Chapter 45: Marriage Contract
Zhang Zhaodi felt a bit nervous.
Earlier, Su Yaoguang taught her the word ’twenty’ so she could accurately locate its position on the contract, and then drip blood on that spot while Grandma Su and Su Guilan weren’t paying attention, thus concealing the amount of silver.
She did as Su Yaoguang instructed but wasn’t sure if she recognized the word correctly.
Maybe she didn’t make a mistake?
She had recognized and written it dozens of times. It was her first time recognizing words, and especially for such an important matter, she put her heart into it and shouldn’t have made a mistake.
Reflecting on what she just did, Zhang Zhaodi mocked Su Guilan and Grandma Su in her heart.
They wanted to scheme against her and her mother, surely feeling very driven by emotions, and never actually paid any heed to her, which is why they let their guard down and got countered.
The village chief said, "There’s a drop of blood on it, perfectly obscuring the amount in silver, making the numbers illegible."
"What?" Grandma Su snatched the contract back.
Sure enough, there was indeed a drop of blood, and quite thick, covering the words completely.
Earlier, she was too worked up and only glanced at the spot where she pressed her thumbprint, ignoring the rest.
Grandma Su widened her eyes and angrily said, "Did you do it on purpose?"
"Heaven forbid, heaven forbid, you cut my finger, cut off such a large chunk, so much blood flowed, I couldn’t control it spilling elsewhere!" Zhang Zhaodi said, "Besides, everyone in the village knows I’m illiterate. How would I know what these words are? It must be fate protecting my land."
"Village chief, they are cheating," Grandma Su said. "You must stand up for us."
The village chief coldly said, "Before, you said to follow the contract, but the contract didn’t show numbers, so we can only calculate based on market rates. That’s my ruling."
"And what about me? Written in black and white is marriage to my son, that can’t be disputed," Su Guilan said smugly.
Su Grandpa and Grandma Su, Uncle Su and Second Aunt Su reignited their fighting spirit.
Yes! As long as Su Yaoguang got married, Zhang Zhaodi, as a widow, wouldn’t have the qualification to use the Su Family’s land. If she didn’t know better, they’d shove a random man at her, ruining her reputation, and she’d be at their mercy.
"Village chief, I have a question," Zhou Wangshu, looking like he had something to say but unsure if he should, spoke up.
"Speak whatever is on your mind," said the village chief.
"Yaoguang and I have already written a marriage contract, thus officially contracted in marriage. Can she still wed another?" Zhou Wangshu said, taking out the marriage contract from his shirt.
The village chief, surprised, took a look and paused at Su Yaoguang: "You and Zhou Wangshu have a marriage contract, officially recognized as husband and wife, and can’t marry another man. Did you forget this while you were crying just now?"
"We haven’t had the wedding banquet..." Su Yaoguang asked innocently, "Does this still count as being married?"
"The wedding banquet is your personal matter; officially, you are already recognized as husband and wife. If a woman marries two husbands, that’s illegal," the village chief returned the marriage contract to Zhou Wangshu. "Alright, today’s spectacle ends here."
"Su Yaoguang, you did this on purpose, married and still causing a scene here?" Su Guilan screamed, "I’ll tear you apart, you shameless girl."
"Just dare to touch my daughter and see?" Zhang Zhaodi rushed over.
The two wrestled together.
Su Guilan’s knee hurt, causing her to fall to the ground.
Zhang Zhaodi pulled her hair, sitting on top of her, and tugged at her clothes.
"Ah, my clothes... let go of me... ah, ah..."
Grandma Su was so angry she trembled all over.
She’s not stupid.
How could things be so coincidental?
A drop of blood on the contract, perfectly obscuring the numbers on the silver coin. Su Yaoguang obviously went to the government with Zhou Wangshu, wrote a marriage contract, and then cried here that she wouldn’t marry.
Everything was this mother-daughter pair’s scheme. They caused a scene but ended up gaining nothing.
Grandma Su couldn’t catch her breath and fell backward.
Su Grandpa quickly held her: "Old woman, old woman..."
Uncle Su and Second Aunt Su’s faces looked unpleasant.
But what could they say?
No matter what ruckus they made, they’d gain nothing today.
"Everyone present witnessed today’s events, and knows how ruthless my grandparents, uncle, and aunt can be. For that land and marrying me off to a fool, they truly forced us onto a dead end. Today, the breakup letter is written; our mother-daughter pair have no relation to them anymore. From now on, we each live our own lives, not interfering with each other. If they come to bother us again, then don’t blame me, their junior, for being disrespectful. My father passed early, it’s just us mother and daughter relying on each other, for survival, I’m willing to do anything."
"Such sin, breaking ties like this?"
"These grandparents are indeed ruthless."
"If I were Yao Guang, I’d do the same. They didn’t soften even when the mother-daughter pair pleaded."
Su Guilan, pressed down by Zhang Zhaodi, cried loudly.
"I can’t live, I can’t live anymore..."
Zhang Zhaodi got up, tidied her messy hair, and, with hands on hips, said: "Then go die! Best take your foolish son with you, save him from harming my daughter."
Zhou Wangshu supported Zhang Zhaodi, saying, "Mother, you’re tired too, don’t waste time on such a shrew, go back and rest first!"
Then he turned to the village chief and said: "Village chief, thanks to you today for upholding justice, preventing them from directly snatching my wife. It’s getting late, why not stay for a simple meal?"
Right now, the village chief just wanted to go home for some peace and quiet, hearing the cries of these women made his head hurt.
"No, I’m heading back, tidy this place up yourselves. Break up, everyone go," the village chief said, pressing his head as he left.
"Mother, let’s go home," Su Yaoguang supported Zhang Zhaodi.
Zhou Wangshu lingered last, glancing at the defeated few like a victorious rooster.
He stooped lower, close to Su Guilan, softly saying: "Yaoguang is indeed too kind-hearted."
Su Guilan sneered: "Kind-hearted?"
"If she had let you take her back and marry, then I reported you for forcibly taking a woman, how do you think the government would judge it?" Zhou Wangshu innocently blinked and asked, "At that point, both you and your precious son would face over three years in prison. If during the ceremony she bumped her head and got injured, how do you think they’d judge it?"
Su Guilan looked at Zhou Wangshu in fear.
This man, seemingly cheerful and radiant, yet why did his eyes seem like an abyss, chilling?
"She’s so compassionate, yet you don’t cherish her. If she were to fall into my hands, what do you think would happen to your family?" Zhou Wangshu tilted his head, flashing a brilliant smile.