Chapter 1

“Jiang Man, Xiao He and I truly love each other. Let’s swap marriages.” The moment Jiang Man opened her eyes, she heard those words. She stared at Lin Yanqing and Jiang He, who were obviously decades younger than she remembered, and for a moment, she was dazed. “Sis, I’ve never asked you for anything from childhood until now. But I’m begging you for this one thing.” Jiang He immediately dropped to her knees, grabbed Jiang Man’s clothes, and began to cry. “Yanqing and I truly love each other. I know you’re the one who was engaged to Yanqing, but this is an era of free love now! Please, Sis. I’m begging you. Please let Yanqing and me be together!” Jiang Man looked coldly at Jiang He. Of course she knew Jiang He was only pretending. Because both she and Jiang He had been reborn! In her previous life, Jiang Man married Lin Yanqing according to their arranged engagement. Her mother-in-law looked down on her because she was a rural girl while their family was from the city. Lin Yanqing had been a permanent employee at a textile factory, but six months after Jiang Man married him, the factory went bankrupt. After losing his job, Lin Yanqing prepared for the college entrance examination together with her. Unexpectedly, Lin Yanqing failed the exam, while Jiang Man was admitted to a prestigious university. Unable to bear the humiliation, the Lin family used their two children to pressure Jiang Man into giving up her chance to attend college. Meanwhile, Lin Yanqing drank heavily every day and beat her mercilessly. If Jiang Man hadn't later built a fortune by selling tea eggs, opened her own restaurant, and guided Lin Yanqing in making investments, how could he possibly have become a billionaire businessman and a leader in the food industry? “Enough!” Unable to bear seeing Jiang He kneel and beg, Lin Yanqing pulled her up and held her in his arms. “Let me tell you, Jiang Man. What era are we living in? Who still cares about childhood engagements? Even if you refuse to swap the marriage, I still won’t marry you!” The ridicule in Jiang Man’s eyes almost spilled over. In her previous life, Jiang He and Lin Yanqing had genuinely loved each other, yet Jiang He had married Qin Yishen instead because he earned much more money. Qin Yishen was a pilot. The money he sent home every month was almost as much as Lin Yanqing could earn in half a year. He was handsome and had a great physique, but he came with two children. After Jiang He married Qin Yishen, they lived apart because of his work. A few months later, Qin Yishen returned home with a crippled leg. Unable to continue his military career, he used his savings to open a recycling station. Jiang He cared too much about her reputation and divorced him. Afterward, she remarried several times, but none of those marriages brought her a good life. Now that she had been reborn, she immediately wanted to swap marriages. Her scheme was practically being shoved right into Jiang Man’s face! “I can’t decide whether to swap the marriage or not. Father and Qin Yishen both have to agree.” “Agree! Of course we agree! Your father and I both agree!” As soon as Jiang Man finished speaking, an impatient woman’s voice came from the doorway. Liu Chunlian hurried over to Jiang He’s side and looked at her daughter with pity. Behind her came a silent man—Jiang Man’s father, Jiang Jianguo. He and Liu Chunlian had formed a family after both of them had gone through previous marriages. Jiang He was Liu Chunlian’s daughter from her previous marriage. Therefore, Jiang Man and Jiang He were not related by blood. “Mom, Dad, you’re finally here! Yanqing and I truly love each other. I’m not deliberately trying to steal Sis’s marriage!” Jiang He sobbed in Liu Chunlian’s arms while Jiang Man lowered her head and remained silent. “Jiang Man, how can you be so unreasonable? You’re three years older than Xiao He. Don’t you know how to give in to your younger sister?” Jiang Jianguo immediately began scolding her. A mocking curve appeared at the corner of Jiang Man’s lips. People always said that when a woman got a stepmother, the father would become a stepfather too. It seemed that saying was absolutely true. “I don’t mind swapping the marriage, but my dowry has to be doubled. Otherwise, I won’t do it!” “You’re asking for the moon!” Liu Chunlian pointed at her and shouted angrily. “How did I end up with an ungrateful stepdaughter like you? I’ve provided you with food, clothing, and an education, and now you actually have the nerve to ask me for money! Let me tell you, you’re not getting a single cent!” “If you won’t give it to me, then I won’t get married. Let your precious daughter become the stepmother instead!” “Last month, when the marriage was being discussed, Jiang He personally said that she would never marry anyone except Qin Yishen. Yet only a few days later, she was already sneaking around with Lin Yanqing. Let’s see whether it’s you people who lose face or me, Jiang Man, when word gets out.” Seeing the mocking expression on Jiang Man’s face, Liu Chunlian and Jiang He trembled with rage. Jiang Jianguo roared, “What kind of older sister are you? If you behave like this, how is your sister supposed to face people? How will she ever get married?” “Then what kind of father are you?” Jiang Man finally exploded. “My mother died when I was young, and you remarried. I never complained. When she brought Jiang He into this house, you told me to give up my room, and I did without saying a word. For all these years, I’ve done all the dirty and exhausting work around this house, while Jiang He hasn’t lifted a finger. And you still don’t think you’re biased enough?” Jiang Man finally released all the resentment she had been carrying. Then she calmly said, “My original dowry was eighty yuan, ten jin of meat coupons, ten jin of grain coupons, and ten chi of cloth coupons. If you give me two hundred yuan right now, along with twenty jin of meat coupons, thirty jin of grain coupons, and thirty chi of cloth coupons, I’ll agree to swap the marriage. “Otherwise, let your precious daughter get married while carrying the reputation of being a loose woman!” “Who are you calling a loose woman?” Lin Yanqing’s face turned livid as he glared at Jiang Man. “I’ve never hit a woman before, but if you keep talking nonsense, don’t blame me if I hit you!” “Heh. Hit me?” Jiang Man took a step forward, her face icy cold, and swung her arm. Smack! “You want to hit me? You two really have some nerve!” “What, sleeping with your fiancée’s younger sister is exciting? Feels good, doesn’t it? Do you think people will be impressed when they hear about it?” Jiang Man turned around and slapped Jiang He across the face as well. “And you! Is seducing your own sister’s fiancé something to be proud of? Who are you putting on that innocent little-act for? Is crying the only trick you know?” “Did the two of you hide somewhere when humanity was evolving? You’re like two temple bells waiting to be struck—born to take a beating!” Seeing her daughter get slapped, Liu Chunlian immediately charged forward. “I’ll beat you to death, you little bitch! How dare you hit my daughter! Are you tired of living?” “Jiang Jianguo, if you don’t help me today, we’re getting divorced! I’m taking our son with me!” The moment Jiang Jianguo heard that she would take their son away, he immediately raised the tobacco pipe in his hand. Liu Chunlian had Jiang Man’s arm clutched tightly in her grip. Jiang Man looked at Jiang Jianguo’s raised hand and sneered coldly. Five years ago, Liu Chunlian had given birth to a son for Jiang Jianguo. Everyone had congratulated him on having a son in his later years. But that boy wasn’t Jiang Jianguo’s son at all. Liu Chunlian had cheated on him with another man! “A son? Liu Chunlian, aren’t you ashamed to say that?” Jiang Jianguo froze. A trace of panic flashed through Liu Chunlian’s eyes, and she hurriedly shouted, “Lin Yanqing! Aren’t you going to shut her mouth? Do you still want to marry Xiao He or not?” Lin Yanqing had just rolled up his sleeves and reached out when the sound of someone kicking down the door suddenly came from behind them. Everyone immediately turned toward the entrance. Liu Chunlian and the others went weak in the knees. “H-How could it be Qin Yishen?” Jiang He grabbed Liu Chunlian’s sleeve. “Wasn’t he supposed to come back tomorrow?” Liu Chunlian stared desperately at the crowd gathered outside the courtyard, completely flustered. “How would I know why he came back early? And when did so many people gather outside the courtyard? We’re finished! We’re finished! They couldn’t have heard everything we just said, could they?”