The weather in the capital was hotter than back in her countryside home. Even though it was already autumn, the blazing sun hung high in the clouds, as if trying to melt anyone under its rays.
Xu Xiaoyue had just stepped out of the car when a wave of heat instantly washed over her. In her left hand, she carried her luggage, while her right hand held the note the driver had given her before leaving—it bore the address of the Yan Family.
Although the driver had told Xu Xiaoyue that someone from the Yan Family would come to pick her up once she got off the train, she simply asked for the exit and left the station without any hesitation.
Of course, she knew the Yan Family had sent someone to fetch her—and not just anyone, but her nominal fiancé, Yan Shuli.
In the original story, Xu Xiaoyue had foolishly believed the driver’s words and waited alone at the station for four hours before her fiancé finally showed up, arriving late without a word of explanation.
By the time she reached the Yan Family, it was already nine in the evening. The table full of dishes, prepared since early morning, had long gone cold. Yan Shuli offered no explanation, allowing his parents to misunderstand Xu Xiaoyue, thinking she had deliberately put on airs to spend more time with him and delayed her return.
From the very first meeting, she left a poor impression on the Yan Family.
Now that she was here to break off the engagement, she had even less reason to care where Yan Shuli had gone off to fool around.
Today, the military compound was livelier than usual. Several women were gathered together, chattering away excitedly, their gestures animated as they spoke, sometimes even spraying saliva in their enthusiasm.
Liu Ye glanced over and curled her lips slightly. The gossip in this compound always revolved around the same few topics. Even without going over to listen, she knew they were definitely talking about the Yan Family’s affairs.
When it came to this troublesome matter, the blame lay with Elder Yan. Back when he was a sent-down youth in the countryside, he had eaten two meals at the Xu Family’s home. Feeling indebted by their kindness and seeing that the Xu Family’s daughter-in-law was heavily pregnant and about to give birth, he immediately decided to arrange a marriage alliance between the unborn children.
Originally, only the Yan and Xu families knew about this arrangement. Over the years, Elder Yan had often spoken of the betrothal with Xu Xiaoyue and had even written many letters to that remote little village.
When Liu Ye first found out, she was nearly driven mad. Her perfectly good son had been inexplicably promised to some country bumpkin girl, and she had argued endlessly with her husband over it.
While Elder Yan was still alive, all the letters he wrote to the Xu Family were secretly handled by Liu Ye. Fortunately, the Xu Family had been sensible and never bothered them over the years.
She had thought that with Elder Yan’s passing, this long-buried matter would be forgotten forever. But who could have imagined that witnesses had been present when the betrothal was arranged?
Now, just as her husband was on the verge of a promotion, it was exposed that the Yan Family had gone back on their word—promising a marriage alliance with a local villager in the countryside in exchange for food and drink, only to cast them aside after rising to prosperity.
The matter wasn’t exactly major, but it wasn’t trivial either. Soon, it became common knowledge.
To quell the rumors, the Yan Family had no choice but to send a telegram to the Xu Family in the countryside, bringing up the old matter once again.
Liu Ye admitted she had some selfish motives. Her son, whom she had raised so well—handsome, talented, and an educated intellectual of the nation—if he were to marry an illiterate country woman as per Elder Yan’s arrangement, she wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully at night.
She would rather give money to that country woman than let Yan Shuli’s entire future be ruined like this.
Though her heart was filled with reluctance, with so many eyes watching in the compound, Liu Ye couldn’t let appearances slip too badly. Knowing her daughter-in-law was due to arrive today, she dragged the housekeeper to the west-side market early in the morning and returned with chicken, duck, fish, and meat.
“Back already?”
Just as Liu Ye was inwardly grumbling, steady, firm footsteps sounded from upstairs—her husband, Yan Jianguo.
“Quite a haul, all those bags. You’ve worked hard.” Yan Jianguo’s gaze fell on the several bags in the woman’s hands.
Liu Ye sat down and took a big gulp of tea, catching her breath.
“All the way back, carrying these things, the aunties in the compound were looking at me. Back when the girls from the cultural troupe were chasing after Shuli, he didn’t fancy a single one of them.”
“Now you’re making him marry some country girl. Forget whether he’s willing—I don’t even know where to put my own face.”
Yan Jianguo sat on the sofa, waiting for his wife to finish before neatly folding the newspaper in his hands and placing it on the coffee table. “Alright, enough with the ‘country girl’ talk. We haven’t even met her yet, so why jump to conclusions?”
“I reckon she should be arriving soon. Tell Auntie Wang to start preparing the meal.”
The clock on the wall ticked slowly. By the time Auntie Wang had finished cooking and brought the last dish to the table, there was still no movement at the door.
“Why aren’t they back yet?” Yan Jianguo glanced at his watch. Just as he spoke, the Yan family’s front door was knocked loudly.
“Knocked for so long—I thought no one was home.”
The woman speaking had a fashionable perm and wore a teasing smile. Her gaze shifted to Liu Ye beside her. “Director Liu, not at the hospital today?”
“No, I’m not. Do you need something?” Liu Ye asked curtly.
The woman in front of her was clearly here to gloat. She’d taken offense when Yan Shuli had turned down her daughter, and now, hearing the Yan family had found a country girl as a bride, she’d rushed over to watch the spectacle.
“Oh, come on, we’re neighbors. Can’t I just drop by for a visit?”
Ignoring Liu Ye’s dark expression, the woman squeezed through the door and slipped inside, wondering to herself: Weren’t they saying the country girl Yan Shuli was betrothed to since childhood was arriving today? Why wasn’t she here yet?
“Xiao Ye, I have to say—even though Elder Yan arranged a country match for your Shuli, you shouldn’t keep her from coming up. Sooner or later, you’ve got to see what you’ve got.”
Liu Ye dug her fingernails into her palm, her face darkening.
Delighted to see Liu Ye so discomfited, the woman was about to say more when the Yan family’s open door was knocked on again.
“Excuse me, is this Comrade Yan Shuli’s home?”
The young woman carrying luggage looked at the group. Liu Ye paused, meeting the fair, delicate face. “Who are you looking for, comrade?”
“Director Liu, that’s not very gracious of you. Who else would she be looking for at your doorstep? She’s here for that boy Yan Shuli, isn’t she?”
The permed woman, never one to shy away from stirring trouble, studied Xu Xiaoyue’s petite face, wondering inwardly: She hadn’t heard of such a striking young woman in the cultural troupe. Was she new?
“What unfortunate timing—Yan Shuli went to pick up his country fiancée. Why don’t you come to my place for a while instead?”
That little troublemaker of hers was indeed at the right age, and she hadn’t been satisfied with any of the previous marriage proposals. Now, looking at the bright and beautiful face before her, a thought crossed her mind, and she spoke it aloud.
Liu Ye frowned, disliking the woman’s behavior. Before she could intervene, Xu Xiaoyue spoke up: "Auntie, you must be joking. I just came from the countryside by train to find Yan Shuli."
"So you are Comrade Xu Xiaoyue?" Yan Jianguo’s voice came from behind.
"Yes," Xu Xiaoyue replied with a smile, her voice crisp and clear.
This not only stunned Liu Ye but also left the curly-haired woman watching nearby dumbfounded.
What was going on? Was this fresh-faced girl the fiancée from the countryside that everyone had been talking about?