt had never cared for her.
Tingxue Pavilion
Liu Shuning had already changed into her wedding dress, quietly waiting for the Lu family’s wedding procession. This was the first time she was getting married in either of her lifetimes—yet she was marrying a man she had never even seen before.
With a burst of noise and excitement, a group of people escorted a man in a military uniform into the room.
“Wife, I’ve come to fetch you.”
She couldn’t see the man’s face, only heard a deep, magnetic voice calling her “wife.”
Under the red bridal veil, her cheeks flushed red. Her newlywed husband’s voice was just too nice—it was the kind of voice that could make someone fall in love just by listening.
Amid the crowd’s laughter and teasing, Liu Shuning was suddenly swept up into someone’s arms.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll carry you out.”
Startled, Liu Shuning instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around his neck to avoid falling.
They were so close she could even catch the faint scent of tobacco on his clothes.
Outside the Liu residence gates, she was gently helped onto the back seat of a bicycle.
Feeling the soft cushion beneath her, her impression of this unseen husband improved yet again.
The Lu family wasn’t local, so the wedding ceremony was arranged at a hotel not far from the Liu residence.
After delivering the bride and dowry to the hotel, the wedding attendants left, leaving just the newlyweds in the room.
When the groom lifted the red veil and saw her stunningly beautiful face, his own face flushed red instantly.
“H-Hello, I’m Lu Fengnian. I’m currently serving as a deputy company commander in the Northeast Military Region. I earn fifty-six yuan a month. My family includes my grandparents, parents, and two older brothers.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Liu Shuning. Please take care of me from now on.”
This flash marriage felt like opening a mystery box—thankfully, it was a good outcome. Her husband looked exactly like her type. More importantly, he was very handsome.
She wondered if he had eight-pack abs. She hadn’t dared to cop a feel earlier when he carried her.
“Since you’ve married me, I’ll treat you well from now on. Here—this is my savings passbook. I’ll leave it with you.”
Lu Fengnian took out a bankbook from inside his uniform and handed it to her.
“You’re giving me your savings passbook? Aren’t you afraid I’ll take the money and run?” Liu Shuning glanced at the amount—it was quite a lot. It actually had 3,200 yuan in it.
“I’m not afraid. Once I give the money to you, it’s yours. Besides, I believe you won’t run.”
Lu Fengnian smiled warmly. He had initially been reluctant about this arranged marriage, but he couldn’t disobey his father and had no choice but to travel to Shanghai to marry a daughter of the Liu family.
But the moment he saw Liu Shuning, his heart told him—she’s the one.
“Do you have anyone you like? If you do, we can get a divorce in a couple of years.” Liu Shuning hated men who had a “white moonlight” (an unattainable first love). If Lu Fengnian had one, she’d stay far away from him.
“No. You’re the only one who’s ever moved my heart.” Lu Fengnian nearly swore an oath. He had joined the army at sixteen and had barely interacted with any girls.
As for the female classmates and childhood friends back in his village—he hadn’t even understood relationships back then.
“With your rank, I should be able to join the military family contingent, right? I don’t want to go back to your hometown and live like a peasant.” Liu Shuning absolutely didn’t want to toil in the fields—she wasn’t cut out for that kind of life.