flstandardbreds Article 108: A Family with a Marriage Certificate
Article 108: A Family with a Marriage Certificate
"Second Miss, something's happened!" Fourth Miss pointed frantically outside. "There are some people outside, they say..."
They said...
"They say it's your in-laws' family."
In-laws?!
Tian Tian was shocked. Her husband's family... the Cheng family in Shiqiao Village.
Why did they suddenly come to our door?
Was it because the Tian family sued their family before? And that word got out and the Cheng family found out?
"In-laws?!"
Lu Tao and Liu San Niang came out, "What in-laws?!"
The two men locked eyes. "The Cheng family from Shiqiao Village?!"
Liu San Niang lifted her skirt, grabbed a broom from the corner, and ran outside, shouting, "They dare to come back?!"
"I'm going to go and have a go at them."
Lu Tao quickly followed.
Next came Tian Xiang, Da Ya, Tian Jing, and...
Tian Tian, the person in question, ended up being the last one to appear.
"Xiao Si, is Qin Qingyun here?" Tian Tian asked.
Xiao Si nodded, "Young Master Qin is here, he's holding those people back."
With Qin Qingyun around, Tian Tian's steps became even more leisurely.
Qin Qingyun pointed his long sword mercilessly at the Cheng family members.
The Cheng family members shrank back, watching Qin Qingyun warily.
"Where are the Cheng family members?" Liu San Niang rushed out.
Qin Qingyun swiftly retrieved the longsword to prevent her from losing her footing and accidentally hitting the blade.
"What kind of in-laws are you?"
"How dare you come to my door?"
"Get out of here right now."
Liu San Niang directly swept the broom towards the Cheng family...
The Cheng family was caught off guard; a sword appeared in front, a broom behind. The couple at the front were caught off guard and fell backward.
Fortunately, there were people behind them who stopped them.
They stopped and pointed at Liu San Niang angrily, asking, "Who are you? We're looking for Madam Lu and Tian Tian."
“Our Cheng family has a marriage certificate! Tian Tian is our Cheng family’s betrothed.”
"Let's set an auspicious day now! Let the Lu family come out."
Liu San Niang was stunned, and turned to look at Lu Tao who had followed her, "A marriage certificate?"
She didn't know at the time that Tian Tian had been sold to the Cheng family by Tian Zhongqing and Wang Yulan. It was only later, when the two families became closer, that she learned the whole story.
She only heard Lu Tao say that Tian Zhongqing and Wang Yulan had received five taels of silver and then put Tian Tian into the Cheng family's bridal sedan chair right after Tian Tian came of age.
Do you have a marriage certificate?
Lu Tao shook her head blankly; she had never heard of a marriage certificate.
The Cheng family members proudly climbed one step up.
There weren't many customers at the shop today; the entrance was quite empty.
Old Master Cheng took out a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it in front of Lu Tao. "This is the marriage certificate signed by Second Master Tian and Second Madam Tian of your Tian family."
He pointed to the names on the marriage certificate, "It's perfectly reasonable for us to set a wedding date now!"
Tian Tian came to the front and carefully examined the marriage certificate.
"Today, the marriage of Cheng and Tian is completed. The covenant is made in this hall, and the good fortune is bound together forever. The red thread of fate has long been tied, and the match is a perfect union. Poems of 'Guan Ju' and elegant songs of 'Lin Zhi' are sung. Behold the peach blossoms in full bloom today, a perfect match for the family. May the years to come be filled with many children and prosperity. May your love be as deep and enduring as that of a loving couple. May you treat each other with the utmost respect, and may your family prosper with many children."
With this vow of lifelong commitment, I write this on fine paper, so that our pledge of love may be recorded in the marriage register. This is my testament.
Groom's father: Cheng Dali
The bride's family ancestor: Tian Zhongqing
Engaged couple: Cheng's eldest son and Tian's second daughter
Witnesses: Tian Zhicheng, Cheng Ding
The seventh day of the eighth month in the twelfth year of Chengyuan.
Was this marriage certificate really written back then?
She remembered that the day she traveled through time was the eighth day of the eighth lunar month.
The marriage certificate was signed by Tian Zhongqing, and the witness was Tian Zhicheng.
Lu Tao, as her mother, did not sign or affix her fingerprint to the marriage certificate.
Cheng Dali held up the marriage certificate, which was translucent.
Tian Tian suddenly noticed something amiss.
Just as he was about to examine it closely, Cheng Dali suddenly took the marriage certificate back.
"Our clan has discussed it, and the auspicious day will be in three days. We will send a bridal sedan chair to Qingliu Village to fetch the bride. You should prepare well."
"If we can't pick them up, we'll report it to the authorities. You can decide what to do."
Cheng Dali looked at Tian Tian and said, "Although your family has three widows and your reputation is already ruined, you are still a virgin. You can't stay unmarried for the rest of your life, can you?"
"Our Cheng family will suffer a loss by marrying you..."
Lu Tao suddenly realized something, "Your son is dead! The marriage certificate is no longer valid!"
The wedding never took place because Cheng Yin, the eldest son of the Cheng family, died, so the marriage certificate was indeed invalid.
Cheng Dali had anticipated that Lu would say that, and smugly hummed, "My eldest son is dead, but I still have a second son, Cheng Shi."
Lu Tao was dumbfounded.
Liu San Niang gently patted her back, "This marriage certificate..."
"This marriage certificate only lists Cheng as the legitimate son, but my second son was also born to my wife." Cheng Dali smiled smugly, "A proper legitimate son."
I thought to myself that scholars really know how to nitpick.
Liu San Niang felt something was strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was so strange.
Tian Tian, however, understood.
In ordinary families, what is the difference between legitimate and illegitimate sons?
The marriage certificate we just saw was noticeably thinner and rougher in the place where Cheng Dizi was located compared to the other places.
It's obvious that they tampered with that spot.
With the Tian family severely punished by the county magistrate before, how dare the Cheng family report this to the authorities?
"Don't wait three days. Go and report to the authorities today!" Tian Tian said, crossing her arms.
Cheng Dali was taken aback, "You..."
"Tian Tian, your reputation is completely ruined! If this gets reported to the authorities... do you even want to get married?!"
"Our Cheng family is doing this for your own good."
"My second son, Cheng Shi, is the most handsome young man in our village. So many girls are vying to marry him."
Tian Tian looked at Cheng Dali...
He was short and stocky, with a flat nose, flared nostrils, small, slightly upturned, triangular eyes with yellowish whites, a wide mouth, and uneven teeth...
With his looks, how dare he say his son is the most handsome young man in Shiqiao Village?!
"Qin Qingyun, you're fast! Go to the county government office and ask Lord Li to send men to arrest these people!"
"Huh?" Cheng Dali was taken aback. "You, we haven't even reported it to the authorities yet. What gives you the right to report it?"
"You dare to slander my daughter's innocence with your mere words!" Lu Tao was so angry that her scalp tingled, her body trembled, and her fingers shook...
Liu San Niang gently patted her back, "Big sister, don't worry, don't worry."
"We'll listen to Tian Tian and report this to the authorities!"
"Qin Qingyun, hurry up and go report to the authorities!"
The Cheng family was stunned when they realized the women were actually going to report them to the authorities.
"Surround them!" Lu Tao waved her hand behind her, afraid they would run away.
There weren't many customers in the shop, and the waiters and waiters were all free, so they came in handy now.
They surrounded the Cheng family members.
"Hey..."
"Hey!"
"What are you doing?"
Aren't you worried that she won't be able to get married in the future?
"what?"