2
Not Biological, Not Acceptable
Jiang Zhizhi looked up at the panicked Sun Xiaoyue. According to the original host’s memories, the man named Zhou Xiye was exceptionally handsome and remarkably capable.
Initially, when Sun Xiaoyue heard she was to marry Zhou Xiye, she had agreed with a bashful smile. So why was she suddenly so frantic now?
Song Wanying frowned. “Xiaoyue, do you realize what you’re saying? This is Zhou Xiye we’re talking about—a man with boundless prospects. How many girls in our compound dream of marrying him?”
Sun Xiaoyue shook her head. “Mom, I don’t want to marry a stranger. No matter how outstanding he is, we’re not familiar with each other. I’d rather go to the countryside. That way, I can still see you and Dad often.”
Her eyes reddened as she spoke, on the verge of tears. She absolutely refused to marry a cold-faced man who wouldn’t live more than a few years.
Seeing Sun Xiaoyue cry, Song Wanying sighed with both heartache and helplessness. “Alright, since you’ve made your decision, I’ll talk to your father. Going to the countryside is fine too. We’ll pull some strings to ensure you’re well taken care of.”
Sun Xiaoyue smiled through her tears. “Thank you for understanding, Mom.”
Song Wanying frowned and turned to Jiang Zhizhi. “We’ve already settled everything with the Zhou family. We can’t go back on this marriage arrangement. Zhizhi, since you like Zhou Xiye, you should marry him. Once you’ve recovered a bit, take the Letter of Introduction and go find him.”
Jiang Zhizhi nodded expressionlessly.
She had no choice in the matter!
In this era where travel required permits, purchases needed coupons, and everyone ate from collective pots, even with all her skills, she had no avenue to showcase them.
Since Sun Xiaoyue didn’t want to marry, she would have to be the one to do it. Marriage wasn’t a big deal anyway—if it didn’t work out, she could always divorce.
But why had Sun Xiaoyue suddenly changed her mind?
…
As evening fell, Jiang Zhenhua came to discharge Jiang Zhizhi from the hospital.
Jiang Zhenhua looked despondent, appearing somewhat aged and disinterested in conversation. Upon hearing Song Wanying relay Sun Xiaoyue’s decision, he merely waved his hand indifferently. “Since they’ve discussed it among themselves, let it be. Zhizhi will buy a train ticket tomorrow and go find Xiye at his military unit.”
Jiang Zhizhi nodded, observing Jiang Zhenhua’s exhausted demeanor. She knew he had his own troubles to deal with and no energy to spare for their affairs.
That evening, no one had much appetite for dinner. Jiang Zhenhua retreated to his study early, while Song Wanying went to the bedroom.
Jiang Zhizhi sat on the wooden-armed sofa, surveying the living room: red-painted wooden floors, clunky red furniture, photo frames on the wall, and a white crocheted sofa cover.
This simple, period-specific style was something she’d seen on television—and it represented the lifestyle only high-ranking cadres’ families could enjoy.
Noticing Jiang Zhizhi sitting dazed on the sofa, Sun Xiaoyue went over and sat beside her, nudging her arm with a contemptuous smile. “Jiang Zhizhi, you should thank me for being able to marry Zhou Xiye! Otherwise, you’d be hauling night soil in the countryside.”
Jiang Zhizhi turned to look at Sun Xiaoyue. Gone was the timid, introverted, gentle demeanor she had shown when Jiang Zhenhua and his wife were present.
Now, Sun Xiaoyue’s eyes were filled with malice and calculation as she shrugged indifferently. “I’m fine with whatever choice I make.”
Having just transmigrated, Jiang Zhizhi still felt somewhat weak and disoriented. She really had no interest in engaging in petty feminine rivalry with Sun Xiaoyue.
Sun Xiaoyue was infuriated by Jiang Zhizhi’s indifferent attitude. She reached out and shoved Jiang Zhizhi hard: “You must be secretly gloating inside, aren’t you? Let me tell you, I’m the one who gave all this up for you. All these years, you’ve been living my life and enjoying the good days. Doesn’t your conscience bother you at all?”
Jiang Zhizhi frowned: “It wasn’t my idea to switch identities. What does that have to do with my conscience? Aren’t you tired after all this time causing trouble?”
Sun Xiaoyue tried to shove Jiang Zhizhi again, but this time Jiang Zhizhi wasn’t going to indulge her—that hard push earlier had actually hurt quite a bit!
As Sun Xiaoyue’s hand reached out, Jiang Zhizhi grabbed her wrist firmly and shoved her away with force.
Sun Xiaoyue could have fallen backward onto the sofa, but instead she pitched forward and landed on the floor with a gasp, then began whimpering softly.
Song Wanying heard the noise and came out of the bedroom, while the partially closed living room door was pushed open as a young man rushed in.
Jiang Zhizhi glanced at the young man and pulled his identity from the original host’s memories: Zhou Xiye’s younger brother, Zhou Xiaochuan, twenty-two years old, full of youthful vigor and impulsive passion. He had always disliked how Jiang Zhizhi bullied Sun Xiaoyue.
So he had often stood up for Sun Xiaoyue, accusing the original host of being malicious and ungrateful.
Like now, Zhou Xiaochuan crouched down to help Sun Xiaoyue sit up, supporting her by the arm, then looked up at Jiang Zhizhi, his beautiful phoenix eyes blazing with anger: “Jiang Zhizhi, why did you push Xiaoyue?”
Song Wanying watched as her biological daughter sat on the floor, the skin on her palms scraped raw, her heart aching with distress. She glared furiously at Jiang Zhizhi: “Zhizhi! Xiaoyue has already volunteered to go to the countryside. Why are you still targeting her? Why do you always have to hurt her? What exactly do you want us to do to make you satisfied?!”
Jiang Zhizhi looked somewhat speechlessly at Sun Xiaoyue’s clumsy acting, yet Song Wanying and Zhou Xiaochuan believed it completely. It seemed this trick had persisted all the way to 2024 for a reason.
She sighed, feeling weary, and stood up, brushing off her injured arm: “Forget it, I’ll leave tonight.”
Song Wanying was taken aback: “You pushed Xiaoyue, won’t apologize, and now you’re throwing another tantrum? At this hour, there’s no way you can get a train ticket to Ganbei City.”
Jiang Zhizhi couldn’t be bothered to explain: “If there are no train tickets, I’ll take a bus. If even that’s not possible, I’ll sleep at the station tonight and leave tomorrow morning.”
She had no attachment to this family and no interest in getting caught up in their petty squabbles.
Better to openly take the Letter of Introduction and leave early to start her new life.
Zhou Xiaochuan was slow to react: “Why is Jiang Zhizhi going to Ganbei?”
Sun Xiaoyue, her eyes red-rimmed, said softly: “Zhizhi has never done farm work before, so I’m going to the countryside, and she’s going to marry Brother Zhou.”
Zhou Xiaochuan instantly raised his voice: “What? Have her marry my eldest brother? Become my sister-in-law? I don’t agree!”
Jiang Zhizhi looked at the naive and foolish Zhou Xiaochuan and couldn’t help laughing: “I’m not marrying you, so I don’t need your agreement! Alright, you all chat slowly. I’m going to pack my things.”
Zhou Xiaochuan flushed with anger, then turned to Sun Xiaoyue: “Xiaoyue, why have you changed your mind about marrying my brother? Compared to the malicious Jiang Zhizhi, I’d still prefer you as my sister-in-law. She’s just too awful—after all the times she’s schemed against you, how can you not be angry?”
Sun Xiaoyue said with tears in her eyes, “Brother Xiaochuan, I’m fine. Besides, going to the countryside means I can often see my parents and spend more time with them.Comparing Jiang Zhizhi’s earlier rudeness, Song Wanying felt even more heartbroken for her sensible daughter. Sure enough, one who isn’t biologically related just won’t do!
Jiang Zhizhi packed her luggage quickly, casually taking a few of the original owner’s clothes. She also found the Food Stamps and money the original owner had hidden, stuffed them all into her pocket, and came out of the bedroom carrying her bag.
Song Wanying hadn’t expected Jiang Zhizhi to actually pack her bags and leave. She turned around angrily, “Zhizhi, you’re actually serious…”