As these words fell, everyone in the room brightened up, their expressions thoughtful as if weighing the feasibility of this approach.
Except.
Jiang Meishu bit into her apple, looking from one person to another, her face full of question marks as she asked, “What do you mean? Didn’t we agree not to switch?”
Then how would the switch happen?
Jiang Meishu still hadn’t quite processed it.
No wonder people said that in the entire Jiang family, Jiang Meishu was the only slow one.
While the whole family had eight hundred clever ideas, Jiang Meishu accounted for just one. Jiang Meilan alone probably accounted for seven hundred ninety-nine.
She didn’t seem surprised by her sister’s question.
Jiang Meilan stared at Jiang Meishu for a moment before saying, “It’s not entirely impossible.”
“After all, we’re twins and look exactly the same.”
Jiang Meishu took a small bite of her apple, “Speak plainly.”
Jiang Meilan, “…”
She sighed, “I’m really afraid that if you go to the Liang family, you’ll be exposed within three days.”
Jiang Meishu, “…”
“What sister-in-law means is this – let’s swap identities and pretend to be each other for the blind dates and marriage.”
Jiang Meishu’s mouth fell open like an egg, “What?”
It seemed she had never imagined such an approach was possible?
“That is, you’ll use Jiang Meilan’s identity to go on the blind date with Factory Director Liang.”
“And I’ll use Jiang Meishu’s identity to go on the blind date with Shen Zhanlie.”
“This way both sides will be satisfied.”
Jiang Meishu, “…”
Wait, were people in the seventies this wild?
Even if you drilled her head full of holes, she would never have thought of such a method.
She stared wide-eyed, “I’m afraid I can’t pull it off, can I?”
Her sister Jiang Meilan – presentable in the living room, capable in the kitchen, diligent, virtuous, competent and studious.
Her, Jiang Meishu – aside from eating, just eating.
Wouldn’t she be exposed the moment she stepped into the Liang family?
This was indeed true.
Not only had Jiang Meishu thought of this, but the rest of the family had too.
“These next few days, follow me. I’ll teach you how to be me, and you teach me how to be you.”
Jiang Meilan said fiercely, “I refuse to believe that we twins who look exactly alike can’t fool two outsiders.”
Well.
No wonder people said Jiang Meilan had guts.
Jiang Meishu bit her apple, “Are we really going to do this?”
“Otherwise, do you want to go on the blind date with Shen Zhanlie?”
Jiang Meilan asked her.
Jiang Meishu shook her head like a rattle-drum, “No, no.”
“If you don’t want to go on the blind date with Shen Zhanlie, then learn from me!”
“Similarly, I don’t want to go on the blind date with that old man Liang Qiurun either. So annoying.”
The others in the room, “…”
These two sisters were truly something.
Meanwhile, Lin Qiaoling, who had made the initial suggestion, grew somewhat panicked, “I was just saying it casually, don’t take it seriously.”
If they really deceived Factory Director Liang about the blind date and were discovered.
Their entire family would probably be in deep trouble.
“Sister-in-law, I haven’t thanked you yet.”
Jiang Meilan took her hand.
“If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have thought of such a good method.”
“But.” Jiang Meilan’s tone shifted as she smiled slightly, though with a hint of threat, “If the news about Meishu and I swapping identities gets leaked, I’ll tell Factory Director Liang that you were the one who suggested it.”
Lin Qiaoling, “???”
Are you even hearing the words coming out of your mouth?
Jiang Meishu watched this scene silently from the side. She’d always said her sister was someone who could stir up big things.
Quick-witted, adaptable, and resourceful.
“Build a good relationship with her!
It’s worth it!”
Beside them, Wang Limei opened her mouth, “What is all this about?”
Jiang Meilan said, “Mom, what you need to do is cooperate with us.”
Wang Limei fell silent.
Instead, Jiang Meishu spoke up, “Isn’t this just deceiving people?”
Thinking back, the worst thing Jiang Meishu had ever done growing up was cheat on an exam.
Even that had made her feel guilty for half a month.
Let alone something like tricking someone into marriage.
It was practically no different from a fraudulent marriage.
As a righteous and principled college student, Jiang Meishu declared, “I can’t do it.”
Jiang Meilan gritted her teeth in frustration, “If you can’t do it, then you’ll have to go on a blind date with Shen Zhanlie.”
This really put her in a dilemma.
Jiang Meishu didn’t want to go on a blind date with Shen Zhanlie, but she also didn’t want to deceive someone into marriage.
“Agree to it,” the system suddenly said.
Jiang Meishu asked, “Why?”
“Is your system just plain evil, always scheming and deceiving like this?”
The system replied, “??”
“Stop gossiping about me behind my back.”
Jiang Meishu didn’t say whether she believed it or not.
The system continued, “Liang Qiurun and his stepson Liang Rui are both your mission targets.”
At this.
Jiang Meishu immediately perked up, “Am I like one of those transmigrated novel heroines, taking you along to conquer and redeem that father-son pair?”
Who hadn’t read a few novels?
Jiang Meishu was thrilled. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation, “System, are you a conquest system or a redemption system?”
The system’s voice was cold and emotionless, like a machine, “Please call me the Evil System, full name Evil Persona Simulation System.”
Jiang Meishu, “…”
It’s over.
She had fallen into a den of wolves.
Jiang Meishu’s vision went dark for a moment before she recovered, “You’re not joking with me, are you?”
“Other systems are all about conquest and redemption, so why are you the evil one?”
“I didn’t do anything immoral in my past life, did I?”
“How did I end up bound to such a deadly system?”
The system, “…”
It didn’t know how it managed it, but Jiang Meishu’s vision suddenly shifted to her home from her past life.
She lay quietly in bed, her condition unknown.
Her mother, hair completely white, was gently and meticulously wiping her hands, “Meishu, your father got another temporary job today. Isn’t he amazing?”
“Mom is amazing too. I’ve picked up my old skill of making buns again.”
“Your dad and I don’t ask for much now. We just want to earn a little more money so you can recover and wake up sooner.”
As she finished speaking.
Father Jiang returned from work, his hair graying and his face wrinkled, carrying a large garbage bag filled with plastic bottles.
The usually optimistic father now wore a troubled expression, “Meishu, how are you today?”
The first thing he did upon entering was ask about his daughter.
Jiang Meishu didn’t quite understand why her father, who had always been clean and proud, would resort to collecting garbage.
Perhaps she did understand.
She just didn’t want to, and didn’t dare, to think too deeply about it.
For parents who had lost their only child, their child and money were the most important things.
Their child was their pillar.
Money was their security.
But now, Father and Mother Jiang had a child, but she was in a vegetative state.
They had money, but it was all spent.
And Jiang Meishu, in a vegetative state, was like a bottomless pit, a money sink.
This was the most painful and desperate life for them.
The usually cheerful Jiang Meishu suddenly fell silent. After a long while, she asked sadly, “What do I need to do?”
System, “Marry Liang Qiurun through a matchmaking arrangement, simulate a villainous persona, and earn Villainy Points.”
“One Villainy Point can be exchanged for 100,000 RMB, which the system will automatically deposit into your Alipay account.”
Jiang Meishu didn’t hesitate at all. “Deal.”
So-called principles and kindness were worthless in the face of her parents who had lost their only child.
She only hoped that in her absence, her parents could live better lives—much better lives.
The system wasn’t quite used to seeing Jiang Meishu so serious and solemn.
It made it inexplicably sad. “Shushu, with an exchange rate of 1:100,000, your parents’ old age will be very comfortable.”
Material abundance.
Good health.
These were the most basic conditions for a stable and happy life in one’s later years.
Of course.
With this money, that future Shushu would also live very well.
Jiang Meishu hummed in acknowledgment and asked softly, “System, do you think I’ll wake up?”
She had seen that version of herself.
Pale, weak, sickly, pitiful.
The system was momentarily at a loss. “Shushu, I don’t know.”
“I only know that working hard to earn Villainy Points will definitely be beneficial.”
Jiang Meishu didn’t press further.
Outside.
Jiang Meilan was growing anxious. She grabbed Jiang Meishu’s hand urgently. “Meishu, what are you hesitating about? If you don’t agree, we’re both finished.”
“So, sister is begging you, can we swap?”
“Let’s take each other’s identities to the matchmaking session.”
Jiang Meilan had expected her sister to refuse, but to her surprise.
Jiang Meishu lowered her eyes, her slender white neck as smooth as jade. “I agree.”
“What did you say?”
Jiang Meilan was instantly overjoyed. “You mean you agree to swap identities, right?”
Jiang Meishu hummed in confirmation.
Hearing this, Jiang Meilan happily paced around the small room.
“Let me think, how should we do this?”
How to proceed didn’t concern Jiang Meishu. She wasn’t particularly opinionated—even for her college entrance exams in her previous life, she had followed her parents’ advice when choosing her major and preferences.
Jiang Meishu pressed her lips together and said softly, “Sister, I’d like to rest.”
At these words.
Jiang Meilan thought of her sister’s health and immediately waved her hand. “Go on, go rest. Leave the remaining arrangements to me. You shouldn’t overexert yourself and risk harming your health.”
Jiang Meishu responded quietly, then turned and lifted the curtain to enter the small room.
To be honest.
She didn’t care whom she married now, nor did she care about whom she was matchmaking with.
She didn’t even care about swapping identities with her sister.
She felt somewhat sad.
All her previous efforts to compete had been just for a permanent job.
She had once fantasized about earning millions, enabling her parents to live without financial worries and making them proud of her.
Unfortunately, it seemed too late now.
She thought of that helpless version of herself lying in bed, and her burdened parents with graying hair still struggling to make ends meet.
She had become the greatest burden.
Unable to fulfill her filial duties.
Everything was too late.
The system comforted her, “Shushu, how could it be too late?”
“Have you forgotten? The Villainy Points exchange rate is 1:100,000. If you just earn ten points, your parents will be millionaires.”
“If you earn a hundred Villainy Points, that would be incredible—your parents would be richer than Jack Ma in the future, and might even have another child for you.”
Jiang Meishu, “…”
She had originally been feeling somewhat upset.
But after hearing what the system said, she felt both annoyed and amused. “System, you’d better stop talking!”
The system immediately fell silent.
Jiang Meishu lay on the small 1.2-meter spring bed, staring blankly at the roof beam. After a long while, she finally said, “System, I will work hard to earn Villainy Points.”
She couldn’t keep burdening her parents forever.
She also wanted to ensure her parents could live comfortably in their later years, free from worries about food and clothing.
She needed to gradually establish herself in this era of the 1970s, where hunger and cold were common.
She shouldn’t, and couldn’t, remain so despondent.