Chapter 7

Causing Trouble

Liu Kui was getting a headache from the noise. He slammed the table, his face stern, and shouted, “Shut up! You know exactly what’s going on better than anyone else, so don’t take us for fools!”

Xiao Jing wanted to continue crying, but her mother stormed in and slapped her across the face. “Are all the men in the world dead? You shameless girl! You’re just like your mother, always taking what others have already used!”

Xiao Jing was stunned and stared at her mother, dumbfounded. “Mother, am I… not your daughter?”

Her mother spat in her face. “I could never give birth to someone as disgraceful as you. If it weren’t for your father keeping me quiet, I wouldn’t have tolerated this for so long!”

Xiao Jing refused to believe it. “Mother, you don’t want me anymore?”

“Shameless wretch! I raised you for seventeen years, and you didn’t inherit a shred of decency. But your mother’s sly ways? You’ve learned those perfectly!” Xiao Jing’s mother was livid.

Years ago, she had pitied Xiao Jing’s widowed mother and occasionally lent her a helping hand. Who could have predicted she’d end up seducing her husband?

Seeing Xiao Jing remain silent, Xiao Jing’s mother continued scolding, “Shameless vixen! You can’t even leave your own brother-in-law alone? Why don’t you just die?”

Liu Kui slammed the table angrily. “Enough! This is an interrogation room, not a marketplace! All this yelling—what do you think this is? Get out!”

Xiao Jing’s mother spat on her daughter one last time before storming out in a huff.

Meanwhile, Song Ran was still unaware that his father had been arrested. At that moment, he was waiting outside the textile factory gates to intercept Xu Xin.

As soon as he saw Xu Xin coming out, he ran toward her excitedly, like a dog spotting its owner. “Comrade Xu Xin, I’ve broken off my engagement!”

Xu Xin gave him a sharp, electrifying gaze, as if she were shooting lightning at him. “Comrade Song, we’re not even friends. Your broken engagement has nothing to do with me.”

Xu Xin was fair-skinned, petite, and soft-spoken. Even her harsh words carried a different charm.

Song Ran felt his heart flutter and smiled foolishly. “Comrade Xu, I’m no longer engaged. Can we be friends now?”

Xu Xin smiled faintly. “Let’s see how you perform.”

Clutching his rapidly beating heart, Song Ran grinned like a fool. “I’ll do my best!”

Li Chengye happened to pass by and saw Song Ran smiling flirtatiously at a female comrade. He walked over and punched him. “You’re engaged, and you’re smiling like that at another woman? What’s wrong with you?”

Song Ran’s smile vanished. “I broke off the engagement.”

Li Chengye’s eyes nearly popped out. “Why? Your engagement was arranged by your grandfather!

“Song Ran, I didn’t think you were that kind of person. Your grandfather’s barely in his grave, and you’ve already broken it off. Aren’t you afraid he’ll climb out of his coffin to beat you up?”

Thinking about the 600 yuan that Xu Jiajia’s family had tricked out of him, Song Ran became furious. His face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. “That woman is no good. She scammed my family out of 600 yuan!”

“Hiss—”

Both Li Chengye and Xu Xin gasped simultaneously. Six hundred yuan? Was she insane?

“If I hadn’t sworn never to see her again, I’d have already gone to demand my money back!”

Song Ran’s aggrieved demeanor stirred up Li Chengye’s sense of justice. Feeling disdain for Xu Jiajia’s actions, he said, “Where does that woman live? I’ll go confront her!”

This was exactly what Song Ran wanted. Seeing his plan succeed, he couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at his lips. Fearing Li Chengye would catch on, he quickly suppressed it. “Shi Feng Village, Xu Jiajia. It’s an hour’s bike ride from here.”

Li Chengye, full of righteous indignation, patted his chest and declared, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she returns the money.”

Xu Xin, being the smarter of the two, immediately sensed there was more to this story. However, she chose to stay silent.

The Next Day

Shen Yuebai arrived early at the Xu family’s home with a matchmaker.

The matchmaker had a square face, a prominent mole at the corner of her mouth, her hair neatly tied in a bun secured with a net, and she held a handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms.

Swaying her hips as she walked, she smiled at Grandma Xu. “You truly are a heroine who fought against the invaders. Without a word, you’ve already swapped out your granddaughter’s fiancé!”

And what a swap! Each one was better than the last.

Though Shen Comrade’s family had a difficult stepmother, he was capable.

At his young age, he was already a deputy battalion commander—a rare find in a hundred-mile radius.

There were so many people eyeing this fat lamb, yet Aunt Xu was quick to make her move!

But hadn’t Jiajia been engaged before?

No one had heard about her breaking off the engagement!

Matchmaker’s Intrusion

The matchmaker wore a gossipy expression as she looked at Grandma Xu. “Sister Xu, when did Jiajia call off her engagement? He was a perfectly good worker. How could she just end it like that? Was Comrade Song not up to the mark, or what?”

Grandma Xu pushed the matchmaker away, frowning. “You’re spitting in my face.”

The matchmaker wiped her mouth with her handkerchief, still grinning. “There, all better. Now you can tell me.”

Grandma Xu ignored her.

Not giving up, the matchmaker scooted closer again. “Sister Xu, just spill it! You know I’m harmless—I just love hearing these things.”

Grandma Xu turned, her gaze sharp. “Are you saying you don’t want to work as a matchmaker anymore?”

The matchmaker’s curiosity instantly fizzled out. She straightened up and got to the point. “Both Xiao Shen and Jiajia are fond of each other, so I won’t waste words. I checked the calendar before coming; the day after tomorrow is a good day for an engagement.”

Shen Yuebai placed the items he’d brought on the table and added, “I already submitted a marriage application yesterday. My leader said it should be approved in about a month. Let’s finalize the engagement first, and I’ll take leave to come back for the marriage certificate.”

Grandma Xu, wary of potential trouble from Shen Yuebai’s stepmother, wanted everything settled at once. “No need for an engagement—go straight to the wedding. If the certificate can’t be issued yet, we’ll host the banquet first.”

Shen Yuebai was taken aback but quickly composed himself. “Grandma, this is too rushed. Many things won’t be ready in time.”

Grandma Xu dismissed his concerns. “There’s nothing you need to prepare. I don’t expect anything from you. Just treat Jiajia well. As for the banquet, it’ll be held here. You don’t have any objections, do you?”

Shen Yuebai, whose own family wouldn’t bother with his wedding, had no objections. “I’d be grateful, not opposed.”

Grandma Xu was pleased with his response. “Then it’s settled for the day after tomorrow.”

After finalizing the arrangements, Shen Yuebai handed Grandma Xu 200 yuan. “Grandma, here’s some money for the banquet.”

Grandma Xu only took 50 yuan. “Ten tables should be enough, and three yuan per table will do.”

Xu Jiajia, who was pouring water for the guests, thought to herself, Seriously? Nobody’s even asking for my opinion on this major decision?

Shen Yuebai handed the remaining 150 yuan to Xu Jiajia, then turned to Grandma Xu. “Grandma, how much meat should we get? I can ask my comrades to trade ration tickets for meat.”

Grandma Xu smiled approvingly at his thoughtfulness. “Jiajia has a classmate who works at the meat processing plant. She can get us meat.”

Shen Yuebai was momentarily speechless. My wife sure has connections.

Xu Jiajia raised her hand to speak. “Grandma, isn’t this all happening a bit too fast?”

Grandma Xu shot her a look. “What’s fast about it?”

Xu Jiajia was exasperated. From meeting to marriage in three days—how is that not fast?

In her previous life, she had worked tirelessly, staying single for 25 years without even a boyfriend. Now, in this world, she was about to experience a whirlwind marriage.

Grandma Xu noticed her silence and asked, “Are you unhappy with Yuebai?”

Xu Jiajia quickly shook her head. “Not at all. He’s great.”

Good looks, money, and a strong build—she had no complaints.

Grandma Xu made the final call. “Since you’re satisfied, the wedding is set for the day after tomorrow. No room for complications.”

Xu Jiajia scratched her head. “But I already promised to meet with Liao Mei the day after tomorrow. You’re putting me in a tough spot here!”

Grandma Xu was unfazed. “That’s easy. Go to her house tomorrow and tell her.”

Xu Jiajia was speechless.

The matchmaker, seeing how quickly the wedding was arranged, felt her fee was too easily earned and offered to help. “Sister Xu, is there anything you need me to do?”

Grandma Xu had been waiting for this. “Yes, buy me five chickens.”

The matchmaker thought she’d misheard and dug at her ears. “Five chickens? Sister Xu, are you joking?”

Grandma Xu stared her down. “What do you think?”

The matchmaker was nearly in tears. “Sister Xu, chickens are so precious these days. Where am I supposed to find them? And private trading is banned. If I get caught, I’ll be publicly criticized. Are you trying to get me in trouble?”

Grandma Xu wasn’t swayed. “Don’t try to fool me with that nonsense!”

The matchmaker slapped her own mouth in frustration. “Why did I have to open my big mouth?”

After finalizing the wedding arrangements, Shen Yuebai was about to leave when a loud and arrogant voice sounded outside.

“Xu Jiajia, come out here!” shouted Li Chengye.