Chapter Twenty-Three: Matching Her with a Crippled, Deaf, and Widowed Man
As the sound of light footsteps faded into the distance, Qin Zhining slowly opened her eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.
They sold her and Xiaoxiao? And then tortured them into becoming Granny and Qiuxiang? These people really won't shed a tear until they see the coffin.
However, there was still one thing she didn't understand.
Since the original owner was Qin Youming's own daughter, why did he have to put her to death?
What did this unfortunate fourteen-year-old kid do to the Qin family?
Even if one wanted to force their younger daughter into marriage for the sake of their eldest daughter, they shouldn't have been so ruthless.
Qin Zhining suspected there was something fishy going on here.
The next morning, Qin Zhining woke up stretching.
Qin Xiaoxiao had also gotten up long ago. She jumped out of the small window to relieve herself, and then returned the way she came. These actions were performed as if she knew the way well.
Qin Zhining glanced at the small window that was slightly ajar, then suddenly gave Qin Xiaoxiao a thumbs up and smiled, "You're amazing, as expected of you, Qin Xiaoxiao, so smart."
Qin Xiaoxiao blushed and felt embarrassed when praised.
She brushed the grass clippings off her clothes and was about to push the door open when she discovered that it was indeed locked from the outside.
"Ah ah..." She gestured to Qin Zhining, indicating that the door was locked.
Qin Zhining sneered, "Ha—a petty trick, is that all... to trap your two little misses?"
As she spoke, she opened the door a crack, then pulled a thin wooden hairpin from her hair and skillfully poked around in the air.
In just a few moments, there was a "click" sound, and the lock opened.
"Ah ah..." Qin Xiaoxiao made a few exaggerated "ah ah" sounds, her little face full of admiration, and even gave Qin Zhining a thumbs up in return.
Qin Zhining burst out laughing, "You kid...you're right, mutual likes provide the highest emotional value, let's continue in the future."
While joking around, she pushed open the door and bumped into Xiao Chunlan from yesterday carrying a basin of water. She was so startled that she dropped the basin on the ground with a "clatter," spilling water all over the floor.
"You...how did you all get out here?" Chunlan asked, her face pale and her voice stammering.
"If you want to come out, then come out. What's the big deal?" Qin Zhining gave her a nonchalant glare and swaggered straight to the kitchen with Qin Xiaoxiao.
Chunlan stared at her retreating figure for a moment, then ran off to the inner courtyard to deliver the message.
Little did she know that Madam Qin and her eldest daughter, Qin Zhiyu, were secretly hiding steamed buns and chicken soup in the kitchen.
Why do I say it's hidden away?
Because Lincheng County was small and lacked resources, and County Magistrate Qin was only a minor official of the eighth rank, his annual salary was only eleven or twelve taels of silver.
Eleven or twelve taels of silver to support a large family, including maids, servants, and guards—dozens of people in total—was practically impossible.
If it weren't for the dowry from his first wife, Xie Mingyuan, over the past few years, would Qin Youming, the county magistrate, still be living a life of luxury and ease? He would have fallen apart long ago and wouldn't be able to make it here.
Therefore, in the past year, in order to save enough dowry for his eldest daughter Qin Zhiyu, he and his concubines An and Liu saved as much as possible and dared not be extravagant at all.
Even on ordinary days, the family felt it was excessive to eat a simple white flour bun and drink chicken soup.
No wonder Qin Zhiyu was so happy to receive ten taels of silver yesterday after being kicked.
Moreover, Qin Youming was worried that Qin Zhining would make a big fuss and he couldn't handle the situation, so he hardened his heart and asked Aunt An to kill a chicken for her and make chicken soup.
That's how Qin Zhiyu ended up helping her mother secretly hide steamed buns and chicken first thing in the morning.
As for yesterday at the mansion gate, Granny Liu said she stewed bird's nest and Aunt An said she made chicken soup, but those were just things they said for others to hear.
To put it bluntly, they're just putting on a show—bragging.
Bird's nest and chicken soup? It's good enough if you can have meat with every meal.
As soon as Qin Zhining arrived at the door, she heard Qin Zhiyu whining inside, "Mother, you have to get rid of those two wretched girls quickly, they annoy me just looking at them."
Yesterday, that brat even accused me of buying my skirt with her money and kicked me. What bad luck!
When He Sanlang left yesterday, he told us to get rid of this jinx as soon as possible, so that people wouldn't keep thinking about how He Sanlang and she were once engaged whenever they saw her.
"Mother, if all else fails, just send her to my maternal grandfather's house. He can marry her off to anyone he likes."
After Da'an Qinghe was officially recognized by Qin Youming, she brought her parents and their entire family, who lived outside the city, to the city.
Firstly, she wanted to show off her filial piety as a daughter, and secondly, she wanted her family to help her and support her.
Speaking of her maternal family, Aunt An sighed, "How could I not want to do this? But your father said last night that if we send that little slut away as soon as she comes back, outsiders will gossip."
There are quite a few people eyeing your father's position. If they really use that little slut as an excuse to get something on him and impeach him for losing his position as county magistrate, that would be terrible.
Especially that County Magistrate Guan, he's been eyeing your father's position as County Assistant for years. Your father is worried he'll use that little slut's affair to make things difficult for him.
Qin Zhiyu remained silent, feigning sorrow as she secretly shed tears.
Seeing this, Aunt An felt very sorry for her, but she was completely helpless against that little bitch Qin Zhining.
The Great Qi Dynasty strictly enforced the rules regarding legitimate and illegitimate children. As long as she was not officially recognized as the legitimate wife, Ayu and Chengxuan would remain illegitimate children.
If that little slut Qin Zhining, the legitimate daughter, wanted to find fault with them and torment them as the legitimate daughter, no one would say a word against it.
Therefore, all they could do was to endure for the time being and not let that little bitch Qin Zhining win the master's heart and catch his eye.
Thinking of this, Aunt An swallowed her bitterness and comforted Qin Zhiyu, "Ayu, I know you are a sensible person."
So, I'm thinking, you should bear with it for now and let that little jinx stay in the woodshed for a while. We'll find a more convenient time later...
Just like you said, send her to your maternal grandparents' house, marry her off to a cripple, deaf, or widower or something, so she'll never be able to stir up trouble again.
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhining kicked open the kitchen door with a bang, raised an eyebrow, and shouted, "Find a convenient time?"
I think this is quite convenient, and it's easy to find a pretext. We can just say I'm unfilial and talk back to my elders. What do you think?
As he spoke, he kicked over several stools next to him and smashed a ceramic jar containing pickled vegetables.
Qin Zhiyu screamed in fright, "You little bitch, are you crazy? Huh? Why are you kicking the stool for no reason?"
The family didn't have much savings to begin with, and they would have to buy new things after smashing them. All that money was going to be her dowry, and Qin Zhiyu felt bad about wasting even a single penny.
Aunt An was also busy hiding the freshly steamed buns into the basket while cursing, "You little jinx, are you trying to ruin this family's peace?"
I'm telling you, if you behave yourself from now on, I'll let you live a good life in this house. But if you go crazy... I'll beat you to death.
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