Xia Xiaowan had truly been reborn!
—To put it plainly, in her previous life she had left this world far too early because she had worked herself to death!
This time, when Xia Xiaowan opened her eyes, she found that she had been reborn in 1984, on the very day that the Jiang family and the Liu family had both sent matchmakers to propose marriage.
When Xia Xiaowan was three years old, her parents had met with misfortune, and she had been sent to live with her uncle, Xia Zhiyuan, where she had remained until now.
—Her uncle, Xia Zhiyuan, was an honest man.
Xia Xiaowan was his niece, and she was quite pretty, so people from all around naturally came to propose marriage.
The Jiang family’s prospective groom, Jiang Cheng, was a high school student. He studied well and was honest and dependable. Most importantly, just by looking at him, Uncle Xia could see what he himself had looked like when he was young.
Her uncle was very satisfied with Jiang Cheng.
But Aunt Wang Xiumei had her eye on Liu Xun, the son of the director of the lumber-processing factory. His family was well-off, and he was the only son among three older sisters—the sort of person for whom, if he wanted the stars, no one would give him the moon instead.
Her uncle, Xia Zhiyuan, was the second son in his family. He had two sons and two daughters of his own, four children in all.
—Her uncle’s family was of very ordinary means.
Although her uncle was capable, he could only just manage to keep the family fed and clothed.
The two matchmakers had explained both marriage proposals in detail and were waiting for her uncle to make a decision.
Her uncle Xia Zhiyuan’s eldest daughter, Xia Xiuxiu, was the same age as Xia Xiaowan. She was arrogant and domineering, but also very beautiful.
Aunt Wang Xiumei hoped to marry her eldest daughter to Liu Xun, the son of the lumber-processing factory director. But reality had it that Xia Xiuxiu chose Jiang Cheng instead.
Everyone present was dumbstruck, especially the members of the Xia family.
Her uncle Xia Zhiyuan’s two sons were much older than his two daughters. His eldest son, Xia Jianshe, was twenty-six that year, while his second son, Xia Zuguo, was twenty-four. Both of them worked at the lumber-processing factory.
It had cost six hundred yuan to get the two brothers into state-owned employment, and Wang Xiumei had been heartbroken over that money for several years.
The younger daughter, Xia He, was fifteen that year and attended junior high school. She and her two older brothers were all kind to Xia Xiaowan.
During the day, Xia Xiaowan worked as a salesclerk at the supply and marketing cooperative, earning thirty-six yuan and eighty cents a month. Wang Xiumei took the money away using all sorts of excuses, so in the end Xia Xiaowan could only rely on her sewing skills to earn a little spending money.
Whenever her uncle Xia Zhiyuan asked about it, Xia Xiaowan never complained about Wang Xiumei’s harshness.
—She knew how difficult things were for her uncle.
By now, the two older brothers were nearly thirty and still unmarried, becoming the subject of gossip among the neighbors.
Whenever Wang Xiumei heard those malicious rumors after returning home, she took out her anger on Xia Xiaowan. She either taunted her sarcastically or beat her.
This time, when the Xia family received the marriage proposals, Xia Xiaowan heard everything but gave no response. She remained extremely calm as she steamed corn buns in the kitchen and picked over the vegetables.
“Mom, I want to marry Jiang Cheng. I want to marry him!” Xia Xiuxiu shook Wang Xiumei’s arm, her small face pale with a trace of bashfulness.
—Wang Xiumei was a snob.
These two marriage proposals had cost her a full ten yuan. The matchmaker was a famous silver-tongued woman from all around the area, and it was only through her efforts that they had managed to secure the son of the lumber-processing factory director.
She had never expected that her own daughter, Xia Xiuxiu, would turn out to be such a fool.
—She insisted on marrying poor-as-dirt Jiang Cheng!
In her previous life, Xia Xiaowan had married Jiang Cheng. With her help, Jiang Cheng had been admitted to a university in the capital. After graduating, he had entered a central state-owned enterprise and become its general manager not long afterward.
She had taken care of the entire extended family and given birth to four children. Life had been extremely difficult. She had not received proper care after giving birth, and before she was even forty, her hair had already turned gray.
By then, Jiang Cheng had already secured the top position at the central state-owned enterprise.
Her husband was a workaholic who never lifted a finger around the house. He was also a mama’s boy who obeyed his mother’s every word. Xia Xiaowan had suffered countless abuses, yet even when she worked herself to death, Jiang Cheng had not been moved in the slightest.
—In this life, when she saw her younger female cousin resolutely marry Jiang Cheng, Xia Xiaowan knew that Xia Xiuxiu had also been reborn.
The Xia family sisters were all extraordinarily beautiful.
Xia Xiaowan, in particular, was not only beautiful but also virtuous and capable. Yet in her uncle’s household, she could never win Aunt Wang Xiumei’s approval.
Wang Xiumei was always saying that a girl had to learn to endure, obey her husband’s family in everything, and submit to her husband.
But Xia Xiaowan had never seen Wang Xiumei treat her mother-in-law well or treat her husband well.
Xia Zhiyuan himself was not very capable, and he was also henpecked. Just as he was about to open his mouth to argue, he said, “Xiumei, I think Jiang Cheng has excellent character. I’ve heard he’s an obedient boy, and he’s both a good student and filial. Our Xiuxiu won’t suffer by marrying him!”
Wang Xiumei was so angry that her teeth itched. She pointed at Xia Zhiyuan’s nose. “You old fossil! The Jiang family is even poorer than ours. Are you telling Xiuxiu to marry into their family and drink the northwest wind?”
—Her uncle, Xia Zhiyuan, was rendered speechless and could not utter a single word. He turned around and went back to the factory to work.
Wang Xiumei could not even eat her lunch in peace. At the dining table, she flung her chopsticks far away. “Xia Xiuxiu, get back to your room! Use that pig brain of yours and think carefully. Liu Xun is one of the richest young men around here.
“Everything his family eats, wears, and uses is the best. You poor wretch… What sins did I commit in my past life!”
The aunt’s scolding was very loud, and Xia Xiaowan heard every word clearly. She silently continued eating.
She did not even lift her eyes.
After finishing dinner that evening, her uncle called Xia Xiaowan into his room. “Wanwan, are you really willing to marry Liu Xun? I’ve heard that he’s a gambler and has a very bad character. If you don’t want to marry him, you don’t have to. Your uncle will support you for the rest of your life!”
Xia Xiaowan looked up at the kind uncle before her, and a wave of sorrow swept over her. Her uncle truly treated her well.
The door was kicked open with a loud bang.
Wang Xiumei stormed in. “What are you two whispering about? Why are you hiding it from me?”
When Xia Zhiyuan saw that it was his wife, he immediately lost his nerve. “That, Xiumei… We were discussing Wanwan’s marriage!”
“Yes, this marriage was originally meant for Xia Xiuxiu, but she refused. Wanwan, what do you think of Liu Xun?” Wang Xiumei pulled over a chair and sat across from Xia Xiaowan.
Xia Xiaowan lowered her head and pretended to be very obedient.
Wang Xiumei hated Xia Xiaowan’s personality most of all. She was timid, slow in everything she did, and spoke in a soft voice. Just looking at her annoyed Wang Xiumei.
“I agree!” Xia Xiaowan’s voice was so loud that it gave Wang Xiumei a fright.
How had this little fool suddenly started making decisions for herself?
“And if you marry into that family, the betrothal gifts and cash gifts must all be handed over to the family!” Wang Xiumei sneered.
“Xiumei…” Xia Zhiyuan said. “Our Xia family is marrying off a daughter, not selling one!”
“What the hell do you know? We still have two sons who aren’t married, and we can’t even afford to build them a house. Look at what the neighbors are saying about our family! I raised her until she was eighteen. Is it too much to ask for some betrothal gifts?” Wang Xiumei was skilled at putting on an act. As soon as she finished speaking, she began wiping away her tears.
When her uncle saw Wang Xiumei crying, he instantly wilted like a deflated eggplant.
Xia Xiaowan knew that Wang Xiumei was greedy. If she did not let Wang Xiumei take advantage of her a little, Wang Xiumei would never let the matter rest.