Marrying a Sickly Man to Ward Off Bad Luck

Yuan Zhao has gotten married. He married the sickly man from the neighboring Qingluan Village.

When he departed for his wedding, he carried a bundle on his left shoulder and tucked his younger brother under his right arm. He followed behind the Shi family with a bright smile beaming on his face. Behind him stood his uncle and aunt’s family, their faces clouded with gloom.

Before marrying into the Shi family, Yuan Zhao knew exactly what the situation was. For a family that had returned to the village in disgrace, even a thatched hut to shield them from the wind and rain was considered a blessing. As for his husband, he was currently unconscious due to severe injuries. The family married Yuan Zhao into the house specifically for a ritual to ward off bad luck and invite healing through the joy of a wedding.

Yuan Zhao was very diligent. He took proper care of everything in his husband’s home. Because of this, his younger brother was no longer bullied as he had been in the past. Every night, his benefactor lay quietly by his side.

However, this tranquility did not last long because Shi Wuxiang eventually woke up. This man, whose name sounded exceptionally Zen, frowned fiercely upon learning Yuan Zhao’s identity.

“A male wife? A minor? This is against the law!”

“How does getting married break the law?” Yuan Zhao’s youthful face flickered with shock and suspicion. He wondered if his husband had discovered that he had faked his identity.

Shi Wuxiang thought to himself, “How can a man marry a man? How can a man have children?”

The shock was too great for him. As he drifted between consciousness and fainting, he saw a “Ger” with chocolate-colored skin pinching and wiping his body. He wanted to pass out again.

“Do not faint! Do not faint! The family has no money left to buy medicine!”

“I do not particularly want to be conscious to face this.”

“Am I that bad? I am very strong and I am very capable! Even the old widower in our village said so!” Yuan Zhao quickly stopped himself from finishing that sentence.

Shi Wuxiang sized him up, feeling deeply that this entire situation violated his long-held principles. Ultimately, however, he surrendered to reality.

“I never intended to marry a man. You have worked hard taking care of me during this time, so I will provide for you until you turn eighteen. At that time, you will leave quietly. How does that sound?”

“You might as well stay unconscious. I do not like a single word coming out of your mouth!”

“You! You are being disrespectful!”

In the end, Yuan Zhao agreed to his terms. Three years later, on a quiet morning, Yuan Zhao slung a bundle over his left shoulder and took his brother’s hand in his right. Just as he had arrived on his wedding day, he left silently.

In those intervening years, Shi Wuxiang had become a schoolteacher. The thing he said most often to Yuan Zhao was that one must be honest and keep their word. Yuan Zhao knew those words were directed specifically at him.

When Shi Wuxiang woke up and reached out to hug Yuan Zhao as he usually did, he found the bed empty. Looking at the poorly written note on the table, he finally realized that the boy had run away.

“This is bad! He actually turned out to be too obedient!”

***

One-Sentence Summary: A straightforward “Little Sunshine” expresses his love boldly!

Theme: Cherish life. May we all live our own lives to the fullest.