"Why not marry Yan Qingsong? He seems honest, and he's taken a liking to you too. Even if you get caught, you can just coax him and things might be fine."
Xiang Shuxue raised her head, her face streaked with tears: "But I love Lu Jingnian! Why can Xiang Wanwan be the chief's wife, but I can't!"
"Mother, give me a little more time, and I'm sure I can make Lu Jingnian fall in love with me."
Li Jinglan curled her lip: "I'm giving you time, but does this belly give you time? It's been over two months already!"
Xiang Shuxue placed her hands on her stomach, her eyes filled with reluctance.
She could have married a rich man in the city, but that man slept with her and then ran away.
Not long after arriving on the island, she discovered she was pregnant.
Although there is a hospital on the island that can treat the child, she is now a teacher and her father is the school principal. They are both prominent figures. If people find out that she is pregnant out of wedlock, it will be all over.
Li Jinglan calmed herself down, then sat down next to her and earnestly advised her:
"Shuxue, Lu Jingnian will never like you. Why don't we marry into the Yan family? That young man from the Yan family is a second lieutenant. Given time, he might even become a commander."
"And if your dad finds out you're pregnant, we're all finished! You know, Dad cares a lot about his reputation."
"Don't worry, once we get through this, we'll have plenty of ways to make things difficult for Xiang Wanwan."
Upon hearing this, Xiang Shuxue was stunned for a long time before finally throwing herself into Li Jinglan's arms and bursting into tears.
······
The next day.
Before Xiang Wanwan could figure out why this was so easy, Li Jinglan told her that Xiang Shuxue had agreed.
Xiang Wanwan was stunned for a long time before confirming with Li Jinglan again, "Really?"
Li Jinglan smiled broadly: "Yes! The Yan family's son is a lieutenant after all, and he likes your sister, so she's very happy about it."
Very happy?
Xiang Wanwan was skeptical.
She started out just trying her luck, wanting to fight against Shuxue and Granny Chen to prevent her from causing trouble.
But I never expected it to be so easy!
It made her suspect that Li Jinglan had long wanted Xiang Shuxue to marry into the family.
Well, no matter how it went, her plan was accomplished.
After Xiang Shuxue agreed, Xiang Wanwan went to tell Granny Chen the news.
Granny Chen was overjoyed and clamored to immediately deliver the marriage certificate and betrothal gifts.
And so, the marriage between Xiang Shuxue and the Yan family was arranged.
When Xiang Xinrong heard about this, he frowned slightly, but after meeting Yan Qingsong, he didn't say anything and agreed.
Even Xiang Wanwan, the matchmaker, seemed to soften her expression.
Xiang Xinrong looked at Xiang Wanwan with a stern face: "A family should be like this, harmonious and peaceful. You should be nicer to your sister and stepmother."
Xiang Wanwan rolled her eyes and ignored her scumbag father.
Because the school dormitory conditions were poor, the two families held the betrothal ceremony at Xiang Wanwan's home.
Li Jinglan, Xiang Xinrong, and Xiang Shuxue were all there. Lu Jingnian asked her if she needed him to be home, and Xiang Wanwan repeatedly said no.
They've been given too much face, and now they expect the leader to come and receive them.
Everyone sat in the pavilion in the courtyard, with tea served in front of them.
Granny Chen felt a little intimidated by Xiang Xinrong's serious demeanor; she hadn't expected her in-law to be so authoritative.
She smiled and handed over the prepared betrothal gifts, which were wrapped in cloth so that the amount of money could not be seen.
"My dear in-laws, this is the betrothal gift, two hundred yuan!"
"I've also prepared a gold bracelet for my future daughter-in-law..."
"What? Two hundred?"
Xiang Shuxue suddenly stood up.
Is two hundred yuan meant to appease a beggar?
The Lu family previously gave Xiang Wanwan a dowry of a full 50,000 yuan! (This chapter has been read. Please click to continue reading the next chapter!)
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