A Wedding That Cost Over a Million Taels of Silver

The guests nearby murmured amongst themselves, "Hey! This magistrate actually has a son? We heard that the magistrate and his ex-wife only had a daughter."

"The county magistrate's ex-wife was a daughter of the Feng Clan."

"Ex-wife? Which Feng Clan?"

"How many Feng Clan are there in the Upper Capital? Chancellor Feng has countless disciples."

"Oh! Is this county magistrate out of his mind? He actually divorced his wife and married someone like this. What's the background of this county magistrate's new wife?"

"I heard that the new lady's father was a scholar, and her mother was a laundry worker."

Old Madam Cheng was completely stunned:

"Isn't this about taking a concubine? What do these people mean?"

Where's Feng Jiao?! Where did she go? Such a big thing and she's not here to oversee things? What's she up to?

The guests nearby laughed:

"Oh dear! Grandma, you don't know this?"

Your son divorced Miss Feng Clan! This is your new daughter-in-law. Your son is really something else.

Father Cheng's face turned deathly pale. "This... how is this possible? Even if my son is confused, he can't be this confused."

What did his family rely on? When Feng Jiao married into their family, they were already bankrupt and just waiting for rice to cook.

Even the dowry was mostly paid for by the Feng Clan, with their family taking a smaller share. This was because the Feng Clan valued Feng Jiao Feng Jiao would be mistreated in their household.

But what are these people saying now?

Did his son and Feng Jiao divorce?

Cheng Xiao said helplessly, "Father, I didn't want it to be like this either, but Feng Jiao found out about my relationship with Feng Caigu and she won't let it go."

"Slap..." Father Cheng slapped him across the face and said, "Go apologize to me now. You have to beg your wife back on your knees, or this wedding is off."

Cheng Xiao quickly waved her hand and said:

"Dad, today is a big day for me, please don't cause trouble here. As for Feng Jiao, I will give you an explanation later."

I refuse to believe she's not hurting over what happened today; she's loved me for so many years.

She'll come back as soon as I beckon, and then I'll marry her as my second wife.

"You... you bastard, how can you speak like a human being?"

"You can take a concubine, you can do whatever you want, but you can't favor your concubine over your wife. Who would dare to hire you if you do that? And the Feng Clan..." Before Father Cheng could finish speaking, a servant came to report.

"Sir, something terrible has happened! The shops are all here demanding payment."

Cheng Xiao frowned and said, "Debt collection? What debt? No one in this county owes us any money. These people are probably just making trouble on purpose!"

Then I saw shopkeepers lining up and walking in; there were more than 20 shopkeepers in total, and they immediately took out their bills.

The head Shopkeeper Zhao, immediately produced a series of receipts, saying, "These are all items the county magistrate purchased at our shop. It states that today is the deadline, and I had no choice but to bring these receipts."

"My family is the same..."

"My family is the same..."

The guests had originally wanted a hot meal, but now they had no appetite at all.

Everyone was watching with anticipation. "Really? They mean the county magistrate's wedding was all on credit?"

"I wonder how much debt they owe in total? I'm really curious!"

"You bet I knew this wedding was anything but simple."

Just this Banquet Guest House alone, with dozens of tables of food, must have cost at least tens of thousands of taels of silver! Wow! I never imagined it was all on credit."

Cheng Xiao shouted, "County Deputy Lin, County Deputy Lin, where are you? Come out and explain yourself!"

County Deputy Lin stepped forward and said:

"County Magistrate Cheng, I did everything exactly as you instructed, and I dared not make the slightest mistake."

Your new wife requires 88 loads of betrothal gifts, and the list of 88 loads of betrothal gifts is all here. I would never dare to bend the rules for personal gain.

"Does she have to believe everything she says? If she wants the moon, are you going to pluck it down from the sky for her?"

If you can't do something, why can't you just say it?

"Why did you have to go into debt? With so much debt, how do you expect me to pay it back? If I can't pay it back, then you'll have to pay it back yourself." Cheng Xiao looked at him coldly.

Second Uncle Lin sighed helplessly:

"County Magistrate Cheng, I... I have no choice. You said you would remove me from my post if I couldn't handle this."

I can only try my best to satisfy you. If you are still not satisfied, then I have nothing more to say, especially since I did it according to your instructions.

You've listed everything out clearly for me here; I can't possibly use my own money to arrange your marriage!

Second Uncle Lin took out a piece of paper, on which Cheng Xiao had listed everything.

Cheng Xiao said angrily, "I meant for you to think of a solution, not that you absolutely have to do it!"

Second Uncle Lin fell silent, and the prefect beside him shouted loudly:

"So what do you expect your subordinates to do? If they can't hold the wedding, you're going to punish them? That's quite an achievement!"

Even I, an official, am not as capable as you; I have much to learn from you.

Cheng Xiao quickly replied, "This humble official wouldn't dare."

"Then pay all these bills, right now in front of me, or who else do you expect to pay them for you?" the prefect roared.

Cheng Xiao picked up the bill, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Feng Caigu, standing nearby, sneered:

"Is this something Feng Jiao did on purpose? That damned woman just doesn't want us to be together. Cheng, My Love, what's wrong with you?"

"Why are your hands shaking so badly? Don't be afraid, we're not afraid of that woman's threats and inducements."

She took the bill directly, her face turning deathly pale. "280,000 taels of silver? This... how is this possible?"

The shopkeeper frowned and said:

"What are you saying? These were all transported from the Upper Capital. These pieces of jewelry are from the most expensive jewelry stores in the Upper Capital, and they all have labels on them."

And those betrothal gifts of yours, you requested them yourself, some of which I acquired at great expense."

Cheng Xiao hurriedly picked up the other forms, her face turning deathly pale with fright:

"Nonsense, isn't this nonsense?"

To spend over a million taels of silver just to get married... is this a joke?

Who on earth wants to harm me? This... this groom's attire costs 50,000 taels of silver? Are you kidding me?

Cheng Xiao was truly devastated, Father Cheng nearly fainted when he saw the list of documents.

Mother Cheng cried, "Over a million taels of silver, how are we supposed to pay that back? Waaah... Do you think it's worth it to marry this slut?"

Cheng Xiao suddenly remembered and said, "I... I'll go find Feng Jiao. Jiaojiao can definitely save me."

The guests whispered among themselves, "Wow! I never expected County Magistrate Cheng to be so extravagant, over a million taels! How could he bear to spend that much?"

"Tch! Do you really think Feng Jiao is stupid? Helping them fill this hole? Dream on."

"Isn't that right? This is going to be interesting, let's hurry and follow them!"

Cheng Xiao rushed to Feng Jiao's residence in his groom's attire and said:

"Jiaojiao, I know you did this. You just don't want me to marry Feng Caigu."

I know I was wrong, please open the door...