Although Lu Yaozu didn’t think much of this young uncle, he still greeted him politely.
“Uncle, you’re back.”
Lu Zhoushan gave a quiet hum, nodded in acknowledgment, and said nothing more.
Old Master Lu looked at him with concern.
“Zhoushan, it’s cold outside. Since your health isn’t good, don’t go out so much. Take better care of yourself.”
As the youngest son of the Lu family, born late in his parents’ lives, Lu Zhoushan smiled gently. There wasn’t a trace of rebellion or arrogance about him.
“I know, Dad.”
Lu Yuanshan let out a sigh.
“Second Brother’s health really is…” Then, as if something occurred to him, he turned to Old Master Lu.
“Dad, shouldn’t we find Second Brother someone to marry?”
Lu’s mother immediately agreed with a smile.
“That’s right, Dad. It’d be nice if there were someone by his side to look after him.”
Old Master Lu narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Lu Yuanshan continued,
“His nephew is about to get married, yet he’s several years older than Yaozu and still doesn’t have anyone. It doesn’t sound good if word gets around.”
Meanwhile, Lu Yaozu was left standing awkwardly, completely ignored.
Only Lu’s mother finally noticed him.
“Eh? Yaozu, why are you still standing there? Come, sit down.”
A trace of displeasure flashed across Lu Yaozu’s face.
Why am I still standing here? Did any of you even notice me?
Every time his sickly young uncle came home, his own importance in the family plummeted. No one paid him any attention anymore.
Keeping a stiff expression, he walked over and sat beside Lu’s mother.
He lowered his eyes, hiding the resentment in them.
Old Master Lu seemed convinced by the earlier suggestion and looked toward Lu Zhoushan.
Before he could speak, Lu Zhoushan started coughing again.
As he coughed, he said,
“Dad, Big Brother… let’s forget it. My health is too poor. I shouldn’t drag some innocent girl into this. Besides… who knows how many years I have left?”
Lu Yuanshan frowned immediately.
“Don’t talk nonsense. You’ll live a long life.”
Old Master Lu nodded.
“Second Son, as long as you’re willing, whichever family’s daughter marries into the Lu family, we certainly won’t mistreat her.”
So what if his health was a little weak?
Lu Zhoushan wasn’t terminally ill, nor was he incapable of taking care of himself.
Sitting nearby, Lu Yaozu watched his uncle’s pale, sickly appearance with undisguised contempt.
He doesn’t look like a man at all.
His skin was fairer than a woman’s.
Because of his poor health, he either stayed at home or retreated to the family estate to recuperate.
Sometimes he’d remain there for a month or two.
The longest stay had lasted three whole months.
Normally, he only held a nominal position at the family’s factory so he wouldn’t have to be sent to the countryside, living entirely off his grandparents’ support.
The more Lu Yaozu thought about it, the more unfair it felt.
His grandparents were obviously biased.
With Uncle’s condition, who knew how much longer he’d live?
Giving him the family’s wealth was simply a waste.
It should all go to him—the healthy eldest grandson.
After all, he was the Lu family’s only eldest grandson.
His name was Yaozu—”bringing honor to the ancestors.”
Wasn’t the Lu family supposed to rely on him to carry on the family name?
Surely they couldn’t expect that sickly uncle to do it?
In such poor health, who knew if he was even capable in that department?
Even if he married, he probably couldn’t have children.
A man who couldn’t continue the family line—what kind of man was that?
Thinking this, Lu Yaozu smiled maliciously.
Before Lu Zhoushan could refuse, he eagerly chimed in.
“Exactly! Grandpa’s right, Uncle. Why don’t we arrange a blind date for you? Dad, what do you think?”
A blind date?
Lu Zhoushan froze.
This was a first.
Never in his life had anyone suggested arranging blind dates for him.
The entire Lu family found the idea refreshing as well and all turned to look at him expectantly.
After some thought, Old Master Lu nodded.
“Yaozu’s a clever boy. That’s actually a good idea. I think it’ll work.”
Hearing the praise, Lu Yaozu smiled knowingly at Lu Zhoushan, satisfaction flashing through his eyes.
Being stared at by his entire family made Lu Zhoushan feel like a slab of meat on a chopping block, waiting to be carved up.
The feeling sent chills down his spine.
Lu Yuanshan nodded enthusiastically.
“I agree. We should’ve thought of this years ago.”
At twenty-five, Lu Zhoushan was already considered an older unmarried man by the standards of the time.
Lu’s mother laughed cheerfully.
“Oh, it’s not too late. With Second Brother’s looks and bearing, I guarantee girls from every village around would be delighted to meet him.”
Lu Zhoushan nearly choked on his own saliva.
So because there’s nothing else worth praising about me besides my illness, you’re all complimenting my face instead?
A matchmaker really could talk a dead fish into swimming.
Instinctively, he felt this whole matchmaking business was unlikely to end well.
Old Master Lu added,
“Once Second Son gets married and has someone to take care of him, I’ll finally be able to rest easy.”
Lu Yuanshan agreed.
“Exactly. Maybe after he gets married, his health will even improve.”
Lu’s mother nodded repeatedly with a smile.
Even Lu Yaozu looked at his uncle teasingly.
Seeing everyone’s determination, Lu Zhoushan realized there was probably no room for refusal.
He simply closed his mouth and stopped arguing.
While the Lu family enthusiastically discussed Lu Zhoushan’s marriage, the Jiang family was just as busy.
The three of them spent two full days moving nearly everything in the house into the mother-and-daughter storage space before rearranging the home.
Anything valuable or eye-catching was stored inside the dimensional bracelet.
Even items that looked slightly extravagant were put away by Jiang’s mother.
An enamel mug bearing the slogan “Labor Is Most Glorious” was placed prominently on the table, while patched coarse-cloth quilts were spread across the beds, making the house appear simple and modest.
The family didn’t leave home during those two days.
They simply cooked noodles for meals and devoted all their time to preparing.
Afterward, the family of three sat together to discuss their next steps.
Jiang Xiaoci said,
“Dad, Mom, for the time being, we should live frugally. We shouldn’t attract attention or give people anything to gossip about.”
Her parents both nodded.
Jiang’s father spoke with concern.
“You can guard against a thief for one day, but not forever. To be safe, we should make another backup plan.”
Jiang Xiaoci looked puzzled.
“Dad, what do you mean?”
“If your dream is real, then according to what it warned us, someone will leak the news to us beforehand. We’ll know in advance and arrange your marriage before we’re reported.”
He paused before continuing.
“Rather than waiting passively, why don’t we start arranging blind dates for you now?”
Jiang’s mother agreed.
“Your father’s right. Even if we’ve prepared ahead of time, we have to plan for the worst.”
“If we’re really sent down to the countryside, then only your father and I will go. If you’re already married, you’ll be able to stay behind.”
Jiang’s father nodded firmly.
“Exactly. Sooner or later you’ll have to get married anyway. We might as well arrange it early.”
“But one thing is certain—you absolutely cannot marry Lu Yaozu.”
“Even if the dream turns out to be false, that boy is fickle and unreliable. He’s not someone worthy of entrusting your life to.”
At that point, Jiang Xiaoci could only nod.
As long as she didn’t marry Lu Yaozu, she wouldn’t repeat the tragedy of her previous life.
This time, she’d keep her eyes open and carefully choose a husband.
At the very least, she wouldn’t make the same mistake she had in her past life, when disaster struck her family so suddenly that she’d misjudged Lu Yaozu and ended up marrying that scoundrel.
In this lifetime…
She and her parents would never repeat those mistakes again.
After all, most of the family’s possessions were now safely stored inside her mother’s space bracelet.
Even if her parents were really sent to the countryside, they wouldn’t have to suffer too much.
Still, it was better to prepare thoroughly.
Her parents were getting older, and she couldn’t help worrying.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Xiaoci suggested,
“Dad, Mom, no matter what happens, if we really are sent away, the living conditions will definitely be harsh. We should buy some medicine now, just in case.”
Jiang’s father immediately approved.
“That’s an excellent idea. Your mother and I are getting old. If we catch a cold or suffer an injury, having medicine with us will make things much easier.”
Jiang’s mother nodded.
“Our daughter really thinks everything through. Medicine isn’t like other supplies—it won’t spoil quickly. Even if we never have to leave, it won’t hurt to keep extra at home.”
Finally, Jiang’s father made the decision.
“Then it’s settled. It’s too late today. Tomorrow, the three of us will split up and each buy medicine separately.”
“Keep a low profile. Don’t let anyone suspect anything.”
Jiang Xiaoci exchanged a smile with her mother.
“Don’t worry, Dad. We know what we’re doing.”
The next day, the family split up.
Jiang’s mother went to Tongrentang, hurried inside, and approached the pharmacist.
The pharmacist looked at her suspiciously.
She calmly explained,
“There’s someone at home suffering from rheumatism and severe back and leg pain. They can’t come out, so I’d like to buy some medicine.”
After carefully asking about the symptoms, the pharmacist dispensed a small amount.
Although it wasn’t much, simply being able to buy medicine was already difficult.
Jiang’s mother happily took the medicine and left.
Jiang’s father visited Huichuntang, using a similar excuse but describing a different illness.
He also managed to buy some medicine.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaoci went to a small pharmacy at the entrance of an alley.
She likewise claimed a family member was too sick to leave home and bought medicine after describing the symptoms.
When the family reunited, they decided that every few days they would rotate between different pharmacies.
Bit by bit, they would gradually build up a supply.
Only then would they truly feel at ease.
After Lu Yaozu submitted his anonymous report to the authorities, its contents immediately drew serious attention.
The accusations involved capitalist practices—one of the most severely targeted offenses at the time.
The organization quickly decided to launch an investigation into the Jiang family.
Fortunately, someone inside had a good relationship with Jiang’s father.
When he learned of the investigation, he was stunned.
His name was Zhao Yong, an old acquaintance of Jiang’s father’s.
He knew the Jiang family well and firmly believed they were honest people.
There was no way they were guilty of the accusations in the report.
However, since the investigation team had already issued the order during such a politically sensitive period, he couldn’t openly oppose it.
Instead, Zhao Yong decided to secretly warn Jiang Decai in advance.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaoci and her parents remained completely unaware.
Although she had always known this day would come eventually, she hadn’t expected Lu Yaozu to act so quickly.
Early the next morning, Zhao Yong quietly went to the Jiang residence.
After welcoming him inside, Jiang’s father asked curiously,
“Old Zhao, what brings you here so early? Is something wrong?”
Zhao Yong didn’t waste any time.
“Old Jiang, someone has reported your family. Investigators will be here very soon.”
“You’d better prepare yourselves in advance.”
The moment Jiang’s father heard those words, his heart sank.
It was exactly as his daughter had said.
Everything…
Had happened just as it had in her dream.