Chapter 296: Chapter 289 A Man Should Stand Firm Between Heaven and Earth_1

During the times of distress, her financial support and assistance had deepened Qin Niu’s affections for her.

In every man’s heart lies a patch of the softest soil, home to kinship, friendship, love, or perhaps a profoundly touching moment that etches itself into one’s memory.

“Before marrying you, Cai Xian from Daoyuan Village, accompanied by Matchmaker Aunt Hua and another go-between, visited my house with a marriage proposal, which you might have heard about. At that time, I rejected Cai Xian. But after further contact, her infatuation and the bravery she showed in her love moved me deeply.

In ancient times, the two sisters E Huang and Nv Ying shared one husband.

If Uncle Wang and Wan Yan agree, I would like to take Tang Caixian as a concubine.”

Qin Niu was well aware that many women are strongly opposed to their husbands taking concubines.

Because it would divide a portion of their husband’s love.

And might even lead to domestic strife.

A lot of concubines, being younger and prettier than the first wife, would rely on their husbands’ affection to stir up strife in the inner chambers. Crafty schemes would emerge one after another, and there were even some cruel concubines who would harm the first wife’s children, all to become the primary woman of the household.

Qin Niu’s words had hardly faded when the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

Matchmaker Aunt Hua was so anxious that she nearly stamped her feet.

This Ah Niu really was a simpleton, bringing up the matter of taking a concubine at such a time?

Even if he waited until after the wedding and found an opportunity to mention it, it would be fine.

If handled poorly now, this marriage could fall through.

Wang Furen’s expression had become quite ugly, and it was only because of Qin Niu’s special status that he dared not lose his temper easily. In his heart, he was probably fuming with rage.

This Ah Niu, he talks sweetly, saying he would treat Wan Yan well, but before they are even married, he is already thinking of taking a concubine.

A philandering cad, through and through.

Entrusting his daughter to such a man, he was very worried about her future life after marriage.

“Cai Xian is an exceptionally outstanding girl, kind-hearted, and it should be good to have her serve you alongside me. In the future, with an additional person in the house, we’ll have more help with any issue.

Ah Niu, the fact that you brought this up before the wedding shows that you are an open and honest man.

If you had mentioned this after the wedding, I would have lost respect for you.”

After a brief silence, Wang Wanyan unexpectedly spoke in support of Qin Niu.

This indeed showed that a grown woman can’t be restrained.

Wang Furen sighed and shook his head repeatedly.

“Father, shall we agree to this? I know Ah Niu’s character; he values sentiment deeply. If Cai Xian hadn’t truly touched his heart, he would never consider taking her as a concubine. As your daughter, I will be the principal wife, so you don’t have to worry about me being aggrieved.”

Wang Wanyan was trying to persuade her father.

“Ah… what kind of situation is this!”

Under his daughter’s persuasion, Wang Furen’s face looked much better.

He was a man and naturally understood the thoughts of men.

Which man doesn’t eat what’s in his bowl while eyeing what’s in the pot?

Some daughters from wealthy families, when marrying into a major household, are often accompanied by a maidservant to serve in their chamber.

The purpose is twofold: one is to help the new mistress gain a foothold in the new family. The other reason is to replace the mistress in the bedroom when she is indisposed, to prevent the master of the house from seeking pleasure elsewhere.

“Ah Niu, I’ve watched you grow up. I’m giving my daughter to you in marriage because I deem your character fit. Now, you wish to take a concubine, and my daughter is not against it, so I, as her father, have nothing more to say. But I require you to swear in front of everyone that you will never wrong my daughter, otherwise may lightning strike you.”

Wang Furen needed to secure a guarantee for his daughter.

In this world, oaths are like passing wind to ordinary people.

No one takes them seriously.

But for cultivators, an oath holds a strong binding force.

The higher one’s cultivation, the more one dares not make oaths lightly.

To understand this, consider that ordinary people’s oaths are ignored by the universe, for they are as fleeting as mayflies, their lives short, and even if they break their promises, the harm is limited.

However, powerful cultivators have grasped a strand of the universe’s laws, even the profound truths of the Dao.

They hold a certain influence over the universe.

Their oaths are the universe acting as guarantor, backing them up.

If they break their oaths, it’s an affront to the universe.

The universe certainly cannot tolerate such events, and it’s highly likely that it will make oath-breakers meet their doom.

For instance, if someone swears they won’t die a peaceful death, then significant calamities will befall them, ensuring a violent end. Hiding away in a sanctuary would be of no use.

“Father, on such an auspicious day, why make such a frightening oath, it’s so inauspicious!”

Wang Wanyan coquettishly pleaded with her father.

She truly liked Qin Niu and could not bear to see anything go wrong with him.

“If he is unwilling to make this vow, it means he has a guilty conscience and does not truly care for you, and I will resolutely disapprove of your marriage.”

Wang Furen’s stance was exceptionally firm.

“I can make the vow.”

After speaking, Qin Niu raised his left hand above his head, turning his palm towards the heavens.

This act meant aligning his hand with the heart of the heavens and his feet with the heart of the earth, standing on the earth and answering to the sky.

“I, Qin Niu, hereby swear that if I should fail my wife, Wang Wanyan, in this life, may heaven strike me with five thunders, may I die a terrible death, and may my soul never ascend.”

Qin Niu made his first vow.

His tone was resolute, and his gaze determined.

“Good! Since you are willing to swear by your heart, I can rest assured and give you my daughter in marriage.”

Wang Furen nodded in satisfaction.

Despite Wang Furen’s usually jovial demeanor, when it came down to the essentials, he was extremely meticulous.

“Thank you, Uncle Wang!”

Qin Niu thanked him, and Aunt Hua’s hanging heart finally settled.

“Wan Yan, thank you for being so forgiving about this matter.”

He was well aware that without Wang Wanyan’s support, this would have been out of the question.

“We will soon become husband and wife, united as one; there’s no need for thanks.”

Wang Wanyan shook her head, gazing into his eyes.

“Then let us set the wedding date, and on the same day, we’ll marry Tang Caixian. Do you think that’s acceptable?”

“Mhm.”

She nodded in agreement once more.

“Master Qin, now that Wang Furen and Miss Wang have agreed to you taking a concubine, but will the Tang Family agree?”

Aunt Hua knew very well that Tang Caixian’s popularity even surpassed Wang Wanyan’s.

In the city, countless rich young masters and privileged lords wanted to marry Tang Caixian as their principal wife.

Their conditions were far better than Qin Niu’s.

Yet, they were all rejected by Tang Caixian.

Now to ask her to be a concubine, how could that possibly be acceptable?

The status of a concubine was extremely low.

Both the husband and the principal wife could scold or beat the concubine at will, and order her around in the household.

However, there were also some harmonious households where the principal wife would specially respect the concubine.

Even so, the status of a concubine was far beneath that of a principal wife.

Even in death, she could not be buried alongside her husband.

“This is precisely what I wanted to discuss with you, to ask you to prepare another set of bridal gifts identical to the ones for marrying Wan Yan, and then propose to the Tang Family.”

Qin Niu did not hide his intentions, discussing these matters openly in front of the Wang Family.

It was not possible to marry two principal wives at the same time, and in terms of status, Tang Caixian was already wronged.

Economically, he could not allow Tang Caixian to suffer any further injustice.

“No problem, I’ll go procure them shortly.”

Aunt Hua could now see that Qin Niu probably wasn’t short of money.

Because he had just given Wang Furen an additional hundred taels of silver money.

As long as the money was settled, the legwork she had to do was not an issue at all.

After proposing and leaving the Wang Family home, Qin Niu took a deep breath of turbid air.

There were many things that were extremely difficult, but there was no avoiding them; they had to be done.

Now that he had secured the Wang Family’s approval, dealing with the Tang Family would be much easier.

A man stands for nothing if he has no integrity.

All the things he promised Tang Caixian, he would naturally fulfill one by one.

He gave Aunt Hua fifty taels of silver money for her to run the errand again, to prepare the bridal gifts, without mentioning it further.

As for the Tang Family’s reaction, it was still hard to predict.