Chapter 2

Speaking of Shen Congyun, although he was a zhiqing (educated youth) from the village, he was essentially all show and no substance.

He had only graduated from junior high, but just because his family were factory workers, he thought he was something special.

It wasn’t until she married him that she realized—while the Shen family was technically a working-class household, they had a lot of people. He had three brothers and two older sisters, and they all crowded together in a single courtyard. And that courtyard? It was rented.

To receive more support from the family, the siblings were all desperate to have children—six of them ended up having seven or eight kids altogether.

So, yes—they were extremely poor.

Anyone who married into that family was basically stepping into a pit of fire.

She reached up to wipe her face, seemingly on the verge of tears from all the grievance.

As a soldier, Zhao Haichuan had always had a strong sense of justice.

“Old Shen, this is going too far—how can you push a girl into a ditch like that?”

Zhao Haichuan calmly took off his own jacket and draped it over Ye Qianqian’s shoulders, keeping his eyes respectfully averted.

But Shen Congyun sneered and said, “It’s all a misunderstanding. I just lost control for a second. Oh, by the way, Uncle and Aunt asked me to introduce you to someone. But judging from how close you and Comrade Ye Qianqian seem to be, maybe you two should try dating instead.”

Of course. This was exactly what he wanted.

They were surrounded by people. Shen Congyun did this intentionally—just to make everyone look down on Ye Qianqian. Because she was overweight, and in his eyes, not worthy of the upstanding, proper, and well-born Zhao Haichuan.

What he was really doing was trampling on all the affection she had ever felt, humiliating her in front of everyone, and trying to make himself look virtuous—as if he were above marrying a rural woman, yet still gracious enough to “find her a good match.”

At the same time, he knew full well that Zhao Haichuan—his family’s neighbor—would never choose to be with a village girl. Zhao Haichuan’s family was very well off. Even though they were neighbors, the Zhao family lived in a military family compound, while his own family rented their home.

If Zhao Haichuan refused her now, it would deal another heavy blow to Ye Qianqian. And Shen Congyun could still mock her by saying that the clothes she made were for her father to use as a coat rack—if she wanted to save face, he’d only make her lose it even more.

Zhao Haichuan glanced at the girl beside him—she was covered in mud, her original appearance almost unrecognizable. Slightly chubby, trembling from head to toe.

He had only stayed in the village for a day, but he’d already heard the gossip. This girl had been completely sincere toward the boy next door—him. And the clothes she made were exceptionally well crafted. Yet Shen Congyun had the nerve to say such things in front of everyone. Wasn’t that just rubbing salt into the wound and humiliating her further?

So, he opened his mouth and said,
“Since you have this intention, then—Comrade Ye—would you be willing to officially go on a matchmaking date with me?”
After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Ye Qianqian, who had already stood up straight and replied seriously,
“My name is Zhao Haichuan, I serve in the XX unit of the South China J District. My current monthly allowance is 108 yuan. I’m 27 years old, and unmarried.”

Ye Qianqian’s heart leapt with joy—enduring like she had in her previous life had indeed been the right choice.
That Shen Congyun really was disgusting, shamelessly making such a humiliating proposal in public.

He thought that she couldn’t live without him, that as long as he beckoned, she would run right back into his arms.

But he was wrong.
In this life, the man she would hold onto tightly was the one standing in front of her now—not him.

She looked up at Zhao Haichuan. She knew clearly that he was only agreeing to the matchmaking proposal to help her save face—but so what?
In time, someone would help bridge the gap between them, and they would become a real couple.

Besides, the man before her was the type who, once he committed to someone, he would be steadfast and loyal, full of responsibility.

She glanced around.
Someone nearby whispered,
“Ye Qianqian would never agree—she’s completely in love with Brother Shen.”

“Exactly. She’s been shamelessly chasing after him for so long. What man would want her?”

Zhao Haichuan frowned and shot a sharp glare in their direction. The crowd immediately fell silent.

Ye Qianqian lowered her head with a slight smile, and when she looked up again, her eyes were filled with tears.
Even though she was currently chubby, her large eyes were still strikingly beautiful.

“Shen Congyun, since you’re the one introducing him, then he must be a good person,”
she said, turning her eyes to Zhao Haichuan and continuing,
“My name is Ye Qianqian, I’m eighteen—turning nineteen soon.
Since we’re talking about matchmaking… then shouldn’t you come visit my home?”

Across from her, the man visibly stiffened.
No need to ask—he was clearly uncomfortable with her being so young.

“Alright.”
Zhao Haichuan had initially just meant to put on a show, help her save face.
Then later, he’d simply claim to have some personal flaws and turn down the match—that would be the end of it.

But he didn’t expect that this girl would actually ask him to meet her family.

Well—if you’re going to act, you might as well act the full part.

Ye Qianqian knew he had good intentions. Seeing him agree, she said,
“Then come to my house this afternoon,”
She then recited her home address and walked off toward the village, head lowered.

On the side, Shen Congyun furrowed his brow, watching Ye Qianqian walk away hugging the clothes.
An uncomfortable feeling rose in his chest.

But he didn’t really care. As far as he was concerned, once Zhao Haichuan left, all he had to do was crook his finger, and this chubby girl would stupidly run right back and give him the clothes again.

In truth, he actually found this girl quite annoying. So he patted his neighbor on the shoulder and said,
“Congratulations, huh. That little girl’s father is the captain of Team Two, and her grandfather is the village Party secretary. Plus, she graduated from high school. Not bad, right…”

Before he could finish the sentence, Zhao Haichuan shot him a glare. That single glance startled Shen Congyun, who suddenly felt like the man could see straight through all his thoughts.

But Zhao Haichuan said nothing. He only remarked calmly,
“I’m going to my comrade’s house to get ready.”

“What? You’re just going to go through with the matchmaking like that? Aren’t you going to think about it?”
Is this Zhao Haichuan crazy? Their family had introduced several potential matches to him before, and he had turned them all down.
How could he suddenly settle for this fat girl?

But Zhao Haichuan only replied,
“Thanks.”
Then turned and left without even sparing Shen Congyun another glance.

—

As for Ye Qianqian, covered in mud, she was immediately spotted by her grandfather the moment she returned home.
His eyes turned red with anger and worry as he exclaimed,
“My dear granddaughter! What happened to you? Did that brat Shen Congyun bully you again?
I told you already—he’s nothing but a pretty boy, completely unreliable!”

Seeing her family again, Ye Qianqian was overwhelmed with emotion. Her nose tingled, and she rushed into her grandfather’s arms, hugging him tightly.

“Grandpa… sob… Shen Congyun tried to introduce me to someone, and I—”

“What? He knows full well you like him, and he still tried to set you up with someone else? That little punk!”

“No, Grandpa, his friend is actually really nice. He’s a soldier from the city.
When everyone was mocking me, he agreed to go on a matchmaking date with me.
He’s coming this afternoon. I… I think he’s really great. Definitely much better than Shen Congyun.”

Grandpa was stunned.
“You mean… you’ve got your eye on another man already?”

“Yes! So Grandpa, please don’t give him a hard time later.
I’m going to take a bath and change into clean clothes.”

Ye Qianqian figured her grandfather must be having a meltdown internally, but it didn’t matter—once he met Zhao Haichuan, the whole family would definitely approve.

In her past life, they never officially dated, but her parents, grandfather, and even younger brother had all seen Zhao Haichuan from afar.
All of them had been highly impressed with him.

Only she—her eyes clouded by something—had foolishly fixated on that pretty-faced Shen Congyun.

—

After taking a shower and changing into clean clothes, Ye Qianqian came out to find that Grandpa had already told her parents about what had happened.

Coincidentally, they too had just heard from others about how their daughter had personally made clothes and offered them to Shen Congyun, only to be publicly humiliated by him.