Volume One, Chapter Two: Reluctant Confessions

It is often said that country folk are simple and honest, but even among them, there are differences. Some are born base and vile; when misfortune befalls your family, they not only sneer behind your back but dare to trample on you when you’re down.

No sooner had she finished speaking than a curse rang out from next door.

“Try laying a finger on our Er Gouzi, just try it! Pah! She’s nothing but a child bride, yet she acts like the lady of a marquis’s household. It’s a blessing her in-laws didn’t kill her! If they had, you’d be left alone—no one would want a woman like you. Even forcing yourself on our Er Gouzi as a concubine would be too disgusting for me!”

“Mother, I don’t mind Sweetie. Please let Sweetie be my wife!”

“You good-for-nothing, get lost!”

Yin Tiantian’s chest burned with resentment. In her previous life, after following Shen Fuzhu back to the marquis’s manor, was the Wang Cuihua next door always bullying Shen’s parents like this? Yet Shen’s parents, seeing her as a widow struggling alone to raise four sons, often cared for her. In the end, she was trampled upon by that very woman!

A hen flapped its wings and flew over, leaving a splatter of droppings on the ground. Yin Tiantian longed to scoop up the mess and shove it into Wang Cuihua’s mouth!

But footsteps approached from behind. Cui Heng, having overheard the quarrel, came out of the house to back her up.

The young master, precious as he was, likely hadn’t seen such a scene before. Better not frighten him now; they could settle the score with Wang Cuihua later.

Yin Tiantian forced a faint smile and met Cui Heng’s concerned gaze. “Young Master, it’s nothing. Don’t mind what Widow Wang says. Though I am a child bride, I have my pride. Her Er Gouzi is just a rogue. I would never abandon you to marry into their family.”

The mother and son next door continued their argument.

“Mother, I like Sweetie. Please help me propose! She used to like Shen Fuzhu, but now that he’s finally gone, if we wait any longer, someone else will snatch Sweetie away!”

“Mother, didn’t we harvest plenty of grain this year? Let’s offer two hundred catties of millet as the bride price and marry Sweetie to me!”

Two hundred catties of millet?

Yin Tiantian’s heart stirred. Back when Shen’s parents bought her back from the traffickers, it only cost them fifty catties of millet...

“Two hundred catties? Are you planning to marry the entire Shen family’s pigs too? I won’t agree!”

Yin Tiantian was unwilling, and so was her dear little treasure!

“Young Master, those two are crazy. Don’t pay them any mind. Please go back inside and rest. I’ll go feed the pigs.”

There wasn’t much food left at home; she had to think of ways to earn money.

She racked her brain, recalling the skills she had learned at the marquis’s manor in the capital, wondering which could bring in some cash.

“Sweetie, I’m sorry you’ve suffered.”

Cui Heng saw her bowing her head and thought she was upset, so he reached out to gently rub the top of her head.

Suddenly, she looked up, and his hand rested on her cheek.

Half her face was covered by his palm, and a faint scent of ink lingered—it was the scent from his hand. Her face flushed instantly, redder than the dawn still lingering in the sky.

Cui Heng’s palm felt something soft and warm. Both were startled; embarrassed, he withdrew his hand.

“Young Master, I’ve thought of it—I can embroider! I could work as an embroiderer at a workshop in town!”

But going to the embroidery shop meant she couldn’t care for the in-laws and the young master at home. Plus, embroidery work required submitting samples and deposits first, and they were so poor they didn’t even have a single thread. That path was closed!

Cui Heng’s wide sleeve partially shielded her face. Seeing the light in her eyes dim, he couldn’t bear it and took a jade pendant from his bosom, pressing it into her hand.

“Pawn this jade pendant; it should support us for a while.”

The jade pendant was warm with his body heat, carved from emerald-green jadeite bamboo—it was clearly valuable.

He had left the marquis’s manor with nothing but this pendant, so it must have been precious to him.

“My parents’ injuries need a doctor. My legs are crippled; I’ll trouble Sweetie to make a trip to the city.”

His legs also needed medical attention. Yin Tiantian swallowed her refusals and tucked the pendant close.

“Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ll visit several places and try to get a good price!”

“My parents’ injuries can’t be delayed. I’m leaving immediately!”

Clutching the jade pendant, Yin Tiantian left the village and jogged along the main road. The fresh wheel ruts on the ground made her nervous—if she ran too fast, she might catch up to the marquis’s carriage; too slow, and she would delay the treatment for the in-laws and the young master.

She finally arrived in the city before noon.

She asked around as she went.

“Excuse me, ma’am, could you tell me where the most reputable pawnshop in town is?”

“Sir, which pawnshop here has the best reputation?”

“Auntie, could you help me find a trustworthy pawnshop in town...”

Yin Tiantian’s sweet words and obedient demeanor won the kindness of a warm-hearted woman who pointed her the way.

“Miss, if you want to pawn something permanently, go to Wenxin Pawnshop. They offer good prices. For temporary pawns, go to Chen’s Pawnshop up ahead. Keep your pawn ticket safe—when you’re well off again, you can redeem your goods! Just don’t go to the other few shops—they bully customers and might even land you in trouble!”

There were seven or eight pawnshops in this small county. Having been cheated at a pawnshop in her past life, Yin Tiantian was now more cautious.

“Thank you, Auntie. You’re so kind. I wish you good health and all the best!”

“You’re quite the sweet talker, young lady!”

Following the advice, Yin Tiantian went straight to Chen’s Pawnshop and pawned the jade pendant for thirty taels of silver.

She kept the pawn ticket and silver close to her, glanced back at Chen’s Pawnshop, determined that one day she would redeem the young master’s pendant!

Worried about her family, she didn’t dare delay. She hired a doctor to return with her, who examined the couple’s injuries and took their pulses.

“The injuries aren’t too serious, but their bodies are weak. They may develop fevers at night. I’ll prescribe two doses of medicine just in case.”

Describing the Shen household as utterly destitute was no exaggeration. The doctor sighed and prescribed inexpensive but effective herbal remedies.

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Cui Heng cupped his hands in gratitude; Yin Tiantian imitated him and bowed to the doctor.

“Doctor, please take a look at our young master’s leg!”

Young master?

The doctor twitched at the corner of his mouth. Even in such poverty, they observed formalities and titles. He feared they might not have enough money to pay him later!

“Master’s leg...” The doctor felt Cui Heng’s bones, his expression growing grave. “If not treated promptly, he may end up disabled! Miss, please help me find some branches and cloth strips!”

Yin Tiantian hurried out, gathered some branches, and tore her skirt into strips to bring back.

“The treatment isn’t complicated, but it will hurt. Bear with it!”

As the doctor spoke, a cracking sound rang out. The blood drained from Cui Heng’s face instantly; veins bulged on his forehead, cold sweat beading.

He couldn’t hold back a low groan, gripping the bed sheets tightly.

Yin Tiantian’s heart clenched. The young master’s veins bulged, cold sweat on his forehead, yet he gritted his teeth without a sound.

Several times she wanted to stop the doctor out of pity, but recalling that in her past life, delayed treatment likely caused his leg to become crippled, she felt his pain deeply.

Clearly, he could have recovered like any other person...

The doctor bound the branches to his leg with strips, cautioning, “No strain on the leg for a month. Tendons and bones take a hundred days to heal. Drink plenty of bone broth—it will speed recovery. I’ll waive the consultation fee; just pay for the two doses of medicine.”

Yin Tiantian paid for the medicine.

“Doctor, you’re truly a kind man! May good fortune and longevity be yours!”

Upon her return, Cui Heng was smiling, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes.

He was once the favored son of heaven. With his talent, even if he weren’t of the marquis’s bloodline, the family wouldn’t have turned their backs on him so cruelly.

He had his reasons, and though the marquis’s family abandoned him for Shen Fuzhu, he blamed no one.

He even believed that the hardships he now endured were his penance, that only by wading through the mud like His Highness could he atone for his sins.

“Young Master, what’s wrong? Is it the pain? Or a fever? Please don’t scare me—I’m afraid!”

Yin Tiantian threw herself into his arms, her voice trembling with tears.