"This... this... this... Brother! Come and take a look quickly! The name is wrong!"
Pei Li's shout instantly filled Qi Jiao with a sense of foreboding.
Pei Xia took two steps in three strides and picked up the betrothal letter. There, he saw that under the section for the bride's name, Qi Fu had been changed to Qi Jiao.
In their hurry to go to the Qi family to demand an explanation, they hadn't opened the letter to check it carefully.
Having spent his childhood in the marketplace, Pei Xia knew that there was a kind of potion that could make words change shape after a few days.
Back then, after his family had prepared the marriage contract and sent it to the Qi family, the Qi family had found excuses to delay for several days before writing and sending it back. It seemed that they had tampered with it at that time.
Pei Xia's eyes were as sharp as knives as he glared at Qi the Eldest and Mrs. Qian. "You've got quite a nerve!"
Mrs. Qian didn't even care about the swelling on half of her face as she rushed over to take a look. The joy on her face was impossible to hide - the person Fu Niang had found really did have some skills, and they had actually succeeded!
Her eyes were full of pride as she slurred, "Everyone, come and take a look. The written words don't lie. The Pei family is marrying Qi Jiao, not our Fu Niang!"
The courtyard instantly erupted into an uproar.
Zuo Lide picked up the betrothal letter and examined it several times, silently cursing the Qi couple for their despicable behavior.
Then he thought, if Qi Jiao stayed in the Qi family, she would surely not have a good time. But if she entered the Pei family, her situation might improve, and the losses on both sides could be minimized.
So, with his hands folded, he said awkwardly, "Since that's the case, Qi Jiao and Pei Xia are destined to be husband and wife. We've had enough commotion today. You should take her back quickly."
Hearing this, Qi Jiao was completely unable to accept it. The pain in her head flared up again, and she fainted instantly.
-
She woke up to the smell of cool herbal medicine.
Qi Jiao opened her eyes and saw a brand - new blue cloth canopy. She moved uncomfortably and heard someone talking outside.
"Don't let the wound get wet. Take the medicine on time and come to the town's clinic to change the dressing every three days. Remember!"
Dr. Gong left a bunch of medicine packets and was about to leave.
Pei Xia thanked him and asked him to stay. "You've come all this way. The night road is not easy to walk on. If you don't mind, you can stay at my place for the night."
Dr. Gong smiled. "You're a kind - hearted young man. It's okay. I still need to go to the Qi family. Isn't Qi Yong's arm broken? I need to set it."
Hearing this, Pei Xia didn't try to keep him anymore and prepared double the consultation fee.
Tang Guiniang also brought a roasted chicken and a jar of clear wine for Dr. Gong. "Don't think it's shabby. They're all brand - new."
Dr. Gong happily took them, got into the mule cart, and left.
Qi Jiao's mind was a bit hazy. The Pei family had brought her back.
Was she really going to live under the same roof as Pei Xia from now on?
Just as she was in a daze, Pei Xia pushed the door open and came in.
Qi Jiao instantly woke up.
But then Pei Xia just picked up a quilt from the trunk and left without even looking at her.
Qi Jiao was relieved but also a bit worried. Getting a doctor and buying medicine for her must have cost a lot of money.
The Pei family had almost emptied their savings for the wedding. Would they throw her out after tonight...
She didn't have a single copper coin on her...
Lost in such wild thoughts, Qi Jiao lost her energy and gradually fell asleep.
The next day, when Qi Jiao woke up, she saw two sets of slightly worn clothes on the bedside. They should be for her.
She felt a bit dizzy when she suddenly sat up. After taking a moment to recover, she chose the set with a lotus - white top and onion - green skirt and changed into it.
Just then, Pei Jin came in with a tray of food and a medicine bowl. "You're awake?"
Qi Jiao responded and gave Pei Jin a smile.
It was Pei Jin who had helped her breathe yesterday. Anyway, the Pei family had saved her life.
Qi Jiao lifted the hem of her skirt. "These clothes look familiar."
Pei Jin said, "Of course they look familiar. They're your clothes. I took them when we left the Qi family yesterday. Even if they're just two sets of old clothes, we can't let them get away with it. Besides, the Qi family didn't prepare any wedding clothes for you. You can't keep wearing that ill - fitting wedding dress."
Qi Jiao understood and thanked her gratefully. "You're so thoughtful. You've thought of everything for me."
But Pei Jin waved her hand. "It's nothing. It was all big brother's instructions."
"Big brother and A Li went out to sea early in the morning. Mother went to Biwu Village to check on the eight - mu paddy field. I'm the only one at home. How are you? Does your head still hurt today?"
Pei Jin was a girl who was hard not to like. When she smiled, two small dimples appeared on her cheeks, and her eyes were bright and kind. But because they weren't very familiar, there was a bit of distance between her and Qi Jiao.
Qi Jiao quickly took the ceramic bowl from her hands. "I'm much better today. Thank you."
The aroma of the food wafted over. Trying to hold back her hunger, Qi Jiao blushed slightly. "Can you show me where to wash up?"
She pointed at the remaining powder on her cheek. She had returned to the Pei family in a daze yesterday and fallen asleep without removing her makeup. Just thinking about it made her uncomfortable.
Pei Jin looked at Qi Jiao's somewhat mottled face and found it funny.
She pulled Qi Jiao to the well in the courtyard, fetched a basin of water with the windlass, and stuffed a set of toiletries into her hands. "Here. This is where we wash up."
Qi Jiao thanked her repeatedly, quickly washed up, dried her face, and instantly felt refreshed.
She turned around and saw Pei Jin standing there in a daze.
Pei Jin couldn't help but widen her eyes. "You're really beautiful!"
Qi Jiao hadn't looked in a mirror yet. She looked down at her reflection in the well water and was a bit stunned.
The person in the water looked exactly like her in modern society.
She had fair skin, almond - shaped eyes, and eyebrows as curved as the crescent moon.
Just having washed her face, her skin looked smooth and delicate. The only difference was that her hair was black and shiny, and there was more of it!
Tsk, the local feng shui really was good for nurturing people.
It was just that the wedding makeup from yesterday had made her look like a ghost. Her eyes, nose, mouth, and lips were all smeared together, making it hard to tell what her features were. Without a doubt, it was the work of Mrs. Qian.
Pei Jin was both surprised and delighted. Qi Jiao was more beautiful than Qi Fu!
She had even felt sorry for her big brother yesterday.
Big brother was good - looking. If his wife wasn't a good match in terms of appearance, it would always be a pity.
She didn't read much, but Qi Jiao's appearance now made her think of phrases like "a beautiful flower reflected in water" and "lighting up the whole room." It felt like their small courtyard had become brighter.
Qi Jiao had no idea what was going on in this little girl's mind. Since there was a bandage on her head, she carefully combed the hair beside her temples, making herself look much neater. Then she went back into the room to eat and take her medicine.
She had an awkward status in the Pei family, so how could she trouble Pei Jin to take care of her? After the meal, she didn't idle and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Pei Jin came out of the room with a basin of dirty clothes. Seeing her working, she said anxiously, "Hey, don't be so busy. You're still injured."
Qi Jiao insisted. "I only hurt my head. My hands and feet are fine."
Pei Jin had no choice but to heat up some water and mix it. She felt the water temperature to make sure it was warm before letting her work.
The friendship between girls is actually easy to build. It only takes a meal or a cup of tea to become good friends who can talk about anything.
While Qi Jiao washed the dishes, Pei Jin helped clean and dry them.
She was curious about Qi Jiao and asked her about things in the county and the Guo family in a casual way.
Qi Jiao told her some interesting stories, and the distance between them instantly closed.
In just one morning, Pei Jin had already started calling her Sister Jiao Niang.