Blurb: [The blurb may be revised, but the premise won't change]
Ruan Lin was disliked by his stepmother from childhood and branded a bringer of bad luck. When he came of age to marry, his stepmother bluntly said she would sell him for a good price.
Who could have guessed that his first two engagements would both fall through? The prospective grooms either died of illness or suddenly came down with a serious disease. After that, Ruan Lin acquired yet another nasty reputation: a husband-killer.
He thought his stepmother would finally give up, but half a month later she accepted two taels of betrothal money from Sun the Lame, a man from the neighboring village, and schemed to get the two of them into bed together.
Taking advantage of Sun the Lame's carelessness, Ruan Lin injured him and escaped from home. In a daze, with no idea where to go, he stumbled straight into the arms of Chen Yan Zhi, the eldest son of the Chen family.
The man was tall and burly, making Ruan Lin look like a little chick beside him.
Ruan Lin nervously stepped aside to let him pass, but the man followed him, his tone stern and earnest.
"I'm Chen Yan Zhi. There are four people in my family: my parents, my younger brother, and me. We don't live as well as the village head's family, but I'm young and can earn money. If you're willing, I'll have my mother come to the Xu family to propose tomorrow."
Ruan Lin froze. Then he thought that marrying the young and handsome Chen Yan Zhi was better than marrying that old cripple. He didn't mind being poor; he could endure hardship. As long as the Chen family gave him food and water, he would gladly work like an ox or horse for them for the rest of his life.
After all the twists and turns, Ruan Lin got his wish and married into the Chen family. He had expected a hard life, but instead he found himself in a nest of bliss.
His parents-in-law treated him like their own son, and his husband cherished him. He handed over every last bit of the family's money and wouldn't let Ruan Lin do any strenuous work. All he had to do each day was water the vegetables and feed the chickens. His life was happier than a god's.
Back then, the whole village had disapproved of the marriage. No one expected the young couple's life to get better and better. A few years later, the Chen family became one of the village's wealthiest households, building a brick-and-tile home even grander than the village head's.
The villagers: Lin-ge isn't a bringer of bad luck at all. He's clearly blessed with a knack for bringing his husband good fortune!
[Reading Guide]
1. Both leads are locals. A slow-paced farming story about everyday family life.
2. No golden finger (or only a tiny one); content with modest prosperity.
3. More to come if I think of anything.
Theme: 1