Chapter 4 Consequences

Chapter 4: Consequences

Perhaps due to prolonged malnutrition, the girl appeared thin and delicate.

At that moment, she stood quietly under the veranda, a gentle smile gracing her fair, translucent face. The warm, orange glow of dusk filtered through the branches, casting a serene and elegant aura upon her.

She listened patiently to the adults conversing inside, showing no signs of impatience, much less the unruly behavior attributed to her by Second Xie’s wife.

Wen Shuhua repeatedly glanced at her from across the courtyard. Recalling Xu Wenxia’s earlier remarks, she wondered if she had misheard or if her judgment of character was flawed.

“Is this the Xie Xinyi who pleaded with your daughter to give up the marriage so she wouldn’t have to go to the countryside?”

She confirmed with Xu Wenxia once more, receiving the same explanation as before.

“The girl can be a bit mischievous at times, but she’s not a bad person.”

After acknowledging Xie Xinyi’s thoughtful nature, Xu Wenxia, seemingly worried that the Gu family might look down on her, quickly changed the subject and began praising Xie Xinyi’s virtues.

“...She resembles her mother—quite pretty—and her temperament is more like Third Xie’s, quiet and reserved. So when she came to beg my Tingting to relinquish the marriage, I could hardly believe it.”

Xu Wenxia offered an awkward smile, choosing her words carefully. She wanted to make it clear that it wasn’t Xie Tingting who refused to marry, while also highlighting Xie Xinyi’s good qualities so the Gu family would find no fault.

Wen Shuhua kept her eyes fixed on Xie Xinyi’s figure and remained silent. Seeing this, Xu Wenxia shifted the conversation to the timeline of the elders’ betrothal arrangement.

“Actually, the old man never specified which girl the arrangement was for. But since my Tingting had just been born at the time, the family assumed it was intended for her.”

She spoke diplomatically, maintaining a polite smile. “Now that the child wants to give up the marriage...”

“Well, it’s not really ‘yielding,’ since the marriage arrangement with your son was never assigned to a specific person.”

“Whether it’s Tingting or Xinyi who ends up fulfilling the marriage promise, it’ll still be a daughter of our Xie family, won’t it?”

Xu Wenxia rattled on, making her point clear.

The message was straightforward: they weren’t backing out of the marriage arrangement—Xie Xinyi was the one eager to take it. Moreover, since the old man had initially betrothed a Xie daughter, switching to Xie Xinyi wouldn’t be their fault. Most importantly, the marriage would proceed, but the bride would be switched to Xie Xinyi.

Wen Shuhua had come joyfully to fetch her future daughter-in-law, only to find the Xie family suddenly wanting to change the bride. The change was abrupt, and their explanations sounded perfectly plausible.

Wen Shuhua was unsure how to respond, her mind filled with doubt.

Seeing this, Xie Tingting quickly stepped in to support her mother. “Aunt Wen, my cousin is truly pitiful. Third Uncle passed away early, and Third Aunt has had a hard time raising her and her sisters. My eldest cousin has already been sent to the countryside. If my younger cousin were to go too...”

As she spoke, Xie Tingting mimicked her mother’s earlier act, pretending to wipe away tears that weren't there. “My cousin cannot go to the countryside. I’m willing to give up the marriage arrangement with the Gu family for her.”

Her voice trembled with feigned sadness, and she put on a convincing act of self-sacrifice. Peeking between her fingers, she observed Wen Shuhua’s reaction. To her surprise, Wen Shuhua, who had been silent until then, pressed her to confirm: “So you’re saying Xie Xinyi begged you to give up the marriage because she doesn’t want to go to the countryside?”

Wen Shuhua had an air of nobility, and having lived in the military compound for years, she projected a natural authority. Her steady gaze as she asked the question made Xie Tingting’s heart jump to her throat.

“Well... yes... it’s... it’s my cousin who...”

Xie Tingting stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.

Xu Wenxia grew anxious and was about to jump in to defend her daughter when suddenly, loud cheers erupted from Xie Xinyi’s home.

“...Excellent! I’ll go get the suitor right away. If Xinyi isn’t satisfied with this one, I’ll bring over the young man from the end of the alley whom we discussed the other day.”

“Xinyi’s mother, don’t just stand there. Call your younger daughter out to help her sister size up the suitor.”

Matchmaker Feng, despite her age, had a booming voice. Her words were impossible to ignore, even if Xie Tingting wanted to cover her ears.

Xie’s mother saw the matchmaker out, and the matchmaker said cheerfully that she looked forward to attending the wedding banquet.

From the sound of it, Xie Xinyi’s quiet presence under the veranda while the adults talked was related to her meeting potential suitors.

Xie Xinyi was meeting potential suitors—and with more than one candidate!

So what Xie Tingting and Xu Wenxia had claimed about Xie Xinyi begging to take over the marriage arrangement...

Wen Shuhua turned back to look at the stunned mother-daughter pair.

One turned bright red with embarrassment, the other mumbled unintelligibly.

If Wen Shuhua couldn’t tell right from wrong after this, she would have wasted all those years living in the compound.

Her suspicions were confirmed, and the matchmaker’s words had thoroughly exposed Xu Wenxia and her daughter.

This family had taken advantage of the situation while acting virtuous. They refused to cancel the marriage arrangement but didn’t want their daughter to marry, shifting the responsibility to Xie Xinyi, another Xie daughter, and then trying to put all the blame on the young girl.

Wen Shuhua felt like laughing.

Truthfully, she didn’t mind the change of bride. Her main goal was to bring back a daughter-in-law to reform her rebellious son. Whether it was Xie Tingting or Xie Xinyi made little difference to her.

However, Second Xie’s family had acted completely unethically.

Years ago, when they were struggling, Second Xie’s wife had come to the city seeking help, calling Wen Shuhua “in-law” very enthusiastically. Now, after receiving money and gifts, they suddenly wanted to swap the bride at the last minute without giving her a chance to reconsider.

They acted shamelessly yet still wanted to cling to their good reputation.

If she hadn’t witnessed Xie Xinyi’s family arranging marriage meetings through the matchmaker, she might have believed the lies spun by the Xie mother and daughter.

Wen Shuhua stared at Xu Wenxia and her daughter with displeasure for a long moment. Remembering how effortlessly they had slandered Xie Xinyi, she felt tempted to embarrass them on the spot and call off the marriage.

But then she thought of her rebellious son at home, who caused trouble daily and swore he would never marry. Wen Shuhua had no choice but to suppress her disgust.

Second Xie’s family had acted disgracefully, but at least they had switched the bride to Xie Xinyi.

Although she knew little about Third Xie’s daughter, Xie Xinyi had to be better than the deceitful and ungrateful Xie Tingting.

Wen Shuhua had her own way of judging people. A girl’s character could often be gauged at first glance.

As the saying goes, the face reflects the heart. Xie Xinyi’s calm and elegant demeanor clearly wasn’t feigned.

She was neither pretentious nor impatient. These two qualities alone made Xie Xinyi seem more suitable for her son than Xie Tingting.

Second Xie’s family wanted to change the bride? She could accept that, but that didn’t mean she had to play along nicely.

Since they had started this farce, she would make sure they faced the consequences.

Wen Shuhua composed herself and, when Xu Wenxia and her daughter glanced nervously at her for the eighth time, feigned anger and asked, “Didn’t you say Xie Xinyi would fulfill the marriage arrangement with our family? Why is she still meeting suitors?”

She didn’t question why they wanted to change the bride, nor did she press them about their exposed lies. Instead, she focused on why Xie Xinyi was still arranging marriage meetings.

Did this mean she agreed to the change?

Xu Wenxia was both surprised and relieved. As she pondered how to respond appropriately, Xie Tingting tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “Didn’t you return the Martyr's Certificate to them? Why is Xie Xinyi still meeting suitors?”

"......"

Xu Wenxia gave her daughter a dirty look. Before she could bat away her daughter's hand, Wen Shuhua asked again in confusion.

"What martyr's certificate?"

"Nothing... it's nothing!" Xu Wenxia stammered nervously, trying to brush it off. "My sister-in-law left something at my place earlier."

After hurriedly explaining, she asked Xie Tingting to chat with Wen Shuhua while she went into the room to fetch something. Claiming she needed to go across the way to ask about the specific situation, she ignored Wen Shuhua, who was left sitting there stunned, and rushed toward Third Xie’s house.

Over at Third Xie’s place, Xie’s mother had just seen the matchmaker off and was about to go next door to fetch her younger daughter when she saw Xu Wenxia storming into the inner room, a face like thunder.

"What exactly is the meaning of this?" Xu Wenxia confronted Xie Xinyi and her mother as soon as she stepped inside. "We agreed you'd marry into the Gu family instead of my Tingting! Why are you still meeting matchmakers?"

She was heavyset, and as she spoke, her jowls quivered with rage on her broad, basin-like face.

Even though Xie’s mother had witnessed Xu Wenxia’s outbursts countless times before, she still took a large step back in fear as Xu Wenxia advanced on her with accusations.

"Sister-in-law, you... what are you..."

"What am I doing? What do you think I’m doing!"

Before Xie’s mother could finish her question, Xu Wenxia, infuriated by her playing dumb, shrieked angrily, "I should be asking what you’re trying to pull!"

"You can’t even speak clearly, but you’re sure quick to pull shady tricks!"

Xu Wenxia backed Xie’s mother into a corner, hurling one insult after another at her.

Realizing what was happening, Xie Xinyi couldn’t stand by and let her mother be bullied. Without caring that there were others watching, she stepped in front of Xu Wenxia, using her own slender frame to shield her mother.

"Before you start accusing us, Second Aunt, maybe you should think about the consequences!"

Her threat was delivered in a gentle tone, but it carried enough force to stun Xu Wenxia into silence.

Consequences!? Oh crap!

She had come here to ask for a favor—how had she ended up picking a fight instead?

Xu Wenxia’s anger subsided considerably. She glanced at the unflappable Xie Xinyi in front of her, then at Xie’s mother, who was clearly frightened by her outburst. Forcing an awkward smile, she said, "Look at me, I got too worked up and forgot why I even came."

Without paying any mind to Xie’s mother, who was wide-eyed at her instant attitude adjustment, Xu Wenxia rummaged in her bag and pulled out an aged, yellowed document. "This is Third Xie’s martyr's certificate. I’ve been busy these past couple of days and forgot to bring it over to you."

Her attitude had done a complete 180, and she carried herself with far more humility than when she first entered.

Though her words sounded polite, her strained smile gave her away.

The thought that she and her daughter had carefully crafted an excuse, only to have the Xie mother and daughter see right through it—and now she had to humble herself before them—filled her with resentment.

She was furious, and to make matters worse, the very person responsible for her frustration was pretending to be innocent and even threatening her about the marriage substitution. Xu Wenxia was so angry she could hardly restrain herself from lunging at Xie Xinyi and tearing that smug face to shreds.

But no matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t actually do it.

Summoning the last of her self-control, Xu Wenxia handed the martyr's certificate to Xie Xinyi herself. "Xinyi, I’ve returned the martyr's certificate as agreed. So, about you taking Tingting’s place..."

"Don’t rush, Second Aunt," Xie Xinyi said, carefully tucking the certificate away. "There’s still one more thing I need your help with."

"Help? With what?"