Before dinner, she had planned to bide her time, make a slow and steady plan, and eventually break free from her family.
But clearly, the marriage with the Liu family was already a done deal.
Her compromise just now had been solely to put her stepmother at ease.
Back then, the original host feared that materials were scarce and life was difficult in the far Northeast where her fiancé was stationed, so she refused to fulfill the engagement. In the end, the engagement fell into her younger sister’s lap instead.
In the novel, the fiancé became an officer at a young age. Not only was he extremely capable, but he was also upright, kind, and had a strong sense of responsibility.
Even if they didn’t like each other upon meeting at the base, with his personality, he would never abandon her. He would definitely find her a job so that she could stay.
Coincidentally, the original host’s late mother had worked in the meat plant slaughtering and inspecting pigs, and in her past life Jiang Lai had been a veterinarian.
In this era, veterinary medicine was just beginning to take shape, and veterinarians were in short supply in the northern military units.
Jiang Lai continued her act, face full of innocent calculation: “With the money I have left, I can use half of it to be filial to my father and Auntie Zhou.”
Qi Huaiye had sharp hearing—he hadn’t intended to listen in.
At that line, his brows furrowed. He glanced at Jiang Lai, then lowered his gaze again.
“My goodness, child, you’re so foolish. Your stepmother isn’t that kind. That younger son from the Liu family, well, he…”
Realizing she was about to say something indecent in front of an unmarried young girl, Director Gao abruptly changed the topic. “The Liu family is a fire pit—it’s right not to jump into it.”
Jiang Lai widened her watery apricot eyes, looking shocked. “But Auntie Zhou treats me so well. How could she hurt me?”
Director Gao rolled her eyes. Since ancient times, how many stepmothers have treated the children of the previous wife well? Not only Jiang Lai—everyone in the neighborhood had been fooled by Zhou Chuanfang.
The rumors said Jiang Lai was spoiled and arrogant, but after meeting her twice, she seemed clearly polite and naive, and even very filial.
“Marriage between families is complicated. Who rushes to get engaged like this? Your stepmother is being improper, and there’s something wrong on the Liu family’s side too.”
Tears shimmered in Jiang Lai’s eyes as she gripped Director Gao’s hand tightly.
In those trusting, filial eyes, it felt as if she were relying on her.
A sudden sense of sacred responsibility surged in Director Gao’s heart. “Are you really sure about selling your job? Your mother sacrificed herself for that factory—this job is rightfully yours. As long as you don’t agree, Zhou Chuanfang can’t take it.”
Jiang Lai froze. That detail hadn’t been in the book.
So her mother was actually a martyr.
She wiped away her tears and spoke firmly, “Yes. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to sell it.”
“As it happens, my eldest sister is going gray worrying about her niece being sent to the countryside. There’s a good chance this will work.”
After thinking a moment, Director Gao’s expression turned serious. “Come find me tomorrow at eight. If the job transfer works out, I’ll give you the money and write you a referral letter for the army.”
If they delayed any longer, Jiang Lai might not be able to leave.
Legally, arranged marriage was against the law, but in practice, it would just be dismissed as a family matter with no resolution.
Jiang Lai’s eyes reddened again. “Thank you, Director Gao. Meeting you is the greatest blessing of my life.”
Director Gao’s heart swelled. She reminded Jiang Lai a few more times to keep it secret from everyone for now.
First battle: won.
Jiang Lai left in high spirits, a smile tugging at her lips.
Director Gao was grinning ear to ear too. After closing the door, she relayed everything to her family and finally sighed, “Such a pitiful child. We have to find a way to look after her.”
Then she turned to the tall young man across from her. “By the way, Captain Qi, aren’t you taking the train back to base tomorrow? Could you take Lailai along? A delicate young girl like her could use someone to look out for her.”
Qi Huaiye recalled that stunning face—beautiful, yes, but also foolish.
Sold off by her stepmother, and she still helped her count the money.
“Mom, Leader Qi is on a mission this time. It’s probably inconvenient,” Director Gao’s public-security-officer son tugged at her sleeve, giving frantic signals.
He knew Qi Huaiye well—there was no romance in that man’s heart, only the army and the nation.
His temper was famously cold and unyielding, completely unromantic.
Once, the commander had introduced a potential match to him. But because the woman spoke down to the gate guard, Qi Huaiye made her stand at attention outside for an entire afternoon.
Asking him to look after Jiang Lai was truly difficult for him.
Unexpectedly, Qi Huaiye said lightly, “I don’t know which military district she’s going to. If I run into her on the train, I’ll look after her.”
Director Gao’s son: “…”
He stared at his old comrade in disbelief, convinced something was wrong with him. But no matter how he observed, that cold, sharp face betrayed no emotion.
Could it be that Jiang Lai had some kind of secret identity? A spy?
He didn’t even consider romance for a second.
His expression was embarrassingly easy to read.
“Don’t overthink it.” To avoid causing trouble for that young woman, Qi Huaiye actually explained, “It’s all in service of the people.”
That was exactly something Qi Huaiye would say.
When Jiang Lai returned, the dishes were still on the table. Zhou Chuanfang clearly hadn’t come back yet, which also meant the two of them hadn’t settled their tempers.
The original host would never clean up, so Jiang Lai pretended she didn’t see it and headed straight for the master bedroom.
“Dad.”
Jiang Jianjun sat up when he heard her.
“Hoahua told me her uncle has inside news—there will be a batch of cheap old stock grain at the granary tomorrow morning. Give me the household register. After I buy the dress, I’ll go buy a few jin of flour.”
Jiang Jianjun blinked. “How did I not hear anything?”
“I said it’s inside news.” Jiang Lai put on the original host’s impatient expression, sounding spoiled and rude. “If I didn’t want to eat dumplings tomorrow night, I wouldn’t bother lugging flour home.”
“And let’s agree in advance: once things are settled with the Lius tomorrow, buy two jin of pork. I want pork-and-scallion dumplings, not cabbage.”
Jiang Jianjun didn’t doubt her. His eldest daughter was greedy and lazy—without some benefit, she wouldn’t lift a finger.
He took out the household register, handed it to her, and counted out two yuan, three grain coupons, and a meat coupon.
“If there’s cheap rice, get two jin as well. You’ll be on a bicycle—it won’t be hard.”
“You’re so annoying,” Jiang Lai muttered, frowning.
Before leaving, she reminded him, “Don’t tell Auntie Zhou yet. If she finds out we’re buying meat and flour for no reason, she’ll nag for days. Otherwise, why not just hold a ten-table engagement banquet at the state-run restaurant?”
He almost refused, but seeing the expectation on her face, he hurriedly nodded. “Fine, fine. Dumplings it is.”
A banquet at a state-run restaurant? That would cost a fortune.
And the engagement with the Liu family was shameful enough—he didn’t want anyone to know.
“Dad, in this family, you’re the only one who treats me well.” Jiang Lai flattered him sweetly. “Once I’ve settled in with the Lius, I’ll bring meat home to honor you.”
Jiang Jianjun beamed.