The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

Tang Qiu sneered and left with Xie Qingqing, ignoring the gossip of everyone around them.

Feng Yao watched them walk away, her lips twisting into a mocking smile. Tang Qiu was nothing more than a worthless creature who had lived off scraps of the Feng family’s generosity. She had been sent away to replace Feng Lu–how could she possibly be living a grander lifestyle than them? Envy churned in her gut at Tang Qiu’s branded clothes, diamond earrings, and expensive necklace. It should have been Feng Yao’s sister in her place! 𝗳𝔯𝙚e𝒘e𝚋𝘯𝚘ν𝙚l.𝑐o𝙢

***

When they walked out of the school gate, Xie Qingqing noted that Tang Qiu’s expression was troubled. She must be worrying about her grandmother. Before she could speak, an elderly female voice pierced the air. “Tang Qiu!”

Tang Qiu whirled around, confused. Her eyes widened in surprise at the source of the voice: a white-haired, hunchbacked old woman with a face that the years had taken a toll on. Her clouded eyes stared at Tang Qiu, unblinking.

“What are you doing out here? You—”

A slap rang out.

Xie Qingqing gaped as the elderly woman hit Tang Qiu across the face. She had long known that Tang Qiu had a tense relationship with her grandmother–but not this tense!

Tang Qiu ran a tongue over her teeth, her hand flying to her face. “What did you hear this time? Why did you hit me?”

“No one told me anything! Did I teach you to be self-centered? Or to steal other people’s husbands? Are you planning to be like your mother and ruin your life for a man?” The old lady’s face was ferocious.

“You believed what that family told you… without even asking me what had happened…” Tang Qiu’s heart ached.

“That’s enough. I don’t want to hear your excuses. Divorce that man!” her grandmother demanded.

“I’m not getting a divorce.” She left it at that, not wanting to continue with this conversation.

“No? Then I’ll beat you to death today!” Her grandmother’s expression was fierce as she raised her arm to hit her. “I’ll make sure you learn from your heartless mother’s mistake. I’ll beat you to death so that you won’t embarrass the Tang family!”

Tang Qiu didn’t resist the beating, so Xie Qingqing quickly went to intervene. “Stop it! This is all a misunderstanding! You’re her grandmother. Shouldn’t you be more caring towards her?”

“What misunderstanding? She wasn’t raised well. That’s why she stole someone’s fiance, and even married a cripple. Tang Qiu, you’re too shameless. Didn’t you learn anything from your mother?” The mention of Tang Qiu’s mother only further incensed the old woman. Xie Qingqing couldn’t stop her. Neither did Tang Qiu fight back. The situation was getting out of hand.

Finally, Tang Qiu’s grandmother grew tired. She held her heart and panted. Tang Qiu remained silent, and red-hot fury swarmed her vision. “Qiu, listen to me. Divorce that man. You still have a whole future ahead of you. Don’t ruin yourself for a little money.”

Tang Qiu looked at her grandmother with red-rimmed eyes. “Are you done hitting me? Can we talk properly now?”

The old woman sighed. “It’s true. The Feng family came to look for me. I asked you to stay with them, so you should have restrained yourself and been more sensible. How could you steal Feng Lu’s fiance?” Shame rushed through her.

Tang Qiu swallowed a laugh. Her grandmother had always felt that Tang Qiu’s mother was a vixen who had ruined someone else’s marriage. When Tang Qiu had been sent to the Feng family, her grandmother had warned her that her mere existence was a reminder of that fact, so she could only keep her head down and endure everything they threw at her.

And she had–until she couldn’t take it anymore, and ran to her grandmother, begging her to take her away. But her grandmother had told her that her mother had destroyed someone else’s family. It was a debt she had to pay–which was the sole reason Tang Qiu had been born. So she had endured the Fengs’ mistreatment till the very end, when she had been sent to the Jiangs as a substitute bride. She couldn’t even fathom what kind of life she would have had, if not for her husband’s kindness.

Tang Qiu suddenly felt too weary for words. “I didn’t steal anyone’s fiance. Jiang Shaocheng might be a cripple, but he’s treated me very well. Go back to the nursing home…”

“Tang Qiu, you… I swear, I’ll beat you to death today!” Her grandmother moved to hit her again, but Tang Qiu still didn’t retaliate. Her eyes turned red. “You’re right. But you waited too long. From the moment I was born, you shouldn’t have let me live. You should have thrown me into a pond and drowned me!”

Her words made Xie Qingqing’s heart ache. She stood in front of her friend, defending her. “Madam Tang, you’re Tang Qiu’s grandmother, so, with all due respect: please don’t go too far. You can’t slander Qiu like this based on what other people said. She had her reasons! She was set up by the Feng family, you–”

“What reasons? At the end of the day, it all boils down to money!” The old lady cut over her, refusing to believe a single word. “You’re her friend; of course you would defend her! How could the Feng family have set her up? They raised her for so many years and even let her go to school. Can you imagine such generosity? Now, you’ve snatched Feng Lu’s fiance and even shamelessly asked the Feng family for the wedding gifts! Tang Qiu, you’re right: I should have strangled you to death back then–along with your mother! Why did I give birth to such a shameless daughter? Not only did she destroy someone else’s family, she even birthed you!”