The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

When Tang Qiu was in the car, a frown spread across her face at Jiang Ming’s undisguised contempt for his brother. It seemed the rumors were true. Jiang Shaocheng’s father had little love for his son due to his poor health. Otherwise, how could Jiang Ming be so insolent towards his older brother?

It must have been hard for Jiang Shaocheng, to be held in such disdain by his father, and having to suffer the derision of his younger brother. Tang Qiu was reminded of the indifference of her own father and her mistreatment at the hands of her stepmother and half-sisters. But she wasn’t someone important. True, she couldn’t knock the Feng family down a peg the way the Jiangs could, but she had, in her own way, managed to irk them in retaliation. Jiang Shaocheng, however, was different…

When her husband got into the car, Tang Qiu took his hand in hers, dwarfing her smaller one, and said with seriousness, “For as long as I am your wife, I will do my best to treat you right.”

He coughed twice. “How do you intend to go about doing that?”

Tang Qiu contemplated the question for a few seconds. “I’ll prepare your meals for you.”

“You know how to cook?” 𝒇𝗿𝙚ℯ𝑤ℯ𝑏𝒏𝑜ѵe𝙡.c𝐨ｍ

Maybe such acts of service were beneath his attention, she thought, self-conscious all of a sudden. She nodded, adding, “That is, if you don’t mind.”

“I’m not opposed to it.” If she was willing to cook for him, he was looking forward to it.

The corner of Tang Qiu’s mouth curved upwards. “Can we drop by the supermarket?” she asked He Lei. “I’d like to buy some groceries.”

Instead of responding, He Lei glanced at Jiang Shaocheng, who coughed a few times before saying, “Are you deaf, He Lei? My wife asked you to bring us to the supermarket.”

His eyes glinted with a cold warning, and a shudder shot through He Lei. “Right away, Young Mistress,” he said quickly.

When they arrived, Tang Qiu got out of the car. Jiang Shaocheng made to follow her. He had never been to a supermarket before, though, and He Lei urged, “The supermarket is crowded, Young Master. It may be cumbersome to navigate your wheelchair amongst so many people.”

All he got in return was an icy stare. “Help me down. I will accompany my wife,” Jiang Shaocheng ordered, and He Lei had no choice but to oblige.

Tang Qiu said with concern, “It won’t take long. Best you don’t follow.”

Jiang Shaocheng clasped her hand. “Which husband doesn’t go grocery shopping with his wife? I want to live out my days normally with you.” This woman was willing to cook for him, and he wanted to do something for her in return.

Tang Qiu’s heart softened at his words, and she made no more protests. She pushed his wheelchair into the supermarket. “What do you like to eat?” she asked.

As she spoke, she deliberately squatted down so she was eye level with him, and Jiang Shaocheng felt a smile tugging at his lips. Perhaps he was hungry for a different kind of dish after all. If only he could…

“It’s up to you. I’m not picky.”

Tang Qiu nodded. With his illness, surely he was forced to abstain from many foods, but he must be keeping them to himself out of worry that she wouldn’t be up to the task.

Jiang Shaocheng was truly a kindhearted man. They had barely known each other for a day, yet he had made his anger on her behalf known to the Fengs in their home. No doubt, there was an image she had to maintain as part of the Jiang family now, but still she found herself grateful for everything she had gained by marrying him. “I’ll cook bone broth then; it’ll make your legs stronger.” She wasted no time in leaving to find some pork ribs.

When she saw the price of the ribs, her brow furrowed. So expensive? But she bought a pound of ribs anyway, ignoring the way her wallet cried out.

Noting her reluctance, Jiang Shaocheng reminded her with a small smile, “The money from earlier belongs to you. It’s yours to spend.”

Tang Qiu disagreed; perhaps she was simply too used to living in hardship. “Better to save for a rainy day. The money from the betrothal and dowry belongs to us both. I can’t just spend it as I please.”

Her rationale was a straightforward one: Jiang Shaocheng was ill, and his father couldn’t be counted on to care for him, which meant they needed money for his medical expenses. And if her grandmother fell sick, it wouldn’t be cheap either. For patients like them, not having enough money to cover the necessary treatment might well be a path to an early grave. Jiang Shaocheng couldn’t work; it would fall on her to support the family in the future. She was still a student now, which meant that every cent of the money had to be spent prudently.

A strange feeling settled in Jiang Shaocheng’s heart at her serious manner, and he found himself even more eager to spend the rest of his life with her.

Tang Qiu was occupied with choosing fruits when a child ran up to the wheelchair, studying it with curiosity. They caught sight of Jiang Shaocheng’s scars, and burst into frightened tears.

The child’s grandmother ran up to them in a panic. While trying to comfort the child, she took one look at Jiang Shaocheng and shouted, “What are you doing out here with a face like that? You scared my grandchild to tears!”

Attracted by her loud, shrill voice and the child’s weeping, people’s heads begin to turn. Soon enough, everyone was staring at them.

“That man looks terrifying, Emma. No wonder the child cried; even I’m scared to look at him!”

“What on earth happened to his face…”

“The poor child’s going to have nightmares. The nerve of this person, to stick his place in public instead of back home where it belongs.”

Jiang Shaocheng’s face had turned as black as thunder, his gaze swimming with something dangerous. He Lei had gone pale. He was about to speak when a woman’s voice sounded, beating him to it.

“You deserve those nightmares if you’re this blackhearted! Uncultured people like you who lack empathy would be better off just staying at home!”