Chapter 1

“Jiang Yan, get up. Don’t think you can avoid this by pretending to be sick.”

“The Jiang family has raised you for so many years. It’s time for you to repay us. Whether you want to or not, you have to marry Lu Yunsheng.”

“Dad said that if you don’t get married, you’ll be sent to the countryside. The Jiang family doesn’t support idle people.”

…

Jiang Yan’s head was dizzy, and she was shivering from the cold. Just as she was feeling awful, an arrogant voice reached her ears, and she was forcefully pulled out of bed.

The moment she heard the voice, she knew exactly who it was — her so-called older sister Jiang Mo, who often bullied the original owner.

Jiang Mo had been doted on since childhood, while the original owner was just a dispensable adopted daughter.

Back when Grandpa Jiang was still alive, the original owner’s life was somewhat better. But ever since he passed away a few years ago, she had completely become a marginal figure in the Jiang family.

Even when she was sick, no one cared. She had a high fever all night and ended up dying in bed — and now, Jiang Yan had taken her place.

“Did you hear what I said? Hurry up and get out of bed. Who are you trying to fool with this weak and pitiful act?”

Jiang Yan had fair skin and stunning looks. With the fever, her complexion turned even rosier, like a freshly hatched egg — pale with a rosy hue, her sickly fragility evoking a desire to protect her. She looked like the beauty Xi Shi clutching her chest or the imperial consort shedding tears.

Seeing how delicate and beautiful Jiang Yan looked, Jiang Mo was consumed with jealousy. Her already average-looking face became even more twisted.

She reached out and pinched Jiang Yan’s arm hard, saying venomously, “You little tramp from the countryside, all you know how to do is seduce men.”

Jiang Mo didn’t know Jiang Yan’s background. She only knew that she had been brought back from the countryside by Grandpa Jiang, and she just assumed that Jiang Yan had been abandoned by her family and was an unwanted orphan.

Thinking about Jiang Yan’s origins, Jiang Mo suddenly felt balanced again.

She was a city girl. Her father worked in the Revolutionary Committee, and once Jiang Yan married, he’d be promoted to deputy director. Her mother also worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. Meanwhile, Jiang Yan was just a bumpkin nobody wanted.

So what if she was pretty? She was still going to marry a useless man who couldn’t have children.

Jiang Mo’s expression grew more and more smug, and the strength in her hands increased. Jiang Yan gasped from the pain, and her muddled mind suddenly became clear.

She wasn’t someone who would just suffer in silence. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and slapped Jiang Mo hard across the face.

Smack!
The loud slap echoed through the room.

Jiang Mo was stunned.

Standing behind her and watching the drama unfold, the original owner’s adoptive mother, Ye Chunlan, was also shocked.

Neither of them ever expected the usually meek and obedient Jiang Yan to suddenly strike back — and even slap the Jiang family’s precious daughter.

Shaking her sore hand, Jiang Yan glared at Jiang Mo and said angrily, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you pinching me? Who are you calling a tramp? I think you’re the one who’s constantly in heat — your brain is full of nothing but men!”

“Ah!”

“Jiang Yan, you actually hit me! I’m going to kill you today!”

Jiang Yan hadn’t held back with the slap, and Jiang Mo’s head was buzzing. When she came to her senses, she was so angry her hair practically stood on end.

The little brat she’d bullied since childhood actually dared to fight back and slap her in the face. Jiang Mo screamed and lunged forward to attack.

Jiang Yan reacted quickly. Seeing she was about to be hit, she scrambled to the other side of the bed and warned the two of them:

“If you want to use me to gain benefits, you’d better watch your temper — or your dad’s promotion to deputy director might be off the table.”

“You’re threatening me?”

Jiang Mo froze in place, furious, but she didn’t dare actually beat Jiang Yan — otherwise, her father would definitely scold her.

Ye Chunlan was also furious. Jiang Yan’s defiance made her feel that her authority was being challenged. She hadn’t intended to stop her daughter — she was happy to let her teach the little brat a lesson.

But hearing Jiang Yan’s words, she quickly realized the situation and reminded her daughter, “Mo Mo, calm down. Don’t ruin your dad’s big plan.”

“Mom, why are you siding with her? Our family gives her food and clothes, and now you’re letting her walk all over us?”

Having been slapped for nothing and now hearing her own mother side with the other girl, Jiang Mo was livid. Her hatred for Jiang Yan deepened — she wished she could skin her alive.

“There, there, don’t get angry, my dear. If you get sick from being angry, you’ll be the one to suffer.”

Ye Chunlan soothed her daughter with a gentle voice, then cast a cold glance at Jiang Yan, cursing inwardly at how this little bitch suddenly became so clever.

Watching the mother and daughter react like this, Jiang Yan scoffed. Anyone who didn’t know better might think she had dug up the Jiang family’s ancestral grave. But in truth, the original owner was the most innocent one in all this.

The Lu family held considerable power, but their youngest son, Lu Yunsheng, had been injured in the line of duty and couldn’t have children. The Lu family had been worried sick and had been arranging blind dates for him for years.

But once people heard that Lu Yunsheng was infertile, none of the girls were willing to marry him and live as widows.

The Lu family looked down on uneducated countryside girls who just wanted to marry in for comfort, so Lu Yunsheng remained single at 25.

Recently, Jiang Yan’s adoptive father, Jiang Yuan, was competing for the position of deputy director of the Revolutionary Committee. He heard from somewhere that the higher-ups favored another candidate — and that’s when the Jiang and Lu families’ matchmaking began.

To put it bluntly, it was a transaction.

Jiang Yan would marry Lu Yunsheng, and in return, the Lu family would help Jiang Yuan secure the promotion.

From beginning to end, the original owner had been kept completely in the dark by this family of three.

Two days ago, she came home early and overheard Ye Chunlan and Jiang Yuan discussing this scheme. She broke down on the spot and caused a scene at home.

In this era, a man who couldn’t have children wasn’t considered any better than a woman who couldn’t. And Lu Yunsheng was stationed on a southern island where the conditions were extremely harsh.

There were even rumors that he had a violent temper and was known to hit people.

He was a soldier.

One punch from him could take out half a normal person. What girl could survive that kind of beating?

Not only would she be forced to live like a widow, but there was also the risk of being beaten to death. Of course the original owner refused.

Her defiance angered Jiang Yuan, who locked her in a room for “reflection.” In truth, he was afraid she’d run away and ruin his promotion opportunity.

Seeing Jiang Yan standing there fearlessly and totally unafraid, Ye Chunlan frowned. A flash of disgust passed through her eyes before quickly disappearing. She forced a smile and spoke gently:

“Yan Yan, since you were little, Mom has never asked you for anything — but this time, you have to help your dad.

Although Lu Yunsheng is a bit older, he’s already a battalion commander.

His future is bright.

Older men tend to be more considerate. If you marry him, Lu Yunsheng will definitely treat you well. Your good days are still ahead.”

“Jiang Yan, don’t act so ungrateful. If it weren’t for our family backing you, you wouldn’t even be worthy of marrying someone like Lu Yunsheng.”

Seeing Jiang Yan land such a good match made Jiang Mo unhappy. Why did she get all the good things?

“Hah.” Jiang Yan let out a cold laugh and shot back, “Lu Yunsheng can’t even have children, and you never mentioned that. If he’s so great, then why don’t you marry him?”

“You…”

Jiang Mo was so angry she was panting. She turned her face to the side — if she looked at that little bitch one more second, she might explode.

Ye Chunlan sensed that something was off.

When had this little bitch become so sharp-tongued? That docile, obedient act before must have been fake. She really was trouble.

Ye Chunlan deeply regretted not seeing her true colors sooner. But Jiang Yan was still useful, so she forced a smile, put on the act of a loving mother, and played the emotional card:

“Yan Yan, even though you’re not our biological daughter, we’ve raised you for so many years. In your dad and mom’s hearts, you and Mo Mo are the same.”

“Mo Mo can marry too, of course, but she’s too young. We can’t expect the Lu family to wait a year or two. Besides, Mo Mo isn’t as pretty as you — I’m afraid the Lu family wouldn’t even consider her.”