《Back To The 90s: The Resilient Daughter-In-Law》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 001 Marriage Breakdown_1 Chapter 1: Chapter 001 Marriage Breakdown_1 Certain Office Building¡ª¡ª ¡°Sir, Mis¡­ Jiang Nanfei is here!¡± The executive secretary looked hesitant, almost messing up her introduction. Jiang Nanfei ceased being his wife one year ago, and no one knew the reason for the divorce, but within the system, there was no shortage of rumors. It was said that Jiang Nanfei and the leader¡¯s marriage had been arranged since they were children. Arranged marriages certainly do more harm than good! After all, they ended up getting a divorce. The man, who was engrossed in his paperwork, hurriedly looked up, his usually cold and severe face displaying a slight, barely noticeable agitation. ¡°Where is she? Where is she?¡± ¡°At the main entrance. She wasn¡¯t allowed in.¡± ¡°Nonsense, let her in at once.¡± The man¡¯s face was shrouded with anger. After he spoke, he considered his words ill-suited, and clumsily stood up. ¡°Never mind! I¡¯ll go and greet her myself.¡± Having said that, he quickly walked out of the office, followed closely by the taken-aback executive secretary. As she stood at the grand, solemn entrance of the building, Jiang Nanfei felt deeply humiliated and awkward. Although she had long been aware of her worthlessness after losing her status as Huo Beijiang¡¯s wife, and had braced herself for it, reality turned out to be far crueller than she had anticipated when she came face to face with it. Jiang Nanfei could not help but recall her conversation with Huo Beijiang one year ago. ¡°Divorcing me¡­ Do you understand what you¡¯re giving up?¡± The man slightly bent his upright posture, his eyes filled with pain, as if he had aged considerably in an instant. ¡°Nan Fei, it¡¯s been ten years ¨C can we stop talking about divorce? Without me¡­ who would protect your clueless self?¡± Jiang Nanfei took a step back, her guilty heart preventing her from meeting his gaze. Although she didn¡¯t really feel that way, her words didn¡¯t reflect any compromise. ¡°I don¡¯t love you, marrying you was against my will. Would my brother have died if we hadn¡¯t married?¡± She paused, a periodic throbbing pain gripping her chest. On the day of their wedding, her only younger brother died in a tragic accident by falling into a river. Not long after, both her parents, whose health had been deteriorating, passed away one after the other. As a result, the man she had always been indifferent towards became her sworn enemy overnight. Over the past decade, she had been constantly contemplating divorce and even caused several scenes at the office building. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Huo Beijiang lowered his eyes in pain, forcibly pulling her into his embrace against her will. His arms wrapped around her, restraining her as tightly as iron, as if wanting to meld her into his body. ¡°Let go, let go of me¡­¡± His kiss left her mind blank and she continued in a daze until released. ¡°Slap!¡± A slap landed on his face without hesitation. With a stoic expression on his handsome face, Huo Beijiang paused before issuing a cold, cruel smile. ¡°Jiang Nanfei, you are the biggest fool I know! Do you really think Qiao Jingxuan loves you? You¡¯re wrong¡­¡± He straightened his posture, his demeanor imposing, speaking each word distinctly: ¡°Apart from me, Huo Beijiang, nobody loves you.¡± Each word from him unraveled Jiang Nanfei¡¯s facade, leaving her mind clouded. Qiao Jingxuan had been her first love, and before getting married, she did fantasize about marrying him. But ever since she dropped out in her final year of high school, she stopped dreaming. The man she thought was forever unattainable, later confessed his love for her, vowing to wait for her and declaring his lifelong commitment to her. ¡°What will it take for you to agree to a divorce?¡± She covered her ears in agony, refusing to listen to Huo Beijiang. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a year to recognize the true face of Qiao Jingxuan. If after one year, you still insist on divorcing me, then¡­I will grant it to you.¡± Huo Beijiang took a deep breath, fully aware that no matter what he did, in Nanfei¡¯s eyes, it would always be wrong, always with ulterior motives. Yet he still didn¡¯t want to give up. ¡°In the meantime, I will publicly announce the end of our marriage.¡± Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 002 The Truth of The Matter_1 Chapter 2: Chapter 002 The Truth of The Matter_1 ¡°Alright!¡± Jiang Nanfei stared blankly at Huo Beijiang. The decision to divorce, which she had dreamed about, finally heard from his mouth, left her feeling empty. During their decade-long marriage, aside from her sister-in-law Huo Jinlan, she didn¡¯t get along well with anyone in the Huo family. It was him who protected her and indulged her tantrums. When she expressed her interest in traditional painting, he found the best teacher for her. When she wanted to start her own business, he quietly paved the way. She knew all these and was moved by them. But every time she remembered her younger brother¡¯s death, she took a step back. Her brother¡¯s death is an insurmountable chasm. She even considered, if she had not married or acted impulsively, had been a little bit more sensible and attentive, would the tragedy not have occurred? Would she genuinely fall in love with him? Regrettably¡­there was no what if. ¡°Please stay away.¡± The voice of the patrolling security guards pulled Jiang Nanfei from her thoughts; her initially perplexed gaze slowly became clear. Since news of her divorce from Huo Beijiang had gotten out, she had experienced the coldest treatment she hadn¡¯t experienced in the previous ten years. She had seen many people¡¯s true colors. The hypocrisy of Qiao Jingxuan, whose so-called love was just for her title as Mrs. Huo, to gain more commercial benefits. Her best friend, Huo Jinlan, showed her most malicious nature. During the summer vacation of the second year of high school, she was framed for golddigging while working part-time, and her hard-earned money wasn¡¯t withheld. But without money for school, she had to drop out. All this was the work of Huo Jinlan. After marriage, she survived only because of Huo Beijiang¡¯s protection. It wasn¡¯t until their fake divorce that she finally saw the true colors. Regarding her brother¡¯s death, she had stumbled upon a shocking secret and needed to investigate it thoroughly. Under the drive of the patrolling security guards, she had to retreat, all the way to the perimeter of the warning line. As her foot stepped back, so did her heart, feeling she should not have agreed to the one-year meeting! Why was she here? To get a divorce certificate? To debunk divorce rumors? No¡­ the truth about her brother¡¯s death had yet to be found, she hadn¡¯t had a chance to take her revenge, and the crack in her heart was temporarily irreparable. Jiang Nanfei turned around and took a deep look at the figure who sprinted out of the main gate. Just as she was about to leave, a massive impact from behind caused her view to change from Huo Beijiang¡¯s face to the sky. Her body flew up like a ragdoll, tossed high in the air before falling hard down. Jiang Nanfei¡¯s mind went blank, the pain in her body made her think of one phrase, ¡®broken into pieces¡¯. She saw many complex emotions in Huo Beijiang¡¯s face, including shock, despair, pain, sadness, and hatred. ¡°Nanfei!¡± The last thing she heard was his heartbreaking scream before everything sank into darkness. The low buildings of the textile factory made everyone sweat, with dust flying everywhere in the air, and a group of young female workers were busy working at a breakneck pace. Suddenly, the tightly closed door was violently pushed open, and a grim-looking middle-aged woman led a group of people quickly toward the corner. The young girl in the corner was sleeping against the wall and was dragged up by the middle-aged woman by the hair. ¡°Let go!¡± Jiang Nanfei was awakened by the pain, opened her eyes and couldn¡¯t process the situation right away. The last scene she remembered was the appearance of Huo Beijiang rushing out from inside. Accidents are never coincidental, so who could it be? Huo Jinlan or Qiao Jingxuan? Or was it the person who murdered her brother? Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 003: Rebirth Textile Factory_1 Chapter 3: Chapter 003: Rebirth Textile Factory_1 ¡°We¡¯re here to hire workers, not slackers.¡± The middle-aged woman gripped Jiang Nanfei¡¯s hair and shouted. The originally bustling factory suddenly fell silent; everyone was looking at Jiang Nanfei with sympathy. ¡°Let go.¡± Jiang Nanfei¡¯s head was in a daze. She was staring at the woman in front of her with her lively eyes, feeling that she looked familiar but unable to recall who she was. Then her gaze swept across the low factory building and fell onto Huo Jinlan¡¯s face. Huo Jinlan, Huo Jinlan¡­ this face turned her eyes a rapid crimson. Not until the pain from her scalp hit her did she snap out of it and turned her gaze fiercely towards the factory owner¡¯s wife, Tian Yuegui. Those eyes shifted from lively to bloody and ferocious, resembling an Evil Ghost from Hell. Startled, Tian Yuegui unconsciously let go of Jiang Nanfei¡¯s hair, took a step backward, and rubbed her eyes only to find that the person in front of her remained the same. Just now, perhaps she was seeing things. Jiang Nanfei stood motionless, her eyes shut due to the intense emotional fluctuation, the heaving in her chest uncontrollable as she suppressed her emotion. She remembered! This was the textile factory where she worked during the summer vacation of her junior year. She remembered getting caught sleeping on the job after taking medicine for a cold, and was then thrown out of the factory. Too silly and too proud, she had swallowed her anger, but didn¡¯t demand her month¡¯s worth of wages. This led to her dropping out of school in her senior year, unable to attend college ¨C a regret that haunted her for a lifetime. But how could this be possible? Was she dreaming? No, the pain from her scalp felt real. She was not dreaming. ¡°Lazybones, sleeping on the job, no wages for you. You¡¯re fired.¡± Tian Yuegui seized the moment while Jiang Nanfei was off-guard, grabbed her hair once again, a hint of anger and calculation flashing in her eyes. All she wanted now was to get rid of this troublesome girl. By doing so, not only could she save two months¡¯ wages, but also rid herself of a thorn in the eye. ¡°Wait a second¡­¡± Jiang Nanfei tried to free her hair from Tian Yuegui¡¯s grip, but any slight movement made it feel like her scalp was being torn apart. She was passively being led by Tian Yuegui towards the exit. ¡°Let go of me, I told you to let go.¡± No matter how much she struggled, she ultimately was dragged outside and tossed onto the ground by Tian Yuegui. Wincing from the pain, she covered her scalp. A handful of her thick hair had been ripped out by Tian Yuegui. ¡°Get out! You damn girl. I knew you were playing a part all along.¡± Tian Yuegui¡¯s anger grew as she gazed on Jiang Nanfei¡¯s face. She had heard that Jiang Nanfei was nothing but trouble. If it weren¡¯t for Jinlan secretly telling her that Jiang Nanfei was trying to seduce her husband, she would have been played for a fool. ¡°On what grounds are you kicking me out?¡± Jiang Nanfei was also getting angry, no matter what happened in her past life, she needed to deal with the issues at hand. She stood up from the ground and confronted Tian Yuegui. One had fair, delicate skin, and the other, dark and harsh lines. Tian Yuegui¡¯s hatred only increased. Girls these days were far from good. Marry for education in the 80s, for money in the 90s. It may sound good, but where did all this money come from? Not from stealing from others? ¡°The fact that you were caught red-handed sleeping on the job and slacking is enough. It has affected our factory¡¯s morale and output. That you¡¯re not being made to compensate is already being generous.¡± These harsh words even made the other workers, who had gathered to watch the commotion, go pale. Even though every family was able to put food on the table in this era, ordinary folks were still poor. With many children to feed and the costs of seeds and fertilizers, there was little money left at the end of the year. If they were made to compensate for the loss in production, even selling up home and hearth wouldn¡¯t cover it. Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 004 Framing Scheme_1 Chapter 4: Chapter 004 Framing Scheme_1 Huo Jinlan walked out of the crowd and whispered into Jiang Nanfei¡¯s ear, ¡°Nanfei, don¡¯t argue with the boss. If you really have to compensate, just do it. Your family is poor, and you don¡¯t have the money.¡± Jiang Nanfei turned her head, her eyes burning into Huo Jinlan, disgust threatening to spill from deep within her heart. Only her fool self in her previous life, blind in mind and heart, would have failed to see Huo Jinlan¡¯s true colors. Such clumsy acting, wouldn¡¯t even a blind man see through it? Looking at her face, identical to how it would be ten years later. Young, beautiful. In her previous life, she had been persuaded by Huo Jinlan to leave without pay, ruining her reputation and earning her the label of married to money. Eventually, she dropped out of school while Huo Jinlan was admitted to a prestigious university. She felt like smacking that smug smile off her face, rendering her incapable of spreading rumours behind her back. ¡°Nanfei, listen to me. School is about to start, causing trouble with the boss will only hurt you,¡± Huo Jinlan said, pretending to be concerned, her cold, mocking smile hidden behind a bowed head. ¡°Get lost! Or are you waiting for something even more embarrassing?¡± Tian Yuegui sneered, crossing her arms in triumph. ¡°Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t reveal your dirty secrets. If you push me too far, I won¡¯t be afraid of looking bad.¡± ¡°Madam, don¡¯t get angry. I¡¯ll talk to Nanfei.¡± At Tian Yuegui¡¯s threat, Huo Jinlan quickly stepped forward to placate the situation. ¡°Nanfei was wrong, I apologize for her, I¡¯m sorry!¡± The crowd was puzzled. Why did Huo Jinlan need to apologize when Jiang Nanfei was clearly in the wrong? What thick skin she had. So much for being educated. What a disgrace to the educated! ¡°Huo Jinlan, let Tian Yuegui speak. I want to see how she¡¯s going to malign me,¡± Jiang Nanfei declared loudly. The suddenness and volume of her declaration caught everyone¡¯s attention, drowning out Huo Jinlan¡¯s apology. Huo Jinlan¡¯s gaze turned cold when her plan was interrupted mid-sentence. ¡°Nanfei, I beg you, let it go!¡± Huo Jinlan was surprised. How come the usually docile Jiang Nanfei suddenly stood her ground? Did she somehow find out about the sleeping pills she had mixed into the cold medicine? ¡°You think I don¡¯t dare? You little tramp,¡± Tian Yuegui, who¡¯d never been addressed so directly, rolled up her sleeves in triumph. ¡°I thought about saving you some face, but your shamelessness astounds me. You pretend to be looking for work, but you¡¯re really just after successful men. Ha! Look at yourself first. As if you could seduce my man.¡± Huo Jinlan instinctively took a step back from Jiang Nanfei. They were classmates who ventured out to work together, their relationship one of the best. Yet now Huo Jinlan distanced herself from her, intensifying the disdain the spectators felt for Jiang Nanfei. Even those who didn¡¯t initially believe Tian Guiyue, now had some doubts. ¡°She¡¯s usually such a proper girl, how can she be so shameless?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± In rural China of the nineties, conservative traditions prevailed. If a girl was involved in a scandal, it could bring embarrassment upon her entire family. Jiang Nanfei churned with fury. As expected, they were all awaiting her downfall. In one stride, against the stunned onlookers, she grabbed Tian Guiyue by the hair with tremendous force. A scream echoed throughout the yard. Everyone was shocked. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 005 Future Sister-in-law_1 Chapter 5: Chapter 005 Future Sister-in-law_1 ¡°Who did you say was seducing men? Say it again, say it!¡± Perhaps it was the injustice of her untimely death igniting all the rage and resentment that had been festering in her heart. Nan Fei¡¯s strength was surprising, she grabbed Tian Yuegui by the hair, slapping her fiercely and rapidly in the face. Her expression was terrifying. Tian Yuegui¡¯s face swelled up and turned red from her punches, curses loud enough to be heard half a mile away. All the onlookers were astounded, even Huo Jinlan was left covering her mouth in disbelief, unable to come to her senses for a long time. Perhaps it was her frightening gaze, or her rash actions, but no one dared to step forward and continue fighting with Nan Fei. ¡°Blind dog, your man is considered a treasure only by you and Huo Jinlan, I wouldn¡¯t want him even if he were gifted to me.¡± Nan Fei spat disdainfully. It was clear to her now that her past life¡¯s docile nature had left her open to being bullied as a child, and being stepped on by anyone as she grew up. It was all because she was too yielding and tongue-tied. She could not quarrel, let alone fight. Now that heaven had given her a chance to start over, she was determined to make everyone see who she really was. ¡°Huo Jinlan, I might be your future sister-in-law. Even if you don¡¯t like me entering the Huo Family, don¡¯t throw dirt at me. Are you being fair to your brother? The boss clearly fancies you, he wants to marry you!¡± She laughed coldly, her gaze colliding with Huo Jinlan¡¯s shocked and threatening one. The latter, like a startled rabbit, immediately hung her head in distress. This was her usual tactic; every time she acted this way, everyone would sympathize with her. But this time, it was bound to fail. ¡°Huo Jinlan, you have the highest salary among all of us, does the boss¡¯s wife know this? And the boss even asked the finance department to give you two hundred Yuan every month! This was not accounted for in the company¡¯s books.¡± She thought of her past life when she used to cheer for Huo Jinlan because of her higher salary. Thinking back now, she was just a fool. Had she not been reborn, she would never have imagined that Huo Jinlan knew how to manipulate men even at a young age. Not invested, not committed, yet she was able to keep men at her beck and call, quite impressive indeed. Thinking of the man she had avoided all her life, who was sought-after by Huo Jinlan, brought an indescribable joy to her heart. Nan Fei¡¯s words made everyone turn their attention to Huo Jinlan. Among the crowd watching the commotion was Little Li from the accounts department. Hearing Nan Fei¡¯s words, he instinctively tried to withdraw, but was deliberately encircled by the crowd. The crowd didn¡¯t care about anyone¡¯s personal affairs, but a mention of salaries touched a nerve for everyone. Little Li¡¯s reaction was easily understood by anyone with a discerning eye. ¡°That¡¯s not true, it¡¯s not¡­¡± Huo Jinlan¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she looked accusingly at Nan Fei, ¡°Nan Fei, we are classmates, best friends, how¡­ how can you make such baseless accusations against me? I admit my family is better off than yours and I¡¯m prettier than you, but I have always considered you my friend.¡± ¡°Tch! What a thick-skinned liar.¡± Even at this time, she was trying to smear her name, what a ruthless woman she was. Tian Yuegui, who was brutally beaten earlier, was finally able to vent her pent-up anger. Remembering that her husband did indeed often attend to Huo Jinlan, everything became clear. What was there not to understand! ¡°You little tramp, I¡¯ll give you what you deserve.¡± Tian Yuegui, a woman of substantial size, lunged at Huo Jinlan like a small hill, pinning the slender woman to the ground, tearing at her and biting her. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 006 Demanding Wage_1 Chapter 6: Chapter 006 Demanding Wage_1 The courtyard was buzzing with excitement. Those who usually mingled with Huo Jinlan stood by, watching with cold eyes. Some even whispered that she got what she deserved, given that she received the highest salary every month and always put on a show. The uproar in the courtyard escalated, eventually alerting the boss. A rotund middle-aged man, he arrived at the scene with his belly first. Seeing the boss, Huo Jinlan began to weep even more pitifully, a sight hard to ignore. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? What¡¯s happened?¡± Tian Yuegui, seething with rage, grabbed the boss and roared, ¡°You heartless wretch! I bore your children, served your parents, and you dare to frolic with a mistress.¡± ¡°Indeed! Even a rabbit does not eat the grass at its nest!¡± someone whispered softly, though the words were loud and clear. The beaten and disheveled Huo Jinlan looked up, her eyes dark as she glanced at Nan Fei, before lowering her head and gritting her teeth in fury. ¡°I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t.¡± The boss, afraid of his wife, was only brave enough to misbehave in secret. Faced with allegations in broad daylight, he vehemently denied, ¡°She seduced me! I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Thus, the chaos on the scene escalated, with the scorn of the crowd, Tian Yuegui¡¯s fury, and the boss¡¯s accusations. Unable to remain calm, Huo Jinlan broke down crying loudly. She had planned things against Jiang Nanfei, how could it turn out this way? ***** The commotion continued till sunset. Jiang Nanfei counted her salary twice, making sure each penny was there before putting it in her handmade pouch. As for Huo Jinlan, she was taken away by her family. From then on, she couldn¡¯t shake the label of a ¡®homewrecker.¡¯ Leaving the garment factory, Jiang Nanfei heaved a sigh of relief, her palms soaked in sweat. She was not one to argue, perhaps because she used to attend church with her grandmother who never argued with anyone due to her Christian beliefs. She was brought up to avoid conflicts. And what did she get in return? Slanderous accusations of being a gold-digger, seducing a married man, and being forced into marriage, In the end, she was completely manipulated. Now she understood, there was nothing wrong with being fiercely assertive, as long as she didn¡¯t suffer losses. The setting summer sun was late, and the western sky was ablaze with a magnificent sunset, against a clear blue sky. Jiang Nanfei stood in the middle of the road, lost in thought, her mind filled with the final images before she died. The face of Huo Beijiang, whether in pain, affectionate, suppressed, or heartbroken¡­ He was all that was on her mind. Jiang Nanfei squatted on the ground, her hands hugging her knees, her expression stern and filled with brewing storm. She couldn¡¯t forgive her own stupidity, as if her heart was being blocked by something. It was so uncomfortable she could barely breathe, turning her pale face red, and her peach-like lips turned abnormally bluish-black. ***** As the factory¡¯s closing time arrived, a group of people came out. Mostly from the same town, just different villages. Among them was a girl from Nan Fei¡¯s village named Qi Qin. Nan Fei usually walked home with Huo Jinlan, so Qi Qin would return home alone. But after today¡¯s incident, Qi Qin quickly caught up with her as she saw her squatting by the roadside. ¡°Nan Fei, why aren¡¯t you going to continue working? It clearly wasn¡¯t your fault, you could have kept working,¡± Qi Qin said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to work anymore.¡± Jiang Nanfei stood up from the ground. She had impulsively hit Tian Yuegui today, and if she continued to stay, she was sure to get blamed. Luckily, she had collected all her wages, and with this money, she didn¡¯t have to drop out of school. Qi Qin was a thin, dark-skinned girl a year younger than Nan Fei. The two were related and came from similar family backgrounds. They should have been good friends, but since Huo Jinlan didn¡¯t like Qi Qin, Nan Fei had also kept her distance. Looking back now, that must have been part of her scheme! ¡°Nan Fei, why are you looking at me like that?¡± Qi Qin asked cautiously. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, let¡¯s go home,¡± Nan Fei replied. ¡°Sure!¡± Qi Qin was so happy she almost jumped. Great, she usually went home alone, and by the time she got there it was dark. She was a bit scared of going back alone! Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 007 Going to the Provincial Hospital_1 Chapter 7: Chapter 007 Going to the Provincial Hospital_1 Qi Qin walked at a brisk pace, but Nan Fei, who hadn¡¯t traveled a long distance in more than a decade, struggled to keep up, gasping for air. ¡°Why are you walking so slowly?¡± They were all from the same village, and it usually took half an hour to walk from the village to the town for school. She was in the habit of making this trip twice a day, so she was used to it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Nan Fei wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her small, porcelain face had turned crimson, almost as if it could rival the setting sun¡¯s burning clouds. Qi Qin stared at her for a moment, filled with envy. Nan Fei was the most beautiful girl in the village, and she¡¯d heard that her cousin¡¯s wife was also very beautiful when she was young. She herself was quite dark, a trait she got from her mother. With a mix of thoughts in her mind, she slowed her pace. ¡°I heard this morning that your cousin¡¯s wife is not feeling well.¡± Qi Qin¡¯s words stunned Nan Fei. She broke into a cold sweat, looking straight at Qi Qin. The young girl shivered slightly and asked cautiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Go home quickly.¡± Jiang Nan Fei took off without a word, biting her lip and running towards home. No wonder she felt something was off. In her past life, it was around this time that her mother had suddenly gone blind due to lack of timely medical treatment. Back then, their father was working at a construction site in the provincial city, and they had neither the necessary manpower nor money at home. When her mother¡¯s eyes suddenly went blind, even the local hospital couldn¡¯t figure out why. Without a pillar to rely on, they just let it be. By the time her father was informed and returned from the provincial city, taking her mother to a big hospital, it was already too late. Nan Fei¡¯s whole body was trembling. She was running and sweating profusely, but her feet felt as if they were floating in the air. She managed to cover what was normally an hour¡¯s distance in just thirty minutes. As she entered the village, she could see her mother sitting on a small stool in the hall, squinting and struggling to look at her. ¡°Are you back, Nan Fei?¡± Her young mother with her comforting smile, looked just as she remembered. Tears streamed down her face, as she cried silently. Nan Fei covered her mouth, feeling like a complete jerk. In her previous life, she owed her parents far too much. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhang Fengmei struggled to her feet, ¡°Were you bullied at the factory?¡± ¡°No!¡± Nan Fei wiped away her tears, her voice still choked with sobs. She helped Zhang Fengmei sit down, eyes resting on the small three-room house and the modest courtyard, feelings of bitterness welled in her heart. As Huo Jinlan had said, indeed, their family was very poor. Her father was one of the three brothers, and their family was the poorest. In order to have a boy and avoid the planned birth policy, they had all their valuable belongings confiscated by birth control officers. They then incurred a heavy fine after their little brother was born, adding to their mounting debt. With three children to educate and mom¡¯s poor health preventing her from doing heavy work, it was all too much for their father to handle alone. Their expenses far outweighed their income. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong with your eyes?¡± Zhang Feng Mei sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t know, when I woke up this morning, I couldn¡¯t see clearly, and it really hurts. I got some medicine from the clinic, but it didn¡¯t help.¡± Nan Fei bit her lip, she knew that her mother had acute inflammation of the cornea ciliary body, and it could not be delayed. ¡°Mom, let me take you to the big hospital. We can¡¯t delay this treatment.¡± She was thrilled to think her mother¡¯s vision could be saved. ¡°To what big hospital?¡± ¡°To the provincial city, to the First People¡¯s Hospital.¡± Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 008 Im Going to Hail a Cab_1 Chapter 8: Chapter 008 I¡¯m Going to Hail a Cab_1 ¡°What are you talking about? We don¡¯t have any money for that. You¡¯ve never even been out of town in your whole life.¡± Zhang Fengmei was a simple farm woman who put off seeing a doctor for as long as she possibly could. ¡°I have money. I just received my pay.¡± While they were talking, their younger sister Jiang Zhuanzhuan had come back from picking pigweed. She was too young to work in the factory, so she spent her summer vacation helping around the house to lighten the load. ¡°Sis, you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Nan Fei glanced at Jiang Zhuanzhuan and thought of how in her past life, out of everyone in their family, her younger sister was the most successful. It was an indescribable feeling. ¡°Where¡¯s our little brother?¡± Their youngest sibling, Jiang Yang, was the one who caused the family the most concern. He couldn¡¯t speak until he was six or seven years old and even now, at fourteen, he still couldn¡¯t call for people. No one wanted to play with him, and most kids bullied him. In a past life, people said that Jiang Yang was an idiot. On her wedding day, August 28th this year, Zhuanzhuan, who usually looked after their brother, was too busy to mind him and he accidentally fell into the river and drowned. She would never forget that day. It was a pain that the whole family shared. Even though Jiang Yang was ¡®simple¡¯, they all treasured him and never once despised him. It was only later, after she met influential doctors through the powerful Huo Beijiang, and after she herself had gained some wealth, that she found out that Jiang Yang was not simple-minded, but autistic. He was a genius with autism, not a little fool. ¡°He went to Grandpa¡¯s house.¡± ¡°Remember to take good care of our brother. I¡¯m taking mom to the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhuanzhuan asked in surprise, ¡°But there¡¯s no more transportation at this hour, how will you get there? Why don¡¯t we wait until father gets back? You¡¯ve never been out of town before!¡± She looked at her big sister, feeling slightly estranged. Zhang Fengmei also did not want to go, primarily because she did not know the way, but also because they did not have the money. However, Nan Fei rejected her ideas without hesitation. ¡°Mother, we can¡¯t delay your illness. We need to head to the city tonight. We should get there before sunrise. As soon as the hospital opens, we¡¯ll be the first ones to register and see the doctor.¡± She held on to Zhang Fengmei¡¯s arm and told Zhuanzhuan to gather their things. Being the eldest sibling, Nan Fei had always received more attention than their younger siblings. Her influence was more significant in the family, Zhuanzhuan, being compliant and honest, immediately set down her basket to pack their belongings and take their identification cards. ¡°Sis, is mom¡¯s eye condition severe?¡± Zhuanzhuan asked nervously. ¡°Yes!¡± Nan Fei nodded solemnly. ¡°If we delay, she could go blind.¡± Shocked, Zhuanzhuan¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Then you must go quickly. Try to catch a ride on the main road. Don¡¯t delay. Don¡¯t worry about the house, I can handle it.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Although Zhang Fengmei was initially reluctant to go, hearing her eldest daughter say this, frightened her into agreeing to go to the city for treatment. ***** Their village was called Xiao Wang Village, not far from the neighboring Da Wang Village. Once out of the village, it was a one-hour walk to the highway to the city. By the time they left the house with their packed belongings, it was already dusk and the roads were lined by farmland. En route, they reached National Highway 104 without any trouble. During the summer, the roadside was filled with wild grass. Carrying the morning dew on their clothes, they stood in disarray by the side of the road waiting for a passerbys¡¯ car. ¡°Mom, stay here by the roadside. I will flag down a car.¡± In the nineties, there were scarce public transportation lines. Each rural area had only one bus heading to the city every day. If you missed it, you had to wait until the next day. As the sky darkened further, Nan Fei turned on her flashlight. By this time, there were no cars passing by. She was in a state of high anxiety, desperate to flag down any passing vehicles. She was such in a desperate state that she even wouldn¡¯t mind begging on her knees if needs be. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 009: You Sit in the Back_1 Chapter 9: Chapter 009: You Sit in the Back_1 She tried to flag down multiple cars, but none of them stopped. She successfully stopped a green truck that was passing by. Jiang Nanfei closed her eyes, resigned to whatever might happen, and stood in the middle of the road. The large truck that was originally speeding came to a sudden stop, its tires screeching against the asphalt. A black imprint was left on the asphalt road. The truck headlights were as bright as daylight, stinging Nan Fei¡¯s eyes. The truck door opened, and a man in olive green jumped out from the driver¡¯s seat, cursing angrily, ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed? Who told you to stand here?¡± Jiang Nanfei was quite scared, her pale little face was showing signs of panic. A lazy voice came from the passenger seat of the truck, ¡°Chen Qi, let it go. Why are you quibbling with a little girl?¡± Jiang Nanfei, who was originally looking down, immediately looked up. She couldn¡¯t see the person inside the truck, but the voice sounded very familiar. ¡°Boss, that was really dangerous! If we had reacted a little slower, there would have been an accident.¡± Chen Qi turned to explain to his captain. As he finished speaking and looked back at the girl, his eyes revealed a glint of appreciation for her beauty. ¡°But nothing happened, did it?¡± The lazy voice lost a bit of patience and urged, ¡°Hurry up and stop wasting time; I¡¯m eager to get back!¡± Just after he finished speaking, laughter erupted from the cargo area, ¡°Boss, you must be in a rush to see your sweetheart, right?¡± ¡°Captain can¡¯t stand to keep his lady waiting.¡± ¡°Shut up, all of you.¡± The lazy voice had a hint of anger, and silence fell in the cargo area immediately. ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Qi looked at Jiang Nanfei and asked, ¡°So can we move? Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous, do you know that? Go home, don¡¯t do dangerous things like this in the future.¡± ¡°My mother is ill, we want to go to the city to get her treated.¡± Jiang Nanfei mustered her courage and said what she¡¯d been thinking, ¡°Can you please give us a ride? Just drop us off in the city.¡± Despite his young age, Chen Qi had a soft heart. Once he heard what she said, his attitude softened immediately. ¡°Wait here, I have to ask our captain.¡± After saying this, he turned and leaned toward the passenger window of the truck. ¡°Captain, this mother and daughter seem quite pitiful, shall we give them a ride?¡± The man raised an eyebrow, ¡°Where¡¯s the space?¡± ¡°How about you sit at the back?¡± Huo Beijiang felt like killing Chen Qi at that moment. How much courage did it take to try to evict him because of a beautiful girl? The tall and handsome man stood up and glanced downwards, but could only see the top of the girl¡¯s lowered head. Her features were delicate, facial skin was fair, and with his acute vision, he could see the teardrops that glisten on her long, curled eyelashes beneath the light. Indeed, she was beautiful and seemed pitiful. His eyes unconsciously deepened, and he promptly moved to the cargo area. ¡°Get in then! We will give you a ride.¡± Nan Fei was both surprised and delighted. She kept bowing to show her gratitude to Chen Qi. She ran to the roadside, helping Zhang Fengmei, who was now blind, to walk over. ¡°Thank you so much, comrade. Please tell me your name. I will definitely repay this act of kindness.¡± Zhang Fengmei also expressed her gratitude, ¡°Yes! Young man, thank you! What¡¯s your name? Where are you from?¡± Chen Qi scratched his head and smiled at Nan Fei, ¡°If you want to show gratitude, you should thank our captain! Without his permission, I wouldn¡¯t dare to let you aboard.¡± ¡°May I know your captain¡¯s¡­¡± Before Nan Fei could finish her sentence, a coughing sound came from the rear of the truck. Knowing that the captain was trying to remain low-key, Chen Qi hurried them onto the truck. Since the captain didn¡¯t want their gratitude, Nan Fei didn¡¯t persist. She first helped Zhang Fengmei onto the truck and seated her properly, then climbed up herself. The truck was high and large, and under normal circumstances, the passenger seat could seat two people. Huo Beijiang had previously been sitting alone because he liked to sprawl out his long legs and rest with his eyes closed, occupying two places. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 010: Seize the opportunity to smear_1 Chapter 10: Chapter 010: Seize the opportunity to smear_1 The Huo Family resided in Qi Li Town, their living conditions were considered the best in the neighbouring areas. They lived in a two-story building with a courtyard, equipped with tap water and solar power. The courtyard was filled with a variety of flowers planted by Granny Huo; the outer walls of their house were decked with crimson red tiles, which lent it an exceptionally grand appearance. Huo Jinlan was always proud of the superior living conditions of her family home; there were no more than five households in the town that could match theirs. But today, she stood petrified at the door, refusing to enter as if the house were a vicious beast. ¡°Hurry in! Everyone¡¯s waiting inside!¡± said Mr. Huo, parking his bicycle in the courtyard, and urging her to go in. ¡°Dad.¡± Huo Jinlan looked plaintively at her father, ¡°Dad, I have been so ruthlessly bullied today, you must help me.¡± ¡°How can I help you?¡± Mr. Huo sighed, ¡°You, this girl¡­¡± Before he could finish, a middle-aged woman stormed out of the door, staring fiercely at Jinlan¡¯s disheveled appearance and the tears in her tattered clothes. Scared, Jinlan hid behind Mr. Huo, ¡°Mom¡­¡± she whimpered, her voice filled with grievance and remorse. Crystal clear teardrops hung from her eyelashes, refusing to fall. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to work! Can¡¯t our family afford your little expenses? If you hadn¡¯t gone, you wouldn¡¯t have lost face like this. You have disgraced the Huo family!¡± ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not my fault, not my fault. I didn¡¯t do anything; they intentionally framed me. It was all orchestrated by Jiang Nanfei. You have to believe me.¡± Moved by her daughter¡¯s plea, Yuan Xueshan softened, ¡°Come in first.¡± she said, setting aside her firm exterior. ¡°Stop crying,¡± Mr. Huo cooed softly, ¡°We believe you. You wouldn¡¯t do such a thing; it¡¯s all a misunderstanding.¡± He trusted the girl they had raised themselves, regardless of her not being their biological child. Jinlan was clever and sensible ever since she was young; she excelled acadically and even wanted to work during the summer vacation to lessen the burden on her family. Jinlan¡¯s pounding heart finally softened; she dropped her gaze, her eyes nearly turning scarlet red. All the humiliation she had faced today would be paid back by Jiang Nanfei. She dreamt of marrying brother and becoming her sister-in-law! Jinlan remembered her childhood well, despite others assuming otherwise. She could still recall the memory from when she was first brought to the Huo¡¯s home, her brother¡¯s charming and protective features. He belonged to her and only her, why should he marry that penniless Jiang Nanfei? ***** ¡°You¡¯re saying that all of this was done by Jiang Nanfei?¡± Yuan Xueshan slammed the table, standing up vehemently, her fury three feet high, ¡°You¡¯ve been so good to her, and she turns out to be so wicked. No, such a person must not marry into our family.¡± Mr. Huo stared at his wife, ¡°You need to calm down, I believe that Nan Fei is not such a person.¡± He trusted his mother¡¯s judgement. ¡°So, you mean my daughter is framing her?¡± Yuan Xueshan glared back, raising her voice. ¡°Lower your voice, don¡¯t disturb mom.¡± The elderly lady lived in the room below, and could easily be disturbed by their loud arguing. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Could there have been some misunderstanding?¡± Jinlan chimed in quickly: ¡°No, everything I said is the truth.¡± She straightened her torn sleeve and said pitifully: ¡°The boss¡¯ wife tore my clothes¡­ She thought our family was poor comparing to the boss¡¯ wealth. Hence¡­ Hence¡­ ¡± Jinlan stuttered and stopped short of completing her sentence. But Yuan Xueshan was already highly agitated. In her eyes, her precious son was the best in the world. Anyone who dared to belittle him was asking for trouble. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 011: Attack first for advantage_1 Chapter 11: Chapter 011: Attack first for advantage_1 ¡°So she did something wrong herself. When the boss found out, she splashed the dirty water on me,¡± she said, covering her face and crying. Her tears flowed more and more, her shoulders heaving with sobs, her breaths becoming shorter. Yuan Xueshan was heartbroken. Mr. Huo, due to his strict attitude, didn¡¯t immediately believe Huo Jinlan¡¯s words, but his face turned pale. Who would want to marry such an ambitious and reckless girl to his family? ¡°I¡¯m furious,¡± Yuan Xueshan burst out, ¡°What does this Jiang Nanfei take our Huo family for? This wedding must be cancelled. Cancel it tomorrow, cancel it right now. It¡¯s shameless. She did something so disgraceful and now wants to blame our Jinlan. It¡¯s too much.¡± A smug smile curved at the corner of Huo Jinlan¡¯s mouth. She didn¡¯t expect this misfortune to bring her good luck. As long as her brother didn¡¯t marry Jiang Nanfei, what did it matter if she was wronged a little? A crack appeared in the door of the bedroom on the first floor. An old man with white hair, who had been listening for a long time, was thinking about striking first. No, he had to call his grandson and get him back home first, or he¡¯d lose his granddaughter-in-law. ****** It took about four hours from Xiao Wang Village to the provincial city and they finally arrived at midnight. The journey was very quiet, and the back of the truck was so quiet that it seemed like there was no one there, even Chen Qi, who was usually the most lively, had nothing to say. After entering the city, Chen Qi was thinking about what to say. The mother and daughter were too pitiful, should he just take them directly to the entrance of the hospital? ¡°Knock knock¡­¡± a voice came from the back of the truck, a man¡¯s voice, lazy and low, ¡°Stop by the provincial hospital on the way.¡± Jiang Nanfei was thrilled, gripping Zhang Fengmei¡¯s hand in excitement. ¡°Chief, where are you going?¡± ¡°Cough cough¡­ to visit an old friend, I heard this guy broke his leg, I¡¯m going to see if he¡¯s become a cripple.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Thank you¡­Thank you all, thank you, Captain.¡± Aside from expressing her gratitude, Nanfei didn¡¯t know what else to say. After the vehicle smoothly stopped at the entrance of the hospital, Chen Qi got out of the car to help Jiang Nanfei and Zhang Fengmei out. After bidding each other farewell and bowing again in gratitude, Jiang Nanfei entered the hospital. Watching Jiang Nanfei carefully helping someone else, Chen Qi scratched his head and praised, ¡°Boss, this girl really pays respects to her elders! My mom loves girls who show filial piety.¡± After he finished speaking, a small stone was thrown from the truck and accurately hit Chen Qi on the head. ¡°Stop looking, hurry up and drive the car into the inpatient department.¡± ¡°What are you doing there, Chief?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? Visiting a friend.¡± Chen Qi was confused. At first, he figured that his boss was just trying to help the girl out as an excuse, but it turned out to be true. He really shouldn¡¯t think too highly of the boss. Looking at the captain entering the inpatient department, Chen Qi and the others waited outside. In a casual conversation, he asked, ¡°Who is the captain going to the hospital to see?¡± A set of suppressed laughter came from the back of the truck, and an eloquent man popped out from the back trunk, showing a spirited face, and said joyfully, ¡°It¡¯s none other than our renowned Tu Lou from the maritime company!¡± Mentioning the name Tu Lou, everyone in the car had a weird look. The surname Tu was already rare enough. Imagine a person, a normal citizen, actually naming themselves Tu Lou. And what if this person has an older brother named Tu Cheng? That would simply be a disaster! ¡°There¡¯s a call,¡± the back of the truck paused for a few seconds, and the eloquent face emerged from the trunk again, ¡°Go, tell the boss to return to the company¡¯s location. There¡¯s an urgent matter.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Chen Qi agreed and quickly jumped off the truck to call the boss. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 012 No Serious Problem_1 Chapter 12: Chapter 012 No Serious Problem_1 It is now late at night and the clinic is closed. Jiang Nanfei and Zhang Fengmei make do by spending the night on chairs in the corridor, intending to register at the clinic first thing in the morning. Although it¡¯s her first time visiting the city in this life, Jiang Nanfei, given her experience from her past life, remains calm throughout. Registering, seeing the doctor, paying for treatment; she runs around alone, becoming increasingly busy as noon approaches. Sweating profusely within the crowd, she hasn¡¯t even had the chance to drink water. ¡°You must be tired, young lady.¡± An old man with white hair kindly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I just overheard the doctor saying your mother¡¯s illness was discovered in time and it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Upon hearing the definite diagnosis, Jiang Nanfei breathed a sigh of relief and beamed a radiant smile. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± She didn¡¯t even know how long it had been since she smiled like this. Ever since her mother lost her sight and her brother had an accident in her previous life, their household had been plagued by one nightmare after another. In the treatment room, the doctor needs to inject a potion into the back of the eye. Jiang Nanfei watches on the edge of her seat as the long needle is quickly inserted. By the end of the treatment, her back is covered in cold sweat. She once thought of becoming a doctor, but the sight of needle made her cringe. ¡°It¡¯s done now, young lady. Help the patient to the IV room.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Jiang Nanfei came back to her senses, carefully helped her mother, whose eyes were bandaged, and followed the sign to the IV room with the medical documents in hand. ¡°Nan Fei, you¡¯ve grown up,¡± Zhang Fengmei sighed. Since she couldn¡¯t see, her daughter had been busily tending to her needs, which left her feeling somewhat bittersweet. ¡°Mom, now that I¡¯ve grown up, I¡¯ll be able to take care of you all.¡± Jiang Nanfei said in a low voice, as though she was speaking to herself. She felt her chest burn with a surge of anticipation. Looking at the strange yet familiar hospital, she displayed an expectant smile. What a relief! Her mother¡¯s eyes wouldn¡¯t go blind¨Cnothing could bring her more joy than this. ¡°You sure know how to cheer people up,¡± Zhang Fengmei said with an underlying note of happiness. Nan Fei had always been stubborn and tended to overthink things; they were worried that she might tread the wrong path in the future. But now, it seemed as if their little girl had grown up overnight, which put their minds at ease. ****** Catching the last bus, Jiang Nanfei finally got home with Zhang Fengmei after sunset. Since she couldn¡¯t see anything because of the bandage around her eyes after the treatment, she relied entirely on Jiang Nanfei for support during the entire trip. There were no vehicles on the road from the town. People either cycled, used tractors, or walked. When they passed through Da Wang Village, the villagers watched Jiang Nanfei with strange looks. They looked as if they were mocking, worrying, and showing sympathy¡­ Jiang Nanfei knew what was going on. In her previous life, she once faced the same situation when she was falsely accused of being a gold digger. Even though she was proven innocent this time, unless the news was deliberately spread, it might not reach everyone. Huo Jinlan was different though, she would definitely try her best to tarnish Jiang¡¯s reputation. ¡°Is that you, Nan Fei?¡± ¡°Hello there.¡± Unable to recognize the familiar yet unfamiliar face, Nan Fei didn¡¯t remember how to address the elderly person in front of her. She could only respond with a sincere smile. In her past life, she lived in her own world, viewing everyone with hostility due to her insecurity, and her narrow-minded approach to life. After being reborn, her mindset has completely changed, her breadth of mind and vision are incomparable to her previous life. If someone shows her true kindness, she would respond with even greater sincerity. ¡°I heard some folk from the Huo family in the town want to settle scores with you. Be careful, they can be quite unreasonable.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± A warm current welled up from the depths of her heart, and her smile became even more sincere. ¡°We¡¯ve seen you grow up in this village, and I know that the Jiangs are good folks with a great reputation. We believe in you.¡± ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 013: August 28_1 Chapter 13: Chapter 013: August 28_1 Zhang Fengmei recognized the voice on the other end, engaged in familiar cordialities for a bit, and then headed into the village. Nan Fei had already explained the textile factory incident. When Zhang Fengmei heard someone talking about her daughter in that way, even her normally good temper couldn¡¯t hold. ¡°That¡¯s too much. Your grandma even wants to marry you off to the Huo Family. I think it¡¯s better not to get married.¡± Zhang Fengmei had never planned on using her daughter¡¯s marriage for anything. If this happened in her past life, Nan Fei would have jumped for joy upon hearing her mother say such things. But now it¡¯s different. When she heard that she may not marry Huo Beijiang, she felt very heartbroken instead. She finally reached the front door, leaning on someone. Looking at the lit light inside the house, something long forgotten in the recesses of her memory surfaced in Nan Fei¡¯s mind. In her last life, it was at this time that Granny Huo visited, proposing the wedding to be on August 28th. What had she done at that time? Her memory briefly flashed a brilliant corner, causing Jiang Nanfei to want to find a hole to hide in due to embarrassment. ¡°Dad, Mom¡¯s back, my sister¡¯s back.¡± Jiang Zhuanzhuan stood at the entrance, calling out excitedly, ¡°My sister¡¯s back, it¡¯s great that they¡¯re back.¡± Whoosh¡­ Several people walked out of the yard. Jiang Nanfei¡¯s hand, which was supporting Zhang Fengmei, couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Seeing these many people who she hadn¡¯t seen in over a decade, words couldn¡¯t describe the complexity of emotions in her heart. Her father, who looked much younger, her kind-hearted grandmother, her quiet grandfather, and Granny Huo¡ªso elegant in her floral cheongsam. Feeling cold on her face, Jiang Nanfei looked up. It¡¯s not raining, is it? ¡°Why are you crying, Nan Fei?¡± Zhou Yongxian walked over to Jiang Nanfei. Her wise and kind eyes were filled with admiration. The granddaughter-in-law she had chosen since she was young not only grew up to be beautiful, but also so responsible at such a young age. Taking her mother to hospital in the provincial capital showed great filial piety. She was a perfect match for her beloved grandson. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Jiang Nanfei wiped her face with the back of her hand, stubbornly refusing to admit she had been crying. ¡°Let¡¯s all go in and sit, don¡¯t just stand around.¡± Granny Guan Rufang was calling people to come inside. After everyone had found a stool to sit on, she asked in detail about what happened. ¡°We only heard that Feng Mei had eye discomfort and had someone send a letter asking De Chun to come back. We were shocked when we found out last night that Nan Fei had taken Feng Mei to the city overnight.¡± As Granny Guan spoke, it was clear she had been very frightened, ¡°We had no phone, no way to contact you, we were discussing whether we would have to go to the city to find you if you didn¡¯t return tonight.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing you trouble.¡± Zhang Fengmei, a sincere woman, was very respectful to her mother-in-law, ¡°My eyes were the problem, luckily Nan Fei took me to the city overnight, otherwise I would have lost my sight.¡± ¡°That serious?¡± Jiang Dechun, appearing older because of years of hard work, wore a worried and tense expression, ¡°Nan Fei, tell your father what happened. Your mother can¡¯t read much so she can¡¯t explain clearly.¡± Having calmed down for a while, Jiang Nanfei eventually steadied herself. She immediately explained the cause of the illness and the doctor¡¯s instructions. She didn¡¯t mention anything about how she flagged down the car, or how she ran around the hospital. The more she downplayed her deeds, the more impressed everyone was. Even her taciturn grandfather didn¡¯t hesitate to bestow praise. ¡°I was worried before that Nan Fei, being a bookworm, would suffer in society. But now, finally, I can rest easy.¡± Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 014 Discussion for Wedding Date_1 Chapter 14: Chapter 014 Discussion for Wedding Date_1 Jiang Nanfei bowed her head, and everyone thought it was out of shyness. No one knew that her fists on her knees were clenched so tightly that her fingernails were embedded in her palms. It turns out their grandfather had long known her character¡¯s weakness, yet she had been content in her ignorance, smug and self-assured. Seeing that all was well, their grandfather gestured for everyone else to leave the room without worry. Only Zhou Yongxian remained, sitting steadily in her place. Granny did not leave either, her gaze intense as she looked at Nanfei. Zhang Fengmei could not help the anxiety rising in her chest at the thought of the words said by acquaintances she passed by on her way through Da Wang Village. ¡°Nanfei!¡± Jiang Dechun clenched his hands nervously, somewhat reluctant to meet his eldest daughter¡¯s eyes. ¡°Father, speak.¡± She had learned to face what was coming with calm acceptance. ¡°Father¡­¡± Jiang Dechun wanted to apologize to his daughter, but given the elders in his presence, saying those words would be offensive. He hoped Nanfei could understand the difficulties and hardships they faced as parents. Moreover, he was very pleased with Huo Beijiang. If his daughter could marry him, they would be free of worry for a lifetime. ¡°I¡¯ll speak!¡± Granny glared at her younger son for their uselessness, then turned to Nanfei. ¡°You¡¯re turning eighteen this year, others your age are already married. We¡¯ve decided you should marry Bei Jiang soon, to give Granny Huo a great-grandchild.¡± Upon hearing her mother-in-law¡¯s words, Zhang Fengmei, although blind, could already picture her daughter¡¯s grieved face. A mother knew best what her daughter wanted. Nanfei started school late and was just entering her senior year, with an age gap of whole seven years between her and the Huo family¡¯s grandson. In trendy words, they had a generational gap. Deep down, she was not prepared to send off her daughter to someone so much older. ¡°Mother-in-law, this matter requires Nanfei¡¯s own agreement,¡± Zhang Fengmei retorted. ¡°Besides, Nanfei has excellent grades; she shouldn¡¯t marry so early.¡± Granny straightforwardly said, ¡°Can you afford to send her to university? You can¡¯t even come up with the tuition for the new term beginning on September 1st.¡± Her remark silenced everyone present in the hall. Jiang Dechun looked at his daughter anxiously, while Jiang Zhuanzhuan shrank into a corner without saying a word, her face marked by tension. Oddly, Jiang Nanfei seemed to understand her younger sister¡¯s thoughts. Zhou Yongxian, looking disapprovingly at her sister, said, ¡°Don¡¯t speak like that. Once Nanfei becomes my granddaughter-in-law and comes to my house, I¡¯ll definitely take good care of her. If she wants to continue her studies or apply to university, I¡¯ll fund it.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯ll treat Nanfei like your own granddaughter.¡± Granny¡¯s stern face softened into a warm smile seeing her old sister. She had met Zhou Yongxian through their church, and over the years, they had grown close, sharing everything with each other. When her younger son went away to avoid the one-child policy and left the infant Nanfei in her care, she began bringing Nanfei to church every Sabbath. Little by little, Nanfei became acquainted with Zhou Yongxian¡¯s grandson, and the two decided to arrange a childhood betrothal between them. Of all her achievements over the years, Granny was proudest of having found a good son-in-law for her granddaughter. She had three sons and two daughters, with even more grandchildren. But among all her grandchildren, because she had raised Nanfei herself as a child, she favored Nanfei the most. Unfortunately, as Nanfei grew older, her behavior became more inconsiderate, losing much of her childish charm. ¡°Nanfei, if you call me granny again, you must obey my decision.¡± Anticipating the girl¡¯s stubbornness, Granny made a stern threat. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t force Nanfei,¡± advised Jiang Dechun guiltily, ashamed to raise his head. The family was indeed too poor. Fengmei¡¯s eye problem required further hospital checkups, while the new semester was approaching, and all of these required money. He knew that even if he sold his blood, he wouldn¡¯t be able to gather enough money. With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Dechun¡¯s thin frame seemed even more stooped under the weight of his worries. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 015 Dont Swear_1 Chapter 15: Chapter 015 Don¡¯t Swear_1 Everyone was waiting for Jiang Nanfei to state her position, all prepared for her to resist, and even prepared for her to burst into a tirade. The atmosphere in the hall descended into a suffocating silence. However, Jiang Nanfei was in a state of shock, she couldn¡¯t help but recall how she had acted when she was forced into a marriage in her previous life? She had resisted, didn¡¯t hesitate in her choice of words, refused to marry, and even said many hurtful things. She had accused her parents of selling their daughter for money, causing her already blind mother to cry all night long. Her outbursts caused Granny Huo¡¯s high blood pressure to skyrocket, leading to an illness from which Granny could not recover. She even consumed Granny Huo¡¯s love for her and finally broke Granny¡¯s heart with her hurtful words. Huo Beijiang was her limit, but she repeatedly overstepped Granny Huo¡¯s limits. She had done so much, offended the Huo family, her own family. The affairs of the past were things that Jiang Nanfei always intentionally avoided, she couldn¡¯t bear to even think about them. But now, it was all torn open, utterly unadorned. Her heart no longer experienced the humiliation of the past, instead, she felt shame towards herself and despised and hated her past self. She must have been brain-dead before. ¡°Nan Fei, I know you are young and do not want to marry so early. But I¡¯m getting old and I fear I won¡¯t live much longer. I¡¯d like to see you marry into our family before I go!¡± Zhou Yongxian looked at Jiang Nanfei with a gentle expression. Actually, she had also wanted to wait a few more years. But firstly, her grandson was getting older, and secondly, Yuan Xueshan and Huo Jinlan, mother and daughter, were too troublesome. One was always scheming and the other didn¡¯t genuinely like Nan Fei. She had overheard her daughter-in-law talking to Huo Jinlan last night. Knowing that if she did not act soon, she might genuinely lose her future granddaughter-in-law. When Zhou Yongxian spoke, Jiang Nanfei didn¡¯t seem to react, which Granny interpreted as her resisting passively. The grandmother, who hadn¡¯t lost her temper or scolded anyone for many years, suddenly slapped the table and warned, ¡°I warn you, Jiang Nanfei! Don¡¯t be ungrateful.¡± ¡°Sister, don¡¯t scold Nan Fei. This girl is young and immature. I will slowly teach her in the future.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t scold her, she won¡¯t realize how vast the world is.¡± ¡°Granny, didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t scold people anymore?¡± Jiang Nanfei suddenly lifted her head, a bright smile on her face, causing Granny to be taken aback, unable to react for quite a while. ¡°I¡­¡± Granny looked unhappy and quickly murmured to herself, ¡°Lord, I pray, I was wrong¡­¡± Jiang Nanfei watched Granny¡¯s reaction and couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth and laugh. The unfamiliarity brought about by her rebirth dissipated, and Granny was still as lovable as she remembered. In her youth, Granny had been very formidable and proud. Otherwise, she would undoubtedly have been bullied by all her in-laws and eccentric relatives, and later she even earned a reputation as a wicked mother-in-law. It was said that she had never lost a quarrel when she was young, and if she underperformed in an argument, she wouldn¡¯t eat for days due to frustration. As she got older, Granny became a Christian and swore never to scold anyone again. Zhou Yongxian saw that Jiang Nanfei wasn¡¯t making a fuss anymore and finally relaxed. ¡°Don¡¯t try to change the subject, just tell us if you¡¯re willing or not,¡± Granny finished and then shook her head, ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to say you will not marry. You must marry.¡± ¡°Mom, don¡¯t force Nan Fei.¡± Jiang Dechun couldn¡¯t help but interject, but his words were cut off with a glare from Granny. ¡°I¡¯ll marry!¡± Everyone in the hall widened their eyes, thinking they had misheard. Jiang Zhuanzhuan, who was hiding in the corner, incredulously looked up. Her gaze met Jiang Nanfei¡¯s in mid-air before quickly dropping again. ¡°What did you say? Say it again, girl.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll marry, but I have a condition.¡± Jiang Nanfei¡¯s smile was radiant. At just 18, she was in the prime of her life. Even in plain clothes, she looked like a tender and charming bud ready to bloom. She looked extraordinarily stunning. Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 016 Wedding Date_1 Chapter 16: Chapter 016 Wedding Date_1 The reason why Zhou Yongxian was so insistent on having Jiang Nanfei as her granddaughter-in-law, apart from their childhood friendship, was that Jiang Nanfei was incredibly beautiful. She had seen many beauties and was well-known for her beauty in her youth. But even she paled when compared to Jiang Nanfei. Nobody else was able to combine alluring yet not vulgar, flirtatious but transcending the worldly, as well as her. Those pin-up girls on the calendars were either too gaudy and vulgar or too aloof and transcendental. At such a young age, Nan Fei was unknowingly revealing her innate charm, and in time, she would definitely shine brightly. Her grandson, Zhou Yongxian, deserved the best woman. ¡°Nan Fei, whatever request you have, granny will fulfill it.¡± ¡°I hope we can get married after I go to university.¡± The date of the marriage in her previous life was set too hurriedly, and with the constant family disputes, no one took care of Jiang Zhuanzhuan. The tragic death of Jiang Zhuanzhuan on the wedding day was a painful memory for the whole family. She just wanted to push back the date of the wedding to a year later, which would give her more time and would also prevent Jiang Zhuanzhuan¡¯s tragedy. As for whether she would really marry Huo Beijiang a year later? At least then she would have the right to decide for herself. The guests in the hall looked at each other, their expressions clearly showing their annoyance. It was no wonder she agreed so readily just now, she was waiting for this moment! If she had created a big scene, they could have been more assertive. But now that Nan Fei was being reasonable, they felt like they were punching into cotton, not meeting any resistance. ¡°So sister, what do you think?¡± Guan Rufang passed the decision onto Zhou Yongxian. It was she who had just agreed with Nan Fei. Whether or not they could bring their granddaughter-in-law home earlier also depended on her. Zhou Yongxian thought for a moment, not angry, but rather pleased that this young girl had become smarter. ¡°Alright! I agree with you. But can we bring the date forward a bit?¡± Zhou Yongxian¡¯s face softened as she let out a vivacious smile. ¡°I checked the lunar calendar when I came, and the 28th of the twelfth lunar month this year is a good day. We can set it!¡± ¡°Granny Huo, that¡¯s too soon¡­¡± Nan Fei was just about to speak when Guan Rufang interrupted her, ¡°Enough! The rest is not something you, a little girl, should be concerned about! You should be ashamed.¡± ¡°Oh! Well, you guys continue talking.¡± Jiang Nanfei politely left the living room. She immediately saw Zhuanzhuan squatting at the door. As soon as she saw her come out, she promptly went over to meet her. ¡°Sis.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Zhuanzhuan?¡± Nanfei noticed that Zhuanzhuan seemed a bit off today. ¡°Are you really going to marry Huo Beijiang? But you¡­¡± Jiang Zhuanzhuan lowered her head, hesitating to speak, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you would rather die than let an arranged marriage ruin your happiness?¡± Jian Nanfei chuckled. In her past life, she had indeed thought so, but reality gave her a stern slap in the face. ¡°Zhuanzhuan.¡± She spoke earnestly, ¡°What sister said before was out of anger. Don¡¯t take it seriously. Huo Beijiang is a good person. Some things are not all his fault.¡± After letting go of her inner burden, she realized how radical she had once been, pushing all the blame onto Huo Beijiang. ****** As the sky darkened, the people of the Huo family were anxiously waiting for Granny Huo¡¯s return. ¡°Linong, go and see where mom is. Didn¡¯t she say she was visiting friends? Why hasn¡¯t she returned yet?¡± Yuan Xueshan urged. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t come back soon, the food will get cold.¡± Huo Linong was sitting in the living room reading a newspaper. Hearing this, he looked up at Huo Jinlan, ¡°Jinlan, you go.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡­I feel unwell.¡± Huo Jinlan held her stomach, ¡°My stomach hurts.¡± Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 017: Stay the Night_1 Chapter 17: Chapter 017: Stay the Night_1 ¡°You child, why don¡¯t you tell when you have a stomachache?¡± As soon as Yuan Xueshan heard her say she was in pain, she hurried over, ¡°Does it hurt? I can take you to the clinic.¡± Huo Jinlan¡¯s expression became a bit stiff, ¡°I, I¡­just¡­¡± her face gradually reddened as she spoke. Yuan Xueshan immediately understood and hurried into the kitchen to make her a cup of brown sugar. ¡°Mom, do you think grandma might have gone to Jiang Nanfei¡¯s house?¡± Huo Jinlan held the cup of brown sugar, biting her lip hesitantly, ¡°Grandma hasn¡¯t come back for such a long time. I don¡¯t know what the Jiang Family is up to!¡± ¡°Do you two think that I¡¯m as simple-minded as you?¡± Zhou Yongxian entered from the door, with a cold look in her eyes. Unlike Guan Rufang, she was an introvert who kept things to herself in her youth. In her old age, she became sharper by the day, and she could scold anyone who displeased her. ¡°Don¡¯t compare me to your own stupidity.¡± Huo Jinlan stood up immediately, startled. Upon seeing Jiang Nanfei, who was trailing behind Zhou Yongxian, she wished she could throw the brown sugar water in her hand at her face. ¡°Mom!¡± As soon as Yuan Xueshan saw Jiang Nanfei, her tone changed. Her daughter was right, her mother must have been brainwashed by the Jiang Family. Why would the Huo Family need such a restless daughter-in-law when there are so many better choices? ¡°I¡¯ve been to the Jiang Family and I¡¯ve settled on Nanfei¡¯s marriage to Bei Jiang. I¡¯ll let you know the specific date.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Yuan Xueshan shrieked and almost fainted, ¡°Mom, you must be crazy!¡± ¡°I am not crazy,¡± Zhou Yongxian replied coldly, ¡°but you sure seem to be.¡± ¡°If I am, it¡¯s because you drove me mad,¡± Yuan Xueshan pointed at Jiang Nanfei¡¯s nose angrily, shouting, ¡°Why should a woman like that marry my son? I do not agree, I absolutely do not agree.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get a say,¡± Zhou Yongxian did not mince her words and then turned around with her expression changed and smiling, ¡°Nanfei, it¡¯s already dark outside. I told you that there is no need to escort me home, but you insisted. I can¡¯t let you go home alone. Why don¡¯t you stay here tonight?¡± Jiang Nanfei deliberately ignored Huo Jinlan¡¯s venomous look and peered outside; it was indeed so dark that one could hardly see their fingers. Having accustomed herself to the city¡¯s brightness in her previous life, she had long forgotten how dark the rural areas were in the ¡¯90s without street lights. She really couldn¡¯t see her hand in front of her face. The path through the fields was truly very dark. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can go home,¡± she said, feeling uneasy to stay in the Huo Family house. ¡°No way!¡± Zhou Yongxian held her hand tightly refusing to let go. There was a hint of cunning in her eyes, ¡°I can¡¯t let you go. Bei Jiang¡¯s room has been vacant ever since he started working outside. You can stay in his room.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Before Jiang Nanfei could reject, Huo Jinlan had already jumped up furiously, ¡°Grandma, you can¡¯t let Jiang Nanfei stay in my brother¡¯s room.¡± Zhou Yongxian raised an eyebrow, ¡°As a lady, it¡¯s not your place to interfere in your brother¡¯s matters.¡± She always felt that this granddaughter of hers was a bit off. ¡°Grandma.¡± Tears started to stream down Huo Jinlan¡¯s face, creating a pitiful sight. ¡°You know about my brother¡¯s habits. If he knew someone was staying in his room, he would be enraged.¡± Her brother had been domineering and autocratic since their childhood, not allowing anyone to touch his things. No one could enter his room except for their mother when she was cleaning. When they were kids, she had once sneaked into her brother¡¯s room to play and was almost beaten by him. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 018: A Promising Future_1 Chapter 18: Chapter 018: A Promising Future_1 ¡°Yeah! Yeah!¡± Yuan Xueshan nodded vigorously, feeling extremely dissatisfied with Jiang Nanfei¡¯s audacious visit to her house. She occasionally elbowed her husband by her side. ¡°Say something!¡± ¡°What should I say?¡± Huo Linong¡¯s response nearly infuriated Yuan Xueshan. Her husband was such a fool; she couldn¡¯t count on him to support her in battling against her mother-in-law. ¡°Granny, I¡¯m your granddaughter! How can you side with an outsider like Jiang Nanfei when she¡¯s been scheming against me?¡± Huo Jinlan cried, her tears flowing like pearls from a broken necklace. Jiang Nanfei chuckled as she watched her, recalling how Huo Jinlan, her so-called ¡®good friend¡¯ from her past life, used to support her defiance against fate. ¡°Grannny, thank you for your kindness. I¡¯ll stay here tonight and return home tomorrow.¡± Watching Huo Jinlan¡¯s misery brought her joy. ¡°Good, good¡­¡± Zhou Yongxian was delighted, leading Jiang Nanfei upstairs to show her Huo Beijiang¡¯s room, leaving Yuan Xueshan and Huo Jinlan behind, fuming with rage. Having been a married couple for over a decade in her previous life, Jiang Nanfei had never really examined Huo Beijiang¡¯s room. After their forced marriage, Huo Beijiang returned to his work and they began a long period of separate lives that lasted until their divorce. After Granny Huo had left, Jiang Nanfei stood in the clean, tidy room, suddenly feeling shy. She stood there dazedly for a while, unsure where to put her hands. She thought about how strangely she had been acting since her reincarnation. The past version of her would never have stayed overnight at the Huo family¡¯s house. ¡°Forget it!¡± she sighed softly, picking up the clothes Zhou Yongxian had prepared for her. Huo Beijiang¡¯s room had its own bathroom. After washing up, she lay on his grand bed, unable to sleep, staring at the ceiling and reminiscing about the events of her past and present lives. As exhaustion took over, she slowly closed her eyes. Forget it! Having reincarnated, she shouldn¡¯t dwell on the past. She would become a new Jiang Nanfei. The future was promising! As for Huo Beijiang, if they were destined to be entangled for life, then she¡­ Jiang Nanfei subconsciously clutched her chest, where a throbbing pain was emanating. It was a feeling she had never experienced in the past. It seemed that as long as she thought of him, the pain would intensify. ******* In the middle of the night, a truck was hurtling down the road at an extreme speed, as if it were a speedster driven off-road. This was the true skill of Chen Qi. The tall and upright man was reclining lazily in the passenger seat, his long legs brazenly spread out in front of him. His handsome face, with sharp eyes half-closed, cast a small shadow on the bridge of his nose from his curled lashes. ¡°Nice going, Chen Qi,¡± he chuckled, ¡°Without a pretty girl in the car, you¡¯re intentionally keeping me awake, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hehehe¡­Boss, I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Chen Qi focused on driving while wearing an appeasing smile. ¡°Can you let bygones be bygones? I just let someone sit in your passenger seat. That poor girl¡­¡± The thought made Chen Qi shudder. His captain was too ruthless. It was common knowledge among the Snow Eagle Action Team that the passenger seat of this truck, the driver¡¯s seat of the 2979 Jeep, and the pilot¡¯s seat of the 133 helicopter were all the captain¡¯s personal spots. Although his name wasn¡¯t written on them, it was more terrifying than if they had been. Anyone who dared to occupy these spots courted death. ¡°Boss, I was wrong. I won¡¯t dare to do it again in the future.¡± Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 019 Inconceivable_1 Chapter 19: Chapter 019 Inconceivable_1 ¡°Hmph!¡± Huo Beijiang coldly snorted, closing his eyes and no longer willing to entertain the matter. Strangely enough, he detests others touching his belongings, but when that girl wanted to take his seat at the time, he didn¡¯t hesitate to move to the back of the car. Reflecting on it, it feels quite unbelievable. Throughout his childhood, the only thing he was willing to give up all rights to was a sweetheart arrangement set up by his grandma. Since getting into college and until his graduation, Huo Beijiang hadn¡¯t seen that girl for many years. Wonder if she¡¯s grown up! Old Chen Qi figured that with the bumpy road and the speed of the car, the team leader Huo Beijiang surely can¡¯t sleep. He tries initializing a conversation, ¡°What on earth did you say to Tu Lou in the hospital that he¡¯s ready to duel with you?¡± ¡°Oh! I just said he has disgraced himself and the reputation of our shipping company!¡± Huo Beijiang casually replied. ¡°He managed to break his own leg. How could he be so useless? His operational skills are so inadequate.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Chen Qi was speechless. So is that why Tu Lou gathered a team of field staff to surround their Snow Eagle Action Team? As expected, our leader¡¯s sharp tongue is beyond compare. ¡°So, you slipped home in the middle of the night?¡± Chen Qi ventured to ask. As soon as the words left his mouth, he got a smack at the back of his head. ¡°I think you¡¯re asking to be beaten!¡± Huo Beijiang straightened up in his seat and pointed at the road, ¡°Take the next left.¡± ¡°Boss, you and the girl from yesterday are from the same place!¡± Chen Qi exclaimed. ¡°What a coincidence!¡± ¡°Just shut your mouth.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The car was moving fast. A three-hour trip had been shortened to an hour and a half. Upon reaching the entrance of Qi Li Town, Huo Beijiang, with his travel bag on his back, hopped off the car and ordered, ¡°Don¡¯t bother picking me up. I¡¯ll take the bus back in three days.¡± ¡°Captain, why not take a few more days off until Tu Lou¡¯s anger has subsided?¡± ¡°You think I¡¯d be scared of that cripple, Tu Lou?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yeah, you¡¯re not scared, but what about them? ****** Huo Beijiang let himself into the house in darkness, not wanting to disturb his parents or his grandma at such a late hour. The moment he opened the door to his room, his keen instincts told him something was amiss! There was someone in his room! Even the faintest breathing was glaringly clear to his ears. His body reacted in mere fractions of a second, lunging at the person on his bed and effortlessly hoisting them into the air. Why is this person so light? Is it a woman? This thought made Huo Beijiang pause. His parents knew about his temper, so how could they let someone into his room? Could it be Jinlan? Even if it was Jinlan, that¡¯s unacceptable. Whatever. Better hope I haven¡¯t strangled my sister to death! A soft click of the light switch, and the room was immediately bathed in light. In one glance, Huo Beijiang saw the girl he was holding was wearing his old high school basketball jersey, which hung loosely on her revealing legs, and her arms thin as though they could snap to any pressure. Worse was that her oversized jersey had slid off her shoulder due to being lifted by him. The cool and collected man¡¯s eyes darkened, and the room was shrouded in a stunning, powerful aura. ¡°Let¡­ let go¡­¡± Jiang Nanfei was choked to near-suffocation, her brain going blank due to the lack of oxygen, feeling as if she could pass out at any moment. The pressure on her neck was released. Jiang Nanfei collapsed onto the floor, one hand pressing against her chest, gasping for breath as if she were a fish on land. Her long neck was arched, forming a beautiful curve. Huo Beijiang suppressed his racing heartbeat and asked coolly, ¡°Why are you in my room?¡± Somehow, she was in his bed when he had just sent her to the hospital yesterday. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 020 Let me down_1 Chapter 20: Chapter 020 Let me down_1 ¡°I¡­¡± Jiang Nanfei took a deep breath, looked up at Huo Beijiang¡¯s face which was almost identical to the one in her memory, and suddenly the words on the tip of her tongue faded away. ¡°Who are you?¡± Huo Beijiang¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, ¡°If you don¡¯t speak, I¡¯ll throw you out.¡± The burning pain in her neck made Jiang Nanfei want to laugh, but her eyes gradually misted over and became wet. ¡°No crying.¡± Huo Beijiang¡¯s handsome face grew colder, ¡°I don¡¯t have much patience, especially with women.¡± Seeing how the tears hanging on her eyelashes could fall at any moment, Huo Beijiang wondered if he was being too harsh? That wasn¡¯t right! He was already being quite gentle; he hadn¡¯t even spoken the words he originally had in mind! ¡°You, you¡­¡± Jiang Nanfei¡¯s tears fell, ¡°You¡¯re always like this, always so detestable¡­¡± Just his one sentence had the power to anger her to death. ¡°You¡¯re Jiang Nanfei?¡± A glimmer of surprise flashed across Huo Beijiang¡¯s deep black eyes and quicker than his mind could react, he had bent down to carry her horizontally in his arms. As his future wife, she would become his possession and was naturally allowed to enter his room. ¡°Have you grown this much?¡± The woman in his arms exuded an attractiveness that could bewitch any man. For a moment, Huo Beijiang had a difficult time reconciling this woman with the tomboy he remembered from childhood. ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°If I let go you¡¯ll fall.¡± Jiang Nanfei instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. The enticing scent of the young maiden, intensified by her movements, invaded his nostrils. Glancing at the stark red mark on her delicate neck, a flicker of strangeness passed through Huo Beijiang¡¯s eyes. ¡°Put me down!¡± Calming down, she wiped her tears away to speak. Huo Beijiang gently placed her on the bed, standing by it slightly uneasily. Once set free, Jiang Nanfei immediately got out of bed, went to the balcony and found her clothes were dry. She bundled them and went into the bathroom. When she came out after changing, Huo Beijiang was standing there with a gloomy expression, silently watching her. She couldn¡¯t help but take a step backward, a dozen years of estrangement made her instinctively fear him while also feeling an unexplainable bashfulness and awkwardness. Jiang Nanfei¡¯s movements and expressions were being observed by Huo Beijiang without missing a beat. She was afraid of him! ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± Despite his usually unrestrained behavior, when this man was serious, he was absolutely intimidating. Especially when he focused on someone, his eyes seemed capable of pulling in their very soul. It felt as if one was transparent before him, unable to hide the deepest secrets in their heart, laid bare before his eyes. This feeling of being seen through was not pleasant. Jiang Nanfei¡¯s shoulders couldn¡¯t help but shudder as she regretted agreeing to the marriage. Had she lost her mind? ¡°Now that you¡¯re back, I¡¯ll go home!¡± She spoke with some courage. With her head lowered, clutching her clothes in front of Huo Beijiang, she looked like a pitiful child. ¡°Did I let you leave?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jiang Nanfei thought she had heard wrong and looked up at him in surprise. Something familiar flitted across her mind but before she could grasp it, she couldn¡¯t recall what it was. ¡°Go!¡± Huo Beijiang pointed to the bed, ordered coldly: ¡°I command you to go to sleep immediately.¡± Jiang Nanfei stood still, dumbfounded. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep on the sofa,¡± he said tiredly, rubbing his temples. Without waiting for her response, he turned and went into the bathroom. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 021 Stunned?_1 Chapter 21: Chapter 021 Stunned?_1 Jiang Nanfei stood in place for a while in a daze until Huo Beijiang emerged out of the bathroom after his shower, wearing only three-quarters-length house pants. His vigorous upper body, eight-pack abs, and a perfect V-line were left exposed. He still had water beads sliding down his wheat-colored skin, disappearing into his waistband along his sexy, firm lines. ¡°Are you stunned?¡± Huo Beijiang raised his eyebrows, with a challenging and flamboyant look in his eyes. Jiang Nanfei snapped out of her reverie, her cheeks ablaze, her heart pounding uncontrollably. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m going to bed.¡± She dashed to the bed and tucked herself tightly under the blanket. ¡°Don¡¯t suffocate yourself.¡± A teasing voice sounded, followed by a faint door closing sound. She peeked out from under the blanket; the room was already empty. Huo Beijiang¡¯s bedroom had no couch, so she would have to sleep in the living room downstairs. Strange, she used to feel serene under his blanket, but she didn¡¯t know why she felt her face getting hotter now under that same blanket. The strong masculine scent of his hormones filled her nostrils, along with the smell of sunlight. She was acting pretty strange, was she getting sick? ¡°Ah¡­¡± The next morning, a scream of a woman echoed in the Huo family¡¯s living room. Yuan Xueshan was holding a cup in her hand, standing front and back with Zhou Yongxian in front of the sofa. They looked at each other, their expressions perplexingly identical. Huo Beijiang got up from the couch, irritably ruffled his hair, and half of his blanket slipped off, revealing his sexy collarbones. He squinted his eyes and said with discontent, ¡°Mom! Why are two yelling this early?¡± He hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep for several days, and just after arriving home late last night, he was tormented by that girl and ended up not sleeping at all. God knows what was going through his head. ¡°Son?¡± Yuan Xueshan was incredibly excited, ¡°When did you come back, son? You¡­why are you sleeping here?¡± ¡°Where else can I sleep if someone¡¯s in my room?¡± Huo Beijiang tucked in his blanket snugly, intending to catch up on some sleep. ¡°Ah¡­ But, but, but¡­¡± Huo Beijiang¡¯s voice dropped a few degrees, ¡°Mom, stop yelling!¡± Yuan Xueshan immediately shut her mouth! Zhou Yongxian, seeing the little boy almost vexed to death, stepped forward and grabbed Huo Beijiang by the ear, shouting angrily, ¡°Are you stupid? Are you an idiot?¡± ¡°Granny, have you ever seen a grandson smarter than me?¡± Well then! Enough with sleepiness, he wouldn¡¯t be able to fall asleep again now. ¡°Do you run to the living room to sleep after I arranged your wife in your room?¡± This foolish kid, who was grown old yet still not yet wise. Fortunately, she was astute enough to arrange a childhood marriage. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to find a wife in the future. ¡°¡­¡± A touch of helplessness flashed across Huo Beijiang¡¯s handsome face. The older his grandmother got, the more fearless she became. If he had taken advantage of that little girl, would he still be considered a man? How would he face the outside world as Huo Beijiang? **** Jiang Nanfei had not slept well all night, and the loud voices from downstairs immediately woke her up. After grooming, she stepped out of the room just as she ran into Huo Jinlan. As their gazes met in mid-air, sparks flew. Huo Jinlan¡¯s eyes fell on Jiang Nanfei¡¯s clothing with its zipper pulled all the way up to her neck as if she was trying to hide something. Images that could set one¡¯s heart racing flashed through her mind, her face distorted with jealousy. ¡°Jiang Nanfei, I finally see your true colors. I was blind before, considering a vicious woman like you as a good friend.¡± Huo Jinlan spoke indignantly, ¡°Just you wait, I won¡¯t let this go easily.¡± She had always thought Jiang Nanfei was stupid to the point of being sold and helping the buyer count the money. But now that she knew Jiang Nanfei was just pretending, SHE wouldn¡¯t have to humble herself to be friends with her. She wanted to see, without her, how would the poor Jiang Nanfei dare to attend school. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 022: Admirable_1 Chapter 22: Chapter 022: Admirable_1 ¡°How ridiculous!¡± She had witnessed today the full extent of shamelessness. Jiang Nanfei was originally flustered due to the sudden return of Huo Beijiang and had lost her calm. But because of the stimulation by Huo Jinlan, she had become collected. ¡°I must admit, your level of shamelessness has truly left me in awe.¡± ¡°Humph! All you have is words, what use are they?¡± Huo Jinlan retorted disdainfully. ¡°Do you really think everyone will believe your lies just because you¡¯ve thrown your filth at me?¡± ¡°Here¡¯s a piece of advice for you¡ª¡¯time reveals a person¡¯s heart as a road trip reveals a horse¡¯s strength''¡± Huo Jinlan was infuriated, her expression was ferocious and a sense of oddity rose in her heart. She didn¡¯t expect Jiang Nanfei to be so articulate. If it wasn¡¯t for her image, she would have loved to tear that annoying face of hers apart. ¡°Son!¡± Yuan Xueshan¡¯s voice came from downstairs. Huo Jinlan¡¯s eyes brightened, ¡°Brother is back!¡± No longer concerned about fighting with Jiang Nanfei, she dashed downstairs. She moved like a swift swallow and unexpectedly flung herself into Huo Beijiang¡¯s arms. Jiang Nanfei stood at the top of the stairs with a sarcastic smile. Just how blind was she in her past life, that she completely missed Huo Jinlan¡¯s feelings for Huo Beijiang? ¡°Jinlan, let me go.¡± As soon as Huo Beijiang looked into Nanfei¡¯s eyes, he immediately pushed Jinlan away from his arms. Damn it! He had this strange guilty feeling. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re finally back, I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± Huo Jinlan coquettishly hung onto Huo Beijiang¡¯s arm, refusing to let go. Her large, watery eyes secretly glanced at Huo Beijiang¡¯s bare body, causing her heart to speed up. A frosty chill filled the inky depths of Huo Beijiang¡¯s eyes. If Huo Jinlan weren¡¯t his sister, she would be severely incapacitated now, if not dead. Jiang Nanfei quickly descended the stairs and stopped at Zhou Yongxian to bid her goodbye, ¡°Granny, I need to head home. My parents must be worried since I didn¡¯t come home last night. ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll have Beijiang drop you off.¡± Zhou Yongxian grasped Jiang Nanfei¡¯s hand tightly, her gaze lingering on her neck with an insinuating look, causing Nanfei to blush. In reality, Nanfei wanted to show that old woman what her precious grandson had done. ¡°No need, I can get home by myself. Also, I need to go to the farmers¡¯ market to buy some things.¡± She honestly didn¡¯t want Huo Beijiang to accompany her home, much less face him yet. Zhou Yongxian ignored her completely, she turned her head and called out, ¡°Beijiang, don¡¯t just stand there. Quick, take your wife home.¡± The normally aloof Huo Beijiang, now tangled up with Jinlan and wanting to explode, turned to look at them seemingly genuinely interested. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t want to take your wife home?¡± Zhou Yongxian asked jovially. Even though Beijiang had been maintaining a poker face and acted as if he didn¡¯t know Nanfei, Zhou Yongxian knew better. If he genuinely didn¡¯t like the girl, he would have thrown her out last night instead of sleeping on the couch. ¡°Granny, my brother doesn¡¯t have time.¡± Huo Jinlan clung to Huo Beijiang¡¯s arm and said pitifully. ¡°My brother works so hard outside, he hasn¡¯t even had breakfast yet. Granny, please don¡¯t make him work this hard, it hurts to watch.¡± Jiang Nanfei was disgusted by Huo Jinlan¡¯s melodrama. Plus, she didn¡¯t want Huo Beijiang¡¯s company anyway. ¡°Granny, I¡¯ll be going then. Let¡¯s not trouble anyone else.¡± Not giving Zhou Yongxian the chance to insist, she hastily left, as if she were being chased by a rabbit. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 023 Sending Wife Home_1 Chapter 23: Chapter 023 Sending Wife Home_1 ¡°Let go!¡± Huo Beijiang¡¯s face suddenly darkened, his long, narrow phoenix eyes half-closed, emanating a formidable aura. Huo Jinlan, frightened, obediently released her hand. ¡°Little sister has grown up, and should keep some distance from big brother.¡± Huo Beijiang casually threw a blanket over himself and got up from the sofa. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ll change my clothes first, and then I¡¯ll take Nan Fei home.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Zhou Yongxian nearly burst into laughter. Compared to Huo Jinlan, who stood there, lost in thoughts, her face alternately paling and flushing, her fingers unconsciously twisting together. Finally, unable to hold back her tears, she burst into sobs and ran back to her room without turning back. Yuan Xueshan, feeling a profound sense of compassion, hurried to follow and comfort her. Zhou Yongxian felt a sense of distress seeing the state Huo Jinlan was in. The market of Qi Li Town was the liveliest in the entire county among dozens of towns. After leaving the Huo Family, Jiang Nanfei went straight to the farmer¡¯s market. She was aware that her mother was not in excellent health and the family hadn¡¯t had proper meals for a long time, she used the only little money she had to buy some meat to improve their meals. The farmer¡¯s market was crowded. From the east entrance, there were shops selling daily necessities, agricultural tools, and small supermarkets. Further inside, there were fruit stalls, shoe vendors, clothing, and fabrics. Above was a tall, large pavilion, and below was a row of long stone tables, neatly arranged with goods. She carefully examined each row, thinking about what kind of small business she could start to increase the family¡¯s income once her mother¡¯s eyes were better. The 1990s was a period of violent conflict between traditional thought and the new. Rural people generally held conservative views, yet the youth began to mimic the clothing and hairstyles they saw on Hong Kong and Taiwanese TV, movies, and music albums. Bell-bottoms and pegged pants! Jiang Nanfei found everything in her sight nostalgic yet fascinating. While the elderly generally still held views from the ¡¯70s and ¡¯80s, the youth bashfully yet earnestly sought the style presented in the movies. In short, they possessed a heart that pursued fashion, but lacked the aesthetic sense of fashion. By then, the coastal cities of the south had already developed. If she could bring a batch of goods from there, no matter if it was clothing, trinkets, or small appliances, she could make a profit. Jiang Nanfei followed the crowd, finally stopping at a pork stall. ¡°How much is the pork per kilogram?¡± She silently calculated how much money she had left in her pocket, how much pork she could buy. She wondered if she should buy some pork big bones as they were nutritious. If her younger brother drank more bone broth, he was sure to grow over 1.8 meters tall. Both her parents were not short, in her previous life she was 1.7 meters tall! Only her younger sister was the shortest in the family, just barely 1.6 meters. She needed to intake more calcium in hopes of growing taller. Her younger brother ¡­ Thinking of her younger brother, Jiang Nanfei¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. In her previous life, her younger brother had died before he had the chance to grow taller. In this life, she vowed to protect him. ¡°Ah?¡± A voice filled with surprise snapped Jiang Nanfei out of her distant thoughts. ¡°Student Nan Fei, you¡¯ve come to buy pork?¡± In front of her stood a girl who seemed to be about her age. The girl was tall, likely over 1.75 meters, towering over the crowd and making the man beside her seem short in comparison. She had striking features, with vigorous eyebrows. She was wearing an apron and excitedly waving a butcher knife as she looked at Nan Fei. Nan Fei, looking at the knife that was waving in front of her, silently took a step back, putting some distance between them. Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 024 Copying Homework_1 Chapter 24: Chapter 024 Copying Homework_1 ¡°Student Jiang Nanfei, how come you don¡¯t recognize me? I¡¯m Lu Qingtian!¡± Nan Fei blinked her shiny eyes, a hint of confusion flickering through them. Her thick, fan-like eyelashes looked particularly beautiful. ¡°Are you¡­ Lu Zhishen?¡± She finally remembered ¨C her classmate from high school. Her memory was still fresh because he had such a ferocious reputation at school back then. Embarrassed, Lu Qingtian waved his butcher¡¯s knife in his hand, frightening Nan Fei into taking a step back. Could it be that he was upset because she had mentioned his nickname? Was he going to commit violence right here on the street? However, as soon as she stepped back, she bumped unknowingly into a broad embrace. The man¡¯s scorching body heat seeped through the thin clothes, causing her to want to dodge, but she ended up being held tighter. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Huo Beijiang¡¯s voice was deep; he easily picked her up with one arm and moved her to a safe distance. His eyes, black as ink, scrutinized Lu Qingtian. Lu Qingtian¡¯s knife dropped onto the chopping board with a clatter, and his eyes stared straight behind Jiang Nanfei. Jiang Nanfei stepped back in embarrassment to put some distance between her and Huo Beijiang. For her, being with Huo Beijiang was the real danger. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Could he have followed her out all the way? ¡°To take you home.¡± Huo Beijiang stood tall among the crowd in the farmers¡¯ market, his presence standing out like a sore thumb. The air around him seemed to thin as he stared straight at Jiang Nanfei. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to¡­¡± Not even finishing the word ¡°send¡±, she was already cut off. ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide.¡± Huo Beijiang¡¯s smile played at the corner of his mouth. He started to speak but decided that this was not the place to talk. Seeing that she indeed seemed a little scared of him, he had to say: ¡°You go shopping first. I will wait for you outside.¡± After finishing speaking, he signaled to the meat-selling Uncle Lu. ¡°All right!¡± Big and burly Uncle Lu exclaimed with a smile. Jiang Nanfei watched Huo Beijiang¡¯s retreating figure and quietly sighed with relief: ¡°Student Qing Tian, please weigh me three kilograms of meat.¡± Jiang Nanfei pointed to the big bone on the stall. ¡°I¡¯ll take this bone as well.¡± ¡°All right!¡± Lu Qingtian¡¯s eyes were smiling as he looked at her ¨C an even creepier gaze than Huo Beijiang¡¯s, ¡°I¡¯ll give you the bone for free! No charge.¡± With that, he skillfully cut the meat and chopped the bone, his knife flying. Uncle Lu by his side nodded with satisfaction from time to time. ¡°No, that¡¯s not right! You must charge me.¡± She could not feel good about taking other people¡¯s things for no reason. Besides, although Lu Qingtian was her classmate, they had never interacted or even spoken to each other. In her previous life, she was silly, spending all her time playing with Huo Jinlan, which made her miss the chance to make friends with others. ¡°Just lend me your homework to copy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Nan Fei was stunned. Did she hear that wrong? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be borrowing notes to copy? She wondered if it was okay to blatantly ask to copy homework in front of one¡¯s own father. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Student Jiang Nanfei, we will be relying on you to help our Qing Tian from now on. Thank you.¡± Uncle Lu¡¯s laughter mirrored Lu Qingtian¡¯s ¨C both of them squinted, which made them look a bit silly. ¡°¡­ uh¡­ there¡¯s¡­ no need for thanks¡­ uh¡­¡± Nan Fei was truly perplexed. She wanted to ask Uncle Lu if he understands what it meant by copying homework? Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 025 Who Is This Girl_1 Chapter 25: Chapter 025 Who Is This Girl_1 ¡°Done!¡± Lu Qingtian packed the meat and bones in a bag and handed them to Jiang Nanfei, ¡°Take it! Don¡¯t delay my business, get going.¡± Nan Fei turned around to find a queue had indeed formed. She quickly took out her money, only to be waved off by Lu Qingtian as though she were a insignificant creature. ¡°How much money? Please take the money. You need to make a profit in your business. I can¡¯t let you lose out.¡± Truth be told, she didn¡¯t enjoy this back-and-forth of courtesies, but today, meat was considered quite expensive in rural areas. A regular household could indulge in meat only once or twice a month, so it was considered a luxury. She realized the heavy bundle in her hand was definitely going to cost a lot. ¡°Student Jiang Nanfei.¡± Uncle Lu said with a cheerful smile: ¡°It¡¯s fine, that Huo lad will pay.¡± Huo Beijiang, having being raised in town since childhood, was familiar to all the neighbors and business owners. ¡°That¡¯s not okay either!¡± Jiang Nanfei insisted on paying, but Lu Qingtian adamantly refused. Despite their back and forth, in the end, Lu Qingtian almost threw Jiang Nanfei out. Huo Beijiang, who had been waiting outside, saw the quarrel and came in. He caught Nanfei as she was about to be thrown out by Lu Qingtian. ¡°¡­¡± She felt like she must have overlooked something when she left her house today. Why else would she feel like getting tossed back and forth between two people? Huo Beijiang, weighing the amount of meat in his arms, murmured, ¡°Too lean.¡± He smoothly took the bag from her and pulled her out of the crowd. Jiang Nanfei followed Huo Beijiang obediently, watching his tall and lean figure, even on tiptoes, she barely came up to his chin. Her heart a tangle of complicated feelings, considering they had been married for ten years in her past life, yet they had never held hands. Let alone now, why¡­ why had things changed so much after the rebirth? Huo Beijiang seemed like he had eyes in the back of his head. Suddenly, he turned around and their eyes met, causing terrified Nan Fei to lower her gaze. Her heart pounded like a little deer¡­ ¡°Do you need to buy anything else?¡± Huo Beijiang looked at the shy girl, wondering why his future wife, who usually faced danger fearlessly, always turned into a timid rabbit in his presence? ¡°No more, I want to go home.¡± she said in a small voice. ¡°First, have breakfast! You left my house without eating breakfast!¡± Huo Beijiang had already let go of her hand, but a quick glance, held remnants of his past sternness which reflexively had her following him. When they settled down at the breakfast store, she suddenly realized, she had been following Huo Beijiang¡¯s lead the whole time. She bit her lip in self-disgust. Huo Beijiang secretly glanced at her face. Seeing her bite her lip, his eyes darkened significantly. ¡°Has Bei Jiang arrived?¡± ¡°Yes! Uncle Li, get us something to eat, a bit of everything.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Huo Beijiang was familiar with all the locals, every step he took, someone would greet him. The boys especially, would become overly excited upon seeing him. The breakfast vendor Uncle, generously served them sesame seed cakes, fried breadsticks, and all kinds of dumplings. ¡°Bei Jiang, eat more and grow taller! Today¡¯s meal is on me.¡± After Uncle Li¡¯s words, Huo Beijiang¡¯s handsome face colored in a faint blush. ¡°Hey? Who¡¯s this girl?¡± ¡°Ah! This is going to be my wife.¡± Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 026 Sit Down Quietly_1 Chapter 26: Chapter 026 Sit Down Quietly_1 Huo Beijiang¡¯s succinct response made Jiang Nanfei suddenly stand up. The breakfast shop set up several tables, and although it was open-air, there were many people having breakfast. When she stood up like this, everyone turned to look at her. Old Uncle Li, who was in the middle of sending over food with his chopsticks, was startled by her movement and instinctively looked at Huo Beijiang. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Huo Beijiang¡¯s voice was low and his expression remained unchanged as he sat on the old bench, his posture as upright as a pine tree, ¡°Sit down!¡± If it were any other woman, or Jiang Nanfei from her past life, she would definitely be infuriated by his commanding tone. She bit her lip, looking directly at Huo Beijiang trying to figure out his intentions, but frustratingly, she couldn¡¯t see through him at all. It was like this in her past life too! Her rank was simply too low in his eyes! Taking a deep breath, she reasoned that since she had already agreed to marry him to fulfill her parents and grandmother¡¯s wishes, there was no point in resisting anymore, and she certainly didn¡¯t want to repeat the hardships of her previous life. So, she obediently sat down! ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Old Uncle Li watched the young girl with her fair and slender appearance obediently following orders, and secretly gave Huo Beijiang a meaningful look. The latter¡¯s previously commanding expression immediately slightly shifted to unease. After finishing the meal, Jiang Nanfei didn¡¯t speak to Huo Beijiang, and silently headed home. The two were tall and agile, with good stamina. Their fast pace and long strides didn¡¯t leave them out of breath even after half an hour. For Jiang Nanfei, who had to catch up, it was particularly exhausting. Her face was flushed and she decided that she never wanted to walk with Huo Beijiang again in her life. It was simply too torturous! She had every reason to dislike him in her past life. ¡°I¡¯m home now! Goodbye!¡± After grabbing the bag from his hand, she turned and walked towards her home without looking back. Huo Beijiang stood at the village entrance, his brows furrowed as he watched her retreating figure. His wife seemed to¡­dislike him a lot? Touching his face, he thought to himself that it shouldn¡¯t be the case! Regardless of his looks, temperament, or physique, he was considered top-tier. Lu Jin said that as long as he was willing to coax someone, he would be invincible? ****** Xiao Wang Village was oriented from east to west, with a road running north to south through the middle of the village. The east side of the road was known as the Village East, and the west side as the Village West. Jiang Nanfei¡¯s house was in Village West. Just as she was approaching her house, she saw her younger brother, Jiang Yang, sitting on a stone in front of the door in a daze, seemingly unaware of her approach. Nan Fei stood in front of Jiang Yang. Seeing his appearance, tears involuntarily slid down her cheeks, and the bag in her hand dropped to the ground without her noticing. Her brother looked a lot like her ¨C their skin color, eyes, and lips were all a legacy from their mother. He had the most perfect cherry lips and delicate shape, a beautiful cherry red color. It didn¡¯t quite fit a boy. ¡°Brother¡­¡± she murmured softly, her tears flowing more freely now. The boy who had been in a daze raised his head blankly after hearing her voice, staring at her beautiful face for a while in apparent confusion. ¡°I¡¯m your sister, your big sister!¡± Jiang Nanfei smiled, how wonderful! She hadn¡¯t been with her brother during the incident in her previous life, and it had become a lifelong regret. That¡¯s why she¡¯d been so good to her sister in the following years, giving all the love she hadn¡¯t been able to give her brother to her. But in her heart, she knew that the one she was closest to, and missed the most, was her brother. ¡°Nan Fei?¡± Jiang Yang finally spoke. ¡°Yes!¡± Jiang Nanfei nodded vigorously. Her brother had never called anyone by their names. Apart from mum and dad, he didn¡¯t even call his sister, grandparents. The Jiang family was large and they had many brothers, sisters, and distant relatives. But her brother never called anyone, which made those relatives dislike him. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 027 Willingness_1 Chapter 27: Chapter 027 Willingness_1 Words were whispered both in the open and behind closed doors that her younger brother was an idiot, and some even suggested he should have been drowned in the river at birth upon realizing his idiocy. Because of these words, her little brother did indeed end up drowned, the final straw that broke her parents¡¯ backs. Then, he too passed away. ¡°Little brother, it¡¯s too hot in the sun. Let¡¯s head to the shade under the tree,¡± Jiang Nanfei wiped at her tears with her sleeve, leading Jiang Yang to the shade of the pomegranate tree in the yard. ¡°You stay here first, I will fetch you a glass of water.¡± The house was silent. Mom¡¯s eyes were still unwell, Dad couldn¡¯t work at the construction site anymore¡ªhe¡¯s probably out tending the fields at this moment. After pouring water for Jiang Yang, Jiang Nanfei went to find Zhang Fengmei in the inner room. ¡°Mom, how are your eyes?¡± ¡°Nanfei is back!¡± With a bandage still over her eyes, Zhang Fengmei stretched out her hand in the direction of the voice. ¡°Much better, come here!¡± ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Rural folks are typically reserved and even coy in expressing their emotions. Although her parents used to pamper her, they¡¯ve never held her hand while talking to her. Her mom¡¯s calloused, rough hands pulled her closer, and Jiang Nanfei felt as if something was stuck in her heart. Her parents, with these very hands, had worked tirelessly to support them. They may lack higher education, grand dreams, or the ability to provide them with abundant resources. But they remained the greatest parents. Because they gave everything they could. Such a fool she had been in her previous life, too selfish and contemptible to see her parents¡¯ sacrifices. She discarded others¡¯ sacrifices and hardships for mere, laughable love. ¡°Nanfei, I did wrong by you. I know you don¡¯t like the Huo boy.¡± Zhang Fengmei¡¯s voice was trembling, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for my poor health, and if my eyes hadn¡¯t been troublesome, I wouldn¡¯t have forced you to marry so soon.¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve got it wrong. I chose to marry Huo Beijiang willingly.¡± After repeating it once before, it flowed easier from her lips this time. Even Nanfei herself began to think that marrying Huo Beijiang was the right decision. His grandmother wouldn¡¯t die from a fit of anger, and the pressing issues at home would be resolved. As a man, Beijiang was beyond reproach. He was responsible, ambitious, and his family was among the most affluent in the town. He was also tall and handsome. Even after all these years since his graduation from high school, his pictures still proudly decorated the school¡¯s honor board. Jiang Nanfei told Zhang Fengmei everything; about how excellent Huo Beijiang was, and how kind the Huo family had been to her, making Zhang Fengmei break into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s great that you think this way.¡± ¡°Mom, I understand! I¡¯m not a fool.¡± Jiang Nanfei couldn¡¯t quite describe the feeling in her heart, but seeing her mom smiling, she knew that whatever she had done was worth it. ¡°Where¡¯s Dad?¡± ¡°He went to your second uncle¡¯s house to buy some soybeans. Now that your dad can¡¯t work in the city, and we have too little land, he had to go back to his old trade.¡± Jiang Dechun¡¯s old trade entailed selling deep-fried dough twists and tofu. He used to deliver them from village to village on his bicycle, and the business was quite good in his younger days. At that time, the town¡¯s farmer¡¯s market hadn¡¯t developed to the size it is now, not every household had a bicycle, so selling goods in the villages was profitable. As the people started to flock to the marketplace, and the family didn¡¯t have enough money to buy a stall in the farmers¡¯ market, Dad had to go and work as a mason in the city during his free time. ¡°That won¡¯t bring in much money, and the business won¡¯t be good either!¡± Nanfei expressed her worries. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 028 Adorable Little Brother_1 Chapter 28: Chapter 028 Adorable Little Brother_1 ¡°Well, we make do as we can.¡± ¡°Give me a moment to think!¡± ¡°By the way, your grandmother wants you to stop by her place on your way back from town.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go right away.¡± Advertisement Having already prepared herself for an inevitable conversation with grandma, Nan Fei came out of her room to find Jiang Yang still obediently sitting under the pomegranate tree, and couldn¡¯t help but smile. What an adorable and obedient little brother. First, she carried the bones and meat to the kitchen. When she came out, she ran into Jiang Zhuanzhuan who had just returned from doing the laundry. ¡°Zhuanzhuan.¡± ¡°Sis, you¡¯re back!¡± Jiang Zhuanzhuan put down her basin of laundry, stood in front of the clothesline, and smiled at her. She looked much more relaxed than she had the day before. ¡°Yes! I bought some meat and bones from town. We¡¯ll make braised pork for lunch and stew the bones for Mum and Dad.¡± Upon hearing that there was meat, Jiang Zhuanzhuan¡¯s eyes brightened, and she nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Great! I¡¯ll cook. I know how.¡± Ever since she was little, Zhuanzhuan has been dexterous and good at both house chores and crafts, much more so than Nan Fei. Her cooking was particularly tasty. When they were children on school break, the two sisters would share the housework. Nan Fei mainly did the laundry and dishwashing, while Zhuanzhuan was in charge of cooking. Their grandparents lived on their own, separate from their son¡¯s family, just behind them. They resided in an old-style tiled house, with a small but extremely clean courtyard. In the courtyard was a brick flowerbed, full of sunflowers, cockcomb flowers, and canna lilies. All of these were seeds that Nan Fei had brought back from school when she was a child living with her grandparents; they had been preserved all the way to the present day. In the sweltering weather, as soon as they stepped into the yard the cool breeze would greet them. Granny was sitting in the shade, sorting through beans, her white hair meticulously combed, looking far cleaner and neater than the other village grannies. ¡°Granny.¡± For some reason, Nan Fei felt a little guilty standing in front of her grandmother, not knowing what to do with herself. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Granny didn¡¯t lift her head and continued focusedly sorting the beans in the winnowing tray. ¡°Granny?¡± Nan Fei was finished! Granny was about to show her a little of her power. A scene from deep in Nan Fei¡¯s memory emerged, a scene of her granny arguing with someone. She had tongue-lashed the formidable second Granny until she was red in the face, sputtering without a word to say. Absolutely fearsome. ¡°Oh!¡± Granny looked up, ¡°Isn¡¯t this my second granddaughter? Have you come to your senses, or am I dreaming?¡± ¡°Granny, I was wrong! I admit my mistake.¡± Nan Fei honestly lowered her head, ¡°If you want to scold me, go ahead!¡± She finally remembered: just before her rebirth, she had argued with her granny. Because her granny had discovered the love letters she had exchanged with Qiao Jingxuan, and had scolded her harshly! After that, she had gone to work in a textile factory and never visited her grandmother¡¯s house, and then, last night, Granny Huo had paid a visit. ¡°With your fierce temper and haughty self-esteem, I wouldn¡¯t dare! Isn¡¯t that just shortening my life?¡± Nan Fei gave a bitter smile, ¡°Granny, I really realise my mistake now! Are you satisfied with how I¡¯ve been behaving?¡± Guan Rufang was amused by her behaviour and couldn¡¯t contain her smile any longer. ¡°Come here and sit.¡± Nan Fei gladly obliged, moving a small stool next to her granny¡¯s, and gingerly sitting down. Her gaze was filled with closeness, completely melting the stern expression Granny had purposefully put on. In fact, Granny had already steeled herself for a fierce resistance from Nan Fei last night. But to her surprise, the once-stubborn girl had come around and understood that their actions were for her own good and had learned gratitude. Thus, the anger that had been lodged in her heart was finally dispelled. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 029 Becoming a Bride_1 Chapter 29: Chapter 029 Becoming a Bride_1 ¡°Have you seen Huo Beijiang yet? Your Granny Huo told me she¡¯d already called him to come back home. He would probably arrive home today. I¡¯ll arrange for you to meet him, that way, you can develop your relationship.¡± At the thought of Huo Beijiang coming out of the bathroom, Nan Fei¡¯s face turned slightly red. She had seen him last night! Although she kept her head low and remained silent, Granny seemed quite excited. ¡°Let me tell you something.¡± Granny was reminiscing as she spoke, ¡°Do you remember when you were little? I took you to church, and that Huo boy would come with his grandmother.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± She was only three or four then, there was no way she could remember that. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t.¡± Granny had a told-you-so expression and her smile tightened a bit. ¡°When you saw that Huo boy back then, you just clung onto him and wouldn¡¯t let go. You even insisted you would marry him when you grew up. I couldn¡¯t talk you out of it. Seeing you looking so foolish, I was worried about who would marry you when you grew up. So, I figured it would be better if it were him and arranged the prearranged marriage with your Granny Huo.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Nanfei felt like she¡¯d been struck by lightning. She hadn¡¯t expected that she had been so forward when she was little. Could that be possible? But Granny was devout and never lied. ¡°We were the ones who proposed this first. If our family goes back on our word now, how could I face Granny Huo? If you dare to call off the marriage and get together with one of your ill-behaved classmates, I will die and show you my disappointment.¡± Nan Fei was sweating profusely. ¡°Granny, don¡¯t scare me. I¡¯ll do everything you say, really!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve lived for decades, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s for your benefit. I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡± The more she saw that Huo boy, the more she liked him. He was different from other children when he was little, and he grew up to be outstanding. Having such an extraordinary son-in-law made Granny secretly happy for a long time. After returning from Granny¡¯s house, Jiang Nanfei went back to the room she shared with her sister. She took a thick pile of letters from the drawer and walked directly into the kitchen. Seeing her with the letters, Zhuanzhuan, who was cooking, was taken aback. ¡°Sister, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Burning letters.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Jiang Zhuanzhuan froze in the middle of adding firewood; she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the letters in Nanfei¡¯s arms. ¡°Sister, why don¡¯t you go see if Dad¡¯s back yet? I can help you burn them.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± ***** The Huo Family¡¯s breakfast time was much later than usual today, and the mood at the table was also quite strange. Huo Jinlan¡¯s eyes were red as she held her bowl, not moving her chopsticks. Her eyes kept drifting to the empty seat, and teardrops would fall as she stared. ¡°Stop crying!¡± Zhou Yongxian smacked her chopsticks on the table. ¡°Your brother is out escorting your sister-in-law, why are you crying?¡± Yuan Xueshan looked at her daughter with heartache. She had wanted to say something, but she held back due to her mother-in-law¡¯s stern face. She too realized Jinlan¡¯s feelings; at first, she too couldn¡¯t accept it. But as her daughter cried so heartbrokenly, her heart gradually softened. One was her beloved son; the other her most cherished daughter, who had no blood ties with the family. She would actually be happy if they could be together. They wouldn¡¯t have to deal with mother-and-daughter-in-law disputes in the future, and moreover, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to like Jiang Nanfei. But these were thoughts she only dared to keep to herself. If her husband and mother-in-law found out, there would be trouble. Their thinking was old-fashioned and acceptance would be hard. ¡°Granny, I¡¯m not crying.¡± Huo Jinlan wiped her tears, lowered her head, and tried to eat her food. Even though she choked on it, she didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Jinlan, slow down. When your brother comes back, I¡¯ll have him take you to the county seat to buy some nice clothes. School is about to start.¡± Yuan Xueshan¡¯s words only made Huo Jinlan cry harder. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 030 Dont Even Think About It_1 Chapter 30: Chapter 030 Don¡¯t Even Think About It_1 The more Zhou Yongxian watched, the angrier she became. Her stern and intimidating gaze fell upon her daughter-in-law, tinged with an edge of displeasure. Yuan Xueshan felt a chill running down her spine. Despite the many years she¡¯d been married into the family, her relationship with her husband and mother-in-law had always been pleasant. Yet, she still bore fear and respect in her heart towards her mother-in-law. Her husband often spoke of how tough his mother had it, having to raise him alone since he was young. ¡°Mom.¡± Yuan Xueshan managed to force out a pandering smile. ¡°Jinlan is still young and doesn¡¯t understand, don¡¯t mind her.¡± ¡°If she¡¯s too young to understand, what about you?¡± Did she really think her manipulative intentions escaped Zhou Yongxian¡¯s notice? It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t favor her granddaughter, but just remembering Huo Jinlan¡¯s background brought about ten thousand reasons for her dislike. Thinking of making her a granddaughter-in-law? Don¡¯t even consider it. ¡°I¡¯ll put my words here today, everyone should abandon this idea, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡± Huo Jinlan bowed her head, a cutting edge flashing within her eyes, filled with resentment. She cast an inconspicuous gaze in Granny Huo¡¯s direction, holding her bowl with such force that her knuckles turned white. It was all Granny¡¯s fault! Granny always looked down on her and opposed her, constantly ruining her plans. Without Granny, her doting parents would have long allowed her to become her brother¡¯s bride. If only Granny were not around! Yuan Xueshan¡¯s face alternated between green and red. Bei Jiang was her son, yet she, his birth mother, had no say in his issues. How could she swallow such indignity? ¡°Mom! I object. Bei Jiang is my son, why am I not allowed to express my opinion?¡± ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s all stand silent and see what Bei Jiang himself has to say. You¡¯re well aware of his personality, none can force him. Neither you nor I have the ability to do so.¡± Zhou Yongxian pushed her bowl away and remained seated, unmoving. Yuan Xueshan also lost her appetite, feeling a mixture of anger and regret. She shouldn¡¯t have spoken so bluntly to her mother-in-law. Her husband would certainly be upset when he returned home and heard about this. Just as Huo Beijiang walked in, he was greeted by the sight of the three of them seated around the dining table. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. He had initially intended to pretend to ignore them but, considering his grandmother¡¯s age, he caved in. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Before he could even approach the table, Huo Jinlan abruptly rose with teary eyes, appearing hopeful. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t be angry with me. I¡¯ll behave, is it alright not to be mad anymore?¡± ¡°¡­¡± His brows furrowed further. He hadn¡¯t been home for nearly two years, why was the girl becoming stranger as she grew up? ¡°Brother.¡± Huo Jinlan timidly tugged his sleeve pleadingly, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m your sister, please won¡¯t you stop being angry?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not angry.¡± Huo Beijiang answered coldly, subtly removing her hand. ¡°Jinlan, you¡¯re growing up. You should stop clinging to your brother, understood?¡± Huo Jinlan¡¯s eyes reddened even more. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ll always be a little girl in your eyes.¡± She lowered her head, appearing on the verge of tears. Ever since she was taken into the Huo Family, she knew when to show weakness and how to pander. As she grew older and interacted with more classmates and teachers, she understood her own advantages even better. Huo Beijiang exhaled, catching his mother¡¯s pleading gaze and lightly ruffled her hair, slightly softening his attitude. From a young age, he had always been repulsed by others getting close, and that included his stepsister, Jinlan. Her clinging to him this morning had thoroughly annoyed him. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was his sister, she would be facing his wrath! Although he did not lose his temper, he still completely repelled Huo Jinlan. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 031 Can you definitely wait?_1 Chapter 31: Chapter 031 Can you definitely wait?_1 ¡°Jinlan, stop bothering your brother, you know he doesn¡¯t like it.¡± Yuan Xueshan advised. As expected, once Huo Jinlan heard that, she immediately understood and reluctantly let him go, taking a step back. But her heart was hurting profoundly. Why was it that Jiang Nanfei could stay close to him, not only enter his room but also sleep in his bed? Why wasn¡¯t she allowed to even express her yearning for her brother? ¡°Don¡¯t be upset anymore, if you want a gift, just tell your brother.¡± Huo Jinlan¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Really, brother?¡± Without waiting for Huo Beijiang¡¯s answer, and afraid she may have heard wrong or that he might regret it, she hastily added, ¡°I want you to accompany me to my class reunion.¡± She is the class president, and she also organized a class reunion last summer vacation. ¡°When is it?¡± ¡°The day after tomorrow at noon.¡± ¡°Okay, then!¡± He had originally planned to return home that afternoon, so he just might make it in time. However, he may not have time to see that little girl. Thinking of Jiang Nanfei, Huo Beijiang felt his heart skip a beat. ¡°Bei Jiang, have you had breakfast yet?¡± ¡°I ate on the street, do you all have business here?¡± ¡°We do.¡± Yuan Xueshan hurriedly said, ¡°We wanted to talk about your marriage matters. You are not getting any younger. Other people your age already have children.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Go to ????????????????????.co Huo Bei Jiang¡¯s response left Yuan Xueshan feeling disheartened. Why didn¡¯t her son seem enthusiastic at all? ¡°Do you have someone you like at your unit?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Huo Beijiang blinked his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m already engaged, how could there be someone else I like?¡± At this point, Yuan Xueshan¡¯s heart sank completely, but she still gritted her teeth and asked, ¡°So you¡¯ll really marry Jiang Nanfei? You need to think it over. This girl is so much younger than you, there might be a generation gap.¡± ¡°Mom, do you think I¡¯m old?¡± Huo Beijiang touched his face, his perfectly lined chin showing a good-looking arc. This was the second time today he had touched his face, seeming a little deflated. ¡°No, no, how could that be? My son is so outstanding. I feel Jiang Nanfei is not good enough for you, she¡¯s not known for having a good reputation.¡± Although she didn¡¯t want to gossip about others behind their backs, she would rather that her son not be wronged and her daughter not be hurt. Huo Jinlan listened from the side, her fingers tensing involuntarily. She had been too emotional and desperate before, largely because she was provoked by Jiang Nanfei. She needed to stay calm, and take it slowly! Jiang Nanfei had been her pawn for so many years, she refused to believe she couldn¡¯t beat her. Huo Beijiang crossed his arms, a finger playing on his arm, the corners of his thin lips raising into a slight smile, yet his eyes held no amusement. ¡°Mom, I think Nanfei is just fine!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­.¡± Before Yuan Xueshan could say anything else, she was interrupted by Zhou Yongxian. ¡°Since Bei Jiang is willing, we simply cannot renege on our promise. Bei Jiang, I¡¯m discussing with the Jiang family about your wedding date with Nan Fei. Take your marriage leave as soon as you return to your unit, the sooner the better.¡± This surprised Huo Beijiang, but his first thought was not of rejection but of joy? Thinking back to the night before, when the little girl was wearing his jersey and sleeping in his bed, there was a strange but pleasant sensation spreading from deep within him. A sensation he had never felt before. His eyes dark and intense, he calmly replied, ¡°Grandmother, isn¡¯t the little girl too young? She¡¯s not even of legal age to get married, right? How about we wait for a few more years?¡± ¡°Are you sure you can wait?¡± A subtle blush spread across Huo Beijiang¡¯s handsome face. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 032 Absolute Silence_1 Chapter 32: Chapter 032 Absolute Silence_1 Zhou Yongxian gave her grandson a white-eyed look and mysteriously said, ¡°Age isn¡¯t a problem, I¡¯ll create a backdoor for you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Is that the proper way to use the phrase ¡®creating a backdoor¡¯? ¡°Leave everything else to me.¡± Zhou Yongxian turned to Yuan Xueshan, ¡°Since Bei Jiang has no objections, you should stop resisting and think about how to make the wedding more lively.¡± ¡°Alright, Mom!¡± Yuan Xueshan could only shake her head towards Huo Jinlan and agree. Even though she loves her daughter, it is clear to her that her son, being her own flesh and blood, always takes precedence. She could tell that her son¡¯s feelings for Jiang Nanfei were different. A mother knows her child best¡ªhis gaze when he looked at the girl was something she had never seen before. Forget it! Even if Jiang Nanfei has a bad reputation, once married, as a mother-in-law she¡¯ll just have to be more vigilant. If Nanfei dares to act out, she¡¯ll simply deal with it, even if it means earning the title of wicked mother-in-law. Yu Zhi County, though not particularly large, isn¡¯t exactly small either. The news from the textile factory spread through the neighboring towns within two days. It was said that Tian Guiyue was everywhere berating and cursing, accusing some shameless hussy of wanting to climb the social ladder by seducing her man. She cursed from the bottom of her heart, implicating everyone from the girl¡¯s family to her ancestors. At first, it was Huo Jinlan she was cursing, but then somehow it shifted to Jiang Nanfei. The more she cursed, the more brutal it became, making it public knowledge. Nanfei heard about it even at home. When she went to the riverside to wash clothes, the women in the village would snicker behind their hands and avoid her like the plague every time she passed by. Jiang Nanfei, holding the laundry tub, stood by the river for a moment, lost in her thoughts, then quietly crouched down and started washing clothes. She¡¯d already steeled herself for this, deciding to simply ignore the whispers. But in her past life, Tian Guiyue spread lies about her due to a misunderstanding, and she didn¡¯t resent her for it. However, in this life, even though she had made things clear, the fact that Tian Guiyue was doing this again was deeply troubling. Go to ????????????????????.co As she powdered the clothes with detergent, she had a sudden epiphany, revealing a smile on her face as she recalled that Tian Guiyue¡¯s daughter attended Qi Li Middle School. Uncle Huo was not only the principal, but also the school¡¯s founder. How dare she offend the daughter of the school¡¯s head? It turns out¡­ No matter what she does, the outcome is always the same. She picked up the pace, concentrating on washing the clothes, and stopped pondering these messy things. ¡°People these days! Shameless.¡± ¡°So young but so brazen. It¡¯s really eye-opening.¡± There were many people doing laundry at the river. The conversation started as whispers, evolved into loud discussions, and eventually, they started openly challenging her. Nanfei, club in hand, stood up and straightened her back, taking note of the woman talking. ¡°Third Aunt?¡± She flashed a bright smile, batting her thick lashes, ¡°I saw my cousin while shopping yesterday! Why didn¡¯t you mention her divorce? Really now, the man she chose from her childhood doesn¡¯t seem so bad! Although he¡¯s a bit older, Grandma used to say that a man becomes more affectionate after he¡¯s aged a few decades!¡± The entire riverside fell into an eerie silence, with everyone watching in surprise and excitement, their eyes darting between Jiang Nanfei and third Aunt. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 033 Future Plans_1 Chapter 33: Chapter 033 Future Plans_1 ¡°You, you, you¡­¡± Aunt Sanbiao put her hands on her hips, pointing at Nan Fei, she was so angry she couldn¡¯t utter a word. Her daughter did get divorced, but saying ¡®divorced¡¯ wouldn¡¯t be accurate because she was thrown out by her husband for being lazy and good-for-nothing. Being a face-saving woman, she naturally wouldn¡¯t speak of this. She kept the news tightly under wraps, how did this cheeky girl know about it? ¡°Aunt Sanbiao, you¡¯re going to have a son-in-law older than you. What good fortune!¡± With that, Nan Fei gathered up the cleaned clothes and left the place nonchalantly, leaving behind a crowd of stunned people. **** With the clothes in hand, she arrived at the yard. She wiped down the clothesline before starting to hang the clothes out to dry. When everything was in order, Jiang Dechun returned from buying beans. It was summer, the first batch of beans of the early season had just ripened, they were fresh and affordable. ¡°Nan Fei, come and give me a hand,¡± Jiang Dechun called from the entrance, ¡°Where¡¯s Zhuanzhuan?¡± ¡°She went to play at the neighbors¡¯,¡± Nan Fei wiped her hands and came out to help carry the beans into the yard, ¡°Dad, are you planning to make tofu or dried tofu?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make both! While you¡¯re still unmarried, I want to earn as much money as possible to add to your dowry,¡± an ambivalent smile spread across Jiang Dechun¡¯s face. He learned his art of making tofu from his father-in-law, mastering only two types: tofu and dried tofu. Now, new varieties of tofu were being sold at the farmer¡¯s market, and business was booming. During the busy farming session, frying a pound of dried tofu with green peppers was not only a mouthwatering dish but also a popular one. ¡°Dad, the problem with tofu is that even though it¡¯s heavy, the prices for tofu haven¡¯t risen, and many people are already tired of it.¡± Nan Fei¡¯s mind raced as she recalled all the types of tofu dishes she¡¯d eaten in her previous life. Truth to be told, because her dad used to make tofu and dried tofu cuisines, she couldn¡¯t help paying attention to all kinds of beans product. Perhaps because she was seeking the taste of her childhood, she learned a lot from her family chef. ¡°Dad, I read in a book about the many types of tofu, such as tea tofu, and egg tofu, why don¡¯t we give them a try?¡± Go to ????????????????????.co The names Nan Fei mentioned were unfamiliar, and Jiang Dechun became interested, even so as to pull her aside to clarify what she meant. The more he asked, the more excited he became, ¡°Girl, can we really make these?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Nan Fei guaranteed confidently, ¡°Once you return from your medical check-up in the provincial city, you can soak about ten pounds of beans. Tomorrow we can buy the necessary ingredients from the street, and give it a try.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Jiang Dechun was relieved, ¡°It¡¯s always good to be more educated. With more knowledge, we can put it into better use.¡± His education level wasn¡¯t high, and his biggest dream in life was to raise a university student. In the countryside, if a family could raise a university graduate, it was a cause for rave, almost like a sign of good luck from one¡¯s ancestors. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. I will definitely get into university.¡± Not being able to attend university in her previous life was one of her lifelong regrets. Whether it was due to poverty, stubbornness, or her absurd pride that wouldn¡¯t let her bow to fate, she eventually did bow and paid a heavy price for it. She had seen the college entrance examination papers many times, knowing the questions by heart. Besides, she was confident about her academic performance. As a person, she might have used all her intelligence and luck in academics, appearing obtuse in other areas. However, when it came to academics, she truly excelled. As long as she was willing to work hard, and had the talent to match, no one could beat her at school. She remembered when she was forced to drop out, and her headteacher relentlessly tried to persuade her to continue. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 034 Unpleasant Words_1 Chapter 34: Chapter 034 Unpleasant Words_1 ¡°Dad believes in you.¡± Jiang Dechun said cheerfully, ¡°Wait until you get into college, let¡¯s see what your uncle¡¯s family and second uncle¡¯s family have to say!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Jiang Nanfei chuckled, realising her father had a surprisingly cute side she¡¯d never noticed before. While they were talking, they cleaned up all the beans. Nan Fei then moved Zhang Fengmei outside for some fresh air. ¡°We can get a recheck at the hospital tomorrow. Does Mom want me to go with you?¡± ¡°No need for you to go. I don¡¯t trust you taking care of your mom. Now that I¡¯m back, I¡¯ll take her to the provincial city by car tomorrow morning,¡± Jiang Dechun, who was cleaning the tofu machine, responded. Thinking for a moment, Nan Fei nodded, ¡°Alright!¡± Although she could definitely take care of it herself, in the eyes of her parents, she was still an adolescent who had never seen the world or been far from home. Best not to worry them! With time on her hands tomorrow, she had plans to go to the county town to settle scores with Tian Guiyue! In her past life, she had been powerless against slander, Now, she was determined to make Tian Guiyue pay for it. ***** During dinner, Jiang Zhuanzhuan and Jiang Yang ran back home panting. Standing in the main room, both of them looked upset. Jiang Yang¡¯s clothes and hair were all messed up, and his pale face looked wooden. ¡°What happened?¡± Nan Fei was startled and hurriedly went to see what was wrong with Jiang Yang, ¡°Did someone bully my little brother again?¡± Jiang Zhuanzhuan watched as she anxiously checked up on Jiang Yang, who was looking listless and sullen. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°Nan Fei,¡± Jiang Yang called out. ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here!¡± ¡°Sis, we were playing at Qi Qin¡¯s house just now, and Auntie started yelling at my brother again. She said my brother was silly because he doesn¡¯t call her or show her any respect.¡± Jiang Nanfei clenched her teeth in anger at these so-called relatives whom she despised. All they knew was to bully the weak and laugh at the misfortunes of others. Noticing the desire for power from her past life creeping up again, she pursed her lips. Wealth, fame, status, power¡­ these things were indeed a source of both love and hate. She didn¡¯t care for these things, but everyone around her forced her to strive for them and to desire them. Without these, she would be trampled on, oppressed, and looked upon with contempt. She would be powerless despite wanting to protect her loved ones. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, little brother, if you don¡¯t want to call her, don¡¯t.¡± After comforting Jiang Yang for a while and seeing his spirit lift, she finally felt relieved. Dinner was mung bean porridge, served with salted vegetables that Zhang Fengmei had marinated earlier ¨C a common meal for rural folk. There was some leftover bone soup for Zhang Fengmei, but she didn¡¯t want any of it. Instead, she gave it to Zhuanzhuan and Jiang Yang in the end. ¡°Nan Fei, you¡¯re so thin. Have some too!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want any.¡± She genuinely didn¡¯t want any. She had eaten plenty of good food in her previous life. Seeing her seriousness, they didn¡¯t insist anymore. ¡°Zhuanzhuan, have you finished your holiday homework?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already finished!¡± Jiang Zhuanzhuan had a habit of preferring to work hard first before enjoying herself. Her New Year¡¯s money could be kept for ages without being spent. Any homework assigned over the holidays would be finished swiftly. She would not go out to play unless her homework was done! Nan Fei was the exact opposite. She would normally finish her holiday homework only in the last ten-odd days. ¡°Sis.¡± Zhuanzhuan bit her chopsticks, hesitatingly looking at her. ¡°I was playing outside just now and I¡­ I heard them all badmouthing you behind your back.¡± As she spoke, her eyes reddened, ¡°They said some really nasty things.¡± Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 035: Stand Out_1 Chapter 35: Chapter 035: Stand Out_1 The atmosphere at the dinner table became tense. Jiang Dechun looked at Nan Fei with a worried expression. His weathered but upright features were filled with mixed feelings of anger and helplessness towards life. ¡°Nan Fei, I¡¯m sorry you had to go through this. Dad believes in you,¡± Jiang Dechun said. ¡°Sis, I also believe in you,¡± Jiang Zhuanzhuan immediately voiced his support. Jiang Yang put down his chopsticks, his serious little face called her name, ¡°Nan Fei.¡± ¡°Those people are just too horrible,¡± Jiang Dechun slammed the table, startling Jiang Yang. Nan Fei quickly held Jiang Yang¡¯s hand in comfort. ¡°Listen to me, all of you, even if it requires my last breath, even if I need to sell everything we have, I will send you all to good schools. We must ensure you get into college and have successful careers, so those who look down on us can see our true value,¡± he said. Jiang Zhuanzhuan nodded, his eyes shining with determination. ¡°Hmm!¡± Nan Fei forced a bitter smile on her face. Her parents were too honest. In their eyes, getting into college represented success. They didn¡¯t realize that even a college degree might not guarantee success these days. ¡°Dad, by marrying Huo Beijiang, I would also be successful,¡± Nan Fei joked. However, Jiang Dechun frowned and said seriously, ¡°Young lady, you should not think this way. Even as a woman, you should have your own pursuits. You can¡¯t just rely on men, understand?¡± Feeling warm inside, Nan Fei nodded repeatedly. In her previous life, she thought her family was poor and relied on her dowry for survival. Now, she realized how lucky she was to be born into this family. ¡°Sis,¡± Zhuanzhuan pulled at Nan Fei¡¯s sleeve, worryingly said, ¡°Of course, our family believes in you, but what if the Huo family doesn¡¯t? Principal Huo is a very serious person! I fear¡­¡± Go to ????????????????????.co The mention of this left everyone looking worried. Before Nan Fei could reply, the front door was pushed open. Granny Guan barged in angrily. ¡°Jiang Nanfei,¡± Guan Rufang was livid. She rushed in, grabbed Nan Fei¡¯s ear, and lifted her up, ¡°Look at the mess you¡¯ve created. Do you know what people are saying about you? That you¡¯re trying to latch onto a wealthy man. Are you trying to kill me with anger?¡± ¡°Grandma, my sister is not that kind of person,¡± protested Zhuanzhuan. ¡°Mom, be careful, be gentle,¡± Dechun pleaded. Guan Rufang showed no mercy. Her only granddaughter had almost driven her to the edge. She loved all her grandchildren, but she had paid the most attention to Nan Fei. ¡°Grandma, I haven¡¯t, I really haven¡¯t,¡± Nan Fei protested tearfully. ¡°I know you haven¡¯t,¡± Guan Rufang replied. ¡°¡­¡± If you knew, why did you pull her ear? ¡°You¡¯re still to blame because you¡¯re incompetent,¡± Guan Rufang glared at her, ¡°Reputation is a fearsome thing. Even if you¡¯re innocent, who will bother to find out the truth? If people talk about it enough, falsehoods become facts.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± She was about to retort that the upright need not fear rumors, but she swallowed her words. Only the naive version of her from the previous life would say such idealistic things. In this life, having experienced a rebirth, she knew better. ¡°You silly girl, out of all my granddaughters, you are the most incompetent. Despite being so beautiful, you¡¯re so foolish. Has reading all those books turned you into an idiot?¡± Guan Rufang was visiting a neighbor when she heard the gossip. The words almost made her faint with anger. This girl, despite all the effort she had put into raising her, was about to get married, yet rumors of her latching onto a rich man had surfaced. Wasn¡¯t this provoking the disdain of the Huo family? Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 036 Home Explanation_1 Chapter 36: Chapter 036 Home Explanation_1 ¡°Granny, you¡¯re right, you¡¯re right.¡± Nan Fei was quick to apologize, ¡°Granny, I admit I was wrong, please don¡¯t be angry. Didn¡¯t you always say that you shouldn¡¯t get angry or curse at people? Otherwise, God will hold you accountable.¡± Guan Rufang¡¯s countenance changed, and she muttered in a devout tone, ¡°God! I was wrong, please forgive me. Today, my granddaughter has really lost her senses. Please give me a break.¡± Having said her piece, she increased her grip and glared at Nan Fei. ¡°You stupid girl, I¡¯m going to scold you to death today. You¡¯re so foolish that you can¡¯t even see when you¡¯ve been tricked.¡± ¡°Granny¡­¡± Jiang Nanfei¡¯s eyes were red and teary, and the tears started to fall with a plop. On seeing this, Guan Rufang instantly felt sorry for her, and her grip on Nanfei loosened. She thought to herself: ¡®didn¡¯t this naughty girl cry when she was scolded as a child? Why is she so quick to tears now?¡¯ Nan Fei felt relieved and realized that showing vulnerability at the right time could be a powerful tool. ¡°Granny, I will confront Tian Yuegui tomorrow, I won¡¯t let her get away with her lies.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Guan Rufang had always been strong, never backing down from confrontations or losing an argument. If she ever underperformed, it could upset her to the point of losing her appetite for days. It worried her that her granddaughter, who was raised by such a tough woman, would turn out to be meek in nature. Nan Fei nodded assuredly, ¡°Absolutely, absolutely!¡± ¡°Hmph! I¡¯ll see how you perform. If you don¡¯t do well, I¡¯ll teach you what it feels like to change TV channels with your ears!¡± Nan Fei shivered, she had vivid memories of that ear-pulling punishment. It was Granny¡¯s ultimate weapon! ¡°Now go find Huo Beijiang, I hear he¡¯s at home. Go explain things to him.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°What? You don¡¯t want to? Dare to disobey, and see what happens.¡± Guan Rufang threatened, reaching out to pull Nan Fei¡¯s ear. Even though Nan Fei was reluctant, she didn¡¯t want to upset her elderly grandmother. The memories from her previous life, where Granny died of anger because of her, were very painful and left her isolated. ¡°Granny, I¡¯ll go. I¡¯ll go right now.¡± ¡°Good! Go right now. I will go to the village and have a good talk with those shameless gossips. Humph! They should be reminded whose granddaughter they¡¯re messing with!¡± Guan Rufang was very pleased with Nan Fei¡¯s response, and she left as quickly as she had come. The family stood around looking at each other, their faces bearing the same thought. ¡°Granny Huo is back in the game.¡± ****** The summer fields were a lush green. The paddies swayed with the evening breeze, reminiscent of the azure sea. Walking on the small path through the fields, was like immersing in a scent that lingered deep in her soul. It was this familiarity that she craved even after acquiring a wealth of power and riches. Jiang Nanfei took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relaxation she had never experienced before. This feeling persisted until she stood in front of Huo family¡¯s door. Their cherry-colored tiles shone brilliantly in the setting sun, drawing the attention of passersby. She blinked, feeling like her feet weighed a thousand pounds and she couldn¡¯t move forward. In her memory, when the rumors spread, the looks of disgust from Yuan Xueshan and Huo Jinlan were unmistakable, a clear message of unwelcome. But Huo Beijiang and Granny Huo said nothing. What was there to explain? Those who believed in her didn¡¯t need explanations, and those who didn¡¯t wouldn¡¯t be swayed no matter how much she explained. Having realized this, she was about to turn around and leave when Huo Jinlan, who was coming out of the house, spotted her. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 037 A Second Face Change_1 Chapter 37: Chapter 037 A Second Face Change_1 ¡°Jiang Nanfei?¡± Huo Jinlan¡¯s voice was shrill, piercingly so. Turning around, she curled her lips into a cold smile, ¡°My, Miss Huo, your shrieking is incredibly unpleasant. Shouldn¡¯t you be mindful of your stature?¡± Since they were no longer pretending to be on good terms, she refused to indulge in the false pleasantries with Huo Jinlan anymore. Huo Jinlan¡¯s complexion turned pale, as she frantically strode over to Jiang Nanfei, grabbing her by the collar. She snapped bitterly, ¡°Just look at your pathetic poverty-stricken appearance, it¡¯s utterly disgusting.¡± ¡°Is it me who is disgusting or is it you?¡± Nanfei dismissed her hand coldly, expressing her revulsion, ¡°How difficult it must be for you to secretly love your own brother all these years?¡± ¡°You¡­you¡­¡± Panic passed across Huo Jinlan¡¯s face. If her grandmother found out about her feelings, she knew a storm would certainly break. More importantly, if her brother found out about her affections, he would definitely prevent her from coming near him anymore. If she couldn¡¯t be Huo Beijiang¡¯s sister, then even the slightest opportunity to get close to him would vanish. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± ¡°Look at you, so deceptive,¡± Nanfei stressed the word, having found Huo Jinlan¡¯s weakness. Wasn¡¯t she fond of playing the innocent damsel, pretending to comprehend the bigger picture while appearing pitiful? If she wouldn¡¯t play along with her, let¡¯s see how she continues putting on an act. She didn¡¯t mind using her crude impudence to highlight her pretentious elegance. Huo Jinlan bit her lips, her eyes becoming red-rimmed. Using a pitiable voice, she begged, ¡°Nanfei, I do consider you a good classmate, a sister, and a future sister-in-law.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn! She¡¯s changed her tune so quickly! Did she learn the art of face-changing in Chinese operas from her ancestors? ¡°Nanfei, I sincerely consider you as my future sister-in-law. Please, would you stop disliking my brother? He¡¯s so outstanding, Qiao Jingxuan can¡¯t even compare with a single finger of his.¡± As Nanfei observed Huo Jinlan¡¯s face, understanding dawned on her. She had fallen for such tricks numerous times in her previous life, due to her unwavering trust for Huo Jinlan without any skepticism. Go to ????????????????????.co Clasping and unclasping her hands by her side, she needed to remind herself that no matter who was secretly watching, she had to stay in character. Thinking about her grandmother, she took a deep breath, causing her eyes to turn red. Her lip was nibbling to the point of turning pale, before she finally said, ¡°I have known from a young age that I will be Huo Beijiang¡¯s bride, I won¡¯t like anyone else but him. Thank you for your support, you will certainly be an excellent sister-in-law.¡± Nanfei felt disgusted by her own words, knowing very well that she had never taken any notice of Huo Beijiang since she was a child. Huo Jinlan clenched her teeth tightly, barely managing not to let the remaining words slip out. ¡°Is Beijiang at home? If he is, please get him. Thank you!¡± ¡°No¡­¡± With her lips bitten, Huo Jinlan deeply desired to drive Jiang Nanfei away, as far away as possible. Why are the things she adores so hard for her to gain, whereas Jiang Nanfei gains them without any effort? The world was truly unfair! ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± A man¡¯s deep, magnetic voice echoed behind them, tinged with subtle sexiness. Nan Fei turned around to see Huo Beijiang standing behind her. His long slim figure was accentuated by his black trousers while his white shirt revealed his sexy collarbones and perfect neckline due to the top two buttons being undone. His dark brooding eyes were fixed onto her, his handsomely chiseled face tinged with an abnormal blush. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 038 My Bride_1 Chapter 38: Chapter 038 My Bride_1 ¡°¡­¡± Nan Fei was somewhat lost in thought until he leaned over her towering nose, almost touching her forehead to bring her out of her trance. ¡°What¡­what are you trying to do?¡± She asked. She nervously took a step back. ¡°I want to get a good look at my bride.¡± His voice wasn¡¯t as cold as before, and his deep-set eyes shone with a dazzling luster, revealing a vaguely visible smile. Nan Fei could clearly feel his powerful heartbeat, as well as the strong hormonal scent combined with the faint smell of alcohol from him. Merged together, the combined scents were not only not offensive, but they carried a confusingly alluring charm. She felt guilty, retreating repeatedly to establish a safe distance from him. Regretting silently, if she knew the person in the dark was Huo Beijiang, she would never have said what she had. She just wished she could burrow into a hole somewhere¡ªshe was thoroughly disgraced! ¡°Brother¡­¡± Huo Jinlan was almost driven to madness by the scene playing out before her eyes, her voice straining with heart-wrenching pain. ¡°Sister.¡± Huo Beijiang shot her a cold glance, causing Huo Jinlan to stay frozen in place as if she had been turned to stone. Her brother had always called her Jinlan, but now he actually referred to her as ¡°sister¡±. Was he warning her? Had he found out something already? But she had always been careful not to show anything¡­ ¡°Did you come to see me because you have something to tell me?¡± Huo Beijiang asked softly, looking directly into Nan Fei¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡­ I have nothing to say.¡± She couldn¡¯t explain herself in such a situation. Nan Fei deeply regretted coming, she shouldn¡¯t have. She was definitely crazy, being too naive to just come because her grandmother requested it. She could have just gone for a walk in the fields, enjoying the evening breeze before returning home. If her grandmother asked, she could just say she had been there already. Huo Beijiang caught a glimpse of her regret, her withdrawal, her rejection, and her fear. His eyebrows knitted together; what on earth was wrong with this girl? Go to ????????????????????.co If she truly did not want to be his bride, then he could let her go¡­ No! Absolutely not. Huo Beijiang shook his head, even if she didn¡¯t want to, she had no right to refuse. This girl has been his since they were children¡ªhe had drawn her into his territory. She belonged to him and no one had the right to take her away. Besides¡­ he couldn¡¯t bear to let her go. ¡°Are you staying over at my house tonight?¡± The memory of his bed and the image of him coming out of the bath made Nan Fei vehemently shake her head. ¡°No, I have to go home!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± replied Huo Beijiang, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you home! It¡¯s almost dark.¡± ¡°Brother, let me accompany you!¡± Huo Jinlan offered, with a flattering smile. ¡°No need. Don¡¯t you have to prepare for your class reunion tomorrow? You better prepare properly!¡± With that, he reached out and took Nan Fei by the wrist, leading her away. Huo Jinlan watched, standing in shock as they walked away, feeling a surge of rage that made her almost dizzy. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore, she absolutely must not¡­ let Jiang Nanfei marry her brother. Otherwise, she would be better off dead. ****** Jiang Nanfei felt like she was reliving the events of last night. The only difference was that Huo Beijiang had been drinking. When inebriated, he acted differently from the way she remembered him. Huo Beijiang walked ahead, feeling warm, he unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, revealing a small patch of his healthy, glowing skin. His beautiful musculature seemed to attract and hold her gaze. He slowed his steps to walk beside her, the slightest hint of a smile playing on his lips. This silly girl kept staring at him without so much as blinking an eye. Doesn¡¯t she know she¡¯s playing with fire? Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 039 Foolish beyond belief _1 Chapter 39: Chapter 039 Foolish beyond belief _1 ¡°Are you here to explain things to me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Nanfei snapped back to her senses, she hadn¡¯t heard clearly what he said, ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°Are you good at your studies?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± This was an accomplishment that she had achieved with her own abilities, so she answered with absolute confidence. Huo Beijiang¡¯s mouth curled into an isolated smile, with a hint of reckless arrogance in his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine, someone who looks as dumb as you would be good at your studies.¡± ¡°¡­What did you say?¡± Nan Fei asked him word by word. Huo Beijiang paused, inwardly cursing himself for his slip of tongue, ¡°Do you want an explanation from me?¡± Whenever this man did not smile, his handsome face was cold as ice. Now he deftly changed the topic, without any abruptness. This is also why, despite his sharp tongue, he never ended up getting brutally beaten. ¡°No!¡± She didn¡¯t want to admit that she was here to explain, otherwise who knows whether he¡¯d think she was in love with him! ¡°Oh!¡± Huo Beijiang hummed a little, his tone heavy with a faint trace of melancholy. He had of course heard the rumours circulating, even his mother and sister were constantly talking about them to him. This made him annoyed to the point he had to send them away, but he couldn¡¯t say that he was completely unaffected by it. God knows how much he cared, his woman, had actually dared to attract the attention of other men. This was simply crossing his lines and a big taboo for him. Huo Beijiang felt a dull headache, he had never been a drinker, since childhood, he refrained from not just drinking alcohol, but even spicy foods, to keep his senses sharp. Go to ????????????????????.co He hardly ever smoked. His pace started to slow, inwardly he cursed his old classmate. Dragging him out for some job after centuries, and then forcing a drink on him. He would have to pay for this someday, didn¡¯t he know how vengeful Huo Beijiang was? Xiao Wang Village is located to the north of Qi Li Town, you need to go around the farmers¡¯ market and then head north from there. After crossing the railway bridge, there is a wide road, when coming, Jiang Nanfei took the narrow path through the fields to save time. But on the way back, she had a tall man accompanying her, and she didn¡¯t dare lead him through the small path. ¡°Be careful.¡± A three-wheeled truck roared past Jiang Nanfei, fortunately, Huo Beijiang was quick to wrap his arms around her and pull her into his embrace. ¡°Why are you always daydreaming when walking?¡± Huo Beijiang tapped her forehead with his finger, his voice becoming increasingly hoarse and deep. ¡°You¡¯re really too foolish.¡± The spot he tapped on her forehead turned red, and Jiang Nanfei covered it with her hand, tears pooling in her eyes as she looked at him. He called her an idiot! He actually called her stupid? He had just called her dumb a moment ago. ¡°Uh¡­¡± He seemed to have used a little too much force. Huo Beijiang coughed lightly, the soft body in his arms was surprisingly hard to let go. ¡°You¡¯re walking too slow, let me carry you.¡± Without waiting for Jiang Nanfei to reply, he simply squatted down and effortlessly hoisted her onto his back. The scenery spun around Jiang Nanfei, and her heart pounded in her chest. Was she being teased just now? Was this how you carry someone? Did he think she was a sandbag or an idiot? He actually tossed her over from his shoulder. ¡°See, isn¡¯t this much faster,¡± said Huo Beijiang, easily carrying her on his back, his pace faster than before when they were walking side by side. Jiang Nanfei was so angry that she wanted to spit out blood, but she could only hold it in. If she had been the same as in her previous life, she¡¯d have given him a big kick and severed ties with him. Just how low was his emotional intelligence?