Chapter 1

“Xu Jiajia has had physical intimacy with someone else, she’s already ‘dirty,’ and I want to break off the engagement.”

Xu Jianguo, however, was no pushover. Hearing Song Ran say this, he slammed the table in anger.

“Dirty, your mother! That was unavoidable. Are you saying that if Jiajia fell into the river, for the sake of so-called reputation, a kind-hearted person shouldn’t save her?
What, you wanted Jiajia to die instead?”

Xu Jiajia was awakened by the argument. She stared at the cobweb-covered wooden beams above her, utterly confused.

Wasn’t she working overtime just now?
What on earth was going on?

It wasn’t until a flood of memories rushed into her mind that she realized she’d transmigrated.

Oh no!

To be precise, she’d transmigrated into a book.

She was now in a period novel she had just read a few days ago, as the villainess with the same name: Xu Jiajia.

The original character had a worker fiancé.

She was deeply invested in this marriage, often daydreaming about her future with the male supporting character, Song Ran.

But while she had feelings for him, he had no interest in her. Their engagement was arranged by their elders, but Song Ran’s true desire was to marry the female lead, Xu Xin.

On May 5th, 1972, Song Ran learned that the original character had fallen into a river and had been rescued. Taking leave from work, he came specifically to break off the engagement.

Xu Jianguo, the original character’s father, agreed to the annulment, but the original character refused and even developed a grudge against the female lead.

She often set traps for the female lead and even hired thugs to humiliate her.

Though she ultimately failed, she completely enraged Song Ran.

He married her as per the engagement but tormented her daily. The original character eventually developed a mental illness and died tragically.

Xu Jianguo, holding her corpse, tried to fight Song Ran but ended up paralyzed after a fall.

Grandma Xu went to the Song family to demand justice but died in a car accident along the way.

When Xu Jianguo heard the news, he suffered a fatal heart attack.

The family, once composed of just three people, was completely wiped out.

Thinking of the original character’s tragic ending, Xu Jiajia sighed deeply. Such a good family destroyed by the original’s stubbornness.

But now that she was here, those things definitely wouldn’t happen. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret over her newly purchased apartment.

That was something she’d saved up for three years, working overtime day and night to afford.

She hadn’t even lived in it for a single day!

Damn it!

Wasn’t this just bullying a working-class person?

Lost in her thoughts, she heard that voice again: “Either way, this engagement is ending.”

Xu Jiajia got out of bed and stepped out of the room. Her gaze fell on the young man, and just as she was about to speak, a sudden “ding” sounded in her mind.

[Host, your gossip system is online! There’s a big secret in Song Ran’s family—want to check it out?]

The unexpected voice startled Xu Jiajia, but she quickly calmed down.

[What the hell are you?]

[Host, I’m not “what the hell,” I’m the Gossip System. We’ve got all kinds of juicy secrets here—guaranteed satisfaction!]

Xu Jiajia, having read plenty of novels, wasn’t unfamiliar with systems. She just never imagined that, as a villainess, she would get one too.

In this entertainment-deprived era, gossip was the only source of amusement.

Of course, she wasn’t going to say no.

[Let’s hear it.]

[Host, Song Ran’s father had an affair with his sister-in-law, and they even have a child together.]

This revelation shattered Xu Jiajia’s worldview.

Oh my god.

Song Ran’s father sure had no limits!

But the one who was even more shocked was Xu Jianguo. Hearing Xu Jiajia’s mental conversation with the system, he thought he was hallucinating.

It took a while for Xu Jianguo to figure out what was going on.

Looking at Song Ran’s oblivious expression, he realized the man couldn’t hear any of this.

Xu Jianguo touched his face. Could he be the chosen one? Otherwise, why was he the only one able to hear his daughter’s inner voice?

Still, this was a good thing. The fewer people who could hear it, the safer it was for his daughter.

Xu Jianguo steadied himself and asked Xu Jiajia: “Daughter, Song Ran wants to break off the engagement. What do you think?”

Xu Jiajia glanced at Song Ran.

[He may look decent, but his actions are worse than a dog’s. Keeping this engagement would be ridiculous.]

Xu Jianguo nodded vigorously. Yes, yes, such a man wasn’t worth marrying.

[But…]

Hearing this, Xu Jianguo’s relief instantly turned to worry. “Daughter, listen to your father, this guy isn’t worth it. Break it off!”

Xu Jiajia nodded in agreement. “Break it off, but we’re going to be the ones to end it.”

Hearing this, Song Ran’s face darkened, his eyes burning with rage. “You’ve lost your virtue—what right do you have to break off the engagement?”

The gossip system piped up mischievously: [Host, he insulted you! Punch him!]

Before Xu Jiajia could act, Xu Jianguo grabbed Song Ran by the collar and lifted him effortlessly. “Who the hell are you calling unvirtuous?”

The gossip system cheered. [Host, your dad is amazing!]

Xu Jiajia, knowing how much her father cherished her, wasn’t surprised. After her mother’s death, many had tried to set him up with someone else, but he’d rejected them all, unwilling to risk his daughter being mistreated by a stepmother.

[He really is amazing.]

Hearing his daughter’s praise, Xu Jianguo felt reinvigorated. “The engagement will end, but not like this. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Song family and have a proper talk with your father.”

Song Ran, still dangling mid-air, paled and broke out in a cold sweat. “You brute! Let me go!”

Xu Jianguo sneered and slowly released him. “Coward.”

Landing awkwardly, Song Ran staggered and nearly fell flat on his face.

Knowing he was no match for Xu Jianguo, he scrambled to his feet and left in a huff, leaving behind a feeble threat: “Tomorrow, you’ll regret crossing me!”

Xu Jianguo scoffed, completely unfazed.

He turned to Xu Jiajia. “Daughter, are you feeling okay?”

“Just a bit hungry, that’s all.” The original character had fallen into the river and been sick with a fever for a day and night without eating much.

Xu Jianguo smacked his forehead. “I’ll go make you some poached eggs.”

Xu Jiajia didn’t refuse. “Sure—“

While Xu Jianguo busied himself, Xu Jiajia found a small mirror in the original character’s drawer.

In the reflection, she saw a pair of bright, lively eyes and smooth, glowing skin—so beautiful it was hard to look away.

This appearance is exactly the same as her past life, but with even better skin.

After checking her reflection, Xu Jiajia began to examine her surroundings carefully.

The house was a three-room earthen building facing south, exuding an aged, weathered charm.

The main room contained a single table and four long benches, one of which had a wobbly leg propped up by a wooden block.

The back room belonged to her grandmother, while the other two were shared by Xu Jianguo and Xu Jiajia.

On the left was the kitchen, simple yet meticulously clean. The stove was made of clay, with no chimney—just a window for ventilation. On windy days, the room filled with thick smoke, and the walls of the kitchen were stained black, as if coated with a layer of lacquer.

To the right of the house, a bamboo fence enclosed a chicken coop, home to three hens, which were a vital asset to the family.

After assessing her new living quarters, Xu Jiajia resumed her conversation with Guagua, the system.

[When people throw mud at me, I demand compensation. Tomorrow, when we break off the engagement, I’ll make sure I get what’s owed to me.]

[Host, how much do you plan to ask for?]

Xu Jiajia wanted a job the most, but in this era, jobs were rare treasures, not something you could just request.

[Enough to buy a job, and it would be best to include some tickets as well.]

In this time period, nearly everything required ration tickets.

Guagua was stunned.

[Buying a job costs hundreds—it’s roughly a year’s salary. Isn’t that a bit too much?]

Xu Jiajia didn’t think so.

[Once Song Ran’s father’s scandal breaks, he won’t just lose his job; he’ll also be sent to a labor farm for re-education. To keep my mouth shut, he’ll pay.]

Xu Jianguo, overhearing this, found the idea brilliant. Yes! That’s exactly what they’d do tomorrow.

“Jiajia, hurry and eat your poached egg,” Xu Jianguo called.

Xu Jiajia didn’t want to eat alone, so she split the eggs with Xu Jianguo. He refused. “I’m not hungry. You eat.”

Having been an orphan in her past life, Xu Jiajia had never experienced familial warmth.

Within just a day of arriving in this world, she had felt the overwhelming fatherly love from Xu Jianguo.

Relishing this newfound warmth, she insisted, “If you don’t eat, neither will I.”

Seeing his daughter’s stubbornness, Xu Jianguo relented, “Alright, I’ll eat.”

In this era, eggs were a luxury. Xu Jianguo couldn’t bear to eat much, so he only took a symbolic bite.

Xu Jiajia wasn’t having it.

Caught between feeling comforted and troubled, Xu Jianguo sighed.

Relieved at the thought of earning money tomorrow, he quickly finished the egg.

“Jiajia, once we settle this engagement, I’ll find you a better match.”

Xu Jiajia, who had worked herself to the bone in her past life only to end up with nothing, wanted to take it easier this time.

“I want someone tall—over 1.8 meters. Handsome, with a broad, muscular build. He should have a stable job, not smoke or drink, and treat both me and you well.”

For each criterion Xu Jiajia listed, Xu Jianguo took a sharp breath. By the end, he stumbled slightly, almost falling over.

“Jiajia, these are some high standards. This might be hard! And what is this ‘broad, muscular build’ you’re talking about?”

Xu Jiajia tilted her head at Xu Jianguo. Were these requirements high? Weren’t they just what every girl in the modern era dreamed of?

“It means someone fit and muscular.”

Xu Jianguo looked troubled. “Jiajia, factory workers rarely marry girls from rural areas. Your engagement with Song Ran was only arranged because of the life-saving favor your grandfather did for them.”

Sticking to her principles of “better none than settling,” Xu Jiajia said, “I’m not in a rush. We’ll take our time; I’ll find him eventually.”

After all, who could predict the twists of fate?

In her past life, two of her colleagues—average in looks and talent—had ended up with amazing husbands.

Tall, dashing, and apparently great in bed!

…

When Grandma Xu returned from the fields and heard about Song Ran’s plan to break off the engagement, she was instantly upset.

Xu Jiajia falling into the river and being saved by a man had already caused gossip in the village. If the engagement was also broken, how could she possibly find a good match in the future? “No, we’re not breaking it off.”

Worried that Grandma Xu would meddle, Xu Jianguo pulled her into the kitchen and shared Song Ran’s father’s scandal.

Grandma Xu stood in stunned silence for several seconds before finally finding her voice. “Good heavens, that would get him publicly denounced. How could he be so reckless?”

Xu Jianguo replied, “How would I know?”

Initially hesitant to end the engagement because of the Song family’s good standing, Grandma Xu quickly changed her stance after hearing about the scandal. “Break it off! The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree—there’s not a single decent person in that family!”

With Grandma Xu on board, Xu Jianguo left the kitchen, only to hear Guagua showing off.

[Host, I’m the only one who knows about Song Ran’s family drama. Well, now you know too.]

Xu Jianguo: “…”

What’s there to brag about?

He knew as well.

Xu Jiajia praised Guagua.

[Impressive! Truly the pioneer of gossip systems.]

[But Song’s father is quite the oddball. Out of all the women in the world, he chose to have an affair with his sister-in-law.]

[It started as a drunken mistake, and once they got used to it, they kept the relationship going in secret.]

Xu Jiajia: “…”

[Doesn’t his sister-in-law have a husband? Isn’t she afraid of getting caught?]

[Her husband is frequently away for work and, well… let’s just say he’s not very capable in that department. She has a strong drive and can’t go three days without… you know.]

Xu Jiajia clutched her chest.

[Oh my, what scandalous behavior!]

Xu Jianguo’s face turned green. “…”

Damn it, this system is no good—sharing such filth with Jiajia!

…

Later that evening, after dinner, Xu Jiajia strolled along the village path, her steps sinking into the soft soil as she breathed in the scent of rice flowers. Her heart soared along with the fragrance.

Distracted by the scenery, she accidentally bumped into a man’s chest.

Even through his clothes, she could feel the firm, muscular chest beneath—a broad, powerful physique radiating hormones.