“That wretched girl dares to jump into the river just because of a few words? Who is she putting on an attitude for?”

“Mother! That butcher is already in his thirties, and he even beat his last two wives to death! How could you possibly betroth Xiaoyue to him?”

“What’s wrong with being thirty? Older men know how to cherish their wives.”

A sharp, bitter voice exploded beside Xu Xiaoyue’s ears. Her head throbbed with pain as she shivered and forced her eyes open. The first thing she saw was a bare earthen wall with bold red-painted characters.

“Vast World, Endless Possibilities.”

Xu Xiaoyue twitched her fingertips and followed the direction of the voices.

The speaker was an old woman dressed in a *dacron* blouse, her face full of excess flesh. The moment she noticed Xu Xiaoyue stirring, her upturned eyes widened fiercely.

“She’s awake, she’s awake! I knew she was faking it.”

Sighing in what seemed like relief, the old woman grumbled curses under her breath as she turned and stomped out the door.

“Xiaoyue? You nearly scared me to death!”

Before Xu Xiaoyue could react, her chest was suddenly soaked with the warm, muffled sobs of a woman clinging to her.

After a bout of crying, the woman seemed to suddenly recall something. She hastily began packing, smoothing out Xu Xiaoyue’s hair as she urged anxiously,

“The Yan family has already sent someone to fetch you. Hurry and gather your things—don’t make them wait.” She spoke while moving briskly.

It was all thanks to Xu Xiaoyue’s late father, who had arranged a childhood engagement between her and someone from the Yan family when she was little. Unexpectedly, even after all these years, the Yan family’s educated youth who had returned to the city hadn’t forgotten about it. Just two days ago, they had sent a letter bringing up the old engagement.

Ever since her husband died, life had been miserable for the mother and daughter. Now, her mother-in-law even wanted to marry Xu Xiaoyue off to that old butcher—just to pocket the bride price of a dozen or so yuan to help the second son take a wife.

Xu Xiaoyue was dazed, replaying the words she had just heard in her mind—an old butcher, the Yan family, and this unmistakably vintage setting…

Her head buzzed loudly, and a shiver ran down her spine.

This was exactly like the opening scene of that era novel written by her former best friend.

As a model citizen of the new era, Xu Xiaoyue had always been a proper and upright person. She lived honestly and did things by the book.

But because her looks stood out too much, she ended up being confessed to by the man her best friend secretly loved. Even though Xu Xiaoyue had rejected him outright, she still became the target of resentment.

Never in her wildest dreams did she think that ten years of friendship would mean less than a man. Worse yet, her so-called friend even used her real name for the villainous supporting character—a girl who was almost forced to marry a butcher the moment she appeared in the story.

In the novel, Xu Xiaoyue had barely escaped the butcher’s grasp, only to receive a letter from the military district compound in the capital, mentioning her long-forgotten childhood engagement. She thought it was a turning point, a stroke of luck.

The book’s Xu Xiaoyue went to the Yan family with joy in her heart, enduring a grueling two-day, three-night journey on a green train. But when she finally arrived, the scene awaiting her was nothing like she had imagined.

Her fiancé, Yan Shuli, had no interest in the engagement and treated her with utter indifference.

Desperate to stay in the military compound, Xu Xiaoyue first tried to force herself on Yan Shuli, hoping to solidify their relationship. But her plan backfired—she ended up ruining her reputation instead.

She thought she could rely on her beauty to seduce a high-ranking officer and turn her fortunes around. But instead, she was branded a promiscuous woman, convicted of immoral conduct, and thrown into prison.

Xu Xiaoyue had forced herself to stomach the novel from beginning to end, disgusted by every page. Before she even had the chance to confront her roommate, she found herself transported inside the book’s world.

Mother Xu moved quickly, packing the luggage into a small bundle in just a few swift motions. Taking advantage of the fact that the second branch of the Xu family was still at work and hadn’t returned, she grabbed Xu Xiaoyue’s hand and jogged with her all the way to the village entrance.

“I can only see you off this far. The rest of the journey is up to you.”

“When you arrive in the capital, remember to send me a telegram. Once you get to the Yan family, make sure to seize the opportunity. My daughter is so beautiful—once you’re married, you’ll enjoy endless wealth and prosperity for the rest of your life.”

“If nothing else, there are plenty of well-off men in the military district compound. Keep your eyes open and pick someone easy to handle. Once you’re married, get your husband’s family to find you a good job and bring me to settle in the capital. Who would want to keep living in this countryside?”

Mother Xu had already made her calculations. With her daughter’s face, there was no doubt she could land herself a golden husband.

To be fair, within a ten-mile radius, there wasn’t a single girl more beautiful than Xu Xiaoyue.

Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and watery, and despite living in an era where food was scarce, she still maintained fair, delicate skin. She had a perfectly shaped oval face, and a small beauty mark at the corner of her eye added an extra touch of allure.

For young men, Xu Xiaoyue had the stunning looks of a great beauty. But in the eyes of the older generation, she was too seductive—her fox-like face seemed restless and bewitching.

Because of this, many young men admired her, but the only one who actually came forward with a marriage proposal was that old butcher.

As the vehicle approached in the distance, Mother Xu’s reluctance nearly overflowed. Lowering her head, she helped straighten the corners of Xu Xiaoyue’s clothing, carefully hiding the tears welling in her eyes.

Even though they hadn’t spent much time together, Xu Xiaoyue could still sense the complex emotions in the woman before her. She wanted her daughter to marry well and never come back, yet she couldn’t bear to let her go.

Xu Xiaoyue clenched the hem of her clothes, met her mother’s gaze, and after a brief hesitation, she finally said, “Mom, take care of yourself.”

Mother Xu’s throat tightened, and the tears she had been holding back instantly fell. A bitter ache welled in her chest, almost too much to suppress. She wiped her eyes and forced a smile.

“You wretched girl, as if I wouldn’t take care of myself.”

“But you—don’t be shy. When it comes to men, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

The car had already pulled up. Xu Xiaoyue nodded, placed her luggage inside, and sat down. “Mom, I’m leaving.”

With that, the mother and daughter parted ways. Neither of them noticed the man standing under the old locust tree behind them.

The thick tree trunk blocked his figure, but every word the mother and daughter exchanged had reached his ears loud and clear.

The man had a sharp, chiseled face, expressionless and cold. His thin lips pressed into a frosty line, and his deep-set eyes, dark as ink, seemed to hold an icy chill that sent shivers down one’s spine.

Such meticulous scheming—calculating not only his nephew but also the officers in the military compound. He was curious to see just how bold this village girl really was, speaking so shamelessly.

Yan Ye straightened up. He stood nearly 1.9 meters tall, his deep green military uniform outlining his well-built, battle-hardened physique. Broad shoulders and a lean waist gave him an imposing presence, and the black military boots on his feet added to his air of authority. The medals on his shoulders alone were enough to leave people speechless.

He had joined the military at eighteen and became a regiment commander by twenty-seven, breaking historical records in the army. Even just standing there, his natural aura of dominance was enough to make people tremble.

He had only come to this village on a whim, recalling his older brother mentioning the childhood engagement a few days ago. He thought he’d check it out.

Who would have thought he’d stumble upon such an entertaining scene?

Since they dared to scheme against the Yan family, they would have to bear the consequences.

The car rumbled along the muddy dirt road, the scenery outside the window fading into the distance. Xu Xiaoyue glanced at the driver ahead.

In this era, being able to afford a car and hire a driver spoke volumes about the Yan family’s wealth and power.

But she was destined to disappoint Mother Xu. This time, upon entering the capital, Xu Xiaoyue had already made up her mind—she was going to break off the engagement.