“Meishu, Meilan, your matchmaking partners have been decided.”
In the west room of the communal courtyard at Qudeng Hutong in Old Beijing, a woman with her hair tied in a bun appeared gentle under the kerosene lamp’s glow. “Come take a look at the photos of your matchmaking partners.”
Hearing this.
Jiang Meishu pressed her thin lips together, surveying her surroundings in confusion. Where was this?
Her eyes fell upon a cramped room where the dim kerosene lamp cast light on green-painted walls. An old five-drawer cabinet stood against the wall, its windows mostly blocked by old newspapers, cutting off much of the daylight.
Everything felt unfamiliar.
Before Jiang Meishu could examine further, her fair wrist was grabbed. “Little sister, let’s go look together.”
Jiang Meilan responded first. With her dignified appearance – a round face like a silver plate, thick eyebrows and large eyes, rosy cheeks, and two thick black braids resting on her chest – she possessed the kind of looks elders typically favored.
Jiang Meishu felt completely bewildered but decided to observe quietly, secretly studying the person across from her.
The one calling her “little sister”…
Probably her elder sister?
Before Jiang Meishu could ponder further, the other spoke again.
“Is this my matchmaking partner?” Jiang Meilan picked up a photograph.
Jiang Meishu naturally looked over as well.
The man in the photo had refined features – clear eyebrows, straight nose, well-defined mouth, and fair skin like fine enamel. His complexion was so pale that even the photograph couldn’t conceal his elegant, scholarly demeanor and handsome appearance.
He wore a white Dacron shirt with a crew cut, broad shoulders, and a straight neck. His eyes held a distant coolness.
Though he appeared quite scholarly and refined, his slightly narrowed eyes contained an indescribable sharpness. Upon closer inspection, there was a subtle aloofness that made him seem somewhat unapproachable.
Responding to her eldest daughter’s question.
Mother Wang Lamei nodded, her tone carrying respect.
“He’s the newly appointed director at our Meatpacking Factory, named Liang Qiurun. He served in the military earlier and returned to the capital after discharge. His family lives in a Siheyuan in Dongcheng. I heard the property spans eight hundred square meters. The only drawbacks are his age – he’s thirty-three this year – and his rebellious adopted son. Of course, if not for these factors, our family wouldn’t have this matchmaking opportunity.”
She looked at her eldest daughter Jiang Meilan. “Your aunt went through great efforts to arrange this matchmaking with Director Liang.”
The gap between a communal courtyard and a Siheyuan was immense.
The divide between an ordinary worker at the meatpacking factory and the director’s family was equally vast.
These were privileges one couldn’t obtain at birth, nor likely ever achieve.
Unless, of course, through marriage.
Or by dramatically changing one’s fate.
Though neither path came easily.
After the introduction.
Jiang Meilan hummed in acknowledgment. “His circumstances are much better than ours.”
“But is he remarried?”
“Would I have to become a stepmother immediately?”
Wang Lamei clarified, “He’s not remarried. The child is apparently from a comrade-in-arms – he adopted him.”
Worried her eldest daughter might reject being a stepmother or dislike the age difference.
“Aside from having a child, he’s practically flawless.” Wang Lamei handed her eldest daughter a photograph. “Look at Director Liang – he appears quite young. Given his age, it’s fair to say his future prospects are limitless.”
Jiang Meilan felt somewhat pleased hearing about his qualifications. She took the small black-and-white photo and examined it carefully. “Liang Qiurun.”
When these three words came out, Jiang Meilan’s chest suddenly ached with sharp pain, her mind flashing like a black-and-white film.
Memories from her previous life surged over her like a tidal wave.
Her name was Jiang Meilan. Due to the Educated Youth Going to the Countryside movement, her family urgently arranged for her to marry through blind dates. Because of her reputation for being virtuous, she was introduced to Liang Qiurun, who was born in a Siheyuan and served as a factory director.
Of course, given her family’s circumstances, she wouldn’t normally qualify for someone like Liang Qiurun. But Liang Qiurun had one major flaw.
He was thirty-three years old and had a rebellious and unruly son in middle school.
Ordinary people couldn’t handle him at all.
Almost every woman who had a blind date with Liang Qiurun had it ruined by his defiant son.
After who knows how many failed attempts, the opportunity finally fell to her.
Partly because she had an aunt who served as a director in the labor union.
But having an aunt as a union director wasn’t enough. More importantly, she had an excellent reputation at the Meatpacking Factory—known for being virtuous, family-oriented, and good-tempered.
Yet this very reputation became the source of her misfortune.
After the blind date, she married Liang Qiurun. He was a workaholic who never came home, let alone engaged in any marital life.
On top of that, she had to deal with a rebellious stepson and a strict, rigid mother-in-law.
For twenty years after marrying Liang Qiurun, she diligently cared for the family and served her stepson, yet her husband never returned home.
Throughout those twenty years of marriage, she never experienced what it meant to be a wife.
Her marriage was essentially a living widowhood from the start.
From a young, delicate widow in her youth.
To an elderly widow in her old age.
Bland, tasteless, and uneventful.
On her deathbed, her greatest wish was to experience being a woman and have a child of her own.
But even this modest request was something Liang Qiurun never fulfilled.
She hated him—a heartless and resolute man.
All his attention was devoted to work; he never regarded her as his wife.
Her marriage was a failure—dull and full of regret.
But her sister, who had a blind date on the same day, was different.
She married Liang Qiurun through the blind date.
Her sister, Jiang Meishu, married Shen Zhanlie, a temporary worker at the Meatpacking Factory from the neighboring Dazayuan.
It should have been a life of poverty, but after her sister married him, their circumstances improved.
By the early 1980s, Shen Zhanlie resigned and ventured into business. In just ten years, he rose to become the richest man.
If that were all, she might not necessarily envy her sister.
After all, the Liang family’s conditions were already decent.
Materially, she didn’t have much to envy. What mattered most was that after Jiang Meishu married Shen Zhanlie, she gave birth to eight children!
For Jiang Meilan, a lifelong childless living widow, this was utterly captivating.
Her greatest regret was never having her own bloodline.
Yet her sister had both sons and daughters, abundant blessings, and a husband who doted on her and achieved great success.
What did this mean?
It meant that her brother-in-law from her previous life was exceptionally skilled in bed.
Extremely capable in that regard.
Far from an ordinary man!
Almost like a mythical existence.
At this thought.
Jiang Meilan abruptly snapped back to reality. She looked up, startled, at her sister—Jiang Meishu.
Struck by her piercing gaze, even the dazed and confused Jiang Meishu sensed something was wrong.
She hadn’t fully absorbed the memories of her original body yet.
But, following the original body’s subconscious reaction, she called out, “Sister?”
The voice was lively and crisp, quite pleasing to the ear.
Jiang Meilan stared at her. They were twins, clearly identical in appearance, yet their temperaments differed.
She was strong-willed, virtuous, steady in her actions, and valued her reputation, so she naturally came across as the elder sister.
Her younger sister, Jiang Meishu, had been deprived of oxygen for a few extra minutes during birth, which left her with a frail constitution from childhood.
Because of this, not only her, but the entire family had always given Jiang Meishu extra care.
And she had willingly taken on the responsibility of the elder sister, doing all of her younger sister’s chores in daily life.
As a result, Jiang Meishu had developed fair, delicate skin and a slender, fragile appearance—the kind that evoked pity in anyone who saw her.
What’s more, her somewhat slow-witted nature, with a faint sense of bewilderment in her clear eyes, made people even more inclined to feel protective of her.
Before Jiang Meishu could figure out what was going on, she pinched her slender, pale fingertips tightly and asked, “Sister, is there dust on my face?”
Why was she staring at her like that?
What was happening?
Jiang Meishu was still somewhat confused.
Jiang Meilan shook her head and quietly averted her gaze. For twenty-one years as sisters, she had always been the one taking care of her younger sister.
And indeed, that was the case.
But now, heaven had given her a warning, yet also presented her with a dilemma.
To receive such a memory just before her blind date.
Suppressing her chaotic emotions, Jiang Meilan asked, “Mom, is my blind date with Liang Qiurun?”
Jiang Meilan turned to Wang Limei and confirmed once more.
Mentioning her elder daughter’s blind date prospect, Wang Limei’s face lit up with joy. “Yes, your reputation for being virtuous at the Meatpacking Factory has spread. Your aunt has long wanted you to marry well, which is why she introduced you to Director Liang for a blind date.”
“Meilan, you know how our family is—it’s a struggle just to put food on the table. Marrying Director Liang means your days of hardship are over.”
The whole family could also benefit a little.
But before Wang Limei could finish speaking, Jiang Meilan protested, “I refuse!”
Gritting her teeth, she said word by word, “I refuse! I don’t want to go on a blind date with Liang Qiurun!”
The life in her previous existence had been too miserable.
She didn’t want to marry Liang Qiurun and live a life of widowhood while her husband was still alive.
That would be even more agonizing than being sliced to death.
It was a double torment, both mentally and physically.
That enormous house was always empty. She would cook a table full of dishes, but no one would ever touch them.
The tidy rooms she cleaned were never appreciated.
Her husband’s indifferent gaze.
Her stepson’s hostile attitude.
Her mother-in-law’s disdainful looks.
The surrounding gossip pointing fingers at her, calling her a barren hen—all of it was the final straw that broke her.
She refused!
In this lifetime, she would not go on a blind date with Liang Qiurun.
And she absolutely would not marry Liang Qiurun!
As soon as Jiang Meilan finished speaking, Wang Limei frowned, looking at her eldest daughter in disbelief. After all, her daughter had always been virtuous and gentle.
This sharp, defiant attitude was a first.
Wang Limei slammed the table, causing the photos on it to scatter, and raised her voice several notches. “What madness has taken hold of you?”
“Director Liang has such excellent qualifications. If you don’t want to meet him, who do you want to meet?”
Who did she want to meet?
Of course, it was her younger sister’s husband from her previous life—Shen Zhanlie.
But she couldn’t say that now.
Nor did she dare.
It was too shameful.
And too humiliating.
Clutching Liang Qiurun’s photo, Jiang Meilan muttered, “Anyway, I’d rather die than go on a blind date with him!”
As these words fell.
Wang Limei raised her hand to strike.
Jiang Meilan stiffened her neck, glared with wide eyes, and declared resolutely, “Even if you beat me to death, I won’t go on a blind date with Liang Qiurun!”
Wang Limei’s raised hand dropped back down. “Then what do you want to do?”
Jiang Meilan fell silent.
The atmosphere grew tense and cold.
Jiang Meishu gradually regained her composure.
She struggled to make sense of her unfamiliar surroundings—she seemed to have arrived in a strange place.
Unfamiliar family and environment.
This appeared to be Beijing in the 1970s.
She had become the youngest daughter of the Jiang family and had a twin sister.
After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Meishu turned to Jiang Meilan, who was arguing with their mother. Her sister had almond-shaped eyes, clear and translucent like glass beads. “Sis, if you don’t want to go on a blind date with Liang Qiurun, do you want to go to the countryside instead?”
According to her original memories, the family was urgently arranging blind dates for them because the wave of youth being sent to the countryside was approaching.
Either find someone to marry and settle down,
or go to the countryside.
There were no other options.
Meeting her younger sister Jiang Meishu’s clear, questioning gaze,
Jiang Meilan felt a pang of bitterness. Her sister didn’t know the situation and understood nothing.
In a fit of pique, Jiang Meilan retorted, “I’m not going to the countryside either.”
Wang Limei, who had been trying to cool off by the window, flared up again at these words. “You won’t go to the countryside, and you won’t go on a blind date with Director Liang? What do you want then?”
What did she want?
Jiang Meilan knew what she wanted but couldn’t bring herself to say it.
She hung her head, twisting her braid nervously, and remained silent.
Seeing her eldest daughter like this,
Wang Limei felt utterly exhausted. Streaks of white hair framed her forehead, adding to her weary appearance. “The list for countryside assignments must be submitted next month. If we don’t secure marriages for both of you, you’ll definitely be sent to the countryside.”
“You’re both my daughters. I can’t bear to see either of you go. To arrange these two blind dates, we’ve spent all the savings our family managed to scrape together over the years.”
“Jiang Meilan, stop being so willful. Director Liang has excellent prospects—if you don’t want him, plenty of others would gladly take your place.”
Jiang Meilan wanted to snap back—let whoever wants him take him!
She certainly didn’t want him.
But facing her mother’s furious expression, she swallowed the words.
“Have some water.”
Jiang Meishu was gradually adjusting to this body, though she still couldn’t bring herself to call Wang Limei “Mom.” She picked up the green metal thermos and poured a cup of hot water into an enamel mug, handing it to Wang Limei.
This gesture eased the earlier tension between them,
diffusing the impending conflict.
Seeing her younger daughter being so considerate,
Wang Limei felt a flicker of relief. “If your sister refuses, you mustn’t do the same.”
She decided to ignore her eldest daughter for now and avoid mentioning her.
Securing a blind date for her younger daughter took priority.
At least one of the two children needed to be settled.
That would give her some peace of mind.
Wang Limei took out another photograph and handed it to her younger daughter. “This is your match—Shen Zhanlie.”
Hearing this, Jiang Meilan, who had been fuming and ready to storm off, immediately stayed put, pricking up her ears to listen.
Wang Limei, having just argued with her eldest daughter, ignored her.
She focused entirely on introducing the match to her younger daughter.
“Shen Zhanlie is twenty-one this year, half a year younger than you. He works as a temporary worker at our Meatpacking Factory and is your father’s apprentice. His family lives in the neighboring Xinghua Hutong, and he took over his mother’s position. Besides that, he has two younger sisters and a younger brother.”
Speaking of this, Wang Limei also felt a headache. “His family conditions are a bit lacking, but the good thing is this child is hardworking and lives next door to us. Since he’s your father’s apprentice and the regularization quota is in your father’s hands, if you marry him, his whole family wouldn’t dare treat you poorly.”
It wasn’t that she wanted to choose a worse-off match for her youngest daughter.
But her youngest daughter had a delicate constitution, raised quite pampered—to put it bluntly, she wasn’t considered easy to bear children.
Everyone in the compound knew about her.
Under such circumstances, she simply couldn’t marry into a well-off family.
Of course, their own family’s status was somewhat lower too, making it hard for their daughter to marry up.
They could only keep her close by, so as parents they could watch over and support her more.
It could be said,
Wang Limei had worried herself sick over her two daughters.
Jiang Meishu gradually sorted out her thoughts.
So her blind date was actually a younger brother-type, even younger than her.
Afraid of exposing herself, she imitated the original owner’s obedient manner and extended her slender, pale hand, “Let me see his photo.”
Wang Limei patted her head and handed over the black-and-white photograph.
Jiang Meishu took it and lowered her head to examine it carefully.
In the photo, Shen Zhanlie had strikingly high brow bones, deep-set facial features, looking extremely young and robust, fierce and rugged.
His eyes were pitch black, carrying an unconcealable ferocity, yet surprisingly harmonious with his tall, straight nose that perfectly arched below a pair of phoenix eyes—the combination unexpectedly handsome.
Further down, the photo only showed his upper body, but it couldn’t conceal his tall and powerful build.
He carried a substantial sense of martial vigor.
With intensely strong sexual appeal.
Even through the photo, one could feel the overwhelming hormones radiating from him.
This man was quite extraordinary. No wonder he would become the richest man in the future.
That’s right.
Jiang Meishu had transmigrated. One moment she was a freshly graduated accounting major, unemployed right after graduation.
She’d finally found an internship paying 1,800 yuan.
Working overnight entering vouchers and preparing reports to get regularized.
While working on annual reports,
she spent from 8 AM until 3 AM tracking down a one-cent accounting discrepancy, not only failing to find it
but also losing her life in the process.
The next moment, she found herself in the impoverished, striving 1970s.
Starting right off with a blind date—if it were the Jiang Meishu from her previous life, she’d definitely refuse.
After all, she was young, beautiful as a flower, with boundless prospects!
Why would she need a blind date?
Shouldn’t she be building her career, dominating everywhere?
Or at least find some tall, rich, and handsome guy for a sweet romance.
But having been battered by real-world work, Jiang Meishu decisively chose to lie flat. In reality, truly tall, rich, handsome men were rare, while average, overconfident men were plenty.
In the end, they wouldn’t even willingly give a betrothal gift of a few tens of thousands!
All that dating amounted to nothing.
Not only did she waste her youth, but she also ended up with emotional scars.
Might as well benefit from parents arranging a match.
Knowing both families’ backgrounds, decent conditions, maximum sincerity, and most importantly—listening to parents meant parental subsidies.
How could dating on her own compare to that?
Given a second chance at life, Jiang Meishu just wanted to live comfortably. She never wanted to strive hard again!!!
Because striving hard could get you worked to death!
But lying flat wouldn’t.
If she started lying flat at twenty, by sixty she’d have comfortably lain flat for a lifetime.
After all, there’s a big difference between retiring at twenty and retiring at sixty!
“Meishu?”
“What do you think of this blind date?”
Seeing her remain silent for so long,
Wang Limei asked her softly.
That question snapped Jiang Meishu’s wandering soul back from two miles away.
Confirmed—she was not the chosen one.
No cheat codes available.
She’d have to cross the river by feeling for stones.
Jiang Meishu nodded at the photo and praised, “Not bad. Quite young.”
Though Shen Zhanlie was a temporary worker, the quota for permanent positions was controlled by her father, so he was essentially a formal employee with an iron rice bowl.
He had phoenix eyes and a dragon nose. She remembered from her past life that people with such features usually rose to prominence.
Classic examples were the diving queen and the Tsinghua prodigy Pang Zhuangyuan.
While Shen Zhanlie’s eyes in the photo weren’t identical to theirs, they weren’t far off.
With looks like that, his future prospects were bright.
As for Shen Zhanlie’s poor family background and numerous younger siblings—her own family was the same, with four children.
Typical case of “you’re poor, I’m poor too!”
No room for criticism!
“See? I specifically picked someone young for you. You might not appreciate it now, but when you’re older, you’ll understand the benefits of a younger man.”
“All that raw energy—he won’t know where to put it.”
In the end, it’s the one sharing the bed who reaps the rewards.
Wang Limei spoke euphemistically, but it still made Jiang Meishu blush uncontrollably. She quickly changed the subject, “But if I get married, can I still come back to eat at my parents’ home?”
Until she found a job, she needed to install a safety lock on her meal ticket.
It seemed Shen Zhanlie’s family couldn’t afford to support her temporarily.
She might need to rely on her parents for a while.
Wang Limei couldn’t help laughing at the question, “Of course! Why do you think I arranged for you to live in the next alley? So you could easily come home and get support.”
Then she suddenly realized, “Does this mean you agree?”
“Shall I set up a blind date with him in a few days?”she tentatively asked.”
Just as Jiang Meishu was about to nod—
“Not allowed!”