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Chapter 1: Changing Brides
“We will soon arrive at the Nanxi Brigade…”
Jiang An’an opened her eyes amidst a violent jolt.
Her beautiful eyes, slightly confused, scanned her surroundings before finally landing on the thick black smoke billowing from the tractor, and her consciousness slowly returned.
Yes.
She had time-traveled.
After graduating, Jiang An’an joined the Women’s Federation, becoming a proud divorce… no, marriage mediator. In just five years, she had broken up over a thousand couples.
This time, due to deep-seated grievances and a family’s revenge, a brick had knocked her back to 1972, transforming her into a member of the Hongqi Brigade in a backward small county in the south.
“Girl, you’re awake?”
A scolding voice came from beside her: “This time you really hit your head hard, your mother will definitely make your uncle compensate you with ten meat tickets and twenty pounds of white flour to help you recover.”
Everyone in the vehicle gasped.
Goodness, they wanted to take away what an ordinary family would need to save for years, and might not even manage to gather!
What a bold demand!
It was no wonder Lin Meiru was so angry; this time, Jiang Dabao’s family had indeed gone too far. To help their useless youngest son find a wife, they actually instigated the old lady to propose the ridiculous idea of “changing brides.”
Originally, this was none of the second family’s business.
However, when the girl’s family came to visit, they didn’t fancy Jiang Dabao’s only daughter, Jiang Zhizhi, but instead took a liking to the stunningly beautiful Jiang An’an from the other room.
They had poked a hornet’s nest!
Jiang An’an was the most beautiful girl in the area, with snow-white skin and graceful willow eyebrows; her charming appearance made her stand out in any crowd. Unfortunately, she was quite spoiled and arrogant, looking down on rural folk and only wanting to marry into the city.
She had scared off countless matchmakers and was still an old maid as she approached eighteen.
Meanwhile, Jiang Laoniu and his wife also felt that no one was worthy of their precious daughter. Despite their family’s notorious reputation in the brigade, they were the most doting parents in the entire Hongqi Commune!
Upon hearing the first family plotting against their younger daughter’s marriage, they rushed over with wooden sticks…
During the scuffle, the younger daughter was pushed by someone and fell forward, hitting her head. When she opened her eyes again, she had become Jiang An’an from the twenty-first century.
Jiang An’an reached up to touch the white bandage on her forehead, feeling a faint pain, and her small face instantly tensed.
Seeing this, Lin Meiru felt extremely pained and scolded even more fiercely: “That scoundrel Jiang Dezhuz, I must make him bleed! I heard pig trotters are good for beauty; once we get the money, I’ll find a way to get some.”
The other members nearby clicked their tongues at this scene.
Although pig trotters weren’t as good as fatty meat, they were still a rare treat. What use was it for a young girl like Jiang An’an to eat so well? After all, she would be married off sooner or later, so it would be better to save it for the hardworking men.
What a waste!
However, given Lin Meiru’s usual fierce reputation, no one dared to speak out against her.
There were also some new educated youth on the tractor, and one round-faced girl spoke sternly: “Auntie, your behavior is called extortion; it’s the act of bad elements in society.”
“Shut your mouth! It’s only right to demand compensation for being beaten.”
Lin Meiru pulled her lips down, her eyes instantly turning fierce, her voice loud and piercing: “My daughter is as beautiful as a flower; if her looks are ruined, how will she find a good husband in the future? If it weren’t for the fact that our families are related, just asking him to compensate with a bit of meat and grain would already be letting him off easy.”
In an instant, all eyes turned to Jiang An’an’s face.
The seventeen-year-old girl had an apricot-shaped face with peach-like cheeks, her skin was fair, and her small oval face with delicate eyebrows was indeed very beautiful.
At this moment, with a thick bandage on her forehead and a listless expression, her small face appeared even paler and smaller.
“Looks like the injury is quite serious.”
“Any mother would be justified in expressing anger if her beautiful daughter was beaten, right?”
“What kind of man hits a woman? Moreover, to be so ruthless against a delicate girl, scum like that should be sent to the farm for re-education.”
The uninformed educated youth chimed in one after another, indignantly joining Lin Meiru in denouncing the enemy.
Jiang An’an blinked innocently and then lowered her head.
Suddenly feeling a bit guilty!
The original owner had only bumped her head and hadn’t even bled. Yet her mother, Lin Meiru, had made a big fuss about taking her daughter to the county for treatment, which allowed the two of them to skip work and also set the stage for extorting Jiang Dabao, urging the doctor to write a severe diagnosis.
Fortunately, the doctors of that time held their ground, applying medicine for bruising and then coldly sending the mother and daughter away.
“After all, we’re family,” the round-faced educated youth thought, feeling that these stinky men were utterly lacking in principles, easily enchanted by the beauty of a country girl.
Jiang An’an didn’t look good at all!
Her light yellow top was washed out, and her pants had three patches; she was wearing shoes that were almost falling apart. Two braids hung down her chest, making her appear not only rustic but also shabby!
“Relying on looks to marry is feudal leftover; women in the new era can hold up half the sky, and talent and ability are far more important.” The round-faced educated youth lifted her chin proudly, seemingly casually glancing at the man in the corner.
He was the most handsome man among the group that had been sent down, reportedly from the capital, wearing a sharp Zhongshan suit and black shoes, radiating an undeniable air of sophistication.
“Oh my, you only have inner beauty left,” Lin Meiru said sarcastically, her shrewd eyes scanning the girl from head to toe, making a “tch tch” sound of disdain.
The round-faced educated youth turned pale with anger: “How dare you say I’m ugly!”
Lin Meiru exclaimed, “So you are somewhat self-aware?”
“…” The round-faced educated youth was nearly choking with rage, especially mortified in front of her crush, tears welling up in her eyes.
Seeing a fierce battle about to erupt, Jiang An’an quickly held onto Lin Meiru’s arm, forcing a weak smile: “Mom, I’m feeling dizzy.”
Her mother was incredibly fierce, a well-known shrew across ten villages. She feared that Lin Meiru might hurt the educated youth in her rage, and then they would both be punished by the brigade leader and forced to work in the fields.
Lin Meiru understood her daughter’s little ploy and decided to let it go. She poked Jiang An’an’s forehead with her finger, saying impatiently, “You ungrateful child, who do you think your mother is doing this for?”
Jiang An’an smiled, showing two small dimples on her cheeks.
In her past life, she had grown up as an orphan, relying on others for food; this time, she was incredibly lucky to have a fiercely protective mother.
Seeing her daughter’s sweet and soft appearance made Lin Meiru’s heart turn to mush, but soon, she became worried again. Her daughter was beautiful and delicate, but unfortunately, not very bright; what kind of family would she need to find to ensure she wouldn’t be bullied?
Lost in her thoughts, the Nanxi Brigade under Hongqi Commune finally arrived!
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