Qian Xiao Qi asked herself how did she ran from the table to the bed in the middle of the night. She glanced at Son Liang Zhuo and felt relieved he was asleep.
Qian Xiao Qi gently got out of bed, and searched for her possessions to pack to go home.
In a corner of the bedchamber was a chest Qian Xiao Qi opened yesterday. It was full of many things big and small like rabbit fur gloves and books. No matter how big or small, she wasn’t going to leave them behind.
Qian Xiao Qi repacked the chest. When she turned around, Song Liang Zhuo was awake. He was sitting on the bed staring at her.
‘Official Song,’ Qian Xiao Qi called shyly.
‘What?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘There’s nothing valuable in my chest, I want to take it away,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Where do you want to take it away to?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘I want to take it home,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Today I’m going home. I’ll talk to my father about our situation. I’m not coming back here.’
Song Liang Zhuo crossed his arms. ‘I don’t agree.’
‘Why not?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘You don’t love me.’
Song Liang Zhuo was in a dilemma. He didn’t know why he didn’t agree. The main reason why he married Qian Xiao Qi was to build dykes to prevent flooding.
‘Yes, I have an ulterior motive why I married you,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘But I can’t divorce you.’
‘Why not?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘I need money to build dykes in Ha Dun,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
Qian Xiao Qi was already angry before Song Liang Zhuo explained everything to her.
‘That sly old man!’ Qian Xiao Qi cursed her father.
Song Liang Zhuo’s tongue couldn’t move. He watched Qian Xiao Qi stomp her feet.
‘Did you marry me for my dowry?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
Qiao Xiao Qi didn’t wait for Song Liang Zhuo to answer a sad question. She put her hands on her waist and nodded her head. ‘It’s a good reason why we should separate. I don’t want to be married to someone who married me for money.’
Qian Xiao Qi turned around and continued packing. She comfortably packed everything including her makeup and clothes.
‘I didn’t want to lie to you, I do need money,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘If I don’t prevent Ha Dun from flooding, many villages in Tong Hua Province will be flooded.’
‘I can see it’s necessary to protect places surrounded by rivers to prevent flooding,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘But if you need money, you don’t have to keep me here. Now you’re preventing me from leaving.’
‘I did think about what you said,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘But I chose to marry you. We’re married now, and I won’t cause grief for you.’
Qian Xiao Qi didn’t believe Song Liang Zhuo’s deceitful words. ‘I believe there’s a way to deal with my father.’
‘What happens if the rivers flood soon?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Why did the rivers stop flooding years ago?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘So it’s unlikely to flood soon.’
‘Another flood is expected to happen in another two years,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Then build dykes next year,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
Song Liang Zhuo sighed and bowed his head helplessly.
Qian Xiao Qi didn’t believe Song Liang Zhuo’s good person act, but she wasn’t a stingy person.
‘I can see your perspective,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘I’m not a stingy person. When I return home, I’ll ask my father to loan you money.’
‘I didn’t borrow, I traded,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘What?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘Then Old Man will make a big loss!’
‘Not necessarily,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘It’s tiring for old man to count a lot of money,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Then old man’s loss is a blessing for him.’
‘He’s planning for the future,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘What is old man going to do with a lot of money after he dies?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. She realised her tongue was too loose and waved her hands. ‘Aye, aye, bad things don’t come true. Only let good things come true.’
‘What you said is true,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘As long as I can get my father to give you money, you and I can separate,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Do you carry around your seal? I need your seal to validate our deal.’
Song Liang Zhuo shook his head. ‘Your father said he’ll bring the money here after you’re pregnant.’
Qian Xiao Qi narrowed her eyes. ‘You agreed with my father?’
Song Liang Zhuo nodded his head.
Qian Xiao Qi was grateful she avoided Song Liang Zhuo at night. If she didn’t, he would have ate even her bones whole.
‘Then keep waiting until I’m pregnant,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Then a divorce letter is unnecessary,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Of course a divorce letter is necessary,’ Qian Xiao Qi said and smiled sweetly. ‘Why don’t we make a deal? We’ll both win.’
‘What deal?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Do you want to make a deal or not?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘I’ll listen to the deal first,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
Qian Xiao Qi sat down at the table. ‘You’ll write me a divorce letter, and I’ll help you bring money here. After you receive the money, I get to leave. In the future we won’t sleep in the same bedchamber again. You’ll stay at the Song Manor and be your usual Official Song, and I’ll return to being Qian Xiao Qi instead of being your wife. What do you think?’
‘Doesn’t sound like a bad deal,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Good,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Don’t worry, the old man will help build the dykes. I’ll make certain my father won’t give you grief.’
Song Liang Zhuo only smiled.
‘It’s the truth!’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘If you don’t believe me, today I’ll go home and make my father give you money to build the dykes.’
‘I believe you,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘Your father loves you a lot.’
‘Then quickly write a divorce letter,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Later I’ll leave after I eat a meal, and you’ll receive money soon.’
Song Liang Zhuo shook his head. ‘Then I’ll be dishonorable. I’ll be using your father’s money, but divorcing his daughter.’
‘Are you going to agree to the deal or not?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘Even if you don’t agree, I’m lazy to play games.’
‘Who said I don’t agree?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked. ‘You only have impatience.’
Song Liang Zhuo got out of bed and walked toward the table.
‘Xiao Qi, do you know how to read?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Of course,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘If I don’t know how to read then how can I help father manage his business?’
Song Liang Zhuo nodded his head. ‘Then prepare ink.’
Qian Xiao Qi happily prepared ink and passed Song Liang Zhuo paper and an ink brush.
‘Are you certain you can read?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
Qian Xiao Qi rolled her eyes. ‘It’s up to you whether you believe me. I’m not as uneducated as you think!’
Song Liang Zhuo quickly wrote a simple divorce letter that he would divorce Qian Xiao Qi because there was no love between them.
‘Are you certain this is a divorce letter?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘Yes,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘Have you forgotten I’m Official Song?’
‘You’re right,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Where’s your seal?’
‘You can keep the divorce letter,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘I’ll stamp my seal after our deal is fulfilled.’
Qian Xiao Qi patted her chest. ‘Don’t worry. I, Qian Xiao Qi have always kept my promises. You’ll receive money soon.’
‘I’ll be waiting,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
After a meal, Song Liang Zhuo and Qian Xiao Qi travelled by horse carriage together. She regretted she couldn’t jump off the horse carriage and run home by herself.
Song Liang Zhuo didn’t want to see Qian Xiao Qi’s excitement about returning home so he looked out the window.
Song Liang Zhuo and Qian Xiao Qi travelled to the Qian Manor on a day close to the end of the autumn harvest. It wasn’t a hot day, but he saw many people trading grains. He was proud he helped Tong Hua Province prosper.
‘Official Song, do you want to buy a gift for my father?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘I prepared a gift for your father already,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Oh,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. She puffed her disappointed cheeks and looked outside the window. ‘Official Song, I think I should buy my big sisters some small gifts.’
‘I prepared gifts for your big sisters too,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Oh… Official Song…’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Xiao Qi, do you want to go for a walk outside?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Yes,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Wait until we return home, we’ll go sightseeing together,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘You’re right,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘In the future I won’t be your wife anymore, and I’ll be free to go sightseeing. You can’t take back your promise.’
‘Then you need to promise me that you won’t cause trouble,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
Qian Xiao Qi raised her chin. ‘I haven’t cause trouble.’
Song Liang Zhuo thought Qian Xiao Qi was actually a patient person. She waited for him outside the magistrate court for two years.
***
End of Chapter Five
Qian Xiao Qi asked herself how did she ran from the table to the bed in the middle of the night. She glanced at Son Liang Zhuo and felt relieved he was asleep.
Qian Xiao Qi gently got out of bed, and searched for her possessions to pack to go home.
In a corner of the bedchamber was a chest Qian Xiao Qi opened yesterday. It was full of many things big and small like rabbit fur gloves and books. No matter how big or small, she wasn’t going to leave them behind.
Qian Xiao Qi repacked the chest. When she turned around, Song Liang Zhuo was awake. He was sitting on the bed staring at her.
‘Official Song,’ Qian Xiao Qi called shyly.
‘What?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘There’s nothing valuable in my chest, I want to take it away,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Where do you want to take it away to?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘I want to take it home,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Today I’m going home. I’ll talk to my father about our situation. I’m not coming back here.’
Song Liang Zhuo crossed his arms. ‘I don’t agree.’
‘Why not?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘You don’t love me.’
Song Liang Zhuo was in a dilemma. He didn’t know why he didn’t agree. The main reason why he married Qian Xiao Qi was to build dykes to prevent flooding.
‘Yes, I have an ulterior motive why I married you,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘But I can’t divorce you.’
‘Why not?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘I need money to build dykes in Ha Dun,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
Qian Xiao Qi was already angry before Song Liang Zhuo explained everything to her.
‘That sly old man!’ Qian Xiao Qi cursed her father.
Song Liang Zhuo’s tongue couldn’t move. He watched Qian Xiao Qi stomp her feet.
‘Did you marry me for my dowry?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
Qiao Xiao Qi didn’t wait for Song Liang Zhuo to answer a sad question. She put her hands on her waist and nodded her head. ‘It’s a good reason why we should separate. I don’t want to be married to someone who married me for money.’
Qian Xiao Qi turned around and continued packing. She comfortably packed everything including her makeup and clothes.
‘I didn’t want to lie to you, I do need money,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘If I don’t prevent Ha Dun from flooding, many villages in Tong Hua Province will be flooded.’
‘I can see it’s necessary to protect places surrounded by rivers to prevent flooding,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘But if you need money, you don’t have to keep me here. Now you’re preventing me from leaving.’
‘I did think about what you said,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘But I chose to marry you. We’re married now, and I won’t cause grief for you.’
Qian Xiao Qi didn’t believe Song Liang Zhuo’s deceitful words. ‘I believe there’s a way to deal with my father.’
‘What happens if the rivers flood soon?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Why did the rivers stop flooding years ago?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘So it’s unlikely to flood soon.’
‘Another flood is expected to happen in another two years,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Then build dykes next year,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
Song Liang Zhuo sighed and bowed his head helplessly.
Qian Xiao Qi didn’t believe Song Liang Zhuo’s good person act, but she wasn’t a stingy person.
‘I can see your perspective,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘I’m not a stingy person. When I return home, I’ll ask my father to loan you money.’
‘I didn’t borrow, I traded,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘What?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘Then Old Man will make a big loss!’
‘Not necessarily,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘It’s tiring for old man to count a lot of money,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Then old man’s loss is a blessing for him.’
‘He’s planning for the future,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘What is old man going to do with a lot of money after he dies?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. She realised her tongue was too loose and waved her hands. ‘Aye, aye, bad things don’t come true. Only let good things come true.’
‘What you said is true,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘As long as I can get my father to give you money, you and I can separate,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Do you carry around your seal? I need your seal to validate our deal.’
Song Liang Zhuo shook his head. ‘Your father said he’ll bring the money here after you’re pregnant.’
Qian Xiao Qi narrowed her eyes. ‘You agreed with my father?’
Song Liang Zhuo nodded his head.
Qian Xiao Qi was grateful she avoided Song Liang Zhuo at night. If she didn’t, he would have ate even her bones whole.
‘Then keep waiting until I’m pregnant,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Then a divorce letter is unnecessary,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Of course a divorce letter is necessary,’ Qian Xiao Qi said and smiled sweetly. ‘Why don’t we make a deal? We’ll both win.’
‘What deal?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Do you want to make a deal or not?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘I’ll listen to the deal first,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
Qian Xiao Qi sat down at the table. ‘You’ll write me a divorce letter, and I’ll help you bring money here. After you receive the money, I get to leave. In the future we won’t sleep in the same bedchamber again. You’ll stay at the Song Manor and be your usual Official Song, and I’ll return to being Qian Xiao Qi instead of being your wife. What do you think?’
‘Doesn’t sound like a bad deal,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Good,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Don’t worry, the old man will help build the dykes. I’ll make certain my father won’t give you grief.’
Song Liang Zhuo only smiled.
‘It’s the truth!’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘If you don’t believe me, today I’ll go home and make my father give you money to build the dykes.’
‘I believe you,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘Your father loves you a lot.’
‘Then quickly write a divorce letter,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Later I’ll leave after I eat a meal, and you’ll receive money soon.’
Song Liang Zhuo shook his head. ‘Then I’ll be dishonorable. I’ll be using your father’s money, but divorcing his daughter.’
‘Are you going to agree to the deal or not?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘Even if you don’t agree, I’m lazy to play games.’
‘Who said I don’t agree?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked. ‘You only have impatience.’
Song Liang Zhuo got out of bed and walked toward the table.
‘Xiao Qi, do you know how to read?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Of course,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘If I don’t know how to read then how can I help father manage his business?’
Song Liang Zhuo nodded his head. ‘Then prepare ink.’
Qian Xiao Qi happily prepared ink and passed Song Liang Zhuo paper and an ink brush.
‘Are you certain you can read?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
Qian Xiao Qi rolled her eyes. ‘It’s up to you whether you believe me. I’m not as uneducated as you think!’
Song Liang Zhuo quickly wrote a simple divorce letter that he would divorce Qian Xiao Qi because there was no love between them.
‘Are you certain this is a divorce letter?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘Yes,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘Have you forgotten I’m Official Song?’
‘You’re right,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘Where’s your seal?’
‘You can keep the divorce letter,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘I’ll stamp my seal after our deal is fulfilled.’
Qian Xiao Qi patted her chest. ‘Don’t worry. I, Qian Xiao Qi have always kept my promises. You’ll receive money soon.’
‘I’ll be waiting,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
After a meal, Song Liang Zhuo and Qian Xiao Qi travelled by horse carriage together. She regretted she couldn’t jump off the horse carriage and run home by herself.
Song Liang Zhuo didn’t want to see Qian Xiao Qi’s excitement about returning home so he looked out the window.
Song Liang Zhuo and Qian Xiao Qi travelled to the Qian Manor on a day close to the end of the autumn harvest. It wasn’t a hot day, but he saw many people trading grains. He was proud he helped Tong Hua Province prosper.
‘Official Song, do you want to buy a gift for my father?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘I prepared a gift for your father already,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Oh,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. She puffed her disappointed cheeks and looked outside the window. ‘Official Song, I think I should buy my big sisters some small gifts.’
‘I prepared gifts for your big sisters too,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘Oh… Official Song…’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Xiao Qi, do you want to go for a walk outside?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Yes,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Wait until we return home, we’ll go sightseeing together,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
‘You’re right,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘In the future I won’t be your wife anymore, and I’ll be free to go sightseeing. You can’t take back your promise.’
‘Then you need to promise me that you won’t cause trouble,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
Qian Xiao Qi raised her chin. ‘I haven’t cause trouble.’
Song Liang Zhuo thought Qian Xiao Qi was actually a patient person. She waited for him outside the magistrate court for two years.
***
End of Chapter Five
