"Get out!"
It was Shen Jing's first time offering his services, and he wasn't familiar with the business, so he was quickly thrown out.
But he wasn't discouraged in the slightest.
While it was still early, Shen Jing took Chi Chi, who had a strange expression, to the next family—the Du Family!
Chi Chi was a little nervous, "Young Master, I heard the Du Family came from the Green Forest. Maybe we shouldn't..."
"It's good that they came from the Green Forest!"
Shen Jing's eyes lit up. "The fiercer and more wicked the family, the more they are our target!"
He specifically wanted to find such a notorious and fearless family to marry into.
Then, he would throw out some bait, let them get into a frenzy with the Wang Family, and he could just watch the show in peace.
Soon, Shen Jing and Chi Chi were taken to see Du Yidao.
"You dog, how dare you steal from my mansion?"
"My Lord, please spare me, I will never dare again..."
Before they even saw Du Yidao, they heard a cacophony of voices.
When they were led into the backyard, they saw a servant being dragged, his two fingers pressed onto a long wooden bench.
Swish!
Du Yidao swung his blade down fiercely.
"Ah..."
Accompanied by a shrill scream, the servant's two fingers were severed.
Watching this scene, Chi Chi immediately trembled with fear, pulling hard on Shen Jing and desperately winking at him.
Shen Jing gave her a reassuring look, secretly pleased in his heart.
Being wicked was good!
The fiercer and more wicked they were, the better they could suppress the Wang Family.
Du Yidao, holding the bloody knife, turned around and scrutinized Shen Jing. "I heard you want to marry into my Du Family?"
Du Yidao was already born with a fierce look, and a scar on his face made him appear even more menacing.
"Yes!"
Shen Jing nodded, feigning a fearful expression.
"Have you thought it through?"
Du Yidao walked towards Shen Jing, a sinister smile on his face. "Marry into my Du Family, and your little life will belong to my Du Family! If you, boy, dare to have any tricks up your sleeve, this is what will happen!"
Saying this, Du Yidao pointed to the servant who had fainted from pain.
Shen Jing feigned a cautious look and said with a flattering smile, "How dare this junior ruffle Lord Du's tiger whiskers? This junior simply wishes to find a family where he can study in peace and eventually pass the imperial examinations..."
Shen Jing began to elaborate on his reasons for wanting to marry in.
After much persuasion to alleviate Du Yidao's concerns, Shen Jing finally signed the marriage contract with the Du Family.
He concocted a random excuse to leave, then Shen Jing immediately rushed with Chi Chi to the next family without stopping.
Chi Chi looked at the eager Shen Jing with a complex expression, wanting to persuade him.
But what was done was done; her persuasion was useless now.
Now, even if Shen Jing wanted to play with fire and burn himself, she could only accompany him.
Afterward, the two didn't even eat lunch, visiting five families consecutively.
Two of them signed marriage contracts with Shen Jing.
These two families had bad reputations in Luochuan Prefecture and were not easy to deal with.
Precisely because of this, few dared to marry into their families, allowing Shen Jing to pick up a small bargain.
Shen Jing treated them all equally. His requirements for these two families were the same as for the Du Family. Anyway, he had no relatives, so the wedding didn't need to be grand, nor did he need to offer a betrothal gift. They just needed to pick a good time to pick up the bride three days later.
Both families, like Du Yidao, thought Shen Jing didn't want to be too embarrassed, so they readily agreed.
No betrothal gift meant saving a large sum of money, so why not?
At dusk, Shen Jing and Chi Chi passed by the Su Family.
They knew of this Su Family, but they knew nothing about them.
They only knew that the Su Family had recently moved from out of town, consisting only of a mother and daughter, and both mother and daughter were exceptionally beautiful.
It was said that Miss Su had extremely high standards and never gave men a good look. Many talented young men in Huaizhou wanted to meet her but failed.
"Young Master, let's just skip the Su Family, shall we?"
Chi Chi tilted her head and looked at Shen Jing. "The Su Family only has a mother and daughter; it probably won't help your plan."
"It's fine!"
Shen Jing waved his hand casually. "Since we're already here, let's just see what this great beauty Su looks like!"
Saying that, Shen Jing stepped forward and, with practiced ease, delivered his opening lines.
Upon learning that Shen Jing voluntarily offered to marry into the Su Family, Madam Su immediately rushed out in a flurry.
Madam Su and her deceased husband were a classic example of an old husband and young wife.
Although she was already forty-two, she was still radiant and charming.
"Are you truly willing to marry into my Su Family?"
Madam Su's gaze was sharp as she scrutinized Shen Jing.
"Willing!"
Shen Jing nodded earnestly. "To be honest, Madam, I..."
"No need to say more! I understand!"
Madam Su interrupted Shen Jing. "Someone, prepare the marriage contract!"
"Ah?"
Shen Jing and Chi Chi were both dumbfounded at the same time.
What... what was going on?
Shen Jing himself hadn't held much hope, yet Madam Su agreed before he even said a few words?
Didn't Miss Su have incredibly high standards?
Why did Madam Su seem even more anxious than he was?
At least ask about birthdates and the like!
At this moment, even Shen Jing was a little confused.
The way this script was unfolding was a bit off!
This was the smoothest family he had encountered since he started offering to marry in.
Looking at Shen Jing and Chi Chi's stunned expressions, Madam Su couldn't help but inwardly cry out that something was amiss.
Was she a bit too hasty?
Should she have pretended to ask a few questions first?
However, this matter had to be rushed!
Her daughter rarely went out.
She had to seize the opportunity while she was out to quickly finalize this matter.
"Cough, cough..."
Madam Su lightly coughed, gathering her emotions slightly. "I failed to bear a son for my late husband to carry on the family line, and I have always felt guilty towards him, not even daring to face his spirit tablet!"
"I see you are dignified and possess the demeanor of a dragon and phoenix!"
"You are willing to marry into my Su Family, and I can finally give an account to my late husband!"
"When I go to the underworld, I will have the face to see him...嗚嗚..."
Madam Su said, squeezing out a few more tears.
Looking at Madam Su's appearance, Shen Jing couldn't help but feel speechless.
The demeanor of a dragon and phoenix?
I'm also the demeanor of a great emperor!
He keenly realized that there must be something wrong with this.
Although he hadn't met Su Yourong, he had heard her name.
With Su Yourong's beauty, she shouldn't... have trouble getting married, right?
While he was dazed, the Su Family servants had already prepared the marriage contract with extreme speed.
Madam Su took the marriage contract, quickly scanned it, and immediately presented it to Shen Jing: "My son-in-law, please sign your name and press your handprint!"
Shen Jing looked at the marriage contract.
There weren't too many difficult conditions on it.
Only one: if they had two or more sons, one had to take the Su surname.
Compared to the marriage contracts Shen Jing had signed before, this was practically not a condition at all.
A gambling father, a sick mother...
Bah!
It was a daughter with a widespread reputation, an eager mother, simple conditions...
If there was no problem with this, he'd livestream eating a fan!
Fortunately, Shen Jing wasn't truly serious about marrying in, so he immediately signed and pressed his handprint.
"Haha..."
As Shen Jing's handprint was pressed, Madam Su could no longer hold back. She snatched the marriage contract and burst out laughing.
"..."
Shen Jing's face twitched.
Please be more reserved!
At least keep up the act a little longer!
When Shen Jing looked at the Su Family servants, wanting to ask them what was wrong with their madam, he found that all the servants were looking at him with pity.
Shen Jing was surprised.
Had he become meat on a chopping block?
"Mother, what makes you so happy?"
Just then, a clear voice came from the doorway.
Following the sound, he saw a graceful beauty walking in elegantly.
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her skin like smiling peach blossoms, her hair like floating clouds, her eyes like stars...
Damn brain, quickly think of more words of praise!
Alas, Shen Jing was truly at a loss for words and could only exclaim: The best of the best!
For a moment, he even thought of names for their children.
"You Rong, you've returned just in time!"
Madam Su beamed as she went to her daughter. "Quickly, meet your husband, Shen Jing!"
"Husband?"
The smile on Su Yourong's face instantly vanished.
"That's right!"
Madam Su was overjoyed. "While you were out, your mother helped you sign a marriage contract with him! In three days, this marriage contract will officially take effect!"
"You..."
Su Yourong was furious. "Aren't you harming him?"
"He wanted to marry in himself, what does it have to do with me?"
Madam Su was unconcerned, smiling at her daughter. "This morning when I passed by the river, I heard people say this boy tried to drown himself!"
"In such cold weather, he was perfectly fine after jumping into the river, which means he's got a tough life!"
"Besides, this boy knows nothing about us and still actively came to marry in. Do you think he has good intentions?"
Listening to the mother and daughter's conversation, Shen Jing couldn't help but be surprised.
So, Madam Su knew everything.
But she still eagerly signed the marriage contract with him!
He felt like Tang Sanzang entering the White Bone Cave.
He just wanted to beg for some alms, but Madam Su wanted to eat his flesh.
"Madam Su, what... what exactly is going on?"
Shen Jing tentatively asked.
"Don't call me Madam Su, call me Mother-in-law!"
Madam Su looked at Shen Jing with a beaming smile, her eyes almost narrowed into slits.
"You truly don't know what's good for you!"
Su Yourong glared at Shen Jing irritably. "Come with me!"