Chapter 1: Returning to the 1970s

“What a relief, your face is unharmed. Otherwise, how could you marry into the Gu family!”

“How could you be so narrow-minded? Gu Hanchen may be paralyzed, but he's a regimental commander and a war hero. The country will never treat him unfairly. Marrying him is waiting to enjoy a life of ease…”

Bang! The door to the hospital ward was suddenly flung open.

Qin Hongxiang and Qian Xiaozhen fell instantly silent, and everyone turned to look toward the entrance.

Liu Huiru’s eyes blazed red, glaring at the pair as she unleashed a torrent of curses: “If anyone wants such ‘good fortune,’ let them enjoy it. Don’t you dare scheme to push my daughter into the fire pit!”

She spun around, shouting at the man sitting quietly by the side: “Qian Jiangang! Did you hear your niece? They’re plotting to send my daughter into misery! My beautiful girl is not going to anyone’s house to become a servant. If you can’t be fair this time, I’ll fight you to the end!”

Lying in bed, Qian Lai’s head throbbed violently, as memories that didn’t belong to her crashed in.

The seventies? Worker-Peasant-Soldier university students? Gu Hanchen? Qian Jiangang? Qian Xiaozhen?

Had she entered the novel she’d been listening to so much lately? Become the much-abused supporting character, ‘Qian Lai’?

At this moment, the original family was facing a dilemma: two girls, two paths.

Either marry Gu Hanchen, who was gravely injured and paralyzed during a mission; or take the referral for Worker-Peasant-Soldier university and go to school.

In the book, Qian Xiaozhen had fought to marry Gu Hanchen, but now, from her words, it sounded as if she wanted to push the original Qian Lai to the Gu family instead.

“If it’s such a good thing, why doesn’t Cousin go herself?” A cold, slightly hoarse voice came from the hospital bed.

“My sweet girl, you’re awake?” Liu Huiru rushed to the bedside, her rough, warm hand pressing to her daughter’s forehead. “Is your head still hurting? Mama was scared to death.”

Qian Lai gently held Liu Huiru’s hand, smiled, and shook her head.

The cracks and scars on the back of that hand stabbed into her palm, pierced straight into her heart. She thought of her own mother.

In her previous life, Qian Lai was pampered in a wealthy family. At twenty-seven, she was already a well-known researcher in biological genetics. But after a sudden car accident, she woke in another body.

Qian Xiaozhen’s expression stiffened, then she looked as if she might cry. “Sister, what do you mean by that? When did I ever not leave the best for you? I never thought, after all my concessions, you’d turn out to be so ungrateful.”

Qian Xiaozhen turned her back, facing Qian Jiangang, quietly wiping her tears, though inwardly she was frantic.

This time, she must not fall into the Gu family’s living tomb again.

Last life, after marrying in, she spent her days and nights tending to Gu Hanchen, suffered under his harsh parents and sister, endured cold disdain while holding vigil over a living corpse. When Gu Hanchen died, she was driven out, penniless, and ultimately tricked and sold by a scoundrel.

In this life, Qian Xiaozhen was determined to seize the Worker-Peasant-Soldier university slot, get to college, and find Lu Ximing. She would become the wife of a university professor, a wealthy woman.

The Gu family’s mess had to be “given” to Qian Lai.

“That’s right! Lai, your cousin is only thinking of you. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Aunt Qin Hongxiang immediately chimed in.

Qian Lai sneered, her gaze slicing through the crowd: “Fine. It seems everyone knows—one path is broad and bright, the other is rocky and steep. Then let’s make the rules clear. Whoever goes to university pays all their own expenses; the family won’t contribute a single cent. Whoever marries into the Gu family gets the bride price and dowry to dispose of as they wish. Only then is it fair.”

The Worker-Peasant-Soldier university’s agriculture and animal husbandry program was never Qian Lai’s ambition. She knew that in two years, the national college entrance exam would be reinstated. She was already determined to stand once more at the peak of academia by her own efforts. Besides, there were people there she’d rather avoid.

“Ahem,” Qian Jiangang cleared his throat, cutting off the arguments, “I’ll arrange the bride price myself. No younger generation should covet it. It’s decided. Lai will marry into the Gu family, Xiaozhen will go to school.”

“Why? Qian Jiangang!” Liu Huiru, like a mother lion, leapt forward screaming and fighting, “You heartless man! Are you using my daughter’s bride money to marry off your nephew, or as a dowry for your niece? That university slot was earned by my girl—why should Lai give it up to someone else?”

The ward erupted into chaos.

“Aunt, how can you say that? So selfish!” Qian Xiaozhen, afraid the tide might turn, began to sob, “Once I’m at university, I’ll work hard, and when I earn a salary, I’ll send it back so you and uncle can enjoy a good life…”

Liu Huiru lunged at Qian Xiaozhen, but was blocked by Qian Jiangang and Qin Hongxiang.

Qian Xiaozhen dodged and whimpered, “Actually, if sister marries Gu Hanchen, even if she doesn’t like that cripple, with her looks, she could easily find a promising young officer in the army. This way, both of us get what we want—two birds with one stone… Besides, the bride price is meant for the maternal family, and should be handled by the head of the household. One shouldn’t only think of oneself and make things hard for uncle…”

Outside the door, a tall, slender figure slowly withdrew his hand from the door, which he had been about to push open. Qiao Mouting’s handsome face was covered in a layer of icy frost.

He had come to Nancheng to fetch his future cousin-in-law. Unexpectedly, before the car arrived at the station, an accident had happened—a girl rushed out of the alley and was hit. Hearing of it, he hurried to the hospital. Just as he was about to enter to check on the injured, he overheard Qian Xiaozhen’s words outside.

His brows knit tightly—he never imagined that his cousin’s future partner would be scheming like this.

He spun abruptly, handed the next arrangements to the companion Xiao Li, and strode away.

His heart was utterly sick of this marriage.

Inside, the battle raged on.

Qian Xiaozhen wept pitifully, “I finished high school, sister only graduated junior high. I’m the elder. It’s only right I go to college. I’ve had a hard life, lost my father young. Now our family finally has a university slot—shouldn’t it go to me first…”

Smack!

A loud slap landed squarely on Qian Xiaozhen’s face.

She stared in disbelief at Qian Lai standing before her.

“You—you dare hit me?” she screamed, almost hysterical.

“Qian Xiaozhen! You should have been slapped long ago.” Qian Lai rubbed her wrist, her gaze sharp as an ice pick. “The only reason I couldn’t attend high school was because Uncle wanted to save my tuition to send to your brother. When have your grades ever surpassed mine?

Ha! Filial piety? Tell me, have you ever contributed even a penny of your temp job wages to the family?

Scheming for me to marry Gu Hanchen, then find another man? I spit on it! I’m not you—I won’t play your treacherous games. You, who are so heartless and shameless, deserve to be struck!”

“You little devil. You’re out of control…” Qian Jiangang roared and raised his hand.

“Qian Jiangang, I dare you!” Liu Huiru, eyes bloodshot, shielded her daughter.

“Dad, all my life, you’ve sacrificed me and Mom to benefit Aunt’s family. Just to save money for them, you sent me to the countryside and ignored me for four years.

Now, neither of us will let you manipulate us anymore. Here’s my ultimatum: either follow my rules, or don’t blame me if we go down fighting. I, Qian Lai, will risk everything to overturn this injustice. Don’t believe me? Just wait and see.”