Blurb: [Lighthearted] [Mutual Devotion] [Happy Ending]
Everyone says that a daughter-in-law should manage the household and its accounts, and spend her whole life wearing the mask of a virtuous wife.
Ever since accepting the Qiu family's marriage proposal, Su Tinghe had prepared herself for just that.
But fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on her. Before the wedding, the Qiu family's eldest son vanished without a trace. To preserve the marriage alliance between their families, the Qius foisted their unruly, unrestrained third son on her instead.
Su Tinghe laughed in disbelief.
*
Su Tinghe did the math overnight. Marrying Qiu Cangwu was a terrible deal.
It was an unwritten rule that the eldest son inherited the family business. The other sons were usually sent on their way with a share of the family fortune.
So to make up for her loss, she needed to enjoy spending money before the family split up.
Manage the household? Forget it!
*
People outside the family heard that the Qius' third young madam lived a carefree life. The trendiest fabrics and jewelry, the most seasonal flowers and treasures: she was always the first to wear them or enjoy them.
Extravagant. A spendthrift.
As time passed, these rumors eventually reached Su Tinghe.
She didn't care about gossip, but some people insisted on repeating it to Qiu Cangwu.
"Young Master, just look at the way Young Madam behaves. How many mountains of gold can our family afford to spend? You'd have been better off marrying Miss Shen, your childhood sweetheart. At least she would have been..."
Su Tinghe happened to be passing by. Cradling a lotus leaf in one arm, she smiled at the third young master, who was opening his mouth to defend himself, and said with a scoff, "Want to divorce me and marry someone else? Fine, I accept."
*
Qiu Cangwu was a notorious playboy in the capital. He paid no attention to the family business and spent his days eating, drinking, and having fun.
When he suddenly got married, and to the virtuous Su Tinghe no less, he was so frightened that he didn't dare enter the bedroom for three days, afraid she would look down on him for being so unambitious.
He never expected Su Tinghe not to care where he slept, or even who he was.
She only cared about money.
When Su Tinghe overheard the servants making baseless accusations, she thought he had fallen for someone else and wanted to divorce her.
Qiu Cangwu: "What?"
Qiu Cangwu: "I'm innocent..."
#If she wants to spend, just let her spend!
#If we run short on silver, we can always earn more!
#Wait, you made one offhand comment and now my wife is leaving?!
*
Reading Guide:
1. An alternate-history setting with a hodgepodge of eras and plenty of original details. Please don't nitpick.
2. The heroine isn't actually a spendthrift.
3. A slice-of-life story, with sweet romance and a little comedy.
4. It's probably going to be a short story, depending on feedback. It could become longer.
5. The blurb has been screenshotted. Don't steal the premise.
Theme: A harmonious family brings prosperity
