Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Autumn in Beijing was always pleasantly cool, especially after October arrived. Jiang Yiwei was already wearing thick clothes.

She watched the ginkgo tree in the yard, its leaves now golden, fluttering down to the ground.

"Rustle."

She saw Liu Xian come out to sweep the fallen ginkgo leaves.

Suddenly, she felt a pang of longing.

She missed Fu Xunian—missed him so much.

"I wonder when he'll be back."

When they'd last met a few days ago, Fu Xunian had told Jiang Yiwei he was going on a business trip to the southern province with a side trip to Hong Kong. This trip would take at least ten days to half a month before he could return to Beijing.

They wouldn't see each other for a long time.

As much as Jiang Yiwei hated to part with Fu Xunian, this concerned his career. She wasn't a teenage girl anymore—all she could do was support him and see him off at the station.

Jiang Yiwei propped her chin on her hand, gazing absently at the ginkgo leaves.

Suddenly, a loud argument interrupted her thoughts.

She looked toward Jiang Dajie's house.

"You're all insane! Don't you dare think I'll listen to you!" Jiang Liling screamed.

"Telling me to obey and marry someone? In your dreams!"

*Slap!* The slap rang out sharply, a clear sign of how harsh the blow had been.

Jiang Yiwei jumped up and hurried outside, only to see Jiang Sanjie, Zhang Cuifen, and Jiang Erjie already entering Jiang Dajie's house.

Originally, Jiang Erjie and his wife hadn't planned to go, but seeing Jiang Sanjie and the others heading over, they had no choice but to follow and see what was happening.

After all, with all three brothers at home, he couldn't just stay out of it while the others got involved.

Jiang Yiwei was about to follow them in when, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Jiang Ningning leaning against a pillar, smirking mischievously.

Jiang Yiwei furrowed her brows.

Could today's incident be related to Jiang Ningning?

She racked her brain to remember the novel's plot—what was supposed to happen to Jiang Liling at this stage?

After thinking for a while, she finally remembered.

How had she forgotten?

No wonder she'd been surprised when Jiang Liling returned to the Jiang family courtyard earlier. Jiang Liling had mentioned that Jiang Dajie had summoned her home today.

But Jiang Liling had blown it off completely.

Ever since graduating, Jiang Liling had moved out of the Jiang household.

She'd always resented Jiang Dajie and the others. During her four years of university, Jiang Liling had run side hustles and small businesses on campus, earning enough to move out of the Jiang family courtyard at any time.

But Jiang Liling was unwilling to move out.

She hated Jiang Dajie and the others, so staying in the Jiang household could annoy Jiang Dajie while also allowing her to keep an eye on Jiang Ningning's activities.

So even if life at home was unpleasant, Jiang Liling never intended to move out.

As for why she eventually did, it was because Jiang Liling changed her mind, coupled with Gu Jiang's persuasion, and the fact that managing her business while continuing to live in the Jiang household was highly inconvenient for her future ventures.

She didn’t want Jiang Dajie and the others to know she was doing business, so she chose to move out.

After moving out, Jiang Liling almost never came back to the Jiang home.

And since Jiang Liling left, Jiang Yiwei hadn’t seen her either—today was the first time she had seen Jiang Liling since she left.

The reason Jiang Liling appeared at the Jiang household this time was entirely because she had been lured back under Jiang Weien's name.

When Jiang Liling arrived home, Jiang Weien was happy to see her, but when she asked why he had called her back, he said he hadn’t called her back.

As both Jiang Liling and Jiang Weien were confused—since Jiang Weien hadn’t called her, it must have been Jiang Dajie.

Jiang Dajie then told Jiang Liling that they had used Jiang Weien's name to call her back.

The reason they wanted her to return was that they had found a family for her to marry into, and today was the day the groom’s family would come to take her as a bride.

None of this had anything to do with Jiang Ningning.

The reason Jiang Ningning knew about Jiang Dajie arranging a marriage for Jiang Liling was because Jiang Lixi, aware of the bad blood between Jiang Ningning and Jiang Liling, went out of her way to approach Jiang Ningning. She said she had information about Jiang Liling to share—if Jiang Ningning was willing to pay her twenty yuan, she would tell her.

Twenty yuan wasn’t much money for Jiang Ningning, and since she wanted to know what it was about, she gave Jiang Lixi the money.

After receiving the twenty yuan, Jiang Lixi told Jiang Ningning that a family surnamed Xu was willing to pay a thousand yuan to marry Jiang Liling, and both Jiang Dajie and Wu Xueying had agreed.

The reason for such a high bride price was that the Xu family’s son had a bad temper, was dim-witted and slow—but in reality, he had the mind of a seven- or eight-year-old. They wanted a daughter-in-law with a college degree, figuring anyone who got into college had to be smart, ensuring their future grandchildren would also be intelligent and not fools.

Originally, the Xu family hadn’t even noticed Jiang Liling. It was Jiang Dajie and Wu Xueying, upon learning the Xu family was seeking a bride for their son, who reached out to them and said they had a daughter who was a college graduate.

If the Xu family was willing to pay a thousand yuan, they would marry Jiang Liling off to them.

They’d never liked Jiang Liling in the first place, and now that she could get them a thousand yuan, why would they refuse?

Jiang Yiwei shook her head helplessly, thinking Jiang Liling deserved better.

How could Jiang Liling end up with parents like Jiang Dajie?

They were not fit at all to be parents.

For Jiang Liling, it was always schemes—never any warmth.

"You say forcing me to marry is for my own good—have you no shame?" Jiang Liling's voice came again from inside the room.

This time, Jiang Yiwei didn’t hesitate and walked right in.

Jiang Ningning, who had been leaning against the pillar waiting to see what would happen, watched Jiang Yiwei enter.

She smirked. Jiang Yiwei, how are you gonna help Jiang Liling this time?

Here’s the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

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But unlike Jiang Yiwei, Jiang Ningning never actually feared Jiang Liling would obey Jiang Dajie and his wife—just marry whoever they ordered her to.

Jiang Liling would never listen to them.

But if Jiang Liling faced trouble, Jiang Ningning would naturally be happy to watch her suffer.

"Mom."

As soon as Jiang Yiwei entered the room, she saw Jiang Liling sneering at Jiang Dajie and his wife, while Jiang Dajie glared fiercely at her.

As if Jiang Liling wasn’t his biological daughter.

But just some cheap goods to be sold off.

"Why are you here? Get out!"

Zhang Cuifen didn’t want Jiang Yiwei involved. This was the elders’ business.

Besides, she worried her words might set Jiang Dajie off. Once riled, he’d slap Jiang Yiwei without thinking.

"I’m not going back. I’m staying."

She insisted on staying—maybe she’d be useful.

Jiang Yiwei knew how this would play out and that Jiang Liling could handle it, but something told her to stay.

Besides, apart from Jiang Ningning waiting to watch the drama, the others hovered nearby, ready to jump in if needed.

"Mom, what’s going on now?"

Jiang Yiwei whispered to Zhang Cuifen.

Zhang Cuifen gave her a helpless look. "Liling learned her uncle and aunt want to marry her off to someone’s son for a thousand yuan. She refused and started arguing with them."

Zhang Cuifen pitied Jiang Liling for having such heartless parents.

They’d sell out their own daughter—first as a replacement sent-down youth, then by auctioning off her college admission to let someone else attend university under her name.

Now, all for cash, they wanted to traffic her.

A thousand yuan in dowry? No decent family would dump their daughter there.

When Jiang Weien mentioned the groom was slow in the head and quick to rage earlier, Zhang Cuifen knew: this was plain old human trafficking.

She loathed Jiang Dajie and Wu Xueying’s scheming. If word got out, they’d be run out of town on a rail.

"Elder brother, how could you doom Liling to that family?"

Jiang Sanjie disapproved.

"Sanjie’s got a point. If you marry Liling into that household, what’ll the neighbors think of *us*?"

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(Note: The translation now reflects sharper emotional tones, more natural colloquialisms, and stronger condemnations where appropriate, while maintaining consistency in character names and cultural context.)

"No, it should be the entire Chao'an Hutong."

By then, the entire Jiang family would surely be gossiped about and laughed at. Jiang Erjie couldn’t bear the shame.

"I’m the one marrying my daughter off, not yours. Why are you all up in my business?"

Jiang Dajie couldn’t care less if people laughed at him or if it was shameful—all he cared about was the money.

Besides, he was marrying off his own daughter. What’s it to them?

Jiang Erjie sneered, "Oh? You’re marrying off your daughter, sure, but you’re dragging the whole Jiang name through the mud."

He couldn’t understand what his eldest brother was thinking. Had he forgotten he and Jiang Liling are both Jiangs?

"I couldn’t care less about shame. If you’re so hung up on face, just tell people to laugh at me instead." Jiang Dajie couldn’t be bothered to argue further.

If they’re so hung up on face, they could just direct the mockery at him.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, whether Liling marries or not is up to Dajie and me. You’re just her uncles and aunts—butt out!"

Wu Xueying was fed up, resenting their interference in her family’s affairs.

It had nothing to do with them—why couldn’t they mind their own business?

"Auntie, Liling doesn’t want to marry. If she were willing, we’d happily congratulate you. But the fact is, she refuses." Xu Qi rolled her eyes at Wu Xueying.

Like they actually wanted to meddle in their family matters.

If Jiang Liling had been willing to marry, they wouldn’t be here trying to talk them out of it today.

"What’s wrong with the family we picked for her? They’re wealthy—she’d have a cushy life after marriage. It’s this brat who doesn’t know what’s good for her."

The family they chose for Jiang Liling was rich. Once married, she’d have a cushy life.

Xu Qi and Zhang Cuifen both seethed inside at their shamelessness.

Wealthy? A cushy life? The nerve of them!

If it were truly a good family, they’d have thought of Jiang Lixi first, not Jiang Liling.

And that thousand-yuan bride price—who forks over that much cash unless something’s fishy?

Hadn’t they heard Jiang Weien say the groom was not right in the head and quick to anger?

"Auntie, if it’s such a sweet deal, why don’t you let Jiang Lixi marry him instead?" Jiang Yiwei shot them a mocking look.

If it was such a sweet deal, they’d have saved it for Jiang Lixi—why leave it for Jiang Liling?

Talk about shameless.

"My sister is older than me, so of course she should marry first."

The moment Jiang Lixi was mentioned, she went stiff as a board.

Of course, she’d love to marry into a wealthy family—but with the groom being not right in the head, that kind of "luck" was better left to Jiang Liling.

"Lixi, why the jumpiness? I just thought since Uncle and Auntie dote on you so much, they’d hand you this golden ticket first—not Li Ling."

"You're getting so worked up—could it be the man really has serious issues? A thousand yuan for a bride price—that's way too much! Suspiciously high."

Jiang Yiwei remarked offhandedly, but Jiang Lixi broke out in a sweat.

"They're offering such a high bride price because they want to marry an educated bride, and Li Ling fits the bill, doesn't she?" Jiang Dajie tried to downplay the real issue.

"But Uncle, didn’t Wei En just say the man has mental issues and a terrible temper? No wonder they're willing to pay a thousand yuan."

Jiang Yiwei pretended to catch on.

Jiang Dajie quickly countered, "He’s just a little slow and has a bit of a temper—not as bad as you’re making it sound."

"People are just talking nonsense. He’s perfectly fine," Jiang Dajie insisted stubbornly.

"Whether he’s got problems or not, I won’t marry him. You can forget about it."

No matter if the man was sane or not, rich or poor, Jiang Liling would not marry him.

They should stop scheming—she wasn’t budging.

"I’m your father. If I say you’re marrying him, you’re marrying him."

Jiang Dajie bristled at her defiance. She’d damn well better obey.

As her father, her marriage was his call. If he ordered her to marry, she had no choice.

Jiang Liling glared coldly at Jiang Dajie. "You think you can just order me around? Do you think this is the old society?"

"These days, marriage takes two willing people. If I refuse, no one can force me."

What did being her father have to do with it? That didn’t give him the right to force her into marriage.

"Uncle, marriage is about freedom and personal choice now. You can’t force Sister Li Ling to marry."

Did he think this was the old days, where his word was law?

"Exactly. I don’t want to marry."

"Dad, Mom, you can’t force me. I’ll only marry if I’m willing."

Jiang Liling stared coldly at Jiang Dajie and Wu Xueying’s furious expressions.

Without her saying yes, good luck getting that money.

"No, we’ve already promised them. If you don’t marry, we’ll be going back on our word. You have to marry."

Wu Xueying wasn’t about to give up the chance to get that cash.

"Then let Jiang Lixi marry him. She’s just as much your daughter."

She wasn’t their only child—Jiang Lixi could go instead.

In this family, only Jiang Weien treated her as family. The rest might as well have been strangers—or worse.

"No! I won’t marry!"

Jiang Lixi shrieked in protest. She wasn’t about to marry some fool.

She grabbed Wu Xueying’s arm, pleading. "Mom, don’t you dare make me marry him!"

Jiang Lixi was about to cry.

She refused to marry an idiot.

"Heh heh heh."

Jiang Liling suddenly let out a laugh.

Pointing at Jiang Lixi, she said, "Lixi, weren’t you just saying how well-off their family is? That I’d be living the high life if I married in? Now that the opportunity’s yours, you don’t want it. This isn’t like you, Jiang Lixi."

Jiang Lixi was no fool. If the family was truly good, she’d have jumped at the chance herself—why hand it to Jiang Liling?

Besides, she’d been pushing her to marry earlier.

Now that it was her turn, she was panicking and begging not to go.

The scam was plain as day.

Everyone kept quiet, but they got the message.

They all lived together—who didn’t know Jiang Dajie and Jiang Lixi’s selfish ways?

They could tell something wasn’t right, but seeing Jiang Lixi pleading not to be sent off made them wonder—what was wrong with the groom?

"Could Lixi know he’s an idiot? No matter how rich they are, that’s why she won’t marry him."

Jiang Liling’s words hit like a bombshell.

Jiang Erjie was about to deny it, but when he saw Jiang Dajie and Wu Xueying’s faces fall, his stomach dropped.

Even Jiang Sanjie blurted out, "Big Bro, is he really a fool?"

They knew the guy Jiang Dajie picked must have issues, but they never thought he’d be mentally disabled.

There’s a world of difference between flawed and downright disabled.

"Big Bro, this—this is too much."

Xu Qi couldn’t believe Jiang Dajie and Wu Xueying would marry their own daughter to a fool.

Wasn’t Jiang Liling their flesh and blood?

Even if they hated her, how could they throw her into a living hell?

"Dad, speak up. Tell me it’s not true. Did you really find a fool for Liling?"

Jiang Weien stared at Jiang Dajie. He’d known the match was shady, but he never imagined they’d be this heartless—trying to marry her off to an idiot. They were throwing her life away.

How could you do this to her?

"Dad, Mom, Liling’s your own daughter. How could you be so cruel?"

It was too much. Jiang Weien couldn’t fathom it.

"What’s wrong with a fool? His family’s rolling in money—probably a ten-thousand-yuan household. She’ll call the shots, and the money’s hers. What’s the problem?"

"If they didn’t want a bride with a degree, you think that brat Liling would’ve gotten this chance?"

Jiang Dajie saw nothing wrong with what he’d done.

Their son may be a fool, but the family is wealthy. If Jiang Liling marries into their household, all their money will be hers.

If it weren’t for their desire to find a bride with a college education, Jiang Liling wouldn’t even have this opportunity. Jiang Dajie and Wu Xueying had to beg for this chance—otherwise, it would have gone to someone else.

That ungrateful girl didn’t just refuse to be grateful but even blamed and scorned them.

The more Jiang Dajie thought about it, the more his nervousness and worry faded, replaced by smug certainty.

"I’ll pass on this so-called ‘good fortune.’ I can’t bear this kind of blessing."

If marrying a fool is such a ‘blessing,’ they should give it to Jiang Lixi. She wants no part of it.

"No, you *will* marry him. We’ve already taken their money."

They’ve already accepted the bride price—Jiang Liling has no choice but to marry.

"Just don’t drag me into this. Marry off whoever *else* you want—just leave me out of it."

The money they took has nothing to do with her. They can choose anyone else, but they mustn’t force her into it. She refuses to let them control her and make her marry a fool.

"Whether you marry or not isn’t up to you."

Jiang Dajie shot Jiang Liling a dark glare. Today, she *would* marry—no matter what.

Jiang Weien stepped directly in front of Jiang Liling, blocking Jiang Dajie’s glare, and met his father’s eyes.

"Dad, I won’t let you marry Liling off to that kind of family."

Then, turning to Jiang Liling, he said, "Liling, go. I’ll handle things here."

"Big Brother..."

Jiang Liling’s heart swelled with gratitude. Even if Jiang Weien was the only one who cared for her, it was enough.

"Weijun, Weihe, grab your eldest sister."

Nothing would stop him from forcing Jiang Liling’s marriage today.

Thinking of the 500 yuan already in his hands and the additional 500 he’d receive once Jiang Liling was married, Jiang Dajie was practically giddy.

Nothing else mattered—that 1,000 yuan was *his*.

But just as Jiang Weihe and Jiang Weijun were about to rush toward Jiang Weien to seize Jiang Liling, Jiang Xueyu and Jiang Haolin blocked their path.

"Weijun, Weihe, Liling is still your own sister. How could you be so heartless as to let her marry a fool and ruin her entire life?"

Jiang Haolin understood his uncle’s family’s ways, but Jiang Liling was still their blood sister. Even if they resented her, they shouldn’t actually marry her off to such a man—it would destroy her life.

"Haolin, you’re too naive. Those two brothers have no sisterly affection for Liling at all."

If anyone was heartless and ungrateful, it was his uncle’s family.

Aside from Jiang Weien and Jiang Liling, the other three were just as selfish and callous as Jiang Dajie and Wu Xueying. Besides, once Jiang Liling was married off, the bride price—though held by Jiang Dajie—would ultimately benefit Jiang Weijun and Jiang Weihe.

Why would they *ever* let her go?

Right now, they were all but shoving her out the door.

Jiang Haolin’s heart sank. At least *he* couldn’t stomach sending his own sister into such a living hell.

Just then, Jiang Honghong rushed into the room and called out to Jiang Erjie, "Dad, there’s a bunch of strangers outside—they’re here for Sister Li Ling."

Feeling the tension in the room, Jiang Honghong ducked over beside Jiang Yiwei after speaking, her eyes darting around nervously.