Chapter 1: Chu Peihan, are you here to marry me?

“Asking for marriage?”

“A blind man wants to eat swan meat, Chu, you’re not worthy!”

“…”

Who’s talking?!

Jiang Yunhe slowly opens her eyes and looks around. She’s on a kang (a heated brick bed) with a mat. The surrounding walls are crumbling, the plaster cracked, and patched with newspapers. It looks familiar. She sits up, instinctively extending her hands to examine them. Something’s wrong.

Ten minutes ago, she was lying in a hospital bed, her organs failing, her face swollen, and her hands covered in needle marks and burn scars from electric shocks. Now, her hands are delicate and flawless.

The surroundings suggest she’s in Changshou Village, at her maiden home, the Jiang family. Her maiden home, she thinks bitterly. The Jiang family is patriarchal and has always treated her poorly.

A few days ago, Jiang Chenglong gambled and got into debt. Now, his creditors are demanding payment. With no money, the family decided to sell her, openly seeking buyers. The price: 300 yuan – a huge sum in the early 1980s. It’s not a dowry; it’s a sale.

After arguing, she was knocked unconscious by Sun Meilin and thrown on the kang, without a blanket or even a dry mat. Outside, Sun Meilin is still yelling, her voice loud and angry.

Jiang Yunhe strains to hear a familiar voice – Chu Peihan’s. He’s here! He’s come to marry her.

She opens the door to see Chu Peihan, in a Zhongshan suit, standing in the courtyard, holding an envelope. He remains unmoved by Sun Meilin’s insults. Tears well up in Jiang Yunhe’s eyes.

Chu Peihan looks up, his usually bright eyes now dull and unfocused. He’s blind.

Jiang Yunhe clears her throat, suppressing her tears, and asks, “Chu Peihan, are you here to marry me?”

He nods slightly, “Yes.”

She smiles, “Good, I’ll marry you.”

In her past life, she didn’t know Chu Peihan’s feelings for her. She was afraid of him, intimidated by his presence and seriousness. Rumors said he had killed people. Now, she realizes that if he killed, it was probably bad people.

Chu Peihan is surprised by her quick acceptance. He wasn’t sure she would agree.

Sun Meilin’s face is furious. “You’ll marry him just like that? Do you have any respect for me, your mother?!” She tries to attack Jiang Yunhe.

But this time is different. Jiang Yunhe fights back, easily overpowering Sun Meilin and throwing her against the wall. She’s surprised by her own strength.

Chu Peihan moves slightly, but remains calm.

Jiang Yunhe suggests they discuss the wedding and that the 300 yuan dowry is unnecessary.

Sun Meilin intervenes, refusing to let Jiang Yunhe marry Chu Peihan, claiming she’s already promised her to Wang Tiejiang, a known abuser.

Jiang Yunhe remembers her past suffering under Wang Tiejiang and Sun Meilin’s manipulations, including being sold and used as a human research subject. Only Chu Peihan saved her then. Now, she’s determined to prevent a repeat of that tragedy.