Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 443 - 443 444 Are You Stupid or Just Naive_1

Chapter 443: Chapter 444 Are You Stupid or Just Naive?_1 Chapter 443: Chapter 444 Are You Stupid or Just Naive?_1 Qingmei hesitated, finding it difficult to speak, “But Mu has already arranged this marriage for me, and if I change my mind now, it wouldn’t be proper.”

Lu Ziquan waved his hand, “Those people don’t wish you well; that’s why they treat you this way. They all think you’re not good enough, satisfied with marrying you off to an ordinary civilian. But if you marry me, you marry into an official’s family. My father has only me as a son, and I am bound to become the County Chief in the future. Would not marrying me bring you glory? Even better than Lu Qi’er’s match. The household she married into is merely a wealthy merchant with ties to officialdom. Compared to you, they will fall short!”

These words truly moved Qingmei. She bit her lip and finally asked, “Are your words true?”

“Absolutely true!”

“If that is so, I will commit myself to you,” Qingmei said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ziquan couldn’t help but rejoice. She was so easily deceived. With only a few words, she had taken the bait. Now that he had Qingmei’s approval, he naturally couldn’t stay still. His hands began to wander over her body, eager to have his way with her as soon as possible. He had gone without meat for a month, and now he had a woman at hand, a fresh young thing no less, so naturally, he was overjoyed.

But immediately, Qingmei caught his hand. This time she was wiser and said, “If you want to touch me, at least bring the marriage certificate first. Otherwise, don’t think of laying a finger on me.”

Lu Ziquan gritted his teeth and had no choice but to stop. But upon Qingmei mentioning the marriage certificate, he remembered to give her a reminder.

“Dear sister, it’s only natural for me to marry you, but my father is an imperial officer, and he will never agree to me taking a maidservant as my main wife. If I am to marry you, it can only be as a concubine,” he said.

Qingmei was shocked, “A concubine?”

Lu Ziquan hurriedly explained, “Don’t be anxious. I don’t wish for this either, but you know how my father is. His obsession with social status is particularly strong. Even if I want to make you my main wife, he won’t consent. Rest assured, once you enter our household, and after he has passed away, I’ll promote you to that status immediately.”

Qingmei angrily responded, “How can I believe you? After all this time, I am merely a concubine.”

“Even as a concubine, it’s better than marrying a servant, right? Being with me, you’ll have endless wealth and honor. Besides, you are the first woman I am bringing into my household. Plus, there’s my sincere love for you. How can your status be the same as that of an ordinary concubine? Even when the main wife comes into the house, she will have to respect you,” he assured her.

Qingmei still found it hard to accept. She grew up in the village, and although the people there were poor, they especially despised being someone’s concubine.

Lu Ziquan spoke affectionately, coaxing her, “Don’t you believe in my sincere love for you? In the future, the position of main wife is definitely yours. Right now, you may be a concubine, but think about it—I have no other women except for you. Would not that be as glorious as being the main wife?”

“Do you truly intend to marry only me?” Qingmei asked.

“Absolutely only you! Qingmei, you must believe me. I am sincere towards you. Look at how heartbroken you are now. Apart from me, who else is by your side?”

Qingmei pursed her lips and in the end, she nodded.

Lu Ziquan felt a secret thrill. Now he could see how vexed Qiao Muniang would be. She wants to protect her little calf, doesn’t she? She says he’s not worthy, doesn’t she? Once Wang Qingmei becomes his concubine, he would like to see her put on airs then!

Lu Ziquan brought Qingmei to see Lord Lu, asking for his permission to be together. Lu Ziquan, now sixteen, was indeed at the age to marry and take concubines. As they sought his approval, Lord Lu naturally had nothing against it, especially since taking a maidservant from the household as a concubine wasn’t unusual. He had punished Lu Ziquan before for daring to publicly engage in indecent acts with a maidservant of the house, but now that the two professed mutual affection, Lord Lu nodded in agreement.

They almost tarnished Qingmei’s reputation by being together, and now that they are united, it’s a sort of resolution. Moreover, since the girl herself is willing, how could Lord Lu break up the pair?

Three days had passed, and Muniang thought if Qingmei had any second thoughts, she would have clarified them by now. So, she personally visited the Lu Mansion, ready to ask for her answer. If Qingmei truly was unwilling, Muniang needed to inform Gao Zhuang early, not to delay his efforts, for he was still waiting for a bride to bring him luck.

Yet, upon entering the Lu Mansion, Muniang immediately heard the servants seemingly discussing something.

“Wang Qingmei is such a lucky girl, caught the eye of our young master. She’s been taken as his concubine, the first secondary wife of our young master. Alas, for us—when can we ever live such good days?”

Muniang was so agitated that she nearly jumped in place, “What are you saying? Qingmei? Is it Wang Qingmei you’re talking about?”

The maid was startled and then replied, “Indeed.”

“She’s been taken by Lu Ziquan as a concubine?” Muniang asked, her eyes wide.

“Yes…”

Before the maid could finish speaking, Muniang strode past her, nearly pinching marks into her sleeve with her tensed hand.

Wang Qingmei’s courtyard had been completely transformed, furnished with the finest possessions. Muniang stood there in shock, seemingly unable to accept the sight before her.

“Mu? You’re here,” Qingmei said upon seeing Muniang, her voice betraying some guilt.

Muniang’s eyes grew cold, “Qingmei, is this the choice you’ve made? Are you truly willing to be Lu Ziquan’s concubine?”

Qingmei lowered her head, “I’m sorry, I, I…”

Muniang, full of disappointment, spoke more urgently, “I always wanted to give you the best, but in the end, I realize that you never wanted what I was willing to offer. You’d rather be a concubine to scum like Lu Ziquan? Qingmei, should I call you foolish or naïve?”

Qingmei hurriedly grabbed Muniang’s hand, “It’s not like that, Mu, Lu Ziquan has been good to me; he isn’t that bad, and I can be happy married to him.”

Muniang shook off her hand forcefully, “Wang Qingmei, are you still the same person? The same girl who would blush and couldn’t even lift her head at the mention of becoming a concubine? Is this what you were like a year ago?”

Wang Qingmei paused, her mind flashing back to the days in Tupo Village, Mrs. Liang’s scolding, and the disdainful looks from everyone. All of it made her feel ashamed.

“I have indeed changed, but I think everything is better now. Ziquan said he will make me his official wife in the future, and if he becomes the County Chief, I’ll be the Lady of the County Chief. Isn’t that good?”

Muniang clenched her fist in her sleeve, struggling for a long moment to resist the urge to slap her into sense, “Do you believe his words? He’s just deceiving you for now. How could a man like Lu Ziquan ever be sincere to you?”