Take a Gamble
The street was bustling with people, and even though Qin Shi and Lu Zetian were standing in a relatively secluded spot, their prolonged eye contact still attracted attention.
Noticing more and more eyes on them, Lu Zetian broke the silence and said, “Let’s talk while we walk.”
Seeing that he hadn’t outright rejected her, Qin Shi knew there was hope. She nodded, “Alright.”
As they walked down the street, their striking appearance as a couple drew even more attention. Lu Zetian observed that Qin Shi seemed completely unfazed by both curious and malicious glances, which made him reassess her.
By now, he had regained his usual composure, his mind racing with thoughts about what Qin Shi had just said. After a brief silence, he looked at her and asked, “How will you prove yourself?”
This was their first meeting, and Lu Zetian knew nothing about her. He couldn’t make such an important decision based solely on her words. Both taking care of children and remarrying were serious matters.
Qin Shi smiled, “Time will prove it.”
Lu Zetian frowned slightly, about to say something when Qin Shi spoke again.
“As a regiment commander, if we marry, they will definitely investigate my background. If I were lying, it would be found out, wouldn’t it?”
“I understand you’re worried that I might just want to marry you and then, once I’m with the army, you’d discover that I can’t do anything. I might even pretend to be good with the children in front of you while mistreating them behind your back.”
Qin Shi smiled openly, “It’s completely understandable. However, there seems to be no immediate way to prove myself.”
“You can add these conditions to the contract: if you find that I’m not treating the children well, withholding food, being emotionally abusive, harming their wellbeing, or deliberately not educating them properly, you can terminate the contract at any time and even demand high compensation from me.”
Lu Zetian stared at Qin Shi, his eyes serious and cautious. “You’re willing to do all this just to get away from your family?”
Nothing more?
Qin Shi laughed heartily, “Don’t be so wary, Commander Lu. If it weren’t for the fact that you need a recommendation letter for everything and that my household registration can only be transferred through marriage, I wouldn’t be looking to become a stepmother.”
If she didn’t have to become a stepmother, she would have run away long ago! Given her skills, getting a recommendation letter wouldn’t be too difficult, just a bit troublesome.
“Win the bet, and you’ll never have to worry about family matters again. Lose the bet, and you’ll still make a lot of money,” Qin Shi said, smiling as she looked directly into Lu Zetian’s eyes. “So, what do you think? Want to take a gamble?”
Seeing the clear, bright eyes of Qin Shi, with her unabashed shrewdness and calculated intentions, Lu Zetian’s assessment of her changed once again.
Two seconds later, Lu Zetian looked away. “I only have two days of leave.”
Qin Shi felt a surge of joy and relief. If Lu Zetian hadn’t agreed, she would have had to find someone else, and who knows what trouble Lu Cai might cause in the meantime. It was a great relief that Lu Zetian agreed.
Qin Shi said, “We can draft the contract right now. Can you find a lawyer?”
Lu Zetian shook his head. “There are no lawyers in this small town, and if we formally sign a contract, the marriage report won’t go through.”
Qin Shi was momentarily taken aback, realizing she had been too naive. Military marriage regulations were indeed strict in this era. After a brief pause, she spoke again, “That’s okay. We can write it ourselves. If we sign and put our fingerprints on it, it will still have legal effect.”
Lu Zetian agreed with a nod, clearly having had the same thought.
They immediately set to work. They went to the supply and marketing cooperative, bought two notebooks, and began discussing the detailed terms right there on the side of the road.
Qin Shi started with a draft, and Lu Zetian’s eyes paused when he saw her handwriting.
It is said that one’s character is reflected in their handwriting, and it seemed true here.
Qin Shi’s handwriting was excellent but unlike typical feminine script. It was strong and forceful, with a sharp edge to the strokes.
When Qin Shi finished the draft and handed it to Lu Zetian, he found it extremely detailed and comprehensive, covering aspects he hadn’t even thought of.
Lu Zetian was astonished. He hadn’t expected the girl his mother randomly met in the small town to be so exceptional.
Her high level of education, self-taught English, and acceptance into a university were impressive enough, but her insights and knowledge of the law made Lu Zetian regard her with newfound respect and even a touch of curiosity.
He had never met a woman like Qin Shi before.
As Lu Zetian reviewed the contract, he noticed that the terms were more restrictive on him, which reassured him.
When he reached the last page, his expression changed suddenly.
[32. In specific circumstances, Qin Shi may cooperate with Lu Zetian in showing affection and playing the role of a loving couple. However, without Qin Shi’s consent and permission, Lu Zetian is prohibited from making intimate gestures or having intimate contact with Qin Shi.]
[33. Qin Shi and Lu Zetian are contract spouses, and neither party is obligated to perform marital duties. If one party, without the other’s consent, forcibly requires the other to fulfil such duties, the other party can demand compensation of 10,000 yuan and has the right to terminate the contract.]
…
Lu Zetian pursed his lips, his evaluation of Qin Shi’s boldness, rationality, and intelligence rising yet again.
Seeing his expression, Qin Shi leaned in to look at the notebook. Realizing which page he was on, she blinked slightly. Meeting Lu Zetian’s gaze, she smiled politely and openly.
Lu Zetian: “…”
Since meeting Qin Shi, Lu Zetian’s emotions had been in turmoil, never fully settling.
Twenty minutes later, they finalized the contract after discussing and making revisions. Each signed their names and took a copy.
“Alright, now I’ll wait for your good news,” Qin Shi said, holding the notebook against her chest and returning the pen to Lu Zetian. “But you’d better come soon. I’m afraid Lu Cai might cause trouble, and my family… they’re very money-minded.”
Lu Zetian nodded seriously. “I understand. I’ll come to get you within ten days at most.”
“Okay, then I’ll head back now. Come find me at home when you arrive,” Qin Shi waved, smiling brightly as she jogged away.
She wasn’t worried about Lu Zetian backing out. His mother had mentioned where they lived, just in the nearby town. If he really reneged, she could always go to his mother. But she trusted his character; if he returned as agreed, it would prove his reliability. If not, she’d simply move on.
As for the signed contract, Qin Shi believed Lu Zetian wouldn’t be foolish enough to flaunt it publicly. Even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. The terms were stringent against her; she could easily claim she was coerced into writing it.
Having thought through all the potential outcomes, Qin Shi was entirely unconcerned. She walked briskly to the supply and marketing cooperative, planning to buy two more notebooks as a cover, so she wouldn’t stand out carrying just one.
After buying the notebooks, she also bought two sesame cakes and put them in her bag, eating them on the way back to the village.
By the time she returned, it was late, and mealtime had begun, with smoke rising from every household chimney.
After paying for the cart ride, she walked home amid Uncle Li’s laughter. Nearing her house, she checked herself to make sure there were no sesame crumbs before entering.
Everyone was eating when she walked in. Qin Shi immediately took a seat and reached for some sweet potatoes.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Grandma Qin used her chopsticks to stop Qin Shi and asked anxiously, “Where are the clothes you bought? Why are you coming back empty-handed?”
Qin Shi replied, “Didn’t buy anything. The nice ones were too expensive, and I didn’t have enough money.” As she spoke, she reached for the sweet potatoes again.
“Slap!”
Grandma Qin, with a stern face, used her chopsticks to hit Qin Shi’s hand, preventing her from grabbing the food. “Then where’s the money?”
“I bought books.” Qin Shi put down her chopsticks, took out two books and several notebooks from her bag, showed them briefly, and then put them back into her satchel. “I’m going to retake the college entrance exam this year.”
“Retake the exam? You’re about to get married, what’s the point of school?” Grandma Qin glared at Qin Shi, her expression very displeased. “Today, Lu Cai’s mother came by again. She said they have a worker position at the textile factory lined up for you. If you marry him, you can start working immediately.”
Qin Shi’s expression remained unchanged and calm. “I’m not marrying him. You can tell her that.”
“It’s not up to you to decide. I’ve already agreed!” Grandma Qin, infuriated by Qin Shi’s nonchalant attitude, snapped, “Tomorrow you will…”
Qin Shi, tired of listening, interrupted her directly, “I met a classmate in town. She asked why I sold my university slot. Grandma, why don’t I know that my university spot was sold?”
“What?” Her stepmother was first shocked and then quickly turned to Grandma Qin, “Mom, how could you do that? That’s a university spot! Who did you sell it to?”
“And for how much?” her aunt chimed in.
The whole family was caught off guard by Qin Shi’s revelation. No one was in the mood to eat anymore; they all stared at Grandma Qin, waiting for her response.
Qin Shi took the opportunity to grab some scrambled eggs from the plate and drink some porridge from her bowl.
Grandma Qin was flustered, not expecting Qin Shi to know about this. She was panicking inside. The university slot had been sold for quite a bit of money; a hundred yuan had been spent on Qin Shi’s father’s medical treatment, and she had saved the rest. Even Grandpa Qin didn’t know, thinking she had used her funeral savings for the medical bills.
The original owner of Qin Shi’s body had learned about this from a high school classmate who was also accepted into C University. After coming back home, finding out she was promised to Lu Cai, she felt upset, disappointed, and sick, eventually leading to her death from a fever that night.
“Mom, tell us!”
“What’s going on?”
“Why didn’t you discuss such a big matter with our branch of the family?”
The entire Qin family was eagerly looking at Grandma Qin, wanting to know if she had really sold the university slot and if she had money. Especially the stepmother, who was particularly anxious and furious—she wouldn’t let this go easily if there was money involved that she wasn’t aware of.
“Why all the fuss? I don’t know about any university slot…” Grandma Qin was about to deny everything when Qin Shi spoke up again.
“My classmate looked into it and said her family paid two thousand yuan for it.”
Everyone’s eyes widened in unison, and they exclaimed, “Two thousand!?”
Grandma Qin immediately slapped the table, “Nonsense! It was only one thousand!”
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