Wang Taohua was helped home by Xu Ping'er. As soon as they entered, she gave Xu Ping'er a push. "Second Sister-in-law, did you do that on purpose? You said this would take care of Bai Banxia, but instead, my face got shredded by you!"
"I really don't know how to swim, and besides, how did she suddenly become so formidable?" Xu Ping'er didn't want to be scolded by her parents-in-law, so she had to quickly think of a way to make amends.
Her eyes darted around. "Right, my Auntie Wang is arranging a marriage for a widower. I heard his first wife was beaten to death by him. She's been struggling to find a candidate she can persuade—isn't Bai Banxia the perfect choice? Let me change my clothes and go find her immediately."
On the other side, Bai Banxia didn't return to the Bai house. Instead, she went to the back hill to start a fire and dry her clothes.
She irritably kicked a few small pebbles. Her experiment had been reaching its final stages; how could she have transmigrated just like that?
Right then, a mechanical ding suddenly sounded in her mind. She jumped up in excitement, but her legs gave way, and she landed right back on her bottom. However, there was no annoyance on her face—only surprise and exhilaration.
"System activated. Perform a physical examination?"
This was the "Divine Doctor System" project she had been developing! She hadn't expected it to come with her through the transmigration. Her hard work hadn't been in vain. Not only could she continue her research, but it was also the equivalent of having a "golden finger" cheat code.
"Yes," Bai Banxia immediately issued the command.
Soon, the system notified her that her level was too low and could only perform a simple check. The results were almost identical to her own assessment: overweight, malnourished, minor stomach issues…
Grumble. Her stomach let out a growl. Bai Banxia patted the dust off her rear and left. Time to go home and eat!
She hadn't even reached the front door when she heard her father’s wailing from a distance.
"No! She can't marry him! My dear daughter!"
Marry? Marry what? Bai Banxia frowned, a bad premonition rising in her heart.
She hurried into the courtyard and saw her father and her grandmother, Old Mrs. Bai, crying and howling. Standing beside them was a woman dressed as a matchmaker, looking on with a face full of disdain. "She's just a money-losing commodity who can't get married off. Is it worth all this life-and-death drama? Wang Han from the neighboring village is willing to marry her; you should be thanking your lucky stars."
Bai Tian glared at her and shouted, "She still can't marry Wang Han! Everyone knows he beats his wives. The previous one was tormented to death by him."
Old Mrs. Bai said with a stern face, "Third Son, stop making a scene. This matter is settled."
"No! My daughter won't marry a widower!" Bai Tian cried out. "Unless I die! Even if I die, my daughter will have to observe the mourning period for me. Don't push me!"
"Third Son, it doesn't matter how much you fuss. This is final," Old Mrs. Bai repeated, her face darkening.
"Then I won't live either! I might as well die sooner!" Bai Tian said as he draped his waistband over the door beam of the main hall, making a show of tying a noose to hang himself.
Here it came—her father's ultimate move: cry, make a scene, and threaten to hang himself!
Although Bai Banxia knew of her father's "special traits" from the previous owner's memories, seeing it with her own eyes still left her a bit stunned.
Old Mrs. Bai's heart skipped a beat at the sight. "Get down, hurry and get down!"
"Mother, oh Mother! If you marry my daughter off and she gets beaten to death, I'll be the one outliving my own child! Who will provide for me in my old age? If I'm sick or old, no one will take care of me! Even when I die, there won't be anyone to bury me…" Bai Tian certainly didn't come down; instead, his wailing grew even louder.
"Pah, pah, pah! What nonsense are you talking? My darling, Mother's darling, hurry and come down. Mother won't marry the Fat Girl off. The Fat Girl will provide for you. Just get down quickly, come down!" Old Mrs. Bai was sweating with anxiety, her face full of worry and distress.
When Old Mrs. Bai first heard her youngest son's strong opposition, she had told herself countless times not to soften her heart. No matter what, she was going to sell that money-losing commodity today.
But seeing her youngest son with his neck in the loop, his face turning the color of pig liver, her heart had long since turned into a puddle of mush.
She turned to look at Banxia's mother, Zhang Lingzhi, and felt a surge of anger. Her expression changed instantly as she barked ferociously, "Are you a corpse? Don't you know to help your husband down?"
"Banxia's father, you can't die! What will become of us mother and daughter if you're gone?" Zhang Lingzhi seemed to have a sudden realization and wailed as she rushed to hug Bai Tian's legs.
Watching this scene, the corners of Bai Banxia's mouth twitched. Was the nickname "Darling" for her father serious? And the coordination between her father and mother was truly seamless.
Yet, as she watched this farce, Bai Banxia didn't find it funny. Instead, her heart felt a bit sour and warm.
The father who had so many flaws in the eyes of outsiders truly loved his daughter. From the previous owner's memories, most of Bai Tian's theatrical antics were for the sake of his wife and daughter.
Matchmaker Wang watched the display, dumbfounded.
Old Mrs. Bai looked at her and said crossly, "Forget it, forget it. She's not marrying. Go back and tell Wang Han."
"What? Not marrying? How can that be?" Hearing this, Matchmaker Wang started squealing like a stuck pig.
How could that be okay? She had already taken one tael of silver from Widower Wang and guaranteed that this would be a success.
If it fell through now, wouldn't that shiny silver vanish into thin air? How could she spit out the fat meat she had already swallowed?
Matchmaker Wang said shrilly, "You won't marry her off? You won't get another chance like this! Don't you know what kind of reputation your daughter has? She's eighteen and still hasn't been married out. Raising a pig would be better than raising her!"
Bai Banxia’s expression darkened. This old hag's words were crossing the line—it was a blatant personal attack.
"Matchmaker Wang, how can you talk like that? I advise you to show some common decency," Bai Tian said with a dark face, having just stepped down.
Matchmaker Wang didn't back down. Instead, she drew out her words with a meaningful tone, "On the way here, I heard that your Banxia has been fooling around with some local rascal and got herself pregnant. Could it be that you're afraid of being found out and don't dare to agree?"
Bai Tian's face turned livid with rage. "Bullshit! Which scoundrel is spreading such heartless lies? Aren't they afraid of having their tongue ripped out by King Yama after they die?"
Matchmaker Wang stuck out her pinky to pick her ear, saying contemptuously, "For a girl like yours, I, Wang Cuihua, can guarantee that in all the surrounding villages, only Wang Han would be willing to marry her. If I'm wrong, I'll write the character for my surname 'Wang' upside down!"
Just as Bai Banxia was about to snap, her mother rushed forward like a gust of wind and delivered a resounding slap to Matchmaker Wang's face.
The strength and speed were so impressive that Bai Banxia almost wondered if her mother was a trained martial artist.
"You dare hit me? I'll kill you!" Matchmaker Wang snapped back to her senses and lunged at Zhang Lingzhi in a fury.
"Hitting my wife?" Bai Tian was the first to disagree.
However, before he could intervene, a figure blurred past.
Bai Banxia grabbed Matchmaker Wang's hand mid-air and backhanded her with another fierce slap on the other cheek. "The character 'Wang' is the same even if you write it upside down; who are you trying to fool? You've got a foul mouth that does nothing but spew filth. Do you really think no one dares to hit you? I'll slap the life out of you, you old hag!"
Bai Tian's mouth fell open as he froze in place. Since when had his daughter become so fierce?