Quick Transmigration: The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character's Revenge

"How could that be? I don't care about that."

Meng Shaoqing said self-deprecatingly, "I have no parents, am penniless, and have huge debts. No girl would want to marry me with such a family background. Even if someone is looking down on me, it should be you looking down on me."

In fact, Meng Shaoqing's words were somewhat self-deprecating.

He was a scholar, and his appearance was handsome and refined. There were quite a few girls who wanted to marry him and become a scholar's wife.

Of course, his family background did deter most girls. After all, no matter how tempting a scholar's wife was, no one was willing to marry him and share his debts.

However, some wealthy gentry and landowners were willing to pay off his debts on the condition that Meng Shaoqing marry into their family.

Those gentry and wealthy men actually valued Meng Shaoqing's talent and learning. They paid off his debts and helped him pass the imperial examinations, hoping that he would become a high-ranking official and bring his wife's family to prosperity. This was a common investment.

For Meng Shaoqing, this was a rare opportunity. If he agreed, he wouldn't have to find ways to earn money to pay off his debts and could take the imperial examinations sooner.

However, he refused them all.

At this moment, Meng Shaoqing looked at Qi Ning with some trepidation, wondering if Qi Ning would mind his family background.

"If you don't want to, that's fine too..."

"No, I'm willing," Qi Ning said softly.

Meng Shaoqing was stunned. After a long while, he bent down and hugged Qi Ning.

Qi Ning was a widow whose husband had died. Logically speaking, even if she remarried, she would need the consent of both her natal family and her husband's family. However, neither of her natal family nor her husband's family was there, so naturally no one was in charge of her.

However, according to custom, a widow must observe three years of mourning for her husband after his death before she can remarry.

In the letter Meng Jiyang sent, he said that he died of illness not long after he went to the capital. So, he was only "dead" for two years, less than three years.

Meng Shaoqing was worried that breaking the rules would cause trouble for Qi Ning, so the two did not formally hold a wedding ceremony or inform other villagers.

They set up a banquet table in Meng Shaoqing's bedroom, with only two or three simple dishes and a pot of white wine.

Meng Shaoqing poured Qi Ning a glass of wine and handed it to her.

He looked ashamed and said, "I'm sorry you had to go through this. Once your mourning period is over, I will definitely give you a proper wedding ceremony."

Qi Ning picked up her wine glass and looked at him: "Didn't I say that I don't care about those things, as long as I can be with you, that's enough."

A smile appeared in Meng Shaoqing's eyes, and he nodded.

Since they've secretly pledged their lives to each other, and there are no outsiders around, they don't need to worry about any other ridiculous rules.

After the two drank the nuptial wine, it was time for them to consummate their marriage.

They sat facing each other on the bed, which was completely covered by the bed curtains.

Meng Shaoqing was initially a little reserved and at a loss, but Qi Ning took the initiative to lean in and kiss him. It was then that he seemed to understand something and lowered his head to kiss Qi Ning's lips.

"And then?" he asked in a low voice.

Qi Ning grabbed his hand and guided it to the buttons on her clothes.

"Take off my clothes," she whispered to him.

Meng Shaoqing understood, and with trembling hands, he awkwardly undressed Qi Ning...

After the two secretly pledged their love, Qi Ning quietly moved into Meng Shaoqing's house.

Meng Shaoqing's courtyard is right behind Qi Ning's house. You just need to walk through a small alley to get there. There are usually few people passing through that alley, so as long as you are careful, you won't be discovered.

Qi Ning stayed at home during the day, living her life as usual. After dark, Meng Shaoqing took advantage of the night to pick her up.

However, nothing stays hidden forever.

Since they were all from the same village, and there had been some rumors circulating in the village about Qi Ning and Meng Shaoqing, their affair was discovered in less than half a month.

Needless to say, such things spread very quickly. They told each other in private, and soon most of the villagers knew about the shady dealings between Qi Ning and Meng Shaoqing.

Even the children in the village knew about it.

Originally, Meng Shaoqing was in a very good mood these days because of his relationship with Qi Ning.

Unexpectedly, while he was teaching at the private school, he overheard the children whispering among themselves.

"Have you heard? It seems that the gentleman and Sister-in-law Aning have a rather unusual relationship."

"I also heard it from my mother. Sister-in-law Aning is a widow. This is called adultery!"

"Sigh, I originally thought that he was a person of great integrity and high moral character, but I never expected that he would do such a shameless thing."

Meng Shaoqing's face turned cold, and he stepped out from the shadows: "What are you talking about?"

The moment he spoke, the children were startled and immediately ran away.

That evening, Meng Shaoqing returned home with his brows unconsciously furrowed.

Seeing his expression, Qi Ning stepped forward and asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Qi Ning knew what was going on, of course. She had already heard it from the system, but she was just asking a question she already knew the answer to.

Meng Shaoqing looked down at Qi Ning, not wanting her to hear those words. He was about to say it was nothing when suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

"Knock Knock-"

Meng Shaoqing lives alone most of the year, and few people come to visit him.

Qi Ning and Meng Shaoqing both glanced sideways towards the doorway.

"Shaoqing, are you home?" the person outside asked.

Upon hearing the voice, Meng Shaoqing knew that the person outside the door was an elder from the village.

He didn't answer, but first patted Qi Ning's hand reassuringly: "Go inside, I'll handle it."

Their current relationship is something they can't reveal to others.

Qi Ning glanced at the doorway, then nodded and turned to go into the inner room.

Meng Shaoqing opened the door after Qi Ning went inside.

"Uncle Desheng, what brings you here?"

Meng Desheng was a respected elder in the village. He stood outside the door and said, "I need to talk to you about something. Would it be convenient for me to come in?"

As he spoke, he glanced around the courtyard but didn't see anyone else.

"Of course, Uncle Desheng, please come in."

Meng Shaoqing welcomed him in without changing his expression.

The two sat down in the yard.

"Did you need something from me?" Meng Shaoqing asked.

Meng Desheng did indeed have something to discuss with Meng Shaoqing today. He didn't mince words and went straight to the point: "Shaoqing, there have been quite a few rumors circulating in the village lately about you and Jiyang's wife. Tell me honestly, do you two have any relationship?"

“This…” Meng Shaoqing didn’t know how to answer.

Meng Desheng sighed. Seeing Meng Shaoqing's reaction, he understood without even needing to hear what he had to say.

"That's enough, you don't need to say anything more, I understand."

Meng Shaoqing knew she couldn't hide it from him, so she didn't deny it.

Meng Desheng said in a deep voice, "You child, you are indeed of marriageable age. There are no elders in your family, and the elders in the village have tried to help you find a marriage partner, but your father left you with a mess before he passed away, which has ruined you."

“That girl, Aning, her husband is no longer alive, and there is no one left in her own family or her husband’s family. In principle, she can remarry, but Jiyang has been dead for less than three years, and her mother-in-law has only been gone for a short time.”

At this point, Meng Desheng looked sternly at Meng Shaoqing and emphasized, "Even if you two want to be together, you have to follow the rules. Otherwise, you should know how to deal with us."

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