The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

Tang Qiu willed away her humiliation. “I won’t divorce him. His legs are injured and will recover soon. He can get surgery for his scars in the future. No one has ever been as kind to me as him. No matter what happens, I’m willing to shoulder it with him.”

Madam Tang stabbed a finger at her. “He’s a cripple. He can’t even take care of himself, so how well can he possibly treat you?”

“How well? When I was bullied, he was the only person who felt sorry for me and asked me if it hurt. That’s enough! I’ve never been loved before–what else could I ask for?” Tang Qiu nearly broke into laughter.

Madam Tang’s face darkened. “So you think I don’t care about you, just because I hit and embarrassed you? Have you lost your brains from studying? How could you snatch a crippled and ugly man from your sister? Have you no conscience?”

“I didn’t steal him from anyone. Why do you always treat me like this? You’d take the word of outsiders over your own family?” The words tore from somewhere deep in Tang Qiu’s heart.

“Because I know what boundaries are. Who do you think you are? You’re a bastard child. What right do you have to marry a rich man? You just couldn’t be content with your lot in life. You make me want to…” As Madam Tang spoke, she grew more agitated, and she clutched at her heart, as if it were uncomfortable.

Tang Qiu bit her lip and lifted her eyes, not wanting to cry. It was her own flesh and blood saying those words to her. Someone gripped her hand, and she glanced at her husband. His hand covered hers, the warmth of his touch reaching her heart and soothing her slowly.

Jiang Shaocheng looked up at the old lady again. “She married me. She’s my wife, now and always. It doesn’t matter what you think!”

“You’re so arrogant!” Madam Tang spat, expression cold. She glared at Tang Qiu. “If you won’t divorce him, we’re no longer family! I’m doing this for your own good, Qiu. Divorce him. This man can’t give you happiness at all. You should find a healthy man to spend your life with.”

Tang Qiu’s eyes turned red again at the harsh words. Weakness seized her, stealing her words. Back then, her grandmother had abandoned her to the Feng family so she could have a better life, then told her to repress her emotions and tolerate their bullying. Now, she was forcing Tang Qiu to get a divorce just because of what some outsiders had said.

Pain lanced through Jiang Shaocheng’s heart when he saw her cry. He reached out to wipe her tears away and looked at the old lady. “Do you think you have the right to demand that you both cut ties?”

“Why not? I’m Tang Qiu’s grandmother. She has my surname!” Madam Tang shouted.

Jiang Shaocheng sneered. “But you severed ties with her when you sent her to the Feng family, didn’t you?”

“I…” Madam Tang’s expression changed. Jiang Shaocheng spoke over her before she could defend herself.

“You want what’s best for her? The Feng household is the equivalent of hell to my wife. Do you think you deserve credit for forcing her into hell? Do you think her life is yours to control? What a joke!”

“You–” Madam Tang’s face flushed red with rage. She pointed at him, but the words wouldn’t come.

“I couldn’t care less what you think,” Jiang Shaocheng snorted. “Maybe you’re just not right in the brain. But if you’re going to try and take my wife from me, don’t expect any sympathy from me!”

Madam Tang was trembling from fury. She pointed at Tang Qiu and asked, “Are you going to let this man bully your grandmother?”

Tang Qiu gripped her husband’s hand even tighter. “I thought you were ashamed of me. Since you despise me so much, why are you still bothering yourself with me?”

“You…” Madam Tang was in disbelief.

“He Lei, settle the bill. I’m going to bring Qiu to treat her injuries!” Out of patience, Jiang Shaocheng turned his wheelchair to leave, dragging Tang Qiu with him. 𝘧𝓇𝒆𝗲𝓌𝙚𝙗𝓷o𝘷𝒆𝘭.𝐜𝚘𝒎

Madam Tang stood up and wanted to chase after them, but He Lei stopped her. “Know your limits, Madam Tang. My young master has a bad temper. You don’t want to know what it’s like to anger him. Besides, you don’t understand the situation. It was the Feng family who threw the young mistress out as a substitute bride. Their daughter ran away a long time ago. You’re old; you don’t know what you’re doing, blaming the young mistress like this. It’s impossible to communicate with you.”

Madam Tang shook him off. “I think you’re the one who’s spouting nonsense! The Feng family has treated her well enough. She’s just following in her slut mother’s footsteps. I want her to get a divorce, and return to her true family. I won’t let her repeat her mother’s mistake!”

He Lei was completely speechless. Just how deeply did this old lady despise Tang Qiu’s mother?