Chapter 1: Back to the 70s  

“Thank goodness her face wasn’t ruined. Otherwise, how could she marry into the Gu family?”  

“Sister, why are you so stubborn? Gu Hanchuan may be paralyzed, but he’s still a regiment commander and a war hero. The state won’t mistreat him. Marrying him means a life of ease…”  

“Bang!” The hospital room door was flung open.  

Qin Hongxiang and Qian Xiaozhen immediately fell silent as everyone turned to look at the doorway.  

Liu Huiru’s eyes were bloodshot as she glared at the mother-daughter pair and cursed, “If this is such a blessing, let whoever wants it take it! Don’t even think about dragging my daughter into this!”  

She spun around furiously and snapped at the man who had been sitting silently in the corner, “Qian Jiangang! Did you hear what your precious niece just said? They’re plotting to push my daughter into a pit of fire! My beautiful daughter isn’t going to be some man’s nursemaid. If you don’t handle this fairly this time, I’ll fight you to the death!”  

Lying on the bed, Qian Lai felt a splitting headache as memories that didn’t belong to her flooded in.  

The 70s? A Worker-Peasant-Soldier University student? Gu Hanchuan? Qian Jiangang? Qian Xiaozhen?  

Had she transmigrated into that 70s-era novel she’d been listening to lately—and become the downtrodden supporting character, ‘Qian Lai’?  

Right now, the original host’s family was facing a dilemma: two girls, two paths.  

Either marry Gu Hanchuan, who had been severely injured and paralyzed during a mission, or take the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University admission letter and go to school.  

In the novel, Qian Xiaozhen had rushed to marry Gu Hanchuan. But now, judging by her words, it sounded like she was trying to push the original host into the Gu family instead.  

“If it’s such a great opportunity, why don’t you take it, cousin?” A cold, slightly hoarse voice came from the hospital bed.  

“My dear, you’re awake?” Liu Huiru immediately rushed to the bedside, her rough but warm hand pressing against her daughter’s forehead. “Does your head still hurt? You scared me to death.”  

Qian Lai gently grasped Liu Huiru’s hand and shook her head with a faint smile.  

The cracked cuts on the back of that hand felt like tiny knives stabbing into her palm—and her heart. It reminded her of her own mother.  

In her past life, Qian Lai had been the pampered darling of a wealthy family. At just 27, she was already a somewhat renowned researcher in biological genetics. But after a sudden car accident, she woke up in a different body.  

Qian Xiaozhen’s expression stiffened before she put on a tearful act. “What do you mean by that, little sister? When have I ever kept the best things from you? I never expected that my kindness would be repaid with such ingratitude.”  

She turned her back to Qian Jiangang, pretending to wipe away tears while inwardly panicking.  

This time, she absolutely couldn’t fall into the Gu family’s tomb of the living dead again.  

In her past life, after marrying into that family, she had spent day and night cleaning up after Gu Hanchuan, enduring abuse from his harsh parents and sister. Being a living widow was bad enough, but she had also suffered endless scorn.  

After Gu Hanchuan died, his family kicked her out, leaving her penniless—until she was tricked and sold off by a scumbag!  

This time, Qian Xiaozhen was determined to snatch the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University spot and find Lu Ximing at the university. She would become a professor’s wife and a wealthy businesswoman.  

The Gu family’s mess? That was Qian Lai’s problem now.  

“Exactly! Laidi, your sister only has your best interests at heart. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” Qin Hongxiang chimed in immediately.

Qian Lai sneered, her gaze sharp as a blade sweeping over the crowd. “Fine. It seems everyone knows there are two paths—one a bright, smooth road, and the other a rugged mountain trail. Then let’s lay down the rules clearly. Whoever is chosen for university will cover all expenses themselves—the family won’t contribute a single cent! Whoever marries into the Gu family will have full control over the betrothal gifts and dowry. Only then will it be fair.”

The agricultural husbandry program at the new Worker-Peasant-Soldier University had never been Qian Lai’s ambition. She knew that in two years, the national college entrance exams would be reinstated. She had long resolved to rely on herself to reclaim her place at the pinnacle of academia. Besides, there was someone there she dreaded encountering.

“Ahem,” Qian Jiangang cleared his throat, cutting through the arguments. “The betrothal gifts are mine to arrange. It’s not for the younger generation to worry about. This matter is settled. Laidi will marry into the Gu family, and Xiaozhen will go to university!”

“On what grounds, Qian Jiangang?!” Liu Huiru, like an enraged lioness, shrieked and lunged at him, clawing and hitting. “You heartless wretch! Are you planning to use my daughter’s bride price to marry off your nephew or fund your niece’s dowry? That university spot was earned by my daughter—why should my Lai Lai give it up to someone else?!”

The hospital room instantly descended into chaos.

“Auntie, saying that is just too selfish!” Qian Xiaozhen, afraid the tide might turn against her, began to sob. “Once I’m at university, I’ll study like my life depends on it. In the future, I’ll send all my earnings home so Uncle and Auntie can live comfortably…”

Liu Huiru turned to lunge at Qian Xiaozhen but was blocked by Qian Jiangang and Qin Hongxiang.

Dodging behind them, Qian Xiaozhen whimpered, “On the other hand, if my sister marries Gu Hanchuan, even if she can’t stand that cripple, with her looks, she could easily find a promising young officer in the military. This way, both of us get what we want—it’s a win-win! Besides, the betrothal gifts are meant for the bride’s family to handle, so it’s only right for the head of the household to decide. One shouldn’t only think of themselves and make things hard for Uncle…”

Outside the door, a tall, slender figure slowly withdrew the hand that had been about to push it open. A frosty expression settled over Qiao Muting’s handsome face.

He had come to Nan City to fetch his future sister-in-law. Unexpectedly, before the car sent to pick her up had even arrived, an accident occurred—a girl had dashed out of an alley and been hit. Hearing of the incident, he had rushed to the hospital. Just as he was about to enter to check on the injured, he overheard Qian Xiaozhen’s words outside the door.

His brow furrowed. He hadn’t imagined that the woman destined to be his cousin’s wife harbored such calculations.

Abruptly, he turned and delegated the next steps to Xiao Li, who had accompanied him, then strode away.

Disgust for this arranged marriage had reached its peak in his heart.

Inside the ward, the battle escalated.

Qian Xiaozhen wept pitifully, her face streaked with tears. “I’ve finished high school, while my sister only graduated from junior high. I’m also the elder sister. By any measure, I’m the more suitable one to attend university. My fate has been cruel—I lost my father young. Now that our family finally has a university spot, shouldn’t I be the one prioritized…?”

*Slap—!*

A resounding slap landed squarely on Qian Xiaozhen’s face.

Stunned, she stared in disbelief at Qian Lai, who stood tall and unyielding before her.

“How—how dare you hit me?!” she screamed, her voice bordering on hysteria.

“Qian Xiaozhen! You’ve had this coming for a long time.” Qian Lai rubbed her wrist, her gaze sharp as an icicle. “The reason I couldn’t attend high school was because your uncle wanted to save my tuition money to send to your brother. When it comes to grades, when have you ever surpassed me?”

“Hah! Filial piety? Tell me, how much of your temp worker salary have you contributed to the family?”

“Scheming to marry me off to Gu Hanchuan, then finding someone else? Pah! I’m not like you—I don’t know the first thing about your adulterous ways. You heartless, ungrateful woman, don’t you deserve to be hit?”

“You little brat! How dare you—” Qian Jiangang raised his hand in fury.

“Qian Jiangang, don’t you dare!” Liu Huiru shielded her daughter with bloodshot eyes.

“Dad, since I was little, you’ve always sacrificed Mom and me for Auntie’s family. To save money for them, you even sent me to the countryside and ignored me for four whole years.”

“Now, neither of us will let you push us around anymore. I’ll lay it out clearly—either do as I say, or don’t blame me for burning bridges. I, Qian Lai, will risk my life to turn the world upside down if I have to. Don’t believe me? Just wait and see.”