Chapter 2

After exchanging greetings, the two ordered a few small dishes. This restaurant was known for being cheap and tasty, and the food arrived quickly. While waiting, they had already chatted and exchanged basic personal information.

Zhou Zheng reported his height as 178 cm, but Yu Qing’er estimated it to be closer to 172 cm.

He worked at a bank as a low-level clerk—technically a stable, “iron rice bowl” job. For this era, it was considered fairly decent.

He had some education but dropped out after middle school. His current monthly income was around 40 yuan. He was 32 years old, never married, but had a son.

His family had a strict rule: if a woman didn’t give birth to a son, she wasn’t allowed to marry into the family. His former fiancée did give him a son, but tragically passed away during childbirth.

His family was relatively poor. The only reason he managed to get a job at the bank was due to connections—one of his father’s brothers worked there.

Zhou Zheng said, “My monthly salary, including bonuses, is about 40 yuan. But since my parents are elderly, I give them 10 yuan every month so they don’t have to work too hard. Even after getting married, I will continue giving them that money. All my previous blind dates didn’t agree to this arrangement, but I think, Comrade Yu, you’re not the kind of person who lacks consideration. You’ll agree, right?”

Before Yu Qing’er could say anything, he continued, “I don’t mind the scar on your face or the fact that you can’t have children. After all, I already have a son—he’s only five. After we get married, as long as you treat him well, raise him right, and love him as your own, he’ll be very filial to you in the future. Even if you can’t bear children, you’ll still have a son. A filial child will definitely take care of you when you’re old.”

Yu Qing’er: “……”

Her aunt chimed in with a smile, “Qing’er, look how great Comrade Xiao Zhou’s conditions are—young, promising, honest and upright, and he respects his elders. Plus, he’s not even bothered by the fact that you can’t have children. You won’t find another opportunity like this. Why don’t you two get to know each other a bit? Maybe you’re actually a good match.”

But Yu Qing’er thought otherwise—she and the man in front of her were absolutely not a good match.

Just that “honest and upright” part felt completely off.

She didn’t understand this whole “must give birth to a son to marry into the family” thing—it clearly showed a deep-rooted preference for sons over daughters. And the fact that Zhou Zheng agreed with such rules showed he thought the same way. What if the spiritual spring in her space really did heal her face and body?

What if she suddenly became fertile again and gave birth to a daughter?

With how much the Zhou family valued sons over daughters, they might try to brainwash her, manipulate her, and force her to devote herself to raising a son that wasn’t even hers—while dismissing her own daughter as worthless.

And she suspected that Zhou Zheng didn’t mind her facial scars not because he was open-minded, but because he had his eye on her family’s money.

Her parents were entrepreneurs. Even during a time when private business owners were looked down on, they had already started running businesses.

Her mother owned a clothing store, and her father ran a small supermarket. After a few years, her mom’s store had expanded and built a strong customer base, while her dad’s supermarket had opened several branches.

With her family’s financial situation, honestly, if it were just the facial scars and not infertility, there would still be plenty of men willing to marry her.

Meanwhile, the Zhou family was relatively poor. It was likely they were targeting her family’s money, hoping that once she married, she’d help financially support his family.

Once Yu Qing’er figured it out, she said, “I don’t think we’re a good match. Comrade Zhou is not my type.”

Zhou Zheng hadn’t expected to be rejected. The smile on his face froze for a moment as he asked, “Can I ask why we’re not a good match?”

He thought his conditions were pretty decent. Sure, his family was poor, but he was hardworking and didn’t look bad either. Otherwise, his ex-fiancée wouldn’t have agreed to have his child before marriage.

Before coming, he’d been confident he could impress his blind date. Though he was initially startled by the scar on Yu Qing’er’s face—he worried it might scare him if he saw it in the middle of the night—he remembered what the matchmaker said: her family was rich, she was an only child, and everything her parents owned would be hers. Marrying her could save him twenty years of struggle. So what if the scar was scary?

And infertility? Even better. He already had a son. She couldn’t have kids—perfect! She’d treat his son like her own, pour money into raising him, and when the boy grew up, he’d definitely be grateful and filial to her as a stepmother.

Yu Qing’er replied, “Not interested in poverty alleviation.”

Those four words were like a slap across Zhou Zheng’s face.

His smile vanished, and the corner of his mouth twitched. “Poverty alleviation? Are you looking down on my family for being poor?”

Yu Qing’er bluntly said, “Yes.”

She was all about honesty!

Zhou Zheng’s face turned dark with rage. Even though it was true he was after her family’s wealth and had hoped her side could support his, hearing it said so plainly was utterly humiliating.

Especially the term “poverty alleviation”—that stung hard.

Next to them, Yu Qing’er’s aunt was stunned by what she heard!

Yu Qing’er had only been in this world a few days. All the previous blind dates had been handled by the original version of her. This was her first blind date after transmigrating.

Her personality was very different from the original Yu Qing’er.

The original was a bit spoiled and willful, though she’d still be polite to outsiders.

She had grown up pampered, with a naïve and romantic view of the world. If she had been the one on this date, she probably wouldn’t have seen through Zhou Zheng’s intentions. She might’ve thought he was her destined partner, perfectly matched for her.

But the current Yu Qing’er was different—polite on the surface, never throwing tantrums, but when it mattered, she wouldn’t bother saving face. Her honesty was sharp—she said what needed to be said.

Why spare your dignity when you’re plotting to leech off my family’s wealth?

Her aunt scolded, “Qing’er! What kind of thing is that to say? That’s too harsh!”

Yu Qing’er looked at her aunt innocently and said, “Auntie, I’m just telling the truth. Look at the calculations he’s making—clearly planning to use my family’s money to support his. I’m not stupid. My parents worked hard to earn their money—why should someone else get it for free?”

Zhou Zheng shouted angrily, “That’s such an insult! I agreed to meet with you out of pity! You’re a disfigured and infertile woman—what gives you the right to insult me like this?”

“You think any man would want you besides me? Who’s going to marry a hen that can’t lay eggs? In the end, the only men you’ll find will already have children. You think you can marry some amazing guy?”

Yu Qing’er replied calmly, “I can choose not to marry at all. With my family’s wealth, I can live well without a husband. If I get married, it might just be to someone like you—after my money. Then I’d be using my family’s money to support someone else. In that case, it’s better not to marry at all.”