Chapter 3

“Brother Ting, isn’t this the childhood betrothal your family arranged for you?”

“Dating her would probably make you eat two extra bowls of rice. She even praised you, saying you look appetizing. This girl sure has a way with words.”

“But no matter how amusing her words are, she still has to be worthy of you, Brother Ting!”

“What was your old man thinking? Forcing you to come to this remote corner of the countryside as a young educated worker and then insisting you marry some childhood betrothal.”

“Looks like the girl has taken a liking to you. Brother Ting, you’re not seriously considering marrying her, are you?”

The morning sunlight fell on Lu Baiwei as she cut grass for the cattle. Her reddened eyes and trembling shoulders made her look pitiful as she spoke. After finishing her task, she piled the grass high in a basket, pressed it down, and hoisted it up on her slender shoulders. He Ting couldn’t help but think that her thin arms and tiny waist might snap under the weight of the load.

Her height was fine, but she was too skinny, looking like she’d topple over with a gust of wind.

Crying in front of all the older women in the team—was she bullied too much at home?

Watching her thin figure disappear into the distance carrying the basket, He Ting felt a sudden surge of irritation. He threw down the bundle of firewood on his shoulder and handed his machete to Zhou Yanfeng, who had been chopping wood with him.

“Take this firewood back. I’m heading to the county.”

Zhou was confused. “Brother Ting, why are you going to the county? Aren’t you working today?”

“I’m not. I need to take leave for something.”

—

At the Lu family’s house, breakfast consisted of sweet potato porridge. Near noon, Lu Jianguo, who was weeding in the fields, was so hungry that his stomach was growling. He urged Liu Chunhua to hurry home and cook lunch.

Liu Chunhua called Lu Jiaojiao, who had been idling around all morning, to help with the fire.

Sitting on a stool with a fire poker in hand, Lu Jiaojiao absentmindedly fed sticks into the stove while her eyes sparkled with excitement. She occasionally let out a smug smile, lost in thought.

“Jiaojiao, tell me the truth. Is there really treasure buried under the Yins’ old house?”

Lu Jiaojiao had been daydreaming about becoming a wealthy billionaire’s wife, imagining herself living in a luxurious mansion thousands of square meters in size, a fantasy interrupted by her mother, Liu Chunhua.

She clearly remembered that in her past life, when she eloped, rumors spread in the village that Yin Zhihe had dug up gold bars from the old house. Back then, she’d even tried to borrow money from Lu Baiwei, who was so stingy she refused to lend her any.

Years later, when Lu Baiwei appeared on television for an interview, she had just been rescued by the police from a remote mountainous area.

Although only in her thirties or forties, she looked utterly haggard and worn, a stark contrast to the glamorous and radiant Lu Baiwei on screen. She appeared like a decrepit old woman.

Ironically, it was Liu Chunhua who had arranged the marriage between Lu Baiwei and Yin Zhihe.

And now, everything Lu Baiwei had should have belonged to her.

—

All of this was originally stolen by Lu Baiwei.

In this lifetime, she was determined to take it back.

Lu Jiaojiao said firmly, “Mom, would I lie to you about something like this?”

“I’m not stupid. If the Yin family didn’t have a little wealth, do you think I’d compete with my sister to marry Yin Zhihe?”

“Right now, it’s hard to dig up those treasures from the Yin family’s old house. But in two or three years, when the policies change, just watch—Yin Zhihe will become the richest man in this area. You can just wait and enjoy life with your daughter and son-in-law!”

It was because of Lu Jiaojiao’s claims about gold and silver buried at the Yin family’s old house that Liu Chunhua suddenly changed her mind.

Even though Lu Jiaojiao was adamant that there were gold bars buried under the Yin family’s old home, when compared to the clearly well-off He Ting, Liu Chunhua still felt it was a loss to marry Lu Jiaojiao to Yin Zhihe.

“Jiaojiao, do you think Yin Zhihe’s sisters pitching in to buy the watch for the dowry will really work out?”

“Don’t worry, Mom, it’s all set!”

“I used last night’s incident to threaten Yin Zhihe. He didn’t go to work today and instead went to the county early this morning to ask his eldest sister for the watch. He said he’d bring back the watch along with 188 yuan as dowry to formally propose.”

In her past life, when she married He Ting, she got nothing.

Even though He Ting’s family sent them money and grain, it was useless. He guarded his wealth like a mountain of gold but refused to spend a single cent on her.

After they got their marriage certificate, He Ting remained cold toward her. No matter what tricks she tried, he never once laid a finger on her.

Meanwhile, Lu Baiwei, who married the poor Yin Zhihe, received dowry money and a watch that his sisters scraped together.

This time, the glory of having dowry money and a Meihua watch would belong to her, Lu Jiaojiao.

While Lu Jiaojiao was basking in the satisfaction of snatching Yin Zhihe away from Lu Baiwei, she never imagined that an even grander event awaited her.

Just as she and Liu Chunhua were whispering to each other, a tractor came to a stop in front of the Lu family’s home.

“Anybody home? Is this Lu Jianguo’s place?”

The man on the tractor shouted, “Your son-in-law asked me to deliver a sewing machine!”

Hearing the noise, Lu Jiaojiao and Liu Chunhua rushed out from the kitchen to see a brand-new, shiny Yan sewing machine sitting atop a pile of straw on the tractor.

“Come give me a hand!”

The tractor driver urged Liu Chunhua to help unload the sewing machine. “The radio and watch—your son-in-law is carrying them on his brand-new Phoenix bicycle. This sewing machine was too big, so he paid me to deliver it.”

“Your son-in-law is really generous. He’s already got the ‘three rounds and one sound’ set. Even in the city, there aren’t many families who can afford these for a wedding.”

“Auntie, you’re so lucky. Your family really snagged a golden son-in-law!”

—

“Auntie, you’re so lucky. Your family really found a golden son-in-law!” 

Wait, weren’t Yin Zhihe’s sisters only supposed to contribute the dowry money and the watch? 

How did they manage to gather the entire *“three rounds and one sound”* set? 

Suddenly struck by this unexpected windfall, Lu Jiaojiao felt so overwhelmed with happiness that she nearly fainted. 

It happened to be noon, and many villagers were passing by the Lu family’s door on their way home from work. Lu Jiaojiao, of course, wouldn’t miss this perfect opportunity to show off. 

Seeing Lu Baiwei and Tang Yunling among the group heading home, Lu Jiaojiao, leaning proudly on the newly unloaded Yan-brand sewing machine, almost wagged her tail in delight. 

She called out to Lu Baiwei, “Sis, come here quickly! Look at this sewing machine that Brother Zhihe bought for me.” 

(This chapter isn’t over yet. Click the next page to continue reading the exciting details!) 

“And it’s not just the sewing machine! Brother Zhihe managed to gather the entire three rounds and one sound set.” 

“He’s riding the Phoenix-brand bicycle right behind. The radio and watch are with him, but the sewing machine was too big, so he had to pay someone to deliver it by tractor.” 

The shiny, brand-new sewing machine alone was eye-catching enough. 

But the fact that the dirt-poor Yin family had also managed to gather the *three rounds and one sound* left everyone stunned. 

Villagers passing by the Lu family’s house expressed surprise and curiosity, gathering around the sewing machine to take a closer look. Some even offered insincere congratulations to Lu Jiaojiao. 

Feeling even more triumphant, Lu Jiaojiao continued, “Sis, Brother Zhihe should be here any moment. You have to see for yourself the *three rounds and one sound* he got for me.” 

“Brother Zhihe treats me so well! His sisters who married into the county must be thrilled to have me as their sister-in-law.” 

“Sis, remember when Brother Zhihe proposed to you? Back then, all they offered was a little dowry money and a watch. But now, look! For me, they’ve prepared the whole *three rounds and one sound*!” 

Liu Chunhua and Lu Jianguo were equally elated, their faces glowing with pride. 

With the *three rounds and one sound* in hand, it was as if last night’s scandal—when Lu Jiaojiao and Yin Zhihe were caught sneaking around the haystack—was no longer an embarrassment. 

Liu Chunhua couldn’t wait for the whole village to know that Yin Zhihe had managed to secure the *three rounds and one sound* for Lu Jiaojiao. 

Following close behind her daughter, she shouted, “Which family in our brigade has ever prepared the *three rounds and one sound* for a wedding? None, right? My Jiaojiao is the first!” 

“My Jiaojiao is amazing. What a great marriage this is!” 

As Lu Jiaojiao and her parents busied themselves with showing off, none of them noticed someone riding a brand-new Phoenix-brand bicycle down the narrow path leading into the village. 

The person on the bike wasn’t Yin Zhihe.