Chapter 5
Everyone’s unspoken thoughts were dragged into the open by her.
Lu Lu, praised by the elders, was feeling both pride and shame—after all, stealing her cousin’s fiancé wasn’t exactly something to boast about.
Besides, the fact that the Li family had chosen her over Lu Miao proved she was just as good—if not better—than her cousin.
Someone familiar with Tian Dayuan’s family tugged on her sleeve, hinting that she should stay quiet.
But it was too late.
Lu Miao looked the provocateur straight in the eye. “So you think Sister Lu Lu and Li Qinglin are together because his family looked down on me?”
Everyone else had the sense to keep their heads down, but this one dared to step up and speak. Clearly, she wasn't very smart.
The woman stood firm, even as someone tried to pull her back, and puffed up her chest. “That’s right.”
Lu Miao smiled and shook her head. “Actually, it’s the opposite. You probably don’t know this, but Professor He’s grandson wasn’t interested in Sister Lu Lu—he liked me. Marriage is about two people being happy with each other. I’m also a daughter of the Lu family, and Professor He respected my wishes.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even Lu Miao’s own mother, Qiao Yanxiang, was stunned. She hadn’t expected her daughter to lie so confidently and convincingly.
Aunt Lu snapped out of her daze and snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
Lu Miao gave an innocent smile. “Well, how else would you explain it? Surely Sister Lu Lu wouldn’t stoop to stealing someone else’s fiancé?”
Following the same logic, she continued, “Since I’m marrying into the He family, and Sister Lu Lu’s engagement fell through, the family just decided to pair her with Li Qinglin instead. Simple.”
The woman from the Tian family who started it all gave a nervous laugh. “Surely you’re joking…”
Lu Miao didn’t argue. She simply asked, “If you had such a good man, would you give him up to someone else?”
Of course not.
A man from the city, educated, with a military background—any one of those qualities was enough to fight over.
What Lu Miao was saying was outrageous, and Lu Lu and her mother wanted to object, but Lu Miao beat them to it.
“Or maybe Sister Lu Lu realized her fiancé wasn’t good enough, so she stole mine?” She shook her head. “No, Sister Lu Lu wouldn’t be that kind of person. Who’d want a selfish daughter-in-law like that?”
Her words rang too true, but no one could admit it. And if they did, it would only prove that the in-laws wouldn’t like such a person.
Lu Lu’s fingertips curled. Now she was sure—Lu Miao had also been reborn.
But she felt relieved. At least she’d been reborn earlier than Lu Miao.
Even if Lu Miao resented her, she couldn’t change anything now. She was going to marry Li Qinglin.
In this life, fate clearly favored her.
She was certain Lu Miao didn’t truly want to marry He Mingchuan. Maybe she still had feelings for Li Qinglin.
That afternoon, the whole village gathered to sew quilts for Lu Lu’s dowry.
In just one day, all the wedding quilts were done. Everyone sighed with envy at the sight of Lu Lu’s rich dowry.
They knew the Lu family was well off. And with the captain favoring them, no one dared to say anything sour.
As the crowd dispersed, only Tian Dayuan’s family lingered behind.
Complaining to Aunt Lu, she said, “Your second daughter-in-law really doesn’t know her place. If it weren’t for your old man, how could she even dream of marrying into the city?”
The real reason Tian Dayuan’s family flattered Boss Lu’s family was to secure favors. More centimeters of work meant lighter, easier jobs.
She didn’t know the phrase “when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits,” but she understood the idea.
If the Lu brothers were at odds, her family might benefit.
“Sister-in-law,” she said, “my daughter is obedient and knows how to be grateful. Could you help introduce her to Professor He?”
Lu Lu glared at her.
Of course she didn’t want Lu Miao to live well.
She desperately wanted Lu Miao to marry into the He family, even if it was a fire pit.
With Lu Miao out of the picture, she’d have more chances to get close to Li Qinglin again.
She sneered, “People should know their place.”
She hadn’t seen Tian Dayuan’s daughter in a while, but remembered she looked like a dried date—small nose, small eyes.
Introduce her to the He family? That’d be an insult.
Hu Jing stepped in to smooth things over. “Auntie, Lulu’s just blunt. Don’t mind her. Besides, Professor He said himself he wants to marry into our family.”
Tian Dayuan’s wife wouldn’t give up. “Back when Professor He came to our village, he got along well with us. Why not ask his opinion?”
Hu Jing just wanted to get rid of her. “Sure, we’ll ask.”
Once they were gone, Lu Lu complained, “What’s there to ask? Only Lu Miao can marry him. No one else.”
Hu Jing couldn’t understand her sister-in-law’s obsession. She wasn’t even close with Lu Miao.
But Lu Lu insisted, “Send Lu Miao far away. Keep her away from Li Qinglin.”
Hu Jing finally understood—and nodded.
Time passed quickly. It was Lu Lu’s wedding day.
Red paper cutouts covered the windows, and her dowry, adorned with festive red characters, was stacked high in the hall.
Lu Miao wore a bright red dress. Her hair was neatly coiled, a bit of lipstick dabbed on her lips. She looked stunning.
Someone gasped. “Captain, Lulu looks just like a city girl!”
As her cousin, Lu Miao was part of the bridal procession.
Lu Lu didn’t want her there—what if something sparked between her and Li Qinglin?
But Lu Miao volunteered to go, and refusing her would seem petty.
So Lu Lu told Hu Jing to keep a close eye on her. No chances for flirtation.
Hu Jing found it annoying, but agreed for her sister-in-law’s sake.
Li Qinglin arrived on a tractor borrowed from Lu Lu’s father. A big red flower was tied to the front.
For this era, a tractor wedding was prestigious.
Though Lu Lu had seen better—cars in later generations—she told herself: It’s okay. Li Qinglin will be rich one day.
She just needed to endure for now.
Li Qinglin wore a hand-me-down shirt from his brother. The family couldn’t afford new clothes. All the money had gone into the wedding banquet.
The bride and groom rode the tractor. Everyone else walked.
It was a hot day. Lu Congge stayed close to Lu Miao, just as Qiao Yanxiang had instructed.
Lu Miao wore plain clothes, refusing to buy a new dress. Instead, she’d used the fabric to make clothes for the family.
Her little brother wore new clothes for the first time—Qiao Yanxiang had even used defective fabric to save money.
But Lu Miao didn’t care about appearances. She thought all the clothes looked ugly anyway.
They walked for over half an hour to reach Li Qinglin’s house.
As soon as the gongs and drums sounded, firecrackers were lit in welcome.
The guests were eager to see the bride. Lu Lu didn’t disappoint—she and Li Qinglin made a striking pair.
Some of Lu Lu’s distant relatives were surprised. They’d thought she was marrying someone from the professor’s family. What happened?
Now wasn’t the time to ask.
The wedding ceremony was simple.
After the couple entered the bridal chamber, food was served.
Lu Miao had once been curious about the male lead’s looks—but was now disappointed.
Tall, strong, thick eyebrows—not bad, but far from impressive.
She sighed. So much for the dreamy male lead.
Even Lu Congge was better looking.
The Lu family had good genes. From the old man to the next generation—they were born to be pretty.
Lu Miao glanced at her brother, who noticed and asked, “Sis, what’s wrong?”
Lu Miao just said, “Lu Lu and Li Qinglin are a perfect match.”
One with a bad personality, the other plain in appearance. Truly a pair.
Hu Jing, walking ahead, overheard and gave Lu Miao a strange look. Did she really say that?
The bride’s female relatives accompanied her to the groom’s home for the banquet.
Hu Jing, tasked with watching Lu Miao, sat at the same table.
Lu Miao saw Lu Lu’s new in-laws and her two future sisters-in-law.
Originally, the Li family planned to marry off the sons in order. But because of Lu Lu’s push, they rushed the wedding for political advantage.
Her future sisters-in-law weren’t visibly hostile—but Lu Miao remembered they were trouble in the original timeline.
Even the third sister-in-law resented Lu Lu, thinking she’d stolen the spotlight.
Finally, it was time for the bride and groom to toast the guests. They started with Lu Lu’s family. Then it was Lu Miao’s table. If possible, Lu Lu would’ve skipped her.
Li Qinglin had seen Lu Miao many times. The two families used to be neighbors, and their engagement was an open secret. They’d even spoken a few times in private.
He’d been happy—Lu Miao was stunning.
His parents had told him she couldn’t do chores. But for a girl that beautiful, who cared? Later, his mother pushed for a change—Lu Lu instead.
He’d hesitated. Changing a marriage wasn’t proper. But the benefits were too tempting. And Lu Lu was pretty too, in her own way. So he accepted it.
But now, standing before Lu Miao again—he felt deeply awkward.
Comments
Post a Comment