Chapter 4

“Compared to the people out there, he’s a much better choice, though it’s a shame that Nian-Nian doesn’t like him.”

She remembered that after Li Qiang’s ex-wife died, he compensated her family with a large sum of money.

Father Xu’s eyes lit up. Why hadn’t he thought of this sooner? He had been in his position for nearly a decade without any promotion, and if he didn’t move up soon, even younger people would be above him.

Father Xu took a big gulp from his bowl to suppress the restlessness in his heart.

Xu Ruhua, seeing her father’s reaction, knew he was tempted, but she had more important things to ask.

“Dad, how old is Lu Huaijin this year?”

Father Xu glanced at Xu Ruhua and, seeing her bruised face, tried hard to recall the letter’s content.

“He’s about 27… I think.”

Xu Ruhua’s heartbeat quickened—it was almost him. Just one more look at him in person, and she’d be sure.

“Dad, can I go on a matchmaking date with him? I don’t mind if he has a child.”

The porridge Father Xu had just sipped sprayed right onto Xu Ruhua’s face.

“What did you say? Aren’t you with He Conghao?”

Xiu Hong, confused about why her daughter was asking, helped her wipe her face with a towel.

Xu Ruhua replied nonchalantly, “It’s not like we’re married.”

Father Xu almost choked on his words.

“No way! What would people say? You’re still young, and you want to be a stepmom?”

Xu Ruhua raised her chin defiantly.

“Then why do you have better options for Xu Nian-Nian and not for me?”

The comment sidetracked Father Xu, and his initial intention to scold Xu Nian-Nian faded. With a belly full of frustration, he returned to his room for a nap.

Xiu Hong pinched her daughter’s arm, warning her, “Don’t say things like that and upset your dad.”

With that, she followed Father Xu into the room.

After a good meal, Xu Nian-Nian lay down and began to recall the plot.

It was the summer of 1974, and according to the events of her first life, the original owner would have married He Conghao after graduation. Her family arranged for her to work as a salesperson in a department store, which meant she didn’t need to go to the countryside.

In her second life, her family introduced her to Li Qiang, and to avoid being sent to the countryside, she agreed to marry him. She didn’t have a child until she passed away.

According to the book, Li Qiang was an abusive man.

In this life, the original owner impulsively dropped out of school, making her relocation to the countryside imminent. What a disaster.

Her parents were unreliable, and based on her past-life experience, her stepmother was far from the kind character she’d read about in books.

However, her stepmother was a minor character in the story, so there wasn’t much description. The book focused on how the female lead was reborn to change her destiny and get rich.

Xu Nian-Nian had to admit that her only viable option now was marriage.

Suddenly, her father’s mention of Lu Huaijin’s name popped into her mind. It sounded cultured, even familiar, though she couldn’t recall where she’d heard it before.

In her second life, the original owner had also been introduced to him, but she turned him down, unwilling to be a stepmother.

She clapped her forehead in realization—he was the powerful figure later in the story!

Even the female lead had to rely on his connections to do business.

Thinking about it, the female lead got in touch with him because of a marriage agreement made by the original owner’s grandfather.

So, not only was the original owner a pawn, but also a stepping stone.

Xu Nian-Nian was shamefully intrigued by this powerful figure, thinking of the female lead trying to cozy up to him in the future.

At that time, she could simply hold her husband’s arm and say in a soft, delicate voice, “Don’t help her.”

Just imagining the scene thrilled her; after all, she had been reborn as a side character set up to fail.

It must have been fate that linked her to this powerful figure. Otherwise, how could they have been tied by a childhood engagement?

She conveniently forgot her previous complaint about marrying a man with a previous marriage being a loss.

Still, whether or not she’d go through with it depended on his looks.

She was a fan of attractive people, and this rebirth made her realize that her fallout with He Xingyan in her previous life may have been because his appearance didn’t attract her.

She thought of a few jokes.

Before the matchmaking meeting: “I love money.”

After the matchmaking meeting: “Turns out I don’t love money that much.”

This time, she’d learn from her mistakes. She had to check out his looks.

Xu Nian-Nian burst out of her room and knocked on Father Xu’s door.

“Dad, I want to go on a matchmaking date.”

Xu Ruhua, listening from the small partitioned room in the living room, immediately perked up. Did that fool finally come to her senses and want to go on a date with Lu Huaijin? Her heart tightened, forgetting even the three slaps she received that afternoon.

Having been reborn, she did feel some resentment. Why was Xu Nian-Nian so much prettier?

If she set her sights on anyone, who could resist?

Xiu Hong opened the door for Xu Nian-Nian.

“Your dad’s asleep. Talk to him later.”

If her daughter had someone in mind, there had to be a good reason. And the old man finally seemed interested in the factory director’s son at noon, so she’d have to bring it up again when she got the chance.

Father Xu turned over in bed, exhausted. What was going on—couldn’t he even get a nap?

But Xu Nian-Nian didn’t care and knocked on his door again.

“Dad, wake up. Didn’t you want me to get married? I agree. Send a telegram to Lu Huaijin this afternoon, and let’s set up a date.”

Father Xu sat up, startled by the sudden noise, and angrily shouted,

“What? Didn’t you say you weren’t interested? What’s better about Lu Huaijin than Li Qiang? He even has a child you’d need to care for.”

Listening to his wife, he leaned more towards Li Qiang. Lu Huaijin was a regiment commander, but he had connections through his former father-in-law’s side. After the marriage, they’d be far away, and he probably wouldn’t gain much benefit.

But Li Qiang was different—he was the son of a factory director. If she married him, he’d enjoy plenty of perks. Not only would he have job security, but their son would also have a guaranteed future job.

Xu Nian-Nian leaned against the door.

“Dad, it must be fate. Otherwise, how could we have had an arranged engagement since childhood?”

Father Xu rubbed his head, unsure if he’d remembered wrong. Wasn’t that not exactly what had been said at the table?

“Fine, you can meet Lu Huaijin, but you’ll need to meet Li Qiang too.”

Xu Nian-Nian frowned.

“Dad, are you kidding me? Li Qiang lives in the compound. If we meet and things don’t work out, how could I face anyone here? Besides, he’s just not my type—he looks like a big black bear who could knock me out with one punch. Should I throw myself into that?”