Chapter 3

Just after swallowing a mouthful of food, Nian Nian raised her head and looked at her father, pointing at herself:

“Are you talking about me? You want me to get married?”

Father nodded. “I received a letter today. Your grandfather had arranged a marriage for you earlier. If you’re willing, you can meet him. It’d save you the trouble of fighting with your sister over a man. Imagine how embarrassing it sounds for two sisters to compete for one husband.”

At that, the dining table fell silent, save for Ya Zu, who wasn’t interested and continued to eat. The others all turned their attention to Father.

According to her memories, Nian Nian’s grandfather was now in the countryside undergoing “re-education,” and their family had cut ties with him.

Nian Nian’s eyes sparkled. “Go on, what’s the man’s situation?”

Now everyone stared at her. Every person in the room remembered her fierce determination when she had tried to bang her head against the wall. And now? At the mere mention of a new man, she seemed to have forgotten it all?

Father’s mouth twitched, but he continued, “The conditions are quite good. He’s a regiment commander, tall, with a good salary, and from a respectable family. Marrying him would mean a comfortable life.”

Their network of connections was also extensive. He wondered if marrying him might help him climb up a rank.

Ruhua’s eyes almost bulged out. She had just snatched one man, and now her sister was getting an even better match? She nearly broke the chopsticks in her hand.

Stepmother’s teeth clenched as well. She had worked so hard all these years to ensure her own daughter would marry well.

Nian Nian, however, seemed satisfied. “When can I meet him?”

“We’ll need to send a telegram first. Lu Huaijin is coming back on leave next week. But… he has one small flaw—nothing major.”

Nian Nian pricked up her ears, doubting any “minor” flaw her father would downplay.

“What is it?”

“You’d need to look after his child.”

Nian Nian’s face fell. “Forget it, then.”

She had no issue with children—she actually liked them. But this body was only 18 years old. To marry a man with a previous wife seemed a bit of a loss.

Ruhua’s heart raced. She knew the name Lu Huaijin well, having lived till 40 in her previous life, often seeing his name on TV.

Relieved that Nian Nian had turned it down, Ruhua thought her sister was just as foolish as last time. So what if he had a child? She’d live a comfortable life as the wife of a regiment commander.

Moreover, Lu Huaijin might be someone who would often appear on television later. Remembering his dignified and handsome face, her heart began to race again.

Suddenly, she slapped her forehead, feeling like she’d forgotten something. Smiling at Nian Nian, she said, “Sis, I ran into Li Qiang’s mother outside today. She was asking about you. Looks like Li Qiang fancies you. Wouldn’t being the factory director’s daughter-in-law be great?”

Though seeing her still reminded Ruhua of the old resentments, she thought it might be good to say more in Li Qiang’s favor.

“They even have a car and a big house—plenty of space.”

“And you could get several new outfits every year,” she added, though images of him hitting her still flickered in her mind. Li Qiang was an abusive womanizer in her previous life.

Nian Nian drained her bowl, finally feeling full. She set her chopsticks down heavily.

“Sis, if you want to marry a widower so badly, go ahead. Don’t think I don’t know about his former wife’s mysterious death. A proper young woman openly talking about marriage—aren’t you ashamed? Or are you already doing something with He Conghao?”

Lately, Ruhua was everyone’s perfect daughter, so this scolding turned her red with anger.

“Stop slandering me. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. If you don’t marry, you’ll have to go to the countryside. Who else will think of your future besides us?”

Nian Nian sneered, “You’re thinking of me? Or thinking of getting a permanent position for yourself? I’m just a tool for your ambition. If you really cared about me, you wouldn’t have stolen my boyfriend.”

Ruhua was briefly speechless but quickly retorted, “What do you mean, your boyfriend? It’s not like you were engaged. If he doesn’t love you, what’s the point in holding on? He’s a shell of a man if he doesn’t care about you.”

Nian Nian lifted Father’s teacup and splashed the contents in Ruhua’s face, then slapped her three times, the sound of each echoing in the quiet room.

“Love might not follow order, but it follows decency. Don’t ever call yourself my sister again. My mother only had one daughter, and I’m it.”

With that, she stormed to her room and locked the door. Her small, newly-nourished body didn’t have the strength to fight if it came to that.

The others remained stunned. Wasn’t this just about introducing her to a man with a previous marriage? How had it come to blows?

Ruhua fumed. She had lived so many years only to be hit by a little girl? She was beyond angry. Her whole face turned red, and she could feel her blood pressure soaring.

Her mother quickly dabbed Ruhua’s wet face, crying softly, “It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry, Ruhua.”

Ruhua frowned, “Why are you crying? You didn’t hit me.”

She hated this weak side of her mother, someone who had been soft her whole life.

Father eyed Ruhua’s swollen face and nearly grabbed his shoe to head for Nian Nian’s room.

Stepmother held him back. “Shu Hong, why are you stopping me? Today I’ll make her pay.”

Stepmother wiped her tears, “I’m used to it. She’s always been like this. She’ll be fine once she’s married off. If she marries the factory director’s son, maybe you’ll even get a promotion.”

She slapped herself. “What am I saying? Nian Nian already said no. But I still think Li Qiang is a good option. He’s big, strong, and reliable, and works in our factory too.”