Chapter 103 – Forced Into a Corner

Zhou Huaishan stood there, face dark, listening to Cheng Wu’s mother and the villagers, and said coldly,

"So what now? You’re threatening me with death to force this marriage?"

A man who was friendly with the Cheng family tried to persuade him,

"Huaishan, you can’t just stand by and watch Cheng Wu die like this. He’s such a good kid."

Zhou Huaishan interrupted him bluntly.

"A good kid? And just because he wants to marry, he’s going to threaten to die if he can’t? If my daughter refuses to marry him, that’s considered letting someone die? What kind of heavenly love is this? I truly don’t understand."

He paused, his face dark and his eyes cold as he stared at the man.

"So if my daughter marries Cheng Wu today, and tomorrow another young man falls for her and says he’ll die if he can’t marry her, what then? Is the Cheng family going to give up their daughter-in-law again just to save a life?"

"If that’s how it works, then fine. I’ve taken a liking to your wife. If I can’t marry her, I won’t live. As long as you’re willing to hand over your wife to me, I’ll gladly marry my daughter off!"

The man’s face twisted in anger when he heard this.

"I was trying to reason with you, and this is the kind of outrageous talk you come back with? And you call yourself a scholar!"

Zhou Huaishan spat with contempt.

"So what if I’m a scholar? Does that mean scholars should be bullied? What, am I not making sense? Cheng Wu is about to die, so my daughter must marry him? Well, I’m about to die too, why haven’t you handed over your wife yet? Isn’t it the same logic?"

The crowd watching...

His words were harsh, but they kind of made sense.

Cheng Wu’s mother saw the villagers’ opinions start to shift and grew anxious, eyes red with frustration. She stomped her feet in desperation.

She glared angrily at Zhou Qing.

"Qing girl, let me ask you, are you really going to just stand by and watch Wuzi die for you?"

Her voice was hoarse, her face twisted, as if Zhou Qing had committed some unforgivable crime.

Zhou Yao stepped forward, shielding Zhou Qing, gathering all her courage as she clenched her sweaty palms.

"Auntie, are you here to propose marriage for your son, or are you really just planning to use my sister as a good-luck charm to cure his illness? We’re a respectable family. We don’t sell our daughters to be sacrificial brides!"

As soon as Zhou Yao mentioned "sacrificial bride," the crowd went silent.

Huh? A sacrificial bride?

Why didn’t they think of that earlier?

It actually seemed very likely.

Cheng Wu’s mother was so furious she nearly fainted from rage.

This Yao girl used to be quiet and timid, how could she suddenly speak up like this?

Zhou Huaishan caught on right away and said, "Even if it's a sacrificial marriage, others usually offer a proper dowry. I can’t believe your Cheng family is trying to pull this off without giving anything, just getting something for nothing!"

Cheng Wu’s mother was completely speechless. Her insides felt like they were burning up.

"I don’t care! If Zhou Qing doesn’t marry my Wuzi today, I’ll smash my head and die right here at your door!"

Zhou Huaishan immediately stepped back and said mockingly, "By all means, begin your performance!"

Cheng Wu’s mother...

She was so angry she coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Was this still the same honest, mild-mannered Zhou Huaishan?

The man who used to barely say a word?

"How can you people be so heartless? Watching someone die and doing nothing—is this what those sacred books teach you?"

Zhou Huaishan was about to respond, but Zhou Qing grabbed his arm.

"That’s right, we are heartless. If you want to die, go ahead. Worst case, we’ll just change the door. If you want to cause a scene, go ahead we’re not joining in."

With that, Zhou Qing pulled Zhou Huaishan back into the house.

The exams were right after the New Year, and there were still many books from Shen Li that she hadn’t finished. She didn’t have time to waste arguing.

Zhou Yao also pulled along Madam Zhao and Zhou Huailin.

"Mom, Dad, we’ve got a pile of New Year’s chores left to do. If she really does smash her head, we’ll have to replace the door. Dad, better get started on a new one."

And with that, Zhou Yao headed back inside.

Madam Zhao.

Zhou Huailin.

At first, when Cheng Wu’s mother came to make a scene, the two of them were panicking.

If Cheng Wu really died because of Qing girl, then... fine, he’s dead—but what about Qing’s reputation?

But now...

They exchanged a look and walked quickly to their room.

"Dear, don’t you think Yao’er is really different from before? She used to blush just talking to people, now she can say things like that…"

Madam Zhao struggled to find the words to describe her daughter.

Zhou Huailin nodded.

"She really is different. Looks like reading books really can change a person!"

Madam Zhao was stunned for a second, then remembered: Yao’er had been learning to read with her second brother and had been reading those books Shen Li sent her.

Could reading really change a person this much?

Second brother wasn’t the same anymore.

Yao’er wasn’t the same either.

Madam Zhao lowered her head, rubbed her hands, then after a moment of silence, turned and walked toward Zhou Yao’s room.

She wanted to learn to read too.

The way Yao’er confronted Cheng Wu’s mother, she could never even think of such things to say. But Yao’er spoke them so easily. Just for that skill alone, no matter how hard it was, she wanted to learn.

In the courtyard, only Zhou Ping was still watching the door with great interest.

He dropped into a little horse stance, waiting for Cheng Wu’s mother to crash into it.

Cheng Wu’s mother…

How could this whole family… be so heartless?!

Just then, the village chief came rushing in, having just returned from town with New Year’s goods.

"Don’t you all have anything better to do? Are your New Year chores all done? Why are you always watching someone else’s drama like it’s a feast of blood? Go on, get lost!"

"And after the New Year, the magistrate is planning to send a great teacher to Huaishan Academy. Have you prepared your children’s pens and paper, or are you too busy gawking?"

One shout from the chief, and the crowd scattered.

Only a few stayed behind those who had always been jealous of the Zhou family.

Among them was old Mrs. Zhao, the one who had refused to fill out a loan form when borrowing money from Zhou Ping.

Cheng Wu’s mother sobbed so hard she couldn’t breathe, collapsing to the ground.

Mrs. Zhao sighed and said to the village chief, "Chief, the Zhou family really handled this badly. They can’t just stand by and watch Wuzi die. Zhou Qing marrying him would solve everything, refusing it is practically murder!"

As soon as she said that, Cheng Wu’s mother cried even harder, full of resentment.

The village chief spat at her in disgust.

"Marriage is supposed to be mutual. They don’t want to marry, and you threaten them with death, what is this? Do you really think being weak makes you right? Nonsense! Everyone, leave!"

Mrs. Zhao tried to argue again, but the village chief snapped coldly,

"Don’t think I don’t know where those rumors from a few days ago came from. It’s the New Year, so I’ll let it go but wait until after."

Hearing that, Mrs. Zhao shuddered.

She glanced at the chief in fear, then quickly ran off with her head down.

With her gone, the rest of the crowd dispersed too.

The chief turned to look at Cheng Wu’s mother.

"Your Cheng family has always had a good reputation in Qingyang Village—respectable, decent. How could you get involved in such a disgraceful mess?"

Cheng Wu’s mother wiped her tears.

"Wuzi is dying... if not for him, I’d never do something like this."

The chief responded, "If Wuzi is losing hope, you should be helping him get through it—not trying to guilt another girl into marrying him with threats of suicide."

Cheng Wu’s mother looked at the village chief with deep resentment.