1972, Red Star Production Brigade.
Qian Manman squatted by the river and let out a long, melancholy sigh.
She had practically run all over the city during the past month, yet she hadn’t heard of a single place hiring workers. Yesterday, she had finally managed to find out about a place that was recruiting, but by the time she rushed over, the registration period had already ended…
Qian Manman tugged at her hair and wailed. Couldn’t a job just fall from the sky for her? If that was impossible, couldn’t she at least receive some information about job openings?
But as things stood, she knew absolutely nothing. She was completely in the dark.
Qian Manman was terribly frustrated. What was she supposed to do?
Back when her parents had sent her to school, many people in the village had gossiped about them.
Only after she passed the entrance examination for the county high school did those sharp-tongued villagers finally quiet down. They changed their attitudes in the blink of an eye, taking her hands and telling her that she would surely achieve great things in the future.
But now that she couldn’t find a job, they had started gossiping again.
Some said that all the years she had spent studying had been a waste. Others said her parents were fools for supporting a girl all the way through high school.
Look at that! Hadn’t they wasted their money now?
Qian Manman was furious. It was one thing for them to criticize her. After all, it was true that she hadn’t found a job. But why were they dragging her parents into it?
Those people really had too much free time on their hands!
Because of all this gossip, Qian Manman became even more determined to move to the city. She was going to become a city dweller no matter what, so those gossipmongers would have nothing left to say!
However, after thinking for a long time without coming up with a solution, Qian Manman was about to head home when Wang Xiaocao, a woman from the same village who was heavily pregnant, came walking over. Her voice was full of schadenfreude.
“Manman, you still haven’t found a job? If you ask me, you should just accept your fate!”
“Do you think finding a job is that easy? Don’t let a few years of schooling go to your head. The most important task for us women is to continue the family line and give birth to sons. A woman as ambitious as you doesn’t behave like a proper wife. By the way, do you not have any suitable marriage prospects? What do you think of my husband’s cousin?”
Qian Manman was just about to curse her out when an angry roar came from behind her.
“Wang Xiaocao, you heartless little wretch! What has my Manman ever done to you? How dare you try to set her up with Zhao the Pockmarked, the man nobody in the entire village wants? If you think Zhao the Pockmarked is so wonderful, why don’t you marry him yourself?”
Qian Manman felt a warm glow in her heart as she watched her mother come running toward her.
Her mother was here! Now she had someone to stand up for her. Hehe!
As soon as Li Xiulan arrived, she stepped in front of Qian Manman like a mother hen protecting her chick.
With her hands on her hips, she shouted, “I’m going to ask your husband how he intends to discipline his wife! Then I’ll ask your parents how they managed to raise such a malicious daughter!”
Wang Xiaocao’s expression changed drastically. Where had this old woman come from?
There hadn’t been anyone around just a moment ago!
Wang Xiaocao cursed inwardly, but she put on a flattering smile. “Auntie, I was only joking just now. Please don’t be angry! I, I’ll apologize to Manman right away. Please don’t tell Yougen or my parents, all right?”
Li Xiulan flung her hand dismissively, her face full of disgust.
“Too late! Do you think you can bully my daughter? What does it have to do with you if she hasn’t found a job? Her father and I aren’t even worried, so what exactly are you getting worked up about? You’ve got a whole pile of messes in your own household, yet you still have the time to come out and stir up trouble for others. You must have eaten too much salt and have nothing better to do!”
“Manman, let’s go. From now on, keep your distance whenever you see this woman. If she dares to bully you, come straight home and call for me. If she weren’t pregnant, I would have torn that foul mouth of hers apart today!”
Li Xiulan spoke furiously.
Qian Manman looked at her mother with sparkling eyes. “Okay!”
Then she gave Wang Xiaocao a loud, disdainful snort, linked her arm through Li Xiulan’s, and marched home with her head held high.
Watching the mother and daughter walk away, Wang Xiaocao’s face turned red and then pale with anger.
Again! It was always like this!
They were both considered burdensome daughters, so why was Qian Manman’s life so much better?
Not only did she have loving parents, but she was also the only girl in the village who had completed high school. Whenever Wang Xiaocao saw how happy Qian Manman was, she felt an irresistible urge to destroy that happiness.
As the mother and daughter disappeared farther into the distance, Wang Xiaocao clutched her belly and hurried home along a shortcut. She needed to explain herself as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if Yougen found out she had offended the brigade leader’s wife, he would beat her to death.
Li Xiulan did exactly what she had threatened. First, she went to Wang Xiaocao’s parents’ home. Then she went to her husband’s family. She gave both sides a thorough tongue-lashing before the anger in her heart finally subsided.
She didn’t care what happened to Wang Xiaocao. If someone dared to go out of their way to disgust and provoke others, they deserved to face the consequences!
After returning home, Li Xiulan took advantage of the fact that her sons and daughters-in-law were out to have a heart-to-heart talk with her daughter.
“Manman, your father and I both know how difficult it is to find a job these days, so don’t be anxious! Your older brothers are all married now. You’re the only one your father and I still need to worry about. Even if you can’t find a job, your father and I can still support you. So don’t feel burdened, and don’t be unhappy, understand? Your father and I will always be here for you!”
Qian Manman gave a soft hum and obediently nestled into Li Xiulan’s arms.
Li Xiulan lovingly stroked her daughter’s head and smiled. “All right, your mother is going to cook now. Get some rest.”
As soon as Li Xiulan left, Qian Manman flopped onto the kang.
All these years, her goal had always been to find a job and become a city dweller. But now that she had failed to find work, what was she supposed to do?
Although she had lived in the countryside for more than ten years, she had never done farmwork. Was she really going to marry a country man and spend the rest of her life laboring away?
The moment Qian Manman imagined herself working in the fields through scorching summers and freezing winters, her vision went dark. She knew her own limitations. She genuinely couldn’t endure that kind of hardship.
Suddenly, an idea struck her.
If she couldn’t get into the city through an examination, couldn’t she simply marry her way into the city?
She wasn’t bragging, but from childhood until now, she had never met anyone prettier than herself.
The moment this thought crossed her mind, a white screen suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Qian Manman initially thought she was seeing things, but when she looked again, the screen was still there.
“Hello! The Matchmaker System is at your service!” a clear, childlike voice rang out.
Qian Manman was startled and abruptly sat up in bed.
What on earth was that?!
She was just about to call loudly for her mother when a little girl with her hair tied into two adorable little buns appeared on the screen.
“Master, are you there? I’m Xiao Qi, your little assistant”
Looking at the adorable little girl, Qian Manman suppressed her fear and forced herself to remain calm.
“Are you talking to me?”
Xiao Qi nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, Master!”
Qian Manman asked suspiciously, “Master? Why are you calling me that? And what exactly is the Matchmaker System?”
Xiao Qi blinked her big eyes and began to explain.
“That’s because you activated me, Master! Whoever activates me becomes my master! As for the Matchmaker System, it’s…”
After listening to Xiao Qi’s explanation, Qian Manman finally understood that the Matchmaker System was essentially a system that introduced people to potential marriage partners. The only difference was that she was the only person who could see and use it.
Qian Manman asked nervously, “Since I’m your master, you won’t hurt me, will you?”
Xiao Qi patted her chest with a childish voice and promised, “Of course not! I can even help you live a better life!”
After receiving that reassuring answer, Qian Manman’s tense body finally relaxed.
But help her live a better life?
With a little girl who looked younger than six years old?
To be honest, Qian Manman wasn’t convinced.