After a rustling sound of flipping pages, a mechanical electronic voice replied:  

“According to the book, after the original host was hit by a train, Jiang Dahai was overwhelmed with grief. He kicked Li Hongying and Jiang Qing out of the house and, drowning in sorrow, turned to alcohol. One night, after getting drunk, he caused a production accident that cost him a hand. Fired from the machinery factory, he resorted to scavenging for a living. Half a year later, he died alone in bed from illness.”

Jiang Moli glanced at Jiang Peng beside her, who was flipping through a comic book while picking his nose and grinning like an idiot. “What about him?”  

Another rustling of pages followed.  

“After Jiang Dahai’s death, Jiang Peng rushed back from the military to attend the funeral. Convinced that Zhang Jiaming was responsible for his family’s ruin, he stormed into the Zhang household and accidentally pushed Zhang Jiaming’s great-grandmother, causing her death. He was sentenced to fifteen years in prison.”

Jiang Moli: Makes sense. 

A family should stay together—even as cannon fodder.  

“Do I have to follow the book’s plot?”  

She wasn’t about to do something as brain-dead as blocking a train in a fit of anger.  

“Host, your task is to achieve the ‘Most Hated’ status within a year. Everything else is up to you.”

Jiang Moli felt relieved.  

Jiang Dahai was still talking about the arranged marriage with the Zhang family. “Tomorrow, I’ll take leave from the factory and go back to our hometown to discuss your marriage with Uncle Zhang. I’ll ask him to call Jiaming back so the two of you can get your marriage certificate. We’ll deal with the Youth Office’s assignment later.”  

Jiang Moli didn’t want to go to the countryside either.  

Why suffer when she could be living comfortably?  

But Zhang Jiaming clearly intended to marry Jiang Qing, the story’s female lead, not a villainess like her.  

Of course, she herself had no interest in competing with the heroine for the male lead.  

…  

On the streets of Rongcheng at night, a military jeep sat quietly parked.  

Zhang Jiaming stood by the rear door, pleading in a low voice to the man inside: “Boss, please help me out. If you can help me break off this arranged marriage, I’ll owe you my life. I’ll serve you like a slave for the rest of my days.”  

The man’s face was obscured by the darkness, but his sharp, hawk-like eyes gleamed as he replied in a deep voice:  

“If you don’t want to marry her, just tell her directly. What’s the issue?”

Breaking off the engagement wasn’t the hard part—after all, Jiang Moli had always looked down on him, a country bumpkin. The real challenge was marrying Jiang Qing immediately after.  

If he could wait a year or two, it wouldn’t be a problem.  

But Jiang Qing couldn’t wait. She needed to get married right away.  

The situation was awkward no matter how you spun it. With Jiang Moli’s spoiled temper, who knew how she’d react? And Jiang Dahai probably wouldn’t agree either.  

Zhang Jiaming’s plan was to ask Lu Cheng to use his authority and presence to intimidate Jiang Moli, ensuring she wouldn’t make trouble. He also hoped Lu Cheng could propose on his behalf to the Jiang family. With Lu Cheng’s status, Jiang Dahai might not dare to oppose the marriage.  

In short, he wanted to borrow Lu Cheng’s influence to get his way.  

Lu Cheng wasn’t blind to Zhang Jiaming’s scheming.  

Zhang Jiaming was one of his soldiers—hardworking, sharp, and someone he intended to mentor. Besides, he despised outdated traditions like arranged marriages. If you’re going to marry, it should be someone you love. Otherwise, what’s the point?  

In the end, he agreed to accompany Zhang Jiaming.  

…  

That night, Jiang Moli, unsurprisingly, couldn’t sleep.  

Having grown used to soft, noiseless latex mattresses, she found the era’s hard palm-fiber beds unbearable.  

To make matters worse, the original owner was a slob who never cleaned. The straw mat felt sticky, reeking of sour, fermented sweat—disgusting enough to make her nauseous.  

Since sleep was impossible, she decided to chat with the system.  

“Can I use the 80,000 yuan in the account?”

“No. The cash reward is currently frozen and can only be withdrawn in full after the host completes the mission.”

“Then stop showing me the balance updates. It’s frustrating to see money I can’t spend.”

“Host can still enjoy the sound of it. Even if the money isn’t usable yet, doesn’t seeing large daily deposits make you happy and excited?”

A little, but not much.  

She finally drifted off to sleep in the early hours of the morning.

She had assumed that, given her lazy and gluttonous persona, sleeping in late wouldn’t be a problem. But early in the morning, Jiang Peng barged in and woke her up.  

“Sister!” 

“Jiang Peng, this better be important, or I’ll beat you to death!”  

Jiang Moli glared at him with intense morning rage.  

Unfazed, Jiang Peng shot back, “Why are you glaring at me? It’s Zhang Jiaming—he called asking for you!”  

Slipping on her sandals, Jiang Moli shuffled lazily toward the guardhouse at the residential compound, her slender arms and legs swaying as she yawned.  

Jiang Peng trailed behind her, chattering excitedly about why Zhang Jiaming might be looking for her.  

In the kitchen, Jiang Qing watched the siblings through the window, a faint sneer in her eyes.  

“Hey, Xiao Qing.” 

Zhou Xiaoqing, her mouth full of toothpaste foam, sidled up to Jiang Qing and gossiped while eyeing Jiang Moli’s alluring figure under her oversized pajamas:  

“Isn’t Zhang Jiaming Jiang Moli’s childhood fiancé? I heard he joined the army too? Calling her now—could he be planning to marry her?”  

Jiang Qing’s expression darkened as she pushed Zhou Xiaoqing away. “You got toothpaste in my rice pot.”  

“Oh, I’ll come after I finish brushing then.”  

Once done, Zhou Xiaoqing eagerly resumed gossiping about Jiang Moli.  

“She still looks down on my cousin, huh? My cousin’s a full-time worker at the steel mill. If it weren’t for his family being poor, she wouldn’t even have a chance with him. Her reputation as a lazy glutton stinks up the whole street—only a country bumpkin like Zhang Jiaming would take her.”  

“What’s wrong with being from the countryside?” Jiang Qing said coolly. “Uncle Jiang used to be a rural man too, and now he’s a senior technician. Heroes aren’t measured by their origins. A capable man will rise sooner or later.”  

“That’s easy to say, but if you could marry a city guy, who’d want a country bumpkin? Would you?”  

Zhou Xiaoqing’s offhand remark inadvertently struck a nerve.  

Because Jiang Qing was marrying a rural man—the very same Zhang Jiaming that Zhou Xiaoqing looked down on, Jiang Moli’s fiancé.  

But Jiang Qing wasn’t upset. She knew Zhang Jiaming would soon earn merits, get promoted, and have a bright future.  

By then, Zhou Xiaoqing would be the one envying her.  

Before long, Jiang Moli returned from the call.  

Jiang Qing carried the cooked congee back to the west room.  

As soon as she entered, she heard Jiang Dahai questioning Jiang Moli:  

“What did Jiaming say? Did he mention your engagement?”  

Jiang Moli sat with her legs crossed, waiting for Jiang Qing and Li Hongying to serve breakfast.  

What could she do? This was her character—a spoiled, useless girl who expected everything handed to her.  

“He asked to meet me at 10 in People’s Park.”  

Jiang Dahai was both shocked and delighted. “Jiaming’s back? Perfect! Just when we needed him! It’s like the heavens sent him to save you, Moli. You have to seize this chance, understand?”  

Too optimistic, Dad.

The one he’s here to save isn’t me—it’s Jiang Qing, the female lead.

Jiang Peng chimed in, “Dad, does that mean you’ll start preparing Sister’s dowry now?”  

“Of course! And we’ll make it grand!” Jiang Dahai grinned from ear to ear.  

Seizing the cheerful mood, Li Hongying nudged her daughter. “Xiao Qing, find time to bring your man home. Let Uncle Jiang take a look at him.”  

In high spirits, Jiang Dahai even softened toward Jiang Qing. “I’ll arrange a dowry for you too.”  

Jiang Qing forced a smile. “No need, Uncle Jiang. We’ve already agreed—no bride price, no dowry. Our future depends on ourselves.”  

It wasn’t that Jiang Qing was too proud to accept Jiang Dahai’s dowry.  

She just knew that once Jiang Dahai found out she’d stolen Jiang Moli’s fiancé, she’d be lucky if he didn’t slap her—let alone give her a dowry.  

After breakfast, Jiang Dahai, in no hurry to leave for work, rummaged through the house to find Jiang Moli a nice outfit. He wanted her to look her best to secure her future husband.  

His daughter was lazy, gluttonous, and not too bright—her only redeeming quality was her pretty face.