Take a Gamble
The street was bustling with pedestrians. Even though Qin Shi and Lu Zetian stood in a relatively secluded spot, their prolonged eye contact inevitably drew attention.
Sensitive to the growing number of curious gazes directed their way, Lu Zetian broke the silence and said, “Let’s walk and talk.”
Seeing that he hadn’t outright refused, Qin Shi’s hope was renewed. She nodded. “Alright.”
As they walked side by side down the street, their striking appearances made them the focus of many onlookers. Whether out of simple curiosity or gossiping malice, none of the attention seemed to faze Qin Shi. This caught Lu Zetian’s eye, and his impression of her shifted slightly.
Regaining his usual composure, he quietly mulled over the bold proposal Qin Shi had just made.
After a moment, he turned to her and asked, “How will you prove yourself?”
This was their first meeting, and Lu Zetian didn’t know anything about her. There was no way he could make a decision about such significant matters—marriage and children—based on her words alone.
Qin Shi smiled. “With time.”
Lu Zetian frowned slightly, about to respond when Qin Shi continued.
“You’re a regiment commander. If we marry, my background will definitely be investigated. If I were lying, it would be uncovered, wouldn’t it?”
“I know you’re worried that I’ll neglect the children, deceive you into marrying me, and then prove incompetent or even two-faced—acting kind to the children in front of you but treating them poorly behind your back.”
Qin Shi’s smile remained open and calm. “That’s a perfectly reasonable concern, but there’s no way for me to prove myself in a short time.”
“You can include these concerns in the contract. For instance, if I’m found to be mistreating the children—neglecting their food, emotionally abusing them, harming them, or deliberately failing to educate them—you can terminate the contract at any time and even demand significant compensation.”
Lu Zetian studied Qin Shi intently, his gaze serious and sharp. “And you’re doing all this just to leave your family?”
“Nothing more?” he asked, his tone skeptical.
Qin Shi burst out laughing. “Don’t be so suspicious, Commander Lu. If it weren’t for the fact that moving anywhere requires an introduction letter and that my household registration can only be transferred through marriage, I wouldn’t even consider being a stepmother.”
If she didn’t have to take this route, she’d have left long ago! With her capabilities, obtaining an introduction letter wasn’t impossible—it was just inconvenient.
“Win this gamble, and you’ll never have to worry about your household affairs again. Lose, and you’ll still earn a significant amount of money,” Qin Shi said, locking eyes with him. “So, Commander Lu, do you want to take this bet?”
Staring into her bright, clear eyes, filled with unabashed confidence and deliberate calculation, Lu Zetian’s evaluation of her shifted yet again.
After two seconds, he averted his gaze. “I only have two days of leave.”
Qin Shi’s heart leapt with joy. Half her worries dissolved. If Lu Zetian hadn’t agreed, she’d have to find another candidate, and who knew what Lu Cai might try in the meantime? His agreement was a huge relief.
“We can draft the contract now. Do you know a lawyer?” Qin Shi asked.
Lu Zetian shook his head. “Where would we find a lawyer in a small town like this? Besides, signing a formal contract would make it impossible to submit a marriage report.”
Qin Shi paused, realizing she had been too optimistic. The strict regulations surrounding military marriages in this era complicated matters. After a moment’s thought, she suggested, “That’s fine. We can write it ourselves. If we sign and add fingerprints, it will still have legal effect.”
Lu Zetian nodded slightly. He had been thinking the same.
Without wasting any time, they went to the supply cooperative, bought two notebooks, and began drafting the agreement right on the curb.
As Qin Shi wrote a rough draft, Lu Zetian’s gaze lingered on her handwriting, momentarily pausing.
People often said a person’s character could be seen in their handwriting, and hers confirmed it.
Qin Shi’s handwriting was not the delicate script typical of women but bold, vigorous, and edged with a touch of sharpness.
When she handed the draft to Lu Zetian, he realized it was meticulously detailed, covering every aspect—even things he hadn’t considered.
Lu Zetian was quietly impressed. He hadn’t expected the woman his mother randomly found in a small town to be so extraordinary.
Her academic achievements—self-studying English, gaining admission to a university’s English department—were one thing. But her knowledge, insight, and familiarity with legal concepts further elevated his opinion of her, even sparking a bit of curiosity.
As Lu Zetian reviewed the contract line by line, he noticed that the clauses imposed stricter conditions on Qin Shi than on him. This reassured him somewhat.
But when he turned to the final page, his expression subtly changed.
—
[Clause 32: In specific situations, Qin Shi may cooperate with Lu Zetian to display affection publicly as a loving couple. However, without Qin Shi’s prior consent, Lu Zetian is prohibited from initiating intimate actions or physical contact with her.]
[Clause 33: Qin Shi and Lu Zetian are in a contractual marriage and are not obligated to fulfil marital duties. If either party disregards the other’s consent and demands fulfilment of such duties, the aggrieved party may claim 10,000 yuan in compensation and has the right to terminate the contract.]
—
Lu Zetian pressed his lips together, his evaluation of Qin Shi’s boldness, rationality, and intelligence rising to a new level.
Qin Shi noticed something off in Lu Zetian’s gaze, so she leaned over to peek at the notebook. Realizing which page he was reading, she blinked briefly and then met his eyes with a polite and calm smile.
Lu Zetian: “…”
Ever since meeting Qin Shi, Lu Zetian hadn’t been able to fully settle his complex emotions.
Twenty minutes later, the two of them finished discussing and revising the contract. Both signed their names at the bottom, keeping a copy each.
“All set. Now I’ll wait for your good news,” Qin Shi said, holding the notebook against her chest with one hand as she returned the pen to Lu Zetian. “But you’d better come soon. I’m worried Lu Cai might stir up trouble, and my family is… well, they can’t resist the sight of money.”
Lu Zetian nodded seriously. “I understand. I’ll come for you in no more than ten days.”
“Alright, I’ll head back now. When you come, just find me at my house,” Qin Shi said, waving at him with a bright smile before jogging off.
She wasn’t worried about Lu Zetian reneging on the deal. His mother had already mentioned where their hometown was—just a nearby town. If Lu Zetian really tried to back out, she could easily find his mother.
But if it came to that, Qin Shi wouldn’t bother. She was betting on Lu Zetian’s integrity.
If he followed through, it would prove he was reliable, and everything would go smoothly. If not, Qin Shi would see his true colours and find someone else. Either way, she wouldn’t lose out.
As for the signed contract, Qin Shi trusted Lu Zetian wouldn’t be foolish enough to flaunt it. Even if he did, the terms were stricter on her, so she could easily twist the narrative and claim Lu Zetian coerced her into signing it.
Having already thought through all potential outcomes, Qin Shi felt no anxiety. With a spring in her step, she walked back to the supply cooperative, intending to buy two more notebooks to cover her tracks—carrying just one would look too conspicuous.
After buying the notebooks, Qin Shi also picked up two sesame cakes and tucked them into her bag, planning to eat them on the way back to the village.
By the time she arrived, it was already dinnertime, with smoke rising from chimneys across the village.
After paying for the cart ride, Qin Shi walked toward her home. Nearing the door, she checked herself to make sure there were no crumbs from the sesame cakes before stepping inside.
Everyone was eating when she entered. Without a word, Qin Shi sat in the empty spot and reached for the sweet potatoes with her chopsticks.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Grandma Qin stopped her with her chopsticks and asked urgently, “Where’s the fabric you bought? Why are you coming back empty-handed?”
“I didn’t buy any. The nice ones were too expensive, and I didn’t have enough money,” Qin Shi replied casually, reaching again for the sweet potatoes.
*Smack!*
Grandma Qin slapped Qin Shi’s chopsticks with her own, her face stern. “Then where’s the money?”
“I spent it on books,” Qin Shi said, setting down her chopsticks. She pulled two books and a few notebooks from her bag, waved them briefly for everyone to see, and then put them back in her satchel.
“I’m going to retake the college entrance exam this year.”
“Retake? You’re getting married soon; what’s the point of studying?” Grandma Qin glared at her with a sour expression. “Lu Cai’s mother came by again today. She said she secured a spot for you at the textile factory. Once you’re married, you can start working right away.”
Qin Shi’s expression didn’t change. Her tone remained calm as she replied, “I’m not marrying him. Let her know.”
“You don’t have a choice! I’ve already agreed!” Grandma Qin fumed, her anger flaring at Qin Shi’s indifferent attitude. “Tomorrow, you’ll—”
“I ran into a classmate in town,” Qin Shi interrupted impatiently. “She asked me why I sold my college spot. Grandma, why didn’t I know my college spot was sold?”
“What?” The stepmother was startled, but she quickly grasped the situation and turned to Grandma Qin. “Mom, how could you do that? That’s a college spot! Who did you sell it to?”
“And for how much?” the aunt chimed in.
The entire family was stunned by Qin Shi’s revelation. No one had expected her to drop such a bombshell. Dinner forgotten, all eyes were now on Grandma Qin, demanding answers.
Qin Shi, however, seized the moment to help herself to the scrambled eggs and some porridge.
Grandma Qin hadn’t expected Qin Shi to find out about the sale. Panic set in.
Back then, she’d sold the spot for a hefty sum. She had used 100 yuan for Qin Shi’s father’s medical treatment and secretly stashed the rest. Even Grandpa Qin didn’t know; he thought she had dipped into their funeral savings for the treatment.
The original owner had indeed learned about the sale, just as Qin Shi described—from a high school classmate who had also been admitted to C University.
After returning home, the original owner overheard that she had been promised to Lu Cai. Overcome with anger, disappointment, and despair, she fell ill and eventually passed away from a fever that night.
“Mom, explain yourself!”
“What’s going on?”
“Why didn’t you discuss such a big matter with our family?”
Everyone pressed Grandma Qin for an explanation, especially the stepmother, who looked furious. If that money had been earned by her family, how could she not have known about it? She wouldn’t let this slide.
“What are you yelling about? I don’t know anything about this college—” Grandma Qin began denying it, but Qin Shi cut her off.
“My classmate looked into it. Her family paid 2,000 yuan for the spot.”
The entire room fell silent, eyes wide in shock.
“Two thousand!?” they all exclaimed in unison.
Grandma Qin immediately slammed the table. “Nonsense! It was only 1,000!”
—
**Author’s Note:**
Lu Zetian signed the clauses regarding marital life without hesitation, thinking it was fine since he had no such intentions.
Later…
How tragic, yet how sweet!
Our heroine has a heart of steel; she’s not so easily swayed.
*Serious and all-business face.*
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