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Chapter 2
Lin Xiang felt a tremor in her heart. Having grown up as an orphan, without the love of parents or family, she had always harbored an idealized vision of family life. In her imagination, parents were meant to love and cherish their children. But now, faced with Lin Guangming’s furious demeanor and his threatening stance, she realized just how terrifying this could be. No wonder her original self had never dared to go against her father.
As she carefully sifted through the original self’s memories, Lin Guangming indeed emerged as a man prone to violence—a veritable tyrant within his home.
In that moment, Lin Xiang fully grasped her reality: she had truly traveled to an unfamiliar era, with no resources or allies to rely on. She was utterly on her own, surrounded by hostility.
“Aiyo, Old Lin, Xiangxiang must still be out of sorts from her fever,” Qiu Aiying hurriedly stepped in to de-escalate. In this blended family, she had always maintained the image of a kind and caring wife and mother. Now, she had to play her part. “Don’t get upset with the child.”
After all, Lin Xiang’s only redeeming quality was her looks. Qiu Aiying was counting on Lin Xiang to marry into a good family to secure benefits for her own household. There was no way she’d let Lin Guangming lay a hand on her face—if her face got bruised, even the factory director’s son might refuse to marry her.
Lin Guangming, persuaded by her words, shot another fiery glare at Lin Xiang but refrained from saying anything further. Just then, a neighbor called him outside. A cigarette found its way into his hand, and he stood chatting at the end of the corridor. With that, the matter was temporarily set aside.
Once Lin Guangming had left, Qiu Aiying drew closer to Lin Xiang, adopting a coaxing yet slightly manipulative tone. “Xiangxiang, your father and I are doing this for your own good. Hurry and give up your job. I’ll find you a proper marriage. You don’t know this, but the factory director’s son has taken a liking to you! He wants to marry you!”
Lin Xiang saw through her stepmother’s schemes but said nothing. Before she could respond, Lin Chuchu shot to her feet, angrily pointing at Lin Xiang. “Mom, you’re giving such a good marriage prospect to Lin Xiang? I’m your biological daughter!”
Lin Chuchu, clad in a peach-pink cotton blouse from the supply and marketing cooperative, looked indignant and self-righteous.
But she wasn’t particularly bright. If this were truly a good match, would Qiu Aiying offer it to Lin Xiang instead of her own daughter? Lin Xiang turned to Qiu Aiying and asked calmly, “Mom, is this really a good match? If it were, wouldn’t you be offering it to Chuchu?”
Her words left Qiu Aiying speechless. How had Lin Xiang suddenly become so sharp-tongued? Left with no retort, Qiu Aiying waved her biological daughter away.
“Chuchu, why are you meddling in this?” Qiu Aiying, who had changed her daughter’s surname to Lin after remarrying Lin Guangming, doted on her biological child. Knowing full well that the factory director’s son was a lecherous brute who frequently got into fights—especially with women—there was no way she’d let Chuchu marry him. “I’m arranging this for your sister.”
“Mom, you’re so biased!” Chuchu protested, her jealousy over Lin Xiang marrying the factory director’s son bubbling up. “I’m your real daughter!”
After Chuchu’s outburst caused a scene, Lin Xiang managed to slip away to the hallway, avoiding further trouble.
That evening, with a gentle breeze wafting through, Lin Xiang caught the scent of neighbors frying dishes on their coal stoves in the corridor. She began to ponder her future.
Her scumbag father and calculating stepmother were both forces to be reckoned with. On top of that, she was still tied to the family’s household registry, leaving her vulnerable to their control. She needed a plan—and quickly—or she’d be left with nothing, not even her metaphorical bones.
The original self’s memories about a childhood betrothal were hazy at best, stemming from vague mentions by her late mother.
If such an engagement did exist, and if the man in question was decent, reliable, and capable, Lin Xiang was willing to explore the possibility.
But upon delving further into the original self’s memories, there were no concrete details—no name, no address, nothing to go on.
How was she supposed to find him?
With no leads on this elusive betrothed, Lin Xiang decided she’d have to arrange a match herself.
The next day at work, Lin Xiang learned about a matchmaking enthusiast known as Sister Li, who worked in the steel factory. Not only was Sister Li warm-hearted, but she also had a wide social network. Still, Lin Xiang had no intention of involving anyone from the factory—this needed to be done discreetly. If her scumbag father or stepmother caught wind of it, the plan would be ruined.
Just like in later years, the 1970s had its fair share of women who enjoyed matchmaking. From Sister Li, Lin Xiang learned about an experienced matchmaker named Aunt Zhang, who lived in a courtyard in one of the nearby alleys.
Xifeng City, an industrial hub, was home to countless factories. But while some workers were fortunate enough to secure family apartments in factory-owned tenement buildings, many still had to rent houses through neighborhood committees, often ending up in shared courtyards.
The alleys of Xifeng were lined with such courtyard homes. Unlike the spacious rural homesteads, these urban courtyards were cramped, with four or five families often sharing a single yard. Renting a single room or two was considered lucky, even if it meant squeezing in an entire family.
For many, these crowded conditions only fueled their dreams of moving into a proper apartment building.
Aunt Zhang, who lived in Courtyard 31 on Qingshui Alley, was no exception.
Her family of six crowded into two rooms in the eastern wing of the courtyard. Even the living room doubled as a bedroom at night.
Aunt Zhang had long enjoyed matchmaking. Not only did it provide a bit of income to supplement the household budget, but it was also her passion—something she threw herself into wholeheartedly.
In the past, matchmaking had been more of a side gig alongside her job. But a few years ago, she’d given up her position at the meatpacking plant to her youngest son, helping him secure a job and eventually a wife. Since then, she’d been at home, earning a bit of money by making paper boxes and taking on matchmaking as a full-time endeavor.
Recently, with the policy of forced relocation to the countryside for young people, Aunt Zhang had been busier than ever. She’d almost exhausted the pool of young men and women in the area, working tirelessly to arrange matches.
That very day, she’d braved the scorching sun to introduce three young women at risk of being sent to the countryside to three young men. Her cloth shoes were nearly worn through, but the matches had been successful. Now that the families were home discussing engagement details, Aunt Zhang had earned a yuan in gratitude from each side and was finally able to take a well-deserved break.
She gulped down a few mouthfuls of cold water from an enamel cup printed with “Serve the People,” finally feeling a bit more clear-headed. However, when she turned around, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.
A young girl had walked into the courtyard, seemingly about seventeen or eighteen years old. She wore a deep blue coarse cloth top with two patched sleeves and a pair of baggy black trousers with frayed hems. Her attire suggested her family wasn’t well off, but her looks were truly stunning.
Her porcelain-white face stood out even more against her shabby clothes, appearing particularly charming. Her delicate features seemed as if they had been painted. When she looked at Aunt Zhang with a faint smile, even Aunt Zhang—who had seen most of the young men and women in Xifeng City during her matchmaking career—was left speechless.
Where did this fairy-like girl come from?
“Hello, are you Aunt Zhang?” the young girl asked. Her voice was clear and pleasant, like a melodious chime.
“Yes, yes!” Aunt Zhang was fond of handsome young men and beautiful girls—it was always a joy to see them. She quickly invited her in. “Young comrade, are you here to see me? Looking for a match?”
Most people who sought her out were usually looking for matchmaking, so Aunt Zhang was already accustomed to such inquiries.
Lin Xiang smiled warmly at the plump and amiable matchmaker before her. “Yes, Aunt Zhang. I’d like to trouble you to help me find a match.”
Lin Xiang’s conditions were quite good: she was extraordinarily pretty, had a decent education, being a high school graduate, and held a formal job at the steel factory. On the matchmaking market, her profile would undoubtedly attract many suitors.
However, when Aunt Zhang heard Lin Xiang mention that she was planning to give up her job, she instantly understood the girl’s predicament. Families forcing daughters to surrender their positions to brothers were not uncommon—she had encountered this situation before.
“Your conditions are excellent. Even without a formal job, it’s not a big problem. Just tell me what you’re looking for, and I’ll help you find a match,” Aunt Zhang said.
Lin Xiang already had a plan in mind and spoke candidly about her requirements: “The man should have a stable, formal job, be reliable and capable, and come from a family with uncomplicated relationships. Most importantly…”
Aunt Zhang was nodding in agreement, thinking the girl’s high standards were justified given her looks and background. However, she was caught off guard by the latter half of Lin Xiang’s request.
“The most important thing is that he must be good-looking. I don’t like unattractive people.”
Marriage was a lifelong commitment, especially in this era. Lin Xiang naturally wanted to find someone pleasing to the eye. She couldn’t imagine spending every day with someone unattractive—it would be unbearable.
Besides, in her past life, she had worked herself to the bone, saving every penny, and hadn’t enjoyed a single thing. Whether it was a “little wolf dog” or a “little milk dog,” she absolutely needed someone handsome this time.
Aunt Zhang was utterly astonished by the girl’s forthrightness. In her decade-long career as a matchmaker, this was the first time she had heard a young woman so openly demand a good-looking husband.
Aunt Zhang laughed so hard that wrinkles formed on her face. Grabbing Lin Xiang’s hand, she exclaimed, “Comrade Lin Xiang, you’re absolutely right! With your qualifications, it’s only fair to want someone good-looking! My old man wasn’t much to look at when he was young, and now he’s just a wrinkly old coot. Even my three sons didn’t inherit much in the looks department. If I hadn’t been a flower in my youth, they’d look even worse!”
Lin Xiang: “…”
She didn’t expect Aunt Zhang to be so candid.
The two quickly reached an agreement. Knowing the unspoken rules, Lin Xiang handed over a one-yuan tip to Aunt Zhang. “Aunt Zhang, I’ll be counting on you for this. Please do your best.”
She knew that with so many people looking for matches these days, offering a little extra incentive ensured better options.
Clutching the slightly warm coin, Aunt Zhang felt a wave of satisfaction. Watching Lin Xiang’s slender figure disappear into the distance, she silently vowed to find the girl an outstanding match.
The scorching heat of July was relentless. Even at around 5 p.m., the sun showed no sign of setting, and the air remained stifling.
Lin Xiang felt the searing sunlight burn her cheeks. With no sunscreen available in this era, she quickened her pace to return to the Lin household.
At this hour, the air around the tube-shaped apartment building was thick with smoke from cooking fires. Through the white haze, the tall, brick family housing buildings of the steel factory loomed into view.
The complex had eight apartment blocks, each five stories high. Each floor housed eighteen families in a circular layout, with two staircases on either side. From the hallway, one could look down at the circular courtyard below, where people often gathered after dinner to cool off with fans and chat, creating a lively scene.
The Lin family lived on the third floor. As Lin Xiang ascended the stairs, she smelled the pungent aroma of cooking. Each level’s hallway was crowded with coal stoves where neighbors fried cabbage, preparing dinner. Despite the commotion, people greeted each other warmly, sometimes shouting across a seven or eight-meter gap between balconies.
“Xiangxiang, just got off work?” someone called out.
People in this era were extraordinarily friendly—something Lin Xiang had never experienced during her years of hustling in the big city in her previous life.
“Yes, Aunt Liu, I just got back.” Lin Xiang smiled warmly. “You’re busy cooking, so I’ll head upstairs first.”
It was Liu Qiuping, a female worker at the steel factory cafeteria, frying cabbage in the second-floor corridor, who called out to Lin Xiang. Back in the day, Liu Qiuping had been on good terms with Lin Xiang’s mother and, by extension, had always liked Lin Xiang. She didn’t think much of Qiu Aiying, the woman Lin Guangming married after.
Liu Qiuping had long believed that Qiu Aiying and her two children bullied Lin Xiang. But Lin Xiang was a timid girl who never spoke up, even when wronged. Liu Qiuping had asked a few times, but Lin Xiang always denied it, so she let it go.
Today, though, this child seemed different. In the past, Lin Xiang would always keep her head down, speaking softly and hesitantly. But today, she was chatting and laughing. Liu Qiuping was taken aback for a moment before deciding that this change was a good thing.
Back home, after dinner, Lin Xiang returned to her room to rest, lying on the uncomfortable wooden bed and feeling troubled.
The Lin family’s home was cramped. Their allocated house was barely 20 square meters, housing five people. It was a tight squeeze, and Lin Xiang wasn’t used to sharing a room with her stepsister, Lin Chuchu. The two of them stayed in a narrow space partitioned off with a wardrobe and wall. The “door” was an old bedsheet. Inside, there was only enough room for two narrow wooden beds and a small cabinet. The cabinet held their clothes, and with its doors closed, it doubled as a desk. It was a frustrating exercise in maximizing space.
Lin Xiang missed the three-bedroom, fully furnished apartment with an elevator she had owned in her past life. Her current situation only reinforced her determination to leave this place!
The next day, Lin Xiang got up early; she still had to go to work.
The steel factory workshop was running at high temperatures, heating rough steel for rolling. As a machinery operator, the original Lin Xiang had to wear a blue safety helmet and frequently operate equipment. The surrounding heat was intense, and within minutes of entering, she was drenched in sweat.
Beads of sweat rolled down her smooth, full forehead, sliding over her fair cheeks flushed red from the heat.
Having resolved to leave, Lin Xiang pondered her options for escape as she listened to her coworkers chatting during a break between operations.
“My nephew doesn’t have a job, so he’s going to be sent to the countryside. Such a pity.”
“Tell me about it. Who knows if they’ll ever make it back? Farming in the fields is such hard work.”
“My niece was supposed to go too, but as soon as the new policies came out, she rushed to find someone to marry. Yesterday, she got engaged to a guy with a stable job, and today, they’re registering their marriage.”
“That’s quick!”
“Exactly. Opportunities like this don’t come often. If you miss it, it’s gone. Once you’re married, you don’t have to go to the countryside.”
“Well, that’s still lucky. My neighbor’s daughter works as a fourth-level worker in a factory but can’t find a good match. They’re even thinking of buying a job for her so she won’t have to go. But now? No one’s willing to sell their jobs. Even offering 700–800 yuan, they can’t find a seller! They’re thinking of giving up her mother’s job to her instead. A fourth-level worker job, just handed over—what a pity.”
Idle chatter during breaks often turned into gossip sessions, and the hot topic lately was the nationwide youth relocation policy to the countryside.
Hearing all this, Lin Xiang’s resolve grew stronger. Her best option now was to sell her grueling job, save up some money for herself, and find a way to avoid being sent to the countryside. With the current situation, selling a job wouldn’t be hard—buyers weren’t the issue. The real challenge was the countryside problem. She decided to wait for Aunt Zhang’s news about the matchmaking. If she could marry before her stepmother schemed to marry her off to the factory director’s son, all her problems could be solved.
The next day at work, Lin Xiang heard someone calling for her. She had a feeling about what it was. When she saw Aunt Zhang waiting at the steel factory gate, her suspicions were confirmed. She just didn’t expect Aunt Zhang to move so quickly.
“Xiangxiang, I’ve found an amazing match for you!” Aunt Zhang exclaimed. “He works at the cable factory as a second-level electrician. He’s skilled, and the key thing is, he’s so handsome—easily the best-looking guy in Xifeng City! Tons of girls are after him, fighting tooth and nail.”
Aunt Zhang’s words piqued Lin Xiang’s curiosity. Could her first matchmaking attempt really land her Xifeng City’s most eligible bachelor?
During her lunch break, she followed Aunt Zhang to meet the man.