Chapter 4

Sun Yaozu, tall and stout with considerable strength, reached out in an attempt to grab Lin Xiang’s wrist. She swiftly dodged, taking two steps back to maintain her distance.

Despite his typically hot temper, Sun Yaozu wasn’t annoyed. Instead, seeing the wary look in Lin Xiang’s eyes only made his interest grow stronger.

He had been with many women, but none as beautiful as Lin Xiang. Especially today—somehow, she seemed even more radiant and captivating. Even the cold, unsmiling gaze she gave him was alluring, stirring an itch that spread throughout his body.

“This is a new society now, with freedom in marriage. Comrade Sun Yaozu, I will not marry you,” Lin Xiang stated firmly.

Reputation was everything these days, especially in a society where public opinion could be crushing. Lin Xiang was cautious, determined to draw a clear line between herself and someone like Sun Yaozu.

Recalling the brief mention of him in her limited understanding of the story, she knew he was the type to use threats and bribes to exploit young female workers at the steel plant or deceive young women looking for work. The thought disgusted her—this man was a scumbag.

Many women had been tricked by him, robbed of their money and dignity. Yet, due to the influence of Sun’s family, they could only swallow their grievances in silence. It was truly maddening.

“If you try to touch me again or keep pestering me, I’ll go straight to the Revolutionary Committee and report you for harassment!”

Sun Yaozu hadn’t expected this weak, delicate beauty—who usually avoided eye contact and spoke softly—to suddenly stand her ground with such fierce determination. Her defiance, like a rose with thorns, only made her more irresistible, igniting a deep, hidden desire to conquer her.

As the son of the plant director, wealthy and influential, how could he possibly be rejected by Lin Xiang?

He convinced himself that Lin Xiang was just putting on an act, pretending to be indifferent when she was actually eager to marry into the director’s family and live a life of comfort.

But her unyielding attitude today and her threat to report him made him hesitate. The Revolutionary Committee wasn’t something he wanted to provoke. Smirking slyly, he decided to back off for now.

“Alright, alright. Take your time to think it over. Marrying me would be great for you—I’d get you transferred to an office job, so you wouldn’t have to toil in the workshop. And your dad, mom, sister, and brother? I’d take care of them all!”

Lin Xiang almost laughed at his words. Did he really think she cared about the well-being of the Lin family?

Not bothering to respond, Lin Xiang quickly left. Though Sun Yaozu didn’t follow her this time, the lecherous gaze he kept fixed on her back left her feeling uneasy.

Back at home, her stepmother Qiu Aiying was washing vegetables in preparation for dinner. Seeing Lin Xiang return, she greeted her with a fawning smile.

“Xiangxiang, you must accept that scarf from Comrade Sun. I’ve already told your sister Chu Chu that she shouldn’t compete with her little sister over such things.”

Qiu Aiying’s daughter, Lin Chuchu, was a bit naïve. She actually believed Sun Yaozu was a good catch, dreaming of marrying into the director’s family and living the good life. Qiu Aiying, however, knew better. There was no way she’d let her own daughter jump into that fire.

As for Lin Xiang… She wasn’t Qiu Aiying’s biological daughter, so sacrificing her for the family’s benefit didn’t feel like a loss. If Lin Xiang married into the Sun family, it could mean a brighter future for them all.

“Mom, I won’t marry him,” Lin Xiang stated firmly, refusing any further entanglement with Sun Yaozu. She had no intention of accepting his scarf or any gifts that could later be used to manipulate her.

“You stubborn child…” Qiu Aiying began, but her words were interrupted by the sudden commotion outside.

The voice of the family compound’s head, Director He, boomed through the air. “Old Lin’s family! Your Jianxin has been arrested—come quickly!”

“What?” Qiu Aiying’s face changed instantly. She rushed out after Director He, demanding answers as they hurried along. “Why was Jianxin arrested?”

“He was caught playing poker with a group, lost money, refused to pay, and got into a fight!”

…

That evening, Lin Xiang was left alone at home. The rest of the family had gone to the police station to deal with Lin Jianxin, making for a rare moment of peace and quiet.

Relishing the solitude, Lin Xiang found some dried noodles in an unlocked cupboard, then went to the hallway to cook.

Dried noodles weren’t a luxury in the modern era, but in these times, they were a rare treat that many families couldn’t afford.

Having only ever used gas stoves in her past life, Lin Xiang was unfamiliar with coal stoves. She had observed Qiu Aiying closely over the past few days and now watched how her neighbors managed theirs. After a few trial-and-error attempts—and coughing through the thick smoke—she managed to get the fire going.

Soon, a pot of water was boiling atop the coal stove. Lin Xiang carefully pulled a few strands of noodles from the paper package and added them to the bubbling water. As she listened to the chatter of the neighborhood ladies, she smiled at their friendly curiosity.

“Xiangxiang, having noodles tonight?”

Dried noodles were considered a delicacy, often reserved for the men of the household or, occasionally, for Qiu Aiying and Lin Chuchu. It was rare for Lin Xiang to have the chance to enjoy them.

However, Lin Xiang remained silent, and the others refrained from saying much more.

“Yes.” Lin Xiang was well aware of how overly docile her predecessor had been. If her stepmother didn’t give her something, she wouldn’t ask for it, and she had almost never tasted anything good. Now that she had crossed over into this life, she resolved to treat herself better. If she didn’t eat the noodles, who would?

The thin noodles cooked until soft, coiling densely in a chipped ceramic bowl. She found the eggs that Qiu Aiying had hidden, frying one with a runny yolk to place on top of the pure white noodles. Blanched green vegetable leaves adorned the dish, and with a pair of chopsticks, Lin Xiang stirred everything together. The soy sauce, pork lard, chili oil, and scallions hidden at the bottom mixed thoroughly, clinging to the wheat-scented noodles, emitting an irresistible aroma.

It was said that eating noodles in this era was akin to feasting on meat, and it was no exaggeration.

After eating to her heart’s content, Lin Xiang lay down in the sweltering room, fanning herself with a palm fan until she drifted off to sleep. Late at night, a sudden commotion woke her up.

Hurried and chaotic footsteps were accompanied by the sound of a key turning in the lock. Lin Guangming’s furious scolding of his son, Lin Jianxin, soon followed.

“You’ve started gambling now? You’re about to start working—stop loafing around all day!” Lin Guangming, who pinned all his hopes on this only son to carry on the family name and bring glory to the Lin family, had his limits even for indulgence.

Qiu Aiying and Lin Chuchu tried to mediate.

“Old Lin, Jianxin was tricked by those scoundrels. You know he’s the most honest and well-behaved one.”

“Yes, Dad, my brother must have been deceived.”

Lin Xiang lay in bed, listening quietly. Before long, Qiu Aiying’s sharp voice rang out: “Why didn’t Lin Xiang prepare dinner?”

If it had been her predecessor, she would have obediently cooked dinner, leaving most of it for the family to eat when they returned late at night.

But Lin Xiang had no such self-sacrificing spirit and simply pretended to be asleep without uttering a word.

Lin Guangming, still fuming from having to pay a fine to bail out his son, muttered a few more curses before going to his room. The Lin family went on bickering.

The next day, Lin Jianxin, despite his usual unruly behavior, could tell that his father was not to be trifled with. Forced to stay home, he reluctantly agreed when his father announced, “You’re staying put. No more hanging out with those hooligans and gambling! In a few days, your second sister’s job will be transferred to you. Behave yourself at the factory!”

Confined at home for a few days, Lin Jianxin felt stifled, while Lin Xiang was nearly melting from the heat in the rolling mill workshop.

Under the scorching sun, the workshop’s high temperatures made life unbearable.

As if that weren’t enough, bizarre rumors began circulating in the factory. On her way home after work, Lin Xiang was called into a house by Aunt Liu, a friend of her late mother.

“Xiangxiang, you…” Liu Qiuping rarely got involved in Lin Xiang’s affairs anymore. In the past, when she tried to show concern for her late friend’s daughter, Lin Xiang’s predecessor didn’t appreciate it. Every family had its struggles, and as an outsider, Aunt Liu felt it wasn’t her place to meddle.

But these days, she had noticed something different about Lin Xiang and decided to ask. “You’re not really involved with Director Sun’s youngest son, are you?”

Lin Xiang was startled. She had no desire to be associated with Sun Yaozu and had been avoiding him as much as possible. “Of course not. Aunt Liu, why would you ask that?”

“I thought so. You wouldn’t be so foolish.” She knew what kind of person Sun Yaozu was. Despite his family’s prestige, he was idle and had a poor reputation, unlike his elder siblings. If Lin Xiang were truly involved with him, Aunt Liu would certainly try to dissuade her.

“You don’t know, but people in the factory are saying that you’re involved with Sun Yaozu and that you’re getting married soon!”

“What?” Lin Xiang was shocked. She was keenly aware of how crucial reputation was in the 1970s. This wasn’t modern times; even a small rumor could ruin someone’s life. After thinking it through, she realized this was likely Sun Yaozu’s doing—a scheme to coerce her into compliance. If everyone believed they were involved, clearing her name would be almost impossible.

Such a tactic would have been disastrous for her predecessor, who was introverted and reluctant to seek help. Lin Xiang thought for a moment before angrily saying, “Aunt Liu, I’ve heard Sun Yaozu is quite aggressive and even violent. I would never get involved with him. I wonder who’s spreading such nonsense. If this rumor gets out of hand and ruins my reputation, how could I marry someone else? Do they want to force me into marrying him?”

Aunt Liu was finally reassured. This child wasn’t foolish after all. Relieved, she patted Lin Xiang’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll speak up for you. If anyone dares to spread such malicious gossip, I’ll give them a piece of my mind!”

“Thank you, Aunt Liu!” As an unmarried young woman, Lin Xiang found it difficult to confront gossip directly, especially with nosy colleagues spreading rumors. Having an elder like Aunt Liu intervene was much more effective.

Still, Sun Yaozu’s persistence was troubling. Lin Xiang realized she couldn’t afford to be choosy anymore; time was of the essence.

“Aunt Liu, I’ll head home now. Thank you for handling this matter for me.” Lin Xiang remembered that the Lin family’s ration coupons for sugar were coming soon, and she needed to figure out how to get a few to prepare a thank-you gift for Aunt Liu.

“It’s no trouble.” Aunt Liu felt a pang of sympathy for Lin Xiang, who had lost her mother early. Especially now, with Sun Yaozu clearly targeting her, this was a delicate situation. Before letting her leave, Aunt Liu asked, “Xiangxiang, you’re at the age to think about marriage. Has your father or stepmother been arranging anything for you?”

Normally, a girl of Lin Xiang’s age would have had proposals lined up, but with her family’s circumstances, it was a tough situation indeed.

Lin Xiang knew Auntie Liu had a good heart and was genuinely worried for her, so she explained, “My stepmother wants to marry me off to Sun Yaozu, but I’m not willing. I’m looking for a matchmaker to find someone myself.”

“You really have your own ideas!” Liu Qiuping’s eyes lit up in surprise. She hadn’t expected Lin Xiang to change so much and be so decisive. Feeling genuinely relieved, she added, “That’s a good plan. I’ll also keep an eye out for you. Finding a good match would be a great thing…”

As she spoke, Liu Qiuping studied the beautiful young girl in front of her, and a thought suddenly struck her. There was already a match in place! She blurted, “Hey, what about that childhood betrothal of yours? Have you been in touch with him?”

“Childhood betrothal?” Lin Xiang was taken aback. She had no knowledge of this, not even from the original body’s memories. “Did I really have a childhood betrothal?”

“Of course! Your grandfather arranged it for you back in the day—when your mother was still alive,” Liu Qiuping said with certainty. As a close friend of Lin Xiang’s mother, she naturally remembered this event from more than a decade ago.