“Dead girl, don’t think that just because you hit your head against the wall, you can escape. I’ve already received their money. Soon, the Matchmaker will come to take you away. Even if you die, you’ll die in the Gu Family!”
When Lu Zhaozhao woke up, she immediately heard a barrage of curses in her ears.
Her head… it hurt.
But almost instantly, she realized something was wrong. She should have been dead, shouldn’t she? How could she still feel pain?
Just moments ago, she had been attacked in the hospital by rioters and slashed across the neck. There shouldn’t have been any chance of survival!
Damn it!
She had only been passing by, yet she was so unlucky. She had spent her whole life saving lives, helping countless babies into the world, giving hope to so many families… how could she be this unlucky!
Heaven was so unfair!
As Lu Zhaozhao complained about fate, a voice suddenly appeared in her mind:
【Heaven is actually quite fair. It knows that your merits in this life were considerable, so it has given you a chance to live again. From now on, you are Lu Zhaozhao, living out this life in her place. Also, considering that life here isn’t as comfortable as in the 21st Century, you’ve been given a big gift.】
No sooner had the voice finished speaking than a memory that did not belong to her was transmitted into Lu Zhaozhao’s mind.
So, she had transmigrated!
Something out of a novel was actually real?
However, the girl who shared her name did not seem to have a good fate.
Although her name was Lu Zhaozhao, it was the character “招” (Zhao), not “昭” (Zhao).
And as soon as she arrived, she would face being sold?
While she was lost in thought, a commotion came from outside. It turned out to be the only Matchmaker in Xinghua Village.
“Oh, Yuanbao’s Mother, have you finished getting ready? We must go. I’ll take her to the foot of the mountain. We need to leave before dark; otherwise, we’ll have to return in the dark.”
“All ready, Matchmaker Zhang, we’ll be out shortly.”
Yuanbao’s Mother packed Lu Zhaozhao’s only set of clean clothes and, pushing and dragging her out of bed, helped her put on her shoes and guided her outside.
“Hurry and go. From now on, you’ll be someone else’s wife. Don’t act spoiled like at home, and don’t come back if you have free time. You weren’t even my child, so don’t pretend to be sentimental.”
Matchmaker Zhang, seeing Lu Zhaozhao being pushed out, was somewhat surprised:
“Oh? Why is your head wrapped in bandages?”
“Nothing, nothing. I just bumped it earlier. It’s fine.”
“I see. Well then, Yuanbao’s Mother, here are ten taels of silver. Keep it safe, and place your handprint on this contract. That’s it.”
Matchmaker Zhang didn’t really care about her. As long as her appearance wasn’t ruined, it was fine. Otherwise, what if the groom backed out?
Finally encountering someone generous, she could pocket the five hundred wen of intermediary fees for herself.
And so, the still-dizzy Lu Zhaozhao was driven out of her home—no, sold out of her home.
Along the way, Matchmaker Zhang kept praising the groom’s family:
“Oh, your name is Zhaozhao, right? Let me tell you, the hunter at the foot of the mountain comes from a good family. Hunters always have plenty of meat, so you’re lucky. He’s scarred in appearance, but tall and strong. Just a bit cold in personality. But you should be grateful. If it weren’t for non-local residents like you and your fierce mother, who would dare marry you? I know life at home isn’t easy, so it’s better to marry out. Don’t be stubborn—there’s an old saying: with a stepmother comes a stepfather. Your father is useless anyway; can you rely on him?”
…
Lu Zhaozhao didn’t listen to a word of Matchmaker Zhang’s rambling.
She felt like a wandering spirit, with only one thought in her head: she was getting married?
Looking down at her tiny, bean-sprout-like frame, she doubted her life choices. She must have only been a little over ten years old.
In the modern world, she had reached twenty-eight without ever being in a relationship, and now, having just transmigrated to the past, she was already being married off?
She didn’t know what to say.
Still, seeing the scene just now, her natal family didn’t deserve her attention. It was better to follow the matchmaker and see what kind of family had bought her.
If it was tolerable, she could stay and heal her injuries; if not, she could figure out a way to escape.
After all, if the family could pay ten taels of silver for her, life there shouldn’t be too bad.
Matchmaker Zhang, having talked for a long time without getting any response from the girl, gave up. The intermediary money was in hand, and that was all that mattered.
How her life turned out next? That was up to her own luck.
She had done a good deed, rescuing the girl from the fire pit of her natal home.
A useless father, a cruel stepmother, and an ungrateful younger brother—none of them were good people. Getting married early was for the best.
By the time night approached, they finally arrived at their destination.
Matchmaker Zhang called to the dilapidated thatched house:
“Brother Gu, I’ve brought the person to you.”
Soon, a young man emerged from the house. He was tall, but under his right eye was a long scar, which looked quite terrifying. At first sight, Lu Zhaozhao was startled.
She felt regretful—such a handsome young man, ruined by a scar!
“Thank you, Matchmaker Zhang. Here is the agreed intermediary fee; please keep it.”
Gu Yan took the contract from Matchmaker Zhang and handed her the prepared money.
Matchmaker Zhang took it with a bright smile:
“Good, that’s settled. You two take care of each other. I’ll leave now—the road is dangerous after dark.”
After Matchmaker Zhang left, Gu Yan examined the person beside him.
A small, thin, bean-sprout-like body, bandaged head, dirt-smeared face. He wondered if she could even take care of anyone.
“Your name is Lu Zhaozhao?”
“Yes.”
“I won’t beat around the bush. I bought you so that you can help me care for the sick and the children. We’ll sleep in separate rooms. To outsiders, we appear as husband and wife to avoid suspicion. Don’t worry—I won’t do anything to you.”
At first, his mother had opposed him buying a peasant girl as a wife. After all, his former status had been high, even in decline, and a peasant girl could not match him.
But Gu Yan recalled the recent investigations in the Capital City, searching for their whereabouts.
Finally, things were stable, and buying a maid in town or county would draw too much attention. It was safer to buy a peasant girl.
Moreover, nearby villages didn’t employ maids, even in wealthy households or the village chief’s house. If they wanted to stay low-key, buying a wife was the only option.
Lu Zhaozhao nodded eagerly.
Perfect! She was still so young; there was no way she would… you know. Sleeping in separate rooms was ideal.
Excited, she said:
“Yes, I understand. Don’t worry. I cook well, can do housework, and taking care of people won’t be a problem.”
Seeing her agreement, Gu Yan nodded in satisfaction and led her into the thatched house.