Jiang Sheng frowned.
"Why are you asking this?"
"Dad, send me to school, please."
"What are you thinking?!"
Jiang Lai straightened up and said earnestly.
"I said I want to study. He Xing is a nice person, honest, reliable, and filial. I like him, but I donât want to get married yet. I want to go to school, Dad, please give me another chance to finish my studies."
Jiang Sheng asked in confusion.
"How did you suddenly think about studying again? Didnât you refuse to study back then and insisted on coming back? Youâre always changing your mind!"
"I was immature back then. Now is the time when the country most needs talent, and I want to study hard to serve the country!"
Jiang Sheng: "..."
The matchmaker: "..."
Oh no, oh no, it looks like this girl has been hit hard mentally.
That night, Jiang Laiâs door was pushed open, and her elder sister, the heroine of the book, Jiang Qu, walked in.
This was the first time Jiang Lai saw her. Sure enough, she looked just like the book described, with two thick braids, fair skin, and delicate features. After being reborn, she became gentle and calm and even helped the family through a year of disaster. She is currently the most adored child in the family, now 16 years old, and in her second year of high school.
"So, how did it go today?"
Jiang Lai nodded.
"He Xing is quite good, good-looking, sturdy, and also filial and principled."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Quâs smile slightly faded. She sat down and looked at Jiang Lai with some worry in her eyes.
"But I heard He Xingâs family is really poor and has a paralyzed grandmother. Appearances are just a facade, and personalities can change instantly. You shouldnât be fooled by these surface things, right?"
Jiang Lai smiled.
"So, sister, are you looking down on He Xingâs family situation, thinking his grandmother is a burden?"
Jiang Qu hesitated for a moment but nodded.
After all, thatâs the truth. Which sensible girl would choose to marry someone like that? Marrying a man is about having enough to eat and wear. Whatâs the point of marrying when you canât even get enough to eat?
Of course, she understood in her heart that He Xing wasnât that kind of person. He is brave and smart, having seized business opportunities early. He has already saved up some money for future development. No matter how poor his family conditions are, they cannot stop him from becoming a leader among men in the future. So, enduring some hardships with him now is worth it.
Besides, He Xing wouldnât let his woman suffer even a bit.
Thinking of the pearl hairpin he gave her not long ago, Jiang Qu couldnât help but smile slightly.
"Of course, everyone in the village knows the situation of He Xingâs family. Marrying him, youâll suffer."
Jiang Lai laughed as she looked at her, also laughing, naive and ignorant.
"Ah, sister, youâre still the best. But I still think He Xing is a nice person and quite handsome."
"Little sister, a face is just a facade and can change over time. The most important thing is capability. You should marry the most capable man, you know?"
"So, you wouldnât choose someone like He Xing either, right?"
Jiang Quâs expression changed. She sensed something was off about Jiang Lai, but given the special circumstances, she could only be disingenuous.
"I would also choose to marry a capable man. The most important thing for a woman in life is to marry a good man and then quietly support and help him from behind, you know?"
Jiang Lai nodded thoughtfully, then asked curiously.
"Why must we marry a good man? Canât women work hard themselves to become good women? That is, we donât rely on men and live a good life on our own abilities, right?"
Jiang Qu couldnât help but laugh out loud.
"You want to rely on yourself to have a good life?"
"Yes! I also want to rely on myself to let my man live a good life!"
"Little sister, thereâs a difference between an ideal and wishful thinking. I advise you to find a good man grounded in reality. Times have changed; living a good life isnât enough. We should aim to live the best life."
"The best life? What is that like?"
"Living in the biggest house, driving a car, flying on planes, hiring maids..."
Jiang Lai looked shocked.
"Oh my, thereâs such a good life to live?"
Jiang Qu smiled meaningfully, with a subtle arrogance in her eyes, looking casually at Jiang Lai.
"Of course, so when choosing a man, make sure to keep your eyes wide open and think it through clearly."
With that, Jiang Qu got up and left.
Jiang Lai sat on the bed, raised an eyebrow, and watched the shadow flash past her bedside.
"Could He Xing hear clearly?"
"Donât worry, He Xing has worked in reconnaissance in the army, and he could hear everything you and Jiang Qu talked about."
Jiang Lai nodded and sighed deeply.
"Rely on a man?"
Ha.
"So now youâre planning to go after He Xing?"
"What do you mean by go after?"
"Alright, seduce then."
Jiang Lai couldnât be bothered to argue.
"No."
"Then why are you being so nice to him?"
"Iâm gentle with all good-looking men, isnât that nice?"
"Pfft!"
Jiang Lai had her own plans, and Little Buding didnât intend to ask more.
"Alright then, Iâll update you on He Xingâs Heartbeat Value in real-time. For now, the Heartbeat Value is 7, not bad, he has a good first impression."
"Shut up, I want to sleep now."
Itâs only seven oâclock.
"Youâre sleeping so early?"
"Iâm getting up to study tomorrow."
"Youâre really diligent."
Sure enough, early the next morning Jiang Lai got up, took out the textbooks that were gathering dust in the box, and first picked up the Chinese book, flipping through it while sitting by the window.
In these times, getting into college wasnât easy, as there were very few study materials, and educational standards were lacking. Whether one could go to school depended entirely on the studentâs diligence, and even getting into a vocational school would be a blessing.
After all, graduating from a vocational school and getting a state-assigned job meant being an upper-class person who earns commodity grains.
With Jiang Laiâs current abilities, it seems difficult to even get into a vocational school, since she hadnât touched textbooks in a very long time. Her English was okay, but she had to work hard on Chinese and math.
Having gotten up at 5:30 a.m. to feed the chickens, Liu Shuping heard the sound of Jiang Lai reading aloud. Curious, she followed the sound to Jiang Laiâs window and heard her reciting texts.
She was both amazed and puzzled, and when she pushed the door open, she saw her usually lazy daughter now diligently bent over the desk, reading seriously by a sliver of dim morning light.
Liu Shuping was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward to ask.
"Sanya, what are you doing?"
"Mom? Iâm memorizing texts, why?"
"Why on earth are you memorizing texts? Whatâs going on?"
Jiang Lai used to dislike studying the most, which is why she dropped out after finishing middle school and stayed home. How come it was like the sun rose from the west today, as she got up before dawn to study and learn!
This couldnât help but worry Liu Shuping.
Yesterday, the matchmaker had warned her that Sanya might be possessed or something, but she didnât believe it.
Now she believed it, this girl was indeed acting strangely.