Upon hearing this, Jiang Lamei’s expression immediately turned somewhat subtle, “What’s going on here?””
“Didn’t you previously ask me to find you someone with good conditions – preferably high-ranking position and living in a Siheyuan? Why are you unwilling now?”
“But I’ve already given your photo to Factory Director Liang.”
Even as the Trade Union director, she didn’t have the capability to go back on her word so easily.
“Anyway, I just don’t want to go on this blind date with him.” Jiang Meilan’s eyes were red from crying.
“I raised you from infancy, so tell me the truth – what’s the real reason?”
Jiang Lamei had raised her for five years.
Those five most intimate years had made her fully understand her niece’s temperament.
Jiang Meilan was still hesitating.
“Meilan, if you don’t tell me, your aunt can’t help you.”
Finally steeling herself, Jiang Meilan said, “If I tell you, you mustn’t tell my mother.”
Her mother always favored Jiang Meishu the most, so she couldn’t confide in her mother. But she could tell her aunt, who always favored her.
Jiang Lamei lowered her head, noticing her hair was somewhat dry, and began applying Hair Oil strand by strand before nodding, “Of course. When has your aunt ever broken a promise?”
This gesture made Jiang Meilan relax even more.
“I want to have a blind date with…” she said shamefully, lowering her voice, “want to have a blind date with Meishu’s match – Shen Zhanlie.”
As soon as these words fell.
The round Hair Oil container in Jiang Lamei’s hand instantly dropped to the ground with a bang.
She immediately exclaimed in shock, “Meilan, do you realize what you’re saying?”
“Who do you want to have a blind date with?”
Once certain words are spoken, they become less difficult to say.
Jiang Meilan poured everything out at once. In front of her aunt, she didn’t need to pretend or lie.
So she said directly, “I want to have a blind date with Shen Zhanlie.”
This truly shocked Jiang Lamei into disarray, “Have you gone mad?”
“You’re rejecting Factory Director Liang for that poor wretch Shen Zhanlie?”
Pursing her lips stubbornly, Jiang Meilan insisted, “I only want Shen Zhanlie.”
“Let me collect myself.” Jiang Lamei rubbed her face vigorously, taking a long moment to gather her thoughts before continuing:
“I’ve seen that boy Shen Zhanlie – disabled mother, a bunch of younger siblings, the whole family relies on him as the sole breadwinner, and he’s just a temporary worker earning twenty-nine yuan fifty fen per month. The room he lives in isn’t even as big as yours. You want to have a blind date with him? Meilan, has your brain stopped working properly?”
“Don’t think that just because your mother arranged Shen Zhanlie for your sister’s blind date, you should foolishly try to snatch him away. Your sister has no choice – she’s physically weak, has poor constitution, plus she’s lazy and can’t tell grains apart. Her personality has been spoiled by your mother’s indulgence. Anyone with decent conditions would be unwilling to consider her. She has no alternative but to have a blind date with Shen Zhanlie.”
“Similarly, Shen Zhanlie has no choice either – his regularization quota is controlled by your father, so he can only have a blind date with your sister.”
“You’re different from them.”
Jiang Lamei looked her niece over with a proud expression. “Meilan, you’re virtuous and beautiful—presentable in the living room and capable in the kitchen. You’re also socially adept, you have a job, and your reputation is well-known throughout the entire Meatpacking Factory. Many people have come to me fishing for information, hoping to match you with someone. I didn’t fancy any of them. After much picking and choosing, I managed to snag Factory Director Liang for you. Otherwise, do you think a family like ours could ever reach such a high-status ship as Factory Director Liang?”
What a pity.
Even though Jiang Lamei had laid out all the arguments and analyzed the pros and cons thoroughly,
Jiang Meilan still wouldn’t relent. She said pitifully, “Aunt, I really don’t want to go on a blind date with Liang Qiurun.”
Seeing her aunt remained unmoved,
she gritted her teeth and played her trump card. “I’ll only go on a blind date with him over my dead body!”
In her previous life, she and Liang Qiurun had their blind date in the morning and registered their marriage in the afternoon.
This proved Liang Qiurun had taken a liking to her from the very start—and that was the beginning of her misery.
Seeing her niece so resolute,
Jiang Lamei grew flustered and began to reconsider. “You really don’t want this?”
“No!” Jiang Meilan answered firmly.
“Can you tell your aunt why?”
Jiang Meilan lowered her head, mixing truth with lies. “I’ve seen Liang Qiurun’s son—he’s rebellious and arrogant. If I go be his stepmother, I probably wouldn’t survive one punch from him.”
This wasn’t entirely false.
Liang Qiurun had been working at the Meatpacking Factory for less than a month, yet his son Liang Rui had already been in several fights there.
Jiang Lamei, being from the Trade Union, had even gone to break up one of those fights.
Thinking of this,
she also sighed. “You have a point there. But are you really sure? If you pass up Factory Director Liang, you’ll never find another match with such good qualifications.”
Seeing her aunt was willing to yield,
Jiang Meilan nodded. “I’ve thought it through.”
Jiang Lamei studied her for several minutes. Seeing she truly had no intention of changing her mind, she finally sighed and said, “Then I’ll go talk to Factory Director Liang and see if we can cancel this blind date.”
This wasn’t Jiang Meilan’s original intention. Her plan was to swap blind date partners with her younger sister.
However, considering the Liang family’s circumstances—even she had endured a lifetime of lonely marriage after marrying into that family—
if her younger sister Jiang Meishu succeeded in matching with him, she’d also face the same fate of a lonely marriage. That kind of life would be too difficult.
Thinking this way,
it might be better to just cancel the blind date altogether.
Her sister Jiang Meishu was even more delicate than her—how could she endure the austere life of the Liang family?
But—if it was canceled, how would she get to go on a blind date with Shen Zhanlie?
Perhaps sensing her internal conflict,
Jiang Lamei asked, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Meilan couldn’t bring herself to say it. After a long pause, she murmured, “It’s nothing, Aunt. Please go ask first.”
She wanted to leave some room between her and her sister.
Unless absolutely necessary, she didn’t want her sister to suffer through life in that pit of fire that was the Liang family.
“I’ll let you know when I have an answer.”
Jiang Meilan nodded with eager anticipation. “Then please hurry, Aunt.”
“Meishu is supposed to have a blind date with Shen Zhanlie in three days.”
She needed to cancel the blind date with Liang Qiurun before that time arrived.
That evening, the Jiang family was having dinner. The main room was only the size of a palm, with a small folding table set up. There were too many people to sit, so some squatted while eating, others stood.
Father Jiang, exhausted from a day of slaughtering pigs, scanned the room. “Why don’t I see Meilan?”
Mentioning this, Wang Limei felt a surge of anger. “That child is throwing a tantrum with me. Everything was arranged for her blind date with Factory Director Liang, but she refused and ran off after an argument.”
As soon as these words fell.
The table instantly fell silent.
Lin Qiaoling was quick-witted. Having married into the Jiang family for three years, she had always been adept at handling situations.
Thus, she broke the silence at just the right moment, “Factory Director Liang has a good family background, excellent conditions, a stable job, and holds a high position with authority. With such favorable circumstances, Meilan still doesn’t want to meet him?”
“Exactly.”
Seeing that her mother-in-law was also unaware.
Lin Qiaoling glanced at her quiet sister-in-law, Jiang Meishu, who was eating in silence.
She couldn’t help but feel that Jiang Meishu had changed quite a bit today. She was eating quietly, her movements more elegant than usual. Her fair, pretty face seemed somewhat out of place in the cramped, dimly lit home, as if she had gained an air of refinement.
So, she asked, “Meishu, do you know why your sister refused?”
Jiang Meishu was puffing her cheeks as she drank the Cornmeal Gruel. It didn’t taste very good and was mixed with many coarse grains, making it somewhat rough on the throat. She had to focus all her attention just to swallow it bite by bite.
By the time she realized what was happening, she noticed everyone was looking at her.
So, Jiang Meishu put down her chopsticks, furrowed her brows slightly, and asked, “Sister-in-law, what am I supposed to know?”
She had been struggling fiercely with the Cornmeal Gruel and hadn’t heard a word of what was being said.
It was so unpalatable.
Truly so unpalatable.
Even worse than her university cafeteria in her past life.
Lin Qiaoling replied, “Never mind, it’s nothing.”
Looking at her sister-in-law like this, it was clear she knew nothing.
Compared to her elder sister, this younger sister was just spoiled and a bit lazy—otherwise, she was like a blank slate.
She was the kind of little fool who couldn’t even win a fight over something.
So much so that even though they were twins, the two sisters had reputations as different as heaven and earth.
If someone said there was no trickery behind this, Lin Qiaoling absolutely wouldn’t believe it.
Jiang Meishu slowly uttered an “Oh” and went back to struggling with her coarse-grained Cornmeal Gruel.
After the meal, her sister-in-law Lin Qiaoling went to clean the dishes.
Jiang Meishu brought her bowl over, which surprised Lin Qiaoling once again. “Meishu, has the sun risen from the west?”
Due to Jiang Meishu’s poor health, the family rarely made her do chores.
Let alone voluntarily clear the table.
Jiang Meishu, “…”
Just by clearing a bowl, she had almost broken character.
She suddenly understood why Jiang Meilan said their mother was biased. They were twins, yet Jiang Meilan was capable both in the living room and the kitchen.
But the original owner was not.
She belonged to the type who couldn’t carry a load on her shoulders, couldn’t lift anything with her hands, and couldn’t even cook a decent meal.
Thinking of this, Jiang Meishu sighed and said to Lin Qiaoling with a clever remark, “Sorry to trouble you with washing the dishes, sister-in-law. I’m going to talk to Mom about something.”
Lin Qiaoling looked as if she had seen a ghost, never expecting her sister-in-law to be so polite.
It wasn’t that the previous Jiang Meishu had been impolite—she just didn’t like engaging with people.
And it wasn’t specifically aimed at Lin Qiaoling.
She simply didn’t like engaging with anyone!
Jiang Meishu found Wang Limei and asked, “Mom, do we eat Cornmeal Gruel every day?”
This was a serious question!
It concerned her future meals!
Seeing her younger daughter like this, Wang Limei chuckled, “If not Cornmeal Gruel, what else would you want to eat?”
Jiang Meishu ventured boldly, “Aren’t there things like eggs, fish, or meat?”
She had actually time-traveled.
Surely the Time-Travel Deity wouldn’t deny her some perks, right?
No golden finger.
At the very least, a decent family background would be nice.
Even just having enough to eat would suffice.
Wang Limei was amused by her youngest daughter’s naivety.
“Probably no one in our entire Dazayuan has it that good.” Eating eggs and fish every day—what kind of wealthy family could afford that?
Seeing her daughter’s disbelief, Wang Limei explained, “Your father earns thirty-seven yuan a month, your brother twenty-nine, your sister sixteen, and the two of us make at most five yuan from assembling matchboxes. Altogether, our family income is eighty-two yuan. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it?”
“Let me break it down for you. There are six adults and three children in our family—nine people in total. The monthly grain ration for adults is twenty-one jin of coarse grains and three jin of fine grains.”
“We’ve never seen fine grains in our house because we trade them all for coarse grains. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have enough to eat.”
“Besides, only your eldest brother is married. You and your sister are still unmarried, and your younger brother isn’t settled either. With three children’s futures unresolved, your younger brother is in middle school—doesn’t that cost money? And what about your two nephews and niece? Their education costs money too.”
“When you and your sister marry, I’d like to save up some dowry for you. Oh, and we need to add another room to the Earthquake Shelter, and our roof needs fixing—the tiles are leaking.”
“You’ve been sick these past few years, constantly on medication. Who knows if you’ll need it in the future?”
“Given all this, do you think our family can afford eggs and fish?”
Jiang Meishu, “…”
Oh no.
She had landed in a less-than-well-off family.
Seeing her stunned expression, Wang Limei couldn’t help but smile bitterly. “We never discussed these things with you before because you were always frail. I’m afraid we’ve raised you too naively, Meishu. After you marry, you can’t be like this. You have to plan carefully for daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea.”
Jiang Meishu tentatively asked, “If I marry Shen Zhanlie through a matchmaking, will I be able to afford egg noodles at his house?”
Her demands weren’t high.
Really, they weren’t!
That evening, she had half a bowl of Cornmeal Gruel so thin she could see her reflection in it. She was hungry again right after finishing it.
Even now, she was so hungry her stomach felt glued to her back.
She just wanted to eat her fill!
Wang Limei shook her head. “If you can’t even eat egg noodles at home, what makes you think you’ll get them at the Shen family? Their situation is worse than ours.”
Jiang Meishu’s vision darkened. She felt like life was simply unbearable.
“Didn’t they say you could come back to your parents’ home if you couldn’t eat well?”
Jiang Meishu thought to herself, come back to her parents’ for Cornmeal Gruel? She’d be hungry again the moment she finished eating.
She grimaced. “I think it’s better not to marry at all.”
If marrying meant she still couldn’t eat her fill, what was the point?
“Don’t copy your sister’s ways.”
Wang Limei immediately retorted, “If you don’t marry, are you going to stay home forever? How many years can your father and I support you? Do you really plan to rely on your eldest brother?”
Jiang Meishu pursed her lips and muttered softly, “Can’t I find a job myself?”
Wang Limei gave her a once-over. “Then you’d better just marry. At least if you marry, your mother can find several suitable candidates for you within a week. If you look for a job, your mother won’t find one for you in a year.”
Otherwise, why would so many families have idle mouths to feed?
Jiang Meishu ventured, “What about going to the countryside?”
“Would you take your medicine pots to the countryside?”
“Trying to outlive your ailments?”
Jiang Meishu, “…”
Fine.
Marriage seemed to be the only path left. She rubbed her temples in frustration. “Let’s not rush into marriage just yet. I’ll meet Shen Zhanlie first before deciding.”
Only then did Wang Limei feel relieved. “Don’t worry, your mother would never steer you wrong. I’ve picked this match from dozens of candidates—how could he be anything less than suitable?”
He was absolutely perfect for her daughter!
Jiang Meilan hadn’t expected to overhear her mother’s words upon returning home.
Her expression immediately darkened.
She knew exactly what her mother and sister were discussing—the arranged meeting with Shen Zhanlie.
Unfortunately, Wang Limei remained oblivious and even called out to Jiang Meilan, “When you and Meishu go on your dates, schedule them for different times—one in the morning, one in the afternoon. That way you can both wear the same presentable outfit.”
Poverty was truly to blame.
The family could only afford one decent set of clothes, which the sisters had to share for important occasions.
Normally, they wore patched garments.
But for something like a matchmaking meeting, they had to look their best no matter what.
Jiang Meilan didn’t feel like speaking.
But with her mother Wang Limei watching her expectantly, she could only reply, “Understood.”
In her heart, she prayed that her aunt would quickly cancel her arranged meeting with Liang Qiurun.
Only then could she proceed with her next steps.
Dongcheng Courtyard, Liang Residence.
For the first time, Madam Liang stayed up late waiting in the main hall for her son to return from work. Seven o’clock, eight, nine, ten…
It wasn’t until half-past eleven that Liang Qiurun finally pushed the door open from outside. Startled awake, Madam Liang immediately looked toward him. “Why are you getting off work so late?”
Liang Qiurun stood tall in his Dacron white shirt and dress pants, carrying a brown leather briefcase. The chill of the autumn night still clung to him.
When he entered and saw his mother sitting in the main hall, his gentle features showed surprise. “I was working overtime tonight. Mother, why are you here?”
Normally, his mother never visited his residence.
Mainly because Liang Rui lived here.
His mother and Liang Rui didn’t get along.
“It’s because of you! You’ve already rejected thirteen arranged meetings. Are you planning to turn down the fourteenth one too?”
When her son left the military and adopted his comrade’s child, she had opposed it from the start. They could support the boy, but formally adopting him as his own son? How would he ever start a family?
But her son had stubbornly insisted.
Outwardly gentle and refined, this son of hers was actually the most strong-willed. Once he made a decision, no one could change his mind.
Liang Qiurun’s brow carried traces of exhaustion, though his voice remained as mild as ever. “I understand, but Liang Rui isn’t willing to accept it.”
“Just because he doesn’t accept it, you’ll never marry?”
“Qiurun, you need to think about yourself too.”
Liang Qiurun lowered his gaze without responding.
His long lashes cast shadows over his eyelids. In the moonlight, his skin appeared as smooth and luminous as fine enamel, handsome yet gentle.
Seeing her son like this, Madam Liang couldn’t bear to lecture him further. She handed him a photograph. “This is the niece of Director Jiang from your Meatpacking Factory’s Trade Union. I hear she’s virtuous and capable with a good temperament—manages all household affairs skillfully. Though her family background is modest, at the very least she can take good care of a family.”
Liang Qiurun was still pondering the unfinished work from earlier.
“Qiurun, are you listening?”
Liang Qiurun nodded, briefly glancing at the photo before responding, “I’m listening.”
“Then go meet her for a blind date three days later. If it works out and you marry her, since you’re busy with your career and can’t manage Liang Rui, someone needs to take care of him for you. Otherwise, are you really going to watch Liang Rui be raised into a troublemaker?”
These words struck a chord with Liang Qiurun. He adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and replied gently, “I’ll consider it.”
What he was considering wasn’t his personal affairs, but whether Liang Rui would have someone to discipline him.
“Mm, remember what I said.” Mother Liang sighed. “I heard during the day that Liang Rui got into another fight and the teacher called his parents.”
“Qiurun, tell him that if this continues, our Liang family might not be able to keep him anymore.”
The Liang family had never had such a problematic child.
As soon as these words were spoken.
Liang Qiurun’s usually gentle expression vanished, replaced by a sharpness carrying an indescribable pressure. “Mom, don’t say such things again. Liang Rui is my son, and he will be my only son.”
From the moment his comrade saved him on the battlefield.
He had become Liang Rui’s father.
He had the obligation and responsibility to raise Liang Rui!
Seeing her son’s displeasure, Mother Liang immediately stopped and changed the subject. “Whether he’s your only son or not, I don’t care. But you must attend that blind date three days from now.”
Liang Qiurun didn’t respond. He glanced at a black-and-white photograph of a female comrade with a round face and a beaming smile, who appeared to have a gentle temperament.
“What’s her name?”
“What?”
“What’s the name of the comrade I’m meeting?”
“Jiang Meilan.”
“I’ll go.”
Shen Residence.
Shen Zhanlie returned from work carrying a bag of fresh pig offal. The Meatpacking Factory never lacked such things, though they weren’t particularly tasty.
He entered the door, ducking slightly to avoid the doorframe due to his imposing height and build. Even the largest work uniform fit him tightly. Having worked slaughtering pigs at the Meatpacking Factory, a few drops of dried blood still stained his face, giving him a fierce and rugged appearance.
Before he could change his clothes, Mother Shen called him over. “Has the Jiang family spoken to you?”
The usually cold and fierce Shen Zhanlie blushed slightly at the ears, nodding somewhat awkwardly. “Master told me.”
“They’ll arrange for me to marry Comrade Jiang Meishu.”
He had seen her once before.
Jiang Meishu had brought lunch to his master, wearing a blue work uniform with two braids. She was fair-skinned, delicate, and beautiful.
When she smiled, she was especially captivating—like a lotus flower, graceful and elegant, with pink-white petals swaying on the stem, stunning enough to hold one’s gaze.
Seeing her son like this.
Mother Shen understood. She took the dirty work clothes from him. “I was originally worried you wouldn’t like her, given the Jiang girl’s frail health, but now I feel relieved.”
“Zhanlie, our family is poor, and you have many burdens. Being able to marry the Jiang girl is already quite good.”
She feared her son might be too proud to accept the Jiang girl, thinking she was too delicate.
But then again.
If the Jiang girl weren’t frail and somewhat ill-reputed, she wouldn’t be matched with their family.
Shen Zhanlie’s expression showed a trace of surprise. “How could that be?”
He scratched his head somewhat sheepishly. “I feel like being able to marry Jiang Meishu is already reaching beyond my station.”
Such a fierce and imposing man appeared rather awkward yet endearing when making this gesture.
Seeing her son like this, Mother Shen felt reassured. She picked up the clothes and examined them. “Why are the shoulders so badly torn today?”
Normally there would only be some frayed threads.
But today there were actual gaping tears.
Shen Zhanlie pressed his lips together. “Since I’m about to go on a blind date, and money is tight at home, I took on some pig transport jobs to earn extra. I want to build a proper earthquake shelter at home with good asbestos tiles for the marriage.”
He couldn’t possibly get married and still squeeze into one room with his mother and younger siblings.
That would truly be too unfair to Jiang Meishu.
He knew his family circumstances were poor, but he always tried to improve things within his means.
At the very least, he couldn’t let Jiang Meishu suffer hardships after marrying him.
Early the next morning, Jiang Lamei went to the Liang family’s Dongcheng Courtyard. Seeing the imposing vermilion gate, she couldn’t help but hesitate.
With such good conditions, should they really call it off?
To be honest, Jiang Lamei was reluctant.
But thinking of Meilan’s tearful pleas, she had to brace herself and go. Unfortunately, she arrived late and missed Factory Director Liang, instead meeting his mother.
Truth be told, Factory Director Liang’s mother wore a Zhongshan suit with ear-length short hair. Though over sixty, her privileged upbringing made her appear difficult to deal with at first glance.
Mother Liang also disliked interacting with outsiders.
She stared coldly at the visitor without speaking.
Jiang Lamei immediately felt intimidated, but being a Trade Union worker with quick wits, she took a deep breath. “Elder Sister, I’m Jiang Lamei from the Trade Union.”
“Hmm?”
Mother Liang looked at her, uttering just one word.
This was something she’d learned from her son.
When unwilling to speak, just utter one syllable – it always intimidated people.
Startled, Jiang Lamei spilled everything like pouring beans from a basket. “It’s like this – my niece Jiang Meilan saw your grandson fighting, so she doesn’t dare to proceed with the blind date with Factory Director Liang.”
Before she could finish,
Mother Liang understood her purpose. In these matchmaking situations, four or five out of ten cases were caused by Liang Rui.
Feeling irritated, she glared sharply. “What? Don’t want to continue? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Jiang Lamei’s bitterness was hard to express.
“I don’t care what you think,” Mother Liang said with suppressed anger. “If you think our family is easy to bully, then don’t bother coming later.”
Having said this, she turned and left without another glance at Jiang Lamei.
When alone, she immediately relaxed and asked Comrade Wang beside her, “How did I do? Didn’t embarrass ourselves, right?”
Comrade Wang, the family steward, smiled. “That’s the way it should be.”
“Indeed it should.”
“Otherwise, outsiders would really think our Liang family is easy to bully.”
They were the ones who agreed.
Now they’re the ones going back on their word.
How could such favorable circumstances exist in this world?
Left standing outside, Jiang Lamei took a deep breath of the autumn chill and slapped her thigh. “What kind of mess is this?”
Instead of becoming in-laws, they might end up as enemies.
Such important matters naturally couldn’t be concealed.
She immediately went to the Jiang family.
Those not working were at home assembling matchboxes.
Wang Limei and her two daughters were there – the children had gone to school, and the daughter-in-law had taken over her maternal family’s job, so only the three women remained at home.
All morning,
Jiang Meilan had been restless, constantly looking around.
Wang Limei asked, “What are you looking for?”
Jiang Meilan didn’t dare say she was hoping her aunt would bring good news. She lowered her head. “Nothing.”
Seeing this, Wang Limei’s heart sank.
She could sense that since yesterday’s incident, her daughter had begun distancing herself from her.
Perhaps it had been even longer, but she simply hadn’t wanted to consider that possibility.
Jiang Meishu remained silent, focusing on pasting matchboxes. She realized that in this situation, no matter what she said, Jiang Meilan would always see her as being in the wrong.
Just as the atmosphere in the room grew tense, there came knocking from outside. After just two knocks, Jiang Lamei stepped inside. “Is Meilan home?”
As she entered and saw three people in the room, her expression immediately stiffened.
“Sister-in-law, what brings you here?” Wang Limei stood up to greet her.
“I’m looking for Meilan.” Jiang Lamei called for Jiang Meilan and was about to leave with her when Wang Limei stopped them. “What matter can’t be discussed in front of us?”
If there was one thing Wang Limei regretted most, it was agreeing to let Jiang Lamei foster her eldest daughter for five years. But nothing in this world comes without consequences. Without those five years of fostering, the twins wouldn’t have survived intact.
Blocked from leaving, Jiang Lamei looked somewhat uncomfortable and glanced at Jiang Meilan.
Jiang Meilan whispered, “Mom, Aunt and I have some private matters to discuss outside.”
“Discuss them here,” Wang Limei insisted firmly. With her square-jawed face, she carried an air of stern authority.
Seeing no way out, Jiang Meilan looked ready to cry.
Jiang Lamei shielded Jiang Meilan behind her. “It’s not something that can’t be said. I went to the Liang family, and they refused our request to cancel the arranged marriage.”
“What?” Wang Limei was shocked. “Why did you go to the Liang family?”
Even Jiang Meishu couldn’t help looking over, thinking to herself: Was her sister really this bold? To directly cancel an arranged marriage? After all, whether it was Jiang Meilan’s match or her own, their mother had carefully selected them from dozens of families. To put it bluntly, if they canceled now, any future matches would definitely be worse than the current ones. Without a better alternative, canceling the current arrangement was practically suicidal.
Wait—if Jiang Meilan dared to cancel so confidently, she must have another option in mind. Jiang Meishu couldn’t help but look over curiously. What alternative path was there?
Facing her mother’s questioning, Jiang Meilan, who had just learned the outcome, was on the verge of breaking down. “What’s wrong with canceling the arranged marriage? Why do they get to refuse?”
“Jiang Meilan!” Wang Limei trembled with anger. “Do you realize what you’re saying? Go ask around our Dazayuan—there are still several families without confirmed marriage matches. Everyone is desperately hoping for a good partner, and here you are throwing away a golden opportunity! You’re truly audacious to cancel with the Liang family without consulting anyone!”
As Wang Limei looked ready to strike, Jiang Lamei intervened. “Limei, the child discussed this with me. It’s not like she didn’t tell anyone.”
Her words only made Wang Limei angrier. “Fine, fine! From now on, you can live with your aunt! I won’t care about any of your affairs anymore!” She was truly heartbroken.
Jiang Lamei frowned. “Limei, assigning blame isn’t the issue now. The biggest problem is how to handle the situation with the Liang family. They refused to cancel, saying our family is going back on our word and that we should consider the consequences. Meilan doesn’t want to go through with the match—what should we do now?”
Wang Limei sneered. “How to solve it? Weren’t you both so bold? Don’t you already have a solution? Why come to me?”
She stared at Jiang Meilan, “You should have anticipated these consequences when making this decision.”
Their entire family couldn’t afford to offend the Liang family.
Jiang Meilan also panicked. She was afraid of being matched with Liang Qiurun through the arranged marriage.
She also feared offending Liang Qiurun—not only would she lose her job, but their whole family would be ruined.
Thus, Jiang Meilan began darting around frantically like a headless fly.
Suddenly spotting Jiang Meishu standing nearby, her eyes lit up. With a thud, she knelt before Jiang Meishu. “Little sister, please help me. Let’s do a marriage swap.”
Jiang Meishu, “?”
Ding—Marriage swap conditions unlocked. System Dad is at your service.