Chapter 2

There were still two years before the college entrance exam would be reinstated, so Chi Yiyi planned to go to the countryside first, then take the exam and attend university in another city.

Chi Daqiang urged her, “Hurry up and go out. Be a good girl and leave with the Zhou family. Don’t make them wait too long, or people will say you’re being rude.”

Lin Ru ran outside to take a look and then came back in, wearing a smile full of schadenfreude.

“Yiyi, the Zhou family’s wedding procession is really grand—they’ve filled the whole street with a line of brand-new Phoenix bicycles. But the groom didn’t come himself to pick you up. Looks like you’ll have to ride your own bike to the Zhou family’s house.”

If Chi Yiyi really did ride her own bike to her in-laws’ house, the neighbors would mock the Chi family endlessly.

But the Zhou family’s status was high, and even if Chi Daqiang felt humiliated, he didn’t dare show it.

Chi Yiyi curled her lips into a mocking smile. She would never again blindly marry Zhou Zixiao, so she certainly wasn’t going to bike herself over to their house like she had in her last life.

She smoothly followed Lin Ru’s words and said, “Dad, even Aunt Lin thinks it’s inappropriate for me to ride over by myself. What will the neighbors think of our family?”

“Chi Yiyi, don’t slander me! I didn’t say that. If you don’t want to get married, don’t put the blame on me!”

Lin Ru tried to wash her hands of it, but Chi Daqiang still glared at her.

Chi Yiyi continued, “Dad, just as Aunt Lin said—marriage is the most important day in a woman’s life. If I allow myself to be humiliated today, it’ll humiliate our whole family. Can’t you go talk to Zhou Zixiao’s older brother and ask him to at least ride the bike and let me sit on the back?”

The Zhou family already looked down on the Chi family. Having the groom’s elder brother and sister-in-law come was already the limit—they certainly wouldn’t compromise further.

Still, Lin Ru gathered her courage and said, “Daqiang, I actually think Yiyi’s idea makes sense.”

Chi Daqiang glared at her like he wanted to kill her on the spot.

Lin Ru straightened her back and said, “Don’t give me that look, Daqiang. I’ve given the Chi family two children—I know very well that the whole family rises or falls together. Of course I hope Yiyi can marry into the Zhou family. But the way the Zhou family is treating us today is too much. If we cave now, not only will we lose face in front of the neighbors, they’ll just keep pressing us in the future.”

What she said made some sense, and Chi Daqiang began to waver.

“Fine, I’ll go talk to Zhou Zixiao’s brother.”

He left the house to negotiate with the Zhou family. Inside, both women already guessed what the result would be.

Lin Ru suddenly asked Chi Yiyi, “If the Zhou family refuses, will you still marry?”

Chi Yiyi replied, “If Aunt Lin doesn’t want me to marry, then I won’t.”

“You mean that?” Lin Ru was genuinely tempted.

Chi Daqiang came back looking utterly defeated.

“Daqiang, what happened? Why do you look so awful?” Lin Ru asked with mock concern.

Chi Daqiang didn’t even look at her. He stared straight at Chi Yiyi, his eyes full of pleading.

“Yiyi, your happiness matters more than the family’s reputation. I know you and Zixiao have been close since childhood. Just ride the bicycle and go get married, okay?”

Lin Ru’s eyes were locked on Chi Yiyi, watching her reaction.

Chi Yiyi replied slowly, “Dad, since you said my happiness is most important, then I need to bring more dowry with me. If I don’t get at least 3,000 yuan in dowry, I’m not getting married.”

Lin Ru jumped up, furious.

“Chi Yiyi, are you out of your mind? You want 3,000 yuan for a dowry?”

Chi Yiyi’s current dowry was only 800 yuan—Chi Daqiang had added 300 yuan on top of the 500 yuan bride price from the Zhou family just for appearances.

But Chi Yiyi had already done the math. Over the years, Chi Daqiang’s salary had been stretched to support four children’s education and his wife. The family’s total savings likely amounted to just about 3,000 yuan. She was only asking for about two-thirds of it. It would hurt, but he could afford it.

Lin Ru saw him hesitating and exploded.

“Chi Daqiang, don’t you dare! We have four kids to feed. If you give her that much money, how are we supposed to live?”

“Then don’t live!” Chi Daqiang snapped.

Lin Ru was so stunned she couldn’t speak.

Chi Daqiang looked at Chi Yiyi and asked, “If I give you the money, will you go with the Zhou family?”

Chi Yiyi nodded. Zhou Zixiao wouldn’t appear at all today anyway. Even if she went to the Zhou family’s house, the wedding wouldn’t happen.

Chi Daqiang turned and walked into the master bedroom.

Lin Ru gave Chi Yiyi a fierce glare, then hurried after him.

“Daqiang…”

SMACK!

Lin Ru took another slap—this time on the other cheek—and was finally silenced.

Chi Daqiang soon returned, holding 200 yuan in cash and a bankbook.

“Yiyi, this is all the savings our family has. After you marry into the Zhou family, you have to fight for a better life. I’m counting on you to get promoted and raise your salary.”

Chi Yiyi took the money and the bankbook and walked out.

She rode her bike fast, quickly leaving the wedding procession far behind.

Once she entered a narrow alley, she parked the bike, walked into a public restroom, cut her finger, and took out the jade pendant.

Sure enough, blood activated the space.

However, perhaps because she wasn’t the true owner, the space was small and completely empty, and even the sky inside was a dull gray. It was nothing like the lush, treasure-filled spaces she’d read about in novels.

Still, having a space was better than none—especially one she’d taken for herself.

Chi Yiyi was satisfied.

When she came out of the restroom, the wedding team was still nowhere in sight. Clearly, Zhou Zixiao’s older brother and sister-in-law had deliberately held back to put her in her place.

Exactly what she wanted.

Chi Yiyi had no desire to marry into the Zhou family anyway.

She walked out of the alley pushing her bike. Across the street was a bank.

Chi Yiyi went inside and withdrew the 2,000 yuan from the bankbook her father gave her.

She stored the full 3,000 yuan she now had into the space.

At the Zhou family’s house—

The auspicious hour was approaching. All the guests had arrived and were seated, waiting for the bride and groom.

But neither had shown up.

Zhou Zixiao was nowhere to be seen, and Chi Yiyi hadn’t arrived either.

Madam Zhou (Zhou Zixiao’s mother) finally became anxious.

“Why hasn’t the bride arrived yet? If we miss the auspicious time, our family will be a laughingstock!”

“They’re back! The wedding team is back!”

Someone in the crowd shouted.

Madam Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief and rushed out—only to be stunned.

“Where’s the bride?”

She hurried over to Zhou Ziyu and asked anxiously.