She is the Side Character! — Watch Her Change her fate!-Chapter 264: Must You Marry Your Savior After Being Rescued from the Water? (Part 35)

Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Must You Marry Your Savior After Being Rescued from the Water? (Part 35)

"Hahaha, Cousin said it was all my idea?" Shi Wen responded humorously to Liu Chunqin’s recent accusations, "Did you know that originally, I just wanted to set up Ying Xiucai by having Cousin lead him to that road? I never planned to involve Lin Chen; it was Cousin who said that if Ying Xiucai married me, he wouldn’t be content, and the best way was to make him appreciate me. That’s how the plan to involve Lin Chen came about, auntie, please don’t push everything onto me."

"Cousin isn’t a child; if he were a righteous person, he should have stopped me from the start. Instead, even when the plan to save from drowning failed, he still wanted to use words to marry Lin Chen, not to mention later getting involved in more schemes."

"It truly was a series of unexpected accidents, he genuinely saved Miss Li last time, so this engagement might not hold. If he hadn’t been greedy for Ying Xiucai’s gratitude and didn’t get involved today, I might not have exposed him." Shi Wen lowered her head.

After all, if Cousin succeeded in the future, he might help her out.

Liu Chunqin felt a flame ignite in her heart, but there was nothing she could do.

No matter how the Qin Family and Shi Family struggled, three days later their deeds were exposed, shocking the people of Lanru County who could not believe the two could do such things, even colluding with mountain bandits. The people of Lanru County hated the bandits, and consequently despised the two even more.

Shi Wen and Qin Cheng conspired with the bandits, scheming against Ying Bairong and Ah Chen, destroying their reputations. Qin Cheng lost his scholar title, and his chance to take the civil service examinations, even facing imprisonment.

As for Qu Shao and Fa Erniang, Shen Dai arranged for people to interrogate them for a period, but couldn’t extract anything substantial, yet he was reluctant to execute them just like that. So, he had their martial arts abolished and temporarily detained them in prison.

Shi Wen and Qin Cheng, however, were not continuously imprisoned; they had to labor at the County Government’s designated place. In the nights that followed, their hearts were filled with dissatisfaction and regret. Even after being released, peace eluded them.

Meanwhile, over in Shuigan Village, the villagers were fervently discussing the matter.

"Who would’ve thought Miss Lin’s fall into the water was Qin Cheng and Shi Wen’s scheming? When Lin Family father and daughter came to thank them, didn’t the Qin Family feel ashamed accepting those things? And that Qin Cheng, having the face to praise Miss Lin’s temperament, I spit, what shamelessness!"

"They accepted their things and ten taels of silver, no less."

"Good thing Miss Lin didn’t marry Qin Cheng, or who knows what kind of life she would’ve had."

"Look at Qin Family’s situation, two of them are paralyzed, what good days could they have? The Qin Family spoke so sweetly at first, mostly thinking the Lin Family had silver and wouldn’t want their daughter to suffer, so they’d always find a way."

"Tsk, it was a neat scheme."

"The Li Family is likely to call off the engagement too. I wonder if Miss Li’s case was plotted."

"Whether it was schemed or not doesn’t matter now. The Li Family can’t possibly unite with the Qin Family anymore."

"The Li Family came, I saw them at the village entrance just now." A person ran from afar, her gaze directed at Liu Chunqin who was doing laundry not far away, "They’re probably here to break off the engagement."

Soon, the Li Family approached, spoke some words, and Liu Chunqin didn’t respond.

After they’d finished speaking, she stubbornly said, "Ah Cheng didn’t plot against Miss Li, he really saved her."

Ah Cheng had lost his scholarly title, could no longer take the exams, lost his reputation, and feared he might find it hard to find a wife when he got out, she held onto an unrealistic hope in her heart.

Ah Cheng had a life-saving grace for Miss Li, this engagement wasn’t something that could just be called off prematurely.

The Li Family were extremely speechless, thinking to themselves how Miss Lin saw things clearly, being straightforward and generous in person, not shackled by so-called life-saving debts.

Their lady must have been mentally blocked; they could’ve thanked him with silver at first, but insisted on marrying Qin Cheng, claiming she wasn’t afraid of hardship. Qin Cheng was a handsome man, it’s no wonder the lady was infatuated, last-ranked scholar was one thing, but considering the household’s situation, plain hardship was certain.

After Qin Cheng caused such a stir, only then did the lady come to her senses, the wedding negotiations would certainly not be as favorable as before, but at least she wouldn’t leap into this pit of suffering.

To think the Qin Family had the audacity to block it, it truly made others laugh in anger.

Qin Cheng’s actions, trying to drag others down? Truly a disaster.

Liu Chunqin ignored the pointing and gossip around her, clinging to the story of Qin Cheng saving lives.

Ah Cheng said that they couldn’t just call off the engagement, if it had to be called off, the Li Family had to show something in return.

"What happened later?" Ah Chen passed the meat to a customer, inquiring Shen Xuan, who was telling her about the Qin and Li families’ matters.

Shen Xuan said, "The Li Family brought the matter to my father. They said in front of him that if the engagement was annulled, they’d thank Qin Cheng for saving their daughter’s life with silver. Should the Qin Family not relent, the Li daughter wouldn’t marry into the Qin Family, even if it meant staying single and being supported at home her whole life. If Liu Chunqin remained stubborn, she wouldn’t see even half a copper coin."

"In the end, Liu Chunqin still chose the silver, the Qin Family’s situation wasn’t good and they really needed the money," he added, "With this bit of silver, things would get a bit better."

"But I heard something else." He leaned closer to Ah Chen, "Originally, the Li Family wasn’t so uncompromising; on the day they came to break off the engagement, it was, first, to call it off, and second, to give some silver to thoroughly settle the matter. They had found out that Miss Li’s fall into the water was indeed her own doing and unrelated to Qin Cheng, who truly saved her life. The Li Family had intended to offer fifty taels to express their gratitude, and perhaps send some other supplementary gifts, to complete the connection. With Liu Chunqin’s antics stirring things up, the Li Family ended up giving only ten taels, and nothing else."

The exact amount the Lin Family had given, which was somewhat ironic.

Maybe it was the Li Family who leaked this news, upset by Liu Chunqin’s conduct, they didn’t care about saving face anymore.

He also knew why Liu Chunqin acted this way; she thought that by tying the knot with Miss Li, Qin Cheng could have some prospects for the future, or get some benefits, but how could the Li Family be manipulated by her? Wishful thinking.

"When I went with my father to thank Qin Cheng, she also said some things to me... mostly arranged by Qin Cheng, who was accustomed to using his mother for his tricks; who knows if he had a hand in this one." Ah Chen recounted their previous conversation.

Shen Xuan, who had previously been laughing, almost cursed the ancestors; such wishful thinking.

Shen Xuan said, "I’ll have someone investigate this."

He waved over a servant boy in the distance, who quickly ran over, listened to Shen Xuan’s words, and promptly went off.

The next day, Shen Xuan informed Ah Chen that Qin Cheng indeed had instructed it. To bind Miss Li if possible, otherwise, to extract more silver.

The mother and son knew the Li Family’s plan and deeply regretted it.

"Girl, aren’t you getting married? Why are you still selling meat? Not staying home to embroider your wedding dress?" an aunt buying meat inquired.

Ah Chen laughed, "I can’t embroider."

Though she had learned embroidery, doing it herself was too troublesome, eye-straining, it was better to buy them.

The meat-buying aunt: how can one say it so confidently?

Shen Xuan, who came to find her, heard this and burst into laughter.

"Then you’re buying the wedding dress?" the aunt asked again.

Ah Chen replied, "Naturally, I’m buying it."

"Aunt Zhang, don’t worry, I’ve already prepared the wedding dress," Shen Xuan approached, "I guarantee it’ll look beautiful; who lets the bride prepare her own wedding dress when getting married."

This was something he received as a reward for signing in, the system was quite considerate.

Aunt Zhang was speechless, isn’t it customary to prepare one’s own wedding dress?

Seeing Shen Xuan in that manner, she couldn’t help but feel envious.

Upon returning to the Lin Family with Ah Chen, Shen Xuan told her, "The wedding dress is ready, in a couple of days I’ll have someone deliver it along with other things."

He had already discussed this early with his future father-in-law Lin Daming, otherwise, the other party would surely have something prepared.

Ah Chen nodded, "Okay."

"Our family isn’t lacking in silver, in the future, whatever styles you want to wear, just find more embroiderers," Shen Xuan proudly said, also solving quite a few people’s livelihood issues, being a good employer indeed.

Lin Daming was displeased, he turned and entered the house, soon emerging with a stack of silver notes, "Our family doesn’t lack silver, young man, this is just a portion, all belonging to Chenchen."

Shen Xuan: he felt there was no need for his future father-in-law to compete with him on such matters!

The day of Ah Chen and Shen Xuan’s wedding was lively and grand.

Her red wedding dress was indeed eye-catching, and later someone even inquired which embroiderer was behind it.

On their wedding night, Shen Xuan was very happy, but he needed to explain some things to his bride.

"Chenchen, in my understanding, one isn’t considered an adult until they’re eighteen, capable of doing adult things."

"The reason for marrying early was my fear of any unforeseen occurrences, wishing to secure a commitment sooner."

"As for other matters, let’s wait until adulthood to discuss them."

Ah Chen laughed at his words and said, "I know, husband, maintaining your true essence and principles all these years since time-traveling is truly admirable."

Shen Xuan: ??