Chapter 10: Danger Lurking Beneath the Night  

【Balance: 0.00】  

Jiang Rou: ……  

She furrowed her brows slightly, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes before she let out a soft sigh.  

As expected, the world was not that generous. Though the two systems were similar, their balances were not shared.  

Jiang Rou felt a brief moment of disappointment.  

However, she quickly pulled herself together.  

She had always been an optimistic person, believing that things would work themselves out in the end.  

Besides, as long as Tao Duoduo Mall was still available, why should she worry about earning another million?!  

This was the 1970s.  

Doing business was considered speculation and profiteering—if someone reported her, she could end up in prison.  

As for the black market…  

This island was remote, impoverished, and lacked resources. Where would a black market even come from?  

Thus, using Tao Duoduo Mall for business was Jiang Rou’s best option.  

As long as she had money, she could buy goods from the system, stock up on supplies in her warehouse, and live a comfortable life.  

Time to get to work!  

Without hesitation, Jiang Rou continued operating the System Mall, filling in details, uploading information, and setting up her shop name…  

Ten minutes later.  

The store named “Jiang Xiao’er General Store” had been set up just like that.  

By the time dawn arrived the next day, she planned to take a good walk around the island to see what items could be stocked and sold.  

After a long day, Jiang Rou hugged her blanket, grasped the Red String jade pendant, and, thinking about ways to make money, drifted off to sleep in a daze.  

However, on the other side of the island, an undercurrent was surging.  

A looming danger was quietly approaching Jiang Rou.  

—

Thud!  

Thud thud!  

Thud thud thud!  

Xu Chunxiang stood inside a mud-brick house, her face filled with anger. She grabbed everything within reach and smashed them onto the ground without hesitation.  

In particular, the white high heels she had worn.  

She threw them forcefully onto the floor, producing a loud crackling sound.  

That afternoon, Xu Chunxiang had personally witnessed Zhou Chongshan defending Jiang Rou. To do so, he had utterly belittled her, making her lose face in the most humiliating way.  

And that wasn’t even the worst of it.  

When Xu Chunxiang returned home, she discovered an even more devastating truth.  

The white high heels she had proudly worn, the very ones she had flaunted in front of Jiang Rou and intended to show off to Zhou Chongshan, had originally belonged to Jiang Rou!  

> “Today, when the transport ship docked… Among the people who disembarked, there was a young girl. She was the one who offered to exchange with me…”  

> “That girl had long hair tied into a braid. She wore a yellow dress and carried a handbag—clearly not someone from our island…”  

> “When I saw her wearing those shoes, she looked just like the daughter of a wealthy capitalist—so stylish and beautiful… Chunxiang, you’re also beautiful. You’d definitely look good in them too…”  

Just as Jiang Rou had suspected, the middle-aged woman she encountered at the dock was indeed Xu Chunxiang’s mother.  

As Xu Chunxiang recalled her mother’s words and thought about the humiliation she had suffered that afternoon, her fury only intensified.

Meanwhile, Jiang Rou hid behind Zhou Chongshan, wearing a smug expression.  

This was a setup!  

It had to be a setup!  

There was no way Jiang Rou was as simple as she appeared!  

She must have investigated everything about Zhou Chongshan before coming to the island—including Xu Chunxiang and even her mother!  

That was the only explanation for how she had fallen into such an obvious trap, deceived by a mere pair of high heels!  

What a vicious woman!  

Xu Chunxiang’s fury reached its peak.  

She couldn’t let this go!  

Absolutely not!  

After all, Zhou Chongshan was the man she had carefully chosen—her designated fiancé, her future husband.  

He was supposed to be her lifelong reliance.  

Xu Chunxiang had been born and raised on this isolated island. Her father had passed away early, leaving only her mother to raise her. Their family’s situation had been far from well-off.  

But she had always been beautiful. Her features were delicate, and her figure was tall and well-proportioned.  

The island was constantly exposed to harsh sunlight, leaving both men and women deeply tanned.  

Even though Xu Chunxiang wasn’t particularly fair-skinned—just an average complexion—on the island, she was considered a great beauty, the island’s most dazzling flower.  

Everyone knew that the Xu family’s daughter was the prettiest girl around.  

Moreover, she had received some education, which gave her a slight air of refinement.  

Even the village chief’s son had taken a liking to her and was already preparing to propose.  

However—  

Xu Chunxiang had high standards and never spared these men a second glance.

She often said one thing:  

> “I will never spend my whole life on this island as a poor fisherman. I’m going to the city to live a good life!”  

Because of this mindset, Xu Chunxiang had never taken a liking to anyone. Now, at twenty-two, she was considered an old maid in their small village.  

Just as her mother was worrying about her marriage prospects, the Military Unit happened to be stationed on the island.  

Among all the soldiers, Xu Chunxiang had set her sights on Zhou Chongshan at first glance.  

The reason was simple.  

Zhou Chongshan held the highest military rank and was the only one among the five battalion commanders who was still unmarried.  

If she didn’t choose Zhou Chongshan, who else could she possibly choose?  

From that moment on, Xu Chunxiang became determined—she was going to be the Commander’s Wife.  

She had gone to great lengths, carefully scheming for an opportunity to approach Zhou Chongshan, finally managing to find a reason through a child.  

And now, out of nowhere, some so-called fiancée had appeared!  

How could Xu Chunxiang possibly let Zhou Chongshan be taken away by some stranger from who-knows-where?  

She absolutely would not let this go!  

The more Xu Chunxiang thought about it, the angrier she became. Her delicate features twisted in fury, and her eyes were filled with nothing but hatred.  

Just as she was about to be consumed by her rage, a sudden flash of inspiration struck her.  

A phrase she had heard before resurfaced in her mind, playing over and over again.

> “I saw that girl wearing those shoes—she looked just like the daughter of a wealthy capitalist, so stylish and beautiful…”  

> “Just like the daughter of a capitalist…”  

A capitalist’s daughter!!!  

Yes!!!  

With her delicate skin, pampered demeanor, and the way she carried herself, Jiang Rou truly did resemble the daughter of a wealthy capitalist.  

Although the island was far from the mainland, the slogan “Seize the revolution, promote production” was still painted on the walls.  

She would never let this go!  

She had to make Jiang Rou leave this island in disgrace—banished far, far away!  

The only person who could marry Zhou Chongshan was her! It had to be her!  

> “Jiang Rou, I’ve finally found your weak spot! Just wait and see—this battle isn’t over yet. Zhou Chongshan will be mine and mine alone!”  

Xu Chunxiang let out a low, sinister murmur, like a demon whispering in the dark.  

She straightened her clothes, smoothed her expression, and returned to her usual obedient and well-mannered appearance.  

Under the cover of night, she stepped out of her house.  

She made her way toward the Military Family Courtyard. When she spotted a few familiar military wives, she slowly approached them with a warm greeting.  

She started with the usual polite small talk.

Then, when the timing was just right, the speaker would casually remark,  

“Regiment Commander Zhou seems to be getting married… His fiancée has arrived… I heard she’s the daughter of a capitalist… With such a background, wouldn’t it affect our compound? If something happens, and it drags down the sisters-in-law, what should we do?…”  

“Sisters-in-law… Please don’t say that I was the one who brought this up… This is Regiment Commander Zhou’s private matter. How would I dare to talk about it outside…”  

“It’s just that you all have always treated me well, and I can’t help but worry about you…”  

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