Su Ci’s head felt like it was splitting apart.
Her ears were filled with a constant buzzing of cries, so noisy it made her irritable.
“Dad, my sister has always been frail. She’s never done hard labor. A place like that remote island—sending her there is basically sending her to die!”
“Let me marry Commander Lu instead. I’m not afraid of hardship. As long as my sister can live a good life, I’m willing to take her place!”
Su Ci’s fingers, which had been rubbing her temples, suddenly paused.
Island? Commander Lu? Take her place?
Strange memories forced their way into her mind, like someone had shoved a bowl of scalding ginger soup down her throat.
She wasn’t dead.
Not only was she not dead, she had gone from being the trillion-dollar heiress of a modern conglomerate… to transmigrating into a tragic novel set in the 1970s.
The bad news: the original owner of this body was extremely unlucky.
Her biological mother had died early, leaving her with a scumbag father, a vicious stepmother, and a scheming stepsister.
Right now was the turning point of the entire story—the marriage swap.
According to the original engagement, Su Ci was supposed to marry Zhao Jianguo, the son of a textile factory director. In this era, a factory director’s family was practically dripping with wealth. Marrying into it meant a life of comfort, especially since it was in the city—no need to work in the fields.
Her stepsister, Su Baozhu, had been engaged to Lu Ye, a regiment commander stationed on a remote island.
It sounded prestigious—being a commander’s wife—but in reality, it was a deep pit.
Lu Ye’s parents were dead, and he had three younger siblings to support.
The eldest was like a feral wolf cub, the second was spoiled and delicate, and the youngest was constantly sick.
On top of that, the base was on an isolated island in the South Sea—no reliable water, no electricity, and typhoons that could rip roofs off houses.
Anyone who married into that family would basically become an unpaid nanny bringing their own resources.
In her previous life, Su Baozhu had married into that family, only to be driven insane within two years by the three troublesome children. She also resented that Lu Ye was rarely home. In the end, she ran off with a peddler and died in a foreign land.
Meanwhile, the original Su Ci married into the Zhao family. Although her mother-in-law was difficult, the Zhao family later went into business and became the richest in the region.
Clearly, Su Baozhu had been reborn.
The first thing she did after coming back was to stage this act of “self-sacrifice” in front of Su Ci.
Was she really caring about her sister?
Of course not.
She was greedy for the Zhao family’s future wealth—and terrified of those three future villain siblings on the island.
Su Ci opened her eyes.
Her gaze swept across the dull, gray main hall.
By a chipped redwood table, Su Daqiang sat with furrowed brows, puffing on his pipe. Her stepmother, Wang Xiuzhi, wiped her tears while secretly watching his expression.
As for Su Baozhu, kneeling on the ground—she cried miserably, but the calculation and smugness hidden in her lowered eyes were impossible to conceal.
“Baozhu… you’re such a kind child.”
Su Daqiang tapped his pipe, looking moved. “Since you’re willing to suffer in your sister’s place, then—”
“I don’t agree.”
A cold voice suddenly rang out, like ice dropped into hot oil.
Su Baozhu’s crying halted as she abruptly looked up.
Su Ci leaned against the hard wooden bed, pinching the edge of the blanket with two fingers in distaste, lightly brushing off the dust.
She was stunningly beautiful.
Even in worn-out clothes, her skin was so fair it stood out starkly—the only bright thing in the dim room.
“Sister, don’t be stubborn!”
Su Baozhu shuffled forward on her knees, anxiously reaching for her hand. “That island is really not a place for people! No fresh water, no vegetables, and those three kids even bite! You’re so delicate—you’ll regret it!”
Su Ci avoided her touch, even brushing off the spot her sleeve had grazed.
She looked at Su Baozhu with amusement in her eyes.
“What I mean is—you want to take my good marriage… empty-handed?”
The room fell silent.
Su Daqiang froze.
Slowly twirling a strand of her hair, Su Ci’s mind calculated rapidly.
Stay in the city and marry Zhao Jianguo?
Serve in-laws every day and deal with messy family relationships?
She had transmigrated into a novel—not to become a punching bag.
As for the island…
Far from authority, Lu Ye rarely home—essentially a widow-style marriage. Freedom.
Lack of supplies?
Su Ci’s thoughts stirred.
Deep in her mind, a brightly lit modern super mall quietly floated.
The basement was stocked with fresh goods—Australian wagyu, Boston lobsters piled like mountains, and premium rice measured by the ton.
The first floor had cosmetics and daily goods, from SK-II to silk bedding.
The second floor—clothing. The third—restaurants. The west wing—entertainment.
Even the pharmacy was filled with antibiotics more valuable than gold in this era.
It was an infinite-supply interdimensional mall.
Take a bottle of water, and the shelf would instantly refill.
With such a cheat ability, going to the island was exile?
No—it was a luxury vacation.
No in-laws to serve, a private seaside house, seafood hotpot whenever she wanted… If Su Baozhu wanted to trade, then fine.
But—
If she wanted to take Su Ci’s things, she’d have to pay a price.
“Ahem, Xiao Ci…” Su Daqiang coughed awkwardly. “We’re family. Talking about ‘trading’ sounds bad.”
“Even brothers settle accounts clearly.”
Su Ci spread out her hand, palm up, completely justified.
“The Zhao family’s bride price is 200 yuan, plus coupons for a bicycle, sewing machine, and watch. Lu Ye’s family only offers 50 yuan. Who’s covering the 150 difference?”
Wang Xiuzhi screeched like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “150? Su Ci, are you crazy for money? Where would we get that much?!”
“No money?”
Su Ci yawned and lay back down. “Then I’m not switching. I’d also like to be the factory director’s wife—wear nice clothes and ride a bicycle.”
“No!”
Su Baozhu nearly jumped up.
She knew too well how powerful Lu Ye would become in the future. In her past life, she hadn’t endured long enough—but this time, as long as she survived the early years, she’d become a high-ranking officer’s wife!
The Zhao family might be rich, but they were just nouveau riche. Power was far more tempting.
Su Baozhu pinched Wang Xiuzhi hard.
Wang Xiuzhi sucked in a breath, her heart bleeding, and gritted her teeth. “We’ll pay! I’ll pay!”
“Not done yet.”
Su Ci didn’t even raise her eyelids. “The island is far, and I’m delicate. I’ll need good food along the way. I want 200 yuan for settling in, plus 100 catties of grain coupons, 50 feet of cloth coupons, and industrial coupons…”
“Su Ci! This is robbery!”
Su Daqiang slammed his pipe on the table, making the teacups rattle. “I’m your father! Do you believe I’ll beat you?”
Su Ci looked at him calmly, almost coldly.
“Dad, you said it yourself—the island is tough.”
“If I don’t bring money, what if I starve to death? Or… do you want to watch your late wife’s only daughter die?”
The last word was soft, but sharp as a needle.
Su Daqiang fell silent.
“Give it to her!”
Su Baozhu practically shouted.
She feared delays.
As long as Su Ci left, what did this money matter? Once Lu Ye rose in rank, this amount would be nothing!
After a chaotic round of gathering funds—
350 yuan in cash, plus a thick stack of various coupons, were stuffed into Su Ci’s pocket.
The Su family’s savings were basically drained.
“Alright, one last thing.”
Su Ci’s gaze dropped to the red string around Su Baozhu’s neck.
Hanging from it was a plain black jade pendant.
It had belonged to the original owner’s mother—but Su Baozhu had stolen and worn it for years.
In the original story, this was also the key to unlocking Su Baozhu’s spiritual spring space.
Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to activate it and just treated it like a decorative stone.
“Give me back the jade pendant my mother left me.”
Su Baozhu instinctively clutched her chest.
For some reason, panic surged in her heart, as if immense fortune was slipping through her fingers.
But seeing Su Ci’s stubborn expression, she gritted her teeth, yanked it off, and threw it over.
“Take it! It’s just a worthless stone!”
Su Ci caught it.
The jade felt warm in her hand.
The next moment, the mall in her mind shook violently.
[Ding! High-energy ancient jade detected. Mall upgrading…]
[Upgrade complete! Top-floor VIP area unlocked: modern weapons arsenal, advanced medical pods, and… spiritual spring farm.]
Su Ci tightened her grip on the jade, a faint smile on her lips.
Perfect.
Fully equipped.
…
Three days later, at the train station.
A green train sat on the tracks like a wheezing black dragon, puffing white smoke.
The platform was packed with people.
The smell of sweat mixed with chicken droppings, making one’s head ache.
Su Baozhu wore a brand-new blouse, her face unable to hide her excitement.
She hypocritically handed over two dry coarse buns.
“Sister, don’t starve yourself on the train. And when you get to the island, if those kids don’t behave, don’t hit or scold them. Being a stepmother is hard.”
Malice gleamed in her eyes.
She could already imagine Su Ci becoming a haggard, wind-beaten woman, tormented by those three “wolf cubs.”
Su Ci pinched the buns with two fingers and casually set them aside.
Looking at Su Baozhu’s triumphant expression, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Leaning close, her voice soft but hooked with meaning, she said:
“Baozhu, I heard the factory director’s family has strict rules. Your mother-in-law values hardworking daughters-in-law the most.”
“With your delicate skin… you’d better perform well. Don’t end up scrubbing toilets and crying your way back.”
Su Baozhu’s expression stiffened.
Su Ci didn’t look at her again. Carrying her seemingly empty bag (everything was in her space), she stepped onto the train.
Her back was straight, her steps light—nothing like someone heading into hardship.
With a long whistle, the train started moving.
Inside the carriage, the smell was even worse.
Men had taken off their shoes, and children cried noisily.