Chapter 7: Daughter, I’ve Found You a Husband Raised by Your Stepmother

She treated Feng Mian like a younger sister and also like a child.

Feng Mian, who had just replaced her core (body), felt a bit awkward.

“Lan, don’t think too much about it. Feng Erge doesn’t consider the family, but you have to think about Rongrong. Don’t underestimate daughters now—they might seem useless to them, but who knows? Maybe one day your daughter will become a prized catch, and then you’ll have a good life.”

Feng Erge was like this because after Lu Lan gave birth to that daughter, she was injured and couldn’t get pregnant again.

Under the influence of their matriarch, who said that Feng Eldest’s son would take care of Feng Erge in the future, he truly treated that nephew as his own. He moved everything to their house, causing great suffering to his own wife and children.

Her words didn’t comfort Lu Lan, who wiped her tears and said, “Girls have it tough—no matter how much work I do, I get credited less. Meanwhile, those men slack off, cheat, and still get full credit just lying around the sweet potato fields. Sigh! Tell me, Mianmian, this world isn’t kind to women.”

Feng Mian knew it was useless to say more; Lu Lan just couldn’t understand.

But that was okay. The New Year was coming soon, and next year the work point system would gradually be replaced by a household contracting system. Then it would be clear who was lazy and who was hardworking.

After comforting Lu Lan and her daughter, Feng Mian returned home.

…

With the New Year approaching and the weather getting colder, everyone stayed indoors when they had nothing to do. But Feng Mian was busy secretly selling rubber bands in the county town.

She sold them quietly, never for long—only once every day or two, and for only an hour or two each time.

Every time, she disguised herself as an old lady with a headscarf—after all, getting caught wouldn’t be a joke.

After a few days, she had saved up a small amount.

She bought a set of luxury skincare products from the Underworld Treasure Shop—skin care was still important.

This body had never even used snow ointment before, and the cold wind made her skin red and irritated. What a waste.

One day, after washing and hanging her clothes, she saw a middle-aged woman walking toward her house.

She recognized her—it was Aunt Xu, the matchmaker who had come to arrange a marriage.

Feng Mian understood immediately—she was here to talk about breaking off the engagement.

“Feng Mian, oh my, you’re so hardworking, just washed your clothes, right?” Aunt Xu quickly grabbed her hand. Feeling her cold from washing clothes, she rubbed them anxiously, looking pitiful.

Feng Mian had to admire matchmakers. Even when they came to break off an engagement, they still said polite words and praised you, trying to part on good terms.

Of course, only someone like her could do this job. If she fussed and dragged things out, ruining her reputation, who would hire her as a matchmaker again?

“Aunt Xu, you’re such a busy person—how do you have time to come to my house today?” Feng Mian pulled her hand away calmly.

The matchmaker babbled some more polite small talk, making Feng Mian nearly impatient, before finally getting to the point.

“It’s like this—last year I arranged that marriage for you, the sixth son of the Gu family. But… sigh! This is all my fault. I’m getting old and confused—I made a mistake. The family doesn’t want to marry you; they want to marry your cousin Feng Xiaomei.”

Feng Mian was a bit surprised. What kind of benefit did the Gu family give Aunt Xu to make her take the blame?

She blinked. “A mistake?”

“Yes, a mistake,” the matchmaker said, wiping her tears and nose. “Oh, girl, I’m truly sorry. People might think I’m bullying you because you’re an orphan. It’s really my fault—I’m just old and forgetful. But don’t worry, if not this village, there’s the next. I’ll definitely find you a better match.”

Then she shoved an old-fashioned plastic bag into Feng Mian’s hand and whispered, “This is a pound of white sugar—as an apology from me for wronging you.”

Feng Mian looked incredulous but accepted the sugar.

This was their compensation to her—why refuse?

Besides, buying sugar outside required sugar coupons.

“Is that so? Well, if it was a mistake… then… it’s okay,” she said, taking the sugar with a pitiful look.

Aunt Xu felt deeply guilty toward her and cursed the Gu family in her heart, insulting their ancestors eighteen generations back.

What kind of people were they, doing such a cruel thing?

If they didn’t want her, they shouldn’t have proposed. Setting the engagement and then breaking it off just ruined Aunt Xu’s reputation.

The matchmaker comforted Feng Mian for a while and repeatedly promised to find her an even better match before heading off to Shangyuzi Village.

What kind of nonsense was this—breaking off the engagement with the orphan daughter and then going to propose to her cousin instead?

The news quickly spread, and soon everyone in both the upper and lower villages knew about it.

In the countryside, gossip like this could be talked about for three days and three nights.

What a headache.

Lu Lan next door, worried Feng Mian would be upset, came over to chat casually.

“Mianmian, don’t take it to heart. That Gu family’s sixth son is as fat as a pig. Nobody would want him even if he was given away for free. Only Feng Xiaomei treats him like a treasure—no wonder they broke it off.”

Feng Mian nodded. “That’s exactly what I think too.”

Lu Lan was surprised. “You really think so?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good then. I was just worrying for nothing. By the sixth day of next month, your cousin will get married there. Are you going?”

Feng Mian raised her eyebrows.

The sixth day of next month was the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, just half a month away. So, the wedding would be less than a month from now?

That fast?

“It’s my own cousin getting married. If they invite me, of course I’ll go.”

Lu Lan laughed. “Right, let’s go. After all, the ones we find annoying aren’t us but that despicable Gu family.”

Feng Mian thought the matter was over, but a few days later, Aunt Xu the matchmaker came again.

Just like last time, she acted very familiar, grabbing Feng Mian’s hand immediately.

“Mianmian, my dear girl, oh my, you’ve gotten even prettier since the last time I saw you.”

Feng Mian felt a little awkward.

“Auntie, if you have something to say, just say it.”

“Auntie’s come to talk to you about a marriage proposal.”

Feng Mian: “…”

“Auntie, are you joking?”

“No joke. It’s true, and the young man is also from the Gu family village.”

Feng Mian stared at her, stunned, realizing this probably wasn’t a joke.

Could it be that the polite words she said that day weren’t just talk—that she really came again to propose?

“Auntie, don’t scare me. Who would want an orphan girl like me?”

“If nobody wants you, you just have to want someone.”

Huh?

Aunt Xu pulled her down to sit on the stone bench under the eaves, smiling. “Here’s the thing: a while ago, I went to propose to your cousin on behalf of the Gu family. After I finished, your grandma pulled me aside and said you don’t want to marry outside anymore. You want someone raised by a stepmother, someone willing to come live with you, right?”

Feng Mian was dumbfounded again. Grandma was serious?

“Did you really find someone?”

Aunt Xu beamed, “Found one, and I guarantee he was raised by a stepmother.”

Feng Mian: “…”

“The young man is handsome and hardworking. His birth mother died early, so there’s nothing wrong with him. His stepmother remarried and had six children—four sons and two daughters. They can’t all live at home and have no money to marry him off, so the stepmother’s planning to send him out as a live-in son-in-law. After hearing your grandma’s request, I thought to match you two. Just the other day, I went to his house, and as soon as they heard, the whole family agreed immediately.”