Song Nanzhi’s heart tightened. She had been so careful—how could she still not escape the fate of being sent to the countryside?
“Mom, I didn’t mean it that way…”
She tried to explain, but Yun Shuang wouldn’t even give her the chance.
“We took you in out of kindness back then, raised you in silk and fine food—not so you could come here and stir up trouble!”
Her voice grew more agitated. “I thought once your brother got married, you’d finally drop those crooked ideas.”
“But no. You go and put on this little show right in front of the Shen family—are you trying to ruin this marriage on purpose?”
“I see it clearly now. As long as you’re under this roof, your brother and Yuexi will never have a moment’s peace!”
The cramping in Song Nanzhi’s stomach worsened with her foster mother’s words. She gasped for air.
“Mom!”
“Don’t call me Mom! Tomorrow I’ll have your father sign you up—you’re going to the countryside!”
Yun Shuang coldly tossed out those words and turned to leave.
Suddenly, scenes from the original owner’s memories seized Song Nanzhi’s heart with a searing pain.
In the countryside, because of her bad class background and being abandoned by her family, she had endured nothing but contempt and humiliation.
There was never enough food—she’d be so dizzy with hunger that she could only secretly guzzle well water to fill her stomach.
And because she was too eye-catching, single men would knock on her window at night, so she could never sleep soundly.
The dual torment of body and mind quickly broke her. When she was found, her body had already gone stiff.
And because she lacked basic knowledge, the original owner never even knew she was pregnant when she died.
At the thought, Song Nanzhi instinctively touched her lower abdomen.
This child was innocent. She couldn’t let the child go to the countryside with her and die miserably, could she?
But right now, with this morning sickness reaction… she couldn’t hide it for much longer.
Once her belly started showing, everything would be too late.
She couldn’t go to the countryside, and she couldn’t stay in this house. What other good options were there?
Even if she managed to run away today, she’d be alone, dragging a child, with no household registration and no grain rations.
Where could she go? How would she survive?
Her fate would probably be no better than going to the countryside!
Song Nanzhi looked at herself in the mirror, and a sudden thought burst into her mind—she could get married!
She straightened up and smoothed her hair and clothes in front of the mirror.
The original owner’s looks and figure were top-notch even by this era’s standards. Surely she couldn’t fail to find a man?
But her foster mother was signing her up for the countryside tomorrow. In such a short time, where would she find someone?
Song Nanzhi sighed and pushed open the door.
At the end of the hallway, directly across from the bathroom, a figure in green stood leaning by the window.
Shen Yanting!
The old chief’s words were still ringing in her ears—something about him being nearly thirty and having been married before?
Then he probably wasn’t too picky about marriage candidates, right?
Her foster mother had warned her to stay far away from this man—that he wasn’t a good sort.
But even though this idea of hers was absurd and bold, she had no better choice at the moment.
If she had the protection of being a military wife, combined with her own skills, there was hope of survival.
Shen Yanting was still there, the cigarette between his fingers nearly burned down.
Song Nanzhi clenched her palms. Everything hinged on this moment!
She took a step forward, her heels making soft clicks against the floor as she walked toward him one step at a time.
The footsteps caught the man’s attention. Shen Yanting lazily turned his head.
Seeing it was her, one eyebrow arched and the corner of his mouth curled up.
Song Nanzhi was momentarily thrown off by the man’s presence, nearly tripping over her own feet.
Shen Yanting took one last drag, then casually stubbed the cigarette butt on the windowsill.
He blew out a smoke ring. “Miss Song—looking for me?”
Song Nanzhi felt her nerve waver under his gaze, but to survive, she had to force herself to stay calm. “Yes!”
Shen Yanting leaned forward slightly. “What? Your dear brother’s engagement got you feeling sour?”
“Too bad—coming to me won’t help. I have the least say in the Shen family.”
With that, he crossed his arms and leaned against the windowsill, looking like he was settling in to watch a show.
Waiting for this girl to run off crying.
“Regimental Commander Shen.” Song Nanzhi bit her lip. “I’m not here to ask you to… break them up.”
“I’m here to ask you…” She paused, lowering her head in embarrassment.
“Whether you’re… in need of a wife?”
The last part came out like a mosquito’s buzz, but Shen Yanting’s ears were clearly sharp.
He froze for a moment, a hint of irritation flashing across his brow. “Little girl, eavesdropping isn’t polite.”
Song Nanzhi raised her eyes. “Regimental Commander Shen, I can help you.”
Even she felt shameless saying it out loud.
“Help me with what?” Shen Yanting raised an eyebrow dismissively. “Help me find a wife?”
She couldn’t even sort out her own affairs, and here she was worrying about his.
Song Nanzhi met his mocking gaze. “I can… register a marriage… with you.”
The playfulness on Shen Yanting’s face vanished instantly. He’d come to watch a show and ended up becoming the show himself!
It took him several seconds to process those words.
“Little girl, do you have any idea what you’re saying?”
“I don’t know you, and I won’t coddle your little temper tantrums the way the Song family does. If you want to act crazy, don’t come to me.”
“Besides, I’m not just anyone’s type…”
“Regimental Commander Shen, I know!” Song Nanzhi cut him off.
“Let’s get our marriage certificate, and you take me away from home. It’s that simple.”
“I won’t interfere with you. After we’re married, you can do whatever you want!”
Oh, great. Every word he’d said to his grandfather had been eavesdropped on by this girl.
Shen Yanting let out an extremely faint laugh. “After we’re married, what will I do? Play with you?”
Song Nanzhi’s cheeks instantly burned. Wasn’t “haven’t had enough fun” something he himself had just said?
But now wasn’t the time to quibble. She pretended not to hear it and continued with what she had to say.
“That way, Regimental Commander Shen can also report back to the old chief, right?”
Shen Yanting looked her over with a half-smile. “You’re quite considerate of me. Do you take my place for a shelter?”
Song Nanzhi pursed her lips.
“Whatever scheme your Song family is cooking up, you could easily just close your doors and settle it yourselves.”
“Why drag the Shen family into it? And not just one of us—two?”
That mouth of Shen Yanting’s was truly rotten to the core.
What did he mean by “close your doors and settle it yourselves”? He was referring to her and Song Youfan.
“I’m nearly a full dozen years older than you.”
Song Nanzhi knew that in his eyes, she probably didn’t even count as a woman.
“Regimental Commander Shen, I don’t mind that you’re old, and I certainly don’t mind that you’re remarrying!”
Shen Yanting: …
In Song Nanzhi’s view, this marriage was a deal where he stood to lose nothing either way.
Shen Yanting’s gaze fell on her once more, as if weighing something.
“You said just now that once you’re married, you’ll leave the Song family?”
Song Nanzhi nodded immediately. “Yes! I definitely won’t disturb my brother and Miss Shen’s happy union.”
Shen Yanting stared at her for two seconds. “Fine.”
So crisp and decisive that Song Nanzhi was momentarily stunned.
Shen Yanting turned around, pulled a leather notebook from his military uniform pocket, along with a pen, scribbled a line, tore the page off, and handed it to her.
“Write down your name, age, and family situation clearly.”
“Tomorrow at eight in the morning, bring your household register and come find me at this address.”
“And also…”
He happened to meet Song Nanzhi’s clear, limpid gaze, and his Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed.
“Handle your parents’ side yourself.”
“Got it!” Song Nanzhi watched his retreating figure.
So this was the efficiency of a soldier, she thought. She’d witnessed it firsthand.
But if he ever found out he was about to become a father overnight… would he kill her?