Chapter 4

According to Yu Li’s thoughts, Lu Guanshan seemed like a good choice.

At the very least, he was far superior to Wu Guohua, so much so that it made Wu feel insecure.

Moreover, Lu Guanshan’s appearance and temperament were on a completely different level from Wu Guohua’s.

In the book, Lu Guanshan was described as nearly flawless—aside from his early death. His death was a result of saving someone, and if she married him, she might even be able to prevent such a tragedy for this exceptional young man.

Besides, she had already “tested the goods,” and everything checked out—well-endowed and skilled. The more she thought about it, the less reason she found to refuse…

Blushing to the tips of her ears, Yu Li murmured, “Mom, he said he’d come to our house tomorrow to talk to you and Dad.”

Chen Ailan glanced at her daughter, a knowing look in her eyes.

Truthfully, after Yu Li’s engagement to Wu Guohua, they had only met a few times before he left for the military.

In the years since, Wu Guohua and Yu Li hadn’t seen each other. But Yu Li had grown into a stunning beauty, far more radiant than when she was engaged at seventeen. Now, at twenty, her skin was fairer, her eyes brighter, and her beauty had fully blossomed like a rose in full bloom.

What stood out the most was her figure, curvaceous and youthful, a beauty that no loose clothing could hide.

Yet Yu Li had never shown this kind of bashful expression toward Wu Guohua. Perhaps she truly liked Lu Guanshan more.

Chen Ailan, with her years of life experience, knew that while practical conditions mattered in marriage, mutual affection was even more critical. Only with affection could couples tolerate each other’s flaws and lead a harmonious life.

She patted Yu Li’s hand. “Alright, then take a rest at home for now. When Xiao Lu comes tomorrow, let your dad talk to him. Whether he’s a mule or a horse, we’ll see after a walk around the yard!”

Yu Li smiled faintly, and Chen Ailan made her a bowl of malted milk to drink before heading out again.

Meanwhile, Gao Xuelian crouched against the wall, eavesdropping, her face dark with displeasure.

That malted milk was a gift from Chen Ailan’s nephew in the city, given as filial piety.

There were only two packets, one of which was split in half for Gao Xuelian’s son, Banzuo, and the second brother’s daughter, Shiliu.

The other packet, which Chen Ailan barely touched herself, was often quietly given to Shiliu or Yu Li.

That old woman! Always favoring her granddaughter and daughter!

Gao Xuelian had caused a scene about it before, but Chen Ailan reasoned that Banzuo ate too quickly and hogged food. Whenever there was chicken or meat in the house, he ate the most, to the point where, despite their modest means, his face had grown round as a steamed bun. He was too fat and needed to slim down—no need for too much malted milk!

Gao Xuelian wanted to spit on the ground and shout, What’s wrong with being fat? Fat boys bring fortune! Slim down, my foot! Good stuff is meant to be eaten! The more, the better—it’ll make him smarter!

But she swallowed her grievances for now, because something more pressing was on her mind.

She slipped back into her room, her mind working quickly.

Her sister-in-law was undeniably beautiful. Over the past two years, she had blossomed like a peach blossom on a high branch, sweet and charming.

Countless men had their eyes on Yu Li, especially a young man from her maternal village who had once said he’d pay 200 yuan in bride price if he could marry Yu Li.

Unfortunately, Yu Li had been engaged to Wu Guohua at the time.

But now, with the engagement broken, if Yu Li agreed to marry that young man, wouldn’t the 200 yuan bride price go to the Yu family?

And when that happened, Gao Xuelian would stop at nothing to ensure that money ended up in her pocket!

With this in mind, Gao Xuelian immediately headed to her parents’ house to plot.

At the same time, Chen Ailan hurried to find her husband to discuss the broken engagement and how they needed to confront the Wu family about it.

Unaware of all this, Yu Li, feeling sore and weary, organized the items she had brought back from the Wu family before heating water for a bath.

Only after removing her clothes did she notice her chest covered in red marks and bruises!

Her face flushed red as she thought about Lu Guanshan’s serious, upright demeanor when clothed, compared to his wild, unrestrained behavior without clothes. She couldn’t help but shudder slightly.

This man was truly… not one to be judged by appearances!

After finishing her bath, she lay comfortably on the bed, starting to mull over something.

At her age, it was about time to get married.

But before that, she had to sort out the issues at her parents’ home.

Especially since if she married Lu Guanshan and followed him in the military, she wouldn’t be able to take care of matters back home. She needed to quickly investigate who exactly Gao Xuelian’s son, Banzuo, really belonged to.

She absolutely couldn’t let the Yu family be taken advantage of!

Thinking about it, Yu Li drifted off into a weary, half-asleep state.

At the Wu family home, Wu’s mother and Wu Tong were furious after being doused with urine, to the point where they wanted to curse Yu Li’s ancestors up to eighteen generations.

After hurriedly bathing, the two of them called Wu Guohua.

Wu’s mother lowered her voice and asked, “Didn’t you say no one would find out? How does Yu Li know about… you, and now she insists on breaking off the engagement?”

Wu Guohua froze, feeling a little anxious himself. However, with phone calls being monitored, he could only speak vaguely. “Mom, if she wants to break it off, then let her. As long as it’s cleanly done, it’s fine. What about that person? How’s the situation?”

Was there a confrontation? Was there evidence?

Only if Lu Guanshan made a mistake could Wu Guohua secure his own promotion!

At the mention of this, Wu’s mother became even angrier. “They’re threatening to call the police! If we push any further, they will report it! If they do, and it escalates to your unit, what will you do?”

Wu Guohua’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected what was supposed to be a straightforward situation to spiral out of control like this!

Based on Yu Li’s personality, she wouldn’t dare to make a fuss if she suffered a loss, given how it would affect a young woman’s reputation.

She might even resort to something extreme like taking her own life.

As for Lu Guanshan, being an upright person, if he made a mistake, he would undoubtedly take responsibility, regardless of the circumstances.

Why would Yu Li choose to file a police report alongside Lu Guanshan?

And how did she find out about his affair with Xia Yuying?

What had seemed like a surefire plan was now completely derailed!

Wu Guohua felt irritable. “Mom, forget it. Let’s leave it at that for now! If Yu Li is willing to break off the engagement, it’s actually a good thing. Don’t pursue this any further—heaven is watching everything we do. As long as we have a clear conscience, we’ll be fine!”

With that, there was nothing more to be done. Wu Guohua hung up the phone and went to knock on the window of a side room at the political commissar’s house.

Soon, a fair-skinned, delicate-looking young woman came out.

She smiled coyly, looking around as her eyes sparkled. “Why are you here at this hour?”

Wu Guohua smiled back. “Yuying, Yu Li has broken off the engagement! From now on, we can be together openly. I’ll submit the marriage application soon and marry you as soon as possible!”

Xia Yuying’s face lit up with joy. “Really?”

She had waited so long, and now her dream was finally coming true!

This story was her creation, but it wasn’t entirely fictional—it was based on a real world.

In the original timeline, Yu Li had been lucky enough to marry Wu Guohua, live a happy military life, and make others green with envy.

Xia Yuying, who had been Yu Li’s elementary school classmate, had married a man from her village. Because of her poverty, she was forced into a degrading relationship with the village chief’s son. Caught in the act, her life had been miserable.

So she wrote herself into the story as Yu Li’s close friend, but with Wu Guohua falling in love with her instead.

In this rewritten world, could Yu Li still be happy?

No—this time, happiness was meant for her, Xia Yuying!

Taking Wu Guohua’s hand, Xia Yuying said sweetly, “Guohua, you’re so good to me! But are you sure you truly love me and not Yu Li? If the two of us were standing before you, would you regret your choice?”

How she longed for the day when she could see Yu Li abandoned by Wu Guohua, devastated beyond measure!