Wen Shufen was so shocked her eyes nearly popped out. She immediately pulled her hand away from Song Zhiyi’s grasp and said coldly,
“Where would our family get that much money?”
“Besides, your sister has a weak constitution—she can’t endure hardship and shouldn’t marry into a poor family. I also need to prepare a proper dowry for her.”
Song Zhiyi sighed softly, her gaze drifting toward the window.
“If Aunt Fen thinks the family is strapped for cash, then I’ll postpone this marriage for now.”
At these words, panic flashed across Wen Shufen’s face.
If Song Zhiyi refused to marry and leave,
then in three days, when the factory’s admission notice arrived, if Song Zhiyi found out she had passed the Steel Factory’s recruitment, who knew what kind of scene she would make.
By then, even Yating’s job would be at risk!
Not to mention, if Song Zhiyi didn’t marry into the Xie family, the thousand-yuan betrothal gift the Xies had given her would go to waste.
Just as Wen Shufen was hesitating over what to do,
Song Zhiyi observed her expression and continued,
“I grew up in the city and am not used to farm work. If I go, I’ll likely be looked down upon by my in-laws. Aunt Fen, you can give these clothes to Yating. I’m even willing to let her take my place in this marriage.”
Seeing Song Zhiyi so unhurried, Wen Shufen grew anxious.
Everyone knew that Xie Xingwen’s heart belonged to his childhood sweetheart. Marrying him would mean living as a widow in all but name—a life of misery.
How could she let Yating marry into that?
Finally, Wen Shufen gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and declared firmly,
“Ten thousand yuan for the dowry, right? I’ll give it to you!”
“But you must pack quickly. The wedding is the day after tomorrow!”
“Thank you, Aunt Fen. Please give it to me as soon as possible. I still need to buy some gifts—I can’t show up empty-handed at the Xie family.”
Seeing Song Zhiyi’s innocent smile, Wen Shufen cursed her inwardly as a heartless schemer!
Before long, Wen Shufen returned with a thick stack of Da Tuanjie, reluctantly handing it over to Song Zhiyi.
Only when she saw the ten thousand yuan did Song Zhiyi’s heart settle.
In three days, she would indeed go to the Xie family—not to get married, but to break off the engagement.
She hadn’t forgotten the torment the Xie family had put her through in her past life. In this lifetime, she would rather die than stay with them.
After breaking off the engagement, she also wouldn’t return to work at the Steel Factory.
Otherwise, given Wen Shufen’s temperament, if she found out Song Zhiyi had “stolen” Song Yating’s job, she would surely make endless trouble.
Song Zhiyi had no desire to engage in daily squabbles with that shrew.
She had already made up her mind: afterward, she would go find her aunt.
In her past life, when the Xie family had broken her down until she was barely human,
it was her aunt, stationed far away in a military unit, who had somehow gotten word and rushed to see her.
She had secretly slipped her money, her eyes red as she asked if she needed help finding a way to divorce.
It was Song Zhiyi herself who, fearing the difficulty of dissolving a military marriage and not wanting to drag her aunt’s family into trouble, had stubbornly refused.
But later, her aunt’s family met with an accident and came to a tragic end.
In this life, she would live well and protect those who truly loved her.
From the ten thousand yuan Wen Shufen had given her, Song Zhiyi took two hundred, planning to visit the black market first.
To leave the Song family, she needed to stock up on supplies.
Just as she reached the mouth of the alley, a loud, coarse female voice called out to her.
“Well, if it isn’t Song Zhiyi!”
Song Zhiyi halted, her brow furrowing involuntarily.
The voice sounded malicious, vaguely familiar—like someone from the past.
Turning around, she indeed saw that domineering face.
Peng Luwei wore a floral-print blouse, her hair permed into curls.
Standing with arms crossed and chin slightly raised, she watched her.
Peng Luwei’s father had a domineering personality and was a butcher, so the family enjoyed ample grease and oil, making the entire household plump and robust—and equally overbearing.
At school, Song Zhiyi’s grades consistently surpassed hers, firmly holding the top spot in their grade, which led Peng Luwei to constantly seek ways to make Song Zhiyi uncomfortable.
Seeing that Song Zhiyi had no intention of acknowledging her, Peng Luwei grew even more irritated and spoke with a sarcastic tone.
“Heard you’re getting married off to the countryside?”
“Don’t think just because your match is a soldier, it’s a good marriage. My mom said that man has someone else in his heart. How can you be so foolish, willing to marry him anyway?”
“Song Zhiyi, did you fail to get the job at the Steel Factory too, and now your stepmother is forcing you to marry?”
Song Zhiyi finally understood—Peng Luwei was here to gloat, thinking she had also failed.
“Too? So it seems you also wanted to get into the Steel Factory, but they didn’t want you, right?”
With one sentence, she precisely struck Peng Luwei’s sore spot.
Instantly, Peng Luwei flew into a rage.
“So what! My dad said there will be another chance next time! Still better than some people who, without a job, are marrying a leaky oil lamp!”
Song Zhiyi blinked, and a sudden idea popped into her mind.
“I passed the exam for the job at the Steel Factory. The acceptance letter just hasn’t arrived yet. Do you want it?”
Peng Luwei was taken aback by the question, but upon further thought, she didn’t believe it:
“You’re messing with me! If you had a job, why would you still marry off to the countryside?”
Without waiting for a response, Song Zhiyi casually added:
“Believe it or not, it’s up to you. If you want it, I can sell it to you.”
Peng Luwei hesitated, but upon closer inspection of Song Zhiyi’s expression, she felt that confident look didn’t seem like a lie.
“Don’t want it? Fine then.”
Song Zhiyi tossed out another casual remark.
“Wait! Are you serious?”
Peng Luwei’s eyes shone with a mix of three parts clarity and seven parts foolishness, afraid Song Zhiyi might take back her words.
“Serious. Give me the money now, and tomorrow I can take you to the factory to handle the transfer.”
Peng Luwei’s family not only had a bit of money but was also domineering and unreasonable. If she was determined to get this job, her butcher father was not someone Wen Shufen could handle.
Besides, Peng Luwei’s grades were decent, so transferring the job to her would be justifiable.
And she could also make some extra money in the process.
“How much?” Peng Luwei’s eyes practically gleamed.
Song Zhiyi held up two fingers.
“Two thousand?”
Song Zhiyi raised an eyebrow slightly.
Two thousand for an iron rice bowl—Peng Luwei truly felt she had stumbled upon a treasure.
“Two thousand it is. Get this settled tomorrow, and I’ll give it to you right away. If it’s late, it’ll only be one thousand. If you dare trick me, my dad won’t let you off!”
“No problem. Tomorrow, come with me to the Steel Factory.”
To speed things up, Song Zhiyi went to the black market and bought a bicycle.
She also pulled some strings to have a fake acceptance letter made, planning to give it to Wen Shufen later.
The thought of Wen Shufen causing a scene at the Steel Factory with the fake acceptance letter amused her.