The Substitute Bride

The eldest son of the Xie family was a famous young gentleman in Jiangnan. During a hunting expedition, he fell from his horse and broke his leg, becoming a cripple who could only lie in bed.

The family searched the land for renowned doctors, but none could cure him. His health kept deteriorating, and the madam of the Xie household was so worried that she arranged a marriage to bring him good fortune.

After the autumn harvest, A Mi's father died of exhaustion, and the local officials seized all their grain. Left with nothing, A Mi shouldered her only bundle and went to the Fortune God Temple in a neighboring village, renowned for its incense, to pray for a way to make money.

As she knelt and prayed, a red bridal sedan chair stopped beside her. "Have you heard of the Xie family? They're one of the wealthiest families in Jiangnan. If you take my place in this sedan chair, you'll never have to worry about food or clothes again. You can live like a rich person."

"Why don't you go yourself?"

"I have someone I love."

A Mi climbed into the sedan chair, determined to drink a cup of water and eat a meal once she got to the Xie estate. Then, once she'd saved up some money as a maid, she'd leave.

The young master of the Xie family soon discovered that the wife his mother had found for him was strange. She ate a lot, and she loved stockpiling provisions and stashing away money.

"Why are you hiding money?"

"I'll need it."

"Doesn't the account manager give you a monthly allowance?"

"He does."

"Doesn't the kitchen feed you?"

"It does."

"Then why are you hiding money?"

"I'll need it."

"Need it for what?"

Her lips were sealed as tight as a turtle's shell. No matter how he pried, he couldn't get an answer.

Until one day, he saw her pull out some silver, hire a large carriage, and load it with all the provisions and money she'd been saving, then climb aboard and make off with the lot.

Two hours later, it suddenly dawned on him:

That girl had been saving money to run away!

She'd left him behind and run off!

"!!!"

# Short story. I've already figured out how to write it. I'll get around to drafting a couple of chapters when I have time.

Theme: You have to seize the money-making opportunity the God of Fortune gives you.