After all, this is Zhao Di's own choice; it's essentially a family affair.
If Su Chen were to make a fuss now, it would be entirely unreasonable.
Su Chen glances at A-Shi with a somber look, a crafty smile suddenly emerging in his eyes as he says word by word, "If I find out there's any conspiracy at play, I'll make you regret ever coming into this world."
Under Su Chen's intense gaze, A-Shi can't help but shiver slightly, for what fierce eyes they are, like an enraged wild beast.
But of course, A-Shi is not one to be easily frightened by just a look from Su Chen, he scoffs and says, "What's going on between me and my lady is none of your business."
With that, he reaches out and wraps his arm around Zhao Di's legs, as if to declare his authority.
A-Shi had intended to embrace Zhao Di's waist, but standing up and reaching out, he could only wrap his arm around her legs.
To hug Zhao Di's waist, he would need to stand on a stool.
Zhao Di's body is tense, seemingly wanting to resist, but ultimately she lets A-Shi hold onto her legs.
The Big Landlord, fearing trouble, forcibly drags Su Chen out of Zhao Di's house.
"Feel free to come over for a celebratory drink tonight," A-Shi's proud voice calls from behind.
The group returns to the Big Landlord's house.
"So, was that bastard punished or not?" Huo Mei is the first to ask.
The Big Landlord shakes his head and says solemnly, "Zhao Di, she's going to marry A-Shi."
"What!" Huo Mei and Lin Xi are both shocked.
They can't accept this outcome.
Even if Zhao Di isn't popular in the Zhuang Clan, she wouldn't possibly fancy a short guy only 1.4 meters tall, right?
"We can't believe it either, but it is what it is. Zhao Di said so herself," the Big Landlord sighs.
"How can this be?" Lin Xi certainly knows that a woman like Zhao Di would only be looked down upon in these mountains.
If she were taken outside, who knows how many men would go crazy for her.
Let alone those rich second-generation young masters, she could easily have a bright future as a model.
If she really ends up marrying A-Shi, her life would be ruined.
With a man like that, she would rather stay single for life than marry him.
Among these people, the one feeling most distressed would definitely be Su Chen.
Though he has no obsession with virginity,
Zhao Di's first time was with him, and if Zhao Di were to marry someone she loves and live a happy life, he would naturally bless her.
But Zhao Di isn't about to live happily.
She is about to jump into a pit of fire.
No matter what, he will not let Zhao Di marry A-Shi.
At worst, he'd storm the wedding!
Weddings in the Zhuang Clan are lively affairs, with the whole village participating.
Yet, not the entire village this time.
At least one person won't be there.
He drinks alone at home, drowning himself to the point of stupor.
The girl he loves is about to marry someone else...
He cannot match A-Shi in any respect.
A-Shi's home is brightly decorated, filled with guests.
By the river, Zhao Di stands there, staring blankly at the slowly flowing water, lost in her thoughts.
This is where she bathed that night.
Zhao Di recalled the scene from that night.
If only she had drowned in the water that evening.
But now, she cannot die even if she wants to.
Because she must marry Ah Shi, otherwise, her mother will be executed by fire!
Originally, Zhao Di was prepared to reveal Ah Shi's cheating during the challenge.
But she never expected Ah Shi to accuse her first.
"Go, you better go tell the Big Landlord right now that your mother tampered with the whistle. That way, your mother will be burned alive," Ah Shi sneered.
The Zhuang Clan challenge is incredibly sacred, and anyone who passes Hell's Trio, even if they are sinners with heinous crimes, can be forgiven.
Therefore, those who dare to cheat during the challenge will face severe punishment.
Especially with Hell's Trio, if someone is found cheating, that cheater will be subject to execution by fire!
"No, it's not true, my mother didn't do it," Zhao Di shook her head repeatedly, unable to believe that her mother could have done such a thing.
But when she returned home, her mother admitted to having tampered with the whistle.
Ah Shi used this as blackmail, forcing Zhao Di to marry him, otherwise, he would reveal what her mother had done to the whistle.
To protect her mother, Zhao Di had no choice but to agree to Ah Shi.
"I thought that what happened here was a terrifying ordeal…"
"But now, it has become my fondest memory…"
Zhao Di shook her head bitterly, then turned around, ready to accept the arrangements of fate.
As she turned around, she saw a familiar figure standing behind her.
"Zhao Di, are you in some kind of trouble?" Su Chen found out that the bride had gone missing.
He tried coming here to look for her and unexpectedly found Zhao Di here.
As for Ah Shi, he was not in the slightest hurry.
Because he knew that Zhao Di would definitely return.
Zhao Di looked at Su Chen with a trace of sorrow in her eyes and said faintly, "Su Chen, can you please not ask me for the reason? Just treat me like any other girl from the village… you don't have to treat me specially just because you're with me…"
"Zhao Di, I can't make any promises to you, and I can't marry you, but I will never let you fall into a fire pit. If you trust your man, then tell me the reason, and I will solve anything for you." Here, Su Chen referred to himself as Zhao Di's man.
Originally, Zhao Di was determined not to tell Su Chen.
But Su Chen's words, "if you trust your man," finally made Zhao Di unable to hold back, and she threw herself into Su Chen's arms, clinging tightly to him.
After crying for a short while, she finally sobbed and said, "The whistle was tampered with by my mother. Ah Shi said I must marry him, or else he'll burn my mother alive… sob."
Su Chen sighed in relief after hearing this.
He had thought it was some enormous problem.
In fact, he had already guessed the gist of it.
If it hadn't been for Ah Shi threatening her using her weakness, how could Zhao Di possibly agree to marry him?
Gently patting Zhao Di's back, he said, "Don't worry, Zhao Di, your mother will be fine."
"Thank you…" For some reason, hearing Su Chen's words, Zhao Di felt an incredible sense of security.
That must be what women often refer to as the feeling of safety.
Before this, she was so desperate, wishing she could just jump into the river and drown.
"What should I do now?" Zhao Di let go of Su Chen and wiped away her tears, asking.
"You go back and do what you need to do; leave the rest to me," Su Chen said softly.