Nian Jiaojiao's surprise stemmed from the fact that Cui Qingluo was the second husband in the book "Nine Husbands at the Door: All Husbands are Stunningly Beautiful."
She lowered her head, recalling the contents of the book.
In the book, the female protagonist Nian Zhenzhen married her first husband, the son of the Prince of Qingzhou Commandery, immediately after qualifying as a Xiu Cai.
Cui Qingluo was Nian Zhenzhen's second husband, whom she married after qualifying as a Ju Ren.
Cui Qingluo did not meet Nian Zhenzhen only after she qualified as a Ju Ren; he knew her when she was merely a poor, obscure Xiu Cai.
This was because even if she married the Prince of Qingzhou Commandery's son, the Prince would not provide Nian Zhenzhen with significant financial support.
However, Cui Qingluo was a love-struck fool. He pursued the idealized love story of wealthy young masters and poor young ladies found in brainless romance novels. Upon encountering Nian Zhenzhen, he automatically saw her as the female lead of the book and himself as the noble young master who would break through obstacles and bravely pursue love.
It could be said that Nian Zhenzhen's poverty was a significant reason why Cui Qingluo chose her.
In her previous life, Nian Jiaojiao found this character, Cui Qingluo, to be somewhat indescribable when reading the book.
Although he appeared to treat money like dirt, not disdaining poverty or favoring wealth, and daring to pursue love, in reality, he was only like this towards the poor women he loved.
He always looked down on impoverished men.
He believed these men were vulgar and pathetic.
Subtly, he also felt superior to these men.
No matter what, nothing was as precious as his love.
Cui Qingluo's elder brother suffered abuse from his wife, even losing his fertility because of it. When he found Cui Qingluo to confide in him, Cui Qingluo comforted him thus:
"Brother, you are suffering physically, but my heart is riddled with holes. Although you have lost your fertility, what I am about to lose is love!"
At this time, Cui Qingluo wanted to marry Nian Zhenzhen but faced strong opposition from his parents. He was completely immersed in the gloom of his love not being recognized and could not understand his elder brother's pain at all.
One day, Cui Qingluo's brother, unable to bear the torment, hanged himself on a cold winter night amidst heavy snowfall.
Ironically, it was at this moment that Nian Zhenzhen qualified as a Ju Ren and led people to raid the male supporting character's home, obtaining a vast sum of money. The Cui family finally relented, allowing Cui Qingluo to marry Nian Zhenzhen.
Two months after his elder brother's death, Cui Qingluo married Nian Zhenzhen in a grand ceremony, wearing a fiery red wedding dress.
Humorously, Cui Qingluo pursued a love story with a poor Xiu Cai, yet he had never experienced poverty for a single day.
Nian Jiaojiao frowned and downed the tea in her hand.
At this moment, with her keen senses, she overheard two women whispering behind her.
"Sister Luo Jin, you don't also like Young Master Cui Qingluo, do you?"
"Cui Qingluo is decent, but too arrogant. On the other hand, the young master next to him..."
"You mean Young Master Cui Liu's brother, Cui Tong?"
"Yes, men are better when they are gentle and obedient."
Luo Wen did not agree with Luo Jin's words. Cui Tong's appearance was, at most, refined. Some of her maids were more attractive than him. She wondered what Luo Jin's taste was.
However, at the same time, Luo Wen was secretly pleased.
One less competitor!
After hearing their conversation, Nian Jiaojiao's brows furrowed.
Luo Jin was the man who married Cui Qingluo's elder brother, Cui Tong, in the book.
However, according to the book's timeline, he had not yet married him.
As Nian Jiaojiao was lost in thought, the surrounding clamor quickly quieted down when the head of the Cui family entered.
The head of the Cui family scanned the surroundings and began to announce the top 30 qualifiers:
"Luo Wen, Luo Jin, Cui Henian, Shangguan Wan, Qiu Zhilan..."
There were only 30 people in total, and soon the head of the Cui family reached the last name:
"The last one, Qiu Yu."
When Qiu Yu's name was announced, everyone was filled with confusion.
Who was Qiu Yu?
The names the head of the Cui family had read earlier were all familiar names, and no one found it strange that they had qualified.
However, hearing a name they had never heard before, their reaction was normal.
At this point, they began to discuss aloud.
"Qiu Yu? Surname Qiu? Is that from the Qiu family?"
"Nonsense, why would it be from your Cui family?"
"I've never heard this name. It must not be from the main lineage."
However, no matter how confused they were, the head of the Cui family would not explain anything to them.
Soon, the juniors who did not qualify exited, and the hall became sparse.
...
The second round of competition was about to begin.
From now on, the competition would be unit-based by factions. Nian Jiaojiao arrived at her faction, the Qiu family.
Including herself, there were four Qiu family members who had qualified.
"Is, is it you!?"
The one who said this was Qiu Shi, one of the two young women Nian Jiaojiao had encountered the first time she visited the Qiu mansion.
Nian Jiaojiao shyly glanced at Qiu Shi and lowered her head.
In fact, at this moment, she was shouting in her heart:
It's me, it's me, it's me!
The four members of the Qiu family exchanged glances.
Finally, Qiu Zhilan spoke first:
"Qiu Yu, I remember you are from the Qingzhou branch. Let's officially get acquainted. My name is Qiu Zhilan."
The woman speaking had a small mole below the right side of her mouth, making her very memorable.
Nian Jiaojiao glanced and nodded.
Qiu Zhilan continued to introduce, pointing to the doll-faced girl beside her:
"This is Qiu Shi, and both of us are from the main lineage."
Qiu Shi reluctantly nodded at Nian Jiaojiao.
"This is Qiu Zi, from the Shizhou branch."
As soon as Qiu Zhilan finished introducing, Qiu Zi exclaimed in surprise:
"I thought the qualifiers would be from the main lineage or the Jinzhou branch. I didn't expect such a dark horse to emerge. It seems your Qingzhou has been preparing for a long time."
No, not at all.
Nian Jiaojiao replied in her heart with a smile.
"Alright, everyone has met each other. Let's arrange the order. Who will appear first?"
The second round would determine the victor, so this arrangement was particularly important.
The rule was that members of each faction would appear in order, and the faction represented by the last remaining person would win.
Let's take Party A and Party B competing as an example.
If Party A and Party B each had three members, they would be A1, A2, and A3; B1, B2, and B3.
First, they would be paired.
The first round would be A1 against B1. If A1 won, B1 would be eliminated, and A1 would remain to continue participating.
The second round would be A2 against B2, and the winner B2 would remain.
The third round would be A3 against B3, and the winner B3 would remain.
After this, A1, B2, and B3 would remain on the field.
Then, they would compete in poetry.
In the first round, if A1 competed against B2, and B2 won, Party A would have no contestants, the competition would end, and Party B would ultimately win.
If A1 won, the competition would continue, and A1 would then compete against B3. The faction represented by the winner would win.
...
Of course, the family competition had multiple projects prepared, and the project would be determined by drawing lots until the last winner emerged.