Although they had mentally prepared themselves for this, the news still left them too shocked to speak for a long while.
Zhao Yong continued, “Old Jiang, I’ve delivered the message. Be extra careful. I have to go now.”
Jiang’s father’s expression turned solemn. Filled with both gratitude and anger, he said, “Old Zhao, thank you. But our family has always lived honestly and followed the rules. How could we possibly have been reported?”
Zhao Yong sighed.
“I don’t know the details either. The report was anonymous. But the accusations are serious, and the investigation team will be here very soon. Old Jiang, I trust your character. Otherwise, I never would have risked warning you.”
Jiang’s father could only reply gratefully, “Old Zhao, I’ll never forget this favor…”
Zhao Yong waved him off.
“With our friendship, there’s no need for such formalities. Time is short. Make your preparations as soon as possible. I really have to leave.”
Jiang’s father nodded.
“I’ll see you out.”
After politely escorting Zhao Yong away, Jiang’s father returned to the house and called his wife and daughter together to discuss the matter.
Jiang’s mother had been preparing breakfast, while Jiang Xiaoci had still been asleep. But after hearing the news, every trace of her drowsiness instantly disappeared.
The family of three sat facing one another in the living room, silent for a long time.
Even though they had anticipated this day, now that it had actually arrived, the atmosphere in the house was still unbearably heavy. Worry was written plainly across every face.
Jiang’s mother angrily exclaimed, “That Lu Yaozu has gone too far! Just because Xiaoci rejected his marriage proposal, he actually resorted to reporting our family!”
Jiang’s father’s face darkened with anger.
Just now, Zhao Yong hadn’t mentioned who had filed the report. If their daughter hadn’t foreseen everything in her dream, they never would have imagined that Lu Yaozu was capable of such a vicious and despicable act.
Seeing her parents’ distress, Jiang Xiaoci gently comforted her mother.
“Mom, don’t make yourself sick with anger. Right now, the most important thing is figuring out how to deal with this.”
Jiang’s father spoke gravely.
“Our family’s wealth was earned through generations of hard work. It’s the accumulation of several generations of the Jiang family. I just don’t understand how Lu Yaozu managed to fabricate those accusations out of thin air in that anonymous report.”
Although Lu Yaozu had no actual evidence, the current political climate was fiercely targeting so-called capitalist elements. If investigators found substantial family assets, they would immediately label the owners as capitalists, confiscate everything they owned, and send the family away for labor reform.
The more Jiang’s father thought about it, the angrier—and more helpless—he became.
The Jiang family was wealthy, but they lacked powerful social influence. That was exactly why petty villains had found an opportunity to maliciously frame them.
Both Father and Jiang’s mother wore grim expressions.
Jiang Xiaoci, however, remained remarkably calm.
After all, she had lived two lifetimes.
Although she was only eighteen on the outside, her soul had already experienced two lives. Compared to the suffering she had endured in her previous life, this crisis was nothing. At least this time, the disaster hadn’t happened yet, giving them a chance to respond. That alone felt like a blessing.
She comforted her parents.
“Mom, Dad, don’t worry too much. We’ve already hidden all of our property. Even if the investigation team comes, they won’t find anything. Without evidence, they can’t do much. Hopefully, we’ll get through this.”
Jiang’s father nodded.
“Your daughter is right. Panicking won’t help. Since we’ve already prepared in advance, we’ll simply respond calmly to whatever comes.”
Jiang’s mother was far less composed than the two of them.
As she wiped at her reddened eyes, she said,
“Even with preparations, there’s no guarantee we’ll be safe. If someone is determined to ruin our family, I’m not afraid for myself. I’m only afraid they’ll drag our daughter into this.”
The elderly couple had only one child and had always treasured her like the apple of their eye.
Jiang Xiaoci’s own eyes turned red as she hugged her mother tightly.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m not afraid.”
Even so, her parents remained uneasy.
Jiang’s father finally said,
“Xiaoci, your mother is right. No matter what happens, we can’t let this affect you. We need to get you married as soon as possible so people stop targeting you. Otherwise, your mother and I simply won’t be able to rest easy.”
Jiang’s mother agreed completely.
The couple still believed the plan they had discussed before was the safest option.
As long as their daughter married someone else, Lu Yaozu would no longer have any claim over her, making it much harder for him to continue causing trouble.
Jiang’s mother said gently,
“Xiaoci, listen to your father. If you don’t object, I’ll ask someone to arrange blind dates for you right away. If we truly can’t avoid being sent to the countryside, at least you’ll already be married. Only then will your father and I be able to stop worrying.”
With things having reached this point, what else could Jiang Xiaoci say?
She nodded quietly without objecting.
Seeing that their daughter had agreed, both parents finally breathed a sigh of relief, though their hearts ached.
In truth, they had never intended to rush her into marriage. She was still young.
But circumstances left them with no choice.
Now they had to take the initiative to seek out a matchmaker themselves. For a bride’s family, doing so could seem rather undignified, but they simply had no better solution.
Once the decision was made, the Jiang family wasted no time.
That very day, the couple took Jiang Xiaoci with them and hurried off to find a matchmaker, hoping to arrange blind dates as quickly as possible so her marriage could be settled soon.
There was an elderly matchmaker in town known to everyone as Grandma Wang.
She was famous throughout the area for her eloquence and unmatched talent for making successful matches.
The Jiangs brought Jiang Xiaoci to Grandma Wang’s home, along with a generous gift.
After hearing why they had come, Grandma Wang’s smile stretched from ear to ear.
Before she’d even done any matchmaking, the bride’s family had already brought such an expensive gift. They clearly understood how things worked.
Then she caught sight of Jiang Xiaoci herself.
Her eyes lit up immediately.
What a beautiful girl.
Jiang Xiaoci wore a plain cotton-padded jacket in the popular style of the day. Though simple in color, it looked neat and elegant.
Her glossy black hair was braided into two long plaits that rested over her shoulders.
Beneath her delicate brows were a pair of bright almond-shaped eyes, clear and sparkling with innocence and gentle shyness.
Looking her over, Grandma Wang couldn’t help blurting out,
“Oh my! What a lovely girl! Just look at those eyes—so bright and lively. A face like hers is hard to find around here.”
Embarrassed by the praise, Jiang Xiaoci’s cheeks flushed slightly.
Her parents smiled as well.
“You’re too kind, Auntie. We’ll have to trouble you to find a good family for our Xiaoci.”
Grandma Wang immediately patted her chest confidently.
“Of course! A girl this pretty is a blessing for whichever family is lucky enough to marry her. Leave it to me—I promise I’ll find her an excellent match!”
The Jiang couple thanked her repeatedly.
Jiang Xiaoci also spoke gracefully,
“Auntie, thank you for your hard work.”
Her voice was crisp and pleasant, and both her speech and manners were poised and courteous.
The more Grandma Wang looked at her, the more she liked her.
She enthusiastically invited the Jiang family to sit down and chat.
In her excitement, she immediately began rattling off information without reservation.
“As it happens, there’s a young man who’s also looking for a wife recently. He’s very handsome, and his family is in excellent circumstances. His father is a retired soldier, and his mother is the director of a garment factory. He’s the youngest son in the family—the child they had late in life—so he’s always been doted on.”
Of course, Grandma Wang still held back one important detail.
She didn’t mention that although the young man came from an excellent family, was handsome, and had everything going for him…
…he appeared to be rather frail, looking sickly and in poor health.