Xiyang Village —
Early in the morning, a military jeep stopped at the entrance of the village, and two strong and muscular men got out.
"Comrade, could you tell me which way to the Jiang family's house?"
The gloomy morning was brightened by two bright spots, and the women gathered around, eagerly giving directions.
"Just around the corner and up the hill, you'll be there. Are you here to pick up the Jiang family's new bride?"
The man smiled, didn't respond to the gossip, and simply said thank you.
No sooner had they left than everyone started gossiping, winking, and pointing fingers.
"This must be Battalion Commander Cheng coming to pick up the people."
"Oh, I heard that Xiuer is breaking off her engagement and refusing to marry, saying that she wants to have her own boyfriend in this new era of marriage freedom. So who are these people coming to pick up?"
"Who else could it be but Wanqing? Xiuer won't marry, so the Jiang family has to send a virgin to Battalion Commander Cheng, otherwise how will they get back the dowry money they've taken?"
"The Jiang family is really dishonest. Before, Xiuer was so desperate to steal the marriage, but now she doesn't want to marry and is making Wanqing marry in her place. How interesting."
"Indeed, it's also a blessing for Wanqing. This marriage was originally arranged by her own grandmother. It was Old Aunt Gu who forcibly took it for her granddaughter. Now that she's given it back, who knows what her intentions are?"
"Let's go take a look."
"Go and see, go and see..."
Gossiping behind someone's back is nothing compared to watching the excitement firsthand. They wiped the chicken feed they had just given the chickens off on their tattered aprons, some closing the gate, others pulling their children along, and all rushed towards the Jiang family's house.
Jiang Wanqing was in her room, calmly combing her hair in front of a blurry mirror.
“Wanqing, Mom has a feeling something’s not right about this. How could Xiuer be willing to give up Cheng Ran, the coveted battalion commander, to you? There’s definitely something fishy going on here…”
Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Xiu kicked the door open and came in with her arms crossed, her chin held high like a proud peacock.
Jiang Wanqing's father is the eldest son of the Jiang family, but he is not the biological son of her current grandmother. Her biological grandmother died of illness, and her grandfather remarried and had Jiang Xiu's father.
The stepmother disliked Jiang Wanqing's family. In those days, class status was paramount, and they not only suffered from the contempt of outsiders, but also had a miserable life at home.
"Xiuer, what's wrong?" Du Li stood in front of her, afraid that Jiang Xiu would take her anger out on her daughter again.
"Auntie, the comrades from the army have arrived. Tell my cousin to hurry up and leave. Don't bother with dressing up. Anyway, no one will look at her after she gets married."
Jiang Xiu pushed Du Li aside and looked Jiang Wanqing up and down. Looking at her pretty face without makeup, her eyes burned with jealousy. However, the thought that she was going to marry a short-lived man made her feel a little better.
He lowered his head, whispered in Jiang Wanqing's ear, put his hand on her shoulder, and spoke with undisguised malice.
"Cousin, you'll be the battalion commander's wife soon. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Yuan Zhiqing."
Jiang Wanqing smiled. A few days ago, she discovered that she had been reborn, as had Jiang Xiu, who had been reborn earlier than her.
In this era, marrying a battalion commander was an unparalleled honor. This marriage was arranged by Jiang Wanqing's grandmother, but her stepmother insisted on marrying Jiang Xiu instead.
In her previous life, Jiang Xiu married Battalion Commander Cheng Ran as she wished, but her husband died from serious injuries sustained during a mission less than a month after their marriage. Her dream of becoming an official's wife was shattered, and she became a widow instead.
Jiang Wanqing, on the other hand, changed her fate through the college entrance examination and eventually became a leading figure in the academic and scientific research field, winning top domestic and international awards and becoming famous at home and abroad, and becoming a leading figure in the industry.
Jiang Xiu spent decades as a widow, moving between various men. In her later years, she suffered a tragic mental breakdown and ultimately stabbed Jiang Wanqing with the knife of jealousy and hatred...
As memories of her past life flooded her mind, a chill crept into Jiang Wanqing's eyes. She removed Jiang Xiu's dirty hand from her shoulder, patting away the bad luck.
"Shameless."
"Jiang Wanqing! Don't think you're so great just because you know a few words. Now it's the workers and peasants who are in charge. No matter how many words you know, you can't erase the fact that your grandmother's class background is bad. No one will dare to recommend you to go to university. You can just wait to grow old and rot away here!"
Tsk, Jiang Wanqing frowned, shook her head and gave her a pitiful look. She's been reborn, yet her vision is still so narrow. She'll have her regrets later. As for the Yuan Zhiqing she mentioned, take her if you like. There's a surprise waiting for her.
"Xiuer, your words are too harsh, get out!"
Du Li couldn't bear to see her daughter being bullied, so she tried to push Jiang Xiu out, but the other party was so disrespectful that they slapped her.
"I'll call you 'Auntie' if I'm happy, but if I'm not, you're a big slut and your daughter is a little slut! Who gave you permission to speak loudly to me..."
"Smack!"
“You…” Jiang Xiu’s eyes widened, and she covered her face.
She didn't even see when Jiang Wanqing made her move before she received a heavy slap across the face.
He grabbed her braid and slapped her again, making sure both sides of her face were symmetrical.
"Apologize to my mother!"
"Aaaaah...you shameless bastard, how dare you..."
She rushed forward angrily, but Jiang Wanqing nimbly dodged, and she landed right in the powder box on the table. When she looked up again, her face was even more beautiful than an opera singer's.
"Grandma! Come quick! Jiang Wanqing has gone mad!"
Jiang Xiu covered her ghostly face and stared at Jiang Wanqing in horror. She had noticed a change in Jiang Wanqing's personality in the past few days and was worried that she had also been reborn. Would she still obediently marry in place of Jiang Wanqing?
Hearing her granddaughter's cries, Old Mrs. Gu limped over to see what was wrong.
"You've all gone too far! I'll teach you a lesson!"
"Grandma... didn't you want to know why Xiuer didn't marry Cheng Ran? Last night I saw her and Yuan Zhiqing sneaking into the cornfield together, sob sob sob... I just kindly reminded her not to be confused, and she tried to hit me. Aren't you going to do anything about it?"
Jiang Wanqing clung to her mother's arm timidly, looking at the fierce-looking old woman with teary eyes, appearing utterly pitiful.
"You...you shut up!"
With a whoosh, Jiang Xiu got up from the ground, her eyes flashing nervously.
Yuan Zhiqing is still a poor boy sent to the countryside. Even though she knows that he will become successful and shine in the future, his family doesn't know that.
She had originally planned to do some ideological work before marrying him openly, but now Jiang Wanqing had seen through her plan, making her face turn red with anger, and she looked more like a clown.
"Xiuer, is what she said true? You're confused! No... the person who marries Cheng Ran can't be replaced..."
Old Mrs. Gu clapped her hands in a panic. She had never agreed with the substitute marriage in the first place, and seeing Jiang Wanqing's success was more painful than having her own flesh torn out!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
