Finding a Husband at Chenghu Lake

This is a new novel written in 2024, replacing the old one that was left unfinished. Every single book must reach a proper ending.

Meng Pipa, a nineteen-year-old woman from the water town of Chenghu, is as beautiful as a flower. Unfortunately, her fiancé died shortly after they became engaged when she was young, and then her husband died two years after they married. She quickly became the despised jinx whom everyone blamed for her husbands' deaths.

Her mother-in-law laid down the rules: a widow must behave herself and follow convention. With everyone watching, she could not afford to make a single misstep.

Meng Pipa agreed wholeheartedly. One day, as she returned home after selling fish from her black-canopied boat, she pulled an exceptionally handsome man from the lake. His clothes were in tatters, and he was badly injured.

She was reluctant to save him, but the man took out a white jade token. "Save my life, and the token is yours."

No one could tell what animal was carved on the token. The character for "fortune" in its center was plump and rounded, and the craftsmanship was exquisite. It looked very valuable.

Meng Pipa couldn't resist the temptation.

Only after bringing him home to save him did she realize she'd rescued a huge problem.

He was allergic to eggs, and his life was in danger. She had no choice but to carry him on her back and race to find a doctor. Someone saw them, and rumors immediately spread. Even worse, it seemed that every powerful person in Chenghu wanted him dead...

Wei Shangwen, the late emperor's youngest son, was born to the Empress Dowager. He should have spent his life surrounded by luxury, but all his good fortune vanished with the late emperor when Wei was six.

His august elder brother, the emperor, was in his prime, while his nephews were already eyeing the throne. Worried that Wei had no future, his mother sent him to the battlefield to earn some military merit. She hadn't expected him to return victorious, covered in glory. The emperor then personally ordered him to travel incognito to Jiangnan and investigate corruption in the water transport system. That very night, he was attacked upon entering Chenghu. His boat was destroyed, and he was injured.

By sheer luck, someone rescued him. Disheartened and wary of everyone, he kept his guard up.

After bandaging his wounds, she left him in front of a small home that had been kept very clean, then walked away.

His hand stretched out. He tried to reach after her, but had no strength. "Deserter... You deserve to die..."

But before long, she came hurrying back to that little door, stumbling as she went. She picked him up and hoisted him onto her back.

"Didn't you run away? What are you coming back for?"

He woke with a start and flung an arm out, then slid down toward the ground of his own accord. "You don't have to worry about me anymore. Go. A deserter who breaks her word, too cowardly to stand her ground! On a battlefield, a deserter like you should be killed! You took my jade token, and this is how you save me..."

"The Chenghu Gang is killing people. They didn't just kill the brothers of the Chengqing Gang. They killed everyone at the Lu Clinic, too."

Her voice trembled as she grabbed his arm again, lifted him onto her back, and walked step by step into the lightless alley.

He said nothing more. Before she got back to her feet, he had put the bundle of medicine on his own back.

"I won't abandon you again before you're healed."

After a long pause, she said softly.

After another long pause, he replied, "That's more like it. That jade token of mine is worth a lot!"

He paused, then added, "Fifty taels of silver!"

Theme: Love takes root for no known reason, then grows deep and unwavering.