Chapter 46 Obtaining the Marriage Certificate (Part 2)
“But he was trying to help me, there was a reason for it, that’s not taking advantage of someone in distress.” Qu He stepped forward anxiously.
"Even if there was a reason, he still failed to keep himself clean." Old Master Zhuang glanced at her seemingly casually. "When his wife finds out about this, will she be happy?"
“Little girl, the farmers have their own rules. You are neither a member of the farmers nor the second son’s wife. This is none of your business. Please go back.”
As he spoke, he gave the butler a wink.
Qu He clenched her fists and looked at Zhuang Bieyan standing next to her, who also happened to look up at her.
He didn't refute her; a faint smile remained on his lips, which ironically made him the one comforting her.
This made Qu He feel even worse. The more composed he was, the deeper her guilt became.
"What...is punishment...?" Her voice trembled slightly.
"Copy the family rules one hundred times, and receive thirty strokes of the cane."
Grandpa Zhuang looked at Zhuang Bieyan with a serious expression: "The second son has finished copying the family rules, so let's finish the remaining thirty strokes now."
Thirty strokes!
What kind of feudal system is this?!
They wouldn't let us eat, made us copy the family rules, and now we're getting beaten with a stick.
Qu He recalled Zhuang Bieyan's trembling right hand and noticeably red fingers earlier, realizing it was all due to copying the family rules.
"no."
Qu He shouted to stop him, but no one paid any attention.
The housekeeper had already come over with a rattan cane, which was as thick as her arm and looked terrifying. Who could withstand thirty blows from that cane?
But Zhuang Bieyan didn't say a word; he simply knelt down silently.
His knee slammed onto the floor with a dull thud.
The moment she knelt down, Qu He felt extremely distressed, and tears almost welled up in her eyes.
"no."
She rushed over and tried to pull him up, but the butler held her hand.
Zhuang Bieyan looked up at her and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips. "Don't cry, it doesn't hurt."
"No!" Qu He's tears fell even harder, as if these were the only two words she could utter.
That stick is so thick! Zhuang Xi also said he hadn't eaten for several days...
"no!"
Grandpa Zhuang didn't say anything, took the rattan cane, and walked behind Zhuang Bieyan.
He glanced at Qu He and said, "Young lady, you can't watch this."
He ordered the butler, "Take her out."
As he spoke, he raised his hand.
The rattan cane whistled through the air and struck Zhuang Bieyan on the back with a "crack".
Zhuang Bieyan's back jerked violently, the muscles under his shirt tensed instantly, he gritted his teeth, and a muffled groan escaped from his throat.
Qu He's heart trembled at the sight. She tried to break free from the butler's hand, but he held her tightly.
One blow after another.
As Zhuang Bieyan's breathing grew heavier, he remained silent, enduring the pain in silence.
Qu He felt extremely distressed watching this.
After being struck countless times, his body suddenly went limp and he fell to the side, but before he fell, he braced himself with his palms and managed to steady himself.
When he looked up, he met Qu He's gaze, and he even curled the corners of his mouth slightly, trying to comfort her.
But the cold sweat on his forehead made Qu He feel as if her heart was being torn apart.
"We can't fight anymore, we can't fight anymore," she shouted over and over again.
The only response she received was the sound of the stick hitting her flesh.
Zhuang Bieyan, his voice trailing off, looked at the butler with a hint of determination, "Take her out of here immediately."
He looked at Qu He again, his eyes filled with tenderness, "Go find Zhuang Liuyue and ask her to dry your hair before you go home, okay?"
Why is he still thinking about her even now?
Qu He sobbed uncontrollably, shaking her head frantically, her vision almost blurring.
Just as the old man's stick was about to fall again, Qu He, not knowing where the strength came from, broke free from the butler's hand and rushed to Zhuang Bieyan's side.
"Stop hitting him! Zhuang Bieyan saved his wife! He did nothing wrong!"
The rattan sticks hung in mid-air.
The atmosphere was quiet.
Qu He's tears fell drop by drop onto Zhuang Bieyan's hand, burning him so much that his hand trembled.
He slowly raised his head and saw Qu He's red eyes, and saw her trembling as she said, "I am his wife. He saved me. He did nothing wrong..."
Grandpa Zhuang slowly lowered his hand, which had been suspended in mid-air, and narrowed his eyes.
"Young lady, are you serious? This is no child's play; it's a life-altering event that will affect your entire life. You need to think this through!"
Qu He looked at Zhuang Bieyan's pale face.
She knew that if she agreed today, her future would be tied to Zhuang Bieyan.
She can let go of her past with Qian Zhaoye, but what about Zhuang Bieyan? Will he mind?
In the few seconds that Qu He was lost in thought, the hearts of the three people present trembled slightly.
Unbeknownst to her, Zhuang Bieyan's hand hanging at his other side clenched tighter, while Old Master Zhuang's grip on the rattan cane tightened and loosened, causing even the butler standing beside him to hold his breath.
Zhuang Bieyan squeezed his hand, her voice tinged with vulnerability, "If you don't want to..."
"Zhuang Bieyan, are you willing?" Qu He interrupted him.
"..."
Zhuang Bieyan was taken aback. Was she asking for his opinion?
She didn't give him a perfunctory answer or treat him casually; she was seriously asking for his wishes.
An indescribable joy welled up in his heart, and he could hardly control the smile on his face. He could only squeeze her hand tightly.
He couldn't have gotten what he wanted.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Qu He leaned closer, the scent of jasmine shampoo lingering in her nose. "Zhuang Bieyan, if you don't speak, I'll take that as your agreement."
After speaking, she looked at Grandpa Zhuang and nodded solemnly.
Grandpa Zhuang's tense back relaxed, and he breathed a sigh of relief without making a sound.
He put down the stick, his tone softening considerably, "In that case, the second brother won't have to be punished."
Qu He breathed a sigh of relief; her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
She carefully helped Zhuang Bieyan up and sat him down on the chair next to her.
He looked somewhat weak, and after sitting down, he leaned half his weight on her. Qu He could feel him trembling slightly, unsure whether it was from pain or something else.
Grandpa Zhuang was quite calm and composed at the moment. He sat down at the tea table, slowly poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip.
"Young lady, our Zhuang family has always been reasonable. You and the second son should get your marriage certificate tomorrow; that will be our way of giving you an explanation."
Qu He was taken aback by how quickly it happened.
"What? You don't want to?" The old man raised an eyebrow, his tone tense and probing.
"No, tomorrow is fine."
Qu He thought for a moment; her ID card should be in the car.
Thankfully, you don't need to bring your household registration book to get your marriage certificate now, otherwise you'd have to explain it to your family.
Grandpa Zhuang nodded in satisfaction, stood up, and said, "Then you can stay here tonight and get the marriage certificate tomorrow morning."
After saying this, he put his hands behind his back and slowly walked out, with the butler following closely behind.
Qu He frowned slightly as she watched the old man's departing figure.
Did she hear that right?
Did the old man hum a tune when he went out?
She felt something was off, but before she could think about it, she heard a muffled groan from beside her.
"Hmm..."
It was Zhuang Bieyan's voice.
Qu He's heart tightened, and all her thoughts were instantly banished from her mind. She quickly turned her head.
"What happened? Did you bump into something?"
Zhuang Bieyan's face seemed to have turned even paler, and the hand he was holding was trembling.
Zhuang Bieyan leaned on her shoulder and tightened his grip on her hand. "It's alright, don't worry."
Their eyes met, and as they looked at each other, a subtle atmosphere quietly spread.
The butler happened to walk over with a medicine box, a smile on his face: "Second Madam, why don't you go back to your room with the Second Young Master to apply the medicine?"
Qu He's ears turned red when she heard "Second Madam".
I suddenly didn't know whether I should answer or not.
Zhuang Bieyan could no longer hide the smile in his eyes. He reached out and took the medicine box from the butler, took Qu He's hand, and spoke gently.
"Let's go, Mrs. Zhuang."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
