Liang Xin remained expressionless. “What matter requires such secrecy?”
“Liang Xin, I know exactly how you feel about our Yuan Yang. To be honest, I’ve liked you immensely since the first time I met you. What mother-in-law wouldn’t appreciate a daughter-in-law like you who’d give her all for her son? If Yuan Yang truly married you, I wouldn’t have a single worry for the rest of my life.”
Wang Hongyan sighed. “But you know how ambitious Yuan Yang is. He takes after his biological father—both have grand aspirations. As parents, even if we can’t help, we shouldn’t hold them back. If there’s any way we can assist, we must spare no effort. Don’t you agree?”
Liang Xin listened quietly without responding.
Wang Hongyan paused before continuing, “I know you’re angry and resentful. So even when you sent Yuan Yang to the police station a couple of days ago, I advised him not to hold it against you. After all, even clay figures have tempers, and rabbits bite when cornered. Liang Xin, I came today to apologize on Yuan Yang’s behalf. Let bygones be bygones.”
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Ah? Liang Xin!”
Wang Hongyan grabbed Liang Xin who was acting unpredictably. “I haven’t finished speaking. Liang Xin, I never expected you to marry into the Lu family. When you think about it, you and Yuan Yang are truly fated.”
“Not necessarily.” Liang Xin shook off her hand. “Right now, it’s just your family unilaterally wanting to form a marriage alliance with the Lu family.”
Wang Hongyan’s affectionate expression immediately stiffened. “That’s only because our family has declined. If it were back in the day, who knows who would be clinging to whom? Speaking of which, if our family were still like before, I’d have made Yuan Yang marry you immediately. Liang Xin, you’re actually the one I approve of most in my heart.”
Liang Xin raised an eyebrow slightly. “Is that so?”
“Yes, of course!” Wang Hongyan tried to grab Liang Xin’s hands, only to find them tucked in her padded jacket pockets. “Liang Xin, I won’t beat around the bush with you. Let me be direct: Yuan Yang has completely fallen for you now. He’s distracted every day, thinking only of you.”
Liang Xin timely displayed an appropriate expression—part surprise, part delight, part coyness.
Wang Hongyan was overjoyed and hooked her arm through Liang Xin’s, lowering her voice. “Since things have come to this, how about this: when I formally propose the marriage to the Lu family later, could you put in a good word to help facilitate this match…”
Liang Xin promptly twisted her arm away, looking furious.
“Liang Xin~”
Wang Hongyan pulled her back. “Actually, this plan is for your benefit. Now that you’ve married into the Lu family, you have to stay home every day taking care of Chongfeng, that Invalid. You can’t go out, and even if Yuan Yang wanted to see you, he’d have no opportunity. But if Yuan Yang marries Yueji and becomes the Lu family’s son-in-law, he can frequently appear openly at the Lu residence—even live there.”
Liang Xin looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“You silly child… I see, I understand.” Wang Hongyan leaned closer. “Chongfeng hasn’t consummated the marriage with you yet, has he?”
Liang Xin blushed and lowered her head.
She was putting on quite the act.
Wang Hongyan smiled with satisfaction. “That’s even better. This way, you’re still worthy of our Yuan Yang. Liang Xin, life is actually very short. Who knows when Chongfeng might be gone? You shouldn’t force yourself to live in grievance as his widow, suffering your whole life. If we want to live, we should live with pride. Be with whoever you like, don’t put so many shackles on yourself.”
Liang Xin remained silent, a trace of bitterness flashing across her face.
Wang Hongyan felt she had struck a chord with Liang Xin. “As long as you help Yuan Yang secure this marriage arrangement, I won’t oppose you two being together. Yuan Yang—Yuan Yang would definitely be overjoyed. After he saw you at the Lu family’s that day, he said he became even more determined about this marriage with the Lu family. He’s determined to make it happen, for your sake.”
Liang Xin suppressed her nausea, enduring it again and again, until she couldn’t bear to listen any longer.
“You… you really know how to dream, treating everyone else like fools?”
Wang Hongyan, who had been speaking enthusiastically, paused and studied Liang Xin’s expression before suddenly withdrawing her arm that had been linked with Liang Xin’s.
“Liang Xin, I’ve been speaking to you politely. If you cooperate properly, it’ll be good for you, good for Yuan Yang, good for everyone. If you don’t cooperate… I’ve told you all this today. If you have second thoughts, don’t blame us if the fish net gets broken.”
“It’s ‘fish dead, net broken’.”
“……”
Wang Hongyan waved her hand. “Anyway, that’s the general idea. You understand. Liang Xin, if the Lu family finds out how you treated Yuan Yang in the past, do you think they’d still want you? I know that mother-in-law of yours best. Back when our Old Wei sacrificed himself, she came every day to persuade me to stay at the garrison. Superficially, she made it sound nice, saying it would be convenient for them to take care of me, but actually she just wanted me to remain a widow—preferably even erecting a chastity arch in the garrison!”
Wang Hongyan spoke angrily, losing her patience. “Also, that time you secretly cut capitalist tails back in your hometown—your commune protected you so you could get married. If your father-in-law who can’t tolerate any wrongdoing finds out, not only will you not be able to stay with the Lu family, but your commune and your father will also face trouble. Whether you choose good days or bad days, I believe you’re a smart person.”
Liang Xin said nothing.
Wang Hongyan, knowing she had intimidated her, returned to her previous affectionate demeanor, putting her arm around Liang Xin and saying many soft, kind words.
When Wei Yuanyang returned from buying things at the military service agency and saw his mother and Liang Xin being intimate, he said nothing.
His eyes seemed glued to Liang Xin, not leaving her for a moment.
Both mother and son thought they had Liang Xin under control.
The three of them walked into the Lu family’s small building one after another.
Hu Fenglian was just coming out of the kitchen carrying steamed buns. “Liang Xin, who was looking for you?”
Liang Xin: “Wei Yuanyang and his mother.”
Wei Yuanyang and Wang Hongyan, who had just broken into broad smiles, simultaneously felt their hearts sink. Their smiles instantly froze on their faces, and both pairs of eyes looked at Liang Xin nervously.
Hu Fenglian put down the steamed buns. “Hongyan, what did you want with Liang Xin?”
While walking toward the dining table, Liang Xin said: “They wanted me to put in a good word for them.”
“That’s right!”
Wang Hongyan suddenly raised her voice to interject, successfully drawing everyone’s attention to herself. “It’s just that I heard Feng Lian personally chose her daughter-in-law and is very satisfied, so I thought of asking the new bride to put in a good word for us. Yes, just to help put in a good word.”
Hu Fenglian’s expression wasn’t very good as she looked at Wang Hongyan.
Chief Lu’s expression wasn’t very good either. “Come in and sit down.”
Wang Hongyan had just breathed a sigh of relief when she shot Liang Xin a threatening glance and walked over to sit on the sofa.
No sooner had she sat down than Hu Fenglian asked, “What kind of favorable words do you want Liang Xin to say?”
“It’s just that our two families are about to formalize the engagement…”
“She wants me to help facilitate the marriage between Wei Yuanyang and Yueji so that Wei Yuanyang can openly live in the Lu family, taking Chongfeng’s place to care for me. Then I’m supposed to put in good words for Wei Yuanyang and help him in every matter.”
The living room instantly fell into deathly silence.
Wang Hongyan stared wide-eyed at Liang Xin, her smile frozen on her face, forgetting to change expression.
Wei Yuanyang was also so shocked that his lips parted slightly, as if seeing Liang Xin for the first time. Panic quickly appeared in his eyes as he hurriedly looked toward Chief Lu.
Chief Lu’s face darkened as if ink could drip from it.
Hu Fenglian sprang to her feet, her finger trembling as she pointed at Wang Hongyan. “Old Wang, how could you become so despicable!”
After the initial shock, Wang Hongyan finally reacted. Her face alternated between pale and red, her mouth opening several times as if numbed by anesthesia, yet no words came out.
“Oh my god.”
Lu Yueji covered her red lips with both hands, her almond-shaped eyes darting back and forth between Wei Yuanyang and his mother. “Are you trying to treat our entire family as fools?”
Wang Hongyan’s expression immediately changed. She hurriedly stood up, shaking her head like a rattle drum. “You mustn’t believe her nonsense! Fenglian, you know what kind of person I am! We’re old sisters! But this daughter-in-law of yours, she’s just throwing false accusations at people! I’m truly wronged! Chief Lu!”
“What kind of person you are, I see all too clearly now!”
Hu Fenglian trembled with anger, her finger shaking. “Wang Hongyan, back in the barracks, I treated you with complete sincerity, without a hint of false affection. When you insisted on remarrying, our Old Lu did everything he could to help you, all so you and Yuanyang could live stable lives. Now that our family has sacrificed with honor, with Chongfeng ill, you’ve never once shown concern when visiting. Instead, you’re scheming against both Yueji and Chongfeng’s family! How could you be such an ungrateful wretch to this extent?!”
“I… I didn’t mean that, I truly didn’t mean that!”
Seeing the wealth within her grasp slipping away like sand through her fingers, Wang Hongyan broke out in a cold sweat, her face flushed with anxiety. “Fenglian, you’re naive, you’re straightforward, you’re warm-hearted – you’ve been deceived! Deceived by this scheming, malicious daughter-in-law! She’s spouting nonsense, throwing dirty water on us! She’s the one with ulterior motives! You mustn’t believe her!”
Liang Xin suddenly said, “I didn’t make myself clear earlier.”
The heated atmosphere abruptly paused.
Everyone in the living room turned their gaze to Liang Xin.
Wei Yuanyang and Wang Hongyan, who had been panicking and unsure what to do, saw a glimmer of hope in their eyes.
“What she meant was that Chongfeng has a short life, won’t last many days. When he’s gone, Wei Yuanyang can enjoy both the beauty of having two women and the Lu family’s connections and resources.”
Wei Yuanyang and Wang Hongyan: “…”
“You’re talking nonsense!”
Wang Hongyan broke down. She never expected Liang Xin not only to reveal their entire previous conversation but to embellish it and make it even more direct and offensive. “You…”
“You black-hearted, ungrateful wretch!”
Upon hearing this, Hu Fenglian’s eyes instantly reddened with fury. “What has Chongfeng ever done to you, for you to curse him behind his back like this, wishing him an early death?”
“Auntie Hu, there must be some misunderstanding here.”
Wei Yuanyang had to step forward to intervene. “I just went to the service center to buy some things and didn’t hear my mom and… didn’t hear their conversation. My mother never had much schooling, so it’s common for her to speak incoherently. It must be a misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding? I believe Second Sister-in-law!”
Lu Yueji spoke with indignation.
“Yueji, how can you side with outsiders!” Wang Hongyan, who had long regarded Lu Yueji as her future daughter-in-law, fumed with anger. “This person has only been married into your family for a few days. Our two families have had a relationship for many years. You were betrothed to our Yuan Yang since childhood, and for you, our Yuan Yang has remained pure and innocent…”
“Bah!”
Hu Fenglian was so enraged that she lost her composure and spat in Wang Hongyan’s direction. “Old Wang, I feel like I’ve never truly known you. Even now, you’re still spewing lies. You’re nothing but a venomous snake, eager to suck our family dry and then deliver a fatal bite. You’re utterly despicable!”
Wang Hongyan froze, instinctively glancing at Liang Xin with disbelief in her eyes.
“Forgot to tell you,” Liang Xin said. “After we first met at the Lu family home, I told both elders about my history with Wei Yuanyang.”
Wang Hongyan looked as if she’d been struck by lightning, gaping speechlessly at Liang Xin.
She never imagined there could be someone in this world so frank—or so foolish—as to voluntarily give up such wealth and status that was within reach.
Wei Yuanyang’s expression shifted from shock to complexity, tinged with traces of regret and pain.
Such a wonderful Liang Xin now belonged to someone else.
Just the thought made Wei Yuanyang feel cracks forming in his heart, the pain so intense it left his entire body numb.
Amid the pain emerged a fierce craving—for money, power, and for Liang Xin herself.
“Fenglian, your daughter-in-law was so impure before marriage, and you still want her?”
Wang Hongyan harbored deep hatred for Liang Xin. Having reached this point, she decided to make sure Liang Xin wouldn’t have an easy time either. She suspected Liang Xin couldn’t have revealed every detail—she must have presented things vaguely and ambiguously, favoring herself.
“Regimental Commander Lu, do you know how your daughter-in-law behaved with our Yuan Yang before? According to her Second Sister-in-law, she was practically willing to drain her own blood for Yuan Yang to drink. Her heart was completely filled with Yuan Yang. How many times did she throw herself at him in the countryside? If not for Yuan Yang’s integrity, she would have been sullied long ago! And despite all this, your family still accepts her?!”
“Shut your filthy mouth!”
Before Liang Xin could speak, Hu Fenglian lashed out first, “Look at what you’ve become—utterly detestable! Back then, Old Lu transferred Xiao Li to the military academy solely out of regard for Old Wei and Yuan Yang, just to ensure Yuan Yang could live without worries. Yet you ended up leaving him without food or proper clothing. Under such circumstances, a girl treated your son with unwavering devotion, and instead of feeling the slightest gratitude, you spewed lies and had the audacity to come to our home to deceive us. When your scheme was exposed, you turned around and slandered the girl, trying to ruin the most important thing for a young woman—her reputation. Calling you a black-hearted, ungrateful wolf would be too kind—you’re nothing but a venomous, black-hearted snake!”
Hu Fenglian seldom cursed and couldn’t think of other insults, so she improvised.
After hearing this, a faint smile flickered in Liang Xin’s eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone standing on the stairs.
She wasn’t particularly nervous.
The more outrageous Wei Yuanyang and his mother behaved, the more the two elders of the Lu family and Lu Yueji would recognize their true character. They would no longer be as defenseless as in the original story, where the family ended up broken—with some dead and others ill—after paving the way for Wei Yuanyang, only to be left in ruins.
Just as Wang Hongyan failed in her attempt to sow discord and was left speechless by the scathing rebuke,
Chief Lu looked at Wei Yuanyang, the former closeness in his eyes now gone.
It seemed the engagement was on the verge of collapsing, with no chance of recovery.
Suddenly, Wei Yuanyang stepped forward and said, “Uncle Lu, Aunt Hu, my mother was in the wrong. I apologize on her behalf.”
Liang Xin lifted her long lashes and looked at him.
“What do you mean by that?”
Hu Fenglian had always been close to Wei Yuanyang—after all, she was the first to hold him after he was born. But now, due to Wang Hongyan’s shamelessness and Wei Yuanyang’s silence, that closeness had faded.
“Yuan Yang, are you trying to shift all the blame onto your mother? She may be despicable, but didn’t you always chime in and never once expose her? The last time you came, I specifically asked you if you truly had no involvement with another girl, and you said yes.”
Lu Yueji slammed the table. “How despicable!”
“After my father passed away, my mother remarried quickly and had a younger brother within a few years. Often, I felt like they were the real family, and I was just an outsider living under their roof.”
Wei Yuanyang lowered his lashes, looking pitiable. “Since I was little, I had to be obedient, sensible, quiet, and always yield to my younger brother just to earn a word of praise from my mother. Over time, this became a habit—when faced with problems, I could only passively please my mother and never learned to refuse. Even when she was wrong, I had to comply. Otherwise… I would be beaten, scolded, or punished.”
Wang Hongyan turned to him in shock. She had scolded him, but she had never laid a hand on her child.
But seeing Chief Lu and Hu Fenglian simultaneously frown and direct accusatory glances her way, she immediately chose to stay silent.
Chief Lu’s brow remained tightly furrowed, and he still said nothing.
“After answering Aunt Hu’s question last time, I couldn’t sleep all night. I had a huge argument with my mother, and we haven’t spoken since before coming to the Lu family today.”
Wei Yuanyang looked at Chief Lu. “A couple of days ago, I wrote a letter to Uncle Lu. In it, I detailed my relationship with Liang Xin after I went to the countryside and clarified that the marriage arrangement between our families was entirely my mother’s one-sided wish, with deception on both ends. At the time, I didn’t know the full story behind this engagement—only that I had been betrothed since childhood. That’s why, even though Liang Xin helped me a great deal in the countryside, I remained disciplined and kept my distance from her. Our relationship was entirely proper. She never threw herself at me as my mother claimed—those were just her slanders. Liang Xin is a good girl, and I’m very grateful to her. Before coming to the Lu family to propose marriage, I did my best to compensate her by giving her a television ticket and one hundred yuan.”
Chief Lu’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
Hu Fenglian’s expression also softened a bit.
At least this child wasn’t like his mother—completely distorting the truth and shamelessly smearing Liang Xin’s reputation. Instead, he stepped forward to clear the lies his mother had spread about Liang Xin.
The money and television ticket matched what Liang Xin had said.
Lu Yueji turned to Liang Xin. “Second Sister-in-law, is this true?”
“Don’t you dare deny it!” Wang Hongyan interjected urgently. “Yuanyang did compensate her! The television ticket even came out of my pocket!”
Regarding Wei Yuanyang’s sudden mention of the letter and his vague implication that the compensation he gave was willingly offered, Liang Xin said, “That’s correct.”
Wei Yuanyang’s tightly clenched fingers, white from the pressure, loosened slightly.
Wang Hongyan also secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak up for her son again when Liang Xin added:
“Besides the television ticket and one hundred yuan, it was agreed at the time that you would compensate me with five years’ wages. When I got married, you were supposed to reimburse the cost of the television ticket as part of my dowry. Now that I’m married, when will you give me the money for the television?”
Wei Yuanyang looked as if he had swallowed a toad, his face swelling like a basket. Not only was he speechless for a long moment, but he nearly choked on his breath.
Liang Xin’s greed once again shattered his perception of her.
Instantly, only one thought crossed his mind: he might have to earn a lot of money.
He must earn a great, great deal of money to possibly win Liang Xin back.
Wang Hongyan trembled with rage. “You… you… you shameless—!”
“That’s right.”
Wei Yuanyang gritted his teeth and admitted, “Liang Xin and I settled our relationship that day. I’m grateful for the care she gave me back then, which went far beyond what I could repay. So, when my mother and I came to the Lu family to discuss the marriage, although I withheld some details, I was indeed clean and honest. Additionally, in the letter I sent, I already told Uncle Lu that the engagement between our families is hereby canceled. From now on, Yueji will be like a sister to me.”
Wang Hongyan whipped her head around to stare at her son. “What nonsense are you spouting!”
Chief Lu and Hu Fenglian finally showed emotion on their faces, looking at Wei Yuanyang in surprise.
Even Liang Xin’s calm eyes held a trace of astonishment.
Chief Lu said, “I didn’t receive your letter.”
“I mailed it the day before yesterday, addressed to the headquarters office.” Wei Yuanyang wore an apologetic expression. “Uncle Lu, Auntie Hu, I’m very sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.”
Faced with this unexpected turn of events, Hu Fenglian wasn’t sure what to say. She felt somewhat relieved but also more guarded.
Chief Lu called for his guard, “The letter from the day before yesterday should have reached the headquarters by now. Go check at the mailroom.”
Suddenly, there was movement from the staircase.
Everyone in the reception room turned to look.
Lu Zewei descended the stairs step by step, clad in a green military uniform. His figure was lean yet solid, his complexion as cold as the winter snow outside the window. His dark eyes held no emotion as he strode down with long legs.
Wang Hongyan, seeing the grown-up Lu Chongfeng for the first time, instinctively held her breath. She wanted to look, yet her eyes kept darting away out of guilt. When his emotionless gaze swept over her, her body trembled uncontrollably like a sieve.
The impassive eyes soon shifted from Wang Hongyan to Wei Yuanyang.
Wei Yuanyang was sizing him up.
Their gazes met.
Wei Yuanyang ultimately couldn’t withstand the sharpness forged from countless battlefield kills and decorated with medals. After just a few seconds of eye contact, he felt his heart palpitate.
As he averted his eyes, he caught sight of Liang Xin. A surge of determination rose within him, and with a defiant glare, he met Lu Zewei’s gaze again, fully resolved not to back down. But Lu Zewei’s eyes had now shifted to a lazily mocking expression.
Wei Yuanyang felt a knot in his chest, his breathing slightly heavier.
He had lost again.
Lu Zewei walked over to Liang Xin and handed her a jar of snow cream.
Liang Xin raised her hand to take it, but he unscrewed the lid instead. His distinct knuckled fingers scooped a small amount of snow cream from the jar and applied it to her face, gently spreading it.
Everyone in the living room watched their subtle interaction.
A faint blush spread across Liang Xin’s cheeks as she turned her head to avoid his touch, but his hand followed persistently, never leaving her face.
Wei Yuanyang felt as if he had swallowed a lemon—a slight twist, and his heart filled with sourness.
Wang Hongyan stared in astonishment at Lu Chongfeng’s actions. She hadn’t expected that, apart from his pale complexion and somewhat unhealthy lip color, Lu Chongfeng didn’t look like the invalid she had imagined. Even more surprising was his intimate behavior toward Liang Xin.
She was certain Lu Chongfeng had overheard her earlier remarks.
And he didn’t mind?
“Chongfeng…”
Wang Hongyan had barely opened her mouth when his dark, gloomy eyes silenced her.
She dared to bully Hu Fenglian, spread rumors about Liang Xin, and even make unreasonable demands of Chief Lu, but she didn’t dare utter another word in the face of Lu Chongfeng’s cold, detached expression.
“You’ve caught a chill.”
Lu Chongfeng applied a coin-sized dab of cream to Liang Xin’s snow-white cheek. “You let your face get frostbitten, all for their sake.”
Liang Xin: “…”
Hearing his eerie muttering, Wang Hongyan felt a sudden chill run down her spine and slowly hid behind Wei Yuanyang.
Just as Wei Yuanyang was nearly overwhelmed by the bitterness corroding his heart, a guard entered with a letter.
All eyes turned to the letter.
They watched as Chief Lu opened it, read it carefully, and let out a sigh.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the living room shifted with varied glances.
Chief Lu walked over to Wei Yuanyang and patted him on the shoulder. “You still have Old Wei’s spirit in you after all.”
Wei Yuanyang’s eyes reddened instantly.
Chief Lu continued, “The engagement between our families never truly existed. Let’s not mention it again.”
Liang Xin breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Chief Lu glanced at Wang Hongyan. “Your mother raised you alone—it wasn’t easy. As a man, it’s time for you to stand on your own. Since you’ve returned to Jiangjing, feel free to visit often.”
Wei Yuanyang’s eyes grew even redder.
Wang Hongyan’s face lit up with joy.
Just as Hu Fenglian was about to speak, a shadow brushed past her.
Lu Zewei reached out and snatched the letter from Chief Lu’s hand.
The living room fell silent once more.
Lu Zewei read the letter word by word, then let out a cold snort and tossed it onto Wei Yuanyang’s face.
Feeling insulted, Wei Yuanyang let the letter fall at his feet.
Lu Zewei stood over him, looking down. “I just got married, and you send a letter like this to my father, gossiping about my wife? What were you thinking?”
Liang Xin’s brow twitched slightly as she watched Lu Zewei’s slender back. Beneath his broad shoulders, his unbelted military uniform concealed a narrow waist. Standing there, he reminded her of a pine tree—unyielding through harsh winters, offering shelter and refuge to all living things.
Wei Yuanyang seized another chance to meet Lu Chongfeng’s gaze but faltered again under the accusation. “…Liang Xin and I are innocent—”
“Innocent? You may be innocent.”
Lu Zewei took a step closer. “If I were narrow-minded today, would Liang Xin’s innocence even matter?”
Wei Yuanyang clenched his fists, meeting Lu Chongfeng’s stare. Hearing those words, he pressed his lips tightly together and said nothing.
“What constitutes innocence between men and women? Not speaking alone, not taking an extra glance. If there’s a need, seek approval from the brigade leader and converse face-to-face only when the brigade leader is present. That is called innocence.”
Lu Zewei examined Wei Yuanyang’s features up close, “Is this your definition of innocence?”