Chapter 5: The Adorably Clumsy and Beautiful Wife

The wedding proceeded as scheduled.

Because Qianxi Gu’s father, Tingjun Gu, was in a vegetative state and bedridden, he did not attend.

Qianxi’s grandparents had all passed away, victims of her misfortune.

The only head of the Gu family present was Qianxi’s mother—my future mother-in-law, Qiang Ye.

Though she was just over fifty, Qiang Ye retained her charm and was impeccably well-kept.

Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, not a single strand of gray among it.

Her smooth, fair cheeks were taut and flawless, without a single wrinkle to be seen.

It was said she was the most beautiful woman in Yan City in her youth. Tingjun Gu had courted her persistently for three years before finally winning her heart. No wonder Qianxi turned out to be such a stunning beauty—truly, like mother, like daughter.

Before the ceremony began, Qiang Ye approached our side, scrutinizing me from head to toe with a puzzled look.

“Hmm? Isn’t the groom supposed to be Yulang Lin? Who are you?”

Before I could answer, Ruyin Liu quickly explained, “Oh, this is my eldest son, Mazi Lin. Our Lin family has decided that he will fulfill the marriage contract. After all, order of birth matters: he is the eldest son, and Yulang is the second. The younger son has no right to jump ahead of the eldest.”

Qiang Ye looked doubtful. “Eldest son? I’ve never heard of an eldest son in your Lin family. For all these years, haven’t you and your husband only had Yulang as your son?”

Ruyin Liu smiled. “Mother-in-law, you don’t know. My eldest son was pitifully taken away by a passing beggar while he was sleeping in the courtyard as a child. He was lost for twenty years and only recently found by a stroke of luck, reuniting with us flesh and blood!”

“What a coincidence—it just so happened he returned on the very day our families agreed upon the marriage contract. Isn’t that fate? If he hadn’t come back, Yulang would’ve married Qianxi today, but since he’s returned, it’s only right that the eldest son marry first.”

Yutang Lin stepped forward with a feigned earnestness, “Exactly. Letting the eldest son of the Lin family marry into the Gu family shows our respect.”

Qiang Ye was unfamiliar with our family’s situation and unaware of the true story behind my being buried alive all those years ago.

My parents’ fabrication successfully fooled her.

“I see,” she nodded, then patted my shoulder gently. “Mazi Lin, don’t worry. Now that you’re marrying into the Gu family, I won’t treat you unfairly.”

I was stunned and blurted out, “What? Marrying into the wife’s family?”

Good grief! No one told me before the wedding that I’d become a live-in son-in-law of the Gu family!

At that moment, I truly wanted to curse.

Not only was my bride blind and a jinx who brought misfortune to her father, mother, and husband—practically wiping out her entire genealogy—but now I had to be a live-in son-in-law!

No wonder Yulang Lin insisted on finding a substitute groom to marry Qianxi for him.

This marriage contract was an absolute trap!

Just as I was about to curse, Yulang Lin appeared, holding a bowl in one hand and a cigarette in the other, blowing smoke rings right in my face. He grinned and said,

“Brother, congratulations! From today on, you’re officially the Gu family’s live-in son-in-law. Once a man marries out, he’s like water spilled on the ground. Our Lin family’s feng shui business will rely on your Gu family’s support.”

Then, with a sarcastic tone, he added, “Though, from what I see, the Gu family is like a clay Buddha crossing the river—barely able to save itself. Your good father-in-law has been bedridden for over twenty years, and the feng shui shop has gone under. Looks like you’ll have to rely on our Lin family’s help, haha…”

Laughing, he took a long drag, then turned to find a seat and join the feast.

His gloating infuriated me, but I had no time to argue because the ceremony was about to begin.

Under the host’s guidance, Ruyin Liu pushed me up onto the stage.

The music played, and with the support of my mother-in-law Qiang Ye, my blind bride, Qianxi Gu, dressed in a pure white wedding gown, appeared like a celestial maiden fallen to earth, slowly walking toward me step by step.

To be honest, although my bride was disabled, with a cursed fate that brought misfortune to her parents and husband, and had practically wiped out her family tree, she was undeniably beautiful.

Under the stage lights, she looked like a star.

Marrying a wife like her wasn’t such a bad deal.

Don’t laugh—I grew up in a burial ground. I hadn’t seen many living people, let alone beauties.

Those I had dealt with since childhood were either dried-up skeletons or terrifying ghosts with rotten faces and long tongues.

So throughout the ceremony, I did nothing but stare fixedly at my bride’s lovely face until it ended.

Then the host came over, placing the bride’s hand in mine with a smile.

“All done. You are now legally married. Groom’s probably eager, right? Please escort the bride to the bridal chamber!”

Guests cheered loudly, clamoring for us to hurry off.

A blush spread across Qianxi’s delicate, sculpted face; evidently, she was shy from all the commotion.

My heartless parents urged me on, eager to see the marriage consummated and this jinxed daughter-in-law gone.

“Alright, Mazi, you and the bride must be tired. Go back to the room quickly.”

“We’ll thank the guests outside on your behalf. You should rest inside—no need to come out.”

I was glad to escape the noise and quietly took Qianxi’s soft, slippery hand, turning toward the bridal chamber.

She seemed shy at first, standing still and not moving.

Only when my mother-in-law said, “What are you standing there for? Now that you’re married, you’re his wife. Wherever he goes, you go, understand?” did she softly murmur, “Mm,” and follow me away from the ceremony.

Before leaving, she gently squeezed my rough hand with her frail, boneless fingers and whispered with a hint of plea,

“I can’t see the way. Could you walk a little slower? I might fall otherwise.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, with the accent of a southern beauty. It made my heart melt.

I replied gently, “Alright, we’ll walk slowly.”

Holding her hand, I carefully led her down the steps, one steady step at a time, back to the bridal chamber.

Once inside, I locked the door behind us and helped her sit on the bed.

Before I had even settled, she timidly tugged my sleeve and whispered,

“This is my first marriage. I don’t know much. If I don’t do well later, please don’t be angry. But I may be ignorant, yet I’m willing to learn. As long as you teach me, I promise I’ll learn everything…”