CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46 I DON’T WANT SUCH GOOD FORTUNE 4

The noise was getting closer, and everyone in the village had crowded around.

One of them said, "What Qian Du did was not respectable; rest assured, once he arrives, we’ll ask him. He can’t just become an official and abandon his old partner."

Another commented, "We can’t just let this matter go. He says he’s going to divorce her and that’s it? Uncle Bai, we need to make a fuss. Even if he’s an official, he needs a good reputation. We have to make him take Anning back properly."

Anning stood in the melon field, head bowed, eyes downcast.

She knew it would come to this.

Most people think she should cling to Qian Du, groveling if necessary, or else it would mean a great loss for her.

Almost everyone believes that aside from Qian Du, she’d be hard-pressed to find another good man to marry her. Without Qian Du, she’s destined to live a lonely life.

The villagers all gave her advice under the guise of concern.

She was then expected to be grateful; if she didn’t follow their advice, she would be seen as ungrateful.

It was indeed so, that was exactly Bai Anning’s previous life.

Bai Anning was entirely pressured into following Qian Du by those "well-intentioned" words and actions.

Bai Desheng also felt some discomfort after hearing these words.

He glanced at Zhang Yue Mei.

Zhang Yue Mei sighed, a face full of sorrow: "Let it be, since they look down on our daughter, we won’t be the unlikable ones; we’ll just take care of our own daughter."

"That won’t do."

A middle-aged woman, who normally got along well with Zhang Yue Mei, assertively said, "There’s no reason to let the Qian surname take advantage cheaply. You’re really too kindhearted. In my opinion, if Qian Du dares not to want Anning, you should sue him."

Anning looked up, her unblemished half face deathly pale, her eyes filled with sorrow and distress: "Auntie, there’s no need to persuade me anymore... Since he has divorced me, I’ve made up my mind not to be involved with him again. He can be his official, and I’ll live my own life. Why bother chasing after someone who disdains you? Even if... even if he really takes me back home, what kind of life will I have?"

Anning touched her own face: "This appearance of mine, how many can tolerate it? With Qian Du, who knows how much he might secretly despise me. On the surface, it looks alright, as an official wife, but how much suffering I endure on the inside, only I know."

As she spoke, large tears rolled down her face.

Even though half of Anning’s face was covered with a red birthmark, which looked very ugly at first glance, when she cried, she seemed like a pear blossom bathed in rain, fragile to the point of poignancy, eliciting a sense of compassion from others.

Many people, seeing Anning cry so sadly, could not help but sigh with her.

"Indeed, even if Qian Du truly takes her back, but in that deep and large household, what he plans to do with her is anyone’s guess. If by chance..."

If by chance she’s treated coldly or ground down until she’s gone, who could help her seek justice?

But such words were too unpleasant to say out loud, so they went unspoken.

"Unequal matches are doomed."

Bai Desheng sighed deep and said, "We are just commoners, while the Qian Family are officials, we can’t compare. Better I take care of my own daughter, to spare ourselves any more troubling incidents in the future."

Upon hearing this, many others nodded in agreement.

Indeed, compared to life itself, all that glory and wealth are insubstantial.

While they were discussing this matter fervently, Qian Du arrived riding a tall horse.

The path through the melon field wasn’t very wide, so Qian Du dismounted early, handed his horse over to a retainer, and approached wearing a long, green robe at a leisurely pace.

It must be said, Qian Du was quite handsome indeed.

He had a tall and slender figure, with fine and handsome features. At first glance, he appeared to be a graceful and attractive young gentleman.

However, upon closer inspection, one could see that his eyes were triangular, with more white than pupil, and his nose bone was thin, and his lips were exceedingly thin. Such facial characteristics most often indicated ingratitude.

Anning glanced at him and then lowered her head, continuing to pick melons in the melon field.

She had no desire to pay attention to the scoundrel who had ruined Bai Anning’s life.

But Qian Du had a flair for dramatics.

When he saw Bai Desheng, his face was full of sorrow and guilt. He took a few steps forward, and with a thud, he knelt down: "Greetings to my esteemed father-in-law."

Bai Desheng hurriedly tried to avoid him: "I don’t deserve this, you’re not my son-in-law anymore, please don’t call me father-in-law in vain."

Qian Du immediately began knocking his head to the ground desperately, crying while he did so: "It’s all my fault, I was wrong. At that time, I was upset about an official assignment, and in a fit of anger, I quarreled with Ningning. I knew she was wronged, yet... yet I only cared about my own discomfort, and in a temper, I sent her back."

Qian Du cried out loud, his words seeming extremely heartfelt and sincere: "I also couldn’t swallow my pride, hoping that Ningning would soften towards me. But who knew she was so strong-willed? Over this month and more, I’ve been unable to eat or sleep, worrying that Ningning was being aggrieved, afraid she might... have ill thoughts..."

Zhang Yue Mei, seeing Qian Du speak so passionately, couldn’t help but turn to look at Bai Desheng.

She saw Bai Desheng standing there expressionless with his arms folded, which startled her, prompting her to step back a few paces.

Yet, the people around them felt quite sympathetic toward Qian Du.

Several people spoke out to help Qian Du, urging Bai Desheng to forgive him.

Some young wives approached Anning to persuade her, citing ’a day as husband and wife earns a hundred days of grace’ and other sayings, like ’couples who fight still sleep together at night.’

Anning simply bent down to pick melons, pretending not to hear anything.

Meanwhile, Qian Du continued to sob: "It was Father-in-law who didn’t forsake me, giving Ningning to me in marriage. Now that I have become an Advanced Scholar, I should have treated her better, let her enjoy some fortune with me. But who knew... It’s all my fault. Now, I kneel here. Whatever punishment or beating father-in-law wants to give, I will accept."

Bai Desheng took a step back, scrutinizing Qian Du with a frown.

At this moment, Anning dropped the watermelon in her hand and walked over.

She looked at Qian Du calmly: "Old Master Qian, please don’t make things difficult for my father. Let me be frank with you: I never wanted to get married due to my appearance. It was only to avoid causing trouble for my parents that I married you. But ever since marrying you, I’ve been uncomfortable in my heart. Whenever I saw Old Master Qian’s handsome face, the more ashamed I felt. I know I don’t deserve you. I had even considered divorce before, but before I could mention it, you divorced me first, which suited my wishes. Now that we are divorced, what talk is there of marital affection? Even a humble woman like me can let go; how can Old Master Qian, a great man, not do the same? It would be a shame to look down on you."

Uh?

Qian Du looked up at Anning.

Anning’s words left him not knowing what to say.

Qian Du had it all planned out before coming here—no matter how Anning complained, he would just cry and admit his errors. He was ready to kneel in the melon field and would not rise until Anning agreed to remarry him; he didn’t believe Anning could be more stubborn than he was.

But he never imagined that Anning would not complain at all, but instead keep saying she was unworthy of him and felt inferior upon seeing him.

How was he to deal with this?

Anning laughed lightly: "Moreover, I admit I am ignorant, barely literate, and certainly can’t keep up with the social obligations of an official’s wife. It would be better not to delay Old Master Qian. It’s best if we go our separate ways and you remarry someone suitable who can help you, so that you can have a peaceful and beautiful life. Then, I can also be at ease."

She thought to herself that it’d be a fine day indeed, you will inevitably have a pile of troubles and no more beauties to speak of.

Qian Du was even more at a loss for words.

He wanted to say he didn’t mind, but Anning saw through it: "Even if Old Master Qian doesn’t mind, I mind myself. If I were to follow you again, I’m afraid it wouldn’t take long before I become depressed and die of sorrow. If Old Master Qian still has some remembrance of our marital affection, it would be better to grant my wish and let me spend a few quiet years in my own home."

Anning’s words basically meant if you want me to die sooner, then insist on me going with you.

These words made Qian Du even more embarrassed.

Was he really supposed to bluntly say he wouldn’t mind Anning dying sooner, and he would be happier the sooner she died?